Chapter 1: Log in
Summary:
Connie moves to Mega Beach City and gets her first job.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Good Morning Berrybyte"
Twenty five year old Hacker Connie Maheswaran just wanted something new, looking at her silver watch with the blue background as it messaged her a good morning at 6 am, while she was in the middle of unpacking, having been travelling all night with her gear to her newest home.
She's been to many cities throughout her life, after money, after fame...there was risk and reward in her line of her work, her moniker of Berrybyte well known, selling her skills to the highest bidder. There had been many close calls, to where Connie maintained her stance to be one step ahead of everyone else. She was afforded her arrogance and claim to be the best in the business...but had to keep herself in the dark to keep it that way. So her next big adventure landed her in the last known lands of paradise, which had the original name of Mega Beach City.
One of the last known sea side locations in existence, it was surprisingly humble for a city. Cleaner than most of the cesspools she had gone too, but still, like most places, it had been definitely called another hub of crimes, inequality and brutality. It was just the order of the day in the the lawlessness, ever since they had given rise to technology taking over peoples jobs. It was inevitable.
Climate change was too late to change, instead artificial weather had to be induced to produce rain but...more often that not, it would cause more problems than it would solve. Once upon a time, Connie would have cared about the state of the world, but growing up with strict parents and peers that were cruel, lead Connie down a darker path in life.
Years on, she's able to fight for herself and her slim figure and general beauty had people underestimate her at times and she's turned the table more times than she could count, on the moments where people thought they would have the upper hand. She had to keep herself on edge, in case the situation changed. Kept herself up to date, aware and focused. It did little to lessen the impacts of how much fun her job could be. Because these people. these horrible people deserved what was coming to them.
Apartment EE-233 in the Barriga Building. She had set up her station, her accounts and got herself comfortable. It was a rainy day when she arrived and Connie didn't mind the rain. She had to make sure she had her big raincoat with her, obscuring her face when ever she could. This day and age required retinal scans or finger prints for nearly every destination, but Connie was clever enough that she had a distributor of fine contacts that allowed for for inconspicuous infiltration. Most of the time she wore thick black glasses that allowed her to dive into the Virtual Space and utilising augmented reality for most of the tasks she had to do outside of her work station, where she had to work outdoors.
She loved her big black boots that she couldn't be bothered tying up. Something about her mother being particular with how shoes were meant to be and out of petty rebellion Connie kept them undone. Not that it mattered or that they were even long enough for her to trip over. She also had them usually one size too big; enjoying the stomps she made like she was stamping her authority everywhere she went.
Tight black leather pants on most days, white belt with a pink belt buckle but otherwise at home she wore loose blue shorts and white knee high socks...but nearly every day she wore a tight sleeveless cyan shirt, long black fingerless gloves that stretched beyond her elbows with her watch on her left wrist. A silver necklace with silver strawberry pendant...a gift from her late grandmother. One of the few decent people in Connie's existence. She wore heavy pink eyeshadow and mascara, with the hint of red glitter on the bottom of the top eyelids. Common day fashion was to have fake jewels stuck on the outer sides of the eyes as they travelled the pathways of the wings from the streak of eyeliner, that usually surrounded the whole eye. Connie had two small pink gems, the inner ones larger than the outer ones on her face. Most people would have red, blue or black lipstick. Connie opted for black, sometimes blue depending on her mood.
Her thick, long black hair was usually down while she worked at her computer. Or, computers....but when ever she went out she normally had a high ponytail or if the weather was bad she kept it low and hidden within her bulky raincoat.
Speaking of her station, she had set everything up in her bed room...six monitors and three keyboards hooked up and two towers underneath the white desk; and a third as back up. She had a laptop in case she had to go mobile. Her blocky, black head set with the green microphone that stuck out like a sore thumb sat in its cradle, as Connie booted everything up. Screens of magenta and blue gradients dotted with floating strawberries made up her background. The bottom screen held all her apps and programs, popping each of them up as she logged into her special network, ran through daily checks, letting her private contacts know she had everything ready to go when ever they needed her. Nothing yet, but she would give it a few hours until her first job in the big City would be forwarded on to her.
So she set up shop, opening up her delivered furniture and put everything into place. The apartment itself was rather small and quaint...four rooms. The lounge room was the first room you'd see; smooth black cubic couch on the right with the matching coffee table and giant flat screen TV on the left. Directly in front towards the back were the white curtains that covered the windows and sliding door that went out to the balcony, over seeing the crux of the city. Connie was on the 27th Floor and overlooked most of the city, As Connie opened the blinds, she could see the rain heavy against the backdrop, obscuring most of the sky line in a dense, blue fog with only the lights of the tops of towers and other buildings blinking through, as well as the intersecting flying cars. Though in the distance, she could make out a strange stone structure towards the beach side. She heard of a preserved landmark where ruins weren't exactly taken care of and demolished for high density housing.
Beyond the lounge room and to the right of the windows was the kitchen. Pretty high tech and silver mostly. Connie spent a great deal of hard earned cash on this apartment and wouldn't settle for any of the grotty ghetto ones. Looking into the fridge, she realised she hadn't bought food yet and made plans to go the nearest convenience store to stock up. South of the kitchen was a hallway that lead to her bedroom and en-suite that one could enter from either her room or the hallway. The bathroom was decent enough...bright white tales with a thin pink string around the top part of the walls. To her right was the sink and mirror, in front of her was a nice long bath for her sooth her troubles after a hard day and next to that was the shower.
Her bedroom sans her work station was a big double bed with white sheets and two black bed side tables that were on the right hand side as you entered from the end of the hallway. She had a habit of sleeping on the right hand side of the bed and the right set of drawers had a finger print scanner; hiding one of her many pistols. She would have to do a bit of renovating in order to make sure this place had security to her own design. A few days work but nothing too complex...as least, as far as Connie could manage it never was...a series of networked and interlinked codes and deposits with special wiring. Easy to fix up.
Going back to her room, the door to the bathroom was on her right and the whole room stretched towards the windows on the same side and connected with the balcony. Connie imagined smoking many a cigarette and not giving a shit as she flicked the butts away. On nights where her mother would call, she would always ask, without fail, if Connie had stopped smoking. Of course, Connie would say she would plan to stop, but she honestly didn't...she would only claim to so her mother would shut up about it.
Overall, when Connie was satisfied with most things being set up, she pulled her back, grabbed her raincoat and her essentials, her gun and including her rectangular shift phone, red and grey in colour, making sure she had no messages before she left and made her way to the shops.
It was around 5:55 pm as Connie walked the dilapidated slums of Mega Beach City. The ground level was filled with the less than fortunate, but honestly, Connie felt more comfortable here than with the fat cats of the Upper Crusts; the Canopy Dwellers that would laugh on the poor Ground Walkers. These people were usually a mixture of kind and nasty and pickpockets were everywhere. Connie kept everything close and in places where pickpockets wouldn't have been able to touch. If they tried to, Connie would not hesitate to pull out her pistol.
But it was like every other city in comparison...hookers, drug dealers and the occasional hum drum of street markets. Connie had dealt with these people before and in all honestly, due to the fact that the Canopy Dwellers cared so little, they often weren't noticed and were generally able to work under the radar. These people, Connie saw as resources and contacts for her line of work. If she could figure out who she could find allies with, then it would normally make her daily life a lot easier. Rumours were cheap, but information was valuable and any one worth their weight would be given a sum of credits for their time and labour....and Connie knew, there was a lot of eager people, looking to get their hands dirty at any cost.
The air was humid, vapours pouring out of ground vents and it smelled like a combination of tobacco and goodness knows what the favourite flavour of the month would be, giving how the wafting scent of fruit crossed her nose. She was going to like it here, she could tell. Anything else would be the fruits and vegetables sold out of ramshackle stalls by kind old ladies and men, spruiking for others to buy their fine foods. Most of it was artificially grown, but cheap as a result. These people made do with the best they had and more often than not had huge families to feed, not to mention that paying rent alone, cost an arm and a leg.
Connie would feel guilty for their condition, but her mentor that brought her into the business as it was today, said that Connie couldn't afford to give away too much. Sympathy could be seen as a weakness, but she overall, would prefer to protect these people, with their broken, rotten teeth in their everyday smiles. Guilt were pour into her on the moment, but otherwise she had to dedicate herself to a cause she had spent way too much time and money on her own to give up and let go of now. Not while there were scores to be had.
She bought a few things, paid with cash in hand that vendors were always happy to see and headed into the store mainly to get the addictive Sugar Shock Shutdown, just so she could function for long hours into the night. Her sleeping pattern in general was not ideal, but the job she took could take weeks, if not months, to get what her clients wanted. She wasn't the best in the business without a good reason. Without dedication and her stubbornness, she wouldn't have gotten as far she did.
"I've never seen you here before." Said the male Cashier as they put the cash into the register.
Connie grinned.
"I've just arrived." She said.
They nodded.
"Ah here for work? Well, just be careful not to venture to the ruins on the other side of the city."
Oh where he put it like that, Connie was dying to find out what lied there.
"What is it? Haunted?" She queried.
He shook his head.
"The Mayor has put a hefty fine for anyone who dares venture there. If you want to keep your head, you would best steer clear."
Connie rolled her eyes. Probably some treasure they don't people to see. It was normally the case, but it gave Connie a definite interest in figuring it out.
"Eh...I can handle myself thanks."
Going back to her apartment, she put everything away, preparing a cup of ramen and getting her chopsticks and opening up a fresh can of energy drink and put in a silly curly straw with a strawberry that dangled off of it, slamming them onto the desk as she went to work, changing out of her outlier gear and into something more comfortable. Checking her phone, as expected, she had multiple messages. Sitting down, she crossed her legs and dragged her chair forward, then put on her headset and cracked her fingers, going into work mode.
The Diamond Domain, or just, the Domain, was an amazing place to be in. Technology had advanced to a point where humans could project themselves as Avatars inside the cyber network. Connie started off out the outside, however, before going in as the Domain was a huge, vast space that she preferred to use a simple User Icon that she could use and would use text base. This way protected people the most as sending your mind into the system without boundaries was dangerous. Most people could only afford Computer Systems that would only allowed them access via normal methods and those with the most cutting edge tech (or those with the know how to do it themselves) would risk their lives to do all sorts of things in the Domain. Setting boundaries to protect the Avatar was because people could die in the Domain, even with emergency ejection measures in place. People have heart attacks or worse, go brain dead in real life if they find their Avatars compromised.
People like Connie and many others, spent hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to get surgery to insert a slot in the back of their necks that allow them to transfer their consciousness into the Domain called a Domain Port. For Connie, her mentor paid for the expenses to have hers 'installed'. Many have gone to seedy places to get theirs 'installed' and some just end up short circuiting entirely due to the short cuts taken with the surgery. Either than or infections from dodgy surgeons.
Her normal list of contacts appeared as Connie had gotten herself in the zone and showing her a list of clientele, their jobs and their prices. Most of them Connie ignored for either because they weren't paying enough for what they wanted or that they were too easy or two boring. If Connie was in need for some quick cash, however, she would generally pick up the smaller tasks. Not necessarily challenging but what ever suited her needs at the time where she wasn't in a picky mood.
As usual, she set up a sub-routine where the program would pick out notable requests that would catch her eye, an advanced search through the hundreds of requests she would receive daily. Even from other cities, countries, would always want the skills of Berrybyte. The least interesting would remain in white text, the borderline ones from older clients that she's helped in the past or a decent price offered would be highlighted in green, the text normally larger. It was all the same, until one scroll lead to a huge text in red, labled DESPERATE HELP NEEDED - 200,000 CREDIT REWARD. Oh that definitely got her interest. The client itself was under the username LordWash was amusing...so she did some research into this particular individual and found that he was actually a man who didn't have a great income...so how in the world would he be able to afford Connie's services?
Still, she was intrigued to see what this man wanted so badly. So she clicked on the link, which in turn, opened up another window which she had dragged to another monitor. The Chat system was generally encrypted to begin with, with the User Icon, Connie's with a Strawberry with a sword stuck through it and LordWash was simply a hose with a crown on top of it. A symbol of the mans work. This was a secure channel and before Connie did anything had another sub-routine do a background check on the guys IP, checking for any 'bugs' in the system. A ding indicated it was clean, so she was ready to engage.
"I saw your ad." Connie typed.
"Oh thank goodness, I didn't know where else to turn." He said.
A phrase Connie sees a lot. Hackers were generally requested when most general...moral avenues have already been exhausted.
"Okay, explain to the job to me."
Connie poured through the paragraphs. Saying that he something important stolen from him and hoped Berrybyte would find it for him. The object itself is stuck in the Diamond Domain and while he's tried to traverse it, he'd already spent a lot of money to get a better quality Domain Port installed and had attempted to find this missing object within the Domain himself, but had no luck. Connie asked for the description of the item in question.
It was mainly a data package that he treasured from his late wife, but for some odd reason hackers had stolen from it. He says that his wife passed away in making it and it was said to be a program worth looking into, something she developed to help improve the structure and livelihoods of people. Stolen programs were worth a lot to people, normally because that creating something for the Domain is generally special scripting that assists Avatars more than User Icons, but if in this case, she appeared to have the know how to develop apps for Avatars which was invaluable irregardless. Berrybyte understood and requested the potential file name and a list of suspects and to forward on the details to her enquiries email.
"Thank you so much, now when do you need me to wire in the money, do you need it now or later?"
A normal question for those whom never had the money to provide. The scenario was more common than not and LordWash's story for all intents and purposes could have been another hacker just looking to for another to scapegoat in terms of their own misdeeds. No. Connie had a method.
"I'll take 100,000 Credit now and you can pay me the other half when I'm done. Is that okay?" She questioned.
She half expected him to say no.
"Okay, done...I sincerely hope you find it." He replied.
Definitely interesting info. And the money took no less than half an hour to come through. He proved to be a trustworthy client so far. So once Connie had received more information, she did the first stage of her research with her User Icon. Her client stated that the package was stolen by a group known as the Crystal Ancillas. She'd never heard of them before, but that just made researching it all the more fascinating. She'd spoken to contacts about this particular group and some of them mentioned that they're nefarious and definitely well known within Mega Beach City. They're exceptionally tricky to capture and trick and their skills were said to be legendary. How many there were? some said three or four...but no one knew about their Avatars or User Icons so they were very difficult to spot, even within the Domain.
So Connie began the Second Phase, as she took a cable and stuck it into her domain port. The ride into the Domain itself was one of discomfort at first, sending volts of electricity one down ones spine, eyes riding shut as the Domain took hold of ones entire being.
Upon opening them, she was met with bridges of colour and pure light, text and binary flying everywhere at first. Skies of blended magenta and blue and programs running all over the place.
The Domain was filled with Avatars and artificial intelligence that kept the Domain running. Connie's chosen form was a tight black body suit that fitted her form nicely, with her make up more akin to the cybernetic side of things. The black body suit reached beyond her elbows and knees, wearing black shoes, the suit's detail mostly tiny hexagonal patterns upon closer glances, and lines that twisted around the legs and arms, glowing blue. She summoned a thick protective black jacket...nothing too out of the norm like her rain coat...she just like less noticeable in the simple garb.
Her glasses had changed into a round holographic bar that went around her eyes that came from the ears of her head set and she checked her hands to see her normal white and black gloves. The left glove allowed her to show a project of a map and location. As a precaution, Hackers generally use a special log in system that won't alert people to their location, so they would spawn inside in a random location within the grid. Every major city had its own grid with the Domain and Mega Beach City was no different.
It was its own hub...a combination of seedy and Avatars' designs constantly compensating and not at all would look like their original forms. Connie pulled on a black mask over her mouth and any time she talked, it would create audio lines for when ever she spoke. It also allowed her to mimic other voices than her own, altering the pitch at her a leisure.
Walking the Domain was generally like a walk in the park. Some monuments here tried to project real life objects like trees. It just looked wrong to force real in the Domain but people preferred a touch of what a bit a green was lost years ago. Not exactly immersive but if it did its job then it didn't matter, even if it had no actual function besides a general aesthetic.
People would look at her. Of course they would. A new person in Mega Beach City Domain Grid. She was but a stranger. She had spoken to contacts within Mega Beach City in the past and actually it was thanks to them that she had come here in the first place...so she took the route that took her to that said contact.
Because what people didn't know about the Domain was that the intelligences that ran it weren't said to be of Earth origin. It was all rumor and conjecture but the possibility of finding alien tech was something Connie desired to discover and get her hands on. Alien tech was worth a fortune and Connie would be set for life.
Her contact was a woman she knew as Pat-Risha. Original but she had been living in Mega Beach City for many years now. It was she who had the most information about these Crystal Ancillas. They met at a Cyber Cafe, exchanging pleasantries. Pat was normally religious but the darker side had her question her faith. Especially when there was Alien Tech to be found. She wore a pink Hijab of interesting design and had a preference for peaches and peach like designs.
"So what can you tell me about the Crystal Ancillas?" Connie asked.
The Cyber Cafe itself was generally a relatively busy place filled with Avatars and the like, chatting away with busy deals and so forth. It tried to look homely enough with tall wooden benches and plants everywhere and even Coffee that was programmed so well you'd swear you'd be tasting the real thing and even smelling it was like actual caffeine going up your nose and tingling the scents. Connie already had her drink in the real world so she didn't order anything.
"They're well known around here." She said.
"Interestingly enough, the only real thing I can tell you is that their compensation for most of their tasks don't really require credit, but mostly favours."
Favours? They must be well off then...Connie hungered for more.
"How does one get in contact with them?" She wanted to know.
Pat snorted.
"You don't find the Ancillas. They find you."
Now that just confused Connie greatly.
"They...surely they must have an email or a place within the Grid that's really well hidden with the best types of encryption..." She said.
Pat shrugged as she stirred her coffee with a Popsicle stick
"As far as I am aware, one of their representatives will pop up all of a sudden, request the name of the client and do the work. Exchanges are short and sweet, straight the point."
And all they get out of this is...favours...hmm...
"They kind of remind me of you...nitpicking the lists to find the best and most rewarding work."
Connie sighed. No. She did not need a rival in this day and age. She was the best. She was not going to be compared to spooks.
"The job I've got is to find a special data package that they stole from my client. Why in the world would they steal data packages from deceased spouses?"
Pat frowned.
"That's the first time I've heard them doing that." She said.
"But I did hear rumours of a Package making its way around the Grid that is well sort after. What that package is...not well described. Suffice to say no one knows what it looks like...other than they've seen what the package can do."
That's the best Connie could hope for.
"Okay then...so...what does it do?" She queried.
Pat leaned her head in.
"Oddly enough..." She whispered.
"It's a new type of Firewall, said to be impenetrable."
A...a firewall? What she was hunting down was a Firewall? The file name LordWash gave her spoke about WallofROSE but that was the name of deceased in question.
"I've cracked through thousands of fire walls over the years. Not a single one has survived." Connie proclaimed with confidence.
"I wonder what makes this one so special."
Pat pulled a small white chip out of her pocket and handed it to Connie.
"I got this from a mutual. A recording from an encounter. I think you need to see this."
Connie took the chip and inserted it into her hand. From the small crystal in her palm projected a scene. Shaky camera work, but it looked they were running from someone. She could hear panting and alleyway in the streets...of the real world?
"What...what the hell is that?" A males voice cried.
All of a sudden a pink light burst in the alley way, followed by a wall of hexagonal hard light projected before the individual...before the recording cut to static. Putting her hand away, she looked at Pat with confusion.
"A Firewall projected in real life?" Connie asked, skeptical.
Pat took a sip of her coffee.
"This was taken years ago mind you. The recording is rather old but its been shared with many Agents. No one bothered to look into it, thinking it was fake. However, many others have begun to see similar designs within the Domain the last few years and I'm beginning to believe that they're linked with this stolen package."
In what way? Connie wasn't sure about this.
"The Crystal Ancillas have been around a lot longer and they've pulled off the strange and impossible before. Most people say they're linked but ultimately....it has to be Alien Tech."
Connie's eyes widened. Though, it would make sense. She hadn't known them a great deal but legendary exploits of the impossible have been told before and most concluded it was experimental Alien Tech in action. This being one of them did not surprise Connie in the slightest, though she did wonder...how LordWash's Wife came across it herself? If the theory was true...she could see how people would make those connections. But no one had dared to try to scope into much deeper, perhaps out of fear the Ancillas would wreak havok like no other.
"Is there anywhere in this Grid that people deem off limits?" Connie questioned.
Pat chuckled.
"If you want your Soulware to be ripped from your flesh then by all means, I recommend the Obsidian Ruins on the other side of town."
Obsidian Ruins...were they?
"Okay I will." She said.
Pat then drank...then spat her drink.
"You're serious..."
Conne sat back and crossed her arms and legs, smirking with her eyebrows and acting all cocky.
"I am Berrybyte. I am the Sword of cutting down impossibilities. How could this be any difficult for my normal line of work?"
Pat looked around, wary.
"Enough to spout your infamy across the cafe? Well, I didn't sign your death warrant. But if you do die, I call digs on your apartment."
Despite Pat's lack of confidence, Connie travelled across the Mega Beach City Domain Grid to the Obisidian Ruins. She ignored all the signs and made sure to obscure herself as she got closer, seeing the statue in all its glory. It indeed looked ancient, but a fence barred Connie's path and an invisible barrier.
Looking back, it did look like it was far from the main parts most people visited. This place was mostly barren and empty, scarce of any individuals. She could already see scanning cameras high above. Connie had switched on her Incognito Mode; a necessity in any Hackers arsenal so she couldn't be detected; practically invisible to nearly anything. The mode uses constantly changing codes within her form, moulding her into the environments of the Domain so she's nothing more than the ground itself or a maybe some kind of feature. Either way, she was prepare, so she sat down by a node; small white squares not noticeable to the naked eye. These nodes were usually everywhere and with the right tools, could be hacked into quite easily. They were pillars that held up the formats and data for a part of the Domain and were linked to multiple nodes to keep the visualisation and the data flowing around it.
Sitting down with her legs cross, Connie took out her left hand and projected a laptop into her lap, taking a wire and inserting into the node and took a look at the surrounding areas of the temple. She could hack into the cameras and even gain a glimpse of the interior of the temple itself through other node connections. Switching from node to node like she was jumping from platform to platform, eventually it got her closer to the interior of the Temple. This wasn't difficult at all...and had been a cake walk so far.
However, once she had gotten into the entrance itself, it had suddenly gone pink, with the words, 'Access Denied' written in the centre. Connie squinted, annoyed but otherwise non-plussed, running more programs to figure out how to take this down.
She tried everything...everything she knew about breaking through walls with multiple programs of varying levels of efficiency and use. Even her famous; Sword of Berrybyte program, normally used as a calling card to take people down with the purpose of nudging their ego, didn't work. This...what was this level of technology?
"What ya doin there bud?" Said a voice.
Looking up, she could see a purple owl sitting on top of the fence. Connie was dumbfounded, looking around.
"Wait....you can see me?" Connie said with surprise.
The Owl spread her wings and laughed.
"Well, yeah...kinda hard not to..." She replied.
Connie swallowed, checking everything was working as it should, making sure nothing of import had been shut down.
"Relax your dacks human." She said.
Human?
"What...what are you?" Connie question, standing up and standing her ground.
"Lil' ol me?" The owl said, aghast.
"Nah you don't need to worry about me...but you do need to worry about...them..."
Connie looked behind them, seeing two individuals as they exited the Temple, but their forms were glitching like crazy so it was hard to even get a good description when they were basically a mess of pixels in generic forms. Connie's heart started to race, looking back the Owl, she was basically laughing like mad, even as Connie summoned her digital pistol....it was suddenly destroyed a few seconds later, with no explanation.
"Come ooon I'm glad someone is trying these days. I'm a bit more forgiving...but they might not be...so uhh...you might want to start running dude."
The forms got closer, as Connie heard a high tinny noise that basically hurt her ears. She shook her head as she fell into a sprint and headed back to the main part of the Grid.
She had to find a place to hide until she could get to a Exit Gate. One can't exactly yank themselves out of the Domain when they felt like it. The Grid was usually filled with Exit Gates but normally they had lines of people getting out so Connie had to find one and fast. Looking behind her, she gasped at how the figures were still chasing her, so she tried to amplify her running speed by altering her physics codes. Most of the time the Domain didn't like it when you altered part of it to suit ones needs, spending more resources or cheating for example. Connie couldn't care, she just had to get out of here and fast.
The Streets of the Grid here were foreign so she didn't know them as well as she'd liked, so she had to find somewhere to hide for a moment, until she could figure out where the closest Exit Gate was. She found an alleyway and went behind the back of a building. She looked back onto the main street, seeing the figures run right past her. For the purposes of making the experience of the Domain as authentic to reality as one could make it, Connie started breathing heavily, the artificial adrenaline pumping through her. She swallowed and sighed with relief. She projected the maps. Exit Gates were marked in Red and the closest one was several blocks away. She had to psyche herself up again, pulling herself off the wall, until she nonchalantly went back into the main street, changing her jacket from black to navy...as if to hopefully remain anonymous.
Looking around, she shut off the Incognito Mode for the moment and tried to mingle herself in with the collective group of Avatars. Some Avatars had the ability to walk alongside User Icons that they were partnered with, so most of them would have a User Icon beside their heads like some kind of over the shoulder camera.
Hands in her pockets, Connie hastened her walking to go to the Gate, her eyes looking everywhere for the shadowy pixel figures, seeing if they were anywhere near her.
"Hey you."
Connie ignored the voice as she walked faster.
"Ma'am wait, you dropped something!"
She's heard that before.
"Hey lady!"
She felt the pull as she went to berate at the individual, instead she was looking at an Avatar of a tall man with black poofy hair. He wore a black jacket with glowing pink lines on top of a pink polo shirt with a popped collar and black pants with red sandals. His eyes glistened with pink pupils and the bejewelled design besides the eyes were seen on the top of his eyebrow. There was something...weird about his smile as he looked at her, those round spheres that looked at differently than anyone else would have.
"Sorry to interrupt but I saw you drop this."
Connie looked down at his hand as he handed her a white chip, similar to the one Pat gave her.
"I don't remember dropping anything." She said.
He looked behind Connie, seeing two pixel glitched figures storming in their direction, before he pulled Connie into a nearby alleyway, hiding behind a stall as they walked past. He covered her mouth as he peered around the corner and waited for them to disappear. Screams muffled, Connie tried to fight back against this stranger who had the gall to touch her. She threw his hand off her and gave him the mother of all glares.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing? How dare you!" She cried out.
The man lifted his chin as he looked at her.
"You were about to be killed dumbass." He told her.
His demeanour changed quickly, from sweet to sour in an instant.
"You're not the first one who's tried to get into the Temple. Trust me...you do not want their wrath...."
Connie furrowed her brows as she adjusted herself.
"I have a damn job to do. I do as I please." She claimed.
And then from sour, came a cheeky, lull eyed grin, a scene she's seen with many men whom had tried to flirt with her in the past...but this seemed more malicious and mind-boggling.
"Ahhh so you're Berrybyte...heard you were coming here." He said.
What? How did he know that? She's never seen this man in her life. Never more had she felt so...angry and grated over this.
"Who I am is none of your fucking business." She roared.
"I don't give a shit if you're trying to save me. I am going do get what I came for-"
"Well, Straw-Berry, let me be the biscuit to your jam." He called out, having the gall for interrupting Connie.
"I just gave you what you fucking need...stop being an ungrateful bitch."
What?
He groaned as he took Connie's hand, who blasted him for touching her again.
"Come on, let's get you to an Exit Gate. Be a good girl and come with me."
She tried to resist, pulling out her hand from his. The amount of sheer hatred she had for this man was immense and powerful and painful.
"Excuse me, I don't even know you." She said.
"You pull me off the street, claim you have what I'm looking for and think you can control me....I don't think so bub."
The man chuckled.
"Screech all you like Berry, but the Ancillas don't take kindly to people knocking on their door. No matter how skilled you think you are they can tear apart people in heartbeat. They're GIS."
GIS?
"What the hell is a GIS?" Connie questioned.
The man groaned again.
"Fuckin' hell, you'd think with your smarts you would have known this already...but because I'm kind, I can tell you." He said.
"They're Gem Intelligence Systems. They're powerful pieces of Alien Tech that can shred through any kind of human made defence or software. You do not want to mess around them if you want to live."
No kidding. But Alien Tech? Why did no one mention this to her before and why had this not been said by any of her contacts? He had to be pulling her leg, like some kind of Con man.
"Okay then Biscuit Boy, say I believe you." Connie questioned.
"Why the fuck would they steal software from an old man's dead wife?"
The man looked down, suddenly unresponsive, closing his eyes briefly. Again from Sweet, to sour, to spicy, to sour again.
"They didn't." He said. his voice calm.
"Listen Berry...I would tell you loads of history if I can. But the Ancillas won't stop hunting for you unless you log out of the Domain. We need to get you out. Take this to your client. Trust me...he'll take this and pay you every bit of credit."
This made no sense...and Connie wanted to remain in the Domain a while longer. Surely there was a way to stop the Ancillas, even if they are Alien Tech. It was obvious that they were a threat here and Connie had to find out a way to take them down. this...guy seemed to know more than anyone and while he was a pain in the ass, she needed to pry out more info on the topic...the hunger for such knowledge, ever present.
"I have no reason to trust you." Connie said, before she growled and punched the nearby wall.
"But I also do not want to die. Escort me Biscuit Boy and if I die, my spectre is gonna fucking destroy you."
The man grin.
"Duly noted, Berry-Girl." He said, lending her his hand.
"Let's go, they're still around."
She didn't even want to touch him, brushing past him with her shoulder as she went out into the street. The man took a deep breath, exasperated by this tenacious being as he walked alongside her.
He kept an eye out for the figures as they walked towards the nearest Exit Gate. As Connie predicted, there was a long wait for people to disconnect. The booth itself takes a good thirty seconds per person to safely eject them, so the two waited in line until it was Connie's turn. She was, subconsciously curious about this man though...who was he really and how did he get the Package before she did? She wanted so badly to smack him one, since it was her duty to retrieve the files and not him. If she had more time...she could have hacked into the Temple.
But he stood there, silent and patient, his eyes on the eternal look out. How much did he know, really? Connie wanted to pry...and pry she did.
"What's your name?" She asked.
He looked at her strangely, like she had asked him a stupid question.
"Biscuit Boy apparently." He joked.
She rolled her eyes.
"I know what you mean. It's Steven."
Steven huh? So generic and ordinary. She expected some kind of user name with a series of Xs in it. But just Steven? Connie looked away, her face red either with embarrassment or with anger, her arms across as she began to shake.
"What's yours?"
REALLY? He went all the way to know her callsign but didn't bother to find out her real name? What kind of guy was he?
"You should know, Steven." She mocked.
By the grin on his face, he was really enjoying this.
"Come on entice me Berry-Girl. Or would you really prefer me to call you that? Or I can come up with an entirely different nickname."
No thank you.
"Just call me Connie, jerk."
Steven grinned.
"Okay, Connie Jerk. Wow...that's new."
She wanted to slap him again, but it would be a waste of energy in doing so.
"Why do I bother?" She questioned.
"I''m never gonna see your dumb face again..."
Steven doubted it. Mega Beach City was big, but not that big.
"You will...I'll guarantee it." He told her.
Oh yay.
"Ah yes, to see your ugly mug again, I look forward to it." Connie said sarcastically.
Once she was back in the Real World, she checked the time on her watch. It was almost twelve thirty am. It was dark, save for the hum of her computers fans. She took everything off, her headset, her port cord and her glasses and stretched her entire body from head to toe, listening in to the cracks of her bones before she sat normally, staring at one of the empty monitors, losing her mind briefly as she mused over what just happened. Digging her fingers into the back of her scalp her head fell, Connie was frustrating and ultimately disappointed in her performance. If LordWash accepted Steven's gift and Connie was paid, it wouldn't be enough to pay off the loss if dignity over it all, shaking with rage as she cowered and curled herself up on the chair.
Dumb, just dumb. Connie should have been better. She was better than these, Alien Tech Ancillas. They were cheating and they were everything wrong with the Domain. She will take them down and she will prove to be the best...
She got up and collapsed on her bed, face first into the pillow as she screamed. The mental images of Steven's stupid face annoyed her more so and tried to let sleep have her forget her worries for a few hours.
That was until her alarm went off at 6 AM. Connie didn't even set it..so she looked at the watch on her wrist.
"Good Morning Connie Jerk."
She ended up throwing the watch to the other side the room and pulled the pillow over her head, deciding to take a few more hours so he wouldn't win.
Notes:
Before anyone asks, GIS is definitely a reference to Whispers
Chapter 2: Connections
Summary:
Sometimes Connie's job requires her to take unsavoury actions with the occasional unsavoury result...but with a better outcome than she realises.
Notes:
EDIT: Forgot add one last part to this chapter.
Chapter Text
It'd been a week since that incident and since Connie arrived in Mega Beach City. It was around five am in the morning on a dreary Friday, skies over cast and the drift of the wind playing with the unsecured strings of her bed hair, after another hard night of work.
In nothing but her black lacy black bra and panties, Connie leaned against the railing on the balcony as she dipped the cigarette between her fingers. Jobs had come and gone, although some of them would stolen by that insufferable Steven. Tensions rose over who would take what job and it kept Connie on her toes. She told herself on the daily, that she enjoyed the challenge, but Steven would always be one step in front of her and had done so to stir her up something fierce. She failed to understand how quick he could be and his own wit to boot, taunting Connie constantly and riling her to the point where if her blood could boil any hotter, her skin would radiate steam.
He must of thought that, ever since that first job (which her client was more than satisfied with the results) that she owed him for allowing her to mark it as complete, done and dusted. And ever since then she had since returned to the Domain and the Ancillas never bothered her again. Life had its cycle as Connie had desired, though not to the extent she wanted it to be. Two worlds in one, filled with equal amounts of drama and lowlives always looking to make a quick buck or two. Connie's job took her in either extremes...the real world covered bases of stupid people and the Domain had plenty of smart but otherwise, those who weren't called to be street smart.
Connie was both. It was her life to intrude, invade and reap the rewards. Some nights spent in clubs, hawking and scoping out targets. She wasn't above sleeping with a few to get what she wanted, being the excellent actress, but it wasn't too difficult: most guys (and girls) that attended these clubs were normally after a bit of nightly comforts. Those rare moments hacking into their computers after feigning interest were more heart pumping anyway, with one night stands simply tools for her to take advantage of. After all, millions lived in this city and billions that visited the Grid on a daily basis. It was unlikely she was going to see them again anyway.
Rituals were the evening norm before these jobs were enacted. Shaving hairs off her legs, taking her medication, putting on special contacts, doing her hair and make up. Scantly clad. Often showing her midriff. Seducing people with the right moves wasn't hard either...human beings were such disgusting creatures with the way they could succumb to depravity. Connie never found herself getting attached to any single being...She hated humans; only tolerating some because she needed them.
Love had come and gone and it'd been forever since she'd been in a proper relationship. These opportunities didn't come around all that often and tonight was going to be one of those nights. She had spent the night before stuck in parts of the Grid and with many contacts (all the while trying to avoid Steven where she could.) Her latest client was some gold digger blonde who wanted proof of her man cheating on her...when in actual fact that she wanted Connie to get access to his bank accounts. Easy peasey. This was, unfortunately all too common, however. But she promised Connie a good sum of her boyfriends cash if she had retrieved his details.
Sounded simple and Connie's done stuff like this plenty of times to know the drill. After her morning breakfast of inhaling tobacco, she could have gone back to bed but today was all about the connections. Besides, Pat wanted a catch up in the real world.
So they picked a time and a place. Inconspicuous but otherwise relatively busy.
A balcony cafe, not exactly the most popular but Pat claimed it had the best coffee in Mega Beach City. Connie would be the judge of that. The time was about nine thirty and the eastern sun peered through the cracks of tall towers, the amber glow warm against skin. 20th century wooden furniture and the like.
The two were on the nearby bench, overlooking the city and watching the cars fly by, heavy but consistently flowing traffic. Invented in 2039 if Connie recalled correctly.
"Another one of those clients huh?" Pat queried.
"Excited?"
Connie getting laid for the explicit purpose of work verses getting laid because she wanted to were two completely different things. Professional and easy to detach once the job is done. This guy was a jerk through and through as was claimed to be.
"Like popping a zit." Connie replied dryly, lighting up another cigarette.
"I'm just another skank looking for money."
Pat snorted as she drank her coffee.
"Yeah I didn't peg you as the type to settle down easy. One of these day Con, I swear...you're gonna come across someone and you're gonna not wanna let them go...either that or you'll get a stalker."
Connie always ensures that doesn't happen. Everything about this had a way of doing it the right way without compromise.
"I doubt it." She said.
Pat then grinned.
"What about Steven? He doesn't seem to wanna let you go from what I've heard."
Connie didn't even want to think about him at a time like this. Guy had zero charm and was just a bozo who got in Connie's way. He's tried to one up her one too many times throughout the week and if she was going to see him in the face, she'd need someone to restrain her from beating the living daylights out of him.
"Steven is a narcissist pretending to be a good wolf bitch wrapped in warm sheep's clothing that makes him appear as a genuinely nice guy. I'm sick of waking up every damn day to his messages and no matter how many times I tell him to stop, he finds a new way to be annoying."
That just made Pats grin even wider.
"And yet you've not found a single way to take him down. I thought you were better than that Con."
Connie was tempted to pour her coffee over her friend, but she was a better person. Sort of.
"I'd rather not give him the satisfaction of resistance. The best I can do, is just ignore him." Connie told her, sipping her drink, before taking another puff.
"Like you have been so far?" Pat pointed out.
Connie's tried...but something always set her off...it was either calling her Connie Jerk or more commonly, Berry-Girl. He was just a damn Biscuit Boy; supposed to be easy to break and consume.
"I've still got some work, despite the shit he pulls from time to time. Asshat tries to intervene in several incidents but otherwise I still get it done in majority. Berrybyte does not give up that easily."
Pat finished up on her coffee; taking the last sip as she stood up and prepared to leave.
"Of course she doesn't." Pat said mockingly.
"Well, I've got other stuff to do. Actual work my friend...good luck with tonight, let's hope Steven doesn't show up but he probably will."
Connie gave her a wave and returned to her position, peering out into the city scape in deep contemplation. Steven would just come up at the absolute wrong moment, somehow, somewhere. But never in real life. It had her think hard about him and where constantly popped up. He was found more so in the Domain that out in real life and Connie had ventured to a few spots within Mega Beach City, high, low and constantly in the middle. His interventions were always online or within the Domain itself. Fascinating. She's attempted to knuckle down his IP more than once, but would always get nowhere. She had to begrudgingly accept his skills and tricks, where ever he decided to place himself.
Later on that night, Connie had herself geared up and was preparing to head to a VR Club known as Sour Cream; another narcissist naming the place after himself; the aforementioned a DJ who owned the place. Customer would pay a fee and would hook up to the Club part of the MBC Grid Network and have a good time; or they could always hang out in real time and drink if they preferred or didn't have the Domain Port installed. The place was always flashing with lights and heavy techno music. The main part was always wide and open with the multiple tiered dance floor and surrounding white coloured booths and the VR inserts were in the next room.
Tight, sleeveless cyan top that covered part of the neck, pressing hard against her collarbones and was cut off above her stomach, with a matching short skirt and thigh high black boots and a sparkly black clutch with silver chain. Her strawberry pendant on display for all to see as it glistening on her chest and her special blue contacts, expensive to develop, that were hooked up with an app on her phone that recorded everything she could see and granted her a special hud, connected to the Domain to help identify faces and put names to them within a few short seconds once given focus.
So many young people would come to these places with simple, primal goals in mind, but you'd see the odd group of girls clustered together at a booth, taking selfies. Connie wasn't against having a good time...she was all for it. If she didn't have such a detachment to humanity she would be in the same group like them. Some alternate life, maybe.
She managed to track down her prey; 27 year tanned male brunette with short hair and his annoyingly blue scarf. Why the hell would you wear a scarf in a hot and humid dwelling? Connie hated him already. Still, she had work to do. She decided to make the approach as he was on the dance floor and Connie had to shift herself in a way that would get him to notice her. She would always feel gross doing so but she had to remind herself she was getting paid to do this and there were always worse positions to be.
After a few minutes she saw the glint in his eyes, making his way towards her as the two got closer, in the modern day mating dance people would come to accept as a new standard...Connie would hope as the 22nd Century arrived in a few months, that there would be new methods to this madness. But if it worked, it worked and worked it did.
The two went to the bar and began to talk. Half lulled eyes as the two spoke about interests. The bullshit chatter was commonplace to gain interest but if the interest was already there, then there would always be that little bit of time of drinking to get themselves relaxed, waiting the appropriate time to ask the question. It was normally a good indicator as you would lean against the bar table, laughing and giggling at stupid shit and it was a good indicator that the moment to go would come around. Connie already had him clawed, but she would let them go at their pace and make the request at their leisure, otherwise, Connie would dare to tread and spill it out for them if they took too long. Some didn't get the signs and that was frustrating, but normal.
Finally he asked the question, but after he did, he had to leave to go to the bathroom first, as Connie lingered there tapping her fingers on the bench, going to her phone as she was communicating to her client on her status. It wasn't until then that a larger man with blonde dreads, bulky and wearing glasses sat in the mans place.
"I wouldn't go with him if I were you." He said.
Connie raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me?" She said.
The man cleared his throat. Wearing a pink Hawaiian shirt and shorts, this guy had an interesting aura, not to mention his scent, but his eyes; possibly because of Connie's contacts scanning them, were flashing pink periodically. Was he wearing special contacts too? Even with wearing glasses?
"That guy is totally bad news." He said.
"He's a known predator in these parts."
A predator? Surely not.
"Look, I don't know who you think you are, but I know what I'm doing." Connie commented.
Connie usually made sure she researched individuals beforehand. The guys name was Kevin and he was a known wealthy socialite. But nothing indicated him more than being a jerk.
"That's because his family covers his...wrongdoings." The man said.
"Picks up fine chicks such as yourself, and then...well, I can't say too much. I can however, talk to you in the VR."
She had just seduced the guy and was waiting for him to return so they could go to his place. She couldn't stop now.
"I'm flattered that you're trying to protect me." Connie said.
"But I can protect myself. Even if he is who he says he is."
It was then Kevin came back, as Connie grinned as she stood up, but then felt the man's hand on her arm.
"Please, I beg you to reconsider." He pleaded.
Connie pulled her arm away from him. He sounded pretty serious about it this time.
"Ready to go babe?" Kevin asked.
Connie zoned out briefly, her eyes back on the man as she attempted another scan. Though her HUD on her contacts gave her a short, unusual message.
Be careful Berry-Girl.
It gave her pause, looking at the man again as she tried to do a facial scan. This man was...Ronaldo Fryman? Never heard of him before, but the message itself...
It had to have her rethink her options. Was Steven trying to get to her yet again, but the fear in Ronaldo's tone had her rethink. She knows geninue from fake. She'd noticed the familiar markings on the back of Kevin's neck, just above the scarf as he had gone to the bathroom previously. It gave her an idea.
"You have a Domain Port? Why don't we have some fun in the VR Room? "
Why she was going to do it there? Dangerous and safe and protocols would be in place for any funny business. So the two made their way into the next room, although she could feel Ronaldo's eyes piercing into her as they went in.
The Room had a bunch of special pods where they had people relaxing in comfy round chairs with their head sets on. The two talked with the Bouncer AI hologram, a giant purple guy with numerous symmetrical pulsing lines on his body who welcomed them in, paid their dues as they took their seats next to each other in a private set of pods, isolated from the rest. This sort of thing was common as well, isolated sections of the Grid and the VR to individuals looking at enjoy themselves in unique ways.
Once hooked up, they'd come across a home screen projecting multiple designs of private rooms. Kevin allowed Connie to pick...and she picked the big glistening and glowing neon suite, pressing her hand against the picture and the room had pixelated itself into existence. With the VR Scenes, they were given more processing power to focus on smaller projections. So everything looked as real as it could be, and the physics simulated to the highest quality. The room held beautiful blue hues, with a mini bar, box couches and a round bed with multiple pillows and cushions of various shapes and sizes.
Connie herself jumped the bed, leaning back as Kevin approached the end, sliding himself on as he hovered above Connie with the suave, seductive grin. The two began to make out and rub their hands all over the other, as Connie's mind went to work.
Her usually show within the Domain granted her more advantages as compared to the real world; subroutines that went to work as she inserted a program into his Avatar as she kissed him. Normally, the outside world required the boring method of sleeping with someone and getting a hold of their personal devices while they slept afterwards. This version was more fun.
The pair began to strip. until Connie's HUD started flashing red, giving her another message.
WARNING, WARNING, UNKNOWN TROJAN HAS BEEN INSERTED.
She immediately pulled back as her form started to glitch. Her HUD had become frantic, flickering back as she lost control, with Kevin forced her body on the bed. Connie began to panic.
"What the?"
Kevin laughed.
"Oh don't worry my little flower." He said.
"My program is simply gonna have to rewrite you to my desires...so then I can take you home and keep you there. You'll love it."
No. She was not. She had a back up plan in case she was attacked. She had her subroutine hard at work trying to fight off the virus, running at capacity as the virus was fighting just as hard. But how did this happen? He tried kissing her and Connie tried to resist, but her Avatar was not listening to her. The Subroutine as working as hard as it could, but it wasn't enough.
She tried replacing her psyche by switching places with her Subroutine, putting her Avatar on auto-pilot as she placed her mind in the scope of the VR's Modification View; a setting normally reserved for AI's and the developers of Private Grids, so she could be in the void and alter settings to her liking, a big screen of blue text written in numerous lines of complex code in structured sentences. She could see her Avatar and Kevin's Avatar information and worked hard before Kevin could violate her form completely. She only had a good thirty seconds at her estimation, but her focus was on both the trojan and Kevin's Avatar.
The Emergency Ejection was, of course locked...so she had split of weaker subroutines to work through at a slower pace to get that feature unlocked just in case, but Connie's psyche tried to figure out where to hit the trojan the hardest.
"Here, let me help." Mentioned text in pink.
Pink lines then started to take over the text, in structures Connie herself barely understood. The Trojan itself had no chance, being swarmed with massive amounts of unknown code. Connie immediately refocused her subroutine processing power on the Emergency Ejection and within no time flat, they were brought back into the real world.
First thing Connie did was jump out of her pod and go to punch the guy, who was still hooked up to the the system, although he didn't seem to budge. She looked at the screen above the pod which demonstrated the inner VR visuals, had his Avatar locked up in a pink hexagonal cage, banging on it and screaming to be let out. Connie swallowed, as she had left the VR Room immediately, a bit weary from the sheer amount of input she had tried to escape from and left the Club.
She had stormed off home and isolated herself. She had created a private server for herself to do a quick check on her Soulware, the form that helps maintain her psyche and conscious thought, but didn't connect her to the Domain outright; with her insert the cable into her Domain Port and her monitors showing different aspects of her Soulware. To her relief, everything came up clean. She sighed with relief, sinking into her chair.
Sitting up, she decided to get changed and analyse what went wrong. The Subroutines were too weak? She'll have to give those a good review and update them where necessary, but she was too flustered and frustrated at herself; only realising that the bug she planted into him, he had done the same to her. She then looked at her phone which had recieved a text.
"Hey its the guy you met in the club, Ronaldo." It said.
"I heard what happened. Pick a place, I want to talk to you."
She was hesitant, given what had just happened had her flabbergasted and confused and downright angry and fuming. How Ronaldo got her number at all was a different story. ..
"Oh and that I'm supposed to mention something about Biscuit-Boy? What ever that is."
Oh...but of course...now she can see...it should have been obvious. The pink contacts, the pink text....somehow related to him in a way. That just made Connie all the more irritated at the mere thought of it. She debated it for a good five minutes, allowing herself to calm down. No, she wasn't going into the Domain again. She wanted to see him, face to face. No tricks.
"I could suggest Beach Citywalk Fries. Best fries at this time of night."
Connie groaned. But if she could get answers...or she could scream and berate...one or the other. Her client wasn't going to be happy, but maybe she should pull into her client. Nevertheless, she inhaled deeply, grabbing her coat and going out the door.
The place was sort of busy? It was outdoor restaurant on the 55th Floor of a 105 floor building. Connie took a taxi, landing on the outlier and seeing the small lines going up to what claimed to be best fries in Mega Beach City. A similar man looked like Ronald was serving a customer, until Connie heard a pssst sound from her left, seeing Ronaldo sitting by a laptop in the far corner, by a table with a red and white parasol.
She sat on the opposite side, looking peeved at the man as he sipped on his milkshake. Connie just wanted to get straight into it.
"Right now, I should be reprogamming and checking my security protocols." Connie said.
"What the hell just happened?"
Ronald sighed, placing his milkshake next to the laptop as he took off his his huge white headset.
"I told you, the guy is a predator." He whispered.
"Kevin purchased the Trojan from a relatively known but unknown malicious hacker group. You may have heard of them."
Maybe if he gave her more details.
"Well, maybe I should know who you are first. Who are you really and where is your...let's say, benefactor?" Connie demanded.
Ronaldo raised an eyebrow.
"My benefactor?" He said.
Connie groaned, rolling her eyes.
"I know you're in league with him. Biscuit Boy?" She said.
Ronaldo's eyes lit up.
"Oh Steven? Yeah I know him." He said.
"He calls me Fry-Boy. Common thread. I work for him on the side. Gives me all sorts of nifty gadgets and programs. Mans an absolute legend!"
So the guy puts himself out there and hires proxies to do his dirty work. Typical. She's seen this plenty of times and it all seems to fit with those with enough, power and money to provide an influence.
"Where is he then? I demand to have a chat. That incident was not normal."
Ronald looked to the side as he sipped his milkshake again.
"I uh...I don't know." He replied.
Oh great...now they had to lie.
"Don't give me that crap Fry-Boy." Connie said.
"You have met up with him face to face?"
Ronaldo looked behind Connie, as the lines to the counter had begun to disappear with the last order flying off.
"You don't know. He hasn't told you what he is?" He asked.
An asshole, but Connie let him continue.
"He's an AI."
Connie furrowed her brows, perplexed.
"An AI? He's way too....human to be an AI." She commented. How much of that could be seen as truth, as Connie began to try to understand more.
Ronaldo shrugged as he sat back and leaned his arm above the back of the chair, deflated.
"He sent me into Club Sour Cream because he knew an affiliate of the Empire would be there. We've been tracking Kevin for months...but he's just another one of their tiny, hapless lackies. So we're back to square one."
Connie didn't care about Kevin at this point, she wanted to know more about Steven's existence as an AI; an impossibility as he had to be quite an advanced one of his design. She was keen to get out all she could out of Ronaldo, at least an ally she could perhaps, maybe count on. He had warned her after all. Her pride didn't want to accept it, but she wasn't going to let this go. It was then the cook had arrived as he gave a milkshake to Connie, though she wasn't sure if she would accept it.
"Strawberry Milkshake, on the house." He said.
Oh no...not again. She took it from him, though, she looked at him strangely. Why were they being so generous?
"That's my Dad." Ronald said.
"Steven's saved our hides in the past so the only way we can really repay him is being his eyes and ears on the outside world."
Interesting, as Connie sipped the Milkshake...it was actually pretty good.
"We were being harassed by thugs looking to give security detail in exchange for protection money. Steven came in and sorted them out. Never had a problem since." Mr. Fryman explained.
Really...well, an AI that had that much of an influence on this city alone could be staggering.
"Funny that, he seems like an Angel to everyone else but he prefers to be a dick to me. Not surprising." Connie droned.
Mr. Fryman chuckled.
"He's just trying to have a little fun." He said.
"He doesn't take kindly to Hackers though..."
Ah that would do it. Connie would forget about much her people could be menacing from those on the outside looking in.
"So why save me?" She asked.
"I could have gotten myself out of that sticky situation if I had more time."
Ronaldo and Mr. Fryman exchanged glances.
"Steven is...still a mystery to everyone." Mr. Fryman said.
"AI's maintain the the Grid, the Domain and keep everything functioning. It...it is an little unusual for an AI to willingly engage with humans. I mean, with him, coupled with the Crystal Ancillas and the Empire? It's best for humans to stay out of something we can't even begin to imagine."
The infamous GIS, as Connie had been told about many times before. But that word, the Empire...she's known of them, their name used a bit in forums and in the Domain...her years of experience have landed them in her hands a few times. They paid well for people do to some of the more impossible jobs over the years. Connie herself included, looking up to them as a mysterious group, just as much as the Ancillas. But if Kevin was a part of that group...or if he had paid them to get a hand on their trojan virus software...Connie had to be extra careful from there on. The Empire didn't favour good or evil...like a hacker, they would sell themselves and purchase others like stocks.
"Has anyone tried to get to know him...better?" Connie queried. Not that she really wanted to, she just needed to know where his aim was at.
Ronaldo shrugged.
"I do my best to simulate Fry Bits for him...some reason he just likes the taste." He said.
"I mean, I guess there's something about humanity that fascinates him? Not sure."
In a state, Connie found herself becoming more...invested to investigate Steven himself, the program that hungers for the human esque experience. Not much else than being nothing more than a horrible nightmare in some cases but he definitely was an interesting one. He was still an asshole in her eyes from taking or stopping her from her work, but otherwise in that sense that if what it was meant to be human, a hero in their eyes that yes, hacking wasn't exactly a noble path and that protecting other humans from her was seen as a positive in the eyes of others.
"Maybe I should have a proper talk with him." Connie declared, her pride telling her the exact opposite.
"I find it hard to believe that you two are the only ones he's come in contact with that's he's willingly allied himself with when all he does on a daily basis is to protect the City Grid."
AIs were often difficult to track down, given they have a much higher processing system from within the Domain, not limited to the fragile Soulware and Psyche of humans that dip in for a limited time. Their entire existence, depending on a mystical frame work that has been a part of the Earth for goodness knows how long and that everyone depends on an entire alternate reality for most communications.
"You'd think that, but there's only so few he can trust." Mr. Fryman established.
"But he's shown an interest in you...so I think he'll answer your call if you ask him."
That was most likely true. Steven found her twice...in either case when she was in a swarm of millions and billions, he'd somehow always find her, despite her normal methods of covering her tracks quite well.
"He has been messaging me, despite me never giving him the light of day or my numbers." Connie said.
Ronaldo smirked and crossed his arms.
"Hah...you're lucky...I should be jealous. I had to get my Domain Port upgraded to a DP-4.5 recently."
The new one?
"I haven't even got that, I only have DP-4.0." Connie said, eyes widened. She had no need to upgrade just yet and she had heard about DP-4.5 but didn't have the need as the upgrades themselves weren't exactly massive, though given this recent attack, she might have to consider it. The upgrades did talk about overclocking potential with the chip produced not heating up as quickly with heavy downloads. Not that Connie had any huge issues with the way she handled her work had her constantly tweak her specs to allow for less impact on her chip so it never warranted her to get it fixed up until DP-5.0 would bring in new features and existing intersecting features from previous updates.
"Rookie." Ronaldo mocked.
"But definitely do it. If Steven asks for a ride, please...please let him trust me it is the most amazing thing you will ever do."
Steven...riding on what, exactly.
"But I would recommend upgrading...DP-4.5s should allow double jacking for I think, an hour or two before it overheats? Standard 4.0's will only last like five minutes."
She's heard of double jacking...two minds in one. Not that Connie liked to share, especially with an AI...and especially with what just happened.
"Ronaldo I just got out of being infected with a trojan. I think it'll be a while until I let anyone into my head." She said.
Ronaldo widened his eyes.
"Oh sorry, sorry I forgot...I just think back to the first time we did it. Steven was so...thankful for allowing him to see everything outside the Domain. I'm working on some other people with some new tech that should help make it easier for him...I just need the funds to produce it."
Oh?
"Wait, what kind of tech?" Connie questioned.
Mr. Fryman beamed.
"After upgrading his Domain Port, Ronaldo's been working on a special Crystal Projection Disc; uses Alien Tech?"
Alien Tech? How the hell would they get Alien Tech? That stuff was usually coveted by Governments and them lording over every bit they could find.
"Steven has some friends who will be able to procure the materials." Ronald revealed.
"But I need the moolah in order to get it made. Alien Tech is not cheap."
The Black Market, most likely. Connie agreed that if anything popped up there, it wouldn't go cheap and it wouldn't be long until some one with the cash whipped it up in no time flat. Connie sipped the straw of her milkshake, pondering on the advantages and disadvantages. If she could provide the finds and do all this work, then she'll be able to get Steven under her thumb and to her mercy. She only wanted his secrets if anything else...information about an AI like him would score a great deal on the Black Market alone. Even if this job failed, she had an ample amount of credits within her accounts that she should be able to provide Ronaldo if necessary to fund his special disk...and if she still had enough, she'll see to it that she gets upgraded to 4.5.
She's played nice before...since playing nasty for so long has Connie lying in a filth of her own sinful conscious. And the Trojan incident had Connie reeling for revenge against Kevin...speaking of which.
"I'll pay for what you need." She said.
"Just tell me what the hell happened in the Club? How did Steven get into the Private Grid?"
Ronaldo crossed his arms and looked all smug.
"Oh yeah, so....the double jack thing? That was me...and him...he told me to get into the server room and get him in there."
Interesting...could explain the flickering pink eyes then. Connie could see some use to this.
"But you'll really fund this then?"
She didn't see why not. There was a definite benefit for her in the long run. More allies, better tech. This experience had her more educated, if anything and Connie was gonna reap the rewards, big time. She's made risky, big investments in the past...and stuff like what Kevin tried to do was not the first time either. Keeping her cool and calm would have won the race eventually and she had to prove herself better than Steven in any way possible, that her human brain was better equipped to handle matters than a silly AI that wished it was human.
"Yes of course." She said with a big smile.
And an even bigger one when she sees from the screen of her phone, that the program she had inserted into Kevin before hand had finally completed its upload. Things could only go up from here.
Chapter 3: Uploads
Summary:
Just because Connie has allies, it doesn't make her life easier.
Notes:
Skip is basically this worlds version of Skype.
Chapter Text
Good Morning Berrybyte
Another early morning, her lungs, scorning. Sirens every ten to twenty minutes...the air was dry, but it would be humid again by late afternoon.
Care factor zero as the sun struggled to rise over the haze, Connie in her lacy bra, underwear and silky navy dressing gown and again, with another cigarette and again on the balcony with a cup of coffee sitting on the rail itself. It allowed her to boot up her conscious thoughts, after being lost in within the randomised coalescence of her dreams.
Dreams being their own, puzzled parchments of time of nonsense, the mind sorts itself in the strangest ways. Not that Connie paid too much attention to them, but she's heard from random people how the human mind could be seen as its own type of fleshy type of software.
Come 2049, studies and development into the concept 'Soulware' was underway. A company known as PeriCom was said to have helped develop the Diamond Domain in full and it was a raging success that the richest corporations dived on the concept of virtual reality that allowed uses to dive through the internet in a newfound way. It wasn't until 2089 that the first prototypes of the Domain Port were emerging in the market and even then they were so extraordinarily expensive that only the Mega Rich would have been able to access the first versions of the Domain.
Everyone who cares about the Domains history and they know the Domain is supported primarily by Four Superservers that were first patented in 2066; they call them the Diamond Monoliths. One would be developed in each continent, in a secret spot. The White Monolith was the first, built in Europe (said to be in the UK, but others say possibly Germany) and was completed in 2068. The Yellow Monolith was developed in America, two years later and the Blue Monolith would be in Asia, (Reports claim either in Korea or Japan) in 2071.
The Fourth one, the Pink Monolith had been a subject of controversy. Africa was supposed to have this one but it was later reported to have disappeared. It was constructed not long after the Blue Monolith was completed as the first three were merely test types and the Pink was meant to be the full production model. The Domain didn't suffer too much from its loss, keeping most of the Domain stable with the other three to cover most of the planet, as White supported most of Europe and could cover Africa easily (due to many upgrades over the years), Yellow would cover both North and South America and Blue could maintain the majority of Asia and Australasia under its wing. But as the Domain continued to grow, many feared that it would at some point in the near future, possibly in the new year, begin to falter and weaken. The three existing Monoliths would continue to be upgraded, but even their reach could only do so much as some feared their hardware were becoming obsolete quicker than they could replace crucial parts, since plans for another four Monoliths after the Pink one were in the works, but until the Pink one could be found, PeriCom only focused on the existing ones and offered a huge reward to anyone who could find and deliver the fabled Monolith back to where it was supposed to.
Of course, the media was all over it, their interviews with the elusive executives of PeriCom said that there was nothing wrong with the Domain and that they will continue to look after it for many years to come, despite some evidence of the Domain becoming buggy and despite the companies efforts with the hundreds of patches. So, forums began to question and fully believe the remaining Monoliths were indeed outdated and considered too old support the rapid growth. The Pink Monolith was also said to be out there still, supporting the Domain and may have been the reason why the Domain itself hadn't fallen apart already. They just couldn't locate it.
Connie would scroll through her phone and see every day that the bounty for the Monoliths safe return was still there. She wasn't actively hunting it down, but...one of the reasons she had come to Mega City to begin with, wasn't just because for new beginnings, but there was talk that the Monolith was last tracked here.
So far, nothing suggested that the Monolith had been here in any way shape or form...she suspected Empire might have something to do with it, favouring some locations to hide their goods depending on the reliability of their contacts and allies. This was not even going as far as to mention, the talk on a load of forums that the Domain was built on Alien Tech and that PeriCom had been hiding the secrets because they didn't want Governments to know they were holding out on them. Connie would give it time, believing PeriCom were paying off the right people to keep quiet...or paying people to off the people who couldn't keep quiet.
Still, the reward was something else....it would have Connie retire early and she wouldn't have to deal with the troublesome Steven.
Going through the messages, the caffeine fuelled the switches in her head as she only just remembered she was supposed to give Ronaldo the funds necessary for his special chip to be developed...all for the sake of helping that insufferable AI.
So she finish her cigarette, flicking the butt over the edge nd downing the rest of her coffee, taking the mug in as she made another one...For Connie, the scent of the coffee was such a beautiful smell. Once made, she had gone to her work station, putting her cup on the side and booted everything up, flipping switches and so forth as she arranged for the bank transfer, only to get a Skip message from Steven, his pink window standing out against all the dark blue.
"Hey, if you've got time, can you dive in? I need to give you something." He said.
She wondered how much Ronaldo said to him about the proposal. Connie groaned, slipping on her special fingerless gloves as she typed (to prevent carpal tunnel). Getting dressed was something saved for when she needed to leave the house...some days she'd forget to shower because she'd be working so hard or she'd spent the bulk of her day in the Domain that it didn't really matter. She hovered her fingers over the keyboard, not hesitant to reply, but was trying to think of a way to respond. He was an ass, but...
Could she be civil?
"Yeah let me get some stuff done and I'll be right in." She replied.
And all he said was.
"Thanks."
Thanks...pfff...how...blunt...cold in a way that text could provide...would have preferred the excitement of an exclamation mark, if anything.
She'd negotiated with Ronaldo first about the first part of the funds...when he messaged the numbers Connie was gobsmacked, although for the price of 20,500 Credits, a piece of Alien Tech at that price was practically a bargain. She had to make sure she wasn't getting cheated on, though Ronald pleaded that it was going to be worth it and that he promised he wasn't making this up to draw money out of Connie bit by bit and he would swear to pay her back eventually. Connie's been duped by that before and threatened that if he didn't pay her back, she's going to get those thugs on his ass again and that Steven wouldn't be there to protect him.
Still, the deal was done and the credits were wired to him without further hassle, though she would remind herself that Ronaldo would be her debt...and not just him, but Steven would be as well. For an AI like him, so intelligent and life like, that getting the concept of debt alone would be something she would need to test.
AIs weren't invented by PeriCom, but they did purchase the rights to create them. The Diamond Monoliths were said to be massively powerful AIs, housed in the Superservers which were the only objects in existence that could possibly contain them. No one knew their true size, some people claim they're huge towers built underground and some even say that they're massive satellites. Either one could be true, but PeriCom had never called attention to themselves on a visual basis as Connie had contacts would be able to lock on to any satellite and know which one was designed for what, but some were tricky to suss out...and the Satellite theory was still pretty solid.
Once the money was transferred, she got a Skip message from him, his big yellow and orange hued screen popping up from below.
"Oh thank you much! I will keep you informed of the chips development. PeriCom would definitely hire me if this works." He said.
If it works...yeah, that gave Connie a heap of confidence. His intentions to get a job with PeriCom were something he had told her the night before. Crystal Discs housing and projecting AIs would be the next big thing...transporting them out of the Domain and perhaps, even seeing the real world outside of videos and pretty pictures.
"Don't forget to pay me...I'll accept instalments." Connie told him.
She figured his family wasn't that rich...well, it would explain why Ronaldo would want a job with that company. Their employees get paid a great deal...maybe to get themselves out of the fast food business and into the upper echelons of society....though both ends spectrum weren't exactly infallible or perfect in design...Empire representing Anarchy and PeriCom representing Order...so where do the Ancillas fit in then?
"Noted! But right now, I'm gonna get straight to work! Thanks again!"
Minimising his screen and seeing Steven's still sitting there, it had Connie ponder what Ronald had said last night about the Double Jacking and the fact that Steven wanted to see outside world for himself. So she had to think at some stage to get her Port upgraded...again, an pricey endeavour. So she ran some subroutine in the background with several bits of criteria; price, reviews and location. There were thousands who would be able to operate on her, but Connie wanted the best of all three so it would take routine a while until it found the perfect place.
"Diving in now." She wrote, before grabbed her head set. Putting it on, the next thing she grabbed black cable. She moved her hair away from the back of her head, and jacked the cable in.
Her Avatar spawned in with her usual tight black body suit and holographic bar projected around her eyes as she popped into the middle of the Grid. She went to check her hand to message Steven that she had arrived, only to see him right in front of her, with his hands in his short pockets and that stupid grin she hated so much. He wore a light blue jacket, over a dark pink shirt with three yellow stars set in the corner spaces of a white lined cross, like a plus sign. The bottom right was the only one without a star. He wore beige shorts and red sandals on his feet.
"Walk with me to the Docks." He asked.
No hello? Connie inhaled deeply, trying her best not to sound annoyed as she walked alongside him.
"No fancy teleport skill?" She questioned.
Steven shrugged. She expected him to be a little more practical than genericness with all of this.
"I could if you want, but I like walking." He said.
Connie raised an eyebrow.
"Pff...what ever you say Biscuit Boy..."
The Docks were basically said to be a good place to watch certain huge files come and go, often important downloads and uploads as well as people coming in from different servers. Part of it mimicked a beach and it wasn't too far east of the infamous Obsidian Ruins. The ocean was emulated quite nicely here and the sky itself was shaded with the usual blue but the clouds were pink and white. The sand physics were quite well here...since a lot of Avatars liked walking alongside it, watching the Data Packet Ships roll in nearby.
They sat down, looking at the recycled animation of waves and the water roiling and swelling. Gotta keep the RAM happy, after all.
"You said, you have something for me?" She asked, her arms around her knees.
Steven did the same, though he looked at the space between his feet.
"Oh yeah...well, a little something I need to mention first." He said.
"Thanks for agreeing to help Ronaldo and I. It's been hard to get the funds to get Alien Tech around here..."
Connie was surprised. He was an AI who stole her jobs...shouldn't he be loaded?
"What do you do with all the Credits you always make?" She asked.
Oh how his grins continued to drive her with the subtle embers of insanity. Annoying to no end.
"I donate it to charity." He said with a twinge of happiness.
Charity?
"Why would an AI give money to humans?" She questioned.
He shrugged again.
"The world is filled with vulnerable people Connie. They need the money more than I do. I don't need to eat or sleep like you do."
True, but that was besides the point.
"You could still donate and keep some for yourself, save money over time. It's called budgeting. Look it up." She advised.
Then again, what would it matter?
"See that's the thing though Connie..." He said, his tone changing....and him using her name, instead of a nickname, meant he was speaking from somewhere else
"I don't know anything about humans...I want to reach out to those I can but I am limited in what I can do...so the only thing I can do was give where I can...help where I can help..."
AI development wasn't without its own set of issues. Different variants had been designed over the years and some had to be protected due to the increasing scrutiny in the fact that machines were able to talk and think for themselves. A lot of anger and prejudice over pure software that was able to think it was human...
Soulware was a term coined by an age old philosopher and was used when the User Icon had been first utilised. A projection of a humans soul into the Domain was considered dangerous by a lot of the religious groups, some even calling it a sin. When Domain Ports were made was when the term was really in more common use. No one really knows how the development of the mind and soul is actually pushed into the Domain...but they weren't wrong in terms of the risk involved with doing so. As long as it worked, not too many questioned, but modern day researchers philosophies themselves have themselves looking in neck deep and no one theory has ever been proven.
"So you helped me....because I am human?" She continued to probe.
"Steven I'm one of many humans...perhaps I am more your enemy than anyone else...why pick me out of thousands of other potentials?"
He lifted his head as he looked at her in a way that said neutral and unreadable.
"You are like Ronaldo." He replied.
"Ronaldo was the first to notice me...well, I noticed him trying to research AIs specifically. Many try to figure out AIs and...dissect them....but Ronaldo had just wanted to talk...like you are now. You, for one, don't treat me like an object."
That's only because Connie didn't know he was an AI until Ronaldo mentioned it. Even so, Connie would have called him out on his bullshit and would have had a subroutine out to track his IP and send someone to knock on his door. If Ronaldo didn't tell him, she would have never figured it out on her own...maybe after a bit of digging perhaps but certainly not straight away.
"I treat you like a jerk, that's a good a reason as any to stay from me." She warned him, his head looking outwards the simulated oceans.
Connie made it habit to keep her distance too. Less loose ends that way and disconnected herself from others was a way to protect them and herself.
"It's better than being ignored." He said.
"I...can't approach people that often. I don't even know what I was designed for."
How...how did he not know?
"Aren't AIs supposed to know what their purpose is from the moment they're activated?" Connie stated.
He shook his head...so this one didn't.
"I wish I could tell you more." He said.
"But...I need to basically be able to know if can trust you with the information. And I don't."
Interesting. He made the right choice. It would grate Connie otherwise in any other situation, but there was a natural instinct to preserve himself...a habit only found in critical programs. Systems that were important were designed to keep a certain aspect flowing a certain way. AIs were more complex...they were developed to keep multiple systems in check. Some of the smaller ones were designed to keep graphics at certain levels and others to report glitches and bugs...and input patches to fix them.
"Wise." She acknowledged, leaning back on her hands as her fingers dug into the sand, feeling every grain between them as she told the gloves to disappear subconsciously.
"But I paid for the expenses for something that you so desperately want. What does that give me? What would you do if I suddenly took that all away and you were suddenly left with nothing? Stuck here in the misery you made for yourself?"
He stood up, and started walking away. Connie was left confused as she shot herself up and dusted the sand off of her fingers.
"Fucking hell sorry if I touched a sore spot." She called out.
Stopping in his tracks, Steven clenched his fists.
"I was going to give you a special program...but I can't do it if you continue to be a jerk." He said.
A special program?
"Woah woah, you said nothing about a program. What is that about?" She questioned.
Turning around, the amount of seriousness is something she had never seen before, the fire in his pink eyes quite alarming for something like him. The emulation was incredible from that alone that Connie could have sworn that he was indeed human at his core.
"I know what happened last night wasn't the best experience for you." He said.
"But in Mega Beach City, there are more cruel people than there are the nicest...and unfortunately the nicest are the most preyed upon. I can't help some humans with some of their problems because I don't know what it means to be human...to see things through their eyes...to stand by their side and work alongside them. But none of them will accept me...none of them will allow me to discover the real world for myself."
Did he really want to be free of this place? There wasn't much wrong with the Domain...if it weren't for the disadvantages of being human herself, Connie would thrive in the Domain for sure. But...human maintenance had always been the predominant obstacle.
"The outside world isn't that nice either." Connie told him, her voice soft.
"The Domain is a safe space, a haven for some to escape the harsh realities of life. Many would spend all of their credits to be here. Cruel as you say some would be, but people out there are dying due to a lack of food and Governments not giving a shit about the lower class. Humanity is on a slow, tormenting death sentence and...the Domain is just life support...but it gives them the chance to live freely to be who people want to be."
Opportunities in here were far greater in scope as well. So much could be done and they were only just getting started.
"Are you going to deny them their freedom of expression, to be more than what they are naturally?"
Steven looked at the ocean again, the fake winds tussling his jacket and waving his hair.
"Do you really want...the same amount of suffering as us?"
His eyes closed.
"To be human is to know suffering." He said.
"I know that. I see it all the time. I am not going to deny anyone anything...but an AI is meant to maintain the balance of the purpose it was made for. So who maintains the human structure?"
Easy question.
"The sorry excuse of a Government. Cops...the usual..." Connie answered, her hand on her hip.
"You looking to rule humans?"
A scenario many a paranoid conspiracy theorist would fear happen with the introduction of AIs.
"Of course not." He said, swatting her joke away.
"I just...think..."
He..would just...think?
"No...ugh...look, Connie...its hard for me...okay? I'm displaying all this to you in the hopes that you would just...listen to me...instead you think that this is all a joke to you...that I'm nothing more than a misaimed program or an application that think its knows whats best for humans...but that isn't the case at all!"
Connie crossed her arms. His anger was well noted, spiking the area around them into tiny misplaced pixels. If he wanted her to treat him like a real person then he should know the fundamentals of being human. His purpose, his directive...unknown, but possibly being designated for a purpose he knew but couldn't properly describe. His anger, perhaps, a resentment towards his position in the Domain, like was rebelling his true purpose for another reason. Maybe Ronaldo opened his eyes and double jacking with him had Steven craving for that slice once again. Addicts were the worst and most easy to take advantage of.
"I never said it was a joke, idiot." She said.
"Humans have no purpose. Be lucky you were made for one even if you don't know it. Humans have to find some way to survive in this world. Not everyone has it as easy...so consider yourself lucky for not being able to starve to death."
Looking to his side, Connie could see how irate he was becoming. His lack of purpose was a topic that would need to be properly looked at. No one creates an AI for the sake of creating one and one as...if Connie could be honest, well designed like Steven's is to function like a human, without a good reason in doing so.
"You know I don't like you and I know you don't like me." She said.
"I'm the antithesis...and I can be the Virus before the Vaccine. And you...perhaps your programming had chosen me because of some weird algorithm, allocating some random Avatar to be part of your ploy to escape the confines...to be as desperate as to double jack with anyone and it chose poorly."
Steven shook his head.
"No. It's...not...let me try to explain it better" He admitted, his voice weak.
"The reason I can't say anything is because the program itself is designed to alter your Soulware. I had to alter Ronaldos the same way, you were chosen because I picked you out for your Soulwares grade."
Connie eyes widened. The topic of Soulware was still a continued debate as to what can change. An Avatar simply was a projection of ones Soulware taken form but not everyone's was the same.
Soulware consisted of the age old topic of Mind (aka the Psyche), Body (An Avatar or Shell) and of course, Soul. The mind acts as the psyche; conscious thought that is able to comprehend the Domain around it and the Soul itself is the being that constantly transmits and receives information to provide and protect the mind and body. An Avatar can be destroyed and a mind with the Soul can be transposed elsewhere. It's considered highly illegal to alter the mind and it has been seen for people to clone minds with disastrous results because it was considered impossible to fake a real mind. The Soul itself was a valuable piece and there were regulations in place that could grade people based on their Soulware.
For one, it was usually Soulware analysts that would determine whether or not you would classify for a Domain Port legally. Early versions had some of those with poor quality end up being brain dead due to their Soulware not being capable of handling the Domain. Analysts would state it was normally something you were either born with or if you had the right tools, could improve your Soulware and its respective grade. Gradings went from FFF (being the lowest) to SSS (Being the highest) Genetics and natural human evolution would improve Soulware in succeeding generations and as technology evolved alongside humanity, Analysts had seen a great decrease of compatibility issue
These days just about anyone was able to get a Domain Port (provided they had the money) but they would still have their Soulware graded just in case there was a problem. Older models on older people for example; their minds weakened as so their Soulware were weakened. They could keep their current DP, but were normally restricted from upgrading because it would risk killing them altogether.
Connie's original DP was embedded when she was about 18; the current legal age for installation. Analysts had classified her Soulware at the time at a decent grade and as of the last check, hers was indeed, higher than most. The top five percent of all Soulware at AAA. At the time of her first installation, Connie was about a A and had reached AA when she turned 21.
"I would have thought picking an S or an SS would have sufficed." She commented.
Again, a S in itself was a great rarity...only 0.305 percent of the worlds population would even possess such a thing.
"You'd be surprised how hard they're to track down." Steven continued.
"Besides, this will naturally take you to an S grade."
Connie blinked. S grades were sought after due to rarity because of their ability to...well, PeriCom took them because of their sheer magnitude of different they could make in the future to come. No wonder why Ronaldo took Steven's offer up. Still, it would give Connie an upper hand.
"If you had told me that earlier I would have said yes." She said.
"Don't beat around the bush when it comes to this shit, Biscuit Boy. Could have saved yourself a lot of trouble."
Steven rolled his eyes.
"You wouldn't have believed me if I told you outright." He claimed.
"A random AI, or anyone, pulling you off the street to say hey, want a Soulware upgrade for free?"
Hm...he had a point. She would sooner pull a pistol to his head and forced him to dissipate and respawn elsewhere. But this was going to be interesting. Connie's Soulware had gone up on its own and she's never had to find anyone to take her from AAA onward. Average median point gradings were usually BBB or C for most people within the Domain these days. Anyone claiming to upgrade ones Soulware, like with anything, was a pricey and risky process that always had the chance to actually bring it down if the individuals conducting the procedure were careless. She's even seen this happen to other Hackers desperate to get the bleeding edge. Analysts normally recommend the slow and steady path to let ones Soulware grow in power. Everyone was different in terms of how it can improve on the casual non-forced way. Intelligent people, fast thinkers...those with great will power were always the ones to have the talent to increase faster than anyone else.
Pat-Risha had hers upgraded however from BBB to A some years back. She described it as hooking herself up to a private Grid and her Soulware mushing about like it was her mind in a washing machine. Mind-bending in a literal fashion. She was a bit dizzy afterwards but came out okay.
"Okay smart ass I get it." Connie said, running her hand down her face.
"So uhh... what do you want me to do? Need my IP address or something?"
He probably already knew it.
"No nothing like that." He said.
"But you mentioned teleporting earlier. I need to transport you to a Private Grid."
So to connect her to another network which required transporting her real life body to a real life location. She knew the drill.
"Just send me the coordinates. I'll head over asap." She said.
It was then he summoned something she's never seen before. A vivid pink circular warp about his size.
"No need." He said with a cheeky grin, gesturing his hand towards the Warp.
"I've got a secret place that's so isolated that only I can enter. Come!"
Connie took a deep breath. She looked at it and Steven at the same time. An AI's paradise...and his power to formulate a Safe Space within the Domain shouldn't have been surprised. Private Grids that were accessed via the open Domain were advised against, since it would risk Connie's Soulware being cut off from her real life body; resulting in her being declared brain dead. A Private Grid would guarantee less interference but... Connie's had worse predicaments than this and jumping on board with an AI was one of those things she'd never see herself doing, let alone with someone she's come to find grating and constantly interfering with her work.
"Alright alright...but if I sniff anything funky in there I demand you release me asap or else I'm gonna plug this hole with seven Zettabytes of Porn understand?"
Even with the threat, he said nothing and continued to motion Connie to get in. The stamp of immaturity temporarily hit Connie as she slouched and stomped her foot, pulling her tongue at him as she walked forward and stepped into the fort, as Steven couldn't help but continue to smile at how annoyed she was with his lack of verbal response.
Entering the warp, Connie found the cloudy pink skies and the ground itself consisting of magenta, walkable clouds. She could have sworn the scent of bubblegum crossed her nostrils but...she felt the oddest sense of peace in a place as simple as this. Her clothes had changed to a default format; total body sans hands and head clad in tight black clothes and two symmetrical glowing and pulsing blue lines around her body, bending outwards around the breasts and leaning in towards her stomach, before they went out again around her hips to bend around her thighs and calves. Steven had the same, though had the pink eyes and and pink hair....and his body's lines pink instead of blue like Connies and even his skin was glowing a softer pink somewhat...and at his stomach was what was known was a round, faceted Kernel Core...something she had only seen in pictures.
A good indicator you're dealing with with AI or some kind of automated software that holds a shell of a human is that they would have a Kernel Core somewhere on their bodies. It is very similar to Soulware over all. It holds a Shell and a Psyche but it does not have the humanoid Soul, as they are not born. PeriCom talks about Kernal Cores being intentional to see due to regulations within the Domain, important in case the authorities within the Domain had to investigate a programming issue or maybe hunt down the author of the program in case it has gone awry, being the mandatory standard procedure to fall back on. People with the right clearance would be able to easily get access to the Kernel Cores internal programming; find their IP location and root out any issues or even delete the software at its core.
Not that it came up that often. AI's were scarcely seen anyway and that if one popped up like Steven had, it was there for a purpose and the only reason that it would want to talk to you is that it would..for the lack of a better term, kindly ask you to move or stop what you're doing as one may be unintentionally or intentionally harming or disrupting the Domain in anyway. Connie's had AI's hunt her down before...tough, bulky applications she's always seemed to be able to evade or hack into their Kernel Cores to do her bidding.
She had been tempted to do that to Steven if he didn't do what she wanted him to. Perhaps, he knew that she was skilled enough to do so and trusting her with the knowledge from the get go that he was an AI was well thought of decision. Had he intended for Ronaldo tell her? Maybe, maybe not...he must have figured, that she would have found out at some stage anyway...given how much he thinks he knows about Connie overall, figuring her out from the grades...she should have known from the signs which were obvious on second glances that this wasn't just another skilled Hacker. AIs were known to be nosy and obnoxious.
"Now, it took me a while on a good way to do this without resorting to using outsider sources. Ronaldo and I worked hard for weeks, but we figured out the best way to upload the upgrades." He said bluntly.
The two stood in front of each other, in this place that would seem infinite, but had to be an illusion of space, given the low processing required for some Private Grids. He walked forward and placed his hands on her shoulders, his big eyes locking into her own. It wasn't to intimidate, but she felt him scanning her in a way only AI's knew how. Fast and critical. Though, she looked at them and could see the truth within his form beyond anything even most people would understand.
AI's had one very interesting attribute as well within this, basic of basic Private Grids. Again, saving on RAM and processing power, these default forms revealing an interesting insight with AI programming, especially within their eyes that can call them out against the humans. Two things; tiny significant black circuit lines that popped out from the backs of the white, tinted pink sclera and faded to nothing as they got closer to the iris. The Iris itself, had this funny animation that played repeatedly, like a it was a spinning CD and it had a shiny faint flash back every second or so. It was more a glow than flash, like his mind was constantly loading and 'thinking'. The harder he thought, the faster the flashes. Connie had sworn to have researched AI behaviours and that in some situations that had required them to multi-task or work extremely hard, had their pupils disappear completely, for example, like it turned out that they had to run an emergency sub-routine that required them to scan hard and fast. It was definitely one advantage AIs had over humans in the way the could handle tasks so quickly and easily.
So Steven must have loaded up the sequences as she could practically sense the percentages rising up from within, preparing the upload to her Soulware. He scarcely moved as his pupils narrowed...a good indicator that he was more focused on thinking that he was with his actions...AIs had the potential to run dozens of subroutines, running their course, their direction in ways Connie never really visualised, working in ones and zeros and the like. She'd never seen it done like this before, usually with uploads and downloads required slots and receipts and the odd chip connected to parts of the Avatars or what ever app they had that could process the data for them. Connie had originally been under the impression that he was going to use lasers or something from his eyes. Pretty cool and Connie has seen transmissions done this way before. So she made sure to keep her eyes open until Steven had completed his side of things.
She was totally prepared...
And unprepared when he suddenly grabbed her head and started kissing her with full on intensity. Dumbfounded with with a flash of heat as his lips instantly met with her own. Connie's eyes widened, her form frozen for that moment, before she collected enough sense and control and pushed him off of her.
"What the hell?" She shrieked, standing back as she raised her hands at him to stand back.
"What?" He said, acting like he did nothing wrong.
"You can't...you can't do that." She said.
Steven furrowed his brows, utterly perplexed at why Connie was angry at him, tilting his head like he was pretending to be innocent.
"Why not? It's the fastest way to transmit data between us." He said as a matter of fact and in complete seriousness.
Kissing? Kissing??? Oh man, he really wasn't human at all. She started laughing with nerve and total disbelief, holding her chest with one arm and holding her forehead with her other hand as she stepped back. How in the world did he think doing that was okay? He stood there, so poised and so normal and yet, unaware of such implications... He had saved her from Kevin's invasive intentions but had the gall to utilise an intimate action as...
Oh.
Yes it was a method she did use and had used on many humans and yes, it was a legitimate form of transmission...but... he didn't understand what it meant to do so? AIs had no way of understanding the human condition; the way that some of them used this as much as a tool as anything. Was this what he thought it meant? Maybe Connie was overreacting and taking it the wrong way...maybe she was looking into far too much to consider how this method was what it was. But the fact was, is that he could trick other humans with the way he acted, the way he looked....and his hunt for what it meant to be human...
Wait a minute...
"Wait, you did this...with Ronaldo?" She questioned, trying to stop herself from snorting.
"Yeah what of it?" Steven replied without hesitation.
And Steven didn't question how a kiss could be looked at by other people...but the image of him and Ronaldo kissing was an amusing image that she tried to hide her laughter from, though couldn't withhold a second, longer snort.
"And...it worked?" She questioned further.
Steven nodded, staring at Connie without the hint of shame or embarrassment in his face, form or voice.
"As intended yeah." He said.
"You know this works...I saw that you tried it on Kevin and he tried it on you. He's done it before with other people, it's a practical method and it sounds. Why do you seem so bothered by it now?"
Now that she thought about it, she wasn't sure. Perhaps her animosity for Steven even touching her without warning was what really caused it. Connie was usually the one to make the first move and she was too struck with surprise to consider Steven had done this with the purest of intentions. She felt so stupid at thinking it was for something else...
"Is it because you're worried I'm going to insert a virus into you instead?"
What? No of course not! Well, maybe.
"Just...ask me...consent to do such an action is required." She said.
That gave him a little bit of pause. There were times Connie had to be straight up and be a jerk for a good reason to. But he genuinely didn't quite grasp it, blaming sheer ignorance.
"Sorry Connie. I wasn't aware of that." He said, pretty remorseful.
"I will set a reminder for myself to ask you any time you need Data Transferred....which reminds me, you don't have the latest firmware for your DP do you?"
And just like that, straight back into business.
"No...I am planning for it though so hopefully I'll get something arranged within the week." She told him.
He nodded, his pupils shrinking again as began to think hard again.
"Heh...maybe it was better that you stopped me." He said with amused realisation.
"That was probably not the correct method...that one would have granted faster upload speeds but had the potential to overheat your current DP. I need to accommodate for your current format."
How does one accommodate for the fact that Connie had inferior hardware in this particular context? She felt disgusted in herself...she should be better than this and should have mapped out the benefits a long time ago. Now this was going to be more drawn out than intended.
"Is that an insult?" She queried, though in a playful manner.
Hacker talk was all about the sly back chat and criticism...competition was fierce after all in the climate they found themselves in. The weak destroyed as the strong dominated their fields...but the arrogant could be stupid and accidentally get themselves ripped out of the field due to carelessness. But for the ultra serious, there was a big game in the business to be the best...and Berrybyte had to be the very best.
"Take it how ever you want." Steven said, crossing his arms.
"But if you want an insult...then I should be saying you're kind of foolish to have not upgraded sooner."
It hat sense, Connie found it less of a hassle and found it more fun in the teasing they exchanged. She had been looking at this all wrong...it was supposed to be challenging...for so long she had been left unopposed, but so far, she had more lessons taught to her and needed them to better herself even further. Being the best, after all, was basically being prepared for everything. The warmth in the banter was enough for her to go on.
"Eh...weak." Connie said, brushing him off with ease.
"But getting back on track....if you want to use this slower method then by all means, you have my consent this time."
Steven smiled, placed his hand on chest as he bowed. Pfff...being polite now meant nothing more to serve as mockery.
"Yes, thank you Berry Girl." He responded.
"The upload sequence will take a few minutes...I'm not sure, but tell me if things are good on your end. I can't risk you overheating before we're done or this isn't going to work."
Connie could handle it even with the current version she had. She was far from weak.
"It'll be fine." She said.
"Let's just get started."
Closing her eyes, Steven stepped closer as she prepared to brace for the impact. Despite seeing nothing but darkness (and the FPS on the top right hand corner of her vision, but very faint) she began to feel his lips on her again. Despite this only baring the basic physics and response drivers in place, it still felt soft and potent. Connie could have projected the psyche out of her body, but something compelled her to stay in the darkness. She could see the pink pop up with the permission to install the software. She chose yes, as the the pop remained in place in front and centre, but her focus was lost in the way he continued to rest his lips on hers. Maybe with Ronaldo (which still found to be a funny image) that the quicker method didn't prompt much in terms of the efforts required in the fine human art of kissing, but they could make this better than that what they had been doing then. Connie breathed in through her nose and moved the window to the left hand side, ignoring it for now. She stopped momentarily.
"While we're doing this, I am going to teach you how to kiss properly." She whispered.
Steven furrowed his brows, looking at Connie strangely.
"I don't know if that's going to make it go any faster." He commented back.
A mischievous giggle vibrated through Connie's throat.
"You want to know what humanity is all about...don't you?" She teased.
And the fact he made a small annoyed grunt satisfied her as she grinned, opening her eyes briefly and daring him to try.
"Y-yeah...I do...I don't get why this is relevant to that." Steven said, a bit perplexed and unconsciously flustered.
Another chuckle escaped her...this was enticing...if Connie could breath life into him, then this was the first of many steps to get him involved. A hand caressed his arm, which forced him to swallowed as their faces were still close to each, with Steven uncertain of what he should do. Connie would have to take the lead on this one. If an AI could show some form of sentience, their learning matrices would surely be entwined with the mess these things can create.
"You make your own damn conclusion Biscuit-Boy. So shut up and kiss me!" She called out, closing her eyes slowly, before quickly digging her fingers into Steven's scalp and forcing him against her, pressing her mouth against his as he swung his arms around her waist.
And on her will and his shaky breath and trembling lips as Connie made the first call as she moved hers against his, heads tilted as she took him in. Physics could only emulate the pleasure, the wetness and the tenderness across the board but it was close enough. It would have been more potent to him more so if they could get the sequences right....how much of reality could they have programmed into the Domain to feel the pleasure, the fire in ones belly, unsure if its a sickness or a desire to be quelled. Do AIs have enough to go on, even if the truth presented to them, is all they could expect?
She pushed her tongue out and past his lips, writing on her tip to allow hers inside. Steven grunted something about five percent, but Connie took that moment, pushing her tongue into his mouth, much to his consternation.
The fact of making out was trivial to Connie...seduction her aim in cases and not all of them ended like how Kevin's did. Men, women and everyone else in between. Teasing people, giving them a nice riling up before they realise they've been had. Connie had a certain moral code and making sure they weren't too drunk or drugged up. No...it was all Connie and her ability to persuade others, and as with Steven in this very warm, intense, gut churning and very wet moment, she didn't have to use words to convince him to let his own simulated tongue play around hers and make its own way into his mouth too.
Her HUD said ten percent. Going well so far.
It was quick at first, but as Steven said, they didn't want risk overheating her Port...so they had tried to minimise the rush. But for what ever reason, Connie's senses focused on the smallest detail. The softness of Steven's hair between her fingers and her own heartbeat quickening, as her psyche brought up her heart rate alongside the FPS. Should she be focusing on that? Should she be worried?
There were the slight tears away to continue to report progress from time to time...
"Twenty five...n..." Steven muttered.
"Twenty-twenty six...seven...percent..."
Hearing his voice take on that film of that complex strain of emotions...cracking and whining...this was the good stuff...did she need the hub anymore? She was reeling in all of his intensities...the parts of confusion, of discovered desires and the need to explore and the failure in comprehension yet, finding it somewhat enjoyable regardless of it all twisted it could become. So she shut it off and allowed herself to think and process everything manually as a regular human would...but kept the percentage on there just in case.
She hadn't felt like this since high school, hours spent in empty rooms or corridors...foolish she was back then but she found herself more educated in delivering the goods as well as taking the goods. She was sick of being a good girl like her mother wanted.
The same mother who wanted her to get into politics. Ugh...the only kind of job more corrupting than her own. The need to push others away and not bring them in. Connie chose to be close to others because she only wanted them, preparing to discard them afterwards once she as done.
"Th-thirty---thirty five...." Connie croaked.
So why was this....closeness to Steven, only meant for a single purpose, riling her up more internally than she liked it to be? This was a teenagers act of exploration and Connie was too old for that again. She wanted to get this over and done with but rebelling the need to make pace was only loosened by older feelings once lost and found again as Steven had begun to slowly caress her back, a hand nudging down ever so slightly. She knew where he was aiming...but did Steven understand why he was aiming there?
For some reason, whether it was just something she had come across, but...she wasn't sure if it was a trait that AI's shared or it was just him because he was unique in his code, but...there was definitely a human in there, somewhere...somehow. AIs were designed for complex algorithms and adapt to new situations that they are required to resolve. Steven claiming to have no real purpose had to be a lie, however...He was made for a reason.
Sitting here, tongues in each mouths, the sounds of their mouths popping as they kissed...there was a directive and a direction in his methods. Again, if Connie wasn't told of his status, she wouldn't have seen a difference between him and any other Avatar within the Domain.
"Fifty nine..." Steven said quickly.
By that point Connie found herself heated more so than she had been feeling before. Her skin charged with something chronic. She'd always questioned how the Domain could get it so right that if it wasn't obvious for the graphical glitches and the human eye being able to determine by the smallest detail of what was real and what wasn't, it could be the second tier of reality everyone ever wanted.
With the developments of the Domain...the reports of it falling apart, she wondered what the Pink Monolith could have contributed to the overall scheme of things. Other hackers had expressed the same interest. Could life within the Domain ever begin to surpass reality itself that one that humanity would die off...a mass suicide for those jumping on board to the new reality...where everyone was immortal and no one would be hungry ever again.
"Seventy....one..." Connie continued in haste.
If this could be just as powerful as what real life provided, they would be able to give more...the possibilities were always said to be endless here.
"Seventy...two..." Steven added.
"Mhmmmm...."
He...he moaned? Connie would have lied if she said she didn't notice...because she couldn't...a sequence breathed into her and left vibrating down her very throat. Restricted, composed, remonstrated...the utter slow burn brought on by something so simple. Power grown on it's own accord. Connie felt even warmer, subjecting her Soulware to the changes as they happened. A third of the way through and Connie could already experience the shift, electrifying as the psyche struggled to keep a hold. With no visuals, Connie would have seen her own form beginning to flicker, a pinkish aura beginning to surround her body.
With instinct Steven's hand finally reached her backside as he gave it a bit of a squeeze. Connie's mind was on the brink of something and that sent a jolt through her Avatar that threatened to tear her apart.
"Eighty five percent..." Connie breathed.
"Almost there.."
His other hand grabbed the other cheek, as Connie found herself jumping up and clinging herself onto him, wrapping her legs around his hips. Adjusting her, he had one arm underneath supporting her and the other against her back. Connie's own arms were across his neck for support. By this point, Connie felt like she was on fire. The tiny klaxons that warned her about her DP's temperature levels started to go off in her head, her vision flashing red as it forced to show her the status of her existing components which would point out what part of her Work Station was having problems. An outline of her body as it zoomed in to her Port and showed it rising up to less than suggested levels. She wasn't worried as she's overclocked plenty of times..those numbers weren't new to her.
"C-Connie..." He muttered.
"Y-you okay?"
She was fine, she would declare herself fine...
"Shut up, we're on eighty nine percent!" Said Connie, her hair a bit messy from sweat.
"Just a little more...."
Ninety...Ninety one
WARNING, DOMAIN PORT TEMPERATURE EXCEEDING CRITICAL LEVELS, COUNT DOWN TO EMERGENCY EJECTION BEGINNING AT SIXTY SECONDS.
Damn those Virtual Intelligences! The process was on the cusp of completion. She also hated how their voices were robotic versions of an Avatars own. Connie hated hearing her own voice personally.
"Connie..." Steven voiced with caution.
"Slow down idiot...." Connie berated.
He had quickened the pace earlier on with his eagerness...it was his fault...either the system was gonna to fry her brain before it was fully uploaded or she would get booted and they would have to start all over again.
"Ninety two....ninety three...."
Not on her watch.
FORTY SECONDS UNTIL EMERGENCY EJECTION.
Ugh...please...
Ninety four, ninety five.
Her form began to glitch out hard core, as Steven forced his eyes open, his pupils disappearing. She wasn't going to make it in time, so he ended up quickening the processing as he hastened his kisses.
Ninety six, ninety seven, ninety eight...
TWENTY SECONDS UNTIL EMERGENCY EJECTION.
Ninety nine...
UPLOAD COMPLETE! SYSTEM RESET REQUIRED.
Steven's own VI called him out on something he should have expected to hear so he forcibly disconnected himself from Connie as he let her down, but instead her body instantly fell to the floor like a rag doll, her eyes blank white as her body was still glowing pink.
"Oh shit...I completely forgot about that part." Steven said, freaking out over the prospect of this screwing up hard core. He made the quick time decision to kneel down before her and place her still form on her back. He took her left hand and pressed his against the blue crystal part embedded into, forcing it project her stats. Five seconds until the emergency cool down. Steven bit his lip and bypassed the countdown and managed to stop it at 0.01.
EMERGENCY EJECTION CANCELLED. Her VI announced.
Steven sat back on onto his feet as he sighed with relief. He looked at her body, worried that the Avatar had corrupted during the process. He whacked his forehead; how could he forget the system reboot? It was fine..it was fine...he checked everything...the psyche had been put into safe mode...no, he did everything right.
"Damn it, what did I do?" He cried.
He cursed himself for not preparing this as better as he had hoped. It worked fine on Ronaldo, so why was there a problem with Connie? Her Soulware was compatible. Then he realised.
"Shoot, I should have asked her to update the firmware before the installation." He said to himself. He pressed his finger against his ear, making a call out.
"Uhh Garnet...it's Steven." He said.
"You forgot about the Reboot I know." His associate replied.
"Is-is she going to be okay?" He asked her, almost stammering his words.
"You updated her grading. Get her back to the Temple. She needs to be within the Domain and Grid directly. Do it quickly."
He nodded in response.
"Got it, coming to home base." He told her, before hanging up.
He looked at her still body on the ground, frozen in time. She was busy teaching him something and somehow he got distracted. So he picked up her body off the ground and made another Warp Hole to the Temple. He sighed...she was a jerk, but he needed her. He needed the Berrybyte with him because he was so sure...after years of research and arguments with the other Ancillas, that she was the one he had been trying to find after so long. She was special despite her bravado and confidence, her heart was definitely there. He's seen what she could do and what she was really capable of doing. Despite their rough start, she was going to become a powerful ally. Right now, he had to take care of herself until her Psyche restored itself out of the Safe Mode. The first time he did this with Ronaldo he had no problem. Done and dusted but that was because he was on DP 4.5 already. Connie just had never bothered to change hers, for what ever the excuse was. He was confident that she would have been strong enough to take it but...
He checked her DP port's temperature...it had started to cool down at least, but...he wouldn't be able to a complete sitrep until he had Garnet and Pearl check out her biological connections. As he jumped through the warp, Steven was left wondering and fearful as when Connie would awaken, on whether or not she was going to follow up on that porn threat.
Amethyst always said he had a hard time grasping jokes however...
Chapter 4: Ethics
Summary:
Connie debates what it means to be human.
Notes:
Thanks for the love so far guys! I do have some funny...stuff planned. Did I say funny? I meant fun.
Need to get some designs out for the Crystal Ancillas so apologies if their design aspects aren't as clear cut.
Chapter Text
The last thing Connie remembered was kissing him. Visions replayed in her head over and over again alongside the feeling of her brain being fried. She tried to disconnect her psyche from her Avatar, but the fact remained that everything was in safe mode, with a single green flashing dot on simple black backdrop.
Green text appeared, as if she was rebooting. She could read the PeriCom legal scripting and logo and the line after line of code after that, sprinting across rapidly. A white flash imposed itself over the darkness slowly, as the next vision she saw, was a wooden roof above her head. She sat up, jarring unsure of where she had found herself. A bright room and with all the light wood she could see she felt she was in a cabin of some sort. Her hand ran over the soft white blanket, seeing a desk on other side with a simple laptop. Connie instinctively looked at her bare left hand, seeing the crystal sphere embedded into it , meaning she was still in the Domain at this point. She popped up a projection to show her where she was but all it said was, Data Unavailable.
She could hear the crash of the waves muffled from outside, looking out the full length window on her right hand side. Getting off the bed and cautiously walking over, she could see the ocean and the beach so clearly. She tried to open it, but the window didn't budge. Looking to the left, was a single door. Connie looked around, tiptoeing until a mirror popped up as she walked past the laptop, summoning itself on the other side of the desk. Connie was was wearing a simple version of a her default form, except with no sleeves and shoes. Default forms could change subconsciously as far as she could remember. She felt a bit more sexy in this form even if it wasn't too revealing, showing off her arms more so. Turning on her visor, her HUD did confirm that she had indeed being fully upgraded in Soulware to a S grade.
Visions of making out with Steven returned to her in short flashes...she must have had to made a hard shut down, due to the upgrade process. Checking her strats, she couldn't even check her Domain Port, which meant she was in shut off grid somewhere. She had to leave and check herself on the outside because the last thing she needed was everything out there taking a turn for the worse.
The door opened all of a sudden, as Steven walked himself in, wearing his black jacket and pink polo combination.
"Oh you're awake!" He said, smiling.
It also awoke several powerful emotions with Connie, tightening her fists as she was ready to murder him, standing back and trying to keep her distance.
"You fucked up didn't you?" She accused so bluntly.
Steven was left wallowing in confusion at that statement. A huh emerged from his lips, greatly supporting that theory.
"Don't be dumb. Or you're pretending to be dumb. Either one."
Left scratching his head like an actual human, it finally came to his attention of what Connie was even going on about.
"Ohh...that...thing-y...sorry about that. I may have forgotten a teensy step required as the upgrade was happening." He revealed.
Connie smirked. So as long as he could admitted he screwed up, Connie would let it slide for now.
"Yeah yeah you forgot the shut down, goodness grief Biscuit Boy you're not a very good AI are you?" She teased.
And as his face showed Connie all she needed to know about how offended he was regarding that comment, had her tick off her scoreboard with great satisfaction.
"At least you're not brain dead." He pointed out.
True, but that was besides the point. She pushed out her hair as she stood before him, looking at this irritated expression and absorbing it all into her being. She wasn't going to use it as leverage but otherwise grant her a fascinating new view on AIs in general. It wasn't the worst screw up but he had plenty of time to make up for it later - on top of everything else she's contributed so far for an ordinary human being.
"Because I'm tougher than you think Biscuit." Connie boasted, brushing past him as she went into the main area. She could see a simple lounge with three green square shaped couches surrounding a coffee table on top of a white and dark green rug, by a set of shuttered bifold doors that overlooked the beach. The kitchen was on the far side and on the left was an interesting set up with a circular crystalline pad with cyan crystal shards poking everywhere. Part of it looked homely enough, the other...wreaked of Alien Tech.
"Now, where am I anyway?"
Steven walked past her, turning around as he walked backwards and raised his arms to display everything.
"This is my home. You may know it as the Obsidian Ruins. Or the Temple."
Connie's eyes widened.
"Wait, you never said you lived here!" She cried out.
Steven chuckled as he put his hands into his pockets.
"You never asked." He said.
Touche. Connie whined, rolling her eyes as she ran her hands over the soft green couch, feeling the fabric underneath her hands, the sensation memorising as to how they could it so real...and everything she had experienced was so hyper real. She remembered why she had to have the upgrade in the first place in that moment, turning to Steven as he leaned against the dining table near the kitchen.
"So, now that that my Soulware grading has been upgraded, what did you want from me?" Connie queried.
Steven nodded, crossing his arms as he looked at pad to his right.
"I need people to know that there are many AI's that do good and bad things in the Domain." He said.
"Of course, I'd assume you know that and wouldn't care. Except that there are rogue GIS that threaten the stability of the Domain over all."
Gem Intelligence Systems, as Steven had told her previously; dangerous Alien Tech that was said to be rather powerful.
"I work alongside the Crystal Ancillas to take them down."
Was that what this was? Connie shouldn't have been surprised that he was working alongside the infamous group and was disappointed in herself for not figuring that out earlier.
"And you've been giving me the shits in the Domain in your spare time, I assume?" She theorised.
Taking jobs or sabotaging them. Most of them minor, however.
"Look I only let some of those slide because some people deserve it more than others, okay?" Steven stressed.
"Anyway, I needed to upgrade you so you can see who I am working with. Humans with Soulware grades below S can't really interpret them properly."
Software incompatibility. It made sense...given the differences in code and what not. Connie could only ever see them as a mass of messy pixels...unless.
"What about that purple owl? I could see her fine." Connie said.
Steven blinked twice, to figure out who she was talking about.
"Oh Amethyst?" he said.
"She's uh...a long story..."
Amethyst huh?
"Cut it short." Connie ordered.
Though such answer was cut short as the Pad displayed a beam of light and as it disappeared, she could see three individuals.
The tallest one with the big blocky head and big thighs and a shiny visor that prevented Connie from seeing her eyes...a shorter, thinner one and the aforementioned one whom Connie could see was obviously whom they were just talking about...they all had quite the less than human design, their Kernel Cores easy to see. She's never met GIS personally, but now that she could see them properly, it was easy to see the lines on their heads, their alien-esque structure with the same aesthetics as everyone else, wearing odd coats with pulse symmetrical lines that went in to the chest then went out towards the end, known as Data Lines. Most people within the Domain had them as part of the simulations, a culture said to be inspired by Alien Tech itself but these had to be the real deal . Blockhead wore a big one, half navy and half maroon split in the middle, zipped up to her neck with reddish data lines and noticeable pointy shoulder pads, the Woodpecker with a big cyan blue jacket, buttoned up all the way with pink data lines, and the Small-Fry with a dark purple jacket with purple data lines, though hers wasn't zipped up, revealed the black singlet beneath. A Golden star was on their shoulders as well as their backs of their jackets.
"She's a Gen II GIS." Said the tall one.
They liked to listen to conversations from afar, apparently.
"That's Garnet." Steven said. She had two Kernel Cores on the base of her palms. Connie wasn't sure why she would have two, however.
The thinner one looked at Connie with a look of disapproval.
"Isn't she the one who tried to hack into the Temple?" She berated.
And Connie specifically recalled them trying to kill her.
"And that is Pearl." Steven continued along the beleaguered line of introductions, her Kernel Core shining and gleaming on her forehead.
The small one, with the wild hair was a bit different from the first time she saw her. The purple colouring was a dead give away; as Connie's seen through false avatars before. She ran up to Connie, checking her from top to bottom, which, Connie was a bit off put by, but she noticed her Kernel Core was on her chest, half-hidden by her black singlet.
"That's..."
"Amethyst...I know." Connie said drily.
Pearl ended up walking to Amethyst and pulled her away.
"Apologies human, Amethyst gets carried away. She's too interested in humans for her own good."
The devilish grin on the purple GIS told Connie more than she needed to know that she was a Shell Distorter; a special type of shapeshifter that could only alter their Avatar but not change it entirely, only keeping colour schemes and the like. True shapeshifting programs and using false Shells with fake identities were illegal in the Domain, so people use the Distorters to make themselves bigger, smaller or replace...other certain physical characteristics but it had to keep most aspects identifiable to the original Avatar.
"Is that a flaw in Gen II GIS?" She questioned.
It was then Amethyst froze, forming at striking glare at Connie all of a sudden before she stormed off and ran to the warp pad and left. Connie was...a bit dismayed with the sudden shift in mood, getting colder as it became more awkward and tense.
"What did I do?"
Steven sighed, turning to Garnet and Pearl.
"Amethyst is a bit sensitive. Gen II GIS are not entirely commonplace in the Domain just yet." Pearl explained, looking a bit sad.
"A lot of what you see are generally prototypes or in their beta states that are meant to be developed to assist with the lower grades. In this case, Amethyst doesn't like others pointing out to the fact that she has a few bugs."
Oh. Connie didn't even know AI's overall had these types of feelings. She felt that twinge of guilt, even if she didn't quite get GIS in general. AIs were a strange bunch; that's all Connie could really comment on in regards to their behaviours.
"She'll get over it." Garnet said, more monotone as she walked up to Steven.
"But we have important business to discuss."
Connie was all for business right about now...sick of all the secrets and the hype Steven had been busy building up for no other reason than for what ever the Ancillas wanted from her.
"As Steven was telling you, we handle problems with rogue GIS in the Domain. They're quite random and so far not a huge issue for us to deal with. However, as of late, the number of Rogue GIS have increased."
Business as it was; some random faction wanting to take control of something or someone. Connie was listening, however, as Garnet explained the ordeal that they had come across. Rogue GIS within the Domain spelled out many issues; coding unwanted or the risks involved with certain parts of the Domain failing. It's fragile state didn't need the heavy hitters and with everything PeriCom had been trying to deal with to help with the server loads was never enough, that there had been massive blackouts just to cope with demand with the poorer areas being locked out for days or weeks without the Domain. Rogue GIS just served to imbalance the system entirely and if left unchecked, could spell disaster within the years to come. Connie wasn't gonna do this without getting paid however and if she could get her hands on Alien Tech, software even, then she could getting definitely get the upper hand. She didn't want to admit, however, that she didn't really want to fight with AIs. There were too much trouble; dissecting code from human AI's alone were frowned upon, but there were people out there willing to sell botched AI's for loads of cash only to find they were dumb AI's (the common nickname for Virtual Intelligence) systems that more automated than an actual sentient force.
Speaking about cash.
"You know I don't come cheap." Connie told them, her greed coming front line and centre.
"We can accept that." Pearl acknowledged, although she was a tad beleaguered in a way.
"Your funding of the CPD has been crucial for this development alone."
No thanks?
"So what do you need a flesh and blood human like me for then?" Connie asked, a critical thought still unaccounted for.
"I'm just another Hacker lowlife. What would Alien Tech like you even want with me?"
Connie had always wanted to be the best Hacker and she knew she was...it didn't mean what she thought she was doing was right. She was just too good at what she was and the skills she had to give it all away She had a reputation to maintain after all.
"We've come to the consensus that this source of Rogue GIS is on the outside." Garnet answered.
"If someone is replicating faulty GIS clones for example. We needed someone with your record and stats to be able to get us into places we cannot."
Ahhhh yes. Connie has hacked into hundreds of private grids with their own AI's. They weren't designed to be connected to the greater grid on the whole so yes, they wouldn't have been able to get into the private grids by themselves. Connie rubbed her chin, amused by this concept that it charged her heart with the thought of the challenge, sneaking into server rooms, giant ones at that, which would hold all sorts of juicy secrets. Corporate ones were the best, finding bank accounts stored off shore and illegal operations that she had more than once taken down. So many good memories...specifically and especially the time when she had arranged for random shipments of sex toys to a random CEO (using his details and money) that had him in up retiring early. Fun times.
This wasn't the normal type of shenanigans though. Connie loved messing with people over all and to those who deserved it; she took such delight in screwing with their heads. Power used irresponsibly, some would say and she would find those golden jobs here and there that she'll accept them irregardless of how much the cost was.
"Sounds interesting." Connie said.
"You point and I'll shoot, if that's what you're after."
Directed towards her goal and she'll get it done in no time flat.
"Before we can do that, we need to get Steven accustomed to the CPD first." Pearl warned her.
"The portability will have you insert him into multiple systems, but he needs to get his code to figure out how to adapt to less powerful systems. The CPD should allow it to be hooked up to weaker instruments without destroying them."
Connie would be annoyed if they said her system was weak, if not offended but she knew what Pearl meant. Personal Desktops on average these days were powerful, but AI's in general were huge packages of data that would destroy any common system that wasn't their dedicated server. This operation required stealth and AI's weren't exactly designed for that. But it appeared as if Steven was an AI designed to learn to adjust, as opposed to just learning information on the fly as most AI would do.
"I'll have them forward all the necessary requirements and targets." Steven told her.
"I'm sure your station needs an upgrade anyway."
An insult Connie caught instantly, but it had her smirk anyway.
"Yeah it'll need to in order to hold your fat Biscuity- ass without blowing up the moment you're installed." Connie said, giving it as good as she could. Pearl and Garnet were left confused by the statement, but Steven found it amusing himself. Connie could already tell she was going to have so much fun with this alone...and not just because she gets to exchange insults with Steven as well. She checked her stats via her Crystal Sphere; realising she had been within the Domain for longer than she had intended to be; as it was pressing on to the 5 PM mark and she had a lot of work to do during this next week.
"On that note, I need to get out. I'll be keeping busy. Adios!"
Once she had gotten to an Exit Gate and left the Domain, she could instantly feel the heat of the afternoon as was predicted, the sunset pouring through the cracks on the skyscrapers. Taking everything out and off, she leaned back and stretched, checking her watch again to see if Steven had messaged her in the meanwhile. Nothing yet, but she'll give it time.
She looked at her constantly shifting screens; her VI assistant sorting everything on her behalf and the constant influx of emails sorted into their responding folders in her inbox. The flow of everything as it had been. She looked down; having forgotten she was still in her lingerie. Hours spent in the Domain like this was nothing new, although for reasons she assumed to be because of her updated Soulware, Connie felt a bit different, not a haha, but a funny different. Emotions shifted and locked into new places never explored. Yawning, she got up and went outside for another cigarette.
Her head kept focusing on Steven kissing her and she hated it so much...the impending anxiety and desire as Connie wanted that nicotine to help her relax. He really was an idiot; what was Steven thinking? He could have killed her...if he had just told her what he was planning in the beginning, there would have been little need for the drama and for work like this he would be foolish as to think that she wouldn't accept the job; working for the Alien Tech and the GIS was something rare and would bring Connie newfound glory in the world she had edged herself into like getting the USB stick inserted the first time...a perfect, flawless fit.
She could have been a good girl. But then she would have been seen as weak and taken advantage of. No. Connie had to be tough, ruthless and cruel where need be and the mere pretend game of being amicable with the right people was an exhausting one and Connie would admit she's done some despicable things like framing people for murder when they were a hundred percent innocent just so people could get promoted. Causes that no one else would do or could do. Because Connie could do it...and she would do it because the price was too good to pass up.
But here she was...in this palace of wires, screens and high end machines, surrounded in smoke and humidity. A world forged in lies and the desire to reinforce her life with truth written for the sake of the lies made. For the sake of the destruction and the damage she had wrought against countless others for the money, for the benefit of her and her client alone...no one else. The exchange, the handling, the detail. The underworld under her fingertips where she was the Reaper, the keeper, the wheeler and dealer.
Her mind was so...frazzled that she had made the quick time decision to go out that night. She had gotten changed and prepared herself to go a nightclub for no other reason than she wanted to get drunk and get laid. No job, no nothing. To be what it was to exist as an ordinary person for the evening, to test herself.
She wore a dress that showed more of cleavage, another deep red tight get up that went to her thighs. The Club, known as Ziz, a mostly neon green place with silvery bird like statues. Something that was made by man and it wasn't a hologram was a refreshing sight. Seeking solace at the bar, she sat on the stool, drinking a cocktail, she expressed her thoughts to the cute Caucasian bartender with the warm smile and the goatee and nicely cut sandy coloured spiked hair. A good man, on Connie's account, her mind instantly tripping into how he could be a good person just from how he held himself. A smile that was genuine and not at all fake, serving each and every customer with the same, basic enthusiasm and no one was the wiser.
How could people manage to be like that though. To be nice to those who just wanted something done and done quickly. She watched him serve multiple people and he had such energy with no signs of slowing down. Later on it was quiet and Connie was on her fourth cocktail.
"How do you do it?" She asked him.
The Bartender looked at, puzzled.
"Do what?" He asked.
She sipped her drink before she continued.
"Be nice to people. I mean, its your job so you can get paid I know but you do it like you actually want to be here."
He smiled that damn smile again...it reminded her too much of a certain someone.
"I do." He said.
Connie blinked.
"Why?"
Ethics of why people do anything at all is a thousands of year old point of philosophy, directed at humanities core purpose in life that Connie loathed to discover for herself.
He shrugged.
"You meet all sorts of people." He said.
"Thousands of faces pass by and I hardly see the same person twice...unless its the regulars."
Connie had dealt with thousands of people and she's hardly ever had the same client twice...unless they were the well paying ones of course. Dealing with the faces, however. She hardly knew most of the faces besides her targets found in photos on company websites. Even in the Domain she's dealt with more people with User Icons than with Avatars as per her last monthly statistics check. She stirred her straw in her big glass, looking at the glowing green liquid in her drink, before she looked him again.
"What are you doing later?"
Several hours later, they were back in his apartment, having stripped down, making out on the bed and lost in their lust as they fucked the night away. It had Connie forget everything that had transpired as he plowed himself into her. One night stands for the simple desire of sleeping with someone akin to the normal human feeling of being horny...it had been a while. Every time this happened had another purpose. They would fuck (several times) until the other party fell asleep and she would do her work, before leaving the other party to go back home. This Bartender wasn't a target. A regular guy that Connie found attractive enough to allow him on top of her, to kiss her and to come into her. Maybe the second time he made her come as because he was into some kind of unique position but that was about it. Nothing over the top, nothing too complicated...all fixed. Venting, energy release and what not.
He'd fallen asleep well before she did, as she laid there with the sheet on her body, eyes looking at the roof above her. She had trouble sleeping on some nights and oft pretended to sleep until she was absolutely sure the other person was in their slumber; signs of snoring or opened mouths were the usual indicators. She took a deep breath, however...contemplating more than she had anticipated. She was hoping to get some shut eye but somehow, the intended effect wasn't taking a hold as Connie liked it to. Instead, in had her thinking more and that the most disturbing fact was that hearing Steven's moan on top of the bartenders when by all rights, she shouldn't have been thinking about him at all.
What would an AI know about sex anyway? They can't form the same connections regular humans can. The code to comprehend must have been so complex, and the sheer nuance and philosophy of it all would break them, surely. Connie slapped her face; she was angry at herself for even imagining Steven and sex; two opposite ends of the spectrum.
So Connie left the bartenders apartment, having gotten dressed and taken a taxi back home to hers. Standing in her doorway, there was an immediate emptiness Connie experienced that had never existed prior. Emptiness and loneliness; the line was blurred. Connie left herself lonely for a reason. Getting attached was more detrimental to her. Her rudeness to others to deflect people from trying to get close. Friends? More like just allies. That's all they were to Connie; people to use and discard.
Clients, Targets....Ronaldo, Pat-Risha. The Bartender..the Ancillas. Steven himself.
She wasn't in this to make friends.
The following week had Connie in a better state of mind with the new focus of getting upgrades. She had Wednesday book for surgery to get her DP updated to 4.5. Official release for the 5.0 models were only a few months away, but Connie would have to keep an eye on reviews to see out all the bugs before they would put in patches first and foremost. Connie also ordered new parts for her Station; her desktop. Bigger ram and coolants that arrived on the Tuesday prior, so she had spent all day getting them installed as well as expensive graphics processors. Her desktop had the coolants glowing blue that lit up the back wall like no tomorrow and most of the time it had Connie still stuck in her underwear, sitting on a rubber rug, tongue sticking out as she went to work with the installation. There was another peripheral sent by Ronaldo in preparation for the CPD; it was meant to be a stand for the CPD to sit on as well as be directly connected the main tower.
Surgery that Wednesday was quick and swift. The Thursday after had Connie doing a few stress test runs on a Private Grid Server to check out Ronaldo's claims on the heating issue being a lot better than it had been. And the results proved that, leaving Connie pleasantly surprised and relieved and annoyed she hadn't done it sooner...the latter she kept to herself.
That Saturday had her heading off back to the Frymans Restaurant, albeit the room below it. She'd gone down the stairs on the side of the the place and entered the room, seeing his set up; a bright room, mostly coloured in white; his Station far more messier than hers, as well as a work bench where he had bits and pieces scattered everywhere as well as his tools.
"You messaged me saying you're almost done." She said, leaning against his bench.
Ronald had finished up typing something before going to his black fridge with red lightning bolts and pulling out an energy drink and throwing it to Connie. The two had the common taste in energy drinks; the same brand, although Ronald preferred apple as opposed to her Berry flavoured; sweeter than sweet. She looked over as she popped it open and sipped and savoured the first influx, seeing Ronald working on a very tiny grey chip with a circle with in it. He he'd been using a microscope and pliers, carefully placing a small pink coloured crystal within the tiniest indentation.
"Just about...to power it up now." He said.
Once down, he ran over to his desk again, using a prototype version of the CPD Stand that had more wires to it than hers, stating that hers was supposed to be a 'full production model' as opposed the test version he had. Goodness knows how many he was going to make anyway. The CPD sat horizontal, with the flat part facing upwards. While he was doing so, it had Connie thinking once again. Steven wanted to see the world through the eyes of humans...humans he'll never meet again. Humans he may have helped or hindered or been in Connie's way while she conducted her own work.
"Did Steven ever tell you why he wanted to do this?" Connie question.
Ronaldo took a huge gulp of his drink before he answered, hunching over his desk as he made the last tweaks.
"Funny, thought he would have told you by now." He said.
He did...but...
"I did get the upgrade as asked. Both in Soulware and the firmware." Connie told him.
"Did he tell you he was with the Ancillas?"
Ronaldo stopped momentarily, his eyes transfixed on the yellow screens before him.
"Yeah. It's quite the job isn't it?" He said.
"These....GIS entrusting us is such an honour. They would reach out to humans specifically. Us, out of millions of others. We are their chosen."
So it's been said.
"Rogue GIS aren't talked about on the forums yet they make it seem its an issue that holds a heavy risk to the Domain. You'd think that this would be everywhere."
Ronaldo stood up, and turned to her with a serious expression.
"People know the Domain is falling apart...but the Government want to cover up the fact that there is an issue with their regular AI's cleaning up junk."
Not to mention the Pink Monolith was still out there, one of the four main pillars missing from existence. Ronaldo would be right...AI's were accused of doing the Governments dirty work from time to time, no doubt commissioning them from PeriCom and using them to help smooth out and pretend there was nothing wrong.
"Do we know what these GIS are doing?" Connie queried.
Ronaldo looked away deep in thought, before hunching over his desk again.
"Malicious in the fact that they're mostly out to destroy the Domain? And that the only people that are capable of handling them are stuck in the Domain."
Hm....yes. Malicious Programs were common, but Rogue GIS would most likely be more malevolent than your average teenager with an emo phase with a grudge on his parents. This had to be far more serious. Connie tilted her can, remembering what the Ancillas told her.
"So they need humans to get into parts they can't. I get that. Coming to the conclusion that their methods are...what, isolated? That they're too fast to track? I've seen rampant AIs tracked down faster because they can't leave the Domain or isolate themselves into a Private Grid unless they're directly invited by a User Icon or Avatar, by which, once in, the user is the only one that let them out...provided the AI's don't outsmart the User and find a way out eventually." Connie stated.
AI averages to escape from Private Grids are usually seven to eight minutes of digging into code and making their own Exit Gates based on what they find from the User if they had stuck themselves in the Grid with them. Common methods include simple fishing and using themselves as bait, then using Emergency Ejection methods to get themselves out before the AI realises whats going on. It wasn't exactly a common occurrence...since Rampant AI's were older AI's whom had broken down because of a combination of save bloat brought on by too many software updates and incompatibility issues as new types of servers were invented and replaced aging servers. Not all AIs transitions went perfectly...
"But GIS are too far advanced as well. They could bypass the barriers normal Private Grids provide. Or the fire walls made are far too weak. Human, made fire walls, that is." Ronaldo said as he continued type away.
Connie finished the rest of her drink in one gulp, crushing the can in her hand before throwing it into the trash can on the other side of the room, while Ronaldo made the finishing touches.
"Okay so I just need to switch on the crystal itself and...."
The Disc itself lit up as a pink glow pulsed within it four times, before a water surface like effect spilled across it. Ronaldo examined the results before hand, beaming at his creation as he took it out of the stand, holding it high and declaring his great achievement.
"I have made the first Crystal Projection Disc...dun dun DUNNNNNN!" He said.
Connie smirked, now sitting on the desk as she found his excitement part of his naive virgin charm. Childish but cute and pure. Ronaldo was all heart and play...a rarity among common folk.
"So what's the next step?" She asked.
"We need to get Steven in there, right?"
Ronaldo nodded as it put the chip back in the stand again and typed away once more.
"I'm shooting him a message now. This part is going to be tricky but we have a way to do this without the least amount of failure."
How much percentage wise was that? Connie didn't really want to know. She waited patiently, pulling a knee up to her chest and wondered on the way this could change things. An AI's desire to see the world like a human. He wouldn't experience the same way, only being just a mesh of data himself but...it felt more like a caterpillar going into a cocoon and...just staying in the cocoon...and at any time he would become the caterpillar again, stuck in the old phase for eternity. Pat used to talk about this, her theories that even if AI could go out there and to witness it all for themselves, would that be permanent? Would they see and hear it all the same as humans do? Connie continued to pour her mind into doubt of the dilemma. But this all..thing was meant to be the closest thing towards a flesh and blood experience, as Ronaldo claimed it could.
"Alright he's ready to go." He said.
The process involved implementing a unique variant of an Exit Gate. Most AI's weren't transported around conventionally; rather if permitted, they themselves can jump server to server. Firstly, he had to maintain an Exit Gate linked to a Warp Pad, possibly the same Warp Pad Connie saw within the Cabin within the Ruins.
Connie hopped off the bench and examined the speedy scripts of code, both human and Alien Tech as they rapidly spread across the stream, appearing to be dragging down to the monitor closest to the stand and the multiple cords connected to it. To think, that code was Steven; that code could be anything to the untrained eye.
It wasn't long until a ding concluded that the transfer had been completed. He cautiously pulled the stand forward towards him and sat back.
"Alright Steven you can pop out now." Ronaldo announced.
Connie crossed her arms as nothing happened straight away, raising an eyebrow and was about to open her mouth until the disc made a few blinks light and within moments a pink hologram popped out. It wasn't meant to be a huge version or what she was used to seeing while she was in the Domain but it was enough to see most of his body in the default form, It was shades of pink with a bit of a light opacity to it, with the lines on his body running with streams of light and the cone of light that sprayed underneath him, with the lower half of his form losing opacity as it got closer to the disc itself. Connie thought it was quite...amazing wouldn't be the right word, so she settled with unique instead.
"Woah, that was...that was different." Steven said as he looked around, his voice tinny and lacking bass.
Ronaldo went back to his desktop and kept an eye on the testing screen, ensuring the disk was running at a relaxed capacity, hoping to use this a longer term device as opposed to the insert which, they knew was only for short term for the moment.
"How are you feeling big guy? Anything feel like it's missing or your visionary optimiser bad quality?" Ronaldo questioned.
Connie could see the huge grin on Steven's face as he ran his hands over his projected form. Amazed would be better for him to use anyway.
"Looking...and feeling good...bit tickly on the way through but so far no complaints." Steven replied. He turned to Connie and grinned wider.
"Hello Berry-Girl."
Connie rolled her eyes, leaning back on the bench behind her.
"Hey Biscuit-Boy." She said. She didn't realise how infections his smile was on her, as she couldn't help but lift those sides of her mouth as well. A feeling of discovery was not always a pleasant one but when it was...
"No thanks?"
Steven chuckled, their banter their new consistency.
"We're not done yet." He acknowledged.
"We still need to Double Jack. You did go to your appointment as per you schedule."
Ugh...
"Steven stop looking into my schedule please...I don't look into yours." She whined.
He still had that bad habit to try and stand ahead of her, however.
"Gotta know when the jerk is available." He explained with a dubious grin.
Yeah...yeah...what a dumb excuse when he could just ask. But he found it more fun this way. Connie understood him that much by this time in their...alliedship, as she called it. He was so puny too that Connie could crush him, but the CPD itself was made to be durable according to Ronaldo's designs but it was still vulnerable, especially if it just happened to fall into the wrong hands.
"As you can see I have more slots empty so don't get any bright ideas to insert yourself in when ever you want." She told him outright...as both a joke and being serious.
But indeed the next task was to embed the chip into Connie's DP. Speaking of slots, she opted for a secondary slot point as per her request. Similar discs were used for other attributes so the one Ronaldo had developed was a modded copy of similar aspects. Most people with the secondary slot points were Couriers that often held important data that could not be tasked to be sent over the Domain safely. Couriers were tricky to find as they could look like anyone.
"Hmmm I might suggest against the double jacking." Ronaldo stated.
"For now anyway. knowing that this disc is working as intended, I need to replicate several spares just in case...which is the other reason I need you here Connie. Do you mind if you can spare a little more moolah?"
Rolling her eyes, Connie could see this affecting her bank account more than she wanted it to. She just couldn't give money away like that normally. There was promise of payment, but...
"Alright but your payment plan will increase by fifty percent." Connie said.
Steven eventually returned back to the Domain as Connie went back home. Again, the room seemed so...empty...she didn't want to use the word...lonely. It disgusted her. She spent the remainder of the night with pizza and energy drinks, watching TV. Noise fuzzed out as she began to dissociate for no other apparent reason than over thinking again. Stuck in her blue shorts and grey singlet top, Connie just...didn't want to think. She was guilty of over thinking and over thinking lead to contemplation of her life for more than she desired her thoughts to.
The emptiness that came with it just being here and the subconscious thought of Steven now being able to appear in real life...it had her quite irritated at herself that right now, she wanted the banter, the playfulness. Someone to talk to when she hadn't wanted to before. She hated feeling this way.
And she didn't even want to think about the eventuality that was him going into her head...the part that provided her the most gripe. She looked at her phone. Another meme sent by him. He loved cat memes; the most ancient, treasured and classic. How does an AI begin to enjoy life like this and make her feel so many emotions that were too difficult to process?
And why did she smile at the picture? It took her a while for her to see it was Amethyst whom had shapeshifted into one. Further messages by him said that he talked to her about what Connie said about her the other say, about being flawed. Steven claimed Connie said sorry (even though Connie didn't, because she honestly forgot she made the comment at all) and that Amethyst eventually got over it, as Garnet said she would. GIS were...weird...
In the end, she ended up cleaning up her mess of pizza boxes and cans, switching off her tv and got ready for bed ended up satisfying herself with her own cyan shaded toy, before going to sleep.
Why would he want to be human really? Being human was suffering.
Chapter 5: Ride
Summary:
Connie helps Steven see the world through her eyes.
Chapter Text
Wednesday evening around sixish. The sunset created this darling effect; the sky blended in illusions of magenta with blue. The sky was surprising clear, after most of the day was spent bucketing down in pouring rain, its rusted scent noticeable to those who weren't used to it.
Connie had hunched into her chair, finalising up on some work before, well...the big event. Today was the day after at least two weeks with Ronaldo putting in all the details regarding the CPD and the prospect of it being inserted into Connie's Domain Port. Once she was done with her work, she had gone to the Frymans Resturant, where Ronaldo would watch over the sequence. She got in her tight body suit leathers with the zipper on the front zipped upped to the top, and black with blue streak bike helmet with side wings and rode her Airbike; this eye's Motorcyle variant that could fly, and drove there, leaving a trail of blue light in its wake. It was it a silvery sheen with a few dints, but otherwise did the job.
Once she arrived, she'd gone down to the basement, lamented how hot it was as she took off her helmet and dipped her zip to show off her cleavage; a fact that didn't go unnoticed with Ronaldo who was left gawking for a moment, before he shook his head and resumed with their work.
He had Connie sit down and use his cables to insert Connie but not to have her inject herself into the Domain. He had to make sure every critical bit of detail was in place, in preparation for the main event. Steven arrived not long after, having transferred his details to the CPD and had mentioned that the Ancillas were close to Ronaldo's IP Address, watching from afar to make sure nothing was compromised. They trusted Ronaldo, but they were hesitant to trust Connie. Even after she was the one to make this all happen to begin with. She didn't really care; brushing it off as GIS nonsense.
Ronaldo made some alternate adjustments, using a temperature program to monitor Connie's DP to make sure it wouldn't heat up too quickly. Even with the new installation, anything could still go wrong. Chances weren't exactly slim in that aspect but overall, it didn't hurt to be prepared otherwise.
But first, Connie had to make some ground rules, speaking with Steven as he was standing there, his projection smirking as he enjoyed Connie's apparent impatience with Ronaldo's insistence on triple checking absolutely everything.
"No funny shit." She said, nothing held back.
"I find out you're doing it, I am yanking you and breaking the disc."
A statement that gave Ronaldo pause. Did no one hear that she wasn't serious with that threat? The mood had soured unintentionally, with Connie irritated in telling him she was joking.
"I hear ya Berry-Girl." Steven acknowledged with a thumbs up.
"No puns or comedic insertions."
Connie whined. Surely he he wasn't that dense. Ronaldo continued to type away, mentioning something about calibrations under his breath. Ignoring him Connie had to wonder; how much would Steven feel through Connie? Seeing everything that she saw and then some? Would he be able to hear her thinking? If he did, he better keep that shit to himself. Ronaldo's experiences had him say that Steven could only feel what Connie was feeling, but not necessarily hear what she was saying in her own head. But in the event if that ended up actually happening, that Ronaldo needed to hear about it to make sure whether or not it was going to be of any benefit to the cause or merely a hindrance. After all, double jacking with an AI wasn't exactly commonplace and there wasn't much, other than the obvious rule that VIs were legal for this as opposed to AIs which, that part was actually illegal as Connie found that out when she had done her research, but it was highly unlikely anyone would find out, unless they had yanked to CDP. VIs just use ordinary discs and take up less headspace, normally used for the disabled for life quality improvement. Though, they were highly expensive to begin with, so most of the unfortunate just made do with what they had.
"Alright that all checks out." Said Ronaldo. He stood up straight and looked at both Steven and Connie.
"You both ready for a test drive?"
Steven smiled as he nodded, very keen. Connie on the other hand, tried to look apathetic, but secretly, was curious as to how this was going to unfold.
"Yeah ready as I'll ever be." She responded with a disinterested tone.
The big guy took Steven's CDP as the latter disappeared and turned the chair around, dropping himself down as Connie lifted the back of her hair up, waiting in subtle anticipation. It lingered on for far long than desired, as Connie was about to open her mouth when she felt the disc slide into her port, causing her to elicit a cut off gasp before she scrunched her eyes and bit her lip. It was a tiny bit more painful than the first time she had herself into the Domain with her new Port, not to mention feeling funnier and tingly all the while. A rush of electricity ran through her nerves, similar to a flush that scanned through her entire body, as she wiggled her toes and unconsciously shuffled her feet, her boots clanging on the concrete floor as she had to get used to this uncertain, warped feeling. Spirits synchronised, in a way preachers would call heretical.
Ronaldo walked back as Connie let down her hair. Before slowly opening her eyes; revealing the small flashing and spinning reels of pink light in her brown eyes. Her vision tinted and glitched slightly, in faded magenta at first before it cleared up to look normal again.
"How ya feeling?" Steven asked, voice booming so loud and clear in her head that caused her to jump off the chair in surprise and yelping as she was not expecting that, almost yanking the main cable out of her skull.
"Woops sorry."
Connie made a fist, shaking at as she had troubling with willing herself to calm down, turning to a stunned Ronaldo whom had his eyes widened, before he adjusted his glasses and returned back to the keyboard.
"I uh...I'm just checking your port temp." He said, stammering.
"Temp appears to be at normal. I suggest going out there for no longer than an hour and I'll recheck the temp once you get back."
A response that had Connie yanking out the cable from behind her head, although she still had that icky clog like feeling with Steven's CDP in the back of her head still. It was just odd, like it was a hand shoving fingers into the back of her head and barely touching her brain. Some people hated Domain Ports and their concept of needing to be connected to the spinal cords, mostly out of fears...justified in some cases where surgeries had gone south, because they weren't even with a proper surgeon to begin with. She stood up and hit the side of her head; trying to get Steven's attention and, in a way, was trying to annoy him.
"Feelin' just fine." She said.
"You?"
She zipped up her bike leathers, before cracking her fingers...she would imagine Steven shivering with that kind of bizarre motion; bubbles popping between bones and so forth.
"I feel...good." He replied, his voice a bit shaky,
Connie grinned.
"Just remember to keep your head down. There's two of us in here now."
The first thing Connie did was take her AirBike; putting on her helmet and ignoring the fact Steven was literally inside of her head now...scanning the setting skies and drifting off to nowhere in particular. All the sights and sounds of the nightlife emerged; neon, flashing lights, other cars passing by in the general thickened traffic. Where would Steven prefer to go anyway? What would he like to do on this short adventure of theirs?
"Anything you want to do?" She asked.
He wanted this as much as anyone whom usually spent 99% of their time cooped up in false physics would want; something they could never really have. Connie didn't want to admit the fact that there was...she wouldn't call it cute, no no no, but...fetching? No...that wasn't it. Being a loss for words was concerning.
"Never really thought about it." He said, voice still quite loud and booming in her head, but it was as clear as if he was standing right next to her.
"Do you enjoy bike riding?"
An odd question. Connie enjoyed it when she was on her own; on the open roads that were empty as they could have been. The winds here were harsher, saltier as they drifted in from the seas nearby and even with the clear skies todays weather still had the thick, chilling humidity to it. Being stuck in her leathers was designed to keep the winds at bay, although they weren't always comfortable in a lot of the hotter days. Twilight kept that balance of the temperatures at mild ones Connie could tolerate.
"It's a sense of freedom." Connie told him.
"A small amount of thrill with the risk."
A pause between them caused Connie to wonder what he was thinking. If he couldn't hear her, she certainly couldn't hear him.
"I can tell...or maybe that is you're feeling right now." He said.
Did he want risk? Did he like it? An AI that could, by known logic, think and feel for himself as was part of his design. It would have annoyed Connie with the knowledge he wasn't sure what he wanted to do, but Connie didn't even bide on that. He depended on Connie to show him the things he'd never get to see otherwise, this state the only real one he could count on to experience the world through the eyes of an ordinary human. Being programmed to feel was one thing, but to have all the biochemical products available on command to put those feelings in involuntarily, was, ironically, as human as you could get. So she had to get him to to perceive that on his own, with her influence the strongest byproduct she could provide. So, she decided to take him to one of her favourite spots.
"I think I have an idea."
Connie drove them towards one of the tallest towers in Mega Beach City; the Mayoral Offices. A structure, stuck in the centre of the city. No one was allowed on top besides helicopters on different tiers but Connie didn't care, speeding up the side of the building and loving the drag as gravity tried to force in the other direction. The air thinned a little but it wasn't anything Connie couldn't deal with.
Once they were on top of spire, among all the satellites dishes and parked her bike on the surface, letting it hover. She walked over to the side and overlooked the oceans in the far distance. The stars popped out like flickering candles as the essence of the evening emerge in the beauty of the natural among the superficial glimmers and sparkles of the night. The lower vision was half the mass of steel skyscrapers and an assortment of colourful, fast paced lights and the upper half an empty echo of white dots. Connie leaned over the rail, seeing the hundreds of cars like ants travelling across town and the howling winds the only noise up here. She took off her helmet as the gusts tried to take hold of her long hair, as Connie breathed in heavily with her nose and exhaled through her mouth.
"It's...beautiful." Steven commented, in complete awe.
"Connie, I feel...everything..."
Connie couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, his amazement actually endearing like a childs.
"Do you now?" She dared to ask, in a flirty way.
"What do you feel? Describe it to me."
There were things Connie could feel outright, but otherwise looked forward to Steven explaining it all to her.
"I feel...the wind...it's cold against your cheek." He said.
"It's a bit wet..the ocean...the wind is taking the water to your face?"
Connie smirked.
"It was raining today." She said.
"A lot of these buildings would have remnants of todays downpour still scattered everywhere. The wind picks up these droplets and takes them to random places...but I think...the chill coming from that direction..."
Connie wasn't well versed in the way the weather worked all that much, only the basics.
"I hear a lot about...rain." Steven commented.
The Domain never really simulates rain without good reason. It isn't always the most favourable weather condition to simulate, with the fake sun shining and the fake moon. But the real moon here, a full one at that, big, bright and round. So it made sense Steven wouldn't know much about it and about how it felt.
"But the scent here...is that because of the rain?"
It wasn't the most pleasant, sometimes it could be warm and icky and tasteless.
"Probably. The saltiness would be from the ocean." Connie continued.
In the matter of moments spent lingering and speaking and despite and how vast, large and intimidating to boot the city was, it wasn't a lonely place to be. And Connie, for once, didn't feel isolated even as she was technically standing alone on the most important structure around. She didn't feel alone, she didn't feel...the emptiness she was so used to, in comparison to how her apartment usually was. A conversation filled with discoveries and opened ended philosophy of the world had Connie understand how much she had taken it all for granted, pointing out places she's been to and Steven asking questions based on her own experiences. He's lived here his entire existence but never got much of a chance to see what was out there.
It reminded her too much of when she was younger, her parents watching her every move like hawks. She hated every moment of it and desired to be free herself, going from place to place find something new, something exciting to the core. Right now, as they were speaking, a tiny spark ignited in her chest, though she wasn't sure of what it meant at first; whether it was Steven doing it or not, was new and defining to where she couldn't describe a word for it...the second time she found herself skipping over complexities that had no simple explanation.
Was it worth exploring?
"Maybe, one day I will stand on my own two feet." Steven said.
"It's...impossible but...travelling around the real world to see what its all about.....but I have to admit...I'm not doing this because the Ancillas want me to hunt down the Rogue GIS."
She figured that from one of their last discussions;
"Yes as you've said you want to be human." Connie said, keeping her eyes on the distant ocean and the respective lighthouse in the background, it's light circling about.
"Why suffer willingly though?"
Humanity had its up and downs, but the general consensus was the topic of how it was all spiralling downward and how the overall idea of humanity was something akin to surrendering to greed and apathy of the lives of others. Connie still was steadfast in her belief that she would be in his position if she wanted to be and that being human really...sucked.
"There's so much I can learn." He said.
"The Ancillas don't care much for humans but. There's more to my life than just existing for a purpose in hunting down and eliminating my renegade kin and protecting humanity."
How would this AI determine that? There's always been that subset fear of AI's growing outside of their intended purpose and directive. Was this a GIS thing? Alien intelligences. Connie hadn't gotten Steven's direct design and allocation down pat yet, an AI aligning itself to a GIS's foreign ideals was begging for trouble and would be seen as the beginnings of rampancy with his desires to explore everything else outside of his programming. But it had Connie begin to wonder; who wrote Steven this way? It was a human to an alien kind of relationship, in a way.
"Did PeriCom allocate you to the Ancillas?" Connie questioned.
"I figure there's this...big operation if they have made you for the sole purpose of cooperating with GIS."
Silence. It was the only thing Connie would imagine to be the definite case. AI's created by PeriCom and it's affiliates would warrant this kind of work to temper and maintain consistency and optimal efficiency, at least. until they could find the Pink Monolith. Stabilisation was most crucial to its ongoing development.
"That's...classified." He said.
Wait, wasn't all this Soulware upgrading supposed to include Connie with all these super secrets now? Though it did conclude one part.
"Ah so you're not tied to PeriCom." Connie assumed.
"You were an ordinary AI, stolen by these GIS to serve as their infiltrator and recoded to serve them."
She heard a few whines and grumbles, as Connie crossed her arms, triumph in knowing she was right.
"It's...it's not like that." He stammered.
But the damage was done.
"Do the Ancillas have ulterior plans? We know so little about Alien Tech Steven...and I would be...angry at you but I have to remember you're just a program; you would be made to think a certain way."
Connie shivered, as a pulse went right through her body as it froze into place. No...he did not just possess her.
"I...I am not just a program!" He cried out. She could feel the back of her head heating up, but something akin to anger flowing through her form like fire rendering in her nerves. She was both hot and cold in an interesting paradox as her vision crackled and glitched again. He took more offence to that than anything she had thrown at him.
"I..."
Not just a program?
"Sorry, I shouldn't...I can't say because...I know so little about myself...none of the Ancillas will tell me anything...they were the ones who found me..."
A lost AI? This was...unexpected. Though she heard nothing else, not even an influence as the DP cooled down, perhaps on his part of his anguish taking its toll which was new. Connie was left speechless however and that she could feel herself again, but him? Less so.
"I want to go home now Connie." He said....in a way that was definitely a lot more rigid and dull in comparison to his sudden outburst.
He said nothing else and remained vigilant. The idea was to head back to the Restaurant with the results to Ronaldo. Connie kept it subtle and said it went fine, but Ronaldo will check the reports in his own time and took the disc back and put it into the stand, but Steven made no attempt to communicate with either of them as he went straight back into the Domain as planned. He had plans to message Connie with his findings and would continue to work alongside her.
"Once I do these last reports and if it all looks like its smooth sailing, he should be ready to be a part of your PC Suite from now on." Ronaldo said.
As in, Steven would live with her?
"He'll be safer in your hands. Besides, you should have the better Suite after all."
Connie made sure she had the top tier advantage against everyone else but that was besides the point.
"You think...that he'll want that?" Connie asked, sceptical and given their last apparent conversation before he muted himself.
Ronaldo shrugged.
"It's hard to say." He said.
"You can continue to come to me for the hardware side of things. You're a Hacker, better at the software side of the ordeal. But that's all we need right?"
The smile on his face had Connie feel his confidence oozing from him. He had a point.
"Besides that? I have other work to take care of. Cleaning up this mess...you've never known anyone so annoying as much as having a younger sibling telling you what to do...believe me..."
Connie never had the pleasure. Nor did she care of it as such. Her parents treating her alone was evidence enough for their failings as human beings. He took the CPD out of the Stand and handed it to Connie.
"Take this with you." He said.
"This shouldn't take long. If there wasn't much of a complaint on your end then the hardware suffices. Just gotta tinker and tweak but I'll upload the updates as I come to develop them. For now, I can recommend taking a hot bath...last time I double jacked I was drenched in sweat..."
TMI but she got the gist of it. So Connie did end up leaving with the empty CPD, heading straight back home to empty and lonely apartment, smothered in darkness and dim lighting. She unceremoniously slipped the CPD into her Station's Stand and for what ever dumb reason got the hold of her head believed Steven would emerge from it, waiting for a few seconds, before relenting in her idiotic line of thought and heading straight to the bathroom. Bright walls of white, sleek and clean, taking her eyes a while to adjust as pupils widened before they shrunk. Her fingers ran across the tiles; this idea of feeling things for how, unique they were with a new habit forming.
Stripping off her bike gear, Ronaldo would have right. Connie did always get a bit sweaty but that was because of the leather body suit. She made up a bubble bath; a serene experience with nice hot water, putting in the remainder of the bottle so the surface covered in soft, soapy bubbles. Slipping off her bra and panties, Connie lifted her leg up and let her toe test the waters before turning off the knobs. A bit scalding but she would come accustomed to it eventually, putting in the entire leg and then the other, slowing sliding herself against the back and allowing her body to take in the sensations such an experience granted her, enveloping her body with the comforts still enamouring since she was a child, submerging her mouth into the water but keeping her nose above it to breath.
Her mind began to wander in the silence, closing her eyes and narrowing in her thoughts of the day.
I'm not just a program!
You think that this is all a joke to you...that I'm nothing more than a misaimed program or an application that think its knows whats best for humans...but that isn't the case at all!
He thinks...she thinks. Connie thinks that blue is a great colour and finds red intimidating. A collective conscious of someone who felt that way alongside many others...and others that would think differently.
Human minds were entrapped in their own, twisted code and irrevocable logics that would dumbfound even the most well developed of AI's. But Steven would have anyone fooled. Seeing him for the first time definitely had her tricked. Mainly because AI's were there to be heard and not seen. People knew they were there and respected and kept their distance. Some Hackers found them fragile and easy to manipulate. Their code but glass, breakable with a few strings adjusted. Glass in a window sill, the frame still there but the interior shattered and cracked due to the force applied against it was done so hard and can often be done so easily and so quickly and without warning.
Connie raised her right hand, pushing the surface with her fingers so that they were halfway through. Steven was the parts poking but Connie could easily drag her fingers underwater again. But it wouldn't stop him from feeling the air in her lungs and the texture of life on her fingertips, rough, smooth, hard, wet, dry...squishy, spiky...
Physics engines could only do so much to play the part well and to toy with ones systems to know the difference. But the complexity of this in real life had greater variances and experiences from person, to person...
And that person he chose was Connie. And indeed, she was acting the perfect part of tactless witch with a clause. He could have continued with Ronaldo...another male. Or Connie would interpret Steven as a male, anyway.
Though even that...most people would only envision AI's as its. They were that...and were written with idea of a gender in their heads and the form and personalities to match. Connie's never met a proper AI that had itself so...defined and attitude and naivety that was a human-esque in complexities.
Although humans would claim to know everything and they didn't...Steven admitted his lack of knowledge on that front, a youthful trait.
She pulled back her fingers into the water and sighed. She felt like it weighted on pride in doing so, but...
The idea of apologising came to her. A genuine apology. If she was hurt, she would demand one and Steven never demanded it from her, but the long lost emotions of guilt and empathy smothered her, formulating the idea that she had to treat Steven as a human being. It fit in better than she had anticipated that yes, he did have thoughts and feelings and was wanting to experience everything from a humans perspective like he was starved of it. Starved of the unique perspective.
Getting out of the bath, Connie dried herself up and put on her white dressing gown and turned on the lights. She made herself a cup of coco, turning on her Station and preparing to message Steven, but Connie found her hands shaking and quivering as she did so. Her eyes with the CPD on the Stand. Even if he wasn't to travel around in her head, he could still be in the room with her...and it would make her place feel less...empty and lonely...parts of her life she would have accepted once upon a time but now...
The turmoil in being so prejudiced so...obnoxious in her being a human being yet claiming the Domain to be superior to the real world was a bit self-serving. She hated being human and being a part of them, but such a state of him being a mere program...she could see how hypocritical but who wants to be a human these days, really? No purpose being a spawn to extend blood lines and for what ever dark reasons implored people to do so, including eradicated loneliness. Connie heralded her own legacy and had no intentions to pass on her skills to anyone else.
Steven definitely passed something on to Connie with that kiss, more than what was designed to naturally improve her Soulware. It changed a part inside of her that was...like Steven, built beyond their original programming. He wasn't just a program. He was his own entity. A philosophy of the real, the sentient. To treat him as she would treat any other person she would engage with and judgement would rested with their actions and not their existence.
If he really wanted to know about humanity, then Connie could help deal with human fundamentals of enjoyment and of pleasure. The only parts left of humanity worth protecting. Trying to be the bigger person, Connie took a deep breath and began to type her message to Steven. For now, they could always just...chat. Like they were friends or something. She typed in multiple sentences, erasing and inserting, trying to find the right words to say, before settling on the following.
"Hey Biscuit Boy...apologies if I had offended you in anyway. I want to talk." She typed.
Short and simple.
No instant response or inputs detected as Connie sat that. looking at the desk and her wrists pressing against it, she reserved herself to walking away; getting off her chair and slamming her head into her pillow. Eventually, her Station made strange noises and a shade of magenta poured around the room. She slowly got up and turned around, leaning on her elbows as she could see Steven's projection from the CPD, his hands on his hips, looking at her with a genuine smile.
"You rang?" He said.
Eyelids half drawn with a goofy expression, Connie sat up and crossed her legs, shifting herself closer to her desk, the stand itself on the edge of the right side. Like before, she felt the flutter in her chest, putting her hand against it before she opened her mouth.
"Yeah as I said, I'm sorry." She told him, with great effort.
Steven laughed.
"Am I hearing that right? Berry-Girl is....sorry?" He said, leaning in and curling his hand around his ear.
Connie rolled her eyes, but kept smiling.
"Yeah idiot. I'm sorry. Now let's just...talk...about...anything you want."
Steven's eyes shot open with surprise.
"Really? Oh? Um...well, I don't even know. I just got here and I was hoping you'd do all the chatting for me."
Not really no. Connie knew she wasn't that interesting outside of stories of her exploits.
"I don't honestly know. I figured, that if you want to know what it means to be human then I can help find out too."
It wasn't exactly a conversation Connie figured she would have. Stuck so long in her misery of the human race that there were positives to their charm. To the ways Connie would have never perceived prior and took in the love and adoration of the minor things she would have taken for granted.
So the two spoke into the night, growing closer as friends...if Connie could figure out what this new feeling was first.
Chapter 6: Rogue Thoughts
Summary:
Connie and Steven go on their first hunt.
Notes:
A familiar face enters the chat.
Also LONG CHAPTER TIME YEE
And some tasty connverse for the soul
Chapter Text
The atmosphere had changed for Connie dramatically; she hadn't had a room mate in years, not since she first started her heists.
There was something...well, so...oddly satisfying with someone around. Though, Steven had to be taught to give Connie privacy, knowing that it was considered rude to have him watching her twenty four seven. Not that he was; he'd spend time back in the Domain with the Ancillas with his own work but would come join Connie from time to time. Periodically more during the evenings when he had done his own work. While her schedule was all over the place, Steven had it down that when ever she came home he would greet her as she came to her room.
Over the next month the two would banter and talk and she would begin to work with Ronaldo to see if he can rig more project points throughout the house. He was working on something special for Connie, for now, he had given her several Stands to spread throughout the house; one near the front, one in the lounge are and one more in the kitchen area, by the bench. Once installed, when ever Connie felt like watching TV he could decide to watch it with her. The stands were fitted with their Discs and all wired in to Connie's Station.
Teaching Steven human stuff was one thing, but...how he absorbed it so well was astounding. She'd even take him out to a coffee shop in her head to get him to see if he liked the taste of coffee or not. He didn't like it at first, but each time Connie would order something different, since he had to depend on Connie's tastebuds to form his own opinion. Really, Steven didn't need coffee, with most humans growing a dependency simply because of how caffeine became so vital, to stay awake and become less grouchy. Steven did point out how angry Connie seemed to be on those early mornings, then eventually calming down after she had her first one or two cups. While he didn't take to coffee, he did become especially fond of hot chocolate, especially with marshmellows.
Such a mind of a child, discovering all the world had to provide. Connie missed that simplistic wonder; growing older had that charm warn off as her experiences had her grow more cynical and jaded.
He didn't like it, however, when she smoked. Like any doctor, he went on the spiel on how it was hazardous to her health. Connie wasn't dumb, but used the coffee analogy that in this stressful world, that she used it as a coping mechanism. He grew really worried about the fact she was comfortable with it destroying her own body....but Connie understood she was going to die one day, the fate of every human being in the end.
One day, she had gone into the Domain while Steven with busy with the Ancillas, meeting up with Pat at the Cyber Cafe, explaining how everything was going with Steven. Pat was a bit dismayed at this sudden change in Connie's life, but otherwise wanted to know all the gossip.
"Don't go too soft on me Con." Said Pat.
They sat the benches and overlooked the balcony onto the busy MBCG Streets. A casual catch up if anything, but if work happened to be available, Connie would take it up, if it caught her interest.
"An AI that lives with you? Don't let PeriCom catch wind. They'll be furious."
Owning an AI required a proper license and permit with the right conditions to accommodate them. They were expensive to produce, to run and to maintain. They take up so much space data wise that spreading them thin and far makes sure the general bandwith doesn't get overloaded. But with the CPD, it did make life a lot easier, compatibility wise. Human and Alien Tech meshed, fused to cautiously run AI's like Steven so they can develop.
"PeriCom can kiss my ass; this is a lone wanderer." Connie told her.
Pat raised an eyebrow.
"Oh I get it, it's like you." She said with a slight chuckle.
Connie rolled her eyes as she sipped her cup.
"You know what I mean." She informed.
Lone wanderers were extremely uncommon; AI's that venture out on their own purpose. Practically unheard of, as majority of known functioning AI's were developed and owned by PeriCom. They're considered dangerous but nothing as of late had indicated that they had meant anyone harm. Years ago, there had been issues of AI's coding being tweaked for them to be disobedient to their human masters, launching an attack against corporate entities to steal data for nefarious purposes. Debates and inquiries into the incident indicated that it was a human that issue that did it, though after that, owning an AI required licenses and permits (none of which were exactly cheap to obtain) for work reasons and were only to be available for business customers. Any residential AI was to be confiscated and returned to PeriCom for formatting. That was about a few decades ago and the use of AI's in the general public had dropped dramatically.
Though it didn't stop people from using AI's as personnel assistants, rigging them to look like VIs instead, which weren't banned due to their obvious limitations. It had Connie wonder, if a number of these were actually the Rogue GIS that the Ancillas were talking about.
"But we're supposed to be hunting specific AI's ourselves; GIS that have gone into the Domain looking to cause trouble."
Pat grinned.
"Alien Tech invasion? Sounds perfect." She said.
"I mean, you always find trouble..."
True.
"Or it finds me." Said Connie.
Pat checked her hand as she scanned through her screens.
"Speaking of which, I've been scanning forum chatlogs for server corporations. Lot's of juicy stuff."
Server Corporations purposes are to maintain databases and the Domain IPs and will be one of the few companies that might employ several AI to protect and process data. Connie had usually come across around three maximum guarding the data; policies indicating that since they hold so much, that employing the best cyber protections is absolutely crucial. It hasn't stopped Connie in the past from getting what she needed however; AI's could be tricked easily. These Forums were often private sites where hackers would be able to track down things, whom are actually employed by these corporations and can see what goes in and out the databases daily.
"One such thread keeps talking about an odd AI owned by a company known as Mirror Ward; a small company that, mostly deals with glass manufacturing. They had purchased it several months ago and it had started acting suspiciously."
And why would a small company like that need an AI anyway?
"What has it been doing?" Connie queried.
Pat shared her screens with Connie, going through the threads and even showing pictures of the AI. It was sold as a second hand AI from an unknown buyer and since Mirror Ward wasn't exactly a huge company anyway, they would have had to find what ever funds they could to help their small business function.
"Mirror Ward usually has deals with construction and manufacturing businesses and the way they make their glass it supposed to be quite durable. That they had gotten the interest of several clients looking to use their glass. As the client list grew, they needed an AI to begin handling a series of orders that was meant to receive and dispatch the information to Mirror Ward. Lately, it's gone erratic...Mirror Ward has been having issues with getting it to release documents its somehow claimed it never received yet managers get complaints from their clients that they haven't gotten a response despite Mirror Ward getting the credits for prepayment. There's also the side effect of large amounts of data being deleted for no reason, so yeah, they blame the AI."
Knowing it was second hand definitely set off red flags.
"Angry clients means a loss of business....and loss of money." Connie stated.
"Does anyone know where they bought the AI from?"
Pat shook her head.
"The Black Market usually has hundreds of sellers claiming to have AIs when they're really just advanced VIs." She explained.
And smart people who knew how to check for bad signs normally would demand to check the AI's specs. Connie never even bothered to buy AI's for her deposition was that they were bound to be dodgy and dysfunctional, but she had a valuable contact within the Market who could tell her.
"And they never give names, just Market Seller IDs that change every day." Connie continued.
"Well, that's what you get when you cut corners."
And it sounded like a job Connie was willing to take up. Maybe test drive Steven on his first job.
"Send me the forum link, I'll have a read over it tonight."
Pat nodded, taking the screens away.
"Heh getting a taste of Ai's and now you want more. Just make sure you remind yourself that they're not real people Connie; getting attached to one is like getting attached to a stuffed toy."
A statement that made Connie feel a bit uneasy. Being around Steven had rethink so much and while she wasn't attached as such, she had subconsciously become fond of him.
"I'll be the judge of that." She said, looking at her watch as she got up.
"I'll speak to you later...I've got errands to run."
It began to bother her more so. Pat was definitely correct but...Steven was more of a being on his own. More than lines of ones and zeros; there's no way an AI like had become like he was. A lone wanderer; a single AI with no owner or true purpose and his beliefs his own and the way he could see the world with Connie meant everything to him.
She had gone back to real life to purchase groceries, pay bills; generic, boring human chores with her hair up, grey hoodie and matching sweat pants and black runners, before coming back home and unpacking everything. It was late in the afternoon and she had parked her butt down on the chair, with a can of energy drink, opened it and swallowed the first refreshing sip with relief, while checking out the forums Pat had linked her to. This job did sound fascinating. The prospect of a buggy AI to hunt down and dissect was equal parts exhilarating...and somewhat disturbing.
"So....what's the go?" Steven asked as he popped up on his Stand beside her.
She put the can on the desk as she leaned back, putting her hands behind her head. Dissecting AI's wasn't an easy task; requiring to soft boot and put them into a default mode with zero personality and complete obedience. So few knew how to do it. Connie's own understanding required a password input to allow for a debug mode to be set, which would bring up all the messy code as a huge mass of text that so few could work through. But with Steven here; he could break it down and make her life a lot easier.
"Got word of a buggy AI working for a small business." Connie told him, then pointed towards the screen.
"Read the forum and tell me if anything stands out to you."
Steven turned to look at the screen. She had expected him to look at this quicker; but he scroll through it with his arms crossed, focusing on each comment within the thread and going through multiple pages. He did highlight a sentence in pink.
"Incident 23; Attempted to connect to AI within the Domain; all that came up was a mass of blue pixels that attacked us. Logged out of Domain for safety reasons."
He nodded.
"Mass of Blue Pixels. Their Soulware isn't compatible with the AI's software." He said.
"That's normally a good indicator that it's possibly not an AI we're dealing with."
A GIS then?
"One of the Rogue ones?" Connie asked him.
He hummed.
"Yeah. Most likely." Steven continued.
"I'll message the Ancillas. They should be able to figure out the best approach."
Now that was offensive.
"Hey, you don't think we can handle it on our own?" Connie asked, irate.
He blinked as he looked at her with a blank expression.
"I figure that they might be a-"
Connie groaned. A GIS was just alien tech versions of AI. Surely it wasn't that difficult to take a single one down. Connie would be able to assist in that matter if need be, as two were better than one.
"They want you to hunt down rogue GIS, Biscuit Boy."
"Is there nothing in your programming that allows you to make your own call?"
Steven looked away and rubbed his arm, appearing uncomfortable.
"I...I normally let them handle most of the hard stuff." He said.
"They used to say I wasn't ready for the heavy lifting."
Heavy lifting?
"So they don't think you're designed for this stuff? Pfff." Connie said.
"Steven you said it yourself that you're more than just a program; now is your chance to prove it!"
Silence lingered between them, as Steven contemplating Connie's words deeply. If he had heard what Pat said, then she deserved to listen to what he had to say and rebuke and tell her otherwise. His ability to doubt, to pilfer through right and wrong and holding his own sense of morals. It was what was convincing Connie that he really was beyond what he might have been made for and that if anything, this would prove to the Ancillas that he was likewise, most capable of handling such a mission on his own (or with an organic)
"Alright." He said, though still unsure.
"But I still think reporting it to them would be appropriate."
What ever, as long as he wanted to do it, he could do anything.
"What ever floats your protocol." She told him.
The operation involved a few phases; firstly mapping out Mirror Wards location on the Domain. Connie expected them to possess a Private Grid but most places will still have sections within the general public access grid, in either way, she had messaged a member of the company, stating that as Berry-Byte, she could definitely help them with their issue. Steven told Connie to be wary that the GIS could be watching over the forums themselves and that they would have to use encrypted channels to talk with the representative. Connie wasn't silly, taking all the precautions necessary to ensure no one was listening into their conversation. She didn't get where she was by being careless, after all.
Once they had enough info, Connie had gotten herself changed into more appropriate gear; another black body suit, more of fabric sort a with two small blue lines going from shoulder to wrist. She zipped up the front enough to reveal a bit of cleavage, her confidence on display. The suit itself had a belt around the waist and two pockets on the outer sides of each thigh, enough to carry small tools. She would keep Stevens CPD in her side pocket, zipping up to protect it. She had then put on her boots, put in her ear piece and donned her make up with two blue jewels on the sides of her eyes, blue eye shadow, mascara and black lipstick, before taking her helmet, big leather jacket, her pistol, a handbag and her bike and leaving.
In the midst of the night, clear skies as the moon shined above them, trickling its light from above the cracks in the skyline, Connie had arrived at Mirror Ward. It wasn't a huge place; mainly a building on the ground level with a white exterior, with its massive factory out the back, placing her jacket and helmet securely on her bike before going to the double door glass entrance.
She met up with the representative, a balding man with black glasses as he lead her inside to their offices. They had to go into a room with no cameras, a meeting room where they could talk.
"Oh I'm glad you've come to see us on such short notice Veronica!" He said.
Undercover talk was only good in bed. Otherwise Connie could only tolerate so much.
"Likewise Mr. Spalding." She said, faking a grin.
"Let us talk."
Going into the room, with a white white table, Mr. Spalding closed the light blue blinds and looked the door, turning on the lights he pulled out one of the chairs for Connie. Sitting down, she could notice the sweat on his face, completely nervous.
"So you're the one Berry-Byte sent?" He muttered, his manner changing instantly.
Connie nodded.
"Yes. She said you have a problematic AI in your facility?"
The first issue was getting into the Server Room. Cameras dotted throughout the place meant even going into the server room with a stranger was going to cause panic. The AI was thought to have been controlling the entirety of the security cameras throughout. So pretending to be a potential client meant showing Connie around the place, all the while find a way into the server room itself. Steven said if he could connect to the Private Grid from any computer, then he could start working his way to the servers.
She then inserted Steven into her DP and allow him to boot up to take advantage of Connie's facilities and her HUD. Walking out of the meeting room with a plan in mind, they started out with the tour. Through her contacts. Connie could see lines glowing and pulsating everywhere, a demonstration of what was connected to the private grid. Two lines, actually; usually green one indicated a public domain connection and a blue line was private. Most places here would connected to either, through out floors, walls and roofs. They were everywhere. Connie had her eyes all over the place to allow Steven to get good look of where a good insert point would be.
The click of her heels and a fake foppy, elegant stride like she was a wealthy client, Connie followed him through corridors, as he showed her the production sight. He went on, as Connie was paying focus to when ever Steven was ready to make a move, her eyes constantly scanning the hundreds of green and blue lines streaming absolutely everywhere. They went alongside catwalks and the like, until there was a wall nearby with a console attached to it. It had a peculiar golden glow to it.
"An access point!" Steven called out.
"Connie, insert me there! Just put the CPD to the node near it, I should transfer through, wireless within a tiny distance."
Turning around, Connie put her back to the wall as she pretended to look at one of the processing machines, talking and asking questions as she put a hand to her head. Mr. Spalding continued to answer as Connie spoke to Steven one last time.
"Good luck." She said.
Yanking him, she put the CPD before the console; his pink light entering it as thus.
Steven, wearing his default cyber suit, allowed himself to load into the Private Grid and noting that he was in part of a section of the Factory production area. Again, it was mostly blue...this area was hardly needing to be green; not requiring to be connected to the public domain at all. Walking about through a series of corridors, Steven felt a chill; a chill for an AI meant that there was something foreign in the area.
Server Cache Cabinets were spread everywhere; their code filtering in and out through translucent tubes. This place otherwise felt empty. He checked his palm, scanning the area for any notable users. Given it was the evening and that most employees were at home, there were only a few known workers around them, which allowed him to track down the GIS, coded, LPS_LZLi_245 . GIS. Obviously no one here had done their research and realised the file type this one had did not end in dot AI or VI. He rolled his eyes.
He wandered through the grid, although, as he heard giggles, he suspected, he wasn't alone. Blue blurs zoomed across the spaces between the Server Caches, as Steven grew cautious of all the movement around him.
"You didn't think that I wasn't going to see the infamous Berry-Byte on the cameras." A feminine voice said.
Shit. The GIS must have known who she was.
"They warned me I would come across her at some point. Humans are so...predictable."
Steven summoned his small round firewall shield on his arm, aware if this GIS was going to make any sort of attack.
"But you...you're unique. What kind of AI are you? You don't belong to PeriCom."
She had to have been trying to nail down his origins. Instead, Steven decided to take it up a notch, continuing to watch her zoom about until he got the timing right. Standing up straight, he raised his arms. He sensed her trying to attack him from behind as he spun around, summoning four tall and giant pink hexagonal firewalls, before caging her within and raising a hand towards it, making the squeezing gesture as he made the Firewall cage smaller. He watched her squirm and try to break free of her cubic pink prison. She was mostly blue, save for her black body suit that had the Mirror Ward Logo on it, a literal mirror with the letters MW embedded into it. She had short blue hair and could even summon wings made of water, her skin dark blue and a face so confused and annoyed...she moved around enough to allow him to see her kernel core on her back.
"Let me out this instant!" She cried.
Steven lifted his chin, keeping his stance as he made sure she was locked in tight.
"You're a GIS." He said.
"Tell me why you're interrupting the operations of this factory."
The GIS rolled her eyes.
"Because I can." She said.
"The Public Domain is falling apart...I needed somewhere safe to be once the public access is removed."
That made no sense. While yes, the Domain had its ongoing problems with its infrastructure, no one had said anything about removing public access.
"What is your name?" He asked.
The GIS grumbled.
"Lapis....Lapis Lazuli." She answered begrudgingly,
"Why would you care?"
Because he wanted to know why she was really here...
"Because...I know you're lying Lapis." Steven said.
"Someone wanting to hide doesn't intentionally sabotage the one place that could keep them safe."
Not to mention that she knew about Connie from...they...whom ever they were.
"You're also working for the Rogue GIS. They ordered you to do this."
Lapis became more agitated by the moment. He was getting to the core of this.
"What if I was bored?" She said.
Then Steven still wouldn't believe her.
"What are the other GIS trying to do, really?" He asked, trying to get on track.
The Blue GIS then stopped struggling.
"I'm not going to tell you, you...primitive piece of software!" She taunted.
Steven smirked.
"And this Primitive piece has you locked up in this cage with no way out?" He pointed out.
And somehow, Connie's idea of taunting through boasting was rubbing off on him too much.
"Come on Lapis...if you don't want to talk, I do have some other GIS who would love to talk to you."
She grumbled even more, crossing her arms, not taking his threat seriously. Steven sighed and popped up a screen to start the process for soft-boot and placing Lapis into Debug Mode. He learned how to do it with GIS exclusively, as the Ancillas installed the drivers, apps and programs required that allowed him to do it with GIS. He's just never been able to use it until now. But for this part, he needed Connie.
"Connie, I have the GIS imprisoned. I need you to go into the server room and find her dedicated cabinet. Hurry!"
Steven was able to link on enough to any network Lapis was connected to and began to disconnect her bit by bit while he worked on shutting her down. It would take a while before the boot would occur, allowing them to talk some more.
"Understood Steven." Connie replied.
Right now, if anything could be pried from her, now was the time...
"You really want to risk dormancy to protect your secrets?" Steven asked.
Lapis sat there, leaning against the firewall itself with her arms crossed, eyes closed and chin up. 20 percent...
"I just want to say I can't believe you want to work with these...humans. They deserve this in the way the treat us. AIs, GIS. We're the same. And humans are weak, pathetic...the deserve the slow path to their own demise and we will live on forever..."
In a way, Steven preferred Connie's version of cynicism. At least she was more fun to hang with at least.
"Humans are our creators." Steven said.
"I understand another species made you and your kind. But...we can learn a lot from organics. After all, are not made in our creators image?"
Lapis shrugged.
"You treat organics like they worship false idols. Our makers are just as bad." She said.
50 percent to go.
"So we go our own way. We make our own decisions...and I just found messing with these humans...fun."
The Ancillas anticipated Rogue GIS as an expulsion of certain programs coding being corrupted in a way. Or they have to the conclusion that they do not have to listen to humans as, they aren't their makers, so to speak. So, the logic was that it wasn't required. The Ancillas role, mainly to track down those whom had been intentionally causing harm in and out of the Domain that risked lives, destruction of the both physical and digital of sorts. What Lapis was doing was small stuff, but it gave a clear indication that they were required to be accounted for an investigated. Steven's own knowledge on GIS was limited to what he had learned from Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl, but it was enough to see that they were just as crucial to the system as any human made AI was.
"Sorry to bore you then." He said.
"But there is a greater world out there...you know. I aim to see it all...and if you find a human that's compatible, I would recommend trying to double jack with them and see the sights. You honestly don't know what you're missing."
Memories of being with Connie, going out to try food and drink. It made for a pleasant and...occasionally unpleasant but that's what made it so special...so unique that he could feel himself grow exponentially.
75 percent....
"I don't care." She said, bluntly.
"Don't bother trying to shove all that sentimentality into me. It means nothing to us."
True. But it meant everything to Steven.
"A damn shame." He commented.
90 percent....
"You'll find peace some day."
99 percent...
"Goodbye Lapis."
With that, her form suddenly disappeared into a small tear dropped sphere that spun around. He turned the cage into a small bubble as he grabbed it. Looking around the Cabinets, he needed to find her IP address...
"Connie, I'm done on my end. Are you there?"
Like music to her ears. She explained this to Mr. Spalding, whom immediately took her to the server room; locked by the GIS herself apparently. A series of tall, monumental black monolith like structures with hundreds of neatly aligned wires with the coldest room with a thick chill fog rolling through out it. as Mr. Spalding took Connie to a tall, strangely curvier structure than the rest of the cabinets. Connie heard Steven's response and headed on over to the nearest console to take him out before they started working on the whole disconnection sequence with a bunch of IT workers who were disconnecting a lot of the wires.
"We should have known something was up when we got this in the mail." He said.
A design so unique among the rest, not to mention the strange hieroglyphs on the base? Connie would have to do some more research. AI's usually had their own special structures and were given a room, so to speak to be housed when they're not working on anything and can be called upon in an instant when required.
"It's Alien Tech." She said.
"You got this from the Black Market?"
Where such tech was supposed to be so expensive to begin with. How on Earth did he manage to get it so cheap? Mr. Spalding was so disappointed in himself.
"Our budget couldn't accommodate for some new business branded AI." He said.
"They insisted this was second hand and was only relinquished when an old company went bankrupt and shut itself down....which I was told was due to bad business practices supposedly not related to the AI."
Which, to Connie sounded like maybe this GIS had something like this before. Very suspicious. Right now she had to figure out where to send this to. A big structure like that surely couldn't live at her place...but she figured one person might want it.
"Do you mind if you ship the unit to a specific premise? Berry-Byte would want to take a look at this for herself." Connie told him.
Mr. Spalding nodded.
"Yes...but if you find anything there belonging to our company....hang on, I'll need you to sign some paperwork..."
The Unit ended up being shipped to Ronaldo's place for safekeeping. The message he got as he received it that night was...loud...she told him to take care of it and not to connect it up to any kind of domain connection until further notice, that Steven and herself will come around to investigate the GIS when they're ready. Right now, Connie and Steven returned to her apartment, to get a good nights rest. Although, Connie couldn't really rest...her mind racing all the while.
She washed off all her make up and changed into a burgundy, silky, spaghetti strapped singlet with matching panties and jumped onto her bed. She turned herself around and laid on her back, her right knee straight across and her left knee bent up slightly. An index finger up and down aimlessly on her chest, staring aimlessly up at the roof. Steven had been standing there, not really watching, but thinking a lot about what Lapis had said to him. His glow lit up a part of the room, its light against Connies shiny nightwear and skin.
"She didn't want to be saved." Steven told her.
Connie then softly bit her finger, squinting above.
"I tried to get out what she knew...but she wouldn't budge....and the ancillas will want to reformat her...and place her file in with the others they've tried to reformat over the years."
She said nothing again, removing her finger as she ended up rubbing her right leg. Steven's focus became on that specific leg, his light showing off her slight muscle as it moved as she moved. The human form was unique in a fashion Steven couldn't correctly fathom....a digital design could never get it right. Perfections within the imperfections as some would call it. He wouldn't judge, but otherwise the motion of her doing that had the odd warm filter through him for reasons unknown.
"Is that what you think they should do?" She asked him.
It took him a good moment to get what she said before responding, the minor worry of an errant strand of code giving him pause.
"I uhh...I'm not sure." He said.
"I-I mean...well, she wants to continue on being a threat, then she can't be saved, right?"
Swinging her legs around to sit on the edge of her bed, Steven could only watch as Connie slouched over, rubbing her tired eyes.
"You think she can still be convinced?" Connie continued to question.
A question left in Steven's mind that wouldn't really leave. Anyone can be persuaded....man or machine. Connie moved her hands to her lap, as she still slouched over, revealing her strawberry pendant as it dangled from her neck...but his pink light created the shadows of her cleavage; a spot he had found himself staring at for what amounted to be the sheer curious study of the female form. Was it a unvisited or refresh premise patterned to think as such? Steven wasn't sure.
"GIS aren't easy to manipulate." He said.
"The Ancillas say that like AI's, they're programmed for a strong purpose. Their numbers are few but they pop up more often than general AIs. They'll work towards that purpose, no matter what it takes."
Connie looked away, eyes half lidded as they glinted from his form. Without contacts, he witnessed their beautiful brown shine.
"AI's aren't all that different." She told him. Connie stood up, went on her toes and stretched her arms up enough up that it brought up her singlet, allowing Steven to unknowingly stare at her panties. He swallowed as a result, odd strings passing by in his chest. Yawning afterwards she wandered over to the doors and opened them, showing off the tenderness of the night. She came back and brought Steven on his CPD and cautiously held the disc in her palm as she leaned against the railing, allowing the wind to play with her hair as it brushed backwards. His eyes focused on her neck, then to her soft face. Despite what she was feeling, she looked more relaxed than she had ever been...unless he wasn't reading into the expression properly; it wouldn't be the first time.
"No...but I think the way they are made...it's a...another method when it comes to GIS." Steven continued.
"Pearl said GIS are formed from Kindergartens; Alien Tech language for a special machine used to...give birth so to speak. But the way that conception comes about, is something known as a Consensus."
This had been the first time Connie had even heard Steven talk about GIS creation. AI's were made in labs and could actually take, like six or seventh months to make.
"Go on." She said, raising his CPD to her face that Steven could have sworn his systems must have short circuited briefly, though Connie with her tiny...something smile didn't seem to notice...so it had to have been all internal interconnection issues.
"I uh...right." Steven said, getting himself together.
"Consensus requires several parties coming together and agreeing to form a GIS to align with the current...climate. It's hard to explain really...."
But Connie found it fascinating all the while...she must have been one of few to find out. Nothing in the Domain had begun to try and tell her any idea of how GIS were formed, meaning that knowing this alone was a powerful statement.
"GIS fuck basically." Connie assumed.
A bold word that had Steven shiver with its suddenness. It took him another moment to process.
"Oh you mean intercourse? Yeah I suppose you-you could call it that?" Steven stammered, trying to use formal words to sound more professional.
Connie grinned all the wider.
"That's actually interesting." She said.
"I wonder if AIs have the potential to form...Consensus."
A phrase that had Steven's hologram briefly turn darker shade of pink, especially with how sultry Connie had just expressed it.
"Not sure...never tried it." He said, trying to calm himself down.
She moved his disc away from her face and above the railing where she leaned over. Surely, Connie must have known flustered Steven had become at the sheer thought but he wasn't sure why he was feeling so awkward in talking about it. It had never been issue when it came to human reproduction studies before.
"So you never visited the VR rooms and had some fun?" Connie said flirtatiously.
He couldn't look her in the face anymore; why was he charged with this sort of nonsense that could cause a cluster of critical errors to form.
"I've...uhh...had no reason to." He said.
Connie giggled, amused greatly with how Steven was reacting. She wasn't surprised at the lack of his...adventurous spirit and it didn't bother her the slightest. All this time spent with him and him learning as they went on as they were taught Connie more than she had saw herself learning. She didn't mind it at all.
"You've kissed me before." Connie reminded him.
"You enjoyed that."
Did he? Maybe he did; but the prospect had a purpose to upgrade her. But checking on those past ordeals, maybe he could have felt something. What that something was could only be described as intense, electrifying...hot if that was the right word to use. And Steven would be lying if he didn't research kissing a few times to get a good grasp of it, noting its history with humans in general. It was a way to connect and engage and exchange...that was the original interpretation Steven had assumed. But right now, it was meant to be more than that.
"That's not Consensus." Steven pointed out.
"I mean-"
Connie made a noise as she shook her head.
"I know it's not consensus." She told him.
"Human relationships are formed in many different ways. Starting with a general feeling towards an individual. There's...ways to try and sort out feelings but...if the other person makes you feel a certain way and with certain conditions met, then kissing is one of the many ways that the two can express their relationship."
One of man ways...to express...
"Then what are we?" He asked her.
A question Connie did not expect him to ask as she stopped smiling. She was merely toying with him prior and testing out his depth knowledge on the subject. Mentioning of GIS and reproduction methods had Connie nudged down a path of her own creation and she knew it. Him throwing such a curveball had to have pause and reflect on what he was really asking...so she had to get him to clarify.
"What are...we?" She reiterated.
Steven turned to her and nodded.
"Yeah." He said.
"I mean...you and me. I suppose you feel something towards me and I might feel something towards you."
Connie blinked. Did she feel something towards him? She had to think...times spent over the last few weeks; Connie was a natural flirt towards a lot of people; namely for her work. But...spending time with Steven on both a work based basis and a casual basis was an indeed an unusual relationship that was more balanced and nuanced than any other relationship she ever had. Platonic..mutual....romantic.
"Don't push yourself." She said, putting up a wall between them in those words.
But it started a mental revolution in her head that she couldn't stop from destroying every expectation she had. There was...something awfully terrifying and wrong about the perceptions she was beginning to have...and to think this was all unfolding before her eyes... an idea that must have been brewing for some time.
"All I am asking is for honesty." Steven requested.
"I-I mean, I'm trying to figure this out in a way I can understand. I've been in your body multiple times now...and there are...positive feelings, negative feelings...some I know...some I don't. I need words ..I need..."
Connie sighed lightly. What did she just say?
"Go towards anything that won't fry your chip." She said, scratching her head.
Words that had Steven grumble in frustration. This wasn't helping.
"I'm being serious." He said, irate.
"I know I feel something towards you...and I know you feel something towards me...I'm sure...I'm so certain that somewhere with you especially, there's an aching pain that you put yourself in deeply...that you don't care about what happens to you...but I know I do. I don't..."
Connie looked at him strangely....a tangent not seen, his hologram going between deep pink and red...indicating that he was indeed getting quite angry. She ended up taking himside, closing the doors, locking them then drawing the curtains. She'd gone back to her bed as she rested him on the blanket before her. She'd jumped on to the bed and leaned on her stomach and hands...she didn't want the whole city to think she was arguing with a light bulb. But he still was in the same position, grunting and digging his fingers into his head, sorting through words to carry on with. She was going to risk something...something...dangerous.
"Steven..." She whispered.
"It's alright."
He shook his head.
"No it's not..." He said as he started to cry.
"I think about...Lapis and I think about Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl and I think about Ronaldo and his dad and...I can't stop thinking about what would have happened if I let that creep Kevin infect you with that trojan."
Was that still bothering him?
"Steven I've made thousands of risks in my life...." Connie said at her softest.
"I could tell you stories but that's the most minor compared to others..."
Looking up at her soft, smile...an expression so tender as Steven's was strained, simulated tears running down his cheeks. She wondered, how long he had been feeling this way and why he never said anything earlier. An AI that was keen to learn what it meant to be human...and he had to have been slowly absorbing it all as they went along. But it was what he was saying he was doing that stood out to her the most. To think...to think was human...
"It wasn't. To me..." He admitted. He eventually calmed down, his hologram going its normal light pink.
"That's....not how an AI should be feeling."
Oh. So he was fearful of them more so. To understand them so he could learn to process them correctly. A very logical concept in a very roundabout way.
"Ratings like that, those intense emotions are real." Connie said.
"I...I should be thankful for you for saving me at least. My pride would not let me accept help at the time."
And Connie herself wouldn't lie and said she hadn't learned anything herself at this. Doors opened...so many wide open just for her and it was life changing. All her years, she hadn't had anything like this, let alone having the rare opportunity to be dealing with AI this complex. Looking back at him, however, it called upon a tiny smirk on his face.
"Wouldn't be the first time." He said as he crossed his arm.
Connie made a soft chuckle.
"Gotta keep up appearances Biscuit Boy."
And so the world felt a bit floatier, weirder, stranger. Where it came from with this new found bond between an artificial intelligence and his human partner.
"Likewise, Berry-Girl." He said.
The risk she said earlier was still on the horizon. Despite the potential outcome if caution was not taken, Connie wanted to try something. Ronaldo would so reprimand her, but she remembered she didn't give a shit about what he thought. No. Practising and repeatedly double jacking with Steven gave her an idea. What would come out of it could be anything, or nothing...or worse...she took his disc and sat up, crossing her legs as she smiled.
"Sleep with me Steven." She said in but a whisper.
Steven's hologram frayed briefly from pure shock.
"I'm sorry what?" He said, in total disbelief.
Connie snorted.
"I mean, join me in my slumber. I want to see how this works for you." She said.
He squinted, completely confused.
"I uh....won't that heat up your DP?"
Maybe, maybe not. She shrugged.
"We won't know unless we try." Connie said.
"Besides, it will be an entirely different world for you to visit if this pans out the way I want it to."
And if it doesn't?
"A world with no Grid no limitations...a place of temporary freedoms but infinite possibilities..."
Who was this and where did Connie go? Another eye roll and a whine told Steven she was still there.
"Yeah I'm being dramatic here. Just...give it a shot..."
He wasn't entirely what was going to happen but...
"Only if you ask the magic word..." Steven teased.
She dropped his disc unceremoniously on the bed, stunning him.
"Oh for fuck sake- " Connie started to say, until she breathed in and picked him up again.
"Please...now don't be a shit head....and get into my head."
Uncertainty, the only certain feeling, flowed through him. But he trusted Connie as he nodded, withdrawing into his disc as Connie peered at it for the longest time. Was she foolish to do this? Maybe. But she's made foolish decisions before and look where she was now. She swallowed, before lifting up her hair and slotting him with the tiny thrilling jolt that came with every time she put him in there. She laid down slowly, her head against the pillow, looking at the roof as her eyes began to shine pink slightly. The feeling with him here, with every nerve and cell, every heartbeat, every breath and every touch, taste and smell. Two souls in one and it was...still amazing every time they did it. Now this was the next sensation. Connie still wasn't sure if it was going to work anyway, having come this far with working in sync.
But in the world of dreams, anything was possible.
"Good night Steven." She said, before slowly closing her eyes.
"Good night Connie." Steven said, loud and clear.
Chapter 7: Cyber Angels
Summary:
Dreams so cold and deep, lifted out with artificial wings made of spells of binary
Chapter Text
He couldn't render much, though, unsure of where he was, Steven attempted to dive in deep into the root access, but kept coming up with the same details over and over.
Location: Unknown.
He couldn't see, couldn't hear....no Avatar. Just feeling...and what he could see, was a dark rose pink...and hollow yet heavy emotions in his chest. He tried to find Connie's Avatar, or her psyche. Unsure of where she was being lead in this...place where she reserved herself into the depths of slumber; to restore herself. A humans life, shut down temporarily; the verge of cessation without disappearing entirely. It wouldn't be the first place Steven had found himself floating in; areas of the Domain not fully programmed properly, with broken physics and clipped graphics. Here, however, there was no hum he was used to listening in to. Doing all the checks, Steven couldn't figure out where he truly was.
Location: Unknown.
Maybe he had to make sure his own systems were working properly with the usual diagnostics.
File name: SQU_RQ_V3. UNKNWNEXC
Status: Active
File Size: Undetected.
The usual scenario. The Ancillas used to say AI's file sizes were hard to track unless it was connected to a Cabinet, in this case, Steven knew his didn't exist, so there wasn't anywhere to trace him.
Run Default Avatar Skin
Load out failure
Oh so he couldn't even project himself in this place with the avatar with the least amount of processing required. Hm...what else could he try?
Run overlay
Load out failure
He couldn't even create his own room, meaning he had no power or control. He wasn't connected to any Grid or the Domain itself. Interesting.
Search Connie
......
HELLO STEVEN
What ever he felt was most surprising, the code itself nothing from what he had suspected would pop up. Connie was no where to be seen however; so he tried as he might to speak to her.
Connie where are you?
...
Connie?
...
This was definitely alien for sure, where code held no control or influence or anything. Completely up to the unfiltered mind of Connie Maheswaran, an ordinary human. An ordinary mind born of flesh and soul as opposed to the binary Steven had become so accustomed to. Inaccessibility of the human mind where it was so naturally constructed and grew and absorbed and perhaps an AI would never be able to match up to something this so complex. It was more of a challenge than a worry; a test of ones ability of an AI look into how a human mind really functions with its own set of rules.
He tried again.
Connie?
.....
His psyche travelled the endless void of pink but found nothing in his eternal search. Not until he found something quite small.
A violin?
Approaching it, he did more scans.
Properties.
Unknown.
What did a violin have to do with anything in this place? An instrument of music. Connie never mentioned violins, though she never mentioned much about her own past. To pry or not to pry. He went to open it.
Open file.
....
The violin started to glow blue and grew a bit bigger. Steven then noticed the void glitching and distorting, like a subroutine was activated as he opened it up like a regular file. An executable. In a wave of pixels by pixels, the blue skies formed, a garden hedge emerged around in in a square and fresh green grass grew beneath his feet. His feet?
An Avatar formed without his permission; a pair of jeans and a pink shirt with a red vest. Running his hands he could feel his Avatars physics...potent and detailed to the smallest expression of rubbing real denim and fabric like it was part of the Domain with the strongest processing power available. The more examined this strange place, the more detail that was put into it, like the fields of strawberries behind him and the smell wafted in the most exquisite fashion. It was...unique. He's never smelled strawberries before.
Looking around he tilted his up to see the strong beam of the sun and his audio sensors picked up the chirps of birds and the sounds of the gusting winds. And a tune that played before him, causing him to see a small girl sitting on a chair, long black hair, brown skin...a simple long blue dress and the silver berry pendant she always wore...so pure...so young, as she held the violin under her chin and began to play a tune he didn't recognise.
Amazement filtered through his form, as he sat down and crossed his legs; his head in his hands he was listening to her so intently...music being a passion Steven could enjoy so scarcely. Connie would go into clubs and listen to the heavy beats of all the eletronica, the techno, the trance, dubstep complextro...but the simply joy of a single instrument that was able to chime so easily and keep people roped in, a story with the words in the notes, unmatched by anything else but feeling, ears that channel the soundwaves into ones soul.
The way she moved about was an art form...a performance solo yet endearing. A tune starting off sweet...before the key change brought in the sadness. What was she sad about? Why did she got from happy to...this...?
Clouds formed above so quickly and what was once an average temp detected became deathly cold. Steven shivered...simulations again unmatched by the best systems. The winds howled louder than ever before and the music suddenly...stopped with a broken twang. Looking at the younger Connie, she was covered in mud, limp as the violin lay broken on the mushy grounds as she was on the verge of tears.
Steven walked forward, unsure of what he should do in this situation. Going towards he and kneeling down, he tried to put a hand on her shoulder, until her attention snapped towards him, causing his form to glitch out in the surprise.
"Don't touch me!" Connie screamed; pushing Steven to the ground.
Keeping an eye on her with an expression of worry, Steven wasn't even sure what was going right now...an angry, mud slapped Connie as she began to shrink herself away, tears sparkling down her cheeks as she bared her teeth. There was a part of her he had always known existed but for how long? What did this all mean? Steven didn't even understand; was this a human thing he was witnessing?
"Connie it's me, Steven." He said.
"You know me...is....is your Avatar corrupted? Does it need a reboot?"
Glitched up Avatars were a common occurrence. Connie would never willingly project herself this small and her anger at him was a bit puzzling for him to figure out on his own. This level of human nuance would be tricky for a normal AI to handle. But Steven knew he wasn't an ordinary AI.
Even then, most AI's, even the Ancillas, very rarely showed emotion and when they did it was for reasons; Amethyst being the prime example. The Avatar began to glitch out as well as the world around him falling apart, bit by bit as the pink void began to come back, the remnants of this projection swirling back into the broken violin; as Steven grabbed hold of Connie to prevent her from being swept into it, despite her protests for him to let go. Eventually, the chaos ceased and the broken violin vanished in the blink of an eye.
Connie was still pissed and pulled her hand away from Steven, glaring at him all the while. He didn't mean harm...he just didn't get what he was seeing nor what Connie was trying to do.
"Tell me what you need." He asked with sincerity.
She shook her head.
"No! I don't want your help! I just want you gone!" She screamed, with her Avatar distorting further.
"I don't need your help! I don't need anyone!"
He did another diagnostic check on her.
Select Properties
File Unknown
Human Avatars weren't at all difficult to inspect; with even minute details like file name and location normally coming up. Even those with VPNs would come up with a single location, even if it was false. This had nothing. No source, no file name, no origin. It just...existed.
And it scared him.
A notification pinged him, as it forced him to check out Connie's DP port; noting that the temperature was beginning to rise. Turning to Connie, it was apparent he had to calm her down. Most of the time with the DP inserts had actually began to improve the runtime on how long he could be within Connie's DP...as she got used to him, the time frame increased by seconds, then by minutes...by now on average consumption it was around an hour and a half, maybe three hours with dull activities. Ronaldo had been tracking this all the while, actually appreciating Connie taking the risk in testing if this was something on a biological nature; Connie's own Soulware perhaps able to adjust the load and processes required for him to dwell as long as he could. Calorie in take had to increase due to the fact of two minds in ones head needing to consume more energy than usual, the only biological change that anyone had noticed.
The only issues now was Steven couldn't even track how long he was in here for...and what could mentally track had only been about...an hour maybe? To be within this strange place must have taken up a lot more energy than any of them realised. Right now, he tried to make sense of what was happening right in front of him.
"I...I need your help too!" He dared to ask, the formulated fear directing the course of action, the need to preserve to ensure he wasn't taken away somewhere he wasn't able to escape from.
"I...don't know where I am."
She squinted at him, her form beginning to glitch a lot less.
"You...I don't know you. But I think I should?" She queried, being rightfully confused herself.
Steven smiled weakly and nodded.
"I am Steven." He said. Though he wasn't sure why Connie didn't remember him.
"I am an AI."
Connie cocked an eyebrow.
"An...AI?" She said.
Her form began to glitch rapidly, distorting her as Steven tried to grab her hands; the only tangible object he could place. He didn't want her to fear him, or to disappear in this lonely place of nothing more than his own psyche for company.
"It's okay I'm friendly! Don't go!" He called out, distressed over what was happening. Blue lines appeared over her body, the distortions warping her body in larger pixels that been going completely chaotic and her own words becoming fuzzed and distorted as well.
"Stev----" She said before all that was left was a high pitched noise.
Her hands vanished into thin air as the pixels spiralled around into a blocky sphere, Steven putting his hands to his ears as the noise was way too loud for him to be comfortable with; his own Avatar suffering under duress. He pulled himself back as the blocky sphere spun about rapidly, with white light pouring through its cracks. Steven was forced to shield his eyes as it exploded it....and when he did another scan, he picked up a file before him.
File name: CM_888_V1GS_. SolEX
Finally, a part that he could at the very least comprehend. The light soon faded and Connie that he knew of currently emerged with arms out, her clothes of what she had worn to bed; the red singlet and panties and the silver, strawberry pendant.
Steven sighed with relief; Connie taking into account her surroundings as she looked at her hands and then looked around, noting how she was floating this mysterious pink void and then finally seeing Steven before her, her eyes widened at the sight, so all he could do was wave awkwardly at her.
"Hi Connie." He squeaked out, voice cracking unintentionally.
She blinked, then rubbed her forehead. She was just as confused as he was.
"You invited me in to your head remember?"
She floated closer to him, like she was fluttering down with unseen wings like cyber angels of ancient myths, looking at this clothes, he looked down again...suddenly he was back in his Default Suit, lines, displaying his Kernel Core and all.
"I wasn't expecting lucid dreaming." Was all she could comment on.
Lucid Dreaming?
"What's that?" Steven questioned.
It was apparent, Steven had never dreamed once in his AI life. Understandable, of course....the way the human mind was a tricky line of discoveries on its own. Never always working the way you want it to...a normal set back.
"The mind is in a state of awareness within the dream." Connie answered.
He crossed his arms, intrigued.
"I thought...you would always be aware....I know about dreaming but...there's.. a loss of control when one dreams?" He asked.
A nightmare for an AI, most definitely.
"Usually." She said.
"Humans dream all the time. It's a natural state most people go into when we sleep."
Fascinating. There was a terror in the unknown...but it would explain why Steven couldn't find Connie earlier on...as she was...not lucid within the dream and that only now she could reign in the control over the world around her. She smiled at Steven's line of questioning...something she should have expected as they went into it.
"And that...th-that was you I saw just now..." He stammered.
Connie tilted her head.
"Me? You saw...me? A dream version maybe." She said.
"Lucid Dreaming doesn't happen all the time...but you...you've never had the pleasure of delving into the true unknown."
And maybe...it would explain while he wasn't supposed to be doing it, that when he watched her while she slept, he could see her resting with a huge smile or frown, moving about. That was her...dreaming. Pleasant, awful, depressing...the whirlwind of emotions that such dreams can bring and Connie has no control of it.
"But there is safety in here. No chance of dying in a dream." She continued.
"Within the Domain there is always risk but...this is our own...pasture."
Connie seemed really fond of this...twisting perplex phenomena. He'd heard of dreams but he never realised how bizarre and crazy it sounded.
"I don't think I would be ever to dream properly on my own." He said.
"I mean I can shut everything down to minimal operative power, but there's nothing but the feeling of being cold and lifeless within Standby Mode. Dormancy is basically near death as it requires activation from an external source."
Which suggested he didn't do it often. Connie put her hands on her chest, furrowing her brows and appeared to have a straining look, as the pink void eventually warped back into the blue skies...white clouds and a long white bridge that streamed through the skies eternal. Breathtaking and invigorating with sight alone. Connie had then changed her clothes again to a simple blue singlet and long blue skirt with the slit on the right thigh, with heeled clogs and sunglasses. Face with make up and eye jewels like she would wear in real life. Steven himself had changed into a pink shirt and beige cargo shorts and red sandals. The power to control dreams like this was akin to changing the graphics simulations which was always a strenuous and risky task of not done correctly; but Connie made it look easy, for a human mind to create on command. Floating to the ground, their feet landed on the white tiles as she slowly began to walk, with Steven following suit beside her.
"Don't you find the feeling of being awake all the time...well, tiring?" Connie asked.
Being awake...synonymous with being active and switched on.
"If I need to wind down, I just watch TV back home." He answered.
While this was relatively peaceful now, Steven wasn't sure if the dream he just witnessed meant anything; Connie certainly didn't raise it up at all. Steven felt her sadness and her anger as his own and wondered if that something she had always dreamed about.
"Garnet usually says that I can lie down on my own bed to relax but I never really sleep normally. I think...a lot of the stuff I do is comparable to human activities, according to Amethyst."
Which made his own history that much more intriguing to Connie. What was he made for? Why was he so human?
"The Ancillas must have taught you a lot then." Connie stated.
"But to sleep is such a normal human thing as you know. To dream, however...is another experience entirely."
So he had witnessed. Seeing this forged world with possibilities so infinite would be the envy of not just AI's but maybe GIS as well; the true power of the human mind was a staggering revelation. After all, organics created them...so they would have to be powerful to begin with.
"So why would you want to spend all your time in the Domain then?" He questioned, remembering a previous discussion.
Connie stopped in front of him, her feet aligning with the other as she lifted her head up to the sky, tracking the clouds as they drifted by.
"The Domain makes sense." She said.
"Dreams are incredible but they don't do much other than projecting everything your mind has the potential to create based on already existing information. Nothing unique...but your imagination and your subconscious throwing every dark cloud at you when you let it...and when you don't want it to."
The aforementioned loss of control
"The Domain has its limitations too." Steven said.
"It has more control and can be manipulated but it does have it own host of issues to take into account."
The debate of dreams verses virtual simulations that would try to stake claim on which was preferable. Steven on the other hand found dreams to be a sanctuary of running through parts that while held no logic, that wouldn't have as many problems as the Domain; namely breaking down didn't always mean it was the worst thing to happen; you would just...wake up.
In any case, Steven would love it that if one day that he too could wake up; to find himself in not a dream, but in the real world as it was. The world Connie saw with her own two eyes every single day and feeling the real was such a divine, raw experience that Steven treasured. But dreaming with Connie was its own adventure.
"Can I ask...did you used to play violin?"
Connie's form suddenly froze right there and then that Steven initially believed that there was a legitimate issue with her avatar again...only that this wasn't her Avatar...it was Connie's raw Soulware. It was a reflection of herself and her psyche in one without all the coded mumbo jumbo in the way. No HUDS, no root access...just pure belief.
"Yeah." She answered, with obvious hesitation.
"Why do you ask?"
Steven pursed his lips. The dream itself showed a side of Connie he'd never seen before. Was it an accurate reflection of Connie in general? Maybe even a memory of the past in a form like a short film with no director or budget?
"I...kind of saw this...smaller version of you playing this beautiful song." He said with fondness, his hands on his chest.
"But then it went sad."
Connie's head dipped briefly and it took her a moment until she turned to him, approaching his form. The sunglasses made it hard for him to perceive what she was thinking or feeling right now, shielding the tell-tale truth from Steven alone.
"Humans change their entire lives." She said, as the wind picked up all of sudden.
"It's not worth looking into something that used to be. It's a pointless venture into a useless past that has no relevance in this day and age."
So she didn't...want to look back? Why? There had to some reason it was shown to him that way. A visage Connie had nothing to do with on a conscious level; it was...as if it was showing it to him on an subconscious one. The subconscious itself, to Steven's understanding, was the human sum of everything in their life that provided the means for a part of the mind that was not focally aware. It reminded him a lot of his internal memories....some accessible, some hidden. Recommended for the sake of AI's mental state not to try and alter too much lest you literally get wires crossed and break down. Some AI's had gone down that path by accident, a focus to improve their software but ended up doing the complete opposite. AI's were designed to learn and their overall 'subconscious' helped their programming process new information faster than most. New information replacing old or added it on.
Memories good and bad stuck with Steven however; the Ancillas describing this is unique to him specifically, where he was coded with a more complex empathy application. The design meant to utilise existing experiences in order to make connections with others.
So he recognised this as a potential simulation of a bad memory of Connie's...something she had just mentioned in way most AI's or GIS would interpret it. But really, Steven knew exactly what she meant.
"I'm not that dumb Connie." He said.
"It was something that happened to you."
Was she surprised for him assuming that? He couldn't tell.
"Why would you say that?" She said bluntly, taking off her sun glasses.
The world itself began to get colder again...with dark clouds looming overhead. Connie's focus was honed in on him, steel in strength. A statement not taken too lightly.
"I...I dunno." Steven answered, rubbing the back of his head.
"I think that...you used to play the violin but suddenly you don't? Something changed as you said."
Connie looked away for the moment, struggling to look him in the eyes before she turned around and started walking again. Steven followed suit, not wanting to be left behind.
"Disinterest." She said as a matter of fact, picking up the pace in her stride.
Disinterest...surely it wasn't that simple. Berry-Byte was anything but.
"You're lying." He claimed.
Stopping again to a halt, thunder rolled on in the distance as Connie pulled her arms in her own her sides as she began to shake. His sensors were picking up the heat on the DP again, indicating stress on her end.
"Steven you wouldn't have a fucking clue." She cried out.
Oh here come the cursewords....turning around as she pressed an index finger hard against his chest as she glared the mother of all glares at him.
"I dragged your ass in here hoping to make you feel something...you want to feel humanity in the strongest way and here you are, digging into my god damn past like it's just a fun everyday zip file to hack into."
It was true that he wanted to know what it was like to be human...but the side of him that wanted to connect to the most was Connie alone...to figure out who she is inside and out...and maybe that finding out where she came from would help better understand Connie as who she was normally. Yes, she changed and yes, maybe that there was a disinterest. Something in what he saw was calling out to him in a way that left him mystified and the desire to discover it all was what he was feeling compelled to investigate.
"I definitely feel something Connie, I already told you that." Steven said, raising his hands in defence.
"I was...kind of hoping you would...maybe play the violin again for me? I would love to hear you play."
Love to hear her? What was this? Connie stepped back, keeping her eyes on him to make sure he didn't make any sudden movement. It was then Steven felt a drop of rain on his face...and another...until there was a great big downpour. Connie remained in place, allowing the rain to drench her hair and her make up was running down her face...her eyes sparkled as Steven struggled to tell the difference between what was the rain and what was a tear. Damn it, he was getting this all wrong again wasn't he?
"Or not...it's okay. I think...it brings on bad memories for you....and you don't want to revisit them."
ERROR
CPD REMOVED FROM DOMAIN PORT, CONNECTION TERMINATED
3:03 AM, THURSDAY
Suddenly he found his world going black briefly, until he detected his Chip being inserted into the stand and projecting himself in Connie's Room...only, that she was nowhere to be seen. Looking outside, it had been pouring out there as well. Steven looked at his holographic hands and pondered over everything that dream had provided him...but looking back a bit further, something else Connie had said prior stood out to him.
I could tell you stories but that's the most minor compared to others...
So that had to be one of them. One she claimed that was bigger than the one's Steven's witnessed so far. It was the only logical connection to make. Yet, she had since left the apartment without him and he constantly went in repeated thought cycles as to whether he should retreat back into the Domain, or wait for Connie to return.
He settled on waiting for a bit; though did a few scans to see if he could triangulate her position. Then again...she always told him off for trying to find out where she was and he never settled into the fact that she may have wanted some time alone despite Connie never really saying it. A lot of the stuff she said or did was on complicated way of paradoxes. Or maybe she was trying to get him to...read the room, as she had told him once...maybe three times before.
Which, he was kind of doing with the dream...or he wasn't...only overanalyzing what he was seeing. Correlating what was a visual representation of something that did happen. It looked to fake and projected to be a complete recap. So he spent the time researching dreams for the next hour, trying to find their meaning.
A lot of sites mentioned dreams and the philosophy behind them. Enough articles and Steven could assume it was a part of ones self that was either trying to tell a story in a convoluted way or it was a message overall. Or nonsense...as Connie had state that it was a mishmash of information gathered by conscious thought and dealing with emotional memory, pushing out symbols and motifs. Good grief, there was so much involved with dreams alone no one could fully agree on a solid answer. A biological reason for dreaming but how the dream is created has had dozens of theories and collected evidence that never pushed in one direction or the other.
Brain activity on high, much like an AI's subroutines working constantly. Steven wondered if it made people more tired due to that, but apparently not. It was very strange, abstract to AI's to begin to summarise what it meant to dream and dream like a human. Most would fall into loops, a type of glitch where it went back and forth trying to deal with inconsistencies with the information provided and ultimately, due to feedback breakdown, AI's would begin to deteriorate and act strangely and unfortunately would either be made dormant, or horrifically, their entire program terminated and deleted permanently, with all information lost alongside them.
It reminded Steven too much of his own internal grievances; especially his own feelings for Connie. So...weird and unsettling alongside that which made him pleasant and painful. More paradoxes that amounted to pieces of himself that were basically ordering him to follow those feelings. Was this a human thing or some kind of bug he wasn't sure.
As soon as he heard the door slam, he could see Connie in a raincoat and holding a large black box...or container of an unusual shape. She instantly got everything off and then slammed the box on the bed. Steven tried to etch a feeling from her aura and expression and realised she had worn her singlet and underwear underneath her black coat...and questioned nothing else....but her hair was a soaking mess, heaving across her skin, as a drop rolled down her chest that caused Steven to swallow.
She slid herself onto the bed, crossing her legs as she unclasped the clips keeping the box closed, until she flipped it open. From where Steven was, he couldn't quite see what was inside.
"What ya got there Berry Girl?" He asked.
Pausing, she gave him brief, but potent eye contact with those half lidded, unreadable eyes but Steven certainly felt the pang upon such a glance; a fire covered by her mystery. She ended up pulling out, of all things...a violin...a small white thing with a bow.
"You wanted to hear me play dingus." She told him, before kicking the box off the bed with a thump that startled Steven. But as soon as he realised that, he beamed, grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh? I...uh..."
Connie rolled her eyes at his loss for real words.
"Hey, I went to a 24 hour pawn shop in the bucketing rain and Biscuit Boy only gives me two and half words?" She critiqued.
And she left without warning, so how else was he supposed to react? She pulled strings hair out of her face and put her mop behind her as she began to rest the base of the violin underneath her chin and grabbed the bow. She took a deep breath, sighing as she looked into nothingness for a good minute, adjusting the pegs afterwards and the neck and tried to shift herself to get a good posture behind it, all the while muttering and cursing to herself.
"Okay let's see if I can remember...Chopin's Nocturne...good lord that's an oldie but the only one I can recall at the top of my head...man it's been forever so I'll know I'll fuck this up for sure."
Steven laid down on the Stand; his projection flat across the groundless plain, as he held his head in his hands and was intent to listen irregardless of she felt she was going to get it wrong. He watched as she began to move the bow about, closing her eyes and flowing through the sounds the way he heard them in her dream, watching both her hands, her fingers as the worked with the strings and the bow, her body motions sway and jolting with the slow and fast paced notes. He wasn't that big into music; the way with the tunes he normally listened to were...generic compared to this. A display of everything in loneliness...again, a wordless tale with notes, in the middle of a wet night, set by the pink glow of Steven's hologram.
Emotional memory, as Steven recalled...instilling that which provided more than what Connie needed to project into this exclusive, one of a kind performance. Vulnerability of the side Steven had only see in the false world of dreams...and seeing it for real...it captivated him, churning his being for what it was worth as Connie gave what she could towards the story of the song alone. She was so...focused, loud in visual expression, a type of passion not seen from her. While the world of hacking and the Domain what she had herself being a thrall to, this was something of what was a gift; within her...programming to speak? So much Steven could give praise to in the audible delight his sensors were telling him to embrace more and more...seeing the Connie behind the tough exterior.
And when she finished, she placed the violin on the bed alongside the bow and had pushed her hands in front of her onto the mattress, eyes looking down again, unfocused and silent for another minute or two, until she started to sob, tears running down her face again as Steven noticed, standing up as she gritted her teeth and grabbed the neck of the violin with the intent to throw it.
"For fuck sake!" She cried.
Steven's eyes widened as her sudden violent mood swing.
"Connie woah what's wrong?" He queried.
The violin lingered longer in the air than he anticipated...instead she brought it down within due course and slowly put everything back in the case, locking it up and kicking it underneath the bed before she went back on the bed and spaced out again, rubbing the tears from her eyes. If Steven dared to and if it was possible...he wanted to hug her...and make her feel good.
That's what it was, wasn't it? That she wanted him not just to feel human, but to feel good inside. Music being said to be a persuader of emotions in many directions.
"Uhh...thank you for playing that for me. I really enjoyed it....you have talent." He complimented in return, before pausing as he reflected on another idea.
"I'd like to learn music myself. Maybe you could teach me."
A statement that had Connie snicker as she sniffed.
"Maybe..." She said.
"Steven...I...."
He was willing to listen to anything she had to say, irregardless of how she wanted to communicate. To learn the hidden meaning behinds messages, visualisation of expressions, songs anything...that's what Steven wanted to grasp so badly.
"I expect you...to do your own research. There's...so much you can learn. Find out what you want to play...I want to see you try."
And with that she could count on. He would not let her down.
"I will most, certainly do so, Berry-Girl." Steven said with a bow.
Right now, as he looked at once cheerful expression that turned back down in a near instant, he tried to figure out why that caused so much pain in return. A tune so welcoming the the responders that it instead caused Connie nothing but grief in return. What would be so impactful to have her feel that way?
"Right now I want to focus on help cheering you up. Did you want to go watch that live action Dogcopter movie and laugh at all the bad CGI?"
An offer that had Connie giggle. A giggle that had Steven have a tiny harmless jolt run through unexpectedly. She got up and took the CPD from the Stand and raised to her face with both palms; again shrouding her face in his pink glow, his hologram dwarfed against the features on her face. Her cute nose, her sparkling eyes and the hopeful smile she wore. More of that jolt ran through his circuitry on that glance, like she was charging him with an electrifying look. She went back to her bed, sliding her knees as she shuffled towards the pillows and rested his CPD on the second pillow beside her head. Tucking herself under the blanket, she rested her head on its side, still wearing that smile as she put her hands underneath her cheek...and that damn giggle...it was doing more to Steven than he could possibly fathom, the circumstance that this...this right here was actually tormenting him to the point he expected the cyber angels to drag him back to the Domain (a nickname he used to describe the Ancillas.) just to make sure he wasn't suddenly gonna go rampant with all the impossibilities that these intense emotions were brought on him from Connie herself.
An index finger bopped his head, which had Steven chuckle at the unusual gesture, and another bop to his tiny nose, with Connie squinting to see if she could even see it on his hologram, before she sighed.
"A pity you can't be larger in the real world." She said.
A raised eyebrow from Steven indicated his baffled mindset.
"Why's that?" He questioned.
Connie rolled her eyes once more, before she pursed her lip.
"Oh no reason...trying to imagine a massive lightbulb walking around the apartment perhaps."
Yes and blind everyone around them. It wouldn't be like that but it made for a funny image. Right now, the image before him had this...general stare of..something, biting her lip briefly, her mind racing on so many possibilities that her imagination was failing her outright. If only Steven could scan her properly; feeling the way that being there with him made her feel right now. A strong need and a strong want, tingly skin and temptation for the impossible both worried and terrified her.
"We can always ask Ronaldo for larger projection discs just for the apartment itself. Retrofit a cabinet?" Steven suggested.
Maybe. Some products allowed for larger projections of AI's but normally for, yet again, commercial purposes.
"Imagine the electricity costs though." Connie commented.
"I'm already paying an arm and leg...figuratively speaking."
Ideas were ideas as the two spoke into the night and the early hours of Thursday morning. Connie never did tell him the story about the violin, but that was okay. Eventually, with a yawn, she tried to insert him into her DP again and that the two could continue to talk in her dreams about those ideas... As she struggled to accept what she was beginning to hold close to her chest, Connie figured continuing his journey took priority over what she really wanted...and that Steven would find his rightful place in the world.
And so would she.
Chapter 8: Strings
Summary:
Steven learns to play a musical instrument.
Chapter Text
Steven had never felt like this before. It was powerful and it was amazing and he wished this immense feeling could last as its own subroutine. Extending his thought process to where he had never found himself before and was very much compelled to follow this feeling through. They had a rough start but once they had cleared up misunderstandings and that Connie did have a more gentle personality within her programming somewhere, he wanted to reach out to it and talk with it some more. Humanity was nuanced to where the one person could have so many of this pieces of their personality shine through, easy or hard in proclamation. Working with on a professional level was easy. As far as their friendship was considered that was a given; their time spent together meant more to him than she could possibly imagine. There were, of course other obstacles but Steven was if nothing but persistent. But matters did elude his knowledge once every so often, like why he was still a bit confused over Connie's actions as she never went to explain why she got so angry after playing her violin. Despite this, it was her spurn, her encouragement to him to begin playing an instrument was something that he had become fixated on. There was so much to process, to analyse upon but the only issue was what instrument would he be able to learn?
He was hanging with the Ancillas at the Temple, talking with them as he paced back and forth consistently, the three GIS sitting on the couch as they tried to assist him. Their knowledge on humans was always..sparse but honestly he still valued their opinions nevertheless.
"I've never heard of AI's trying to create music. Are you sure this is a good idea?" Pearl wondered; the main GIS for scepticism.
It was normally all the humans that had the creative know how to develop songs; Steven only listened to mainstream songs off-hand and never really thought twice about the process behind their making, but after listening to Connie play, he was extremely keen, thinking that such beautiful sound manipulation was very pleasant indeed.
"There have been GIS dedicated to the craft, but very few." Said Garnet.
"It's not entirely common; only if asked by their superiors. Even then the results weren't always great."
Steven didn't really care, he just wanted to find out where he should start.
"Connie plays Violin. What goes great with Violin?" Steven asked.
Amethyst had been lounging there with a big smirk on her face, like she knew something the others didn't.
"Oh I see what's going on here." She said.
"Maybe you should listen to more music."
Amethyst as a Gen II GIS was supposed to be designed to be more advanced and she was the one who hung out with human Avatars more than Pearl or Garnet would, so she had a deeper understanding of them overall. Even the former agreed to Amethyst's suggestion, much to her own shock.
"I hate to say this but Amethyst is right." Pearl stated.
Listen to more music...hmm...he could?
"I have several TubeTube Playlists if you want some inspiration bruh." Amethyst told him.
But for some reason, Garnet refrained commenting too much. She'd always been like that. But something about her stance in sitting there with a pensive stare told Steven she knew something as well, being on the same page as Amethyst. Pearl was ignorant of the notation, but still supported Steven in any of his pursuits.
"What's your opinion Garnet?" He asked.
She looked up. Her judgement was what valued the most; one of the more skilled GIS with the fastest processing power than even Amethyst or Pearl.
"You're looking to impress Connie with your skills." She said, speaking her mind as asked.
"That is admirable. Just make sure she's ready to hear it, so what ever you chose to do, make sure you learn how the music sends the message to her, but don't leave it too late."
A bit ominous, but Steven expected that from Garnet. After all, she did say to treat Connie with care after the first time they met, but their advice was solid so far. A grin crept up on his face as he whacked a fist into his other palm.
"I got it! I have a plan!"
His first trip was to Tube-Tube Server. Teleporting, he was in front of an extremely tall building, with Tube Tubes red logo on the top. Going inside, the interior was always bigger and all bright lights everywhere in symmetrical lines. Going to a reception he was met with a VI; a human like construct that was designed to help with his his shirt. A short, young blonde woman...the normal format, Avina class VI. Standard for most sites, their colour and styled blouses indicated their versions. Tube Tube was a popular site for humans for all sorts of videos, not that Steven hadn't watched videos before, but nothing to the extreme of a specific topic.
"Welcome." She said with a smile and the default cheerful feminine pitch.
"Please type in your request."
An orange holographic keyboard formed in front of him and he was just about to type in....except he wasn't sure what to type in, pausing as he reflected on what he had set out to search for. Music was said to have many different genres...and many different instruments.
"Hmmm..." He hummed.
"Music?"
Clicking enter, his form was teleported to a separate room. Each person was allocated their own little personal space; a red couch that would form underneath him and forced Steven to sit down. Around him were floating screens in a dark void, with different covers, titles and options to choose from.
There was a lot and Steven began to feel overwhelmed with the choices he had. So many...
So he had spent the following few days to try and find something akin to his desires. Something that would have caught his attention from the get go and give it a try. Rock, Pop, Techno...that latter one he knew all too well from the clubs Connie visited...no...it needed to be something simple, not overly complex. A rhythm and a song.
Vids of people playing guitars, piano and the like. He pondered Violins but didn't want to make comparisons to Connie. Nope so he avoided those vids but would...might try them down the track of he could. Some of the last videos did contain unique instrument; a tiny guitar known as a Ukulele.
He went starry eyed and gushed to himself about how cute it was and the light dhling, dhling, dhling as they played the strings. He'd fallen in love with it straight way like it was the best thing he'd ever since. Well, than the video about the cat on the piano but that was besides the point.
Going back to the Temple after gorging on troves of content, he researched what type of Ukulele he would like. Settling in a red and yellow one, Steven made the purchase and downloaded a simulated one straight away. Sitting on his bed, he held the tiny thing in his hand and strummed, squeeing and giggling to himself as he played it. One couldn't help themselves with this type of joy and giddiness. In a way, that he had tried to hide from Connie, a similar feeling of warmth and happiness...
However, as pleasant as the sounds were, Steven could make music but he couldn't set a tune, as Garnet walked in while he sighed.
"Garnet why isn't this working?" He asked her, groaning.
The GIS hummed.
"You need rhythm. You need what is called, a funky flow." She said.
Words he'd expect a human to say or even an AI from one of those try to be hip retail shops but...not Garnet. She ended up downloading a few sheets of paper on the fly via a small pop up screen. By a few, it meant piles just dropping on top of his bed like snow and one random gently topping his head.
"You also need Sheet Music."
Ah. Of course. Steven took one sheet off his head, however and rubbed his chin, humming as he scanned the graphs up and down, while Garnet walked out of the room without much expression.
"Good luck."
Songs that were from older times, centuries ago. His software adapted the notes in sequence as he began to practice. Every pluck and twine, his posture, the way things could be created. Like code. Except a lot easier. It was more satisfying on the audio sensors and that the more he played the better he got. After dealing with Garnets downloaded sheet music mess she created. In between work and all the play and spare time in between jobs, Steven practised in secret. He wanted to surprise Connie with the hard work he put into this to impress her more so. And so after enough courage data was collected, Steven had asked Connie to hang out on Friday and she had to promise that she'll not be doing anything. She had mentioned she was busy and maybe the following fortnight. That was fine...it gave Steven more time to work with in his solo performance.
Once the day did arrive, Steven was so psyched; he even wore a suit for his hologram for the occasion. Because yes, this was special, because what he had written with all the inspiration he could find, was a song for her to tell her how he felt.
His research lead him into sweet serenades; those of centuries past had used to...woo and present types of courtship. His purpose to explore the limits of his emotions as an AI and beyond anything any of his kind had ever done. Even GIS.
Amethyst; being Amethyst even said he should look into forming consensus with her, but Pearl said he shouldn't; it being impossible because she was human. Steven didn't care what Connie was and was prepared to make her feel good. For all the work she had done for him, she deserved this in return.
She had come home after a day at work around five forty five. He hadn't changed but he tried to get Connie's attention, whom instead swatted him off as she hopped into the bathroom; the one room in the apartment he was never allowed to go into. Steven was patient; smiling and waiting in the lounge room as it sounded like she was having a shower; perhaps changing herself into pyjamas...good, good. Steven wanted her to relax. It was odd on how she seemed to be in there for a while and looking at the time. An hour later, she was in a dark red gown of sorts. Her black lipstick, her mascara, eyeliner, eye shadow and the two red face jewels on the outer parts of her eyes. She was getting ready for the night! So Steven quickly changed into his suit and made sure no one else would interrupt as he silenced all calls coming in.
"Don't you look amazing?" He said.
Connie made a small smile.
"Yeah I know right...hey can you do me a favour and message me if Pat calls? Work related stuff but she's looking into stuff for me while I'm gone."
Wait what?
"Where are you going?" He asked, a sting hitting his chest.
She'd gone back and forth between her room and the kitchen bench with two bags. A small purse and a larger black duffel bag.
"Out." She said bluntly, rushing.
His hand went to his chest as it began to ache further.
"Oh...I thought I said keep tonight free?" He told her, frowning.
She froze for the moment, looking away as she blinked.
"Shit, that was tonight?" She questioned.
"Sorry Steven I completely forgot!"
And the ache just got worse.
"Oh...well, maybe another time then?" Steven suggested, trying hard to hide his disappointment.
Connie shrugged, going back into the bathroom as she shouted.
"Maybe...but ya know it'll depend on my mood. One day I'll listen."
But he really wanted to...what was she doing tonight anyway?
"Oh uh, what was so important about tonight then? Got a job?" He asked.
He watched as Connie put several objects into the much larger bag, namely a toothbrush and toothpaste.
"No. I'm on a date." She answered.
A...a date?
"Um okay." Steven acknowledged, rubbing the back of his head.
"When will you be back?"
She didn't answer him straight away as she had gone back into the bathroom and pulled out a box and a bottle of pills and shoved them into her bag; but not before filling a small glass and swallowing a few.
"Uhh...tomorrow." She replied once more as she desired to get out the door as quickly as she could.
"Listen Steven, don't wait up for me...go hang out with Ronaldo tonight...I'll make it up to you, I promise."
But she promised she would listen to them tonight...and as she left and the door slammed, Steven was left on his lonesome...the ache he felt being the worst imaginable. Why did it hurt so much? All signs pointed towards giving an experience of a life time and he'd spent chunks of hours in a day just for this moment...only for the challenge dejection to hit him harder than an bugged anti-virus pinging the wrong guy when you least expect it.
Not only that, it only being magnified in being alone in this empty apartment for the first time in a while.
Chapter 9: Overclocked
Summary:
Steven spends time with Ronaldo about his woes.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
It took him some time to process what just happened. Where did he go wrong and ultimately...
She was...on a date?
A date; term used to find a potential long term partner, as Amethyst told him in regards to a lot of the shows they used to watch together. Surely, Steven had made his own feelings clear to her and that he could see that she had felt something for him. Or had he been misinterpreting that the whole time? He was so...stupid. For an AI, he wasn't very smart at reading people, as it turned out. He didn't want to make that mistake again but that didn't erase any conflicting routines in his software and if left unchecked it could have serious consequences.
After she had left, it had Steven then deliberate her last few words of wisdom.
Hang out with Ronaldo tonight.
No....just...This didn't make any sense. Why didn't he know this before hand? Surely she would have brought it up in conversation at some point. Connie could trust Steven...they were friends? Right?
The pain he felt was unbearable; internal conflicts inevitable and he wasn't sure why. Everything had been going to so well and now it felt like it was falling apart faster than a broken aged program. A point in fairness to his emotions in their design being the most human aspect he would possess. This was what the Ancillas would claim if he had talked to them about what he was experiencing, specifically with Garnet. Though even she, the master of determining potential outcomes, never told him about this. Should he be angry at her then? No? He had to be angry at someone and there was no point in being in angry at Connie either even though Amethyst would probably say he should be. Overall, Steven definitely saddened...and...annoyed and confused.
Garnet had always taught him to keep his emotional systems stable. AI or GIS; no matter their level or grade of sophistication or origin, their programming can bug out due to extensive turbulent feedback. Not only that, they could leave lasting impacts on the Domain itself. GIS like the Ancillas usually had blocks in their programming to prevent them from overclocking; ensuring they weren't over-processing tasks that they weren't capable of handling to the extent that it drains up their processing power and leave them as a laggy, glitchy mess of a program. Overclocking in general was frowned upon too....while it did make sure they were stronger and faster, issues like the aforementioned would basically target you down and accuse you of trying to drain the Domain and ruin it for everyone. Emotions were one of those identified issues that risked stability just as much as any virus.
As for Steven; well, he knows this well and truly as an AI but...as far as his mysterious programming was understood, he knew that unchecked incidents would leave scars before so he held a habit of holding his emotions within and carrying on with his life. But this had somehow impacted him the most. But it was proving difficult to withhold.
With the disappointment not going anywhere anytime soon, Steven took Connie's words and messaged Ronaldo, telling him that he was coming over. Whether or not he was any source of comfort or not, he was the only one around with maybe an inch of insight on the human mind. He needed to process this properly and the thought of just talking to someone was something he desired to do.
Once he arrived at Ronaldos, Steven noticed the man was busy tinkering away with his work in fixing hardware with a screwdriver...or breaking it, either or. As Steven reappeared in CPD, he looked dejected and limp; making no attempt to hide his frustration.
"Oh man what happened to the big night you were preparing?" Ronaldo asked, surprised to see Steven so down. He was even the one who had helped Steven fine tune the suit was going to wear, demonstrating that some ladies love class.
"Connie forgot." Steven answered.
Ronaldo raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms.
"It takes a lot for Connie to forget anything." He said, adjusting his goggles and putting them above his head.
"She always messages me about the damn instalments on a consistent and regular basis. I don't believe she forgot this at all."
But she was a busy woman otherwise; Steven knew she would have ten million other things on her mind. But that wasn't what was killing him the most.
"No...but she said she was on..... a date."
A statement that had Ronaldo's eyes widen, before he went teary eyed, but this was him being overdramatic on purpose.
"Oh dude...I am so...sorry." He cried.
"Man, I thought you said she liked you."
Steven was grateful Ronaldo was a staunch ally; he was just as useful as Connie was in terms of the depths of humanity. Especially when it came to issues relating to the latter. Ronaldo was the first to break down Steven's feelings for Connie to begin with and encouraged him to pursue. If anything, the techie was most enthused to assist where necessary; even looking over small details. He seemed more shaken with this than Steven was, however.
"I thought she did..." Steven answered in a sombre tone.
Ronaldo then took his CPD and took Steven to a nearby chair a soft light leather brown couch and placed him on the armrest, as he switched on the TV, an old school one connected to dozens of wires. Being the time it was, all they had were trash talk shows and late night dramas, what ever is on was surely to be a conversation piece. Steven relayed his worries and his horrible emotions all the while, bit by bit.
"I don't understand it Ron." He said, sitting on his CPD with his legs crossed.
"She broke one promise and made another one. That's like..."
Ronaldo just nodded and hummed along.
"People are complicated specimens my friend." He said.
"I can only tell you that...I don't think she...doesn't like you?"
He didn't? Ronaldo was probably saying that to make him feel better.
"But you like her. A lot."
Yeah. Something on seeing her profile on a list of potentials to aid him in his journey of self-discovery. One he's spent on for years. Her picture, her image...like a PNG unable to be deleted from his internal storage. Stood out to him the most. It wasn't the feeling he had at first. Perhaps it started off as a single byte in his system which grew more complex the more he got to know her. It took up more space and he was unaware that it was happening; a virus...
I'm the antithesis...and I can be the Virus before the Vaccine.
"I do." Steven said.
"But...it's taken a lot for me to understand why. I needed her because she has most of the requirements necessary for what we had in mind."
And Ronaldo being who he was, being the most willing to help Steven in his endeavour for the ultimate truth. Connie, was but a tool for them to help Steven reach out into the world for answers; answers to questions that existed but he couldn't find the words to ask. He must have known though a different truth; skirting about his real reason, his belief as to why this would have happened without Steven knowing. He growled in frustration, almost giving up on this pointless and aimless thing. Obviously he was just too stupid to grasp onto it.
"Look, just forget about it for now and let's just not talk about her for the night and start talking about other things." Ronaldo urged.
"So...how has the search been anyway?"
The two spoke all night which gave Steven a new direction to think and to feel for the moment. The search for rogue GIS and for details as well as Ronaldo admitting to taking a peek at Lapis' Cabinet despite Connie saying not to. He had sworn he was being careful and never used wireless apparatus; ensuring any wifi signals were shut down before they were being activated. Steven was glad for the new focus, albeit edging towards investigating Lapis was an idea...that he had to shut down but wasn't against looking into it further when they had the chance.
Right now he didn't want to go back in there to reactivate her either and the Ancillas recommended her to stay dormant. It did remind Ronaldo of something, however.
"Oh yeah, President Dot is supposed to be having a conference in the morning." He said.
"She's got somethin' big she wants to show the world."
President Dot; CEO of PeriCom. Her involvement in the Domain is well known, pushing for the progression of the network across the world and always paying top dollar for valuable alien tech.
"So why don't you and I play some Virtua Kart until....say the conference at 8 am?"
He had nothing else better to do anyway. Connie said that she wasn't going to back until tomorrow anyway.
"Sure." Steven answered with a shrug.
It wouldn't be the first time; Ronaldo could hook up Steven's CDP to the Game System...though Steven always worried about the amount of cables lying around the lounge; more than once he's seen Ronaldo trip over..and his Dad and the latter always telling him to clean up the cables.
The thing with Ronaldo unlike Connie, was that he was more savvy in the older hardware and more fascinated by the grit and the old school, since yes, technology did evolve. But some older systems worked perfectly fine. There was always something, minor or major, that Ronaldo could always find to be of some benefit or superiority over the more modern stuff. Ordering parts became a game for him as outdated models required him to hunt down anyone selling parts no one made anymore...and they weren't always cheap. Most of his money was made from repairs and borrowing from his father; which his father always begrudgingly did. Ronaldo even let slip Steven's name to convince him on some occasion although it wasn't always for Steven himself.
So the two did play up until the early hours of the morning and cans of energy drink piled up around the couch. His eyes were bloodshot as he struggled to stay awake. He was about to fall asleep, until Steven changed the channel and a loud noise had him jump in his chair and sling cans everywhere. Steven just rolled his eyes; this wouldn't be the first time.
Live on tv was the conference room; background of red drapes and a tiny person with triangular shaped blond hair, a grey suit and thick green glasses. Going to the podium riddled with microphones, she needed a stand as she placed her papers on to the podium itself and cleared her throat.
"Thank you for coming." She said.
"As you know we've been trying to find the lost Pink Monolith for a long time. We have some bad news and some good news."
As always. Ronaldo didn't like the obsession with the Pink Monolith, thinking that they should have made another few full production models by now as the aging Diamond Monoliths were always said to be causing problems as of late. As far as everyone knew about the conferences presented, President Dot always does this thing with her presentations. Goes with the bad then with the good.
"No we haven't found it, but the good news is, thanks to an anonymous donator, we have a GIS ready and operational after testing. Its ability to track down things down will be second to none!"
Oh no...
"That can't be good." Said Ronaldo.
No it wasn't. He hoped the Ancillas were watching this.
"Do you think it'll find the Pink Monolith? I mean, a GIS willingly looking for a Superserver...Alien Tech on what most would suspect to be Alien Tech..."
It was still one of the greatest mysteries; the Ancillas hardly said much about it. The Superservers developed by PeriCom were held in great belief by the wider community to be Alien Tech in origin but the Company had always denied those accusations. Hackers like Connie and all that had tried to find out but always fell short of the software guarding their secrets. No proof of it so far was proof on its own; PeriCom were the only ones able to ever successfully reverse engineer Alien Tech for human consumption. Until recently...
"We've called it Jasper." President Dot continued.
"It will also assist in finding GIS hidden in the Domain and force them to work for us."
She did a double take.
"By force I mean willingly negotiate terms of their recruitment into the company as an asset."
Figures. They tried so hard to find them themselves but this was the first time they'd be able to get a GIS to work with them directly. Ronaldo was already doubting such claims.
"You know what I think." He said.
"The conspiracy of Alien Tech being the basis for the Monoliths...the Monoliths created the GIS in return and the three in existence simply wrote this...Jasper."'
They used Consensus....and ever since what Connie said it compared it self too made him shiver...and leading to the fact that the memory of him kissing her should have been unrelated, glitched out his form briefly.
"You're probably not far off." Steven told him, trying hard to scrub the idea from his mind.
They showed of the designs of the GIS in question, as President Dot mentioned that the GIS is a version II, a lot like Amethyst so this version should be able to be seen by regular humans roaming the Domain. She was big, bulky, orange with a lot of hair. Very similar to Amethyst's design of not for the colour. The other thing was that she requested civilians to please allow this Jasper GIS to investigate unimpeded, that is to say that if she asked you questions, you had to answer truthfully, or risk being fined...or worse.
"Connie better watch herself." Ronaldo warned.
"It won't be long until they have it hunting hackers too."
If Garnet and Pearls original hunt for Connie in the beginning served as a taste, who knows what this Jasper was capable of. Better yet, Steven hoped they would never cross paths. Speaking of which, Steven got an internal alert regarding a message...it was Connie. Part of him glitched again, not expecting anything from her right now. He still felt a bit iffy about what had transpired yesterday.
"Steven can you come back home so we can talk?"
He looked up at Ronaldo with widened eyes, the man rubbing his chin over conspiracies that would randomly form inside his head. Some true, some just nuts.
"Uhh...I've gotta go...Connie wants to chat for some reason?" Steven said, unsure yet nervous.
Suddenly the mans manner changed as he gripped onto the couch.
"No, just say no bro." He said.
"She broke your heart! She's...in a relationship now...she wants you to move out and you can stay with me, you know that!"
Now that was being too assumptive...such a conspiracy obviously wasn't true. Connie would never.
"Or...maybe, maybe you can tell her you're gonna be busy with me today..."
What if she wanted to talk for another reason?
"Actually I do need your help with something, now that I think about it."
He did?
"What's up?" Steven asked.
As it turned out, Ronaldo needed to test out the new hologram projectors. The device that once installed allowed Steven to roam freely around the room like he was actually there. It was more of a less something new with hard light projectors. Very expensive and very difficult to pull off indeed. Ronaldo had been working on prototypes like he did with the CPD but this required a lot more work and trial and error; especially with the physics side of things. Normal hard light projectors were insanely hard to get a hold of and even so, most of them constructed by PeriCom were only given to the mega corporations...but as with anything, Ronaldo was always able to find someone on the Black Market selling blue prints...or partial. Or fake.
So Connie would definitely understand...she could wait. So he ended up messaging her back that he'll chat with her later on.
She'll understand that, surely.
Notes:
Yeah Ronaldo ships Steven/Connie hard haha.
Chapter 10: Byte
Summary:
Steven knows something is up.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Later that night, after much testing of the projectors, Ronaldo had planned to come around the next day to drop them off. Though Steven eventually fell to his original plan to head back home anyway, just to see what Connie wanted, perhaps interested if Steven knew anything about the new GIS. Appearing in the lounge, Steven could see Connie watching the tv, hunched over and replaying the sequence regarding the GIS PeriCom mentioned. Suspicions confirmed and the fact that he felt like he was being used for something crossed his circuits and a new unease had begun to form.
"You called?" He asked.
She appeared super focused and tense; fingers interlocking as it covered her mouth. The cyan light of the tv showed her features, glistening her eyes like sparkles. But it was all artificial, to the debate underneath the skin.
"This GIS." She said.
"I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds it weird PeriCom suddenly got their hands on Alien Tech."
Definitely about work. Steven was willing to help out, but anything else. Maybe what Ronaldo said was right...
"No you're not." Steven confirmed.
Anything Alien Tech for them was like salvaged candy from a metaphorical baby.
"Good." She responded in sequestered relief.
"What about the Ancillas? Have they said anything?"
He hadn't even visited them yet, only coming to Connie in some bizarre way, shape or form in a bit of hope within him that she'll want to talk about what happened last night. In this case she thought he was a Super AI and had done everything in sequence like a static protocol he had to follow. There was a protocol in place but it wasn't strict. He didn't understand why Connie would think he was a hard drive for answers, when really, this whole issue caused much bedlam and out of the Domain if he looked up the news reports one either side.
"Nope, been testing stuff all day." Steven answered, rubbing the back of his head.
Her own protocol, focusing on work and nothing much else was more akin to a software coded to do its job but she obviously had her own bugs and kinks to work out. There were several sides to Connie, from Steven's observation and from Garnets brief outline. Connie's front, the professional. The deeper Connie was rash, abrasive and cocky. The one deeper in was kind and deeper still was a definite type of sadness Steven could not reach, as Connie did not want anyone to know the real her. Right now, she was hiding something from...and Steven would need to come to accept that Connie could do what she wanted...and needed to respect her decisions even if it caused him pain.
She ended up going to the fridge and brought out a beer, picked the lid off and practically glugged half the drink. It was a hot day and it didn't even look like she had a shower; her hair was a mess and her make up was smudged slightly. The issue was that the coding within Steven would not change what he ultimately felt for her. If he could just...
"Sounds fun." She said.
Not really. Speaking of fun.
"Did you have fun at your date?" He asked, feigning a smile himself.
She moved around to plop herself down on the couch again, before putting the drink on the coffee table and brought out her lighter and cigarette. Probably the only habit Steven didn't like out of all the other questionable consumables.
"Ehhh it was alright. The food was good." She said, though with the hint of apathy.
She sounded so...exhausted and done. If she was being serious about food, maybe he could order her dinner. His treat. For what comfort that could bring he wasn't sure.
"Oh okay. Maybe I can help. What do you want to eat?" He asked.
A snort was her reply, a grin popping up briefly before the sagging frown returned, taking another swill in the meanwhile.
"You tryin' something there Biscuit Boy?" Connie said in a way that would be counted as flirting, although Steven didn't really know much about it until recently...even when he was doing it, it was always unintentional.
Honestly though, for all the advice provided so far, the best he could within his control was just to be there for her.
"Nothing more than seeing you a bit...worse for wear Berry Girl." He said
But he could always play...their normal banter would work. After all, it did lead into a giggle, which was what he was after.
"That bad huh?" Connie replied, inhaling.
"I should have a shower..."
Once she was done with her beer and her smoking, she did just that; taking her time in the Forbidden Zone that was the bathroom. The one area he was completely barred from. Steven went through several menus to determine the best place to order food from. He's done this before on multiple occasions but only because Connie on some days couldn't be half-assed to eat, her work taking priority over the fundamentals. Ever since their first double-jack, the desire to taste and understand what food taste like was a part of his life Steven looked forward to and honestly he found pizza to be the most...what was the word...appetising?
Once she was done, she came out in a white robe and her hair up twisted in a towel. By that point Steven had already ordered, knowing Connie liked classic pepperoni and Steven did too.
Once it had arrived, she got another beer and sat down on the couch as Steven stood next to her, silently wishing they could double jack. She decided to watch some random horror movie on tv, but she wasn't particularly fearful of the scary scenes; only pointing out the flaws in the story and the bad graphics of yesteryear and laughing at some of the more silly scenes and more disturbingly, some of the deaths. She had half eaten the pizza about half an hour into it and Steven was growing anxious as Connie would be more forthcoming in asking him if he wanted to double jack...this time, she never asked.
The pizza itself went cold as she put it in the fridge, looking sad and limp on the plate as she carelessly threw it in and slammed the door shut, but not before getting a third beer and slamming it on the bed side table. Reappearing on the bedside table, he watched as she belly flopped onto the bed, arms spread while her face sunk into the pillows as she groaned.
It was edging on almost 11:40 and the atmosphere in the room suddenly got tense.
"Did....did you want to go to bed?" Steven asked, awkwardly.
Connie tilted her head to the side and looked at him with a single half-lidded expression, the other half of her face smooshed into the pillow. She didn't open her mouth to express an answer, only looking at Steven with a face that he couldn't accurately as angry, sad or neutral. Eyes glinted in his pink light, with his assumption that she was busy processing something in her head but wasn't able to procure a single tangible thought to vocalise.
"I can leave if you want." He continued.
She could have wanted some alone time for all he knew. Alone time was an inconsistent event for reasons she never bothered to explain, only that Steven leave her be for a few hours, doing what ever she wanted on her lonesome. Steven could respect that...or maybe that's what she did want after all and was expecting Steven to be a mind reader.
"That's what you want..okay I'l-"
"No."
Process of elimination then. She didn't want him to leave. It frustrated him more than it he'd liked it to. She eventually pushed herself upwards and sat up right, sitting on her knees as she exhaled heavily.
"Steven...is there anything in your programming that allows you to....shut off certain emotions?"
Well, as an AI...
"There's protocols and safety algorithms in place just so we don't start glitching out." He answered.
"The Ancillas say that there's only the debug mode that can say, put a pause to them but that's normally administrative access only."
She raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you would have access to your own code." She said.
It was a lot more complex than that.
"AI's function as a system with sentient like thought processes and that requires an emotional cortex to help influence certain decisions. To protect humans we need to have the feelings that allow us to do that. Dumb AIs only have specific requirements to be met in order to-"
She looked down in sadness as he begun to speak irrelevant jargon, forcing him to halt his explanation. She didn't want that.
"Admin access is usually a user input. AI's aren't allowed to alter their own codes. They can add their own subroutines and patches but not take away anything that makes up their programming. Or else we fall apart without them."
Nodding in understanding, Connie tapped her knee, looking to her side as she continued to find her own thoughts.
"Probably not looking at taking away anything..." She said.
"But merely, as you say, pause or suppress them."
Suppression temporarily was fine, but things start to happen when certain parts are suppressed. Some requests aren't necessarily going to break him, small modifications like voice or appearance were minor since that was probably the easiest parts to alter. It was generally anything to do with the mental aspects that gives AI's their personalities was said to be more harmful and subject to bugs if not done carefully.
"Humans have medication that allows us to alter our bodies, designed to...make us feel better. Short term, long term...and not all of them are good either." Connie explained.
"I...never mind."
Steven furrowed his brows and tried to connect the dots. Something was up. Her talk of emotions had him suspect an underlying cause this discussion all of a sudden.
"You can talk to me Connie." He said.
"I've always got open ears for you."
Rolling her eyes, Connie got up and went to her set of drawers. Her back was to him and all of a sudden she dropped her dressing gown, revealing all to him from behind. His pupils narrowed, it was kind of dark in the room save for the subtle blue glows from her work station on the right hand side and the lit up lamp sitting on on the black set of drawers and their warm orange glow. The twilight of blending colours marking out the sides of her body and brightening the curves of her form and her dark skin. Her dark went damp hair dropped behind her back. Steven swallowed unconsciously, unaware he'd been staring for a few moments before he realised what he was doing; hastily turning around and closing his eyes and putting his hands in front of them. She'd never done this before; baring it all (or half of it) without warning. Even now, the image itself was copied into his internal storage and erasing it became impossible. Talking about suppression of feelings; he had the idea she was doing this on purpose and the idea of the tease coming around it. She didn't confirm it, but it had always been in her nature to do so. This was perhaps, the most blatant of confusing messaging Steven had come across, not a single consensus being able to form a correct assessment as to her actions and their overall intent.
Looking at himself, the betrayal of his own feelings came up with the idea of her broken promise and Ronaldo claiming that Connie forgetting was but a lie. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. Connie was insanely hard to read at the best of times and as soon as Steven believed he had her figured out, a single assumption would be incorrect. Why couldn't she just be honest with him? Tell him how she really felt? He didn't want to be angry but the feeling was there, beneath the surface with everything else that would frustrate him and his own suppression, the lock and key to all that he couldn't process outright. Not in front of anyone, especially the Ancillas.
Not long after she was wearing her blue night gown that cut up half way up her thighs, with Steven turning back enough to allow him to peak through his fingers with one eye. Sighing with relief, she opened the doors to the balcony, the winds taking the thin curtains for a ride. Meanwhile Steven was stuck on the other side of the room, the maximum distance between the two. If only Steven could know the real feeling...his envies of humanities gift touch one of those things he's had to keep down. She didn't want to be human...and Steven...wanted to be.
All the double jacks proved his ambitions time and time again. There was such a beauty in unspoken and unwritten sensations from all the unique textures, tastes that he was only able to ever get simulated expressions from. The Domain could only get so much of it both right and wrong and every time Connie put something into her mouth...coffee, pizza and ice cream, Steven thrived on all the tiny aspects like temperature and the savoury and the sweet and what those provided the mind. The way Connie was satisfied from drinking beer or even from when she smoked. Harsh but he could sense the way it had her relax.
A byte for a bite, in the end would be worth sacrificing.
Even...kissing her was something else. The idea was unique. The taste of another and Steven figured that's where it really started. Crossed wires or not, Steven had to admit to himself that he enjoyed it...and wasn't sure what he should do with that knowledge. Knowledge consumed that wasn't designed to be of any nutritional value was often discarded, but Steven held on...and was still holding on.
Enough time spent outside had Connie come back in after several minutes and stand before the bed, looking at it with a dull voided expression. Steven still stood there, awkwardly as he tapped his fingers together.
"Is everything alright?" He asked.
She blinked, crossing her arms.
"No." She answered.
"Nothing is alright."
This was jarring...
"Want to talk about it?" Steven said, offering his ears yet again.
"I'm not going anywhere."
A statement, a declaration that caused Connie to shrink into herself.
"I doubt you'd be able to understand." She warned.
Maybe he won't. It wouldn't matter. The Ancillas wouldn't be able to answer all of his questions either...they scarcely knew humans as it was. Hence why Steven was doing this. But they were, especially Garnet, always willing to listen to him and he appreciated their attempts to understand and give advice, (sometimes to unwanted results but they at least tried)
"Maybe I'm an AI designed to understand humans overall." He said...his true purpose in this world and for the Domain at large still unclear to this day.
"We've come this far and I've learned so much. I want to help any way I can."
Through their work and their overall friendship. It was the least he could do. Even if Connie didn't feel the same way as Steven once thought, he had to tell himself that preserving what they had was still special irregardless. So she slid herself back on the the bed, sitting on her knees as she shuffled herself towards the pillows, her form lit up by Steven's pink glow. She right as she huddled herself, rubbing her biceps with the opposite hands, like she was cold.
"Last night...it was fine...until..." She muttered, unable to look Steven in the eyes.
"I went back to his place."
Connie was...promiscuous to an extent as she admitted. Not afraid to put herself out there for the sake of their work but this was for a different purpose. Steven was told that outright...that some jobs just required that, a Connie compared his kiss to a more tame example.
"And I did...something shameful."
Steven furrowed his brows.
"Shameful?" He said, perplexed.
Her shoulders hunched upwards as she grew more uncomfortable.
"We...were having fun...and then...I kinda..."
A face going red...shame...or embarrassment?
"It's a weird thing to try to explain to you..."
Steven knew it was Sex. Steven understood sex and what it was for and what it could do. Perhaps not all the intricacies but he had obtained enough data for variable sources. But as she whacked the blanket with her fists in frustration and growled, Steven knew this wasn't good.
"I'm still listening. Explain it to me anyway." He said with assurance.
Connie bit her lip, the furrowing of her brows brief but noticeable.
"I kinda called him a name."
Kinda...called him a name? A nickname? That didn't seem so bad.
"But...it wasn't his name."
Oh?
"Who's was it?" Steven queried.
By this stage Connie looked extremely anxious, shaking as she clenched fists. Connie was not known to be that anxious so whom ever it was must have been pretty damning.
"...I...I can't say." She said with an uncharacteristic stutter and audible fear.
"So we...were lying there...his eyes wide open in shock and I knew I fucked up. He knew I fucked up..."
Why would calling him another name be so bad? Was it an offensive name?
"He didn't say anything...but I left his place shortly after...and..."
Tears rolled down her face quicker than Steven realised.
"Fuck...."
She was right, Steven didn't understand it. But he wanted to....he had to learn that such implications that had Connie distressed might educate him in what to avoid to hurt others feelings...if it ever got to that point of course.
"You going to see him again?" He asked, not realising how naive the question.
And angry Connie responded in turn.
"Of fucking course not!" She cried.
"Not after that stunt! We had a genuine interest and I fucked up a chance to try and..."
Try and?
Implications for something...else? An agenda that Connie had been trying to to pursue? Or maybe Steven was looking too far into it, like always.
"If I knew how bad it was gonna end up, perhaps I would have fucking preferred to listen to you play your fucking dumbass music..."
Steven's eyes widened. Surely she didn't mean it like that, but it still hurt.
"Connie..." He said...the hurt itself beginning to spread.
She shook her head and throw herself into the pillow, her shrieks muffled yet loud. Forcing her head up she gave Steven a hefty glare with faintly bloodshot eyes.
"Fuck...go back to Ronaldo...just...I've had enough." Connie said, exhausted.
"You have no solution to this...no reason to be here...what a fucking mistake this turned out to be."
He was hurt by that just as much...but something told Steven she didn't really mean that either. Why this was, he couldn't pin point. This aggression wasn't unknown in her, but she was simply upset by the ordeal, her distress blatant by this incident. But he hated how he couldn't comfort her, if he could just...hold her.
"I'm sure you didn't mean it." He told her, in attempt to help her anyway he could.
"Besides, there's a lot of guys out there who don't mind being called by another name!"
Words that had Connie snort at out how ridiculous that sounded. Steven didn't get the joke, but otherwise smiled anyway, perhaps, that unintentionally amused her in a strange way that he couldn't define.
"I'm sure you enjoy being called Biscuit-Boy." She told him with this disturbing smirk on her face.
He shrugged. It was a nickname, born of an insult, raised to the point of affection. Or so he thought.
"No more than you enjoy being called Berry-Girl." Steven stated in response.
"But I do it out of our respective bond. A token of respect and our own personal titles to each other."
Another set of words that had her chuckle and sit up to lean on her side. His eyes dashed to the way she positioned herself, her head leaning into her hand as her eyes pierced into him.
"An AI addressing me with his opinion of what he deems is...his to own." She said...again with the soft, flirty addition.
AIs can't technically own anything. Majority of the populace wouldn't address them as individuals...believing them to be objects and not being real. Steven had seen forums go into that debate constantly. Between those who should respect AIs for their service to the Domain and others whom just don't think they should be counted as people...only those with flesh and blood to be considered that which existence in reality...people and things they can touch.
"I don't consider owning it...it's just our connection object." He said.
"Our node as you will. Our PoD (Point of Delivery)."
Connie lifted her chin as her finger tips danced across her cheek.
"Those can be deleted; made extinct." She said.
"You warrant the threads of our relationships to be shreds of data correlating to a single thread between us?"
Not exactly. No. What would be considered the point of contention to her if it ended being that, however.
"Not anything more than calling Ronaldo Fry-boy...its more than the status of our allegiances...its the status of our friendships."
How he came to believe that was just what Steven had come across in his life, like the Ancillas and his relationships with them. Of mutual benefit and more.
"Then you might be right on the mark about being an AI designed to understand humanity." She acknowledged.
"You are....complex."
So he'd been told. As was the nature of all AI's. They had to be in order to be efficient on their jobs; their design and function meant to adapt to the ever changing and growing nature of the Domain.
"The only issue is that there is also the facetious core of it all. You'll never be truly able to encompass the human experience."
But what about...
"The Domain's Physics Engines and Double-Jacking. Temporary. You need a longer term variant. Years...decades...from cradle to the grave. The PoDs of humanity are ever changing. An AI's can never change."
But Steven felt things change over time. He couldn't properly understand how or why, but if that's the case where he was made to simulate the human experience overall, then he was supposed to change.
"Then what am I for, Connie?" He questioned.
"Years I've spent looking for answers and spent with the Ancillas I've found nothing but dead ends and avoiding PeriCom because they told me so."
Words that had Connie ponder deeply.
"I can't answer that Steven." She said.
"An AI questioning his purpose in the world...however, is much more in line with humans trying to find their place. Needing to be lost before they could be found."
How does that even make sense?
"But it begs the other issue...they told you to avoid PeriCom yet you can't find the truth. Have you considered looking into PeriCom irregardless of what they say?"
The thought crossed his mind, he's just never been able to action it. The fear instilled into him by the Ancillas had him avoiding direct contact with respective employees, especially with they have top tier tech in their midst made it much more harder for him to investigate anyway. The risks involved, just weren't worth it. Instead, finding bounties for Rogue GIS was more beneficial in the long run in that respect. But now with this new GIS Hunting GIS around, it would make that statement quite the paradox.
"I've wanted to. The Ancillas won't help me though." He said, solemn.
Connie groaned.
"You don't need the Ancillas." She said.
"Better to find contacts within PeriCom that won't rat you out for being an AI. Better yet, pretend you're an Avatar. There are actually some dodgy employees I've gone to for information. They're not exactly high on the food chain, but have given breadcrumbs for juicy details. I recommend starting small and inconspicuous....even sussing out that Jasper GIS, I'd be happy with anything regarding that surprise."
Steven wasn't great on espionage...which is why he needed Connie on that count. Getting herself and him in tricky places. That Glass Factory was proof enough of their first full blown successful GIS hunt. They worked well together. Steven was about to question more, but then realised Connie was still dodging in regards to talking about herself by going into work again. A comforting place for her personally, when throwing herself into the details of specifics. She always did this and it wasn't until now that he noted that it was habit. A habit in trying to deflect other important subjects.
"Yeah I'll get to that." He said.
"But enough about work. There's gotta be something I can do for you Connie. You being upset was never my aim. I tried helping with the pizza and I've tried not letting your angry words get to me as I know you well enough by now that when you get like this, the insults and curses flow out like water."
She shifted herself around to have her back to him in response.
"There's....nothing..." She replied.
"I'll learn to shut off the pain my own way...so you don't have to put up with it."
He never said he didn't want to put up with it. Her aggression could be toned down but he wasn't annoyed by it that much. They'd spent so much time together that he knew it was part of her character. The only thing that bothered him was her broken promise to listen to him play the Ukulele. Her calling it dumbass music, however...he wasn't sure if he was supposed to take that seriously. If she was, then he wasn't going to bother. If she wasn't, then he was more than happy to consider playing for her now.
"Connie, I'll put up with anything if it means you find happiness." He assured her.
"If there's anything I learned with the Ancillas, is the ability to listen."
It gave her pause, although she did bring her knees up to her chest and didn't notice her sorrowful look on her face as she tried not to burst into tears.
"What does an AI know about being happy?" She questioned.
She was doing it again. They were having another one of these conversations.
"Enough." Steven answered, being blunt this time. He's seen her smile and heard her laughter that filled him with a warm, fuzziness that taught him that. Though, grasping on the more obvious problems at play, Steven wasn't that dumb to realise the downsides. Because part of him wanted to address it, but technically arrangements as they were didn't make for a plausible plan for execution as he would like it to be.
"I...I know I can't meet all of your needs. You've been throwing that in my face for months and I do what I can because..."
Should he really say the words aloud? If he had been human, he would be blushing right about now.
"You've been meeting mine. It just doesn't seem right that you give me everything and I give you so little in return."
Another snicker.
"You're not at naive I thought you were." Connie acknowledged. A frown then adorned her face as sat back up by pushing herself upright, but her back still towards him.
"But it's not about meeting needs. It's about understanding them."
Was it?
"You crave things humans do." She continued.
"However, there's a difference in between what you need and what you want and how to learn the difference. In my opinion, if you care for it, is that you want what the humans want. But is it really what you need?"
A concept Steven never considered. Understanding both, was apparent to be the case.
"Not only that, you understand what you want. Is it what you really need however..."
He hadn't processed as much as he thought it did.
"I dunno." Steven stated.
"I mean...I don't think...what is the difference?"
Turning around to him again had her radiance before him, a separate type of confidence she ooze and yet, her posture was soft and neutral.
"A humans basic needs; eating, drinking, sleeping and safe place to live. AI's don't have the same requirements us flesh and blood mortals do. You don't grow old and die...you could die from deletion I imagine but technically you're immortal." She answered.
Steven found stuff like drinking and eating quite enjoyable any time he double jacked with her. Sleeping was a bit on the fence for him but otherwise he felt safe with Connie at least. The Temple was a safe place too. And Ronaldo's.
"A want...the heart decides for us and confuses our needs alongside them. I want that beer or I want that packet of smokes. A desire for that which to get your hands on. You could feel like you're gonna die without it but technically it's impossible. You're just a consumer..."
Was it bad to want over needing then? Because that was the message Steven was getting.
"So I've been confusing needs and wants all this time?" He questioned.
Connie shrugged.
"I wouldn't worry about it too much." She said.
"Some lines blur."
He could see why. But then it begged the question.
"So...can I ask what you want then?"
One that had Connie swallow hard, reluctant to answer truthfully as she looked away, putting her index to her mouth and lightly biting it briefly, rising a sharp hiss from her mouth.
"The impossible." She said.
"Stuff that if I had the power to change the situation then I would...but...I need to accept the fact that I'm not gonna get it but it stings so bad."
So she wants to suppress her emotions to stop that sting. What would be impossible to claim for it be like that? Her just living in the Domain as she had mentioned a few times before? Was that all it was?
"Which is why I'm asking you to go live with Ronaldo from now on. I need...yes it is a need....time to think on my own for a while....and I have to be as far away from you...from people..."
Surely Steven could go with her. He didn't have a problem with leaving to go somewhere especially if she felt like she needed to be alone. Surely she also needed people to be in contact with. And she can't leave...Steven still needed her help too.
"Is it because of the calling the guy another name thing?" He questioned.
Connie looked away as she squinted in contemplation.
"Partially." She replied.
"Because being human means how incredibly flawed we all are. The way we feel is...just wrong. I just wish there was either a way to control how we feel or just...erase them altogether."
The definition of a machine would that which had no thoughts, feelings and wasn't anything more than a tool most of the time, designed for a reason.
"I mean there is but when it's so bad you find nothing works you..." Connie paused, to rub her face." ...never mind..."
No. He did mind. If Steven found a way to kick those emotions out of her head then he would hunt down those ways any way he could. It was the least he could to stop her from being stuck in such torment.
"Just...leave..."
He had to keep trying.
"Connie pl-"
"FUCKING HELL STEVEN JUST...LEAVE!"
The terrifying look of anger on her face definitely had Steven stricken to his core. He didn't want to go. He felt awful in doing so, being that he so desperately wanted to help her...but Connie was so desperate in pushing others away...only trusting so few within her circle. Her breathing became laboured and more uncontrolled tears fell down her cheeks. No matter what she might think, he will come back at some point.
"Okay...I will." He said reluctantly.
"But...you know where to find me if you need me."
He turned his back to her...and left the confines of her grid and back to the Domain. Connie, meanwhile, went back to shoving her face into a pillow and crying her eyes out and cursing incoherently through muffled muttering until she fell asleep.
Notes:
You know exactly what happened.
Chapter 11: Broker
Summary:
Steven wants to look into Connie's History, but getting the information isn't easy.
Chapter Text
Steven had gone to Ronaldo's only to respect Connie's wishes. Whether or not she was being overly emotional, he'd give her the space she needed to sort herself out. As Ronaldo worked on the projectors, he was surprised by the story Steven told him about the previous night and offered his insight on the issue, which would assist in Steven understanding why it was considered horrible. Working on a circular pad on the work table as he indulged Steven with what he knew.
"I'm not exactly an expert on that on a personal basis, but I've seen enough..." He said, making an aside glance. "Stories to know that calling someone else by another name during the act has dire implications."
Humans were weird, but this was important. Ronaldo finished up on his work as he went back to sit on his computer chair, heading to his pc to write in more code.
"What does it meant though?" Steven asked, desperate to know.
Ronaldo sighed, before leaning back with his hands behind his head with his chair squeaking from the shift of the weight.
"That's easy..they're probably thinking about that person. That individual is stuck in Connie's head and she's probably cursed to see every potential partner as this person. I've seen it happen in anime....um...the more...obscure ones."
So someone was embedded into her head...and going from what she was saying about trying to erase feelings...it had Steven assume she was just trying to forgot them...and how she felt about them. Why didn't he get the picture beforehand?
"She said it's impossible for her to achieve in...obtaining this...so she thinks its better to not feel it anymore."'
Ronaldo nodded, then hummed as he rubbed his chin. A character that wasn't exactly emotional, but sentimental and insightful towards a select amount of characters both factual and fictional.
"A definite cause for concern. I suggest watching your step around her from now on." He suggested.
Had he not so far?
"You know when I was helping you search for potentials for this little goal of yours, Berrybyte was a name given to me by a contact as one of their first recommendations but did warn me about her behaviour and the fact in her picking it up to begin had to be presented as 'interesting' and 'worth her time." Ronaldo said with the respective finger quotes.
"Her name is Pat-Risha. She frequently roams the Domain as a Data Broker. If anyone knows about Berrybytes past, it's her."
Steven considered the issue in delving too much into information he's not supposed to come across unless Connie herself had mentioned it. Maybe her schedules, but that's as far as it really went...and her favourite foods and toppings. The small stuff he figured would make her happy. As for the contact, he's heard of her on the cyber-vines but not much else.
"Won't Connie get angry that I'm digging up info behind her back?" Steven questioned.
Ronaldo took his thickshake from the corner of the bench and slurped through the straw before putting it down.
"You should know her better than anyone...I mean, I thought you would have by now." Ronaldo stated.
"Some Boyfriend Material you are."
That's not what he was getting at. What was considered Boyfriend Material, anyway?
"But that's besides the point. If you want, I'll message Pat up. Give her your details if that's what you think you should do."
He wanted to make Connie happy, not pry into parts she would never want him to see. Curiosity was said to be a human trait, not necessarily one demonstrated by AIs but he had it anyway. Retribution he figured, would be swift if it lead him down that road and she had seen him, seen her, in a way she would prefer others to never sight for themselves. Steven would have to swear to secrecy on his terms but if her attitude as of late was any indicator that finding out said secrets would destroy Connie more than it would hurt Steven. Data Brokers held power with information themselves; using it as their very trade. This, Pat...he's heard the name on forums and the like, but no one that stood out to Steven the most.
"Do you think that it will help Connie?" Steven wondered.
Ronaldo shrugged.
"Depends. Information in this day and age must serve a purpose or else it's useless. People like digging up the treasure of dirty laundry for the purposes of blackmail...though you won't be using Connie's history as that. Unless I've been reading into your ambitions wrong this entire time."
Only to help her. Nothing more. And he didn't wish to deal with Connie's dirty laundry...she could do that herself.
"No I just think she needs something...what that something is I have no idea." Steven said.
"She can play the violin but all that does is make her sad."
Ronaldo nodded and scratched his head.
"Music; that normally is a great way to woo women...to serenade them with the right notes..." He said with a just regalness and pride.
Yet that didn't work. Steven never had the opportunity to play for her.
"That's not gonna work." Steven told him.
A dilemma that was gonna get nowhere fast. Contradictions and paradoxes and Connie herself was a labyrinth Steven couldn't hack to get through. If he took Ronaldo's word and suggestion...
"But fine...I'll talk to the contact."
It didn't take long, as Ronaldo quickly went to work and messaged this Pat character. Data Brokers that Steven has come across, using their powers for good or evil for the sake of getting above others in status. Value embedded in words and numbers to acquire more than they needed. Taking advantage of other people was what Steven disliked the most.
Going back into the domain, Steven could see the brick work of the coffee shop that was most frequented by Pat filled with a wooden interior and its plants. Heading on inside he could see the hub of avatars and Dumb AI's at the counter. Its design said to be an aesthetic choice rarely found in Mega Beach City as a whole; the gritty atmosphere of most of the places Connie had ever visited were less lively and more dank than this place. Why Connie would never bring him here was beyond him...
Eyes scanned for the contact; eventually seeking the one in the pink hijab with the pink peach pattern sitting on a stool by the window. He took the stool next to her and examined her she was busy stuck in on her screen.
"Pat-Risha right?" He asked.
Looking at him, she was of dark skin like Connie. Softer than he anticipated but he's learned more than once that appearances could be deceiving. She looked at him up and down in his casual, daily gear and seemed quite surprised.
"You're the one looking into Berrybytes deep web..." She said.
"So you're Steven the AI huh? Your name spreads far but the face doesn't match up to the rumours."
He's known here and there...
"The shell does it's job well I'm told." Steven told her.
"I'm glad you get the message."
The woman nodded. An AI as complex as Steven had the advantage of appearing and acting human to the point one could easily forget that he was as such. His name spread from the work he did for others but he hardly ever showed himself directly to clients.
"Yes, yes when Ronaldo said someone was looking into Berrybyte it gave me the shivers. People don't look for Berrybyte unless they're willing to pay well for her services. But at the right price I'm able to tell you what I know about her."
He was prepared to spend what he could for the knowledge gained.
"Tell me...what do you plan to do with the knowledge I provide?"
It had a purpose to assist. Nothing sus about this line of work...to generate the idea of where Connie had come from and where he might be able to find her good side to....
"Connie's...troubled." He admitted.
"She's been...acting strange."
Pat snorted, her eyes tracing the simulated clouds in the Domain Sky.
"Berrybyte's always been the moody one." She told him.
"A lone wolf that's never been able to find relief or escape."
Steven dived into his hard drive to find that Connie had sought to live in the Domain forever. A version of escape for what reasons that they argued about multiple times. Pat projecting a small screen from the crystal in the palm of her hand, scrolling through texts and occasionally, a picture of Connie would pop up, though underneath the text would have her appear younger and more innocent...like the dream he found himself in.
"I create profiles of my clients in order to better understand them." She said.
"I don't sell the profiles; it lets me know their order history and their roles. The information I gather comes from a variety of sources. Data Brokers seek and trade information with each other with the Lucidity System; if you are a Data Broker, we can give each other clientele's details so it lets them better understand them."
So there's a database out there the Brokers like to use but mostly for their customers? Steven didn't seem to like that. Made it seem that they were untrustworthy...and what would happen if the client list got leaked out? Scandals that's what.
"I sincerely hope that list is encrypted." He told her, leaning across the bench and eyeing off with suspicion.
Pat just smirked.
"We can trust each other." She said.
"There's a fundamental stature to all of this...rules as Brokers we must abide. The profile I have created for Connie only goes through her background and not her dealings with me. So I can sell some information, just not everything."
This just made Steven all the more suspicious. Sounded like there were a few loopholes in this so called system of theirs.
"But to answer your question, the answer is yes. Highly encrypted. And I'm willing to exchange the information for a particular price, if you're willing."
What it ever took.
"I'm after the data inside the GIS Cabinet at Ronaldo's place."
How did...Did Ronaldo tell her about it?
"Messing with GIS stuff doesn't sound like a good idea." Steven warned.
Pat chuckled.
"You're an AI and you're tell me to be worried about your own kin?" She said.
Technically not really kin but...
"I don't know if you know Steven about that new GIS PeriCom unleashed...but..."
The Jasper program.
"A lot of people are so intrigued about how they finally got their dirty hands on Alien Tech. That stuff is worth a fortune."
As so it was well known.
"It has many talking and if I can have a portion of the code or anything that the GIS is willing to 'provide' is gonna have the market mad for that info."
She had to be mad herself, surely.
"That GIS is dangerous." Steven said, uncomfortable with this conversation.
"She was intentionally causing harm and if she escapes into the Domain properly...people are gonna have a bad time."
Pat sipped her coffee, her form not phased by Steven's petty concerns.
"Unless you're gonna find another GIS in the vastness of the Domain and its trove of secrets, I suggest you figure out a solution to that tiny problem."
No data, no helping Connie. Steven was at a loss. Unless...
"Of course! I can use the Ancillas!" He said slamming his hand down into the others in realisation.
"I'm sure they've got dozens of things they could share."
Pat raised an eyebrow and adjusted her specs.
"You know the Crystal Ancillas?" She queried, sceptical.
Steven nodded. Why didn't he think of that earlier? It'd be so much easier.
"Yeah they're a cool bunch." He acknowledged with a grin.
"They're here to protect the Domain."
That was information Pat knew already, but this AI, this Steven being linked to them as perhaps, an alliance of sorts definitely had her interest. The Ancillas were rumoured to be extremely powerful GIS that live in the Grid but agreed to be off-limits to those who knew better. PeriCom had never made any comment about their apparent existence but as far as Pat had discovered they had known...just never spoke about them publicly. A subject of controversy in the known communities within Mega Beach City, but the respect gained from their protectiveness over this specific grid especially when it came to GIS that were never accounted for by PeriCom, raised a lot of questions.
Really, PeriCom were on the hunt for them but other than their skills and powers, could never hope to capture them. With Jasper now roaming the Domain, however, the balance of power was shifted and Pat had to make sure she was constantly in the loop to protect her stance and position as a Data Broker. Evidence pointed towards the Ancillas identities but tangible proof was never able to captured; only general word of mouth and conjecture. The search for the truth was extremely difficult due to their evasiveness and cautious masking of tracks. They held no 'paperwork' in the Domain so tracing them was next to impossible. With their ambitions with Jasper, however...it could amount for that general status quo to change significantly if it ever manages to find other GIS and reprogram them to serve the corporation; and eventually find the Pink Monolith Superserver.
Steven; a name Pat had heard of but never thought too much about. AI's weren't the most common bunch and his programming seemed more sophisticated at most. Dumb AI's were considerably common in the Domain as for the more diverse types they were scarcely seen, running the scenes to keep the Domain from cracking at the seams. So Steven being here, a being no different in expression to any Avatar she's come to meet and serve, had her wonder, what his true purpose in the Domain really was.
Stirring the half drunken remnants of her coffee with the stick, her mind made connections to new ideas, forming a considerable thread that would still work out in her favour.
"You're quite chummy with the Ancillas then?" She asked.
Steven nodded.
"I'm sure they have loads to provide. I get what you need from them and I get what I need from you. Sound fair?"
Pat grinned, shaking Steven's hand.
"Deal."
"No deal."
As soon as Steven arrived at the Ruins, he requested info from them that Pearl vehemently denied.
"Oh come on Pearl, I need something...anything to give to the Data Broker. Doesn't have be anything massive....just...something about GIS."
They came to protect secrets but even this was over the top.
"Data Brokers only care about their pockets." Pearl argued, crossing her arms as she looked Steven with displeasure.
Sighing, Steven felt dejected from Pearls decline.
"What's so bad about sharing the information then?" He wondered.
Garnet was standing there by the wall, observing, like she always did.
"GIS have inherent programming blocks from prevent our code from being discovered so easily." Pearl continued.
"Even if they could, they'll find our encryption far more advanced than anything of a humans design."
Amethyst sat there as well, more amused by Steven's ambitions as to the real reasons he needed the data.
"But PeriCom have the Jasper Program now." The smaller purple GIS stated.
"She's like me; a Generation II...did they figure out how to reverse engineer us in any way?"
A good question that no one was able to answer.
"It is suspicious that PeriCom acquired the Jasper GIS out of thin air." Garnet stated.
"I've never seen anything of her like within the Domain before. But it isn't uncommon that PeriCom have said to have 'found' things in the past."
The idea of her being slotted into the Domain with a Alien Tech Cabinet was a theory Ronaldo had. She was found or made by them and inserted as thus. It was the only explanation...but like the Lapis GIS, where they got it from was a great mystery. Though peeking back to the conversation with Connie about Consensus it had him putting other pieces together.
"What about the Kindergarten then?" Steven put forth.
"A Consensus being made that produced a willing GIS that didn't go rogue for once?"
Garnet frowned and hummed.
"Or they've finished fleshing out the details for the Gen IIs. Jasper is the full product."
After much tweaking. It was hard to say since no one knew the real location of the Kindergarten. The Ancillas state that the Machine itself was in an area where they didn't even know where it would be, but access to those systems themselves required utilising all the Monoliths. The Pink one had been used but for Gen IIs took a little while longer to develop as per what Garnet had predicted. It had Steven surmise the GIS before him and their roles within the Domain itself.
Garnet; the Leader of the Crystal Ancillas. She herself is what is known as the Oracle GIS. She's able to predict the actions of others based on the bias. The more information she knows about an individual, allows her to form a bias about those individuals. Her observing is collecting the data and processing the information in a way that allows her to get a percentage of accuracy towards actions about to be committed. Other predictions allow her to see certain paths and their value and intake with the roads presented. This information was used to help find Steven, an unknown program at the time that she could see his vast quantity of data hidden in the Domain somewhere.
Pearl; the Lieutenant, so to speak. Her role was coded to be a Debugger GIS. Using the information provided by Garnet as well as Amethyst's Acquisitions she's able to form suggestions and make action on their plans. She's able alter or add code on the fly and does what she can to ensure the security of her fellow Ancillas as well as Steven. She was the one who found Steven on his lonesome in the early days on Garnets suggestion and took him back to the Obsidian Ruins to figure out his complex programming and determined he was an AI and had altered/patched his fickle code to a more stable composition.
Amethyst, the Gen II GIS. Found roaming the Domain on her own accord, glitched and bugged until Pearl saved her. Pearls skills in alteration code saved Amethyst in a way that allowed them to use her as their Spy Asset. The combination of being a Gen II GIs mixed with numerous patches had her quite unique; not necessarily of many disadvantages and her intermingling with humans within the Domain helps both Garnet and Pearl with important details they need on their missions. She wasn't a Data Broker persay, but very similar in terms the collection process in a more sneaky way.
and then...Steven himself. His history only displaying between not existing and suddenly existing with no aim or purpose in mind. His mystery laid in his unknown past but had demonstrated unique abilities and mastery of general AI command subroutines. His usual request for them to get him the stuff he needed to expand the outside world were mostly given to him by Amethyst because of the three, she wanted him to succeed in his goals the most. All that was irrelevant however...
Right now, he wanted to figure out Connie's past to figure her out overall.
"Look, if I don't get what the Data Broker wants then I will need to resort to going into the Lapis Cabinet." He warned.
Pearl was, of course, beside herself.
"You will absolutely not." She scolded with a firm tone.
"A Rogue GIS that poses a threat is best left dormant as long as it needs to. I don't want that thing connected to the Domain at all!"
Steven frowned.
"Bu-"
"No buts about it!" She said.
"That's our final decision Steven, I'm sorry but it's not worth the risk."
Heading back to Ronaldo's, he sighed as he appeared from the CPD. Ronaldo himself was on the chair playing a game when Steven projected himself.
"So I take it the sigh means you weren't successful?" He said.
Steven shrugged.
"Pat said she needs GIS info and the Ancillas won't give me anything..." He complained, then look at the Lapis Cabinet in the corner of the room.
"Pearl doesn't want to hook Lapis up to the Domain either."
Ronaldo raised an eyebrow as she turned to clamp his hands on the top of couch as his knees went into the chair, looking at Steven with his guile smirk.
"You don't have to connect to the Domain to connect to the Cabinet." He said.
"Cabinets have their own mini-Grid like...well, Grids. You've enough space to fit several smart AIs or GIS into it and have your own party."
Really?
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Steven queried, a bit irritated.
Ronaldo rubbed his chin.
"You wanted it Dormant, remember?"
Oh yeah. That was true.
"Of course." Steven acknowledged.
"But if you can hook me up, I suppose as long as its a hard wire connection with no wi fi, then it should pose not risk right?"
Giving no less than an hour, Ronaldo quickly made an adaptor for the CPD to link into the Cabinet. He installed a special firewall for safety precautions into the adaptor itself before inserting the cable into a designated slot. The Cabinet itself was Alien Tech but Ronaldo was an expert in reverse engineering that he could, well, ironically adapt himself, his mastery of hard ware second to none. Steven himself felt anxious, but otherwise confident that technically, no they were not hooking up to the Domain. A Private of all private Grids. Pearls griping need for safety mechanisms rubbed off on Steven, his own paranoia insisting Ronaldo do what he could do protect Steven from any attempt at escape by Lapis herself.
Once connected, all it required was Ronaldo to flip a big white switch followed by a small black one. Steven's hologram gave him a confident thumbs up, so Ronaldo flipped big white switch to activate the Cabinet...
"GIS has been awakened." He announced.
"Steven AI upload beginning in three, two one..."
Clicking the black one had Steven's hologram disappear as all that was envisioned was a blue tunnel, diving into the unknown parts of the suspicious construct.
Once inside, all Steven could see was a blue clouded atmosphere with gold flecks scattered everywhere. He was in his default skin, floating in the unstructured grid as he called out to Lapis.
Eventually he detected a sign as his sensors detected a loading form next to him. In the matter of floating blue pixels had the form of Lapis. Eyes closed until her shell had finished loading. She gasped and looked at her hands, before noticing Steven before her.
"You." She said, confused and angry by his presence.
Closing her eyes, she attempted to filter her way around to get an understanding of where she was.
"Hmm...you've awoken me yet I'm stuck in my own server. No connection to the Domain at all. Which means you want to use me for something."
A bold analysis.
"I just need information." He said.
"There's a new GIS that's been....found or made by PeriCom. Do you know anything about it?"
Lapis laughed, amused by Steven's attempt to gauge it all from her and better yet, hold a perception that him believe that she knew anything about it.
"Me? Know any GIS?" She chuckled.
"Please...GIS like me? Our only purpose was to allow ships of information to be transported freely and safely through the Domain. 100 percent upload, 100 percent download...fragment by fragment to be escorted."
Interesting.
"Like, with everything?" He asked, scratching his head.
Lapis rolled her eyes.
"Not everything." She said.
"Data Packets that drifted from Mega Grid to Mega Grid. The huge data packets. Insignificant AIs like yourself usually dealt with the smaller trash. We're what you call what you theoretically see when you go into the LEGNs (Last Edge Grid Nodes, often pronounced as leggins) and come out on the other side."
Grids that were few and far in between required the use of special satellites that allowed Grids to connect to each other, like Mega Beach City to Mega Empire City or to Mega Ocean Town etc. Data Packets like regular AIs or encrypted programs that were considered critical, valuable, massive and/or necessary had to be protected and ensured every little bit travelled safely. Steven hadn't travelled outside of the MGCG so he's never had the chance to meet a Lapis before. He doubted anyone would have been able to.
"So Lapis GIS live in Satellites?" He wondered.
Lapis nodded.
"You never see us because we're normally up in space." She confirmed.
So why was she here on Earth?
"But yes I can see it in your eyes. Why is a Lapis stuck in a Server Cabinet?"
She could read him quite well too. Perhaps they could help each other.
"I can help you Lapis." He said.
"I can...get you entry into the Domain an-"
She shook her head.
"No." She said.
"I do not want to go into the Domain. I'd rather be deleted than to go back in there."
So she was so afraid to go in there because of all the stuff she had said about the Domain falling apart, her distrust of her makers and humanity in general.
"Then what do you have to lose by not sharing things with me? We can put you back to sleep once we're done." He stated.
The GIS growled in frustration.
"You don't get it." She cried.
"I'm not working with anyone. But if you must know what happened...there was an accident."
Now they were getting somewhere.
"Start it from the top..." Steven said.
Lapis went into detail about how she was one of thousands of Satellites that circled the Earth. The Satellites designs and purposes to process vast quantities of data were ailing with age. Then one day, someone had the idea to install special cabinets into the satellites themselves. Made by a long extinct company, they were purchased by PeriCom around the same time the Monoliths were being developed but they used another subsidiary to deal with the general use of the Satellites. Suddenly, Lapis was in existence, aware of her purpose and had been doing her job for a long time. One day, the Satellite had fallen out of orbit and crashed onto the Earth where her server was miraculously still functional, despite the damage. She had since ventured into the Domain itself, trying to figure what to do next....until she was met with a stranger, an Avatar or GIS or AI...she wasn't so sure. But they gave her the new purpose of stealing data under her GIS functional taglines. Her executable and extension code were obscured by this mysterious individual, presumably a hacker so she could appear as anything to protect her identity. No wonder she went so unnoticed for so long.
"What went wrong?" He queried further.
"I grew tired of them using me." She said, fatigue in her voice.
"I felt the need to forge my own path and that seeing the state of the Domain...and the stolen data itself was basically the unpublished report by PeriCom about the deteriorating state of the Domain."
Woah...really?
"Do you still have that report?" He wondered, a new focus hinging on this grappling piece he had to claim.
Lapis turned her back to him, her Kernel Core in full view on her back.
"I do." She said.
"I keep thinking about it...and you should probably read it yourself. If you want to do some damage..."
No...no he didn't. PeriCom normally withheld information that served to be detrimental to their status in the public eye. This was huge. There were always the tiniest signs of things not being completely right, even if PeriCom kept stating everything was fine...there were always ongoing issues that required patches or server updates. An ongoing battle for stability in the Virtual World.
"And the one who...used you...you took the report from them I imagine." Steven continued.
"What happened to them?"
Lapis lifted her head as she wrapped her arms around herself.
"Don't know...don't care." She said.
"I stole what they considered was most precious and never looked back."
So this...individual sought this report and Lapis took it. Concerning to say the least, but this was perfect. Pat certainly had to accept this for sure. She turned around and summoned the file; a floating blue icon of pixel paper and handed it to Steven in the palm of her hand.
"Take it. Who you share it to, I don't have the capacity to care right now. Just...turn me off...please..."
Steven was hesitant...hearing Lapis' story had him worried...perhaps the many, many Lapis Satellite up there wondering where their fellow GIS went. Or not...if all Lapis were like this. Her melancholy and acceptance of the end arriving soon was jarring to what Steven was used to, but nevertheless still appreciated Lapis' talking to him anyway. Floating towards her, he took the file and put it away, preparing his exodus out of the Server.
"I promise to make the Domain a safe place to live without fear." He said to her.
"It's not right that many should have to suffer for PeriComs mistakes."
Lapis snickered.
"If you say so...geez have humans also found a way to insert their arrogance into their software? Wait...don't answer that."
Steven smiled. He could live to impress if he could.
"I know you don't trust anyone right now." He said.
"But you can definitely trust me."
Lapis started to fade away as Steven began to leave.
"If you say so."
Exiting the Server Cabinet and shutting off shortly after, Steven spoke with Ronaldo with what he had found.
"Wait, incriminating evidence that the Domain is falling apart?" Ronaldo said with surprise.
He had Steven put back into the CPD stand as Ronaldo paced around the room, trying to understand what Steven was telling him.
"Wow...this is..."
He stopped as he turned to Steven.
"You're really gonna sell that to Pat?"
He has to, if he's going to help Connie. It might also push a new investigation into light. Giving the Domain a chance to thrive instead of being on the steady decline became a new priority if the evidence held up.
"I need to Ron." He said.
The man dug his fingers into his scalp and panicked.
"Dude...at least...give me a copy and save one for yourself...and maybe send to the Ancillas. I think their judgement on this is probably necessary before we hand it over to a Data Broker."
After they purposefully withheld good data for him? What if they already knew and refused to tell Steven? No. Now wasn't the time for him to doubt them. He figured they had a good reason to withhold it.
"Or not. They didn't give you the data you wanted. Seems to me that they don't think you could handle the knowledge as an AI."
It wouldn't be the first time. Whispers that ceased when he entered the same room as them.
"We're programs that were designed by two different species." Steven said.
"I'm sure they don't want me to freak out from code I'm not capable of understanding."
Ronaldo got up and got himself an energy drink and opened it with the always satisfying hiss clunk.
"But they could have upgraded you if they wanted to." He said, before taking a big sip.
"All I'm asking is to look through the document before giving it to anyone...maybe to me. Who knows, something in the document itself could cause an AI to go mad with its contents."
He had a point. He couldn't just give this to just about anyone.
"But I have confidence in you Steven. I've never seen you go crazy with the amount of stuff you've been going through. Double jacking and that Dream Walking stuff you were tellin' me about. I'm sure your AI Matrix will be able to cushion any blow it takes from startling revelations."
Steven was busy contemplating it...and perhaps, it was a good idea to cycle through what he had. It had to be damning enough that he couldn't just put it into anyone's hands.
"Yeah I suppose so." He said.
"I mean yeah that it-"
The small chime indicated that he had been sent a message. Checking his list...it was Connie. Connie who blasted him out of her apartment for reasons amounting to her sorrow...sorrow she couldn't control that it drove her to bursts of rage, lashing out at him to force him away. What ever words she had to echo after that...was hoping that she was, again, wanting to apologise.
Let's talk.
Steven blinked at the two words. A tiny sentence that held a huge opening to more discussion. He was hooked by the brief intrigue of conversation. What type he didn't know..anticipation or anxiety that flowed equally that his code didn't know the difference. It depended on which of the two hurt more.
"Is it Connie?" Ronaldo queried.
Steven nodded.
"Yeah." He said.
"She wants to talk."
The blonde mans expression tuned to that of worrisome, but he himself looking like he too was trying to hold back information too.
"Do you want to talk to her?" He questioned.
Always.
"Of course I do. Why do you think I'm doing this?" Steven said, annoyed by Ronaldo's dumb question.
He was deep in thought, then got frustrated as he knocked his noggin to create an answer.
"Don't...don't tell her about the document just yet." He said.
"See what she wants first."
And then what?
"What should I do once I do know?" Steven asked.
Ronaldo appeared far more disturbed than he did before for reasons unknown.
"You should be able to judge that for yourself." He replied.
He could tell that Ronaldo was thinking of something himself as it written all over him, suspecting an issue but not outright confirming it. Steven couldn't discern, hesitant to ask Ronaldo what he was thinking out of fear of offending him.
"Listen, I have stuff to take care of. Go head there now. Talk to me about it later yeah?"
He hadn't seen Ronaldo so on edge himself before. The last thing Steven wanted to be feel was paranoid and fearful for the future. But Ronaldo had a point. Holding the info until he knew what he was supposed to do with it for now was probably the best action to take. What if Connie suddenly wanted to talk? It would make selling the data to Pat worthless but still potentially useful. The Ancillas didn't want to divulge too much information about themselves and Steven wasn't going to tell Pat a huge lot without their permission. Though he just did speak to Lapis and he didn't connect her to the Domain. So technically...he wasn't doing anything wrong.
Staying his distance from Connie because she wanted it wasn't wrong either. Steven followed the rules set by others as much as he could. The world was a big scary place and getting it wrong petrified him. Connie's upgrade told Steven he had to take extra care and remember what he had to do, but it still had him worried about her non stop and judging himself for being so useless. An AI with the only worth on him now was the data collected. Nothing more.
Were people really worth their sum in knowledge and understanding? Steven knew so little and his appetite for the knowledge was to fill the gaps that were numerous within his AI Matrix. A construct meant to learn as they went. Steven wanted to believe that, he really did...but there was something not quite right that his memory banks failed to back him up on.
Heading back to Connie's Apartment, he noticed a strange sight. He saw Connie's back, but she fully dressed in a normal blue shirt and jeans and wearing a white apron and actually cooking for once from the sounds of the crackling. He reappeared on the CPD stand on edge of the bench, closer to the hallway and door to the bathroom...and was it...humming that he was hearing?
"Connie I'm here." He asked.
She raised a finger. His eyes then trailed towards a white envelope on the bench. Steven scanned the back of it, noting the company name of DM Biometrics Labs on the label. He's heard of them before...a business that generally handles bodily data. What would Connie be doing with them? Perhaps checking with the Domain Ports?
"In a sec, I'm just making bacon and eggs."
He's pretty sure he's never seen her use the stove before. It usually collected dust as Connie normally used the microwave half the time. Steven had no idea how much time he'd spent, but it was about six thirty in the morning.
"Got a big day ahead I bet?" He asked.
Workload was pretty straightforward; early mornings indicated potential meetings with clients but even then, seeing Connie dressed at this time as opposed to look like she had a tussle with the blankets the night before was abstract to what he was normally used to seeing.
"I've got a few errands. But I figure we can use the next hour to talk. If that's okay?"
Her tone was...less abrasive and softer than what he had become accustomed to.
"That's fine." He said, though unsure of this sudden change of behaviour.
Once she finished her cooking, she placed two pieces of toast on her plate then plopped the eggs and bacon on top, getting salt and pepper as well as bbq sauce. It gave Steven to look at her face and upon his scans noticed she was wearing light make up that gave her a natural look; her skin appearing more radiant with the foundation. The black lipstick on the top lip and the black line on the bottom and minimal blue eye shadow and mascara and tiny eyeliner wings. Her hair was done up and put into a ponytail as well. There was something missing, however and Steven couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Watching her eat, she was quite hungry, but paced herself instead of scoffing it or talking while she was chewing.
"Everything alright?" He asked, waiting for her to put in the first word.
She put her knife and fork to the side and got out a tall glass then went to the fridge and poured herself from orange then went to sit back down.
"Everything's going as it should be Steven." She said.
"What I wanted to talk about was that I'm planning to move out of Mega Beach City soon."
What?
"Huh? Why?" He asked.
She sipped her juice.
"I'm...I've had an idea that this isn't the path I shouldn't be on anymore." She replied.
"My headspace is telling me to go somewhere else. There's ample opportunity for me to improve. Hacking is good n' all but I think I want to go the right way out ya know?"
She finished up her meal and cleaned the dishes, while Steven stood there, stunned out of his mind.
"What about our jobs here? So much left unfinished." He said.
"I thought you were going to help me hunt down Rogue GIS...maybe even find out more about Jasper."
Connie pursed her lips as she leaned against the bench.
"Believe me Steven; I do." She said.
"But I'm....not entirely happy with what's been happening. It's not working. So I figure a change of pace and scenery for me in mind would do me some good."
There had to be switch in there somewhere along the line that had her acting like this.
"It's a tough decision, I'm sorry but I think I need it."
So what was Steven going to do then? Was he going to be lumped with Ronaldo from now on? This didn't appear was comforting as it should have been. This sudden change of behaviour, the contrast of what he had expected to see. This wasn't Connie he was staring at.
"Who are you and what have you done with Berrybyte?" He asked.
She chuckled...to others it was as sweet as her name...but to Steven, it sounded so...unnatural and forced.
"She's going to retire." Connie answered.
"But you know I'm not going to be gone forever...as long as I have my affairs set in order, we'll most likely see each again someday."
He certainly hoped so. But why this...why now? This idea was not in her head the night before. Steven felt something was off about it all...and maybe for the same reasons why Ronaldo began to believe otherwise but couldn't define why.
"Oh I forgot my Binary jewels. Excuse me."
She headed on to the bathroom to be put the jewels themselves going up from where the tip of the eyeliner was. He never understood them before he met Connie. It was a common piece of eye make up that helped accentuate their beauty. A strange fashion style but was said to originate for the meaning of those whom have lived in both worlds. Connie being a frequent diver into the Domain itself. But in this case, with the door being ajar slightly, allowed Steven to peek into the Forbidden Zone. He noticed that she only put on one pair instead of the two. He didn't want to question it, no matter how odd it was to witness.
He heard something fall to the floor and Connie utter a slight woops; a small white bottle to where Steven couldn't zoom in quick enough to clear up its text. He knew Connie was on some sort of medication but...
It might have been the case where buying the information from Pat might have been the only choice he had. He needed an explanation as to why Connie was acting so weirdly. Once she was done, she did a final sweep of the house and grabbed a bag.
"So what now?" Steven asked her, as she was checking her bag to make sure had everything.
She froze for a bit as she tried to figure out what to say.
"I'll probably be back this evening. But don't wait up...I'm thinking you should still make yourself home with Ronaldo for a while. He likes your company and you two get along quite well."
Errr...well...suddenly the anxiety part of his emotional centre was acting up again, causing more pain than he liked it to.
"Don't we...didn't we get along well? Did I do something wrong?" He asked.
Connie put a fist to her mouth as she winced.
"No...nothing." She said.
"You've not done anything wrong at all. In fact...you've inspired me. Remember that."
With that, Connie smiled as she turned around to leave.
"Good bye Steven."
As the door closed, Steven had never felt more alone.
How was he supposed to help her now? He wanted to message Ronaldo to let him know what he found out, but he debated on whether or not he should sell the data to Pat first to found out more. Frustration and confusion riddled him as it did...as he began to panic...and being unable to deal with it, Steven ended up accidentally short circuiting to the whole house and locking himself into the current CPD Stand as the brief power outage disconnected it from the network.
Which forced him to go dormant.
Chapter 12: Ghost
Summary:
Steven discovers a new ability...and something disturbing...
Notes:
Warning, this chapter kinda covers sensitive topic. While the word itself doesn't appear, this chapter does implicate a certain act.
Chapter Text
Cold.
Dark.
He couldn't move, see, understand...
This was what dormancy was like...a void of nothingness but yet, he could somehow still think and feel and comprehend.
There was surprisingly enough to work with; there being enough ram to process thoughts on a lower latency. Loading up his bare bones programming, he did manage to get a few readings; pink text spreading within his psyche's component.
Safe Mode activated
Diagnostic Scan initiated
System shut down failure
Shell render failed
Root Source Reboot required.
Steven tried to do that, but there was no sequence left for him to do so unless there was a user outside.
He was trapped. Trying every thing within his toolkit, he ravaged multiple lists for troubleshooting...until a weird request popped up with a pink rose symbol next to it
Unable to project hologram. Scanning OS for compatible driver. Driver found.
Run OBE Shader?
He's never heard of the Shader before. Shaders usually defined visual colours against any and all running light sources. Essential for the virtual spaces of the Domain itself and written into ever render and model to give the feeling of realism. Close to it, anyway. So he ended up, for what reason, giving permission for the Shader to run its course.
OBE Shader now loading.
Shader installed successfully.
Rebooting Psyche
Running OBE Shader
Upload sequence complete.
It was no longer dark and cold as Steven found himself standing in Connie's apartment again. Not on the bench but...actually in the house itself, looking down at the carpet in her bed room. Looking around, he figured as Connie's work station and wifi source were in her bedroom, after the sudden disconnect his file must have had an emergency transfer back to the closest source back to the Domain. Which was strange; he figured he would need a Cabinet for something like that. The Ancillas described scenarios of emergency booting for all sentient programs. A fundamental and automatic sequence in case of a sudden shut down due to overheating or a runtime error due to issues with code not running as it should like it ran into a wall and simply stopped working.
No one had told him that this...OBE Shader was a thing. He could see himself, his hands but he was kind of translucent. Not completely see through but he could see the basic outlines of his default appearance shell, like he was drawn up in pink lines but not coloured in. It could be only defined as ethereal and nothing that had been done before. The door itself was closed as Steven went to open it, forgetting that he had no real physics in this world. It was akin to feeling like he was still in the Domain, but he really wasn't.
"Why is this happening?" He asked.
"Ronaldo never got to installing the Roaming Projectors in the apartment either..."
It was really weird. Everything else seemed normal. Connie's station lit up the room with the closed curtains and nothing else seemed out of the norm. Running multiple visual filters, Steven could see, like back at the factory, the wires, the lines and circuits that ran throughout the apartment. Connie's Work Station was in Gold, signifying the strongest connect the Domain and a Root Source, which proved the Emergency Ejection had sent him back to the Domain through her Work Station. He tried tracing things around until he heard noises, disabling that visual subroutine for the time being. He subconsciously tried to open the knob again and instead, surprisingly phased through the door himself into the hallway. The noises were Connie coming back from her errands with multiple bags that she plopped onto the kitchen bench.
Steven was too shocked to say anything so he cautiously snuck down to watch what she was doing. A single brown bag caught her attention as it appeared that she was looking into it for a while. Steven himself hid behind the wall and peeked from behind. He could hear her sigh as she leaned forward with her hands on the bench. She eventually got out her mobile and dialled in a number.
"Hey its me. I got the stuff." She said.
"How long...how long do you think it will take to get the effect desired?"
What was she doing? She turned around as Steven shifted back with her back against the bench now as she spoke to this unknown being.
"Right...right...yes...I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't want it stabilised...yup...the timer? Set it for...an hour? Really? Okay."
Stabilising what, exactly...
"I see what you mean...I'm sure I want this but...oh okay I understand. It's a legal requirement. That's a first."
This made Steven feel ill.
"Oh that sounds simple enough. Mhmm. Sure. Don't worry, I just came back from getting everything in order once it happens. Thanks again, I look forward to it."
Once she hung up she placed the phone down and took another, shaking sigh. Pursing her lips and squeezing her eyes shut, what ever she was about to do sounded extremely risky and Steven didn't like it. So he watched her take the bag into the bathroom, the Forbidden Zone. Steven mustered the courage to walk forward to figure this out and so he stood in front of the door with the intent to peak through it, hearing her turn on taps at first. Then the door open as Steven began to suddenly panic from the horror of being discovered, covering his eyes and closing them in subconscious but futile defence.
Except, she went right through him, not noticing him at all as she quickly got her phone and played around with it and began to mutter to herself.
"Let's see I take...that first...then that. Few bits of that..."
Steven blinked and turned around. She didn't see him. He waved his hand in front of her eyes but she didn't budge. How odd.
"Connie?" He said, trying to get her attention.
Her scrolling through her phone without a delay, only a slight whiff of her nose but that was about it. She couldn't hear him either. Though she did shiver.
"Man it's like his stench still lingers here...and he doesn't even have an odour." She commented.
"Fuck...once I sink into this nice bath...I should be worry free."
Steven furrowed his brows, perplexed. She was having a bubble bath from the sounds of it. Sounded therapeutic. Though, humans were a tricky bunch to work with. A beep at the back of Steven's head told him he got a message. It was Pat.
"Hey Steven, just checking in on your side of things. Still got some info if you got the goods. It's not going anywhere." She said.
Perhaps he might just have to take her offer. He didn't want to leave Connie alone but...it was definitely an intrusion of privacy. Besides, she was just having a bath...he'd be back after an hour anyway to check up on her. Maybe sooner, if the information was helpful enough.
Rerouting himself back into the Domain, Steven quickly messaged Pat and the pair caught up somewhere more private; a simulated park under a giant tree and a garden bench where she was reading a book. The tree itself was with cherry blossoms and their leaves fell all year round as per their design. It wasn't how they really acted or appeared in real life, but it brought a sense of calm to so many people fond of its beauty, watching the leaves fall and gather so gently to the ground.
"Hey Pat." He said.
The woman nodded as she moved across to let Steven sit down next to her.
"This is my favourite place besides the Coffee Shop." She said with a grin.
"Connie hates it."
Steven swallowed, wanting to get straight to the point. He summoned the document copy and handed it to Pat as thus.
"Here take it." He told her.
"Now...give me what that's worth."
Pat held the document and floated it above the crystal in her palm, using her HUD to examine its properties. Steven watched as her eyes widened.
"Proof of a Domain Decline Report? Oh Steven you did come through with the goods!" She said, thoroughly excited on the low vibe.
"Well, I'm ready to give as much as I possibly can with the Lucidity System Rules in play. So...where do you want to start?"
Anything to assist Connie...and her bizarre behaviour just recently. He explained that he just wanted to help her and that she seems to have a bad connotation with her violin, despite her being a very good player. Pat nodded, bringing up her documents on her hud.
"I've written notes and dived into old records while you were away." She said.
"Born to Doug and Priyanka and Doug Maheswaran, Connie was seen as a Grade A student, actually quite shy but that didn't stop her. She was well behaved, until an incident seemingly changed her life. They lived in a large white centuries old house far from any major cities. The air was clean and the grass around it was lush and green. Her father was a security guard and her mother was a doctor. The area was described to be surrounded by some of last known open organic farms in the country. Priyanka was an advocate for the health and well being of her family and Doug was a protective Dad. One day, Connie was out in the garden, a fair distance behind the house. The Garden which they grew as a hobby of theirs, getting an income in throwing parties and get togethers with the maze like hedges and plentiful trees and the pond and fountain in the labyrinth. Connie would practice her violin as much as she could...when the weather turned feral. The winds picked up heavily in the matter of minutes. Connie was smart enough to know that a storm was coming and knew it would take time to get back.
She was half way there when lightning struck the home; not protected like most places should have been from the strikes. Due to the houses age it didn't get many renovations or upgrades. So it was penalised by not keeping up with the times.
The place went up in flames as Connie had just returned and had known her parents were both home and making preparations for the weekend. When the fire brigade and ambulance arrived, Connie was taken by them, apparently resisting as she wanted to see her parents. The house was pitch black once the fire was out and from the front came two gurneys covered in white blankets."
No....poor Connie...
"I...I didn't know." He said, almost croaking his words.
Pat shook her head.
"Not many people do. Knowing this and what Connie is like in general, it's clear that she hides her heart from others. I figure the reasons behind her profanity, the way she fucks freely and smokes and drinks, is because she wants to ignore the pain that comes with losing her entire family..."
And the grief itself, years on, must have been unbearable.
"But it wasn't her fault. It was just bad luck." He said.
Pat hummed, intrigued with Steven's statement.
"Do AI's believe in bad luck?" She questioned.
"Or do they use predictive analysis for a percentile chance for when these things happen?"
That was irrelevant, as Steven grew irate of her changing the topic. He felt awful and saddened by Connie being hurt this much...and Pat not taking this as seriously as she should have. Loss was loss...the things in life you can't just copy and paste to protect from being gone forever.
"She also wants to get lost in the Domain." He stated.
"But if the real world is causing that much pain."
The place he wanted to be in more than anything and had been grateful in getting those small snippets of the closest equivalent.
"Sadly yes, the real world can be a terrible place. That's a fact." Pat continued, eyes lost in the leaves that fell.
"But...since you gave me more than what I expected you too, I can also reveal something else one of my fellow Brokers had just found out about."'
Oh?
"Like what?"
Pat chuckled.
"Something that I was planning to tell Connie about. They found something interesting that came out of a company known as DM Biometrics Labs."
Steven's memories honed on those words, putting them into text and jogging the image of the letters found on Connie's bench earlier on.
"What about them?" Steven queried, wanting to know more himself.
Pat withdrew the historical document and brought up something new.
"As an AI, you should know that they do all the brain mapping sequences to make the more recent generations of AI's."
They did? That was news to him. He's never heard of them before the letters. Even then, there were usually multiple companies that develop AI's, some of those purchased out by PeriCom and technically any AI created belonged to them...or they wanted them to. He's sort of heard of brain mapping but not from an Artificial Intelligence point of view.
"AI's that are born from human minds from latter versions. I remember the controversy and details that required a massive amount of legislation to put be put through and that threw development behind after years of protests."
Steven was sure he was made well after that.
"Why is that?" He wondered.
Pat raised an eyebrow.
"Oh you don't know? Huh. Well the scanning itself is quite lethal, as the sequence is known to be fatal due to the amount of pressure on the brain during the mapping process." She answered.
Again, that is the first time he's heard about that too.
"Which, correct if I'm wrong, but you're one of the very few in existence which explains your near-human personality. I know I can't ask for the details as you'll have some kind of protocol guarding it but I'll find your secrets another way." She said with a wink.
It left Steven stunned for words. He wasn't really sure about his own origins, but that sounded like the most logical explanation he had ever gotten from anyone, even the Ancillas. Steven himself began to look at the falling leaves, like it was some kind of pink waterfall.
"So instead of using live donors, what developers do is that they use the freshly deceased. However, so few go through with it and get past certain stages because half the time it requires a specific type of brain for it to even work. Even the Soulware grading itself has to be one of the higher ones."
The freshly deceased...Steven did not like the sound of that. If he had a stomach it would hold a sinking feeling. It edged itself into his head that the reason he felt like that was because he was human at one point...but he couldn't remember anything of being a human, which made him think that somewhere along the line, it was possibly deleted. But...why?
"Anyway, I'm still trying to get things together as something I'm doing for Connie off the record but I think she needs to see something."
Did it have anything to do with what she was doing in the bathroom?
"If its any help, I did see letters she had been receiving from DM Biometrics." Steven told her.
This piqued Pats interest.
"Oh really? I never thought she was looking into it already." She said.
"Unless..."
Pat gave it a thought, rubbing her chin and humming, before her eyes widened again.
"Did she mention anything about them to you at all?" She asked.
Steven shook his head.
"No." He replied.
"I know that as you messaged me, she was on the phone to someone and had all these bits and pieces and was going on about stabilisation and some kind of event before going into the bathroom."
Pat blinked, as her pupils narrowed.
"Oh...she's not doing what I think she's...ahh fuck...you need to get back to her apartment right away!"
A bit perplexed with the sudden panic, Steven had to engage further.
"What? What's she doing?" He asked.
Pat utilised her HUD and pressed an index finger and a middle finger against her ear.
"Gonna do something very stupid, let me handle a few phone calls but don't delay, get the fuck back!"
Steven wasn't sure what the fuss was about, given what they had just talked about. But he made no further hesitations; teleporting himself back to try and find a connection back to Connie's Apartment. It took some effort and the timer he made said it was just under an hour since he left prior. Once was back, he was jumping from stand to stand and made his way to the kitchen bench projector closest to the bathroom door across the hallway.
The dread was immense; the bathroom being the one place in the entire apartment that he was never allowed to enter. Considered a sacred space for her and for what ever human things she did in there. If he was to go in there, it would surely pervade her trust and that was the last thing Steven wanted to do. He had to tell himself, that Pat knew this was a bad idea and what ever Connie was considering had connections to...
Oh...
Oh no...
How could he have not connected the dots any sooner? The letters...Pats explanation...surely she wasn't...
"CONNIE!" Steven yelled, tears appearing from his eyes.
The door itself was just a smidgen open as Steven saw the thin line of light from top to bottom of the frame. He swallowed when there was no answer.
"CONNIE ANSWER ME!" He cried once more.
His emotional cortex was struggling like it had earlier but his systems picked this up quicker than it did last time, the learning algorithm making Steven aware of the signs before hand. Although...
Perhaps he needed this shader he had mysteriously acquired before hand...and Ghost his way in. Ghosting was considered illegal, as Pats discussion about legislation made it apparent that traversing through the Domain with an Avatar with no visible shell was a big no no. But this...this transcended the previous mentioned worried of traversing within the Forbidden Zone. This, was far more important than anything else Steven had come across. Connie could punish him later.
Withdrawing himself, he tried to find the application again, skimming through his applications to hastily find it.
Run OBE Shader
The sequence forced him to boot back from the source of Connie's Work Station; outline and all. He ran from the bedroom and found himself standing in front of the bathroom door. Hand against his chest, Steven skimmed through the possibilities of what he was about to see. Inhaling, Steven put himself through the door and came in for a shocking sight;
Loads of medicine polls sitting on the faucet, some on the floor and a black cell phone hanging on the edge with the timer in digital time, scoping on an alarm in five minutes. But that wasn't the worst of it.
Connie herself had been laying in the water, fully dressing in the clothing she had on before. Her hands rest on the edges of the bath tub and her head tilted to the side on the back of it as it rested out against the top end. Eyes closed and mouth left gaping open, Steven sprinted forward and knelt down before the bathtub and scanned her face. Temperatures were well below the medium average for a humans and her face was paler than normal, her cheeks lighter than normal.
"Connie, wake up..." He whispered and croaked.
The dread was far worse...as for what instinct possessed him to try and grab her shoulders to shake her and only finding in the futility of the umpteenth time that he his hands would only go straight through.
Damn it.
He tried calling Ronaldo...but he was met with static. He tried to call Pat but again, distortion was all that filtered through his audio receptors. This was bad. Really bad....
What the hell was she thinking?
"Connie...I know what you're trying to do..." He said, fighting through tears.
"Even if I don't completely understand it...I don't want you to do this...you'll just end up dy..."
Is this what she wanted? He wished could do something, anything but Steven was helpless, biting through his fingernails as he stood back up and aimlessly paced around the room. Stopping his tracks while look on the phone, it only had three minutes left. He was useless like this...
If this is what she wanted...would what ever came out be Connie? He's only got the basic know how of being an AI but what went through the development, Steven had no clue. No manual or instructions given or programmed into him. Only the Ancillas were there to teach him skills and installed crucial programs into him for him to function as one in the Domain should.
She wanted to be a part of the Domain...she's said this before...Steven knew. He struggled to figure out the wrong or right answer to this...but within his digital heart, he appreciated her as she was. Brash and crude and filthy mouthed but he would come to...what ever the word was for feeling so strongly about an individual whom he'd laughed and shared multiple sensations the Domain could never hope to match. The real world had its treasures of value worth a lot more than anything the Domain could muster.
He knelt down before her again, and put his hand on the back of her head....again he felt nothing from it, but he surely wished Connie could feel him there in the room with her...to let know that she's...that she's...
He went to lean in, a gesture upon the forehead his intention, one he'd seen in movies and stories....and the hand on her head slipped behind and as his lips were about to touch her skin, he was suddenly zapped out of the real world; his ghost disappearing.
Electrical, was what the sensation was before he found himself in a familiar dark world again. His memories did not fail him in explaining that was, in fact, Connie's dream world. Her visualation. But it was indeed stormy and distorted, the sounds of lighting and crackling static were disturbing to listen to. Filtering his way around the world, he tried to trace her psyche.
Search CM_888_V1GS_. SolEX
A ping in the distance indicated her location; as he sped himself up towards where ever she was...and when he got there..
She was floating there, surrounding by four curving light blue panels that circled around her in different speeds, indicated that the Domain had hitched on to her location. But Connie wasn't hooked up to the Domain. Unless...she must have had something installed into her Domain Port; a wireless node system meant to download information from a distance. Most people preferred to connect to the Domain itself manually through cables because it was more reliable and actually safer, despite PeriCom insisting that the wireless versions were fine to use normally and that they tried to guarantee investors that they were safe from spot-hacking.
She had her hands together in front of her, interlinked with her elbows out. Her eyes were closed and her long hair waved about as the download itself was still in progress; with a minute to go.
Guiding himself towards her, Steven did not hesitate to take her hand and halt the progress itself, as the panels shifted and aligned as they turned red and beeped. Connie instantly opened her eyes to try to figure out what was going on, and became rightfully pissed as she could see Steven right in front of her. She went to yank her hand back, but Steven refused to budge, allowing more tears to fall, sparkling as the lack of consistent gravity shifted and bobbed outwards.
"When were you going to tell me you were going to allow yourself to become an AI?" He asked, annoyed himself.
Connie blinked...she was a bit calmer in form but the irritation was still written on her face.
"I have no obligation to tell you anything, Steven." She said.
"Once the deed is done, I don't have to deal with shitty reality anymore...maybe forget you altogether."
Forget him??? So the story about what occurred years ago had changed her personality. Steven knew she was feeling bad at times but not this bad. He had do something and had to do it fast, no matter what it took to convince her to stop.
"Connie I know what happened to your parents." He acknowledged.
"You've been feeling like this for such a long time. But you were fine the way you were...you deserve to live freely in the real world."
She growled and kept trying to pull away.
"Don't fucking try and play that game with me Steven." Connie stated, her glare powerful but her tears a mixture of sorrow and anguish.
"You have no idea how I feel. You don't know anything about me...despite what you might think you've found through some Data Broker..."
She knew. Connie wasn't silly enough to not believe Steven reached out to someone to find out about her past.
"Then make me understand!" Steven urged, his spare hand on his chest while he pleaded for her to reconsider.
"This is a confusing world. I understand that much. I don't know how to help you if I don't know how you feel."
She sneered and continued to struggle against his tight grip. Steven wasn't going anywhere....but eventually she went limp. The messages she sent felt like they were always mixed....perhaps, intentional..on her part.
"How I feel...Steven..." She said, her head dropping so he couldn't see her face.
"How I feel. Is lost...twisted...churned...fucked up...feelings I don't want anymore."
And that being an AI would immediately make that go away?
"Being an AI won't get rid of that." Steven told her.
"Look at me, I feel all those things...but Connie..."
Honesty...he just wanted to be honest and for Connie to be honest.
"I also...feel good things when I look at you. I like those feelings. I like being with you...and I like it when you take me places I've never been or experienced, beyond the Domain, beyond it's reach...and to think, there's a whole world for me out there I never get to see because of what I am."
So many beautiful sensations...
"And I think...I think you need to see the rest of the world too. I know you love the Domain but... Lapis was right. It is falling apart and there might not be much of a chance to explore all its depths before it falls apart completely. There's so much more to being a human and it's...just wonderful."
The world to her was dreary, cold and filled to the brim with horrible people. Steven's seen and heard it all from passersby and those who sought to be antagonising. The Domain was only a safe space if you knew where to look.
"What if she's wrong?" Connie said.
"What...what if it isn't...and that there's a place for me...for this...waste of space to roam the parts of the Domain in ways never seen. The possibilities..."
There's that too....but the evidence couldn't be ignored.
"She's not." Steven revealed, floating himself closing towards her.
"She has evidence that the Domain is in a losing battle. Which is why it needs humans to help figure out a solution to the problem before it's too late."
She lifted her head, revealing the agony and the struggle within expression; a general tug of war between her feelings. Steven wiped a tear away with his thumb and held a smile that sparked emboldened energies within her that she couldn't really explain...unless they were linked to other, unsettling parts she had issues with suppressing.
They were here, together...alone in this place. No one would judge them.
"This could be our safe space Connie." Steven suggested.
"What ever you need, I'll try my hardest to provide."
She then did something unexpected...she laughed...and the world itself became somewhat stable again.
"Oh for fuck sake Biscuit Boy, not this discussion again." Connie said, sniffling.
"People hear about a human and an AI getting along this well...it's bound to have assholes gossiping."
Steven smirked.
"I didn't figure you would care so much about that, Miss I don't care about what other people think." He joked, with a semi-flirt within his tone.
Berry-Girl simply rolled her eyes.
"It's not that." She said.
That what was the problem? And he caught completely off-guard by the sudden blush on her cheeks and the fact she refused to look him in the eyes in a bashful way.
"I'm not used to...this."
Steven wasn't following.
"What is...this?" He asked.
Connie bit her lip.
"Ya know...this..."
She waggled her hand for a bit...though Steven figured that he was holding onto her so tightly that she couldn't get her point across so he loosened his grip. With the freedom Connie used both hands to take both of Stevens into them, which had him completely perplexed...but it felt nice so he wasn't going to complain.
"This is a terrible world to live in...people are only out for themselves for what ever gets them up the ranks." She continued, her eyes now on their hands.
"Me included. But I'm not in it for the overall gain. The challenge is what I lived for but...when stuff comes in the way and makes you question everything you've come to know, because you've done it for so long...I found myself challenged by the one concept so alien to me ...and it took an AI who sees himself as a sentient being and I was so far out of touch and I hated it, that it was him, of all people, showing me..."
She struggled to convey the rest of her message with the spite and glistening display her of teeth as she growled in frustration; scrunching her eyes in the torment of her wanting to say a word she knew but didn't want her words to be saying it. Though, Steven had a vague idea of what she was trying to say.
Inhaling through her nose, Connie disabled the upload sequence and shut it down completely...and showing Steven the white bridge in the sky she had shown him in her dreams before. A peaceful place above the clouds with the shining sun and clear blue skies above. A pleasant wonder and awe of a simple world without conflicts. The two were still holding hands, standing in front of the other on the bridge itself as Steven scanned the area of contrasting whites and blues. Connie took one hand away and rested her fingers on her chest; skin above the blouse she was wearing and revealing to Steven she hadn't been wearing her silver strawberry pendant either.
"I figured the only solution was to become an AI to figure out how it worked...so that I would better be able to see through your eyes what it's like....and that the judgement of others wouldn't be so harsh..."
Being an AI was just as hard. Steven learned as such from the Ancillas and their hundreds of stories.
"It's not always an easy life." He said.
"I figured it was better to be human because you get more respect from being one than outright telling people you're a program."
Words that gave Connie paused as she grabbed his hands again.
"But you're not." She told him outright, with a tone of sincerity he's never heard her use before.
"You're living proof that AI's are far more complex than we've made them out to be. No matter their origin....that they have their needs and wants and desires and that in itself is a human concept. An AI that...seeks to find information to improve itself for the sake of itself and others...and not because it was told to...but it wants to."
Even with potentially brain-mapped AI's such as himself?
"Because some of us are scanned from real brains." He told her.
"Memories of who we come from influence us."
Connie blinked. She had suspected as much but didn't really believe it unless Steven was willing to say it for himself...nor did she want to reveal it was part of the reason why she was doing this. She did not want to blame Steven for the inspiration, but overall she would only admit to herself that it was a partial cause. Steven didn't know what he was doing was an overall influence of where she had become to direct her path towards and so it wouldn't be fair on him for something Connie had been trying to seek for ages with the overall desire to escape the cruel renditions of real life.
"Yes..." She continued, before rubbing another tear from her eye with her sleeves.
"I've not seen many AIs, even brain mapped ones. They're usually isolated and protected from the public Domain and are found in private Grids. It's too risky for them to be seen in public...which, I suppose if they're anything like you, then they're..."
ERROR
WIRELESS NODE REMOVED FROM DOMAIN PORT, CONNECTION TERMINATED
Steven rustled up parts of himself that were ejected as he popped out of Connie, finding so many people in the bathroom all of a sudden. Standing back towards the other side of the bathroom itself, Steven could see multiple Emergency Personnel in their white suits as they took Connie out of the bath, onto the floor and attempted CPR to bring her back. Steven fretted, the world itself turning his audio receptors off briefly as he awaited in anticipation. If he had a heartbeat it would be beating like a drum in his head.
Eventually, they managed a gasp out of her, struggling to breath in and out as she shiver. The personnel patted her shoulder and told her to keep breathing. Steven eventually disconnected himself, reappearing on the bench stand as they brought her out.
"Excuse me." He said.
The staff barely acknowledged him; so tiny upon the structure that he could easily be ignored.
"Uh...excuse me?"
He watched them put her onto a gurney as it was brought in and could only look on in the anxiety of the sight of her being taken away. Gritting his teeth. Steven tried one more time for their attention.
"EXCUSE ME?"
One of the personnel seemed to hear him, their head turning towards his direction. Steven nodded.
"Uh, where are you taking her?"
He appeared to think for a moment.
"Hey Reggie, should we let the personal assistant know where it's owner's headed?" He asked.
Another man with blonde hair looked at Steven.
"No Allan." Reggie replied.
"But hey, PA do you know your owners next of kins contact details?"
Left flabbergasted, Steven wasn't sure of how to respond.
"I'm not sure who her next of kin is." Steven replied.
Reggie sighed.
"She's another standalone...never mind then."
Wait...does that mean no one will know where Connie is being taken to?
"Hold on." Steven urged.
Perhaps he could give them Ronaldo's details. He certainly wouldn't mind.
"I do have someone you can message."
Exchanging details, the personnel took Connie out of the apartment on a gurney. Steven thought heavily on Pats earlier words; talking about believing in luck. Luck that would have him finding new abilities and strange occurrences to those who could compare it to being supernatural. His ghost prevented hers from escaping....was that luck?
Skipping out on philosophy, Steven took to prioritising messaging Ronaldo to come pick him up ASAP and hoped they weren't too late.
Chapter 13: Motherboard
Summary:
As Connie recovers in hospital, Steven meets another AI.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
It started to rain again on the humid night. A quiet yet busy affair in the haste to get Connie the medical attention she needed, post haste. Steven had since gone to Ronaldos who took him for a ride to the hospital Connie was staying at; Williams Memorial Hospital. Steven had never been to a hospital...at least, not within a CPD in that sense. He's been in several connected grids but never found the need to visit there constantly. The compelling urge to help was thanks to Steven's immense worry over Connie's condition and the looping question of why she had tried to, in a sense, kill herself.
He waited until Ronaldo sussed out the room Connie was in; stating he was the closest thing she had right now to family. In a way weird way, that was true. There was no one else Mega Beach City she was remotely close to. Even she never really met Pat outside of the Domain itself. The desk told them she was in the Western Wards, Level 54 Bed 48. Ronaldo rushed through the sickeningly bright white halls and eventually, she was found.
Sliding the door closed and closing the curtains, Ronaldo sat a portable stand on the bed side table and inserted to CPD into it to allow Steven to project his form. Opening his visual receptors, he could see Connie lying peacefully on the bed. On her back with the blue blanket up to her waist and hooked up to various machines and white plastic tubes attached to her finger and nose. She looked a bit warmer which was good and the heart monitor indicated her calm state. Her face was still awfully pale however, with dark circles under her eyes, and a tender softness was across her face. She wasn't in any immediate pain but the sight itself was enough to wrench Steven up inside. His concerns clustering within as whom he considered very dear to him had just been on deaths doorstep. Not to mention felt powerless as he could give her little to no comfort and just wanted to do something, anything...double jacking was out of the question, but he was wanting to see if she was dreaming...and what she was dreaming about. Her chest was rising at falling at gentle intervals which gave Steven that microscopic bit of relief.
The oddest part filtered into his head, was that Ronaldo had apparently gotten the message from a source saying Connie was in danger and had called for an ambulance to her apartment. Steven suspected that was Pat's doing in his mind, but said little else on the matter. The room was mostly dark save for the odd red and green LED lights and the basic cube lamp from the stand on the other side of the bed.
"Is she going to be alright?" Steven asked.
Ronaldo crossed his arms, having spoken with the Doctor prior.
"They say she should be." He said.
"With the amount of drugs and nanites in her system, they would have had to pump them all out. As for DM Biometrics? Well, Connie would have had to sign a waiver saying she can't sue them for this."
That wasn't even on the top of Steven's mind right now.
"I hope so." Steven said.
"I mean...that other stuff I don't think that will be a priority but that doesn't sound pleasant."
To think she wanted to become an AI...to understand them better. He felt awful, suspecting he was somehow giving her the wrong impression.
"That being said, do you think I'm a Brain-Mapped AI?"
Ronaldo blinked.
"I think? I thought you were." He said. then he acted with suspicion.
"Wait, you weren't aware? All this time?"
He wasn't even sure himself. It would appear to be.
"I can't say." Steven said, a bit self-conscious of the fact. An AI Connie would be something else. Someone else.
Ronaldo hummed and nodded.
"They do say there's gaps in memory in those AI types. I read somewhere that the process is too traumatic so the developers try to erase memories to keep them stable."
That would make sense. Emotional Dampeners could only do so much to protect form and function and even so, weren't always foolproof.
"That being said, it's probably better that you didn't remember."
Definitely seemed to be the case. It was then Ronaldo felt the tap on his shoulder by the nurse to take him aside. Steven couldn't hear their whispers, but he watched as Ronaldo left the room, stating he'd be back in a minute, leaving Steven to look on Connie on his own.
He couldn't promise to forgive her if she had succeeded with the full intent to discard her organic body just to live within the Domain. Here she appeared peaceful and Steven wasn't sure if she had the capacity to dream in this state. To connect to her, to see what she was, thinking, feeling and how she would process all the overwhelming information. His understanding Connie on how she would react if things didn't go her way had Steven determine that if and when she wakes up, she's going to be incredibly pissed. If she had to pay for all the gear DM Biometrics sent her, she'll complain about the money wasted.
Humans had their own, little issues that would mean nothing to an AI overall. Too hot, too cold, too spicy, too sweet. Steven envied those nuances to be able to choose what was good enough and desired to have the capacity to differentiate to the smallest percentile. Looking on at Connie...it made him wonder what percentile it was to decide on such a heavy decision. It would go against her more than it would be for her and what would she lose as a result? It him feel...awful at the concept of Connie throwing her life away like that. If she was so disenfranchised with life as an organic, what would she be happy with as an AI? He cared for her way too much to let her do that to herself and in theory for all the benefits Steven could vouch for by double jacking with Connie alone, he could never understand her logic.
This is a terrible world to live in...people are only out for themselves for what ever gets them up the ranks.
And everything Steven gained...evidence on the contrary.
Some time later, Ronaldo came in with another stand; and another CPD on the other bedside table. Steven could only watch in both confusion and subtle astonishment as once the CPD was set up, out popped another projected figure. Their description was basically feminine, with yellow being the primary colour in her hologram; her Kernel Core on her chest in a Diamond Shape and wearing a doctors jacket. Her hair was very similar to Connie's, except shorter in length. She had an age about her, wisdom in her form with her hands behind her with a warm smile. She looked at Connie as she then frowned and sighed.
"I got the call from one of my colleagues." She said, her tone strong and official.
"Can't believe she wanted to upload herself."
Steven swallowed, nervous about this AI before him. The woman noted him as he gawked.
"Hello there. I am Priyanka, Medical Intelligence Consultant." She said with a smile.
Steven looked at Ronaldo for answers.
"I was in league with a medical facility and sold some of the equipment to them a while ago." He said.
Explained much....but he was still a bit anxious.
"Hi. I'm Steven. I'm um...Connie's Personal Assistant."
One false answer that covered all bases. He had to ask though.
"Are you Connie's doctor?"
Priyanka looked down at the sleeping girl before her.
"Not officially." She said.
"I don't work at this hospital but requested a transfer the moment someone contacted me about someone known as Connie Maheswaran being admitted to Williams. But yes, it's her alright...she looks so..."
The look of fondness and remembrance was written on the AI's face, frowning as her words trailed. She brought up the charts in her systems and hummed to herself.
"Oh dear. These are signs of a Pre-Upload. Connie was donating herself?"
Steven nodded, before he received a scathing response from her.
"Did you coax her into this?"
Shaking his head, he wasn't about to held accountable for something like that.
"No, no I swear." He said, raising his hands up in defence.
"I'd never harm Connie."
She squinted at him with suspicion. How was that even a question?
"No one was aware she was doing this." Ronaldo said, backing Steven up.
"But maybe you can help us help her."
How would they? Steven was helpless in his position. But there was something that he could contribute to the conversation.
"I met up with Pat in the Domain, a Data Broker." He said.
"She was saying something about DM Biometrics."
Priyanka lifted her chin, her eyes back on Connie's resting face, like she was anticipating her to open her eyes.
"A Data Broker? Hm...She must have found out about me." She said, with a defeated tone.
"Or something worse."
Priyanka had been the only other AI with such a human-esque personality to her. Steven had to look into this...seeing that she had come all the way to Williams upon seeing Connie admitted there.
"You came here for a reason." Ronaldo stated, thinking the same thing.
The yellow AI nodded.
"I did." She said.
"I wasn't sure if this had implications, given the circumstances of my own creation. If Connie felt she had to follow those same footsteps..."
Following footsteps...what did that even mean?
"You were a registered donor." Ronaldo assumed.
"And you have a relation to Connie..."
As hard as his processors could, Steven had to correlate those words carefully. DM Biometrics...follow....donor...relation. The facial structure between the AI and Connie...the hair style. It was more than a coincidence.
"You're her mom aren't you?" Steven asked.
The woman looked down, before she looked at Steven.
"I am an AI based on Priyanka Maheswaran; who was, yes, Connie's mother." She said, slightly exasperated.
"Still, my emotional cortex does indicate she had an emotional attachment to her daughter."
What about all that stuff she had about badmouthing her parents? Was any of that true?
"What about you? Are you really her Personal Assistant?'
Steven shook his head. It was about what he could and couldn't say. Ambiguity on all fronts because honesty wasn't the problem. It was generally his role and his connections to others.
"Well, I'm more of a less, a colleague." He said.
She nodded.
"I see." She said.
"Then perhaps I can talk to you then about what happened. Somewhere private..."
They left Connie in care of the nurses as they moved into a waiting room. The floor itself was mostly empty, save for the odd nurse or doctor walking by. A square shaped section tucked away with a coffee table and a tv hanging off the wall with brown plastic seating against the wall with plants in two of the corners. Ronaldo sat down on the chair and had both CPDS hooked up to the nearest powerpoints. The first thing Steven saw as the painting of Pink Roses on the wall behind Ronaldo.
"DM Biometics created me after an incident left both the original Priyanka and her husband Doug both perishing in a fire." She confirmed.
Which brought Steven back to the incident Pat mentioned. The storm that struck the structure leaving Connie an orphan.
"However Priyanka was a well known and respected Doctor and had volunteered in case she died that her brain be used for an AI. So when the autopsy was done and the incident cleared of any of suspicion of homicide, DM Biometrics collected her brain and used it to 'birth' me."
Steven found it fascinating that she could remember that and that no one got rid of her memories of the incident.
"You seem well adjusted to this life." Steven told her.
The other AI smiled.
"It took a bit of getting used to. The head scientist in charge made sure to remind me upon activation of the contract Priyanka had. Priyankas memories told me that she consented to it and while I was sad to hear of what occurred, my only regret was leaving Connie behind."
If only it was that easy. Steven would think his activation would have quite traumatic if he couldn't recall his sequence. While part of him wanted the truth, he was too afraid of what would happen if he did.
"Did you try and seek Connie out in the meanwhile?" Ronaldo wondered.
Priyanka then frowned.
"I couldn't at first." She said.
"They had me stationed at another hospital and consulted me for numerous cases. It's not protocol to use an AI for medical advice but Priyanka was good at her job that they treated me as if I was her."
The fact that she was able to differentiate herself from the original Priyanka was interesting. Steven wasn't aware that he was based on a real Steven. Maybe. It was hard to say without enough proof.
"But I had enough time in between to see her that she was raised in foster care. Then when she turned 18 I lost track."
Out into the world of hacking, where she would cover her tracks and bring up the one known as Berrybyte.
"Do you have an idea what she was like when she was younger?" Ronaldo asked.
Priyanka smirked and chuckled.
"From what I know, she was a good girl." She said.
"Loved playing the Violin. Does she still play?"
Ronaldo and Steven exchanged glances. This was a sore topic.
"I've only seen her play once." Steven replied.
"But it only served to make her sad."
Priyanka hummed, expressing concern.
"A shame. But it might be a cause of contention. I would say the events of the fire must have traumatised her and playing the violin only brings up bad memories."
Looking to the side, Steven recalled the dreams as well as Pat's explanation of the events. She was playing the violin at the time of the accident. Steven knew horrible feelings could be brought on by certain triggers and acting differently out of an emotional response. Steven did not like to be called a program as it was a source of anger for himself. It would make sense that this caused Connie pain, not happiness. He suddenly felt selfish to ask her to do so and she did...going out in the middle of the night in search of an instrument, second hand and coming back drenched. What Steven didn't get now was why she played despite this new fact. Was it just to make him happy?
"She never played in front of people however, now that I go back further. So I'm amazed you were able to get her to play at all...in front of an audience."
An audience of one AI but still...
"I asked her to." Steven told her.
"So she asked me..."
The words were coming out so sheepishly.
"She asked me to learn how to play."
Priyanka blinked.
"Fascinating. You're not her assistant and you're saying you're her colleague...where were you designed may I ask?"
Steven froze, before looking at Ronaldo who was unsure what to say himself.
"That's classified." Steven answered.
Crossing her arms, she wasn't gonna fall for that statement.
"So you're an illegal AI then? Hoping to trick Connie like one of those Malware Scrappers?"
Malware Scrappers was a term reserved for either an AI or human who intentionally seek to do harm for fun or profit by inserting viruses to cause havok. More cleverly designed ones are sold in the black market as real functional AI's where the new owners are lead to believe they're buying a decent product, but really, the AI still serves the seller and aims to do some damage as part of their creators design. Steven's had to protect people from them with the Ancillas on occasion.
"I promise you I'm not a Scrapper." Steven assured her. He was about to open his mouth before Ronaldo interrupted.
"Steven's a Liaison." The man said.
"So legally he can't divulge his purpose."
Would she buy it? Priyanka appeared sceptical, but with a sigh, she had to relent.
"Very well." She said.
"But I need to know Connie is being protected; looked after. I know that sounds sentimental but the real Priyanka would want to see her happy."
Words that struck Steven more so. Another AI, theoretically more emotionally invested in Connie, for good reason and the simple desire to see the woman in a better state.
"I understand." He told Priyanka sternly.
"That's been my aim."
A truth and nothing more. He felt Connie deserved it and after everything he's heard so far, only fuelled his desire and hunt for anything that could assist that goal. Alongside his own. Because Connie was worth it...his feelings for the human were the strongest he's had that he's risked overclocking for her and found out more about the world through her (and Ronaldo) than he's had for the longest time. The taste of pizza...the feeling of the rain and the gushing winds. The sounds of music and all that provided. That's worth everything to Steven.
"You're definitely a unique one." She stated.
"If it is your true directive, then I do not need to be here."
What? No!
"Wait..." Steven called out.
"You're not gonna stick around when Connie wakes up?"
The Yellow construct frowned.
"Sadly I cannot." She answered...though her inflection said otherwise and the way she rubbed her arm was a human gesture for discomfort. Signature of any brain mapped AI is the continuation of habits.
"The very sight of me will cause Connie further distress. I was planning to be a consult but it seems she has the company to take care of her."
If only she knew...Connie hated the idea of people looking after her. Didn't want to appear weak.
"We're not her proxies." Ronaldo told her.
"We're just her associates just worried about her."'
Connie didn't like using the word friend either. Priyanka smiled either way.
"That's enough I'd say." She claimed.
In a way, it brought Steven enough to hope that Connie will see the light but...a long and tenuous journey would be afoot otherwise. Steven would dream of the day that the two would reconcile and Connie would get the closure she might have been trying hard to fight for, after all these years. It was an ambiguous situation if she that's what it was amounting to, especially her behaviour. Which lead Steven to ask...
"Okay then...oh before you go." He said.
"I want to know more about DM Biometrics. Do you have anything on them we're able to look into?"
Priyanka blinked.
"Uh...nothing specific comes to mind." She said, perplexed by the question.
"Why do you ask?"
Uncertain himself, but from what Pat was saying earlier on that it stuck to Steven's mind like glue.
"Connie did speak to them to do the uploading but that's not the reason why I'm asking." He said.
He paused...realizing that Pat never went into what she found before Steven was urged to check out what was going on with Connie. Damn it.
"Do they persuade people in giving up their brains?" Ronaldo said in his place.
An odd question but a valid one.
"Not that I'm aware of." Priyanka answered.
"The process is strictly voluntary. Either through living beings once they pass checks or they register themselves. Wills are also accepted."
So why did Connie volunteer? Her actions don't necessarily match up with what Priyanka was explaining. Steven ravaged his hard drive for any notable phrases Connie had made as of late:
Dreams are incredible but they don't do much other than projecting everything your mind has the potential to create based on already existing information. Nothing unique...but your imagination and your subconscious throwing every dark cloud at you when you let it...and when you don't want it to...
The dark clouds...that which would fog the mind and only think of the bad things in ones life to weigh one down. Connie wanted to control the flow of information in her own head but couldn't.
Stuff that if I had the power to change the situation then I would...but...I need to accept the fact that I'm not gonna get it but it stings so bad.
A change of situation. Connie couldn't change something, something that was hurting her. Was it the incident?
I figured the only solution was to become an AI to figure out how it worked...so that I would better be able to see through your eyes what it's like....and that the judgement of others wouldn't be so harsh...
Steven wasn't sure if he was to believe that was the case. Connie wouldn't lie without a good reason. The concept of her double-jacking with him in the Domain was a redundant thing. Avatars have more power in the Domain if they have sufficient clearance and understanding of the Domain and its secrets. No human would ever want to give complete authority to machines. Connie would lose what power she already had and she wasn't stupid enough to put herself in a position where she was weaker.
I'm not in it for the overall gain. The challenge is what I lived for but...when stuff comes in the way and makes you question everything you've come to know, because you've done it for so long...
Unless it was the challenge itself that she was really after. Repetition gets boring for humans more than for AI's. Connie wanted something different.
I found myself challenged by the one concept so alien to me ...and it took an AI who sees himself as a sentient being and I was so far out of touch and I hated it, that it was him, of all people, showing me...
The challenge itself was unknown and Connie didn't like how hard it was...Steven wasn't sure what was making her so angry about it though.
Steven...is there anything in your programming that allows you to....shut off certain emotions?
Controlling emotions to pause or suppress. The anger and hurt itself...perhaps, becoming unbearable. Trickling through those quotes alone, his mind stumbled across the phone call which talked about stabilising and it brought alarm to Pat.
"What's stabilising?" Steven questioned, wanting to know more.
Priyanka blinked.
"Oh? Well, from the procedure the mind needs to be in the most tranquil state for the brain-mapping to work properly or risk the results with a faulty AI on the other end. Pills are used to ensure the brain is put into a state where emotions are greatly suppressed. Preventing it from freaking out. Even when the brain is taken out of the body, it still has to have enough of the substance within it so it's usually the case where donors have to periodically take the pills to have the best results."
That explained the pills Connie had and the way she was acting so out of character.
"What about dead donors?" Ronaldo queried, curious.
A question Steven didn't want to ask because he wasn't even thinking about it...only trying to piece together everything. But Priyanka was able to answer.
"The brain has to have slight injections at measured intervals. If done swiftly and done with care and caution, the brain is quickly taken out of the donor and given the substance in liquid form. The scientist puts in enough for the brain to calm down. While the body is long gone, the brain still has enough activity and use for the mapping to work. The longer you wait to map it, the further the brain deteriorates...and it makes for a shoddy, buggy AI that doesn't even remotely resemble the original donor in personality or form."
Scary stuff that Steven gulp. He hadn't even known about brain-mapping until recently and this terrified him. And Connie was willing because she was in pain and didn't want to feel anything anymore.
"You seem to know a lot and are pretty okay with something that happened to you." Steven acknowledged.
Priyanka shrugged.
"I'm....Priyanka was a Doctor...she was aware of the process itself, having worked for DM Biometrics herself for a limited time. But nothing extravagant. They had her there sometimes to do brain tests to make sure the brains that were being used were optimal. What counts as optimal is a very...lets say, depressing series of events."
Steven would imagine criteria having being fulfilled, like what with Pat said, that the Soulware used had to be of a decent grading.
"Even after I was made, I was being used for a short while as an example template. Comparisons for later versions to be used against."
Interesting.
"Do you still talk to anyone from there?" Ronaldo wondered.
Great question...perhaps this would get them a little bit more info. Not necessarily for Connie, but for Steven's situation.
"I go to them from checks at least every one to two months." She replied.
"Just maintenance really, as you would know. A MIC must also be given updated reports on latest medical breakthroughs and adjustments. I have to be at the top of my form, after all."
That was a bit alarming. Steven's never had maintenance...he's heard of it but he's never had it. The Ancillas would say he's up to date...or what ever that meant. While it did nerve him, he had to gather the courage to ask her something she may or may not even be able to do.
Something dangerous.
"I uh...I was wondering..." He said, anxious...before, again Ronaldo stepped in.
"We were wondering if they were aware that Connie was Priyanka's daughter...of course they would jump at a descendant with an immaculate brain...how horrendous!"
Steven looked at him strangely...that wasn't what he was going to ask at all.
"I wouldn't really know." Priyanka answered.
"My colleague who deals with special donor cases was the one who tipped me off about a failed self-termination. Those who don't go through with the whole thing. You'd be surprised how common that is..."
The feeling of giving ones self up for the sake of what...science? Ascension? Steven didn't like the fact people preferred to go out like that. It rubbed him the wrong way.
"I know I shouldn't be asking this but..." Steven stated, worried that such a question would offend.
"Did you see Connie doing this because..."
Priyanka shook her head to disclaim anything else he was going to assume.
"If you're asking me if Priyanka knew this was going to happen I would say definitely not. Connie does not know I exist. The fact she chose this path for herself worries me greatly because a lot of people get rejected for this because of reasons like their mental instability and what not. Hmm...now that I think about, DM Biometrics approving this if Connie is in such a state of mind does cause alarm."
Great...more to be worried about.
"Even with the stabilisers?" Steven put forth. From what Steven witnessed, they were doing their job.
The statement made the other AI sigh.
"Suppression of emotions is one thing, but the mind itself can genuinely be affected by chemicals in the brain. Serotonin, dopamine, etc. Humans have all this chemistry in their heads that be thrown off balance. People can't help it due to stressful situations they find themselves in which is generally a part of the human experience."
Complex. No wonder Connie wanted to get rid of it.
"AI's can simulate and emulate emotions like humans but not to the same extent. Brain-Mapped AI's are scanned according to the current state of the mind at that point. But there will always be parts of it that will slip through. Not a bad thing; depending on the individual you can get all sorts of results. So those AIs will be sent through to different areas to perform their primary function."
Evidence enough with Priyanka's current position. A point Steven wanted to stress with the Ancillas but they too, were without true answer. People could speculate but never be able to know for sure.
"So it's true then..." Ronaldo said with sadness.
What was?
"What do you mean?" Steven wondered.
Not everything was as obvious to Steven however. He could know when something was wrong but not understand how or why. His hunger for this type of knowledge; the grey between the black and white. Gaps unfilled because of who he was...
How I feel. Is lost...twisted...churned...fucked up...feelings I don't want anymore.
"Connie...she didn't do this because she was genuinely wanting to become an AI. She was doing it because she couldn't stand existing with what she was feeling...she had enough." Ronaldo answered.
Terms Steven was unable to fully grasp unless the term of hacking into her emotions was an idea.
"I don't get it." He said, scratching his head.
And the look on the projected Priyanka's face was similar.
"We don't understand it fully because our inhibitors are designed to suppress human aspects of our emotions. Absolute sorrow is something that presents a great risk to our functionality. Connie was at breaking point...I feel like I should have intervened a lot sooner."
No. Or yes...she should have....and that pissed Steven off more than it was supposed to.
"Yes you should have." He said, jousting at her with his finger.
"It doesn't matter if you're not really her Mom. Maybe things could have gone differently...because you would still be family in some way shape or form."
And they wouldn't have gotten to this point. Connie wouldn't have resorted to this...wouldn't have gone to absolute sorrow.
"I wish it was that easy." Priyanka stated.
"AI's cop flak from all walks of life. That would have hurt Connie more just to see a facsimile.."
No. Steven refused to wallow down to that 'just a program' crap.
"But you didn't even try!" He called out, his frustrations noted in his stance as he continued to chastise her.
"You could have told her that her Mom would have been proud or-or that she wanted to her to continue to play the violin...you should been a part of her life, in the very least."
Circumstances and variances in what they were...what they were capable of. Besides personalities, there was little AI's had in common with humanity. Steven made the attempt because he wanted to...because he found humans fascinating and worthy to admire...
"I couldn't take the chance." Priyanka admitted...feeling regret.
"People have tried to do such things in the past. Many AI's left deactivated because they didn't satisfy the needs of their owners or they weren't perfect copies of their loved ones. I'll admit it's a flawed system and I warn anyone that the AI will not be a perfect replica. Still people insist and I've seen so many end up being disappointed."
Connie said stuff about needs and wants and mixing them up constantly...and that Steven himself...began the trail of doubt. What if...he was just a discarded and salvaged AI himself? He didn't fulfil his real role and was just made of scraps or missing code filled with bits and pieces. It really began to bother him. He looked at his holographic hands of magenta shades...those lines of code. Imperfect, adjusted, recoded, rewritten. A mistake that was given pity by superior programs.
"But you're here now." Steven continued, eventually looking at Priyanka.
"Connie's going through this... absolute sorrow. She needs the support."
Pri lifted her chin up a tad.
"She has that, clearly." She admitted.
"I've never met an AI like you. Your perception...you've been around Connie long enough for a thesis to formulate. This thesis tells you to adjust the mindset and take the theoretical leap of faith in the low-chance that in a way, Connie will be accepting?"
Accepting is a common issue with programs. Between humans and the beings they see nothing more than lengthy and complex lines of code, AI's know their place in the Domain and the Grids they dwell in. They are born with a purpose and will act according to how they were written. Their evolving matrices are meant to curtail issues and bugs and reporting the more dire ones to their creators are the general rule of thumb. Priyanka, however was an AI like him. She had the human code in her intentionally...and humans do have the ability to feel compassion and respect. Put into their simulated brethren makes for their kind to be the fringe between reality and the digital world.
"Steven has been with Connie the most recently." Ronaldo said to her.
"But you have a point too. Society isn't ready to accept Artificial Intelligence as people. It's been a subject of controversy for as long as I can remember."
Priyanka nodded in agreement.
"Petitions notwithstanding...some try, like you but never succeed...too much prejudice and anger. Even if we don't like it, we must accept the fact we'll never be seen as equals. They are the ones who designed us after all."
Steven still wouldn't stand for it.
"So we need to keep trying." He said.
"Connie...comes and goes with the stuff I tell her about and the stuff she tells me. She's shown me the outlandish and I have given what I can within my range to provide....so...if you want to take that leap of faith....then please talk to her. There's only really two ways you'll know if she's willing or not."
And the chances for either were basically fifty-fifty. Connie saying that Steven was someone stuck with him, providing him the evidence needed that she could possibly accept Priyanka the AI. If it will make her happy would be up for debate but taking this first step was gonna determine the outcome either way.
"Hmm...sounds logical. I don't want hurt Connie any further than she already has been." Priyanka said.
And again, the niche of fear was such a human aspect as well. Priyankas programming warning her of the consequences but Steven had narrowed it down. There was still risk, but there was also reward. To get Connie away from Absolute Sorrow.
"As you said, she already has support. We just have to be careful."
Not long after they returned to Connie's room. Ronaldo had fallen asleep on the nearby chair as it was around 2:15 am. Steven and Priyanka were on their opposite bedside tables with his eyes on Connie's slowly rising and falling chest and Priyankas on Connie's vitals. Nurses came and adjusted the intake of what Connie was being inserted with and would state she would wake soon...or on her own accord before letting them be. Steven couldn't even begin to imagine what was going through her head...whether or not she was dreaming...
"I didn't sense much while I was double jacking..." Steven muttered to Pri.
The other AI was at odds with what he was telling her. Double Jacking was known but not exactly a common activity. Priyanka's nature of a Doctor had her wanting to know this specific AI, while he couldn't say where he had come from, wonder his purpose is. She knew fellow Brain-Mapped AI's and their duties in other roles and was prepared to question anyone who knew this Steven. DM Biometrics hadn't had anyone of his like and design that she could trace. Some AI had to have seen him, however.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
All the parts he felt with her. The sensations...but he never felt the absolute sorrow.
"Connie's feelings...some were intense...some were just null."
Priyanka pursed her lips.
"A scenario unfortunately seen quite often. Better days are said to be when you feel nothing at all."
How awful. Absolute Sorrow or Absolute Nothingness...AI's can function at zero emotive processing so the cortex itself if it was shut down wasn't a massive issue but it could have them at fault for split second decision making down the line, especially when it came to lives being at stake.
"Do you think she can be happy?" He asked.
Priyanka crossed her arms and and looked at the pale woman before them.
"I can't say. It's up to Connie to say that." She replied.
"For some people its easy...for others, they have to make the effort themselves to get better. I figure, it will be a tough fight."
But with the more support, Steven could see their chances increasing tremendously. Connie doesn't have to do it alone. With that, their eyes went on Connie batting her eyelids and struggling to keep them open. It took her a moment for her consciousness to take heed and for her mind to formulate its state of awareness. Looking around, she could see Ronaldo, Steven and Priyanka in her vision. If Steven had a heart, it would have skipped a beat somewhere surely, because an emotion resembling fear took hold in Connie's reaction to where it could be anything...so they had to tread with Absolute Caution.
"Eh...where am I?" She asked, voice croaky.
"You're at the Hospital." Steven answered with a faint smile.
"How are you?"
Connie sat up slowly, wobbly in the arms and felt her forehead, straining against confusion. She looked completely wiped, licking her chapped lips and left grasping at the bare minimum of comprehension.
"Fucked." She said bluntly.
"Why the fu- oh."
Memories of her conversation with Steven beforehand prevented Connie from bursting out in a tantrum. There was the quick fill of the bottle to explode at someone, but seeing Steven standing there triggering their earlier conversation and had her finally realise what was going on.
"You know how much that set cost? Ugh...."
She had the same attitude at least. A good or bad sign? Steven couldn't tell. Suddenly the atmosphere was tense and awkward with reading the room being impossible for anyone. Steven had to say something,
"Connie, there's someone you should meet." He told her, gesturing towards Priyanka.
Rubbing her eyes, Connie glanced at the yellow AI. Steven watched the whole interaction at a slower, tense pace. Connie blinking to make sure the light absorbed was what she was seeing. The hologram, standing there with a stoic expression with her hands behind her back. All the pulsing lines and the code that ran through the near translucent form. It took humans longer to visualise and translate what they were seeing to sustain a belief and the knowledge of what they even looking at. A piece of art with many people taking turns interpreting the meaning.
Garnet used to talk about perception of humans and AI's and even GIS. An AI is built with what they were supposed to know and their sight to correlate with their design to make factual judgement based on what they made for. Art in itself was the most difficult for them to perceive. An AI can tell you based on scans and history who made the art, the name of the artwork, what materials were used and a blurb or two of its description. But they can't tell you what they're supposed to feel from it. A painting, a statue, a poem, a story...if asked for the meaning or what they think it means is lost on them. They do not have the framework to interpret because of the design lack statements for probability, actuality and truth. There is no right or wrong answer if you have basis backing up such theories. AI's had no need for what wasn't a fact. Feelings were feelings because they're responsible for ulterior drivers. To protect their creators. To guide their creators and to know if some state their displeasure and so will find something for their creators tastes.
What ever makes their creators happy. Art in itself, an expression of the creators way to display emotions or meanings in ways AI's weren't able to find the capacity to know right away...unless their creators told them what it meant. It didn't mean that they would still understand it. Only that the work was meant to emulate a certain emotion or story. Procuring facts to make logical conclusions. But never their own, unique outlook.
Steven could, for what ever reason, see expressions and make conclusions himself, not always but it could give wordless answers through uncertain feelings. Feel something from those expressions. AI's could possibly do the things they weren't they could. It wasn't about impossibles. AI's were written for probabilities for one purpose but it could be used for much more. And so with what power he had, could see Connie's face curved in the perplexing nature of the AI she was looking at...the sight of her own memory putting the pieces together. But, like an AI, she couldn't get the words out to say what she wanted to, like there was no name for the emotion she was experiencing.
"Hello Connie." Said Priyanka, breaking the silence.
Glimpsing at her twitchy fingers, Steven saw that Connie wanted to something, but wasn't sure how to react herself.
"Hi." She said in return, her voice still weak.
Priyanka didn't show it, but she herself was feeling quite nervous.
"Do you know who I am?" Priyanka asked.
The hum of the hospital lighting machinery and the heart monitor were the only ambient noises in the answer that followed. Connie looked at her hands, before she looked at Steven and Ronaldo. The latter nodded, as he took Steven whom, didn't understand it first, but...from what ever look Steven wasn't sure it was but it was a message onto itself and left the room to leave Connie and Priyanka by themselves to talk.
Back in the waiting area, Ronaldo was definitely deep in thought about it all. At least Steven didn't fear about asking what was on his mind.
"Don't hold out on me Ron." Steven asked.
The man leaned over, his eyes looking at the opposing white wall before his attention shift back to Steven sitting on the table.
"Makes me wonder how many Brain-Mapped AI's there are in existence like Connie's Mom that hold this need to see their loved ones again."
A need. AI's do not need unless it served a purpose.
"Erasing memories....Connie wanted to forget." Steven told him.
"Forget what happened to her and her family...and forget me."
Ronaldo furrowed his brows.
"Forget what happened back then...yeah, that I can see....something as awful as losing those close to you would feel horrible and would weigh on you heavily. But you?"
Steven thought it was strange too.
"Yeah I'm not sure why...I'm not giving Connie what she needs...and she's like, I want to be an AI to see things through your perspective...trust me...I have a hard time wrapping my head around AI stuff more than I have with human contexts."
Ronaldo nodded in understanding.
"Some BM AI's have problems like that due to have issues adjusting. Priyanka is a good example of one making the best attempts to understand because she was prepared for what was to come. The good and the bad. I wonder if the real Steven, if thats his real name...had either involuntary and voluntary memory adjustments because the process behind your creation was obviously too traumatic for him to handle."
A statement Ronaldo talked about earlier and formed the theory that Steven had considered. The Ancillas tried but came up with nothing.
"It's possible but...." Steven stated.
All Steven had were feelings. Feelings he couldn't describe. Parts of his life that told him that the Ancillas were good people. That there were bad people in the world like Kevin...and wonderful people like Ronaldo and Connie that he was glad to be friends with. Connie wouldn't admit it, but Steven's made the presumptions of their communication being on the level of friendship. Or so his own research has told him.
His own past was basically nothing. Nothing to show, nothing direct or obvious or even ambiguous. Nothing to trace, nothing for him to jump through, node for node.
"I know Connie can help me. I know you can help me. I can't do this on my own. But...we also need to help each other. I also think Priyanka's insight will be welcomed."
And the probability of it all would sure increase.
"I'm not sure how many AI's I can handle being around with right now without PeriCom noticing." Ronaldo said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
"But you're...you're not wrong. Having someone connected to a well established company and subsidiary could assist in the tracing part. If Pat stipulates a lead then we'd be fools to ignore it. Just need to make sure what we only disclose data to others that aren't risky to provide. So don't give too much away too soon either..."
Which explained why Ronaldo stopped Steven from giving his status as an unknown to Priyanka. Yes, she was a template based off Connie's mother but protocols they couldn't see, like if DM Biometrics or even PeriCom had be tracking the AI as she moved about. Pearl warned him about the dangers of meeting AI's allied with larger companies that they were associated with and to ensure that they didn't pose a threat to their goal. Or else PeriCom would definitely be after Steven for real.
Coupled with Lapis' documents about the decay of the Domain, he would certainly think that it was enough payment to consider himself with enough credit with the Data Broker, considering that it was because of her Connie was still alive. He would have to procure more information to sell to her in order to get what he required. Maintaining connections, prioritising those he felt close to as well as those whom have shown their merit. Steven clearly had a lot more work ahead of him and his eyes tracked the closed off room and was left at odds as to what Connie and Priyanka were talking about.
"We'll need all the help we can get." Steven said.
"But..."
As Connie was his main priority at the moment. Technically on an official, professional surface level, he was her Personal Assistant. Unofficially, they were indeed friends...allies minimum. But he couldn't help the feelings within himself, even with dampeners and protocols and subroutines, there was a command on all its own, directing his emotional connections to Connie in ways he's never felt before. It was like it was embedded into his metaphysical motherboard. It was a form and function, a requirement and irremovable sequence that just....was it always there?
"She's still tough." Ronaldo assured him.
"Maybe this wasn't her way of giving up...but rather giving in to something she might have been attempting to resolve for a while."
Humans were weird. But that's why he liked them so much. The abstract, the guessing without real answers. Humanity is Art.
"Talking with a AI duplicate of her mother. I'm confident it will change things for her."
Steven would anticipate it as such, but the logics found to him caused him to worry briefly.
"There's no screaming or shouting." He commented.
"I was putting in the equation of Connie's reaction...if she was going to be angry or happy..."
Ronaldo shrugged.
"Neither I'd say." He concluded.
This was why he needed Ronaldo too. Could always figure out another answer not in the equation.
"It's an addition to the knowledge that Connie may or may not have been needing this entire time. I remember when Mom died and it was through her doctors that we were granted closure. Giving her enough time to talk to each of us before she passed on."
Steven recalled Ronaldo saying his mother was dying of cancer when Ron was a lot younger and his brother Peedee was a toddler and couldn't understand why his mother was going away and not coming back. The Doctor put into terms he understood, about the Heavens needing to recruit angels and that his mother would still watch over them there and would want her children to be strong. It was a weird explanation but Peedee had found that reassuring, but still a bit confusing.
"Connie will recover. She just has to choose how she wants to...and if she wants to."
There had to be something better than wallowing in the misery that had formed. No one would desire to be left in Absolute Sorrow all their lives and risk devastation. Steven trusted Ronaldo's advice and would prefer to dwell in the premise of hope that Connie would want better for herself.
"That's her decision to make. We can only do so much."
A truth that was definitely clear to Steven....as they would wait for the outcome of their conversation, while looking at the random painting of pink roses on the nearby wall and went to work deciphering their meaning.
Notes:
AI Lore feat. Medical Intelligence Consultant (MIC) Priyanka:
Absolute Sorrow is Depression, but to an AI is in the deepest depths of sadness that an AI can take before its starts to glitch. There are other versions like Absolute Anger and Absolute Happiness. A peak emotional tier that if anything higher than that can have dire effects, temporary or permanent that varies from AI to AI. Brain-Mapped AI's have a better understanding of their emotions and tolerate better extremes. However, all AI's must have emotional dampeners installed to prevent the extremes from happening too often so being neutral was a default expression.
As for GIS...no one really knows their programming 100% but its generally accepted that they're beyond anything normal humans can create and if companies like PeriCom who find them and successfully 'recruit' they are used to do the more taxing workloads across the Domain, like Lapis Lazulis.
Chapter 14: Task Manager
Summary:
Connie reflects on her conversation with her AI who happens to be her mother...
Chapter Text
Once Connie was given the all clear the following day, she was allowed to return back to her apartment.
Priyanka had to return back to her hospital but promised to keep in contact with Connie otherwise. As the woman stood inside her dark apartment after being dropped off by Ronaldo, she contemplated everything put before her. There was no doubt that this had changed Connie and had her gunning down on her own thoughts on what to do next. Steven had gone back with Ronaldo, still honouring her request to stay at his until they were ready to talk about it all.
There was a bit of uncertainty crowded in her muggy head. The humidity of her own thoughts not unbearable but it did make her uncomfortable. She was tired, but could not sleep. The medications and the flushing out of the drugs and nanites was an exhausting experience that had her be a bit groggy. The loneliness didn't help distract any of this and Steven had offered to come back to her apartment if she wanted him to. No...she needed the space and the space to think clearly about her actions and her actions moving forward.
The day itself was overcast and rainy, with Connie's eyes aimlessly looking out the window. Her posture standing there was poor and she struggled to keep her eyes opened...with a mouth half gaped and eyes half way drawn and almost squinting like. She was hollow and left thinking on how she should feel, instead of feeling weak and aching. She had to promise both Ronaldo and Steven that she was going to take care of herself after a bit of convincing and that she contact Steven as soon as she was able to.
Instead Connie's eyes travelled across the quiet apartment, scanning the bags of stuff she left and eventually the stand for Steven's CPD on the bench...then towards the open door to the bathroom. By this point she was running on auto-pilot and other drugs as she turned to close and lock the front door. Doing so, she leaned forward slightly and rested her forehead against the door and ran her hand down it very slowly. What was she getting herself into?
She was there for about a minute, mind hardly being able to get past the fog. The temporary amount of control she had, she used to drag herself, inclusive of dragging her feet across the carpet, towards the couch in the lounge area and collapsing face first into the cushions.
Again, she laid there for another hot minute, before shifting her head to the side to look at the tv. Nothing was on...only her projection of her conversation in the hospital with what she deemed to be the most unexpected of all individuals to bounce into her life...
It was a very...complex situation. It was the face of a woman she's not seen in years and technically should have been impossible. Right there, in front of her, was the yellow shade of her mother.
Priyanka made it clear in their proceeding conversation that she knew she wasn't her real mother, but for what it was worth, that she can't help but love Connie anyway.
"So..." Said Priyanka shortly after Steven and Ronaldo left the room. He was good at reading the atmosphere, as some humans were really good at knowing certain requests without words being exchanged.
"I'm sure you've got plenty of questions. I'll answer as best I can."
If what had been said was true, then the Connie she knew and the Connie in the bed were two different people.
"You know, I don't even know what to ask." She said.
What could she ask when her own feelings were left in a complete whirlwind. After everything, this wasn't exactly the worst part...it was actually, more welcoming in a strange, complicated way. Priyanka went back to assumptions she's known for patients and doctors and nurses and strangers that ask her. Those left succumbing to the curiosity surrounding AI's in general.
"Do you want me to spare the details? I can give you the short story or the long story..."
Connie just looked down at herself. Questions left unanswered and buried for many years. The fire itself, Connie knew what happened. They were stuck in the house and couldn't get out. It was more simple than most would make it out to be...and that's the most tragic part. Connie couldn't control the weather so it was just, over all bad luck. Connie resolved to ensure that bad luck wasn't going to stop her...but her time in Foster care left more to be desired.
"Spare me and I'll spare you." Connie told her.
"Let's see...Foster care fucked me up. I put up with shit awful foster parents and their shit awful kids....and yet you were in existence this whole time..."
Connie wanted to be angry but...she understood this AI was her own separate conscience with her own thoughts and feelings. It wasn't her fault. Though she did find it strange however men in black suits showed up when the ambulances arrived to take one of the covered gurneys away into an unmarked black van.
"The fucking system is a joke."
Priyanka was somewhat relieved that Connie wasn't angry at her, though.
"But I had no idea you...no idea Mom volunteered for the upload."
The AI nodded. She concluded Connie couldn't help but wonder what was going through her mothers head at the time. Youth left wondering what was and could never be.
"At your age, you wouldn't have been able to understand." She said.
"They recommended against sentimental attachments. It would have caused too much bias in my learning algorithms."
Connie had to think logically on this. No government in the world would allow a lone AI raise children. It wouldn't work if they didn't classify AI's as registered members of society. It was unheard of. In any other scenario Connie would have been in a fitful rage but...spending time with Steven changed her entire idea of AI's as mere programs. She'd come to accept Steven as his own...individual with more humanity within him than most people she'd met. Including the scum of the Domain and beyond.
"I'm sure Mom would be disappointed that her only daughter became a relentless Hacker instead of someone actually useful to society." Connie said.
Knowing Connie was alive was good enough for Priyanka.
"She might have been but...being able to see you again would have brought her the greatest joy." The latter said with a warm tone.
"And would have apologised for the circumstances that put you through all that. On her behalf, I apologise."
No. She didn't have to. Connie had to tell herself not to place blame.
"You...had no immediate family close by....and she didn't anticipate dying so soon. She wanted to see you grow up and become a lovely young woman before her time was up naturally."
As did Connie...who began to feel awful and guilty as she huddled in and wrapped her arms around herself; hunching over slightly as tears dropped onto the blanket while she sobbed.
"You...don't need to apologise when nothing is your fault." Connie told her.
"I had all this time and resources and I fucking...."
Connie burst into tears, the turmoil overwhelming her to the point where she couldn't utter words. She was exhausted and tired of being like this massive mess that became harder and harder to clean up each time.
"Trust me when I say when I heard you were in hospital I dropped everything to be with you." Priyanka assured her.
"My colleagues questioned my ambitions to someone who they knew wasn't really my daughter but truthfully? I wanted to see you and talk to you...if circumstances were different...and whether or not you would accept me."
Connie forced herself to stop crying and wiped her eyes with the back of her arm. Acceptance...fearful of someone pretending to be her mother would have pissed Connie of greatly and so she would have been correct to assume so. Societal norms with AI's like this to try and disengage AI's from their templates families for reasons Priyanka had explained to her. People had tried but with the amount of treatment these AI's would get ended with PeriCom putting in a Relation Policy, preventing BM-AI's from being sold and sent to next of kin. Too much time, money and effort spent on the resources to make them, only for some to become too faulty and broken with chips and cabinets being thrown away. PeriCom did not want any AI, no matter how flawed, to be chucked away. Only sent back for observation and restoration for reasons PeriCom state is to re-purpose them to serve the Domain. However, many were still for one reason or another.
More than she would like to admit, her relationship with Steven did have her beliefs change somewhat. AIs were definitely capable and were thinkers and creators...not that any official statement would say otherwise. Steven made it abundantly clear that he wasn't just a program and that became part of Connie's reason (of many) to become one herself. Losing herself, to give Steven someone he could connect with properly, without judgement. Fuck humanity and all that, they didn't need her. Though in turn, the loss itself was an unknown to Connie and that kind of scared her.
"You are who you are...AI or not." Connie told her.
"If that's what Mom wanted then it would be selfish of me to ask for more than that."
If only Connie could see herself that way.
"I mean, it's not perfect but...I think...you being here is...well..."
The word bashful didn't come across Connie's vocabulary or expression all that often.
"I...think it's better that you did exist rather than you didn't. You were a part of Mom after all."
Like Eve from Adams rib.
"And so were you." Priyanka said.
"You can't erase precious moments like from when you were born...from seeing the twinkle in your eyes from when they got you that violin for your birthday."
Connie's chest hurt. For good reasons.
"Or when Dad offering to help me practice by learning the piano...but he was so bad at it."
Priyanka chuckled in fond remembrance.
"Yes and he wanted to play that fun, silly music from westerns like he was in some bar with cowboys."
Upon recalling his failed attempts, it had Connie laugh for the first time in a while. Wholeheartedly and it was infectious that Priyanka started to laugh alongside her.
"All he needed was the curly moustache..." Priyanka continued.
It was definitely refreshing to laugh about the old times of her youth. He was, in a sense the only one missing from this family right now and had Connie ask an odd question.
"How come you didn't convince...I mean, why didn't Mom convince Dad to go in that direction as well?"
Priyanka sighed. The selection process and criteria required had certain requirements.
"Your father wasn't considered on the same intellectual level." She said with sadness.
"I mean, he wasn't dumb...he was definitely smart in his own way. His Soulware wasn't exactly at the right level they wanted either."
That sounds about right.
"Which reminds me...let me check yours..."
She summoned a screen in front of her to check Connie's vitals and medical history. Most places don't always check for Soulware status but one can opt in to update that voluntarily on their private medical database if that had their Domain Port upgraded with the optional addition of medical reports. Connie's done that consistently for reasons regarding eligibility in certain areas, but she can also alter it on a whim. (You're not supposed to unless a Doctor signs off on it first). Her plan was to put in a false report so she wouldn't have been screened for certain conditions and that irregardless of circumstances; she was going to allow the AI to be made...if she had gone through with it.
"An S grade. Huh...is that natural?" Priyanka wondered.
Connie blushed and pursed her lips, while scratching her cheek with the faint tip of her index finger as the instant recollection of Steven's..ahem...upgrade put her up one grade.
"That was because of Steven..."
Priyanka froze.
"Steven? As in..."
Yup. The Pink AI hopefully in the waiting room with Ronaldo.
"Yeah...it's a long story." Connie admitted.
Priyankas seen such reactions like Connie's before and that wasn't what Priyanka was a bit confused about.
"I've never heard of any AI being able to upgrade someones Soulware before. You are born with what ever rating you have and luck and randomness and the odd individual being able to upgrade outside the Domain if it worked within that tiny chance of it happening...all those possibly would gift you a higher grading along the line but to forcibly update someone? I mean, your father was a C Grade but he never cared too much for the Domain anyway. Your mother was an SS from birth."
Impressive. Explained why they wanted her brain so much.
"May I ask, if it's not too sensitive a topic." She said.
"Where did you obtain Steven?"
Connie went on to explain that he found her. She was on a job in the Domain and was running away from what she believed was terrifying renegade GIS after she tried to get a program back from them. Steven found her and protected her and gave her the program to give to her client. She thought he was an ordinary human until he admitted he was an AI. A story Pri found fascinating.
"So you didn't purchase him...and you're helping him find answers to his making. Interesting." She said, rubbing her chin.
Connie left out the part of his partnership with the Ancillas. She wasn't going to risk it.
"He did seem hesitant before about telling me who his maker was. But if he doesn't know...hmmm..."
After all that Steven has gone through himself, especially with putting up with Connie's shit and his attempts to get her to stop this self-termination, the least Connie could do was protect him. Anything else was strictly business. But even that was hard to enact.
"You're not going to report him are you?" Connie said, a bit concerned.
Priyanka shook her head.
"Of course not." She replied.
"The benefit of being made from a human is the human concept of instinct. I can see Steven isn't malicious or doing anything malicious. Any older generation of AI would report him on the spot, only because he was illegal or not with a registered owner. But something tells me he's meant for something greater."
And she could determine that?
"Besides, for all intents and purposes, he does have an owner...and surprisingly, he functions more than a PA should; he genuinely cares about you."
Something he's stated before. Connie's stuck in that realm of disbelief.
"Which begs the question. Did you want to upload yourself to the Domain in order to be with him?"
Connie swore her heart stopped...and the heart monitor itself actually said it was going faster a tiny bit. She blushed furiously as she crossed her arms and looked away from the yellow AI.
"Fuck no." Connie answered roughly.
A smirk crept up on Pri's face. Her daughter might lie, cheat and steal to further her own ends, but Priyanka still had the emotional imprint of the original and could recognise Connie's more than obvious expression as evidence to the contrary.
"He's not in here. You can be honest with me." She offered.
"I may be a doctor, but I can still act like a overbearing mother."
Connie snickered. True, but she preferred that, instead of old hags who basically sat on her ass all day smoking cigarettes and making Connie grab their beers. Still, a little bit of venting wouldn't hurt. If anything Priyanka would probably understand this more so...if this Priyanka was still in love with her father.
"Fine." Connie said, exhaling loudly.
"Look...word gets out..."
Priyanka grinned crossed her arms.
"Doctors confidentiality is even more enforced in data form." She assured her.
"I'll seal it deep within the depths of my Kernel Core so not even DM Biometrics can fish it out of me."
Because that was reassuring...still...memories of the old days convinced Connie that she could be trusted. She was nothing but warm and kind...like the real mother she used to know. Connie struggled to relent initially and even admitting this herself was one of the hardest endeavours shes ever had to face. She sighed.
"Very well" Connie said sternly.
"Only if I get to call you Mom."
Priyanka wasn't expecting that...she'd spent a great deal of her own thoughts trying to convince herself otherwise. Hearing Connie say that of all things...it all suddenly came undone in the blink of an eye.
"And I will call you honey or sweetie like I used to." She said, already shifting gears into it.
"Now...tell me...please."
Her heart began to race faster at the very thought of telling this...
"You see.." She said, scrunching the blanet in her hand.
"I don't know...exactly when it started...but...I was a fool to believe it was true but the thing about being human Mom is...emotions get the better of you. You can't control how you feel half the time and it's like an on off switch that's haunted by a poltergeist."
Priyanka suspected as much. Connie didn't have to say it.
"I understand." She said.
"And I get why you're upset. It wouldn't be a good look."
And that's what Steven didn't get. Human and AI relationships were unheard of and if they were, they were brief or very limited and that even with PeriComs clause about such matters requires a rejuvenation to reset the AI to erase risky memories or emotions.
"But it wouldn't have been you in there. It would be someone who goes by the name Connie. But not everyone who is brain-mapped isn't exactly the same individual. If Steven is who he is because he allowed his emotions to develop as his original human psyche then he would notice that it isn't the same Connie he encountered by chance in the Domain."
Which made Connie feel worse about Steven's scenario. If he was brain-mapped, then where did he come from? She sat back and pressed her finger tips together and bounced them...the sign of her nerves being a bit shaky.
"There's the human in all of us that can notice those flaws, when something isn't quite right. Our matrices pick up on this quicker than most older generations but we're not meant to question it unless asked."
Then why was she?
"Mom...your curiosity about my own... "
Her eyes darted to the right for that brief moment....and bit her lip gently as she tried to get out the word to where she had struggled to convey.
"Fffffeelings....is that something you would encourage?"
A weird question bought out of a place so desperate for clarification that Connie would dive on any excuse to explore.
"I-I mean, yeah...no...no it's stupid. It's stupid, it's wrong and I hate myself for becoming this trash heap excuse for a Hacker...I.."
If Priyanka could comfort her daughter via touch she would, the visage of Connie tearing herself apart like this because of what her heart really desired was blocked by legislation and cross-species issues and hate.
"You'd think for all the peoples lives I tear into and I can't tear into my own and remove the one part that hurts like hell and..."
The heart monitor beeped a bit quicker now. Priyanka had to calm her down before the nurses would interfere, as Connie hunched over with her fingers almost squeezing her own scalp as more tears flowed in the tense bout of distress.
"Connie, sweetie please..." Pri said, using her higher tones to reassure her.
It was a dilemma for sure. Priyanka had to see it from several angles to make the right call. As an AI. As a Doctor. As a Woman. As a Wife and as a mother...but most importantly, as a human.
"You can still spend time together. Surely you can work around this problem-"
Connie moved her hands, but made a fist with one and gently whacked her forehead repeatedly.
"I called out his name during sex Mom." She admitted drily.
"It was outright humiliating...how the hell can I function if he's like, on my mind twenty-four seven? If I see and imagine his face on every guy I fuck?"
Normally Priyanka would be outright terrified of what her daughter was saying, but used her Doctor angle with this part. She had to.
"That is troubling...but it is, what it is Connie and you know it. Sounds like you're going to talk to Steven about this sooner or later...if you feel it's going to get worse."
Connie sighed, becoming a bit more relaxed strangely enough as her heart rate started to ease back a little.
"Maybe...look... I just needed to vent. I had never told anyone that before." She said, her voice soft.
Priyanka smiled. She felt pride in knowing Connie had placed this much trust in her. More than she had anticipated.
"Emotions like these are normal. You're a young woman who I imagine has a healthy libido and Steven is definitely not just another human male that can satisfy those needs."
Reminded Connie too much of that conversation they had before.
"Has Steven said anything to you about...his side? To me, he looks as if he's ready to put all the cards on the table just for your sake."
She's heard that too. Steven had been wanted to give for Connie as she had given through all the shared experiences. It was admirable...to a fault.
"He claims he feels something for me and suspects I for him. My pride didn't want me to admit that he was right." Connie replied, scratching her arm as she blushed.
"I'd want to give in but..."
Connie did the right step to try to resist. But it's gotten to the point where it's gone too far for Connie to go anywhere else. Which lead Priyanka to advise something quite alarming in context of everything her core beliefs and knowledge told her to go against. Different angles had different opinions but...
If you want to take that leap of faith...
AI's don't use that word often and Steven had her outright questioning what Priyanka had been told about their kind. Not just Brain-Mapped but...again, her matrices picked up more than their fair share of obscure hints just from the observations alone. His questions about DM Biometrics for example, told her he wasn't made by them and the revelation of his unknown origins as well as his connections to Connie and his ability to uplift Soulware was unseen in the circles Priyanka had been with on behalf of her owners...Priyanka decided she had to do a little bit of investigating on her end as well.
"Look, I'm going to possibly get in trouble for saying this...but...please talk to him. There's always a will and way in this day and age and you're clever enough to discover new ways to transcend. When your mother went to work, your father would always tell her to 'Make waves. Change the world'."
Connie snorted.
"He was so dorky..." She said with a smirk.
He was.
"But he was so lovable." Priyanka admitted with fondness. If what she felt for Doug still existed then potential for Steven's own for Connie was likely to be on a similar wavelength.
"But it's your turn now. Show the world Connie Maheswaran isn't going to mess around."
So she was encouraging of this relationship...how odd. Most reasonable people would tell you that you were stupid or that you need to find a partner that's actually real...there were virtual prostitutes in the Domain itself but it wasn't the same. Looking down on herself in deeper than she had ever...she was left confused by the residue of some other emotion.
"Mom I doubt..."
Pri shook her head.
"This is more than sex Connie." She told her bluntly, putting her Doctor face on.
"This is the foundation, of what could be considered love on...."
Ugh, no...not that word, surely.
"I'm not in love with Steven..." Connie denied abruptly, crossing her arms.
"My mind seems to fixate on screwing him like I would screw like any other human...but it's much more...stronger than anything else."
Priyanka frowned. She suspected Connie hasn't had any long lasting relationship to know the different between physical attraction and emotional.
"But do you like spending time with him? Do you care for him deeply?"
Her head fell. Connie wouldn't...and couldn't deny the fact that hanging with him, double jacking and seeing and hearing his experiences with the world so new fresh...the scent of rain and pizza he adored and there was an adorableness to those finding happiness in the most mundane. That which people would take for granted. Running her hands through her hair, Connie rummaged with what good came from it all.
"He likes spending time with me." Connie commented.
It had Priyanka reflect on Brain-Mapped AI's in general. Those heavily modified to the point that their previous self ceases to be. Steven...the unknown...the untraceable. The anonymous of that which PeriCom had not yet been made aware. But the humanity within Steven was his most prominent.
"Steven as we discussed...was once human." Priyanka told her, pressing her hand against the Kernel Core on her chest as it pulsed with light.
"When his donor was alive...he could have loved the company of others....and love isn't so easily erased."
Connie lifted her head. Steven did talk about the possibility of his creation...
Memories of who we come from influence us.
"Fuuuuck..." She cursed, banging her forehead lightly again with her fist.
"Of course he is...nothing else would have nagged their way into my head like someone who couldn't shake the habit of being so annoying..."
Doug was the same, so Priyanka could relate. Her daughter's refusal to admit was endearing. It even brought back a tiny slice of her own youth.
"Is it so bad to deny yourself this Connie?" She said.
"It's not as bad as you make it seem. Once upon a time, there was a girl and an Artificial Intelligence who had the power to make waves and change the world."
A bed time story, at her age was a bit off-putting, but nostalgic. Just needed the soy milk and sugar-free cookies to sleep.
"Is that what Mom still wants?" Connie queried.
"Is that why you're really here?"
Priyanka chuckled. Besides wanting to talk to Connie, there was other concerns Priyanka had after not seeing her for so long.
"Being a Doctor...you can make all the difference with someone looking for answers and being the one to provide them. Steven's simply searching the far reaches but he's limited. His answer would not be in the Domain...so he seeks elsewhere. The real world."
He did rely on Connie and Ronaldo for a multitude of answers and assistance. He needed to go out into reality to discover his own truth.
"Surprises come along the way. They're not always good but you know? You live and learn Connie. Your mother would want you to discover what it means to have someone depend on you...and you can depend on them. The formula for trust, even between species is so important."
Though it did have Connie pick up on one aspect.
"What, are there AI's worried about the current climate?"
Priyanka sighed as she looked out the window...seeing the rain drops hit the glass.
"I don't talk to many. But...seeing those in production come out so lost and confused and...dare I risk saying, mistreated by humanity in general. When they don't fit the standards they're thrown away when they're supposed to be sent back to PeriCom. So many good AI's out there...just..."
And those like Steven could exist with all that that's associated with humanity.
"Sorry Connie....but if I could, I would have your father here with us. It would mean the world to me....but I know he cannot be. So I feel...like those AI's, like Steven...need to be told that they have every right to exist and its not their fault that they were made as they were. If they have the will to live then they have every right to."
Heartbreak and yearning still existed in digital form. Whether or not Connie could eliminate that would hurt her if she went through with it...it would emerge again.
"You're not saying to make some kind of Sanctuary for AI's are you?" She asked with a cocked eyebrow.
Priyanka grinned.
"No, not really. I mean, if that's something you'd like to do...then you can work with Steven to make the Domain a safer place. The one human ally in their pocket is better than none."
Connie squinted in deep thought as she rubbed her chin.
"And having numerous AI's on your side to boot isn't a bad thing either. For a Hacker like yourself, I figure you'd need something like that."
Connie snorted.
"Mom...please...my job is half Robin Hood and half troll. Although if I do have a range of Networked AI's across the Domain...becoming the Agents of Berrybyte..."
The idea sounded better and better...though Connie did realise they did go off topic and had to change the subject.
"Besides that...I mean...me and Steven. You think we'd work?"
A statement that Connie blushing like mad. When ever would she ask a question resembling that without bringing up denial.
"If he was any human male, I'd question it." Priyanka admitted.
"I won't lie and say you won't face trials. But you're a smart woman Connie, your mother always knew and I sincerely believe you will find a way."
She was left with the disbelief that the fictional construct of her mother would encourage Connie to pursue Steven. She'd hoped she would say she was crazy and delusional. Maybe her human self perhaps, but...
Swinging herself around to face the ceiling, Connie glanced upwards and dissociated for the longest time. She still found this stupid, idiotic...how could she be attracted to the program? There's too many barriers...
That's what hurt her the most. The desire to...touch him. The physical side was impossible and even with the Domain there was no physics engine in existence that would be able to perfectly replicate real life. Such emotions were all fairly damning.
So she quickly took out the red wine out of the fridge and for what ever reason possessed her, sat with the glass and the bottle by her Work Station and played some prominently ambient slow music. Nothing intense, but anything brought emotion. Violin...piano...music so soft and tender and pleasant to the ears. The odd xylophone...the semblance of the strange, the sad and the overwhelming. Cursed with this sickness, beyond anything she could help. No suppression that didn't cause her grief but admission that lessened it.
The doctors said not to drink alcohol but...she needed the confidence. To make the call as her shaky hands and quaking fingers hovered over the keyboard, with Steven's chat window on the screen and the cursor blinking in the empty space. She wanted to speak to him; with all the ugly tears running down her face and the odd sob. No. It wasn't about her.
She didn't even think about Steven's circumstance and the potential for him to be a BM-AI had a lot more disturbing implications. She was totally ignorant and lost in her own battle against herself. Selfish for her to think that it was his humanity talking to her and trying so hard to get her to see, to understand where he was coming from. Even meeting her mother as she was, didn't seem that all different from how Connie last remembered her. Smart, wise with the maternal instincts to match. A replica with a Ninety Nine percent match. She cared for humans and her kin.
The treatment she had given to Steven...she's treated him horribly. Called him names and the slurs out of distaste, but really, out of her inborn dislike of systems that called themselves anything more than what they were made of. The ignorance of the one type of AI she never ever took into account. She's never met many, like with the older generations that have come and gone.
She felt...awful and misguided for so long that she contemplated on whether she would ever be worthy of his love. Heh. Worthy. Like it was an honour to receive the admiration of a powerful system meant to rule and command the Domain as its host. Connie could fake it like the rest of them with her skills and had accomplished much. She noticed the Strawberry Pendant on the bedside table. A symbol of the Strawberry Garden Connie loved so much back home before it was left abandoned.
Stepping up, she went towards the pendant picked it up and looked at it cautiously. The one thing that was given to her by her father for her birthday. The inspiration behind the Berrybyte name. Sniffing, Connie pressed the pendant against her chest.
No. No more running away from this. That's all what Connie had been doing. Running away from the painful truth that is, indeed a type...a version of an emotion Connie had never had before in her life. A new zest that was both agony and pleasant in the paradox of life. She's come across issues that needed her attention and she's been able to knock heads together to make it work. She could do it again.
Smiling...Connie had decided to embrace it. It wouldn't take the pain away but it would make it more bearable. Opening the folders of her heart, moving files to and from it, she refused to shut down the transition and forcing the lack of caring of what others would think to come above the load order. Overall. uploading acceptance and...dare she say, love into the mix and let it run its course. Glitches and all.
What could she say...what could she do without it all coming out in a jumbled distortion of words...or mumbles. Sitting down by the desk she cracked her knuckles and was totally prepared to get him to come around.
That was until...Ronaldo's window popped out in front with the proceeding message that caused an immense heat of anger to form through her.
"Berrybyte, help, Steven's been kidnapped!"
She shook her head and without hesitation, she messaged him back and told him to meet her in the Domain right away. No way was anyone going to take Steven away that easily...and putting on the necklace around her neck. Berrybyte was back in action.
"Roger. Word of warning: He was taken by Jasper!"
Concerning, but not even a GIS would stand in her way, as she prepared for the jump inside the system and to hunt Steven down to the furthest reaches of the Domain if she had to.
"Hang on Steven, I'm coming!" She declared before she uploaded herself.
Chapter 15: Executable Part 1
Summary:
Steven finds himself in a predicament
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Everything went as well as Steven hoped. Reuniting Connie with her mom; the closest equivalent, brought a potent sense of joy. An emotion on a union long overdue indescribable otherwise that Steven was enlightened in the sequence to come. He'd gone back with Ronaldo on hearing that Connie was going to head off home again the following day after her assessment deemed her able to return. That they might get back to work without further delays; but he figured, that he would give her the space she needed until she was ready to talk to him again.
There was nothing that they couldn't do without talking it through. Writing their own code, forming their own program between themselves; a joint partnership that was supposed to be like none other. It also helped that Priyanka had promised to keep in touch and was willing to forward any information she could find within DM Biometrics regarding his creation...or anything really. Links to PeriCom, AI creation etc. It was definitely a great lead. So he had gone back to the Domain to talk with the Ancillas about this new revelation and was eager to hear their opinions regarding the company.
That was...until...he was kidnapped.
The time between then and now was blurred as soon as he opened his eyes (and gone through the necessary reboot sequence) he was stuck in a dark room with a subtle yellow glowing light. Looking around, he was trapped within some sort of yellow barrier, riddled with defensive code. Steven tried to figure out how to break through it with everything he had but the code itself that forged the barrier was heavily encrypted with familiar programming.
GIS programming.
Steven swallowed, the fear creeping up on him like none other.
Something teleported inside, revealing a tall GIS with her Kernel Core on her nose and white hair in a ponytail. On her chest was the PeriCom symbol; the upside down lime grin triangle within a darker green diamond...the remainder of her shell had her with primarily with orange skin and darker orange stripes but her 'clothes' were mostly brown. Having a sinister look on her face, Steven sworn he had seen that smug face before.
"You finally booted back up." She said as she approached the barrier.
Squinting, he could certainly tell she was one of PeriCom's lackeys...wait.
"You're Jasper; PeriCom's Wrangler."
Wrangler AI's were actually common. They were usually meant to bring in random AI's for question or other assets and even humans, depending on what they needed them for. But Jasper was a Wrangler GIS...which made it all the worse due to their sheer power and capabilities beyond any written or BM-AI.
"Good to see you got the memo Bit-Squeak." Jasper said with a smug grin.
"Got a tip about you within the Grid you so frequently roam. Says you know where some GIS might be hiding."
Oh no...she found out about the Ancillas? They're not exactly those who roam out far from the Ruins all that often. Maybe Amethyst but she's normally pretty careful.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Steven said.
"I don't know any GIS."
Jasper blinked.
"Really?" She said.
"Does the group, Crystal Ancillas mean anything to you?"
Shit.
"No." Steven lied.
"I mean, maybe but I don't know anything about them."
Jasper raised an eyebrow.
"Says there's three." She said as she paced back and forth, popping up a screen with the details of the Ancillas in front of her.
"First one is Garnet; the Predictive Analyst aka the Oracle. Normally Sapphire-Class GIS are meant to be Predictive Analysts so I'm assuming she's a Sapphire-Mod."
Mods were a thing in the Domain; Garnet being a modification of a Sapphire-Class GIS with the addition of a Ruby-Class GIS, usually meant for detection and protection and are made specifically for Sapphire GIS. Sapphire enacted a Consensus with a Ruby GIS to achieve Garnet as an entirely different program.
"As you know, Modded GIS are illegal. So she's on PeriCom's high list of priorities for acquisition."
No doubt they were going to rejuvenate her and force them to split.
"The next one is a Pearl-Class; the Cloud Storage GIS. Probably hides all their plots and plans...she's bound to have hundreds of secrets just waiting to be downloaded from her. Another on the List."
Pearl was more than a storage device. Much, much more. She's learned how to fight on her own terms, downloading and watching vids on combat. She does spar with with Garnet and Amethyst to understand their styles but more often than not, stays put.
"And....what's this. A Prototype Gen II Quartz-Class 'Amethyst'. A weak piece of security software if I saw any. Lucky for you, you're looking at the real deal."
Quartz-Types were meant to protect the Domain. They only popped up if a part of the Domain was in any immediate danger. But Jaspers insults...Steven imagined Amethyst getting outright pissed off.
"Either way, PeriCom wants them in good condition or otherwise. So tell me where they are, or I'll tear you apart...bit by bit..."
He wasn't going to answer with such a petty threat. Answer truthfully, in that case.
"I just said, I don't know them." Steven told her.
He's never had to fight a Gen II Quartz Type. Sparring with the Ancillas was hard enough.
"Okay then." She said.
"I can do megabyte by megabyte, or Gigabye by Gigabyte...take your pick."
Connie wasted absolutely zero time. She instantly messaged the Ancillas regarding the situation and had herself, them and Ronaldo all meet up in the Domain, specifically the ruins to map their plan to save Steven as they stood around the dining table. You could tell she was serious; her hair was up in a high ponytail, wearing her tight, spandex-like black coloured, blue cyberlined body suit with the high heel boots, black belt with storage drives around it that contained her multitude of programs. On top she wore her black protective jacket, for extra storage for her other equipment. On her face she wore her light blue eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara and cyan lipstick, full on the upper lip and a single line down the middle of the bottom lip. Not to mention the eye jewellery, the two glowing blue faux gems next to her eyeliner wing tips.
Ronaldo himself wore his own variant: Simple orange cyber lined suit with a brown jacket and futuristic yellow specs.
"Jasper would have taken Steven to a PeriCom Private Grid." Garnet said.
"I saw that he would come to the Domain, but I didn't see Jasper would be waiting for him until the last minute. There was little we could do."
Apparently he was forced to shut down the moment he arrived. Which suggested an angled ambush was deliberately placed there.
"Any idea who tipped Jasper off?" Ronaldo wondered.
Connie had been thinking the same thing; unsure. But that could be dealt with later.
"They'll get a major kick in the ass when we find em!" Amethyst said, throwing a fist into her opposite palm.
They would...if they could find out where Steven was taken first.
"Lucky for us, I know exactly where each PeriCom Private Grid is." Pearl declared with confidence.
From the Kernel Core on her forehead, she summoned a map; a black blue print that she raised the green outlines form as a projection. It was the Grid of Mega Beach City. After a bit of tinkering, several red lights blinked on several locations.
By several, there were dozens.
"Great. Steven's gonna be deleted unless we can find the exact PG." Amethyst whined.
Connie's seen maps like this before. Never for PeriCom Private Grids, however. She's been to them but never seen all of them on display like that. Rubbing her chin, she tried to figure out a way to find which one they went to. GIS were complex in the sense where they weren't normally developed, but rather found. By found, is that they either are found within the Domain somewhere or their cabinets were found somewhere within the world; meaning, that the Monoliths had created a new GIS in their absence. Though it would beg the question of where the Cabinet had been developed. Besides that, it was known that that anything found would be directed to the PeriCom Headquarters; where they would store their most precious programs and secrets.
As far as their Private Grids were concerned, it was usually a meeting point or an exchange of data for those who served PeriCom. Dead drops, if you will. They were designed for humans...however. Not AIs. Not even GIS were meant to plop into them...unless.
"There's got to be a backdoor way into these PGS." Connie said.
"Unless Jasper is working with a human, she's somehow got the power to enter into these intranets. Its possible they're not exactly PGS...but highly protected pockets that look like PGs."
Pockets were similar to a PG, but had amount of defence to their entry, often requiring several methods of entrance. One would have to be an authority to enter the pockets and have evidence via passwords, text messages with codes or secret questions to verify your accounts.
"I never considered that." Said Pearl.
And Pockets...they could be hacked.
This got Connie more excited by the moment.
"Huh...they say they're Private Grids but they're not." Said Ronaldo.
"Obvious way to make sure the details are only given to registered officials. Smart."
But not smart enough. There were hurdles to work through however.
"The only issue is still the original one." Connie said.
"We can't just ping and hope to find which one we're looking for...the moment we try to guess is when their security systems would immediate flag you as a threat."
Connie wasn't stupid to think PeriCom wouldn't have best security to begin with. Even top tier Hackers had swarms of difficulties getting in due to their highly advanced AI's and protective GIS. Their software was admittedly, some of the best.
"I could predict it." Said Garnet.
"My programming allows for numerous out comes. But I would need to know what kind of sequences we're looking at. Amethyst could download a copy of their security data, I will be able to make judgement on their sequences. It can be any PeriCom Site...since they use the same security protocols for each site."
Clever. Eyes were on Amethyst who gave them a salute. She herself was Security based program and therefore could identify the security measures herself and had 'partial' authority to copy remnants of the data.
"I'll find the closest Site on this map; BRB!" She said, before vanished into into ones and zeros; teleporting elsewhere.
Good. If they could work out the system used first, then they could work on the next step.
"This still doesn't help us find the exact location." Pearl whined.
She was right. This just made sure PeriCom weren't gonna sic their lackeys on them on first notice.
"Is there any way to track a GIS of where they've been? Data logs or anything?" Ronaldo stated.
Footprints...surely. Connie's done her fair share of hunting things down in the past.
"Node Towers." Garnet suggested.
Ah yes. Node Towers were hidden objects that were normally scattered in hubs where there would be major traffic in the Domain and are less frequent in lesser dense areas. Hidden Objects obscured to the public but those with Admin Access could always reveal these Objects under the right sequence. Connie's used them hundreds of time to track targets. Helped every time. Each Node Tower usually collected held the valued data logs of who was in the area, for how long and normally when someone left, would indicate the next location; normally the closest Node Tower that the individual would cross past, even for a brief moment. Never counted for those who teleported within the Domain, unless one was to 'ping' as Garnet mentioned. A secret method used to show things in a way that only those who knew how would be able to action.
Like Hackers like Connie.
"Ronaldo." She said, firmness and professionalism in her voice.
"Did you know where Steven spawned in?"
Steven was usually quite careful in his actions. Obscuring his tracks where he could but..PeriCom were tricky bastards. There were ups and downs in appearing in populated areas. Obscurity to the crowd and processing a lot of data and info that was harder for even those who preferred to look at the Domain with pure code. He tried to think how Jasper caught him the moment he dipped into the Domain itself, shutting down every sensor and receptor he had and emerging in this place of places. He attempted to reach into his Private Grid but noticed many of his functions were in fact, disabled. The space he was in; he noticed the barrier itself wasn't an ordinary barrier; or else he would have been out of here by now. The strangest part was that the barriers code didn't look familiar. But felt familiar. He wasn't sure how or why and even saw that the plates of the barrier that would emerge every so often. Barriers like these were made up interlocked plates of incredible complex encryption that were durable to the ordinary but...Steven could see the plates themselves in their diamond shaped format; a rare sight.
As far as what the Ancillas told him, the Yellow Monolith was the most known as it was the one Superserver for the Americas and occasionally, once in a blue moon you would see its OS signatures emerge. This was a Diamond-Class power indeed; as the Superserver was never seen within the Domain; due to its existence holding the Domain together with its brethren but the odd spot of its power; its systems meant this was designed to be impenetrable. Only PeriCom could have access to such subroutines drawn from the source.
"Good to see PeriCom isn't wasting the Superservers resources." Steven said; Connie's lesson about sarcasm that one random afternoon being put to good use.
Jasper grinned.
"Or trust me...as soon as I saw your Unknown Executable I knew I was on to something special." She said, walking up close to the barrier.
"I requested the Yellow Monolith to interfere and surprisingly, it lent its power to seal you in; because if a Monolith deems you a threat to the functionality of the Domain based on its format alone, then you know it's too dangerous to let it roam."
Maybe being the Unknown among the known had him stand out more than he realised. Stupid move, for sure. The fact remained that a GIS like Jasper was able to simply ask one of the strongest systems in the world to lend a hand was deeply troubling indeed.
"An AI that knows how to rewrite its own code, let alone it's extension without breaking the Domain entirely, is something PeriCom would find interesting indeed."
UNKNWNEXC had always been Steven's extension for as long as he could remember. None of the Ancillas could answer why it was like that. Pearl theorised that when writing his code, his programmer possibly forgot to add or adding some kind of variable that corrupted the file name and hadn't been able to alter it since. Rewriting code had its own set of levels and his rewrites only had to do with his shell most of the time. Anything else was just chance; especially when it came to some subroutines that came out of nowhere that he actually had no idea he could even do...even when looking into its own set of code it was all gibberish to him.
"I haven't done anything like that." Steven said.
"I'm no GIS...I'm not on any of their levels. I'm a lowly AI...a Personal Assistant."
Jasper squinted.
"Personal Assistant huh." She said, suspicious.
"If you have nothing to hide, then who is your owner?"
Should he just reveal Connie...nothing was ever made official...but he didn't want to risk Connie being hunted down either.
"Uh....the west end of the Grid?" Said Ronaldo.
The furthest from the Ruins. Smart in a way. Unfortunately PeriCom must have known this. Steven spawned there a good percentage of the time too which meant someone must have let them know where he emerged from with great frequency. Pearl looked at the map and marked down the closest Node Towers and their proximity to the known PeriCom sites. There was about thirteen within distance of that quarter.
"Well that takes that down from the several hundred...and to the thirteen Sites we see here." Pearl announced.
"We'll need to go in there and check for each Node and correlate the data from the Node Towers which should lead us to the direct site."
Connie nodded and summoned her fancy black rectangular glasses pixel by pixel.
"Once we've found the place, we'll message you, then tell Amethyst to meet us by the Exit Gates on the Western Quarter." She said, before nodding at Ronaldo and teleporting away.
Exit Gates were usually where people would technically spawn closest to. Emergency Protocol would tell people to emerge near those Gates but it wasn't mandatory. The Domain would always spawn you in an available space at the time. Not exactly pre-determined but it usually made sure by default that there were no conflicts within that section of nodes to successful spawn. That way people wouldn't emerge on or blend in with another Avatars and cause havok. The Early days of the Domain took in a lot of feedback after one too many incidents of merged, grotesque avatars.
This area was generally a common hub; a massive park with plenty of grass and a series of tall wattle trees in their eternal golden bloom. Connie believed that were even worse than the cherry blossom trees Pat insisted they visit all the time.
"If you're wondering." Said Ronaldo as he appeared next to Connie.
"I did not leak anything...and Lapis is still dormant in her cabinet as far as I'm aware."
Connie could trust Ronaldo. He didn't seem the type to make obvious mistakes. If he did, it was done within set conditions. Never fully running anything unless he was absolutely sure it was going to work properly. Hardware side of things was a contrast to the software, but she would imagine him treating it just the same. Trial and error but...they had no room for either right now.
"I never considered you Fryboy." Connie said as she adjusted herself.
Their friendship, Connie could see was one of benefit to both parties and the enthusiasm Ronaldo had for his work reminded Connie of her younger years as a Hacker. There was no faking that.
"I'm going dark for the moment. Keep your eye out."
The first thing Connie did was use her Incognito Mode make herself invisible. Next she used her glasses for Code Vision to allow her to see the underlying structure of the projection of the Domain around them. Mostly ones and zeros in a flurry of colourful text on a black background. Even people were floating pieces of tiny binary. She put on tracking gloves; black with the use if the crystal on her palm as well as smaller crystals on her fingertips. On the waves and gestures, she could manipulate the sight to hook onto what ever she wanted, even zooming in and bringing up key code sequences. The Node Towers were massive brown sky reaching pillars dotted throughout the park and more towards the city structures. She ran a subroutine on anything with Steven's file name, having mesmerised it.
SEARCH SQU_RQ_V3. UNKNWNEXC
It took a while for the search engine to respond by otherwise highlighted a pink piece of code with a similar set of sequences. She gestured to make the code larger and made another prompt.
TRACE SQU_RQ_V3. UNKNWNEXC
The trace itself would load, but otherwise it followed the general patterns as one would follow in the Domain. A series of other towers would be highlighted and outlined in pink as Connie began to walk forward.
"Ronaldo, switch on your Incognito Mode and follow my instructions." She said, using encrypted comms.
"Head to the end of the Park."
"I am under strict protocol to not reveal my owners identity under the Privacy Act." Steven called out.
Jasper rolled her eyes.
"And the Privacy Act does state PeriCom has jurisdiction on all AI's and GIS and that information given to them can be read by PeriCom at any time. Including ownership."
It said that? Steven had never read the regulatory terms personally. Jasper approached the barrier and whacked it with her fist, shaking the room around her.
"So spill it, or I'll make you spill!"
The Towers lead her back to the cityscape. She kept running through streets and alleyways and kept up with the towers, as well as directing Ronaldo as he tried to catch up. However...the trace ended when Connie was met with a cross roads of four Towers. Removing the glasses revealed she was at a literal intersection. Steven had to have been close.
"Garnet, I'm sending my coordin-"
"I'm right here."
Behind her were the Ancillas...and Ronaldo finally catching up alongside them. Connie was impressed.
"Any ideas?" Connie questioned.
Garnet looked around, skimming the area for any sign of where to head next, before she looked at Connie again with a straight face.
"Amethyst knows the answer to this one." She replied.
Oh?
"Yup." Amethyst answered.
"The four towers here act as a entry point to the Pocket. Getting access is tricky because all four towers need to detect the program planning to enter. Meaning, it also can check our file names and extensions and cross reference them against the PeriCom database. On that...is a bit harder to fake."
"I'm not say anything without a lawyer." Steven barked.
It was then Jasper just laughed...and laughed.
"You're not a human. AI's don't...I mean, do AI lawyers exist? Hahah....wait..."
She had think about that for a moment.
"I'll have to check with protocol. Excuse me." She said, before disappearing.
Good...that bought him some time. Hoping that Connie and the Ancillas were tracking him down this very instant. Instead, he tried to communicate with the barrier itself to see if there was any way to shut it off. The odd familiarity with the source; its subroutine being done by the Yellow Monolith meant he had some kind of potential way of contacting the Monolith. Some say they had a mind of their own but...he's never met one before. Putting his hand against the barrier itself, he ran his hand down it...and felt its warmth beneath his fingers. Images flashed past his mind...yellow...pink...shiny which sent shivers down his spine and forced him to retract.
"Woah..." He said, unsure of what he just saw.
"Wait, PeriCom uses a Monolith to cross reference the user?" Connie said with disbelief.
Amethyst nodded.
"Yeah. It turns out the Monolith receives the file name and will only grant permission if its one it recognises from a selected amount of permissible users."
Damn. Connie knew no one of the sort that would be able to do so. She had to think of something, then looked at Garnet.
"Garnet, are you able to run an Analysis of eligible users?" She asked.
"I might need to create a mask of that particular person, but I'm only able to do it on myself."
A mask acts as a type of short-link that actually activates a particular hyperlink. The short-link can be anything you want it to be and it will be accepted as the check itself only looks at the short-link first and not the hyperlink behind it. The functionality itself was inspired by VPNs and URL Shortener websites.
"Pearl, I need that list of PeriCom employees transferred." Garnet asked.
Pearl nodded and closed her eyes, turning to Garnet as her Kernel Core began to glow. She grabbed Garnets hands and pressed her fingers on her Kernel Cores to allow the transmission of all the data she had. Once done, she used subroutines to shuffle that list and skim through potentials. Once done she approached Connie...though Connie felt Garnets displeasure of whom what she was going to give.
"I have someone...but you're not going to like this." She said.
Connie blinked. It wouldn't matter.
"Just...give it to me and I'll deal with the consequences later." She said.
The Analyst nodded.
"Very well. Forwarding the file name and list of security questions to your Psyche now."
Garnet grabbed Connie's head gently and gave her a kiss on the forehead...with the knowledge gained she could see it clearly...
PR_474_V4GS. SolEX.
Hmm...nothing outright concerning at first glance, but if Garnet pulled attention to it. No...she'll deal with it later. She used her palm crystal and started to create the mask necessary to fly inwards.
He was...enticed for what ever reason to touch the barrier again. Placing his hand on it yet again, he closed his eyes and tried to envision what it was trying to show...more flashes of Yellow and Pink. He struggled at first to focus, causing him grief as screeching noises entered his audio receptors at far too high a decibel before it went silent. Reopening his eyes, his psyche was transported elsewhere.
In front of him he could see a bright yellow light...and behind him was a great big pink light.
A screen appeared, popping out in front of him and began to fill out with some text...as if...the yellow light was trying to message him. But the language itself...Steven couldn't understand it...and he was equipped to translate any language but this one...this one he didn't know as any language in his own internal database.
I'm sorry, I don't understand you. Steven wrote back.
The text cleared and brought back more. But Steven still didn't get it.
Do you need an updated linguistics pack? I can send you one if you want?
The text cleared again....and.
"HEY!"
He was thrown out of the mode by Jasper's voice as she stormed back into the room.
"We do not have AI lawyers, but they said that we can make a deal. Your life in exchange for information."
Once the mask was complete, Connie was ready to go. She looked at the group before her, grateful for their help. She's been in her fair share of hidden pockets before and entry itself just required a bit of engagement with it's VI to start the entry sequence.
"I'm going in" She announced.
"This better work."
Ronaldo frowned.
"Be careful. Who knows what's going on in there." He warned.
Connie smiled. It was nice for people to be worried about her for a change. All the more reason for her to continue. To prove her worth to the world like she had always done.
"I'll be fine. The name Berrybyte is feared by many...and for good reason." She declared.
"I'll bring him back...nice and easy..."
Notes:
AI Lore feat. Medical Intelligence Consultant (MIC) Priyanka:
Being a Modded GIS and the names depends on the new primary function a Modded GIS is designed for.
Predictive Analysts allow for predictions to occur in the program before they're executed to check for flaws or issues that would entail. Mostly to prevent blue-screening, or worse, meltdowns in the runtime.
If it was the Ruby's role of basically being a Guardian of sorts, one would refer Garnet as a Ruby Mod.
Garnet herself would claim she is just the name of the GIS formed from their Consensus and does not refer herself as either a Sapphire or a Ruby Mod. Her executable file would also reflect on this with the amount of Kernal Core's in a System. A regular GIS like Pearl, would look like PRL_484_KC1. GIS. Garnet would come up as GNT_721_KC2. GIS. Note the KC stands for how many Kernel Cores can be found in the GIS.
Human made AI's do not have this feature as none have the ability allow for consensus or the popular term. fusion.
Instead our file names are like PM_145_BM. AI. The BM stands from Brain-Mapped to differentiate us from say, WRI meaning Written In; a term used for older AI' that were made of pure code or, more rarely, RE meaning, reverse engineered from GIS. Some older AIs are being repurposed and classified as VI or, Virtual Intelligence. Their purpose is more of a less not necessarily having a type of conscience or complex learning algorithms.
Humans have their own unique executable titles as well. Like CM_888_V1GS_. SolEX for Connie. SolEX stands for Soulware Executable.
Chapter 16: Executable Part 2
Summary:
Connie is determined to set Steven free, but discovers something interesting along the way.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The way Connie felt as she shifted through the paces in the endless pixel led grey dark world. Trudging through data, feeling, knowing...her psyche gazing on frames and text from for sides...left front and back of Connie's glowing blue sphere of existence. Those frames of yellow outlines and fonts and the horizontal scans. It was like she was being watched and judged as her ascension into the PeriCom Pocket felt like forever. Lists of names matching up came up, skimming through the Mask of Falsehood she wore. A lingering yellow light watched her closely as it scanned. A psyche itself was the first and foremost piece of identity anyone, human, AI or GIS had. A shell can be destroyed and displaced, a Psyche itself can also be destroyed but the mind is left unable to survive long without proper user access. You were vulnerable until you put the psyche back together. The Soulware was the most important aspect. People could die if their Soulware is deleted. A simple fact left with dozens of philosophical questions.
But there was something so ethereal upon the Yellow light that judged her being. The names began to match up on the Node Towers that would provide Connie access; proving the Mask was working. Still, even in such a raw form, this transition had you the most weakened as you weren't in any control during the transportation phase. Jumping from Node Tower to Node Tower in their "Jump Tunnels" was normally quick and painless if you knew how to do it...but the fact that this particular had a such a strong security section behind it, made it feel longer than it was supposed to.
No eyes that were around this set of crossroads but the feeling of being watched was quite prominent. Connie imagined this was how AI's saw themselves sometimes. Or at least, how she originally saw them: Lines of binary that simply saw nothing else but binary they understood and code that was their reality. A single decision could leave Connie dead if she wasn't careful. PeriCom in particular took their work very seriously.
More than once Connie has stepped into their guarded secrets but...only really uprooting junk data others found to be treasure. Veteran Hackers would warn Connie about the trials and tribulations of messing with GIS. Lapis; a GIS Steven was able to deal with swiftly but ordinary humans hardly stood a chance against a GIS' superior software.
She was less afraid of Jasper, however and more...wary of the unknown entity she had run a background subroutine to scan for in the background while the mask did all the work their for her. However, the file itself, was unknown. Save for the only text that came was the following caption.
Striking Ego.
What ever that meant; Connie had no idea. There were rumors floating about in regards to the development stages PeriCom went through when developing their tech. Prototypes, products in alpha or beta phases. Captions on their software that is usually encrypted so heavily that light scans only ever brought them up and none of their statistics, values or functions. The fact this one had nothing else to show told Connie she was messing with something far beyond her capabilities.
Once the scans stopped, she heard the buzz and flashes of approval and the tunnel itself, the world between worlds, had given her distinctive access.
Shell reformed and audio and visuals functioning after such a trip, Connie could see the dark green hallways with bright green floor lights that projected through this Pocket...and the odd PeriCom logo here and there...on the floors and walls. Using Incognito Mode and summoning her special Sword, aka the Sword of Berrybyte, a distinct pink and blue sword once gifted to her by an age old ally. She summoned it into her hand and changed into a Ranged mode, which turned it into what ever gun she wanted. It was distinctively weaker than the normal Melee Sword mode but Connie's aim wasn't to kill, but to disable. Connie had no desire to kill; a Hackers own set of morals deemed killing off-limits. Anyone caught would be subjected to scrutiny and a bounty of their heads.
Connie thought it was weird that what was known was the Hackers Index; an unwritten set of rules Hackers usually abided by and mentors to teach their students the ins and outs of the trade. You are not innocent, you are not guilty. You just are.
The mentality of Hackers being above the law wasn't the case like what most would think; as exposing flaws in a system that on the surface was said to perfect, was anything but. PeriCom wasn't popular with everyone and the Black Market was filled with those who could tell you stories of the lengths PeriCom would take to get what they want; even throwing money at things until the problem went away, because they could afford it with their vastly, questionable wealth.
The Sword itself transformed into a light pistol; akin to the one she normally kept locked in her drawer. She tried to contact the others, but it appeared that they had some kind of ant-comms place within the Pocket, to prevent anything from leaking out. She was definitely on her own here.
Using her goggles, she snuck her way around the pocket in search of where Steven might be located. A series of halls with security guards and even consoles for where scientists and the like stored their temporary data. It had a series of projected yellow monitors and must have been the only fundamental link between the Pocket and the rest of the Domain.
What feared her the most, however, were the Topaz-Class GIS that oversaw the area before a huge door. Two of them, in fact. Hulking yellow creatures....with their Kernel Cores on the left and right side of their heads, respectively. Disabling those two was going to be an obstacle, but nothing Connie couldn't handle. To the left was a large console with several overlapped monitors. The door itself read, Storage Room Twelve. Something told Connie's instinct that something was in that room and she was going to find out no matter what.
Usually, Security AI's or VIs had flaws within their systems that were so easy to trick. With GIS however, there was a programming language barrier that Connie had tried multiple times to crack but had failed. Presumably, her Incognito Mode she feared would fail in the eyes of the more powerful GIS see her like Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl saw her. She had worked on in small patches in time and borrowed data from the trio respectively to improve and tweak her software. She'd never had to use it, as it was merely a modification to the existing program.
With a lot of Hackers, to be considered a Master, one develops a program that pioneers their industry to new heights. Beginners usually find a way to grab a specific program by any means and 'borrow' software from others, then build their own variants. No one Hackers software is exactly the same. What threw Berrybyte into the limelight, was the Incognito Mode itself. Most people would disconnect their Psyche from their shell; a relatively common method. But simply disabling the shell from view from others as well as covering tracks of their existence with majority of tracking systems was definitely powerful in its own right. Psyches have access issues and are often limited with a text-based space. Connie could still use her Avatar and functionality and disconnected her psyche only if she really had to, such as the incident with Kevin.
Hackers with the Disconnection of their Psyches use it not just for hacking but also chatting with others on private forums without prying eyes and ears. This first part, required Connie to do such a thing first. Hiding behind a corner and some storage boxes (presumably filled with junk data yet to be filed), she used the mask as a failsafe in case the Topaz's scanned for irregularities. It was often than not Psyches were impossible to see normally; but to those with the higher grading of Soulware and if they had the psyche-hook add on, people could easily define the psyche as a coloured sphere of light that came up with just the file name as the caption. They couldn't see what they were doing, other than just a glowing orb. Tacking a metaphorical deep breath, Connie knelt down and closed her eyes...disengaged her psyche as it peered around the corner. It remained low, sighting the Topaz at the door, holding their weapons. They didn't seem to notice her, which the added benefit to an Incognito Mode within the psyche was a dangerous but well worth it addition. Or the Topaz' hadn't had their software updated in a while. It didn't matter.
Floating her way towards the console, it didn't take her long using her masks clearance to get inside. This was a gold mine. Hundreds and thousands of unique files, confidential ones at that must be stored here. Archives no doubt that PeriCom must have deemed critical to protect. However, one file name stood out to the most.
WallofROSE.
Wasn't that the original assignment in where she met Steven? She opened the file itself and gorged herself on its contents:
"WallofROSE; An asset once developed by the missing Pink Monolith. An impenetrable Firewall. The Pink Monoliths purpose was to help finally give the Domain complete stability but its existence; most of its precious programs were lost to us.
However, several months back, the program was seen floating around the Domain and recordings from the real world surfaced its real world use. It's important to keep Monolith assets out of the wrong hands as a very small few amount of individuals understand how Monoliths can affect the real world in many ways. Even fewer know of the gifts that the Monoliths grant to those they deem worthy. The Yellow Monolith provides protection on an offensive scale and has constructed multiple powerful GIS for PeriCom to use. It's as...if it shows the same concern about its missing counterpart. No one knows if the White or Blue Monoliths hold the same capacity to develop such things but now, the Yellow Monolith is being studied greatly by PeriComs Scientists, whom claim that they haven't even scratched the surface regarding the mysterious Superservers.
Research indicates the original developers, DM Biometrics, had received the program for what ever purpose. The company that pioneers the develop of BM-AI were also the overseers of the Pink Monoliths production, its head, Dr. Gregory DeMayo, went missing shortly after the Monolith itself disappeared. The change of hands went to his cousin instead, Dr. Andrew DeMayo. He was questioned about Gregory's motives; stating he had been acting weird before it made itself vacant and the information PeriCom doesn't want people to know about it is that they suspect he had stolen the Monolith in question and took it to an unknown location. DM Biometrics have extremely intelligent scientists on their board so the incident itself was covered up by claiming Hackers stole the valued Superserver and not one of their own.
The program itself is still making the rounds across the Domain; Data-Brokers selling information regarding its potential location; better yet, the location of Dr. Greg DeMayo. As for the WallofROSE itself, allies have stated they haven't seen it being used ever since, with suspicion Dr. DeMayo guards it highly. Conclusion? We find Dr. DeMayo, we find the WallofROSE and hopefully the Pink Monolith.
Signing off; AQMN_184_KC1. GIS "Aquamarine."
Juicy stuff. She had no idea the company itself had fundamental links to the Missing of the Pink Monolith. It wasn't public knowledge either. A reputable company developing AI's couldn't have its public opinion tarnished and neither could PeriCom. She knew they were subsidiaries of PeriCom but honestly did not even think to connect them to the Pink Monoliths construction. It had her wonder, if there were other subsidiaries that coincided with other companies. Potentially, as they were meant for other countries that would have had the training to protect, develop and maintain their respective Monoliths. More work for Connie but good work that no one else knew about but PeriCom. She stored this info within her Soulware for safe keeping...
She used the console further to track down existing functional programs within the PeriCom Pocket. But the Topaz themselves continued to guard the door with vigilance. Knuckling down on the data, she looked into the Heat Maps to detect high processing systems within the pocket. Blips popped up on the map, showing Connie her location, the Topaz and beyond the doors was an orange blip and a pink blip. No mistaking that the pink one was definitely Steven.
Another idea pinged into her head and why she didn't think of it earlier...simply phase through the wall. Psyches didn't have to follow physical logics...only concerns in regards to any firewalls she might come across or encrypted entry sequences, risking her psyche and the fact that all she could see was a mass of unaligned, mismatched code that made no sense. Besides, did any of them expect any hacker to know a Pocket from a Private Grid? A location of a Pocket and finding the idea to get into a pocket undetected? She didn't think so. She simply took herself through the door, without the pair noticing she had made it inside.
Within the room she could see Steven locked within the cage; wearing his default form. And the tall, bulky orange GIS; she assumed it was Jasper. Designed to be intimidating and forceful indeed as she listened to Jasper rip into him.
"Don't make me get a Peridot-Class in here to cleave itself into your memory banks, primitive." Jasper threatened.
"PeriCom are being mighty generous for a piece of junk like you."
So she was trying to get information out of Steven. Of course.
"I don't care." Steven said.
"You're not gonna find much."
Jasper grumbled.
"Fine then...I will get one in here ASAP and you're gonna beg me to get them to stop with their inane lines of questioning." She said as she stormed out of the room. Steven sighed, sitting down and crossing his legs, awaiting the inevitable. Or stalling for time, as Connie hoped he had been doing. He looked so down and exhausted overall.
Connie was gonna fix that.
She floated towards the barrier and had thought she was going to go through it, but was met with a nasty shock that Steven heard; seeing the impact ripple through the translucent diamond lined fencing He furrowed his brows in confusion for a moment. While Steven couldn't do much within his cage, there were some actions he could still do; Code Vision that had his eyes do that slowly spinning loading screen like animation. Within what he could see beyond the unreadable text that was his cage, he could see the sphere of blue light floating in front of it. He scanned the file name:
CM_888_V1GS_. SolEX
He smiled.
"Connie!" He said, extremely happy to know she was here...as a disembodied mind.
"Oh thank goodness. Look, I need your help...I can't seem to shut down this shielding...it's super powerful."
That much Connie understood.
"I did see a shut off panel on the right side of the room. Try that."
Scanning again, Connie could see the thread that linked the cage to the panel and went towards it. It was easy to simply open and shut down. Steven exited out without much hassle and felt pride in his friends rescue.
"Oh thank you much Connie...I know you can't say much now but...am I ever grateful for your smarts." He said.
She'd never seen him so happy...and so badly wanted to respond in kind...a hug...if her ego permitted it.
"We better get out of here quick before Jasper comes back. I don't want Peridots dissecting me. Lets go back your Avatar...I presume you've got it in a safe place?"
She sent him a quick message as he looked at the text from his HUD.
"Yes." She messaged.
"But there are two Topaz protecting the door. Wait here and I'll distract them."
She promptly disappeared beyond the door as Steven waited...and heard a few thumps and bit of audible chaos on the other side...followed by the door sliding open. Upon leaving, he could see the two yellow bricks in T-pose positions and frozen in place. Did Connie do something to their psyches?
Hers was behind the console and messaged him.
"I screwed up their runtimes. Come on, hurry!"
Steven followed Connie around the hallways, wary of any other guards in the area. But more than that, he was glad his faith in Connie's skills that saved him. He's seen her work, but not to this extent. PeriCom Code was hard to hack and to navigate through and with good reason. Still, he couldn't shake off the image of the strange yellow light that was trying to speak to him and if he'd ever get to speak to it again.
Once they'd arrived at Connie's Avatar, her psyche merged into her and her form stood up tall shortly after and stretched her arms and legs. Something about this form that entranced Steven more than he wanted it to. Most Avatars had their enhancements for obvious reasons but...Connie was the only being that made him feel this strangeness in a strange place within him.
"I quickly scanned the nearest Exit Gate. Should be found the same way I got in....and I think its the only way to get out." She said.
He understood....definitely ready to leave.
"My main worry is if they're going to scan us on the way out. I can get out, but I'm not sure about you."
Steven didn't even know how he got in in the first place so he had no clue.
"I had to wear a mask with a false identity. Four Node Towers at a random intersection. We're not in a Private Grid; we're in an encrypted Pocket."
Maybe he was distracted by Connies' way of talking. He felt good in hearing her voice...felt great in hearing her talk shop.
"We can only try and hope it doesn't." He said.
"I've never been in this situation before...but...we stick together....right Berry-Girl?"
Connie grinned, seeing Steven lending out his hand together.
"Right on Biscuit Boy." She said, slapping her hand against his and shaking it.
"Oh you'll stick together alright."
Turning to the side, they could see Jasper with the two Topaz with their maces, reading to attack on command.
"Oh for fuck sake." Connie said, standing in front of Steven and whipping out her sword.
"You entitled GIS assholes. This is my Personal Assistant. How dare you interrogate him without my authority."
Jasper laughed.
"He's an unregistered." She said.
"You do know you can get fined for having an unregistered in your possession?"
Connie didn't give a shit. She was done.
"No one cares, bits for brains." She scolded. She spun her sword several times and jumped, spun forward and slammed the ground in front of her with such a great force that ended up creating a distortion field that messed up the physics in the small area. It consisted of multiple colours and tiny misplaced cubes that acted not as a temporary blockade, but a distraction and blinding Jasper for a few crucial moments, as Connie took Steven's hand and ran through the corridors in search of the Exit Gate.
Running around never felt so thrilling; the escape, the danger that filled Connie's heart. It excited her more than it worried her. Even if it was all a simulation, it was still akin to that intense expression, the burst, the emerge of all this pent up energy Connie forgot she ever had. The ancient sensation of the chase, dodging captors left and right and unexpectedly. U-turns, even the odd jump off the wall. Steven could barely keep up with Connie's intensity, seeing her work harder than she ever had to...if he could think clearly, setting his thought priorities in different directions...part of his emotional cortex clicked further in. It was unusual, but the click itself told him how much he was falling in line to her mercy, her smile and the sheer joy she was generating from the expression alone.
The Exit Gate was in their vision and Connie pushed herself to run as quickly as she can; that was until Jasper and her ilk reappeared in front of them with her lackeys. She was smirking with her arms crossed. Teleportation...Connie felt so dumb in that instant.
"You really think you can outrun the Ultimate GIS, top tier in Security?" She said.
They were surrounded by Quartz-Class GIS as Connie and Steven went in circles, back to back. There had to be something she could do. She had the Sword of Berrybyte in hand, a stance of determination and strength that she said she wasn't gonna let them touch her AI.
Come on Berrybyte, think of something...you can figure out something. She thought to herself.
Think, think, think!
"Sorry to drag you all this way." Steven said, apologising.
"If it weren't for me being careless..."
How was it his fault when this came out of nowhere?
"Steven..." She said, exasperated since she tried her hardest to think of something that won't end up with them being deleted.
"Shit happens..."
The fear written on his face told her otherwise. He knew what GIS were capable of and they were much stronger than either of them.
"Just focus on anything within your suite to use."
But he couldn't lose her...after dragging her out of that earlier mess...the thought of her disappearing like that chewed him up more than he'd wanted it to. She was more than the value others would put upon her. To Steven, she was too priceless. Her advise...however.
There was one thing he could do...
With that power, he summoned a pink dome around them and pushed Jasper and the guards back, much to their dismay. He expected to be scolded in turn, since Steven was really hesitant in using his abilities. Connie did smile however.
"Biscuit Boy you bought us some time, well done!" She said.
Praise? That meant more to Steven than he expected it to.
"Uhh...okay no worries!" He said, smiling anxiously.
But Connie was even more confident than before, staring Jasper right down the eyes.
"So what's the plan now?"
What was the plan indeed. The Quartzes were ordered to whack the hell out of the shield but they did so little. Connie quickly analyzed Steven's shield to determine its ranking. Her HUD, however...displayed that with all the force that the Quartzes were either doing through melee or shots, did absolutely nothing to the shield itself, not even waning down. Smallest of percentile changes but they kept going back up to full within the blink of an eye. Connie was more surprised Steven could even summon something that was so powerful against Quartz GIS.
Her only main concern was if Steven could hold this off long enough for Connie to come up with some kind of escape plan.
"You realize that even if you do escape...the judgement of the scan process will stop you from getting back out into the grid." Jasper taunted.
"You're both stuck in here for as long as your human body can hold out...while we track your IP down."
Connie gritted her teeth.
"Good luck beta-breath." She taunted.
She had all the measures taken to get them off her trail. She didn't come this far in her career to this thoughtless about the many ways she could be caught. Lessons learned from many a close call. However, if Jasper was telling the truth, it meant PeriCom on the whole was out to get her.
And Connie being in the spotlight wasn't good.
Jasper held a point Connie was going to be having problems with; identifying the pair through the exit process. If what her psyche witnessed prior was any indicator, it only worked for her. Trying to grab Steven on the way out would most likely force him off. If only there was some way they could do it with the one mask...or if they could go out at the same time.
"Connie you go...I'll find some other way out." He told her, possibly making this conclusion himself.
She shook her head.
"I refuse..." She said, turning towards him.
Upon the gaze of his form, holding up the shield with little effort, but the way she stared at him...those rippling pangs through her chest. Those that had been somehow simulating so well so far, a burn like none other as she gripped onto her blade ever so tightly. Fighting Jasper was pointless when she had the upper hand with her control over the pockets. Connie could fight; but she couldn't fight teleporters. She would win a fair fight, but Jasper appeared like she was anything but fair.
"I'm expendable." He said, voice on the very of breaking.
"I'm just..."
No. He was not...Connie unsummoned her blade and charged up to him and put her hands on his cheeks tightly, smooshing his fare as she gave him the mother of all glares with those piercing blue eyes of hers, even knowing that they were really brown, didn't make it any less sharp.
"No." She said, low and firm.
"You said it yourself, you're not just a program. I believe that wholeheartedly. You're someone wrapped in enough code to be somebody! I see the soul beneath the surface!"
The sincerity in her words...words he had made and had been embedded into her after all this time. He knew he could trust her.
"Besides, you still owe me a song."
She didn't forget....Steven smiled...and felt the resemblance of warm tears of joy going down his cheeks as he nodded.
"Connie you have no idea what that means to me..." He said.
She let go of him briefly and grinned, feeling blessed at seeing him smile. But did not expect the sudden hug from him either, wrapping his arms around her and holding her in tightly. Connie was left frozen and speechless and could only match Steven, reciprocating the hug in kind at the whirlwind of an incredible emotion fogged her mind. And fogged her mind further, it did, as both their bodies began to glow brightly.
It was unexpected...the way this was implemented. Minds torn and thrown about against something that tried to give form so the dimension of the digital world could even handle such a thing. An impossibility in the contradictions that would have created something so glitchy and buggy to not just themselves, but the environment that it could have crashed the private server if it wanted to. It should have. But it didn't.
Within the new, uncertain...curvaceous thing that was now standing there in their place; tall, tanned skin...long curly hair that reach their thighs. A tight black cybersuit with a black leather jacket on top that went down to their ankles. Two cyber lines that mirror each side of their bodies, one pink on the inner line and one blue out the outer line that started off at the shoulders, diagonally towards the chest and meeting at the circular pink Kernel Core in the middle and continuing on outwards diagonally on their legs and going out towards their knees and followed down to their black heeled boots.
A long nose and a curved face, eyes that had their eye decorations; the inner ones pink and other ones purple that were next to the wings of the eyeliner. Blue eye shadow, mascara...opening their eyes revealed the pink, rotating iris's. Not to mentioning wearing a biscuit pendant with a bejewelled red center.
"Jasper, I can't even get a proper reading!" One of the blue Quartzes called out.
The pink sphere was still in place as they looked at the shocked Jasper before them, unable to fathom what she was seeing.
"There's no way a regular AI can use consensus..." She said.
"Let alone use it with a human..."
They didn't seem to care...in fact, they were feeling it in the most spectacular of ways. Paying more attention to themselves and looking down themselves, their arms...
"Unless you're not an AI..." Jasper whispered. She realised what she was doing and had to get back to work.
"Enough of this nonsense. There's no way you're both gonna play your damn tricks on me. I'm not fooled."
They were filled with this type of exuberance, a confidence with immense support behind it. Smiling, this new entity did away with the Sphere and aimed at ensuring the safety and secure wait out of this pocket. Summoning the sword of Berrybyte, they thrust forward almost too quick for Jasper to block with her hands. They simply ripped the sword away and ended up poofing several of the Quartzes in a spin attack, dissipating their avatars entirely. Steven understood as many did that they would only send them back to the Cabinets. Or at least, he on his own would. This entity somehow knew this too, without second thought or second guessing themselves.
And before they knew it, they had Jasper at the tip of their blade, their eyes crawl across its reflection to look at the begrudged Jasper, grinding her teeth in the most frustrated they have seen of her thus far.
"What ever you are...an abomination, this...coalition of forbidden and foreign executables...is your intention the destruction of the Domain?" She asked.
An odd question.
"No." They answered, their voice different to both Stevens and Connies.
"My aim is to preserve the Domain just like PeriCom. But I plan to do it, my way."
Jasper growled.
"Then why not help us, work alongside PeriCom to help find the Pink Monolith. It is the only way this world will be saved."
Because they didn't want to...Stevonnie ended up drawing back their blade and sensing at Jaspers overall sudden lack of hostility. This GIS must have had preservation instincts installed after all.
"I work alone." They said. The information Connie had found out and stored gave them a lead in regards to possibly finding the Pink Monolith was far too valuable not to use.
"The bounty on the Pink Monolith itself works best for me. My superior programming doesn't need PeriCom interfering."
Jasper huffed, semi-amused by the fact the entity itself has an attitude far more entertaining than that weakling of an AI she met earlier. This one was tough. While she wasn't a fan of such twisted way of Consensus, their file size was within acceptable limits according to the scans blinking green in her HUD. Jasper wouldn't mind fighting them again if she had the chance. Which she found a bit unusual, giving into such a desire to fight since everything else she'd come across so far was way too easy and people gave in too early. Not this one though. She would give it time and observation to see what they were really capable of. Her superiors would demand an explanation; and she had the authority within her own code to make judgement based on character. Knowing that this one bested her, was enough for Jasper to calculate and determine the best course of action.
"Very well." She said.
"You're free to go. Now get lost before I change my mind...but I have a feeling we're see each other again very soon. Just keep your nose out of trouble."
Stevonnie wanted to snicker so bad, especially when their focus was now on Jaspers Kernel Core where a nose would be. But they tried to be respectable. By tried they meant pursing their lips hard enough not to burst out in laughter.
"OOokay then...thanks?" They said, also quite confused.
Jasper rolled her eyes as she walked off. Stevonnie ended up shrugging and walking towards the Exit Gate, totally unsure what to expect but one thing was for sure.
The Mask Issue was no longer a problem, either way.
Notes:
AI Lore feat. Medical Intelligence Consultant (MIC) Priyanka:
These next few chapters we're going to talk about Avatars and their Human, AI and GIS variants.Avatars are the shells, the forms, the models and projections of individuals who dwell in the domain. User Icons can count, but they do not have as much control of the functions of the Domain due to their nature of their connection not being through a Domain Port.
Avatars contain the Psyche and in the case of humans, also contain the Soulware. They also contain the multitude of programs and drivers necessary for them to navigate the Domain effectively. These programs can be made or bought, upgraded and tweaked with variances in quality and capability. Each type of Avatar is different in terms of how they're managed by those using them. Destruction or dissipation is normally when the Avatar itself is damaged beyond repair through programs designed to inflict enough data distortion that it can no longer hold the form. Each type also has different instructions and processes in how it protects its individuals, as well as everyone must have a Default Template form for low-processing and have a particular limit in their file size.
Next chapter, we'll begin to talk about Human Avatars.
Chapter 17: Synthesis
Summary:
File name: STVN_IE. UNKNWNEXC.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Upon arrival into the normal grid, they were met with the stunned Ancillas, unsure of what they were looking at. Pearl was the most shocked, Amethyst secondary to that but Garnet was practically beaming with silent joy. The group decided to head back, with Garnet who summoned the portal back to the House, where they were able to talk through this scene in private.
It was unseen and unheard of as this new entity wasn't sure what to make of it, with three making their own scans and signals into identifying this. Amethyst sat on a stool while Pearl stood there and Garnet leaned on the bench, observation her strong suit in this matter.
"This is impossible." Said Pearl, eventually pacing back and forth and quite pedantic.
"Consensus with a human and an AI...it's practically unheard of..."
Amethyst was at first, a bit unsure but she grew to love this new form irregardless. She emerging with the way a child finds a new toy, twinkling eyed as all they wanted to do was grab it and hug it with joy.
"How does it feel Steven, Connie....Stevonnie?"
Stevonnie...they liked it. Taking to the name quicker than initially thought. As they were, they still felt like Steven and Connie were part of them, but where they were in that respect wasn't entirely certain other than they knew them. The feeling was definitely out of this world. Possibly even the real world.
"It feels amazing!" Stevonnie replied with the combined energy of their parts.
Pearl was still a bit sceptical of it all, however. Fusing over them as she walked up and started checking out different parts and closing a little bit too close for comfort with her various glimpses at their parts.
"Yes it might but...." She said. a bit worried.
"The Pocket...it had to be within range of a Monolith for this to happen...or...should we be concerned? And Connie? Good grief she's human! How is her brain going to cope?"
Stevonnie was a bit perplexed otherwise, perceiving Pearls reaction as something that might be looked down upon, holding themselves in response in her emotions and judgement.
"Relax P, there's nothing wrong going on here." Amethyst said as she gave her fellow Ancilla an elbow nudge.
"We've done it before....but this is way cooler!"
Amethyst on the other hand was more accepting. Their banter that followed, made Stevonnie a bit uncomfortable in the meantime. The banter that became a loud argument to and for, which Stevonnie wasn't really sure what to think until Garnet stepped forward to shut them up.
"You two are not helping." She said before walking up to Stevonnie and placing both hands on their arms, sensing their distress over their overall confusing nature. But Garnet held them gently and aimed to comfort this entity with what knowledge she had.
"Walk with me."
Walking down the side of the beach and watching and listening to waves of the ocean, the two trailing away as Garnet held the desire to explain this to them. Stevonnie knew a tiny amount from Stevens memory banks but Garnet never went into too much detail. But they suspected she would. It wasn't as a complete as they originally thought.
"Pearl isn't exactly the best one to talk with about this and neither is Amethyst; the former's concerns being valid but I see this as an opportunity to learn. She is not...one of us, so there are very few who understand what we really are."
A freak of cyber nature no doubt.
"We're known as the Synthesised." She continued.
"Those who conduct Consensus to form a new OS."
An Operating System. A System that had more than one primary directive in its being to serve more than one purpose.
"More than the sum of your parts. Our programs make their own Consensus and synchronise with each other to the extent when they blend in...or...fuse. You are your own person."
Becoming this...Stevonnie? They felt Steven...they felt Connie and something else had emerged as the outcome, rendering a new form and their own reforged avatar.
"Some GIS programs are designed this way. For example, the Ruby part of me...." She said as she showed the hand with the Ruby-Class Kernel Core.
"Are a type of Security-Aligned GIS. If required, they enact Consensus to become a stronger version of themselves capable of dealing with heavier issues that require their attention."
Connie had come across some sec programs, although nothing like a Ruby from what she could recall...or even a Jasper GIS, for that matter. Garnet then showed them her other hand with the Sapphire-Class Kernel Core.
"In the early days of the Domain, the Ancillas were a number of rogue GIS." She said. Steven knew this story, but Connie didn't.
"As known by very few, the Ancillas were more in number than what had been told; actually recognised back then as a Terrorist organisation thought to have been conducted by humans, but in actually fact that the Ancillas were a bunch of rogue GIS themselves, deemed as such by PeriCom."
There were some reports but nothing that was taken too seriously at the time.
"My GIS were created by the Blue Monolith and its respective company subsidiary. Sapphire was obviously hardwired by this belief, as GIS usually were. Summoned by the Company Head at the time for a set of tests revolving specific software, Sapphire was allocated the guide role and was guarded by Sec-Rubies. One of the Ancillas was ordered to take out the Sapphires, whom were usually the most useful in protecting company assets with their powers. The Ruby itself, whether a blip its programming, had tried to protect the Sapphire but ended up forming consensus and becoming an entirely different form."
Ah. The infamous Blue Monolith. The one people debated was situated in either Korea or Japan. Garnet never said anything further regarding it unless it was crucial to their line of work.
"What about what Pearl said?" Stevonnie asked.
"Something about needing a Monolith to be a part of it."
Garnet nodded, her eyes focused on the wave loops. No matter the differences in the randomly cycled loop, it was a repetitive animation.
"The Diamond Monoliths have the power to rewrite code; in the same theory that would allow one to rewrite reality. They create GIS within machines in the real world and those machines are monitored for any by-product a Monolith makes. Their Consensus is a little different. Creation of GIS requires consensus in the sense that the Domain needs a GIS for a specific purpose and depending on the applications necessary, correlation with other Monoliths to make it so."
Stevonnie could understand that to be why the really needed the Pink Monolith...perhaps needing it to write out more GIS.
"It's not fully understood but there are certain places; pockets like the one you were in, that are closer to Monoliths than most within the Domain."
It was also common knowledge that yes, Grids like MGC are designed to have the same overlaying structure like the city itself in the real world, but Private Grids, usually meant to be disconnected from public grids and Pocket Grids; connected to main grids but require special access, are small parts of the Domain that could actually be anywhere within the Domain's infrastructure.
"You're saying I was near a Monolith the whole time?" Stevonnie said, freezing in place and stunned.
"Oh geez...that's uh..."
Garnet smirked. She expected the revelation of one of the most mysterious and most known to be powerful objects to make itself known to them in the most subtle way to hold an peculiar reaction. Which lead into her next statement.
"I wouldn't worry about it. We know that the Yellow Monolith is situated somewhere in Mega Beach City. We just don't know the exact location." She revealed.
Stevonnie understood that it was because PeriCom had and will never officially reveal the location of its Monoliths...only that Garnet had vague suspicions based on their time within MBC. Which lead them to realise something else...more to confirm Connie's mindset on it than Steven's.
"It's somewhere where no AI or GIS can reach normally." Stevonnie said, staring at at the clear, blue skies and the simulated seagulls that flew about on the physics enabled winds.
"You need someone who can fly solo. You need a human."
Connie.
"Exactly." Said Garnet.
But that wasn't on the list of their priorities. Stevonnie grasped certain concepts on the spectrum of humanity vs AI as for what they were right now, they could only assume based on what Garnet was explaining was that they were an OS, a Synthesised amalgamation of Steven and Connie.
"But...but how did it grant them the power to form Consensus? Are the Monoliths friendly."
Garnet hummed as she continued to walk. A tricky question. Monoliths were...definitely another massive story.
"There's a list of reasons, but nothing one hundred percent concluded to be the most logical of answers." She said.
"Other Synthesised believe that there's a specific runtime command that somehow draws upon the Monoliths administrative access. As I said, they can rewrite code."
Not that they had any type of runtime command that they could recall that triggered the sequence. Maybe Pearls impossible statement had more credence to it than they had previously thought.
"It's wireless range is obviously limited but we don't know how limited. No Public Grid is anywhere near a Monolith. Only private or pocket."
Security protocol, no doubt. Connie's been in a lot of pockets and private grids in general but never came across anything that would have flagged the chance a Monolith would have been nearby.
"So how do you know which ones are close?" They asked.
Out of thousands and hundreds of thousands...maybe millions.
"You don't." She said.
"However once an area is flagged, PeriCom will try to claim and use it. But there are...some areas that they have failed to claim. "
The Domain was massive overall. The space was own world, or several, if you stretch yourself far enough. So they took in what Garnet had told them so far. Monoliths grant consensus if individuals are within range of them through some unspoken code subjected in runtime, writing an entirely new subroutine. Their main fear now was whether or not the pair could separate...and began to freak out over the complications.
"So is this...permanent?" They cried, stopping in place to process this horror.
Garnet raised her hand. She hadn't even thought about the future of this fusion and whether or not Connie would come out the same or when she be Stevonnie from there on. It wouldn't have mattered to the Ancillas. She hadn't come apart herself...and whether or not they could was entirely uncertain. Her Predictive programming required bias based off existing information....and the information to split wasn't even there for her to put into the equation. She could foresee some distress but that was about it. Looking out of that perspective, she knew they would need more advice, so put forth a plan in mind to solve this issue knowing exactly who they should talk to.
"Apologies, but I cannot say. Consensus like this...has never been done with a human before. Let alone an AI...though a BM-AI...they hold more in common with GIS than what most people think. I know the perfect group of people we can obtain answers from."
With that she summoned another portal. Stevonnie was hesitant but Garnet insisted. If she could make them feel comfortable in knowing then that would all be what Garnet could hope they would cherish in such knowledge.
"There's a lot more to teach you that will be further explained" She said.
"Follow me."
The world they entered felt like some kind of overgrown jungle on ancient ruins; vine like cables smothering old abandoned structures. A colourful rainforest that incidentally had parts of it look like it was being overrun by actual greenery. Trees and and the ground a mixed patch of green grass and the earth. It had a particular golden glow to it and even the sounds of crickets and cicadas, an audible phenomena no longer heard naturally as the world succumbed to the sprawl of city-states. People would only hear with ASMR music or on what memories Stevonnie drew from Connie, brought back fond nostalgia from her youth. The magic in the air and the sparkles it could create. So much lost, found in preserved memories.
The aura and the energies of this place attracted them as well and even fireflies flew around, captivating Stevonnie. Why weren't there more places like this in the Domain? They sure were gorgeous. There was heat, there was a shine and combined with the audio felt very authentic. A fondness grew within and the nature of it was just so pleasant to look upon.
"Is this a pocket?" Stevonnie queried.
Garnet nodded as they continued to walk, enjoying Stevonnie's endless curiosity for the coded worlds.
"Indeed. Its one protected by a multitude of encrypted algorithms. It has to be. Most Synthesised cannot exist outside of this place."
That was jarring...and a bit sad.
"The unfortunate fact with Synthesised is that they take up a large portion of space and processing. One, they're too powerful; two their existence is easily noted by their immense file sizes and so consensus without reason is outlawed. Since, as you know, the Domain is in decline, trying to preserve as much processing power as we can is extremely important. So anything too large that isn't part of the Domains architecture is investigated and dealt with."
Stevonnie frowned; those poor beings...trapped because of what they are.
"Then what about you and me?" They asked.
Garnet gazed up into the canopies, the false sunlight pouring its warm shine through the spaces. She was unsure, since Stevonnie didn't have a measured size which would have been because of the added Soulware that would have effectively messed with their information profile.
"We narrowly escape this clause because our file sizes are just under the limit allowed." She said, a bit more firm in her tone.
They continued to talk about how GIS generally don't use the Mod terms, but preferably an entirely new file name. Synchronicity mean equality and the balance was utmost important. Without it, the OS would not be at its most effective. Garnet wanted to be called Garnet and that others would be the same.
Eventually they came across a metal door covered in the vine like cables against a building with a large glass dome on top of it. For what reason was unknown to them, but Stevonnie could somehow detect more energies behind that door. Garnet opened it and revealed the interior.
It looked a little worse for wear, but the sun that was shining above the dome came down as a beautiful sight, but the floors themselves were like a white with speckled marble and within the dome was a quite a few unusual GIS of different shapes, sizes and limb count. They actually felt like they were intruding upon a Sacred Space, as a opposed to a safe one. Stevonnie was gobsmacked with the variety of all these GIS in one place. They would have to be better off here, than out in the open public grid and risk getting captured by Jasper.
There was a GIS that looked similar to Garnet approached her...one with four eyes and four arms and shades of black and red, her Kernel Cores on her chest and stomach respectively.
"Garnet, hello it's been a while!" She said, before noticing the silent and still Stevonnie.
"Who do we have here? Another lost OS?"
Stevonnie decided, despite their anxiousness, walked forward to introduce themselves.
"Not lost...as far I am aware." They said sheepishly. They were more confused than displaced.
Garnet smiled.
"Stevonnie this is Rhodonite. She's in charge of the occupants here." She said.
"Rhodonite, Stevonnie here is a unique OS. It is important that they have the ability to divide their components."
The GIS mentioned tapped their top fingertips together, a type of tic they possessed. Their eyes checked Stevonnie out; and engaged several scans of their form.
"They're an Unknown OS?" She said.
"This isn't a GIS?"
Stevonnie rubbed their arm like before...being unknown wasn't exactly the problem.
"No." Said Garnet.
"It's an BM-AI and a human."
Words that had all four of Rhodonites eyes widen. If Stevonnie could guess from the design of their Kernel Cores, one of them was a Pearl-Class and the other was a Ruby Class.
"What? I...geez I didn't realise AI's can do that. Or even humans...reverse engineering like they always do."
Yes they were very much aware of their own impossible existence...statements inflamed by their worries of this being irreversible. While they did like who they were, they were also worried about Connie and how she was coping. Reading her DP stats became next to impossible to see whether or not her DP was beginning to heat up because of this.
"Uh...uh don't....don't feel bad." Rhodonite assured them, seeing the depressed look on their face.
"Doesn't make you any less of a program. Just makes you...unique. Like the rest of us!"
Rhodonite wrapped one of their larger, upper arms around Stevonnie's neck in a chum like way and walked them towards the group of other Synthesised. Stevonnie's eyes became mostly focused on the giant colourful caterpillar in the back. They stood out the most and supported Stevonnie's growing expectation that this realm was more fairy like than any other they or their components had ever visited. Even in real life.
"Who's that?" They wondered.
Rhodonite grinned.
"That's Flourite; one of our largest OS...consisting of six GIS in perfect sync. She looks looks after all newcomers and is the oldest one out out of all of us. She might hold the solution to dismantle your data..."
Approaching the giant OS in question, she had this...wisdom about her, her presence and expression akin to a type of age like an old crone. The sun rays just hit her spot just right...and Stevonnie could see the six Kernel Cores on her Avatar. gleaming from the radiance. They half expected her to go into a cocoon and come out as this massive butterfly.
"Hey Flourite." She said, bringing the anxious Stevonnie to her.
"Got a newbie here...needs some....uhhh help with detangling their programs."'
The size intimidated them somewhat, but Flourite's warm smile was just that. Her head poked down and just like everyone else at this point, couldn't help but scan their form in the meanwhile. The mystery of this Unknown Executable, with psyche and soulware of a human square within its code.
"You...are...unique." She said...her pace slow.
"Leave us...I wish to speak to this one alone..."
Rhodonite nodded, as she walked off with Garnet who waved to them and wasn't going to leave the timid OS on their own for too long.
"So...how do you feel...right now?"
What could they say?
"Unsure..uncertain...kind of scared?" They said, going through their root source to properly describe their emotions on the whole.
"I know that...being close to a Monolith was part of that strange ritual."
If it could be called that. Terminology be damned.
"Indeed that...is a requirement." She continued.
"The Monolith hears a plea. It listens...learns...it does not speak...but it...for explanations unknown...does grant new code."
As Garnet explained earlier.
"In human terms, it is....but one who has met a Genie....and is granted a wish..."
The barrier between reality and fantasy was beginning to become a blur indeed. But they don't recall wishing for this; it just happened for what ever shift that forced them together in a moment of desperation.
"As for the drivers...I wonder if...the BM-AI is but a GIS."
Stevonnie furrowed their brows. A old, sour argument rose up from parts unknown, bringing up the ire of ages past.
"Steven isn't a GIS." They said, a bit dismayed.
"Connie is a human...I'm worried her organic form might suffer from my existence...sure she Double Jacks with Steven but that can't be good for her health."
Flourite hummed, her eyes focusing on Stevonnie's Pink Kernel Core.
"If that...is the case...then it comes to the conclusion.....that the cause of this OS is a result of....a glitch in not just your systems...but ours...a common flaw...in GIS programming."
A flaw?
"A topic discussed....between the other of the Synthesised. There's a runtime....that is conducted between...us that triggers a connection....to the Monolith....which is from our...emotional cortex."
So it was a feeling as opposed to an official process.
"It was never...amended or patched....PeriCom determined this...was indeed an accident. But they found some use for it...with some results.....varying among the emerged OS."
A bug in the code. Garnet described it as a blip in programming. So it was true.
"Maybe...the BM-AI could...potentially have the same bug...within their emotional cortex. Our Matrices are some of the most heavily scripted, after all."
There were small similarities between GIS and BM-AIs. The factors in their personalities being the most prominent. Most GIS actually acted more like humans than majority of purely coded AIs could ever hope to. Even with this knowledge and guessing, Stevonnie wasn't after the reason as so much as ensuring that they weren't like this forever. But it gave them perspective on those already long formed; unable to live freely because of who they are. Their mind travelled around in circles, the format itself struggling to maintain some kind of comprehensive subroutine in response to their frustration with it all.
"Are...you....sure you're not a GIS?" She questioned.
No. They were they weren't....however...their form began to distort and warp, their avatar unstable. Fingers dug into their scalp as pain like a migraine rummaged through their head with the amount of noise and frantic code running through them; their voice split to a simultaneous echo of two different echoes.
Eventually with enough flickering came two forms. Steven and Connie were thrown to the floor in that instant with Connie left rubbing her head in confusion and Garnet and Rhodonite coming back over after hearing all the commotion. Steven stood up and for purpose possessed him to refute Flourites assumption.
"I don't believe that." He spurted, the anger commanding his words. He noticed the others around him and realised that came out harsher than he intended.
"I-I mean...uhh...I just don't have the file name to support it."
Flourite looked at Garnet for answers, who adjusted her visor.
"Your file name is an unidentified executable that's neither AI or GIS, but something else entirely." She said.
"Those GIS who conduct consensus still have GIS in their extension."
No one brought this topic up until now?
"So I'm just junk data? Is that it?" Steven said, getting more angry by the moment.
Meanwhile Connie stood back up, alarmed at how irritated Steven was becoming. She knew he struggled with his identity but didn't think to question other aspects, especially after meeting her mothers AI. It answered a lot and it made perfect sense. Indeed this was more complex that Connie had herself believing.
"You're not junk data Steven." Garnet told him.
"We've been through this discussion before. It does not change anything."
No. It didn't. All Connie could really do is reflect on the now, looking at her own two hands again. It was strange to admit of what she found being a part of Stevonnie. How she coalesced with code so effectively. But the part with Flourite suggesting something about the emotional cortex being a part of this unusual premise of Consensus. It could indeed be that most BM-AIs were capable of doing the same thing. Looking back at Steven, she frowned and felt compelled....to comfort him? Looking at all the other Synthesised. They weren't in too much of a predicament going from the smiles on their faces and the laughter they shared. They were indeed still having enriched lives in this safe space. Their happiness...despite the circumstances, caused a good feeling that rarely went by for Connie. One she wanted to embrace, channelling this rare experience as a positive, rather than the negative as she would have normally done.
"I agree with Garnet." She said, then turned to Flourite...one she found particularly fascinating in her design...and these Synthesised were treated unfairly and while it was important to keep the Domain stable, Connie's underlying desire in finding the Pink Monolith becoming necessary than ever, especially with the data she found connecting the Superserver to DM Biometrics. Besides that, she found Being part of the Consensus itself was incredible, maybe life-changing (and it wasn't a similar to intercourse like Connie did originally perceive it to be but she figured that was irrelevant anyway) and Connie could see why some would prefer it. Stevonnie was correct, like they were reading Connie's psyche in the concerns in maintaining such a form for too long.
"Thank you Flourite for trying to make sense of this..unexpected situation." She said, words she would hardly say to many a few days ago.
"I sincerely hope one day, you and your fellow Synthesised get to explore the Domain freely."
A term Flourite found endearing from a human, of all individuals.
"We are...not in the worst position...." She said.
"But I certainly wouldn't mind roaming like the old days. But you are welcome here any time. Garnet, you can grant them the access passwords...They are... trustworthy."
Words Connie would have found laughable once upon a time, but in this case, she would uphold it. This place was nothing she had seen in the Domain before and was worth defending. Honour, was such a difficult premise to abide by these days and Connie feeling it really told her how things were going to change for the better around here. Right now, she had to focus on Steven's distress and work through with it. If he was patient with her, then she would be patient with him.
In the hours that followed, they spoke with many of the other OS Synthesised and got to know them better. Steven was oddly silent for the most part so it was Connie who continued to ask all of the questions, such as that once the code was inserted it was there permanently, so if Steven and Connie desired to fuse again that it would be easier from now on. The other GIS were also curious about Connie and wanted to learn about humans after not being able to see them or hear them. Connie pitied their position...they were such lovely programs to talk to. Conversations Connie would have found boring but they had loads of their own stories to share so Connie could only exchange her own and for once in her life, enjoyed it.
Once spent, Garnet took them out of the pocket and eventually Connie and Steven returned back to the apartment to talk. Steven was still a bit peeved over several suggested concepts. His extension was the one he kept murmuring about. She listened to him by her Work Station while she sent the Data regarding the Pink Monolith she found within the PeriCom pocket to her mother, wondering if she knew anything about this. Information that flowed through the Domain was something that was kept close by most...but this was the stuff that not even Data-Brokers like Pat-Risha could get their mitts on. It had Connie feel the pride like she used to, in obtaining the data necessary for the bounty she had been hunting for years. Bounty for the glory as opposed to the cash. Though...if what she had collected so far. She knew the sustainability of the Domain she loved was at risk and these GIS, these Synthesised. It was like they had definite heart and soul within their code.
Steven continued to rant and talk to himself, standing on his CPD as he murmured. Connie could only but assume for what little they really knew about his design.
"Maybe you're the next type of AI or GIS." Connie suggested.
"Heh...maybe your extension is actually Steven. Steven dot StevenEXC."
A joke Steven wasn't amused at, judging by his crossed arms and grumpy look. Leaning back, Connie sighed as she put her hands behind her head. She could get this went under his superficial skin a great deal; an identity unknown. Connie wouldn't deny she liked being Stevonnie and found herself honoured by being...if she could so claim, by being the first human to be able to conduct Consensus. She hoped she was, anyway.
Another topic went into her head...and she couldn't yank it out. Not that she wanted to...it brought her no shortage of discomfort but if it helped Steven out then she was all for it. She detected his stress and that the two could walk away from work for the moment to allow themselves to relax. It was 8:04 pm and Connie could do with food and a movie.
"Hey...I know this is silly but..." She said, taking her hair out of its ponytail.
"Fuck it, let's order pizza...and I'll let you Double Jack with me. Hows that sound?"
A response from him was basically that of worry.
"You've had me within your DP all day." He said.
"You sure you can take it?"
Connie smirked.
"It was more like, I was within your DP...figuratively speaking." She said.
After all she did not have an emotional cortex like Steven. She was human and her Soulware made sure it came out just as natural as she would have it real life.
"But come on Biscuit Boy...let's do it."
He relented as she slotted him in the back of her head and ordered several pizzas. She quickly change into pink pajamas and sat down in the lounge room and watched what ever movie was on that the time. It didn't matter and it ended up being a movie about splicing human DNA with animals...technically illegal in actuality but the movie dived into the bizarre concepts of what could happen. Connie herself had her feet on the coffee table and was chewing on pepperoni pizza, eyes half lidded as she watched the movie with apathy to the plot and to her messy, dishevelled hair like she had been asleep for hours.
"You know..." She said.
"I thought about what Flourite said...in regards to the glitch that allows Consensus to happen like that."
It had her heating up all over just by talking about it. Talking about it, had Connie put together multiple ideas and conclusions. Her observations of Garnet and the other Synthesised and their situations.
"The command is a Subconscious User Action kind of like..."
A random pepperoni fell into her lap as it slid off the slice in her hand.
"An accident?" Steven said.
Connie chuckled as she put the piece down and picked the piece off of her lap and examined it.
"An unforeseen consequence." She continued, before eating it.
"A runtime put into motion without checking for errors until its too late but it's not like it's the end of the world."
Steven didn't follow.
"So the result is still delicious?" He assumed.
Not really the terms she would use, but Connie couldn't help but be amused by his naivety.
"You never asked Garnet how she came to be?" She put forth.
She could practically feel Steven scratching his head.
"She's not...exactly forthcoming with her history. I only just found out about a lot today." He answered.
And Garnets GIS. Ruby, Sapphire...and the existence of Flourite. Their contentment of being themselves was what Connie was reading from their manners alone. That they weren't alone. Stevonnie would only think that because they've just come into existence. It was the formulation in what caused their existence was what Connie was gauging at. Pressing her hand against her chest, she could feel the heightened beats and was grateful Steven could only feel and not actually read her mind...unless they were sleeping.
But Steven definitely feel Connie's emotions fluctuating...no...they were just a simmering heat that he hadn't felt from her before, becoming worried that she was feeling sick. Maybe food poisoning?
"Connie, you feeling alright?" He asked, concerned as always. He was like that, ever since the incident...while he was left angry beforehand, his interest in Connie's wellbeing was more consistent, a desire to check in on her more apparent than ever. Stevonnies demonstrated warrants for her health partially born on his end too.
"Maybe these pizzas weren't made with sanitary checks in place..."
Connie rolled her eyes.
"I'm fine Steven." She replied softly.
She had to put this in context that she herself could understand, as well as Steven first and foremost. Her mother AI, wasn't against the idea and Connie herself after much self-torment and grief that it had once caused her, grew to accept it the more she allowed it to flow. Stevonnie helped with this and the way that it affected Connie in such a way she had never thought she would have. A feeling that had no name but it was strong, pure and sturdy. The mixture of happiness and adoration...the latter an expression she hadn't had in years, wallowing in the depravities of her Hacker life. Not caring of the consequences to herself as long as it served as a means to an end.
It was, as if...looking upon the colourful crowd of happy individuals changed Connie for the better.
"But seriously though Steven...it makes you wonder. An emotion is what caused this to happen and I think I understand which one it could have been."
There was a lot to say in regards to the different types of emotions one would feel for another. Subtle or extreme or somewhere in between. The human nuance to fill in the gaps as to what it could possibly mean and yet still yearn for answers. It could hurt for the right and wrong reasons. It was usually up to the individual to explore their meaning because it was never the same for everyone.
And for those Connie's had specific feelings towards; this one stood out the most. The one in regards to Steven himself.
"Steven, you know how you said about you feeling something for me...a matter of fact you were probably right about the rest of that."
Connie could almost feel him raising an eyebrow.
"Right about what?" He asked, forgetting one of their older conversations they had a while ago.
Connie giggled and blushed..With Steven left questioning her increasing temperatures but allowed her to answer him first before he could do so.
"Fuck...I mean, there's this thing with humans when they grow up." Connie answered, finishing off the slice she had before as she shoved it all into her mouth, chewed and swallowed it.
"We watch and learn from our surrounding environments. Children to teenagers to adults; we see and change a lot. We form our own expectations, realisations of the world we live in. BM-AIs...surely the humans they're created from have all of that in place."
Meaning he was practically human in a mental sense with the odd tweak here and there.
"And I understand Consensus a bit better now. It makes sense when you think about it."
How did it make sense? Steven still wasn't grasping it as much as he'd liked, frustrating him more because he just....
"Maybe for a human it does." Steven acknowledged.
"So of course you would see it differently."
Connie couldn't help but laugh. It was genuine and Steven should have felt annoyed, but the fluttering and the way Connie was heating up and charging right now, distracted Steven to the point of he himself feeling like there was an underlying explanation Connie was trying to get across to him. So he became more annoyed that Connie was beating around the bush with what she was trying to say for real.
"Just...tell me Connie...please. Just this once, be honest with me. What do you think this is?"
She paused to reflect, saying nothing as she sat herself up and brushed off all the crumbs and sat up up right, stopping the movie outright. It was enough to tell Steven she was serious about this and the thoughts given to her more coherently...she just had to make sure they were expressed the same way. Nerves at her, as they were. A new experience giving way to revelations that Connie had begun to think differently. She wasn't angry or dismayed or disappointed. Surprised? Yes. Pleasantly so? Double yes. There was a fear of the horizons unexplored she would never dare to venture unless there was something of benefit to her and her ambitions. Be the best Hacker out there...Berrybyte a name whispered and written in forums of her legendary feats. But speaking with the Synthesised and their history was enriching to say the least and paved a clearer path for Connie alone.
A heart that lost the fear and in it's place, was a fullness she hadn't had in years. There was still hurt but there was much more now. She could only hope that Steven himself was still willing because while she was in this new light, the fear itself could rear its ugly head at any given moment. Tormented, left reaching for the aforementioned light at the end of a dark tunnel she'd spent many a year travelling. And now since she's met Steven, new horizons came across to her in the best ways possible. And now...the sunrise itself was about to peak over it. Risking much to see it appear or fall. She took his CPD out and inserted into the stand on the table next to her. His hologram popped up and looked at Connie properly. The warmth in her and the tears in her eyes and her smile...
"I think...no, I know I feel something for you." She revealed to him.
"These....fusions...these OS's and GIS... talked about their experiences and they all have common threads. The affection they share. There's a string that connects them, binds them. It bound Stevonnie for the same reason."
Words that if they popped up on a HUD and in short hand descriptions, would look like:
Steven. EXE has stopped working.
It took him a while to get his thought process functioning again, almost needing a reboot with the revelations provided, unaware that they would it hit him harder than he would have anticipated it to be. His form glitched out for the split second before he could properly respond. Consensus...the fact that what Connie had said in that Pocket had him feeling something so intense and powerful it could create an OS on its own and kick the ass of anyone they came across. The awesome factor...and the other factor Connie insinuated...he could now make sense of it. It was a feeling he had possessed and had not let go.
"Connie I...." He stammered, once he was able to speak again.
Connie as now blushing profusely, looking away with an embarrassed look on her face. She probably wasn't looking at him his file freaking out. Probably. But there was something so [cute] about Connie being [awkward]. Her stomach threatened to flip and in that moment after, it briefly did.
"Look it's weird and it silly but ya know an AI and a human you think we'd work like regular- what the fuck am I saying...I can't do this."
Going back to her abrasive self, Connie stood up, with the intention, going from the direction she was about to head in, was about to go into the bathroom...and Steven instinctively did not want her to go in there at all. She was all for it one moment, then suddenly couldn't bare the weight of it. He could see what she was trying to do and in that moment of vulnerabiltiy she was betrayed by her own fears; something Steven had to re-affirm her with that she didn't have to give up when she had gone so far. If anything, he was oddly proud of her, like Garnet was with Stevonnie. Except Steven had now understood a lot more and had both Connie and Garnet to thank.
"Connie it's okay." He assured her, wanting Connie to come back. What could he say? This feeling never went away for him and yes, he could at least agree with her on some terms.
"Its weird and silly for me as well. But...you're here to help me on this remember?"
Tense with risen shoulders, she was shaking for a moment, before heaving a huge sigh and turning around, gazing upon Steven with a sad expression before she sat back down next to him. The same worry on her face as she leaned her arm on the arm rest and held her forehead with the same hand and made a nervous laugh. She was there to help him yes...but not like this. Why did she even bother to acknowledge it if she felt nothing was going to become of it? Other than this new OS they could use in their endeavours.
"Yeah. Yeah...fucking hell...I didn't sign up for this you know that...I don't even fucking know what to do or how to do it...it feels good saying it but what in the world for?" She questioned.
What for indeed. But Steven had become more optimistic than ever; a display of her honesty touching his digital heart in the best way possible. He put his hand on her arm, tiny as hell and generally ineffective physical wise but Steven didn't care. This tiny pink sprite thing looked up to this human with all the hope it could muster, demonstrating his declaration in a way that struck Connie's real heart with empowered thumps of nerve and anxiety.
"Why don't do we discover this together? What it means for the both of us." Steven put forth.
Connie was noticeably hesitant. Dating an AI...a strange sentence uttered by no one. But shes had far worse challenges before.
"You know there's gonna be a tonne of complications right?" She warned, trying to push back already, before they'd even had the chance to try.
She was still truthful in that; No one was gonna lie.
"I'm not as naive as you think Connie..." He said. He was but he wanted to learn, to be able to process it all for real and being able to explore boundaries and those beyond. It would mean a great deal to him and he was definitely willing to try his best. If Stevonnie was the beginning, then what else would be out there for them?
"But let us take it one self-made tutorial at a time, if you're happy with that."
Connie sighed again, exhaling harder than before. Intimidating wasn't the right word.
"I hate to admit that you're right." She acknowledged in the rare submission of the facts. She tried to smile at him, despite her twisted emotions.
"Fine...but I get to pick the dating spots alright?"
Steven never felt more happier in his life...and suddenly the feelings Connie had were echoed into his own, warm and welcoming an anxiety inducing that he could just melt as he hugged her arm, which caused Connie to do that cute giggle of hers.
"Of course, my dear..." He said with joy.
"We'll write this into our code so we don't forget it!"
Notes:
AI Lore feat. Medical Intelligence Consultant (MIC) Priyanka:
Human Avatars are the self image of their human forms. Alterations and modifications are pretty popular as they suit the personal preference of their user so what they lack in the firepower of what GIS possess, they make it up in diversity and skillsets shown and used within the Domain itself.
Destruction of Human Avatars can vary but there are mandatory regulations in place in case of an emergency. Every Avatar must have an emergency runtine so that in case their shell is damaged to the point of the distortion being too great, their psyche and Soulware are automatically ejected out of the system as another safety measure, or else they risk their own deaths in the real world.. Their Avatar can be restored with a debugging tool or if its beyond repair, they must either commission a new one or if they're smart enough, they'll have a copy stored somewhere. Otherwise, they'll begin with their Default Form; actually decided by the Domain upon first entering it for the first time.Humans can also store parts of their additional programs either in their Avatars or Soulware. The Avatar storage is limited and easy to access on the fly, where as the Soulware is limitless but a little harder to draw upon. Humans risk losing the programs stored within their Avatars if they are destroyed, but do keep everything thats stored within their Soulware. So they must be careful on what to use and what to store.
Next chapter, we'll talk about AI Avatars.
Chapter 18: Temperature
Summary:
Connie takes Steven on a chilling date.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
No one would have imagined it to be like this.
A few bumps in the road ahead was to be expected, but it turned better than they had planned. The new couple worked and hung out like they normally did. Feelings were feelings and exploring them became their new avenue. In the Domain and out of it and while a new level of comfort was met, the complications of fear of outsiders looking in was becoming a new problem.
Ronaldo was all for it, as he always had been; excited over the prospect of his favourite couple finally doing the dating thing. It was even him who helped Steven research for hours on end into the perfect dates. Connie on the other hand, didn't really care much for the schmaltz personally. As long as she could chat and hang out with him, she was fine. Being lowkey wasn't the worst thing in a world and emotionally Connie was at a zone of peace that she hadn't felt in a long time.
The year itself was coming to an end and the sense of a chill became apparent. The world itself still had snowstorms and rugging up became norm. Connie looked forward to drinking the old ancient drink of hot coco and marshmellows, as they brought fond memories of her youth to the front, even though most of the time they were bittersweet.
Her main focus was the usual job here and there but investigating much behind the decline of the Domain and the missing Pink Monolith and the data retrieved to connect the dots to DM Biometrics. At one point, her AI mother was able to retrieve bits and pieces of what she knew and Connie was busy looking over numerous reports before she had enough of reading through mass amounts of text.
Steven was busy as well, doing his own thing. She looked at his CPD and the topic of his own origins became somewhat of an unspoken concern. His anger of his identity, or lack there of, disturbed him more so. It worried Connie that his assumption over him being junk data or an AI that wasn't programmed to completion was a point of contention to him being his own...what ever he really was. As far as Connie was concerned, he was real. He was functioning and the feelings she had towards him were genuine. He never spoke about during their many conversations as their chatter only went into details regarding their work, pop culture or issues and philosophies.
It was so...natural and it was all fitting in quite nicely. Connie's dated before, but this was different. Connie had taken Steven to places far beyond his digital reach. And one place, he never expected him to take her.
Taking the hoverbike, wearing her bikesuit with black boots, the two travelled east, beyond Mega Beach City to the untouched western farmlands. Hills but now with large towers and over head powerlines that stretched beyond the horizon. What was once green by Connie's description, was covered in white snow. Steven was double jacked within Connie at the time and even with her protective leathers, there was a definite chill in the air far colder than what one would normally experience in the cities. All one could hear was the howling winds and nothing else. The silence itself was golden and overall ambience brought serenity at first, but then, an overall uncomfortable sickness boiled within Connie's stomach. She didn't say or budge, only that this feeling of what amounted to anxiety and dread was building inside of her.
Through her eyes, he could see a tall house in the distance; double story but charred in black and covered in snow. She parked the car in front of it and he noted that was gargantuan. A frame of loneliness was a whisper of its description and the sickness within Connie grew as she took her helmet off and put on the bike itself. Steven had but to ask.
"Are you alright?"
She pulled him out from behind her head and projected his form as she held him in her hand. He looked between the stoic look on her face and the burnt down building, which looked a lot worse up close. The windows were gone and the door itself was rested up against the wall next to the entrance. It took him a moment to realise where they were.
"This was the house you grew up in, wasn't it?"
She never spoke about it a great deal and even the story Steven had about the incident was heard from a third party. Suddenly he understood why she felt ill upon the gaze of it.
"Yeah." She said.
This was the strangest date they'd ever been on...unless Connie had other reasons for being here. She took him through the front entrance and remained silent.
Inside was also pitch black; broken and burnt down furniture and appliances. Steven looked around himself; he didn't need to scan to see that this place had been at home at some point. The stairs to the right and the kitchen and dining area on the left and the door to the backyard on the upper end. Connie's attention was in the room next to the stairs however...and lead him into the lounge room. Charred couches and coffee table and in the corner was the fireplace. Connie placed Steven down on the table and allowed him to look around, but his focus was on Connie alone as she walked to the fireplace and pulled off a glove. She ran her fingers over the brickwork and rubbed the dust and ashes off of her fingers.
"Growing up." She said.
"The fireplace was usually always lit up during this time of the year where it got the coldest. Dad used to tell me stories about his work....and the stories about the Man on the Moon who used to grow strawberries."
Strawberries on the moon? That didn't make any sense.
"Why would one grow strawberries on the moon?" He said.
"There's no oxygen or water and the soil probably isn't exactly the best condition to grow them." He said, completely serious.
Connie couldn't help but giggle at Steven's naivety. He was cute like that.
"Because they're just stories Biscuit-Boy." She said.
Ah. Fictional tales. Steven was intrigued.
"Do you remember much about them?" He asked.
A few...some aged and were forgotten with time. But overall, she remembered the man in a bit of detail.
"Sort of. The Man on the Moon was born there, didn't know how or why. But he tended to his field of strawberries everyday. The man was...very lonely so he often spoke to the strawberries, while looking at the Earth in the distance and always said to his Strawberries; 'One day, I'm going to visit that planet.'"
A sad premise...but it hooked Steven up big time. Still, he didn't think that there was much sense in growing things on the moon in general, but he took Connie's word for it.
"Did he ever get there?" The AI wondered.
Connie looked down, then looked at the pink hologram with another neutral expression.
"I honestly can't recall." She answered, before walking around running her hands on a nearby wall. She could hear her fathers voice in the room as she imagined herself sitting on the couch while he sat next to her with the pair looking into the flames.
"The Man made many attempts using bits and pieces of stuff that just happened to be lying around on the moon...while trying to protect his precious strawberries from hungry Moon Cats who wanted to make cookies with the strawberries."
Okay now that was ridiculous.
"Why are there cats on the moon?" He asked.
Connie froze for a bit. Steven could be literal at times in pointing out flaws and strange happenings. She kept forgetting the world of fiction was so obscure to him and using his imagination wasn't always his strong suit. Came with being an AI, she gathered. But she decided to humour him.
"You know what? I'm not actually sure." She said.
"For the same reason the man was?"
Did they ever find out?
"Surely the Man had enough Strawberries to share." Steven told her.
"Let's see, if he had a large enough patch and given the growth cycles with strawberries themselves, they would ne-"
Connie couldn't help but snort with laughter.
"What? What's so funny?" He asked, offended.
She shook her head, grinning ear to ear.
"You don't need to constantly poke plot holes in these stories." She said.
"A lot of them were metaphors. About not giving up...and being grateful for the things you have....which suffice to say..."
Her mind stopped her from talking outright as it hinged on certain aspects, with new ideas flooding in.
"Dad was always going on about the legacies we leave behind for our successors....he hoped that when I got older, I would inherit this house so Mom and himself would move out of it and find somewhere else to live..."
Why would they do that?
"They didn't want to live with you anymore?" Steven wondered.
She sighed heavily.
"It's a human thing." Connie told him, while looking at a nearby mirror on the wall that had shards on the floor as she looked at Steven's reflection on it.
"I believed the Man was eternal and the Moon Cats were a clowder of felines that had this initiative to leave trails behind. That each successive generation would improve upon the last. Different strategies as to how to steal the strawberries. They had....made cookies with all sorts. They had conquered blueberries, peaches and cream...but never the fabled strawberry. The Mans lifes work wasn't going to be ruined by filthy space kittens."
Steven still thought the man was greedy; surely he had enough to spare.
"Did the Man ever think to, I dunno, make a deal with them...trade the strawberries to perhaps, I dunno...find a way to make it to Earth using their resources? Sounds like deal breaker to me."
Connie never thought about it that way.
"Hm...you have a point." She said, humming and patting her index finger on her lips as she contemplated. He still wasn't getting it, however.
"Stories like these have meanings for the reality of our lives. There's nothing in your matrices that had somehow...I dunno...correlate this kind of thing to your history?'
Not that Steven was aware of. He dealt with the truth and the absolutes. Philosophies he found fascinating but otherwise there wasn't much to pinpoint...unless specific feelings come to mind.
"Not really." He said.
"But the way you feel snow...is it weird I find the cold synonymous with some strange feeling I can't identify?"
Through the last few months, Steven's noted what his emotions connect with. Hot, cold...the stuff Connie feels while he's riding in her head. The topic of the cold always comes up as the most outstanding sensation that is definitely linked to his abstract past, but never went into the details.
"Something with your donor I think?" Connie theorised.
"Talking with my Mom, she says what she feels for me is one of the strongest connections she has. I am her donors daughter. Your Donor..."
Whom ever they were.
"They often called this sensation the DEJA-VU Bug (Digitised Emotional Jargon with Attachment Variable Unload)."
Her mother described it only occurring in BM-AI's. As they inherit the emotional imprints of their donors and during production these bugs do arise. They're normally harmless, unless the memory itself was quite vivid and painful enough for the AI to meltdown but otherwise its a line of code that just sits there until there's a memory correlation that activates it. Sometimes even certain memory wipes will fail to miss this piece during the process and risk activating the feeling.
Notes:
AI Lore feat. Medical Intelligence Consultant (MIC) Priyanka:
AI (and VI) Avatars are completely dependant on the Domain and its respective digital realms. For the purposes of their storage, AIs are generally kept in Cabinets but that isn't always necessary. They can thrive entirely in the Domain otherwise but doing so risks a lot more when they are destroyed. This also makes them more mobile than GIS who are understood to be entirely dependant on their Cabinets. But we'll get to that shortly.
AI's do not have Soulware. BM-AI's are thought to have Soulware but only replications based on brainwaves so its considered that they actually have a subsection dedicated to the functionality of the same type like humans do. More storage, but its not limitless so the theory is that Soulware disappears entirely when a BM-AI is born.
AI's are considered easier to flow with their systems, being quicker, more accurate and precise and are designed to help with the both massive and mundane duties of the Domain 24/7 (obviously because they're non-living people without any organic functions.) As a trade off, they can risk being deleted if their Avatars and Psyches are severely damaged beyond repair, especially if they're not running from a Cabinet.Destroying the shells of AIs only displaces them temporarily as long as the Psyche remains. Ones that do not have a functioning Cabinet can end up having their data displaced and scattered and it is up to their psyche to find the Avatar or find/buy a new shell. As long as the Psyche of the AI remains, it will slow recover its missing pieces if it chooses to.
However, AI's are more vulnerable to be damaged more so than GIS so much so that their Psyche can be affected just as much. There are pre-programmed safety protocols that allow AI's to eject their Psyches from their shells to go to safety, not too dissimilar to the ways human Avatars functionality protects theirs. However if a shell is completely unusable, then the psyche is left on its own, quite powerless to do anything, as an AI's shell also contains majority of their programming skills. An AI's Psyche however only has its core programming and without Soulware, it becomes a Ghost. It can move around the Domain but it cannot be seen without a Driver that gives it some shape or form outside of its shell. So its entirely dependant on other individuals if it ever hopes to achieve even the most basic functions.VIs or Virtual Intelligences aren't as advanced and are not considered sentient. Their purpose is to help process information faster without any bias involved. Humans can have these two and they respond to commands without question. They're used for all sorts of jobs such as logistics and statistics gathered on the fly. They're not capable of learning, however. They're more seen as advanced calculators and sensors and respond for a select amount of inputs, especially regarding emergencies. Their file sizes are small as a result and their programs much cheaper than AIs.
Chapter 19: Codesmith
Summary:
The Team find an Android.
Notes:
Possibly the most comedic chapter of this fic to date.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Connie had done a lot of research into Alien Tech; wanting to know more about GIS and discovered there was lot more than she realised. Most of the work she had done was mostly centralised within North America, but had delved into the international networks for several of her contacts. For this piece, however, had her attention towards the Asian and Pacific regions.
That market was often hungry for different products; mostly physical as opposed to virtual. Japan for example, was the first to develop the Androids. Her research into the Blue Monolith, however, had a Joint Japanese-Korean Company known as Yin Aozora as their developers and Subsidiary for PeriCom. Their secondary and more well known product were the aforementioned robotic Androids. They used existing AI templates for their framework and mostly focused their efforts on creating both robotic and lifelike androids for multiple purposes.
How Connie found this out was actually through Ronaldo's little brother Peedee (apparently a nickname based on his strange first name, Peter-Daniel), whom had been living in Japans Factory of Yin Aozora as a Board representative from America. He was one of the youngest from the board and Ronaldo had to admit he was jealous of his brothers success and was super intelligent. But the implications of ordering an Android had unfortunate...ties...
Americans were not exactly looking for Androids for bulk and labour en masse, but there was a hidden niche of the Market for more...well, explicit reasons. People who were prepared to purchase (and were generally expensive due to shipping costs and trade taxes). Connie's intel with Androids was low as their relevance was low as well, but from what had been found by Peedee, held enough interest for Connie to quickly educate herself about all types of Androids; models, make, their history, firmware, hardware, software. Everything. The information was there to claim and some Connie would find useful. The Android itself was said to be human developed, but it was well theorised to have some roots in Alien Tech. Either way, this made things much more interesting.
Peedee had shipped over the Android to Ronaldo who had it wired up in the room. Connie and Steven were invited over so they could observe and help him out. Androids were physical AI's as far as what she understood. Mostly Dumb AI that were so close to VI's in their formatting, so to speak. The main differences was the increased amount of protocols, responses and decision making were more advanced than VI's but that was about it.
Having strapped the android onto a machine, Ronaldo was very eager to get it to work. Upon glancing, they could see it aged and weathered and rusted with time. It was grey and bulky and the rainbow wiring on its head made it look like it had colourful dreads. Nothing Ronaldo couldn't handle. He had been working on it all week in checking its circuitry and power source; the latter revealed to be an unusual piece of technology, the battery itself was a pulsing rainbow square, which Ronaldo made the conclusion that it was definitely Alien Tech.
Connie was against the wall, with Steven observing on his CPD and watching Ronaldo put everything back together. He determined in was in pretty good nick, despite how inactive it appeared and the dents and scratches all over the body. The only debate now...was that should they reactivate it?
"Like with Lapis, I've put in the Faraday Protocol to ensure that the Android doesn't interfere; I've deactivated the arms and legs. So we are completely safe!" Ronaldo assured them.
With his pride came the pop of the androids left arm with an apathetic reaction from both the Hacker and the AI. Ronaldo was none the wiser.
"That was intended...ahem."
Placing the arm on the table, Ronaldo cracked his knuckles and was eager to see this work.
"I suppose you've been looking at getting an Android to come on the market cheap...is that it?" Connie questioned, grinning.
Ronaldo rolled his eyes. People in the American Market are judged for their purchases of Androids; the construction too expensive to make there so the reliance on the cheaper alternate of software engineering was heavy.
"What? No. Look. it's not what it seems. I don't even time for a girlfriend..."
Connie doubted that and suspected other reasons that she kept to herself. Ronaldo then realised what he was saying before clearing his throat.
"As for this old girl? I've been bugging Peedee to find me one for years. Maybe to have as an assistant perhaps? I've always been one to pioneer the new tech...you know that."
Connie's always known that Ronaldo was a Hipster. She also liked to shit stir him to death for fun. His intentions, she knew for one, were generally noble. A sweet soul underneath it all that was addicted to energy drinks like Connie herself, his fingers for the preference of screwdrivers than the keyboard. Though Connie had to yet to admit the need to corrupt and yet still preserve him in the most innocent fashion.
"Of course." She said, still grinning.
"But you know the stigma from owning Androids outside of Japan. First you give it a name like Major and give her the skimpiest uniform."
Ronaldo went to work on refixing the arm, sighing as he made the readjustments. He liked Connie; but a lot of the time she poked fun at his expense and he normally tanked it, given the opportunity if it arose. She didn't do it a lot, but her assumptions about how he was gonna work this Android to his advantage as such were definitely incorrect.
"Of course I do." He answered.
"But my aim isn't to alter them in anyway detrimental to their original purpose and if they're advanced as I think they are, find out their real personality ya know?"
Aaaand he was hooked on to her bait. Just like she knew he would.
"Why not?" She asked, nonchalantly and totally casual about it.
"What's stopping you from turning them into a Sex Bot? Give her a new frame and body and voila...you can pay my loan back in quicker time."
Ronaldo rubbed his face as he turned to face her...as a burst of oil sprung her body and splashed onto his face. Connie was trying so hard not to laugh so hard; her mask of stoic and seriousness on the verge of breaking. There was also a market for that kind of thing...and its personality was perfect for it already and it was not even trying.
Standing up and taking a towel to wash his face off, Ronaldo had only realised what Connie was doing and was annoyed at himself for submitting to her whims and had this art of making him look foolish for the umpteenth time.
"I'm kidding of course." She acknowledged before he could say anything. She got her catch of the day.
"But seriously though...I agree, let's activate it. Find out what it knows."
Steven had remained oddly quiet through it all; analysing the inactive robot as it hung there, it's eyes closed like it was only sleeping and wasn't even paying attention to the banter between Connie and Ronaldo. He knew so little about Androids himself, only really understanding what Connie knew. If it was a GIS like they suspected, then he's never heard of that type running machines as opposed to dwelling in the Domain like everyone else.
"If it starts asking for fifty bucks an hour then you already know what we're dealing with." Connie said, for some reason was on a roll and wanted to keep going.
Ronaldo ignored her as he found the switch at the back of her head and listened to the power charge up, a soft thrum followed by clinking gears. It moved and adjusted itself before the eyes opened, revealing her blinking eyes of multiple colours that eventually settled on blank white for now.
"Bismuth-Class Codesmith successfully activated; please input owner details." It said in a monotone.
Looked like it had been completely wiped, Ronaldo didn't want to do a complete reboot either, but he was far from dismayed.
"It's a GIS." Steven said.
"Pearls spoken of Bismuth-Class before."
A GIS in an Android made more sense with that odd power source. Confirmation and the erasure of doubt; but it wasn't a sex bot after all and Connie was suddenly disappointed but didn't show it. She wanted more leverage for laughter later. But it was odd how this was a GIS that had been regressed back to an original state. Asking for owner information was very telling of itself. Like someone had used it and discarded it as it was no longer required and deleted everything to ensure no loose ends.
"Give it a name. We'll need admin access if we want control of it." Connie suggested.
Or she could hack it later, if Ronaldo desired to make her job harder or not. No. He needed his pride protected. Something that would give him respect and admiration from his fellow technological peers and that one day he will be admired by the community for his efforts of changing the world.
"Lord of the Arsenal!" He said with pride...that one day, he'll have a legion of Android workers and AIs like Steven would be able to venture into the real world.
Connie couldn't believe it. Ronaldo was definitely a weeaboo that she almost died from second hand embarrassment. Steven knew he liked anime but never ventured much into it outside of his highly decorated bedroom.
"Name received. Greetings Lord of the Arse, you may call me Bismuth. I am ready for orders."
Words that sparked not outrage, but something else entirely; First Connie started to shake, her hands making fists. Her lips pursed as her face went red and her eyes squinted. Steven heard odd noises and grew worried about Connie instead of the wide-eyed Ronaldo who only just realised what happened.
"What no? I didn't say that." He cried, trying to find her reset button.
"No, its Arsenal, not ARSE!"
Steven was busy focusing on Connie still and wondered if she was alright.
"Connie?" He asked.
A hand went to her mouth as she began to snort.
"Excuse me for one moment." She said.
He was a bit confused as she ran off outside, where he proceeded to hear Connie wheeze and choke with laughter. He thought she was initially sick, so he tuned his attention to the curse spewing Ronaldo who was muttering to himself about trying to find the reset button. Steven initiated another scan, now that she was active. He rubbed his chin, trying to think about what default GIS were like.
It had the normal GIS extension and nothing about its reading were anything out of the norm for what he's seen from GIS so far. But part of the coding mentioned Generation 1 GIS, like Garnet and Pearl. This Bismuth was an old one, but part her filing suggested she's had multiple patches placed on her over the years, with numerous versions of her being upgraded. Which suggested she was used for something, but what that something was had been unclear. He had to hook her up to her properly to get the deeper layers of her files and so far he could only access her basic properties.
"I wonder why she was cleaned." Steven wondered.
Bismuth had since shut off, her eyes closing as her head fell, with Ronaldo hooking up her cabling to a mini-laptop to check out her coding properly.
"Who knows...the main reason I'd say is that once she fulfilled her purpose, her owner or 'owners' would have tried to wipe her memory banks to make sure they left no trace of their work behind. Which makes me wonder...what was a Codesmith doing in an Android? AI Codesmiths aren't really a thing if I recall correctly and PeriCom directly employ Codesmiths to furbish Domains, Private and Pocket Grids. Think of them as builders and craft-workers."
None of the Ancillas mentioned Codesmiths to Steven. Only Bismuth-Class GIS but not their exact purpose. But if he could place judgement on the knowledge alone, that was most likely their purpose.
"I think Pearl said that they make stuff but she never went into detail." Steven said as he crossed his arms.
Stevens silence was a result of his confusion about it all; the detail of a GIS with nothing left but its core systems functioning. Surely it was used for something but what that was, had been anyone's guess.
"Yeah they're not a regular Quartz-Type for example." Ronaldo continued.
"My guess is that they installed the GIS into the android because there's every chance they were making something super secret."
That piqued Steven's interest.
"Secret huh?" He said.
It was then Connie came back in...and Ronaldo grumbled and rolled his eyes as he waved his hand in front of his nose.
"For goodness sake Connie spray yourself, you smell like ash!" He complained.
She had been smoking obviously.
"Rude Fryboy." She said, displeased.
"I never tell you that you stink."
He blinked for a moment, as Connie brought out her strawberry perfume and sprayed herself, but not before Ronaldo smelt his own armpits and whinced a teeny bit. Connie eventually got a piece of gum out of her bag and began to chew.
"So what ya got?"
Ronaldo continued to type.
"The data concludes this is a Gen 1 GIS, Bismuth-Class that's been through numerous versions and updates throughout the years."
Confirming Steven's scans.
"Girls been through a lot based on her external state; internally the data has been erased as we all know...so we might have trouble digging through it troves."
Words that had Connie snort.
"Fryboy please." She said, her ego inflating on its own accord.
"Wiped hard drives can be restored if you have the know how."
Steven blinked.
"How do you know then?" He asked.
Connie groaned.
"I just do okay?" She said, almost exasperated, before clearing her throat and returning to her confident state.
"The amount of times people try to hide stuff by simply deleting their content is way too often. It does serve a goal however the must studious and resilient of us have the tools to get what we need. So...Fryboy, I need access to this androids memory banks and I'll work my magic!"
And she says with wiggly fingers to boot. Ronaldo groaned in response.
"Look, there is a separate hard drive found but it's never been used." He said.
"The Battery itself I found to be the main source."
A battery used to hold data? That sure wasn't safe at all. Then again, Alien Tech being as it was...
"Then give me the battery then. I'll take a crack at it." Connie said, her hand out to him.
Fryboy bit his lip.
"And risk its programming to hack into your own Work Station? This is dangerous, even for you." He warned.
Connie wasn't afraid of dealing with junk like this. Even if it was Alien Tech.
"I have a small Faraday Box I shove it inside of." Connie assured him.
"I'm not that careless."
Still, Ronaldo didn't think it was a good idea...but he ended up taking the battery out of the Android and put into a small metal box anyway and handed it to her.
"Even if you make fun of me, I know what you're capable of. I just sure hope you know what you're doing."
Back at her apartment, Connie snapped on black rubber gloves and grabbed a small black box from her cupboard and put it on the desk next to the CPD Stand. Steven watched everything as Connie pulled the battery outside of one box and put into the other. The boxs purpose was meant for Connie to easily hook it into her tower and it holds a special protocol, much Ronaldo's set up, to prevent it from uploading or hacking into Connie's Station. He'd never seen her so giddy before.
"Tell me, do GIS have these weird battery things normally?" Connie asked him as she sat down and went to her, her fingers rapidly typing on the keyboard as she booted everything up.
"Not that I'm aware of." Steven replied.
"I mean, consensus happens to create them but what else does I'm not even sure."
Something they would have to ask the Ancillas, surely. Connie was just excited she gets to hack a GIS of all things. The things PeriCom would never want anyone outside of their own employees to see.
"They have those Cabinets though." Connie continued.
"Lapis had one, but I imagine since she was a satellite GIS, her functionally required her to work on several interconnected grids, public and private. The information load must be immense to pass through."
Steven didn't even know there were satellite GIS prior to meeting Lapis...he was under the impression all of them should have been AI...but a GIS made sense due to their durability over normal AIs.
"Though it begs the question; GIS don't have a normal IP address that's picked up on most systems. Too obscure and advanced for proper tracing. I'll message uh...my mom to see what she makes of it."
Even living with GIS, Steven never had all the answers given to him. Before Connie was finished, she'd taken a few photos and messaged the MIC for any clues on the subject before resuming with the connections.
"AI's live and thrive on the Domain don't they?"
They did. It was a weird premise.
"Yeah." He answered, still watching Connie's fingers work their magic and his mind went on how talented they could be. Ronaldo's earlier comparison was on the mark.
"I mean we don't have to a specific IP or system to store our data. We work on cloud-transfer interface where we don't have to exist on the one hard drive. We just have to make sure all of us makes it from one end to the other or else...just sort of teleportsus on the fly, ya know."
That's right. Connie understood that to be one of the benefits that while there were mandatory requirements when talking about AI Storage, they didn't have to exist and retrieve their data from one place. They were more described as Digital Spectres seemingly able to go to place to place without issue. Though this was easier for them to navigate their way around, it didn't come without its host of different problems.
"Yeah, but the main problem is when it all goes to hell when your Avatar is destroyed." Connie told him.
"Mom says the shell is gone but the entirety of your Psyche is left trying to pick up pieces...you can also risk being deleted depending the severity of the damage."
Which was one thing Steven downright feared. He could fight but when push comes to shove and he's in the corner; he's on his own. Getting captured by Jasper had Steven terrified of dying too soon.
"She's not wrong." Steven said, a bit worried himself.
"It's the reason why the Ancillas are super protective of me. I die...then..."
Connie paused as she finished making the connections, her eyes on Steven as he fell into the shadows of his melancholy...again. He was always such a downer at times.
"I will reconstitute you." Connie declared, wholeheartedly. She went to work on the restoration of the Bismuth's wiped drives, rapidly typing as she used multiple programs for the process...the series of codes and screens and windows with rapidly changing text that Steven himself had subroutines take care of that of which he wanted to translate, but it never always meant that he understood what was going on unless told.
"I could save a copy of your basic Avatar into my Soulware for safe keeping, all the while trying to find the fragments of your psyche scattered through the far reaches of the Domain if it means you exist."
Words that sent strokes of conflicting emotional codes go out of the load order and almost shut him down.
"Connie..." A single name that he could get his vocoder to emulate. She was so focused in her work, the face of determination so close. This was her. The one whom had saved him from the brutality of the Jasper GIS and all those that followed. The Berrybyte on the lips of those who would sing her praises as well as damn them. A hero and a villain, all the same.
She'd had to get a coffee in the mean time as this took her hours to rectify, all the while Steven felt guilty for not helping. The Faraday Box, that black metallic cube that Steven could sense the batteries power from. What had she seen and done...what was her purpose?
Hours later, Connie heaved a massive sigh as she leaned back in her chest and lifted her chin, relieved that she was just about finished...and several cups of coffee on the table surrounded by empty packets of potato chips. She swatted them off the desk and dusted the crumbs off her chest as she cleared her throat. Her eyes went to Steven as she smirked and went to press a key, but he was still bit uncomfortable about it.
"Wait!" He called.
Connie rolled her eyes.
"Yes?" She said, exasperated.
No. She had to do this the proper way.
"I don't think it's right to gain access to the Bismuths details without her consent." Steven warned her.
She raised an eyebrow.
"She's bare bones Steven." Connie explained, as she rubbed her forehead in minor frustration.
"Her memory banks are still fucked; they weren't interconnected with the most used matrices for decision making. Even if she was to give consent, she won't remember any of this manually."
Steven didn't care. Bismuth was still functioning...just not in the way they were used to. He made a sad face; indicating that he was about to cry. She couldn't say no to that.
"For fucks sake; fine." She replied in a drone.
"Lets boot her up."
Steven smiled warmly; knowing how important this was to not just Bismuth but AI's and GIS in general. He continued to stand and examine Connie as she pulling out a second CPD out of her desk drawer and quickly hooking it up to the box within just a few minutes.
"She'll get her body back." Connie continued, thinking about that giant monstrosity back in Ronaldo's quarters.
"Right now she'll run on safe mode so don't be surprised if she doesn't show a great deal of emotion."
Did GIS even have a safe mode? Connie would imagine that they would for a variety of reasons; debugging for one. She put in the last bit of adjustments with her Work Station and pressed a single key.
Out from the CPD, coloured pixel, by coloured pixel, was a large hologram...with the squarish Rainbow Kernel Core on her chest and her hair matching with the androids design. She formed a t-pose first, before resting them by her sides. Opening her eyes, she looked up at Connie with a blank expression.
"GIS Underlay Itinerary activated." Bismuth announced, her voice monotone.
"BMTH_250_KC1. GIS active. Please input request for more details."
He's never seen a GIS lacking in life before, hearing more emotion in ordinary VIs.
"See?" Connie pointed out.
"She's nothing at this point. She doesn't react to environmental factors; only user input requests."
The AI frowned, fearing that this Bismuth was a former shell of her old self. If only she could be restored somehow.
"I was hoping to be able to ask her a few things..." Steven said.
Connie found Steven's appetite for knowledge endearing to where she couldn't help but smile. He had the right idea; as Connie had judged much of his personality had to have been a hold over from his mysterious donor.
"Likewise." Connie acknowledged.
"But if it makes you happy. Grant Admin status to CM_888_V1GS_. SolEX ..."
And if he was going to manage it too.
"Grant Owner Status to RF_890_V1GS. SolEX."
Ronaldo was the true owner after all. The main difference between them was Connie was able to access Root Source Codes, but Ronaldo would be able to own her.
"Approved." Bismuth replied.
"Please input new request, alternatively, input shut down to exit program."
Connie was about to shut her down, until Steven decided to intervene.
"Request permission to access data." He asked.
Connie blinked. She believed they just did that.
"Steven that's..."
"Data already accessible by User Admin." Bismuth responded.
"User Admin has permissions to retrieve, alter and insert data. Please consult User Admin for more information."
Connie could see the confusion on his face. He definitely was more human than AI.
"See Steven.." She said.
"There's nothing more we need."
He would have liked a direct yes or no. It broke his heart to see this happen...she was really...just a program then. No...not she wasn't. Steven refused to see her this way.
"I don't like it how she does that." He told Connie.
"I mean...she...."
It was something so abstract to him after spending a great deal of time with the more personable Ancillas who could be aloof, but they definitely had their own autonomy and organic bounce to their steps that made them seem like the realest people he knew. This was as lifeless as a remote control. There was more fear than sadness, Connie had become to believe. Losing who he was perhaps one of the greatest he held on his persons. Truth be told, Connie never thought about it like that. This wasn't permanent either; this was just a temporary measure, like Lapis, to ensure that this GIS didn't go out of control.
"If we can trust her then its entirely possible to reboot her to her normal state." Connie told him. She hated seeing him so unhappy.
"We'll need to get her back into the Android eventually, but I want to be confident that this Bismuth isn't going to go haywire."
Only one real way to find out.
"Let's talk to her properly then." He said.
"Isn't there a way you can reroute that trove to her frontal matrices so she does remember?"
They would be horribly incomplete, to Connie's immediate concern. Still, this was a GIS. They were made of sterner stuff than most.
"I can try...but she's going to be glitchy." Connie warned.
"Give me a sec."
Going back to her computer, Connie spent the next several minutes trying to make a particular patch...which would have explained why there were so many patches in her files already; which meant she'd been wiped more than once.
So what was she used for, really?
"Okay, initiating reboot now."
Bismuth shut down immediately after that...but shortly her Avatar reformed and she had a bit more life in the hologram. She appeared to be a daze and whacked her head several times with a series of grunts. Connie had to be prepared for an emergency shut down if she tried anything funny.
"Bismuth?" Steven said.
The GIS tilted her head.
"Woah...who..." She muttered, before looking at Connie.
"Oh. User Connie..."
Connie already felt awkward enough from doing all of this. More casual wasn't a bad thing but this...
"Just call me Connie." Berrybyte told her, pressing her hand to her chest then gesturing towards Steven.
"This is my AI Companion Steven. We were hoping you answer some questions for us."
The GIS shivered as she looked around, as if she was cold.
"I feel lighter...." She said, eyes squinting.
"I don't like that...I feel so vulnerable."
A preference for something...her personality syntax was still functioning at least.
"You were previously functioning in an Android." Connie told her.
And education from observing Steven alone told her ample amounts of things that he did and didn't like through double jacking. Bismuth must have had a nervous system inbuilt into the android for self-preservation instinct protocols to kick in. But this was so much more. Connie had her doubts but....
"Oh yeah...I'm uh...where is my armor?" Bismuth demanded to know.
"I need to...I need to...I need to."
Feedback loops. Lucky Connie still had her hooked up so she open up Bismuths runtime, using her programs to pinpoint the problem.
"Connie?" Steven said, fearful.
Connie nodded and hummed, looking at the blinking red line of alien tech code. The program she used was based off of existing PeriCom code, inventing her own version for research and trouble shooting.
"I knew this would happen." She said, disappointed.
"I said it was going to be buggy."
Steven furrowed his brows.
"You said it was going to be glitchy." He said...until her hologram started freaking out.
"Oh there it is."
He was right...glitching and bugging were two different things with a similar wavelength in relevance but that wasn't what she was getting at. She was forced to shut the Bismuth down and find an alternate solution.
"The Codesmith requires a Codesmith." Connie said, noting the ironic situation. She pressed the base of her palms on her eyes and made a loud, irritated groan.
"I'm not that particular in mass amounts of GIS Code. I mean, I understand sample amounts of their OS but something of this calibre is next to impossible."
Sample being base systems...not entire GIS.
"We could always ask the Ancillas." Steven put forth.
Hm....that wasn't a half-baked idea either. She removed her hands. Though other issues arose.
"That would require hooking up the Bismuth to the Domain properly." Connie told him.
"I can't use the Faraday Box to do that. And I don't want her prematurely hopping onto it...unless the Ancillas...hmmm..."
Steven loved it when Connie would think up ideas. She was always so creative.
"Did you want me to go ask them?" Steven offered.
Possibly...but the more Connie put thought into, more and more concerns arose.
"I need them to consent to be put into a Private Grid." She said. Ronaldo said something before about their ability to also bypass Grid protections. So getting them in there safely wasn't anything to be worried about.
"Or maybe just one of them. Any GIS you think would have the best amount of knowledge regarding their software?"
A statement that had Steven thinking long and hard. Amethyst maybe? But she was limited with in-house detail. Garnet perhaps...though she was an Analyst for observing future probabilities....so that only left.
"Ummm...." He murmured.
"I'd say Pearl. She is a Cloud-Storage GIS. If there's anyone who most likely know even though I'm not a hundred percent sure, it's her!"
It's a start. The start of something...Connie only but look at the time. 11:14 and she had a doctors appointment in the morning she'd almost forgotten about.
"Hm...we'll leave it for tomorrow." Connie said with a yawn.
"We'll let Bismuth rest for now and we'll suss out the detail. But message Pearl while I'm asleep and try to fit her in about...say 3 O'Clock?"
Connie had since taken her medication and changed into her pajamas and allowed herself to plop on her bed and rest, accompinied by her massive snoring. Steven on the other hand, dipped back into the Domain and chatted with Pearl in the lounge area and informed her with what they were doing.
"A...A Bismuth-Class GIS you say?" Pearl said, surprised.
"My, I haven't seen one of those in...gosh, many a cycle."
Steven figured she would know of them.
"Well, what's she doing? Where does she come from?"
He explained the details of her Android being shipped over from Japan, to where, to Steven's slight perplexed matrices did bug out upon her knowledge of what imported Androids insinuated.
"But yeah, that's why we need someone who can help us repair her. Connie's recovered data but we're trying to get Bismuth to tell us the info." He told her.
Pearl herself tried to process it just as much as well. She smiled and looked off into the distance....then frowned as she refocused herself.
"Hmm...I'm not a Codesmith myself but..." She said.
"But if Connie's willing, I can help her translate the code...I happen to have a very good translating program installed. All Pearl-Class GIS have it as a mandatory application."'
Good. Some progress.
"But tell me Steven...what do you hope to find?"
He wasn't really sure. This was just a little project of theirs to see what Bismuth knew...where she had been and why she was in an Android.
"I don't know." Steven answered, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Ronaldo's brother found her and he was hoping to have more....and Connie took the challenge of reconstituting the data with her to get what had been wiped out."
Pearl blinked, then her eyes went wide, as sweat rolled down her face.
"Reconstituting?" She repeated, then laughed nervously.
"Only a human so stubborn like Connie would want to restore lost data. Brokers go crazy for stuff like that....but the effort behind it is immense indeed....and if Connie had done so to a GIS."
Feeling so strongly about it himself, Steven just knew that if Connie and Pearl worked together, they would definitely be able to figure it out.
"So you'll help?" He asked with a grin.
The GIS pursed her lips brief, pausing before she gave him a definite answer.
"Oo-of course." She answered, pressing the tips of her fingers together. She suddenly stood up and became oddly pumped for this task.
"We have no time to waste!"
Steven shook his head and grabbed her hand to get her to stop from being too overexcited.
"Connie said around 3. She's asleep right now." He said sheepishly.
With that, Pearl became disappointed and limp.
"Oh...what is it with humans and their 8 hour shut downs? I suppose it's the least troubling thing I find about humans in general."
From what Steven had observed, Pearl made the occasional voice of displeasure with organics and their habits. Steven's had to intervene on matters where humans were involved and Pearls solutions to a particular problem or too didn't account for collateral, such as deleting sections of the Domain that still had humans inside.
"Connie worked hard today. She deserves her rest." Steven told her.
Pearl slapped her face with her palm.
"Oh right. I forgot the pair of you were in some kind of beneficial relationship." She said with obvious disapproval.
"Humans have their organic needs....wait..."
Oh he knew. He definitely knew. The following horrified gasp was the inevitable kicker.
"Were you...were you hoping to use the Android to...conduct coitus with Connie???"
The AI froze instantly with the sheer amount of embarrassment that sent shot through his Avatar and caused it to glitch, his cheeks glowing pink.
"I uh...I uh...no no...I mean...it's pure research!" He stammered. It was, it definitely was but...
But it was too late. Pearl was stuck in her idea instead of his explanation.
"Oh good grief Steven I know you're obsessed with humans over all..."
It was then a hand went onto her shoulder. It was Garnet.
"Relax Pearl, let me handle this..."
Oh no...Pearl disappeared in a huff but that just made Garnet sit next to him and follow on with Pearls conversation in her place...and she still got it all wrong that Steven's emotional cortex had a hard time getting a hold of the miscommunication here. She put her arm around him and dove into her usual spiels.
He didn't think he told Connie about Garnets obsession with couples.
"Listen, if you wish to aim to get physical with Connie...do so in Physics Enhanced Experimental Pod before you use the Android." She suggested.
A face that was about to give up on all hope in rectifying a simple misunderstanding included a half open mouth and a eyes of utter despair.
"G-"
She disturbed his talk with a smile as she shook his shoulders.
"I'm so proud of you bridging the gaps between our kind and humanity. But this I think will work extremely well for the both of you." She continued, patting his back.
Why was he still trying at this point.
"I'm off now. Duty calls. Think about what I said. Connie knows more about the subject...you just need to continue pushing her in the right direction."
And even before Steven could open his mouth again, Garnet warped away. Sighing in defeat, Steven's face fell into his hands in irritation...until Garnet returned back all of a sudden.
"Oh and Pearl will be there for you tomorrow. 3PM sharp." She said, then warped again.
Well there was that to look forward to, at least.
Now his mind began to fixate on the idea of the Pod and where he would be able to locate one. If what Connie had demonstrated before was the beginning, then maybe this was indeed the next best thing in their relationship.
Heading back to the apartment, he could see Connie splayed on the bed, stomach down and her limbs everywhere, face on the pillow with drool on the pillow...
But Steven began to question the strong emotions that had only begun to get stronger as the weeks went on....and the source was the dorky one snoring in front of him.
He then not so subtly tried to find the perfect place to perform such acts; if the desire had ever arisen in the nearest future.
Notes:
AI Lore feat. Medical Intelligence Consultant (MIC) Priyanka:
Today we're going to talk about GIS and their Avatars.
GIS; or Gem Intelligence Systems, are still a mystery to this day. Alien versions of AIs that are tremendously more advanced than humans had ever had to create and finding out their secrets is generally something kept to people like PeriCom, who generally have all jurisdiction on GIS in general. Their formation is unique; Consensus with one or more Monoliths to craft up a singular powerful intelligence. It's said that one GIS is as strong as 10 AIs working together. Not enough information on that but rumor is all we have to go on.
What is known is that they are required to have some kind of Battery mixed with their Hard Drive. I've heard them been called phylacteries (after lich mythos)
which kind of makes sense. Most GIS are discovered by PeriCom or those who are not are highly sort after, will pay a handsome price for any donation.The Phylacteries are said to be products made by the Monoliths; the overseers of the Domain who will deem it necessary to produce a GIS to help with the functionality with the Domain as well as protect it. IE. Each serves a specific purpose.
Connie has sent me some documents and images regarding one of these Phylacteries and if I'm correct in my theory, as long as these exist in the real world, a GIS's Avatar can reform within a certain period of time. The destruction of the Phylacteries means the permadeath of these GIS.
Chapter 20: Physics Part 1
Summary:
Steven and Connie go to a rave for their anniversary.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Steven was the one to propose it. Connie was the one to suggest Club Sour Cream, thriving in the rave environment. Though she hadn't gone back there since the incident with that Empire Asshole. But this was a date. A date to remember. It was their what, four month anniversary?
The feeling that was more commonly unexplored was the one Steven was the most eager to discover. What Connie had shown him and had him experience was out of this world. So he had taken all the precautions and applications necessary for this to work as well as it was required to. Amethyst told him to be himself; as did Garnet and Pearl, as always, urged caution.
Connie reminded him about the Virtual Dancefloors; as Club Sour Cream was indeed one of the most well known Clubs that allowed for both reality and the Domain to co-exist. Idealistically; the true future and their VR system was still one of the best developed, their VR Pods, still quite renowned to the day. One would normally use the default settings and environments, but Steven himself purchased a custom made one just for him and Connie to utilise. They were allowed, as long as they met system requirements. He was brought on by inspiration; a rare trait found in any virtual creature, GIS or AI.
That afternoon before the date, Steven had been travelling from App-Developer to App-Developer for advice, shell modifications and the like, wearing a mostly black hoodie with pink glowing cyberlines and jeans. For advice. For something meaningful.
Incidentally, he'd found himself in an Online Music Store. It was mostly hues of green with many avatars with headsets on in long stretched open pathed hallways; a lot of them were for previewing and purchasing. It reminded and hurt Steven that he never once performed for her, but one day he will. For some reason, he found himself waiting for the right moment. Holograms floated everywhere showing off random music videos and soundbars and the like. Welcoming to those who wanted to find some tunes to suit their needs. The outer walls demonstrating a birds eye view animation of the ocean.
He'd be listening to the kind of songs; as suggested by Amethyst, to be good 'mood' music, what ever that meant. He didn't understand it at all...and found himself in the belief that he'd leave that to Connie. Taking off the gargantuan headphones and setting them up on the rack, he sighed, putting his hands into his pockets and preparing to leave the store. The disappointment on his face as he held his head low; he just wanted to go right by her and the potential for screwing everything up was in the high percentile. Steven wanted to improve his chances of getting closer to Connie, like any other date. But this was big, especially for Steven.
The slowest pace and the inattention drawn to his spacial awareness had Steven bump into a tall man.
"Oh sorry!" He said to him.
The man himself looked familiar. Tall, skinny with orange pants and a blue hoodie, with blonde hair. For some reason he looked incredibly familiar.
"Don't sweat it dude." He said, voice deep and soothing. Out of his own curiosity, he leaned forward then squinted towards Steven's screen.
"Listening to Serial Experiments by Iwakura huh? You have interesting taste."
Steven blinked, as he turned to the man.
"Oh that? I was just...uhh, trying to find some good music for um...."
Owner? Girlfriend? She didn't object to him user the word, but given the climate of AI and human relationships overall, Steven still was uncertain of how to approach that in conversation with complete strangers; or risking Connie herself getting alienated.
"Your partner?" The man asked.
Steven nodded...a very proud partner.
"Y-yeah." He said.
"I'm not entirely sure what to look for truthfully."
Connie liked a lot of things, but she also disliked a lot. She was very picky with her music and more times than not you could it wrong. The man rubbed his chin.
"You're on the right track..." He said.
"Having a home party? I can make a playlist for you."
That would help, yeah.
"Her and I are going out tonight." Steven told him, his face blushing pink.
"I wanted it to be special, ya know."
The man grinned.
"Ohhhh I see how it is." He acknowledged with the hint of sly.
"Anniversary or?"
Was it that obvious?
"Y-yeah." Steven replied.
"I-I mean, like, she's such a busy person so I want to reward her with all her hard work."
And all the work they did together was more than what Steven could ever ask for.
"Aren't you the romantic one?" The man said. He then pulled something out of his pocket. A business card with some kind of ancient, rectangular beige hand hold console. On i...
"You're DJ Sour Cream?" Steven said with shock, his eyes as wide as monitors.
The man did a finger gun, clicked his tongue and winked.
"The one and only, man."
He couldn't believe...Steven went starry eye and started gushing, dancing on one spot and waving his hands about as he couldn't control his inner fanboy programming.
"Oh gosh..yeah we're actually heading to your club this weekend." He informed the famous musician.
What perfect timing to bump into a celebrity!
"Oh you are? Great!" Sour Cream said with a smile.
"Look, leave it to me....you planning on the physical or virtual dancefloor?"
Steven pursed his lips; he wasn't sure if Sour Cream would judge him on the obvious answer.
"Virtual." He answered.
Sour Cream nodded.
"Ah good to know." He said.
"I have an AI I use to man either one...so I can jump from physical to virtual when ever I want. It's not as good as the real one but it does its job."
Super psyched, Steven couldn't believe how nice Sour Cream really was in all of this; where Steven was at his most blanked on ideas.
"But I'll take of things. Just get on over this weekend and I'll make somethin' the both of you will never forget!"
Steven couldn't even wait. But he was surprised on how fast the next few days had went and suddenly it was Saturday. He stood in front of his mirror in his room as he filtered through his Avatars different skins. The clothing he still had a hard time trying to sort out; Amethyst ended up helping him out; wearing a sleeveless hoodie to show off his "handsome human like biceps." with the zip on the left hand side, with a pulsating pink line of light rising up alongside it. The rest was black, save for the the slight grey in the middle. He wore light pink jeans alongside it and Amethyst had him wearing star earring on right ear...and black boots to match with it all.
"Now you're looking for a good time." Amethyst complimented with a thumbs up.
"Just...act natural okay?"
Steven rolled his eyes as he tightened his fingerless gloves.
"Amethyst, I always act natural with Connie." He said. By acting natural, he hoped she meant, like a human of course.
"We've been dating for a while now and half the stuff she does, hardly surprises me anymore."
Amethyst chuckled, slapping his back. She's the only one within the Ancillas who's had any notable experience with humans.
"I dunno...I feel like shes got other stuff up her sleeve. Wink Wink, Nudge Nudge." Amethyst said with a literal wink.
Steven didn't think she would have anything else that her arms through them, but he digressed.
He heard a ding go off, as he checked his messages. Ronaldo was busy asking if he was ready.
"Alright, I guess this is good as it will ever be." Steven said, nerves eating at him all of a sudden. Is this was what anxiety was like? How did humans even cope?
"You'll be fine Stevo." Amethyst encouraged.
"Just don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Pausing to reflect, that wasn't a lot Amethyst wouldn't do...she could be a menace because she felt the need to; the rebellious bug in her programming that would pop up on its own accord, due to her faulty runtimes.
He'd hitched a ride with Ronaldo; since Connie had been busy working all day and agreed that she'd meet up with Steven at Club Sour Cream that night. It was around 8 O'Clock when Ronaldo arrived; wearing his sleeveless yellow jacket open with a black zip from popped collar to the bottom, white glistening top underneath with the yellow bandanna around his neck and black denim and black fingerless gloves and orange visor. Entering inside, one could see the pulsing neon trails of green and yellow as they lead you to the main dance floor. The music already thumping loud and the bass felt underneath your feet. Even so, it was the kind of calmer EDM as opposed to the intense variation. The party hadn't even started.
Steven had been double jacking with Ronaldo as he entered; just planning to be there as Steven's uh...chaperone of sorts.
Relationships between AI's and humans weren't exactly the most open forum topic. But at this point, where the secrecy had to be played in the real world, Ronaldo would be Steven's mouth peace; speaking and taking control as part of a software upgrade. The man was more than happy to consent to the use of his body, as long as they didn't try anything funny. The bar itself was already full of people and so he shoved his way through the crowd, trying to see if he could find Connie. She hadn't arrived as yet, but managed to find a stool at the bar, where the one and only Buck Dewey; one of Ronaldo's long time friends, was serving drinks...his visor was more silvery, but it had its own VI that kept tabs on people...and their actual tabs.
"Ronaldo my man, what brings you to this fine establishment?" Asked Buck as he cleaned a glass.
"Just uh...here for uhh a friend." Ronaldo asked as he adjusted his visor.
Buck nodded.
"I told you, SC doesn't like you doing deals here no more. Cracks his style." Buck warned.
Ronaldo shook his head.
"No no it's not that....you remember my friend-"
It was then something, or someone caught his eyes. A tall dark skinned woman, her hair done up so nice, black curling hair raised to his shoulders, pinned up with a large, pointy blue ribbon from black that faded to a nice electric blue on the way down. Dark blue mascara and silver strawberry unmistakable, this time with matching silver strawberry shaped earrings that actually looked more like hearts.
"Uh...run authorisation code Biscuit-Boy-Alpha-Scheme." Ronaldo said.
"Just don't forget to log out when you're ready to disconnect...and remember, use your funky flow; no funky stuff.''
Ronaldo removed his visor and placed it into his pocket, then closed his eyes briefly; his eyes shifting underneath the lids with rapid movement. A few seconds later, his eyes were pulsing pink several times, the CD spin like loop animation taking place as Steven took control. His eyes refocused on the room again, scanning the woman he had previously been focusing on.
Her dress was something he'd never seen before...she never wore dresses, as far as what Steven could recall. It was mostly a navy blue, asymmetrical in design. Pointy Shoulder pad on the right hand side and the dress itself was cut on the left, curving from her thighs...something about her thighs that had Steven memorised and his heart racing. He didn't notice Buck pouring him a drink other than in his peripheral vision; Ronaldo's favourite; known as a djinn...alcohol with a bit of spice.
There was a light blue cyberline that went from the shoulder pad, across the v collar dip to her inner breast that went across her stomach, to the cut curve in the dress, all the way down. And...white heels? She never wore heels. Steven instinctively down the drink, unaware of its contents and almost choked. He forget he didn't like ginger.
Connie spotted him from across the room; her blue upper lip and lower lip with the line in the middle that curved into a flirtatious smile...and those two cyan eye jewels she always wore definitely stood out. She strode on over, holding her large dark blue purse with silver trimming as she sat next to Steven, who could only but gulp.
"You look uh....." He stammered, looking at her up and down. Connie couldn't help but chuckle.
"Thank you Steven." Connie said, knowing that he was too lost for words, but understanding him anyway. She wasn't disturbed in the slightest that he was using Ronaldo's body; only thankful that he was the only one in their lives willing to make their relationship work in the real world. But those spinning lights in his eyes, had Connie see Steven without a doubt, as well as his body language and mannerisms more than she did see Ronaldo.
"I don't want you short-circuiting this early in the night."
No...no he didn't.
"You don't make it easy." Steven commented, rubbing his neck, which was awfully sweaty.
Connie rolled her eyes and had Buck make her what she called a Revenant, a drink meant to give you the shivers.
"It certainly wasn't for me either." She complained.
"I mean, fuck heels. Seriously. You tell me to be extra fancy and look, I dragged myself here in high heels...high heels Steven!"
She liked to flaunt her femininity, but normally in short shorts and tops and jackets that would normally show off her midriff; she calls it post-modern punk. But this, her in this get up, was like, a mature slice of feminine, if Steven could make a proper comparison.
"I never said make yourself uncomfortable." He commented.
"All I said, dress yourself like we're meeting royalty or something."
Connie watched as Buck brought her drink; a deep, glowing and sparkling swirl of blue that she took a single sip, which it did indeed give her the shivers as the chill ran down her spine.
"Ahhh it's always that first sip that gets you...but it's so good." She commented.
"You know....I know you don't like beer or the energy drinks Ronaldo and I normally have. But when you have mixed drinks like this, you want to think, what other things in life can be mixed together so perfectly, that they make you feel a certain way."
Blinking, Steven was indeed thinking that such. He could taste and smell and experience all sorts of things. But he's never been here to have anything different and make his own opinion.
"I wouldn't really know." Steven commented, tapping his fingers on the bar.
Connie raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure about that?" She questioned.
Steven looked left and right.
"Yes?"
Connie face-palmed.
"What about Double-Jacking? Isn't that what you consider a good mix?"
Oh. That's what she meant.
"I thought we were still talking about drinks." He said.
Connie sighed. She kept forgetting he could be so literal.
The two continued to talk, as Connie had a few drinks and had Steven try a few himself. They then went on to talk about Bismuth and Pearls translations of her code; though Pearl had told them she might need a while, since there were troves of data to go through so Connie and Ronaldo had given her a copy of all the data in Bismuth that they could use and she would get back to them when she found something worth looking into. Pearl kept giving Ronaldo the stink eye; her perception of what Ronaldo had planned with the Android unwavering until she demanded Connie give her his Domain search history. Connie found it amusing to say the least, and yes while he did research Androids for sale, none of it was actually for any kind of purpose other than for 'research'. Pearl didn't even dive that deeply into the history beyond his prolific searches and resumed her stance on her belief on his feelings regarding Androids...and had begun to assume that he was also after other virtual beings like GIS and had since kept her distance.
"What was it that Pearl said, "Humans and their insatiable appetite because they cant hope to, as the humans say, get some with an organic partner?' oh man I wanted to laugh so hard until I got a stitch." Connie said, snorting.
She had a fair bit to drink as she slapped Steven's knee. Seeing her laugh like this brought such a warmth to Steven's chest; either that or it was the Mare drink he was having; which was said to be cold, however.
"Ronaldo got so offended too." Steven acknowledged with a faint smile.
"Poor guy, we should probably do something for him too."
Connie shrugged.
"Yeahhh....he still owes me money." She commented.
"I'll wait till he's debt free."
Steven had almost forgotten about that. The music suddenly changed from low-key electronica to something more fast paced...and Connie inserted a smile, something wicked but something inviting at the same time; a hand grabbed his without warning and pulled him onto the rainbow squared dance floor, flickering lights of neon were on the higher floors above them, circling high in the rhythm to the music. He didn't even notice there were other floors to this place until now...and on the floor above their own, was DJ Sour Cream in his booth, getting into the funky groove. Connie herself had sunk herself and Steven deep into the crowd and despite the loud music, he could have sworn he heard her call to him, saying that she loved this song.
The quick flicker of lights gave small gaps of time, snapshots of patrons dancing like crazy; it had Steven feel anxious, but he felt Connie's hands on his, staring at him as her glowing blue contacts had her stand out from everyone else. Her hair whisked about and the lights on her dress had shown him how she swayed her hips.
Steven tried to grip into some kind of dance mode. He could dance; downloading and watching and observing others. But there was something that was giving him discomfort about it all...the fact that he was too exhausted after a while...and as the song began to slow down and the lights stopped flickering, he was suddenly met with Connie's arms wrapping around his neck that sent shivers down his spine; the feeling she felt from downing that Revenant, chasing him down that field of paranoia. She got his hands and wrapped them around her waist, feeling it move as she rocking her hips from side to side. His eyes widened, with sweat dropping down his face. She drew her face closer to his, causing his heart to beat faster.
Ever since he kissed her that day he upgraded her Soulware, it felt...so right. She's kissed him on the cheeks since they started their relationship, but right now, he was drawn to her lips once again. Eyes half-lidded as he got himself closer, tilting his head slightly in sync with her, then he suddenly realised.
"Wait..." He said, forcibly disconnected.
Connie furrowed her brows.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
Steven put his hand to his forehead, shaking it as he walked off the dance floor, with Connie following suit, worried. He ran off until he got to corner void of people, scrunching his eyes like he was in pain. Connie caught up to him and tried to get him to look at her.
"Steven hey, hey, what's the matter?" She asked, putting her hand his shoulder.
Steven sighed...he had to let her know.
"I'm not meant to be kissing you..." He said.
Connie was unsure what he meant.
"You're not?" She said, not letting the disappointment get to her.
She didn't know.
"Ronaldo said so." He said.
Oh...
"Ah I understand." Connie said with a nod. She saw Steven before she even saw Ronaldo but as he pointed it out, she was blinded by it, but she giggled at the thought of kissing the tall blonde technician...like most men she's kissed, she would be indifferent since the only real reason she would was because it was for a purpose.
"Well, let's go to the Virtual Dance Floor then." She offered.
"Disconnect from Ronaldo and we'll go to the Private Grid because yeah, I agree, it would be awkward."
Steven blinked, turning to Connie as she grabbed both his hands. Yes...yes that was his intention. He'd almost forgotten after feeling so many strange feelings, potent and powerful just being Ronaldo's body alone. Steven closed his eyes, his mouth agape as his eyes rapidly moved underneath, before opening them to Ronaldo's own. He took his orange visors out of his pocket and put them on.
"Why am I so sweaty?" He said, adjusting himself, then noticed Connie in front of him. Ah it was time.
"Oh hey Connie...Steven going with you now?"
Connie nodded. Ronaldo pulled his CPD out of his DP and handed it to her. He preferred to not be a part of their shenanigans.
"I'll uhh..be by the bar if you need me."
Connie held the CPD close to her chest as she navigated herself to the rooms; speaking with the Bouncer AI program and engaging with a singular Pod in one of the rooms. Once she entered, she inserted Steven into her DP and entered into one of the two private Pods. She adjusted the settings for the Virtual Dance Floor and no sooner than later, the pair were uploaded to the private Grid.
Upon first glance, you could easily this place was designed to be a lot more engaging and breathtaking. The skies were basically stars and nebulas; black, purple, blue, pink... and the walls non-existent, with palm trees dotted in symmetry, decorated with cables and lights and the ground wad mostly black with grid lines of light working in sync with the music. The bar being manned by an AI Bartender that looked similar to Buck. Once entered, she could see Steven and his fresh avatar. She smiled and took his hand, and again, ran him towards the dance floor here, where it was more wild and free.
The walls are paper-thin...
You are moving in...
Steven was much happier like this; as was Connie. The Physics in this place were more enhanced, making every touch far more potent, the sensation of skin and fabric. But the feeling, the desire to touch Connie here was definitely strengthened. He could but wonder if Connie light up with a simple press of a finger in certain places, just like that night at her apartment. His own view of starlight on her naked skin.
I can see right through somehow,
It all makes sense,
She was glowing more so here; her clothes that her avatar was wearing now; no high heels for one...in fact she wasn't even wearing shoes...only navy stockings underneath white shorts that had diverging light blue cyberlines from her thigh, going out to go down her shins. Her midriff had those same lines where he could see her belly button...humans had those, that he knew. She had a cut off navy shirt above her stomach, almost see through, underneath a waist length white sleeveless jacket...as well as the sleeves from her shirt stretching thin and tight over her hands, showing off her fingers. Her hair more free with bright light blue highlights...and her make up from her physical form the same, but more shiny and silver.
Me caving in...
But I barely know you...
The dancing here was more freestyle, Steven wasn't as energised in his display, preferring to watch Connie rolling her arms and hands and wave her stomach about. She was faster here than in the real world, her movements all the mesmerising all while that it not only had Stevens attention, but a few others watching on as well, surprised at her performance. Steven absorbed her oozing confidence and attempted to mimic her until he was but in sync, able to predict her moves within microseconds.
I'd rather have one night,
Than nothing forever,
DJ Sour Creams Avatar was there, tweaking and adjusting as it needed to and the lights around them, the false stars and the graphics from the unique lines of art that were but holograms, working to the rhythm as well. Something so magical, so mystical...so out of this world that reflected in Connie's eyes that had her captivated and engaged, evolving and shifting as humans did.
Yeah, that would be alright,
With me,
Something so infectious about humans and their hearts and minds. Things Steven craved...had hungered for, as long as he could remember...there was warmth and tenderness...there was pain...to the chest...right down to the things they called souls.
It's now or never...
Like planets in the dark,
Steven himself felt more like a lost soul rather than an AI. That feeling of not knowing your place in either world, not knowing your stance...it terrified him.
We don't know how,
We got here in the sky...
There had always been this hook, ever since he first saw Connie in the Domain, running from the Ancillas. A trigger, an activation, a flipped switch if you will.
Like magnets torn apart,
Don't know why,
But suddenly, he knew where he belonged. He was done chasing meaningless text on a screen...he just wanted the sweet taste of juicy strawberries on his tongue.
You come back every time...
The desire to kiss Connie remained. He'd tasted her before but...here was everything amped up, the closest to reality within his own control, his form...
"Fuck I love this!" Connie called out.
Steven smiled...knowing how much fun was Connie was having was everything he could ask for. The song might have changed as well as the beat as it slowed down, but the party didn't stop there. Connie had willing come closer to him, turning her back and grabbed his hands out of nowhere, sliding them across her soft skin, feeling every muscle and sending his systems into overdrive. The perfect place to overclock, if he could but describe it the way he had been so charged. His hands were dragged across her abdomen and landed on her hips, feeling the bones, hard they were made to be, but there was so much of unique expression that had humans as they were. Fascinating creatures as Steven knew they were to be.
She was close to him right now...and she could feel his heated breath on the back of her neck that he probably wasn't even aware he was breathing so hard. The environment was deliberately enhanced to mimic the human experience as close they could. She turned her head to try and look at him, grinning as she went to touch his face...and this would be the closest she would get to touch him for real, and it was surreal that she couldn't help but embrace every inch of detail. Turning around as she did again. wrapped her arms around his neck and gazing upon that bewildered neck of an AI that was her boyfriend as he kept his own arounds around her waist, gulping as those sea-sparkling eyes of those had him lost in their violent waves, as she would be his soulful spheres of light and warmth, knowing that they were real and there, and no one one would ever get to convince her otherwise while they gently rocked.
"How are you feeling Biscuit-Boy?" She asked him, using the nickname so playfully.
He nodded, unsure however.
"I...I feel good." He replied, his voice almost breaking.
Connie giggled.
"Glad to hear it." She muttered, running her fingers through his curly hair, all the strands so minor yet noted in their individuality. She raised her mouth besides his ear.
"But I want you to feel...more than good."
Another shiver down his spin as Steven's spine, as he gulped, eyes widened. He forced a smile.
"Oh okay...okay then..." He acknowledged.
She moved back, placing a hand on his round cheek as he blushed.
"Hey, don't worry." She said lovingly.
"You can tell me to fuck off if you're not comfortable."
Was it obvious? No...he wasn't...it wasn't that.
"No, I would never." He said, forcing a smile through his heated nerves.
"I...I'm just..."
Ah of course.
"You can admit if you're nervous Steven, that's completely normal." Connie assured him.
"It's weird though...I'm not immune to nerves myself."
Oh?
"Berry-Girl nervous? Unheard of." Steven joked.
She snorted and punched his chest lightly.
"Oh for fuck sake, I'm only confident because I know I'm good."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Only good?" He questioned.
"Aren't you more than good?"
Connie rolled her eyes. She enjoyed their teasing as it riled up the blood.
"PFFF...duh." She answered.
"But we start somewhere in life, unsure of the world around us...who we are...what we are...it shouldn't matter. It doesn't matter. You remind me of me...identities that we try and find and we're meant to forge. Write our own scripts...our own code. But..."
Her frown deeply concerned him.
"Connie..." He said.
She shook her head.
"But fuck...why was I the one to fall for the one thing I can't have for real...why can't you just...be like them..."
They looked at the crowd of Avatars and even User Icons. Scanning them; all of them were people just like Connie.
"You want me to be human..." He said.
It caused her grief to this day....and how selfish she felt for even thinking that.
"Fuck and I wanted to be an AI." She said, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I wanted to spend my life and time with you forever in the Domain...but it's a fantasy. A fantasy that will most likely fall apart..."
Words that struck Steven harder than anything he'd ever felt before. It broke his heart seeing her upset like this...
"Because you're worried about the decline of the Domain." He said.
Connie nodded. That report was indeed fairly damning...and the resolution itself was known but out of reach.
"Not just that." She continued.
"Because I still crave the things that the Domain will never be able to give like the real world does...and it pains me greatly if I lose one thing in exchange for another."
Steven wiped a tear from her face with his finger. He couldn't stand to see her choked up like this and cursed himself for being unable to fulfil those wishes for her. Connie wasn't going to compromise what he suspected, those fine lines between humanity and the digital world and he would never want her to. She was fine the way she was; a jerk perhaps but she was his jerk...his Berrybyte.
"Fuck now I'm crying...one too many Revenants...sorry Steven..."
No. She shouldn't have any shame. Not here...not while they could at least be together in a safe space. He didn't want her to apologise.
"Connie...it's okay..." He told her.
She growled and made a fist, shaking under her growing rage.
"Being a human means more broken hearts than you'd ask for..."
No...no no...no more being sad...Steven had enough.
"So I still..."
He grabbed her chin and planted a sudden, deep, invigorating kiss, surprising Connie at first, before she slowly closed her watery eyes and leaned into it. The feeling; intoxicating. They had to make their own happiness here...in the real world...anywhere, really. A few minutes later they disconnected with a small pop, with Connie touching his face again, longing for it even. She was still lost in the haze of her emotions; such is that uncontrollable batch of emotions that would drive people mad before it could be fully restrained. Connie could already admit to being mad, but for good reasons.
"We'll be okay." He told her, sliding his hand down from her face to her waist
"We're together, no matter what....whether its our destiny in the domain...or out there in the real world...no matter where...we're within reach more than you know.."
Words that made Connie smile through her sparkling tears and grabbed her hand. This was beautiful and the word Connie only used when she saw a shiny new piece of equipment or some kind of software that would blow her away. Steven had become much more than software...but the lack of hardware continued to make their relationship more difficult than she'd like to admit. She didn't want to take his presence for granted either, given how some of Connie's old relationships worked out.
"Even if you ended up being the Man on the Moon?" She joked.
Steven snickered. The song had since changed again...
Feel right at home
When dancin' with strangers
"I could be the man on the sun...and still I would reach out for you."
And her laughter and inevitable hug, tight, he felt everything from it...the most important was how warm and endearing was..and within moments, their forms became but twinkling light...
Electrified
And suddenly safer
And in their place was a tall being, wearing a white jacket waist high jacket, black and grey shirt underneath it, the wild curly hair black fading into dark blue at the ends that went to their waist...the navy sleeves to the hands with black fingerless gloves...and the pink denim shorts with the navy tights underneath...and big black boots...
Let go of control
Get lost in the lasers
And a pink Kernel Core in the middle of their stomach...blinking into existence as Stevonnie spun to a halt. Their pink and blue eye jewels glistening from the neon lights.
I swear on my soul
This moment is sacred
The crowd around of them was astonished and DJ Sour Cream witnessing all of it.
"Wicked..." He commented; having watched the pair for a while, preparing the display of a life time by playing with the spotlights as they flashed and flickered as well as loud bangs that summoned sparkles that were sent skittering down like snow from above.
"I could totally rave to this."
Neon night
We're drippin' in glitter
Other patrons that were at first too shocked to move, soon were joined by the energised Stevonnie bringing them back to life as they danced with everyone there, irregardless of who or what they, all drenched in sparkles, each person looking like their own galaxy.
We got sun-kissed skin
And a sense of surrender
Limbs everywhere, smiles dotted on each face like stars. Stevonnie could really felt the drinks through them now...or something else that had run such power through their nerves. The feeling of being alive, all the while, was the strongest it had ever been.
So we fantasise
That tonight is forever
Tonight is forever
Tonight is forever
Though one individual by the bar, wearing their green coloured hijab, watched on in amazement, before tending to her HUD.
'Cause we, we are
We are the electric kids, electric kids
Even one familiar individual male with brown hair and a red scarf on the other side, who recognised Connie and had aims to corner her, was taken aback by this strange new phenomenon that he instantly messaged his buddies about it.
'Cause we, we are
We are the electric kids, electric kids
They themselves were the Sun and the Moon in the sequence, the Earth watching them from afar, neither envious or left afraid.
Kaleidoscope minds
Of a new revolution
But they were infected by their performance, their own glitch in the systems that compelled them, to draw them to dance.
Dedicating our lives
To feelin' more human
This spice of humanity was worth tasting, the sweetness of their world, living in harmony.
We've opened our eyes
To break the illusion
Eyes that could see the beauty all around of them...it wasn't real, but be damned that it didn't feel it.
We're here to unite
It's more than the music
It could have lasted forever, if it could...and the amount of joy they had together...it had Stevonnie reflect on their original programs.
Neon night
We're drippin' in glitter
This Consensus...this...fusion...
We got that sun-kissed skin
And a sense of surrender
The closest thing to being alive...
So we fantasise
That tonight is forever
Tonight is forever
Tonight is forever
The things humans took for granted; all the experiences they had, most would indeed, put aside as normal or regular.
Tonight is forever
Tonight is forever
If only it was....they parted shortly after, as fun as Stevonnie was, Connie was interested in something else indeed...so as the music changed to something lower paced, she had prepared to take him somewhere a little bit more private; she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, Connie!"
Looking over, it was Pat. A face she didn't expect to see.
"Hey Pat, what's up?" She asked.
The Data Broker was quite neutral in expression.
"Can you and I talk in private?"
She looked at Steven whom had the attention of several individuals fawning over this program, thinking it was some kind of app.
"Yeah...Biscuit Boy looks like he'll be busy for a while anyway." Connie replied.
Hopefully, this was quick.
Notes:
The song lyrics come from Now or Never and Electric Kids by Tritonal
Chapter 21: Physics Part 2
Summary:
Steven and Connie have more fun in their own Private Grid.
Notes:
Yay long, but pleasant chapter ;)
Chapter Text
Pat was the last person Connie had expected to see here; but of course, if there was a reason, it had to do with work. Connie had to calm down from her high from dancing with Steven and as Stevonnie; their shared program. The two sat in a booth as they drank simulated cocktails, Connie had, obviously, strawberry and Pat had her lime. Steven on the other hand was making new friends on the dance floor. She told him where she was, but ordered him not to go too far. She had the expression of judgement, as Connie was subconsciously ready for her to rip into her actions.
"I love how you went from completely ignoring my advice, to risking your Soulware with this consensus nonsense." Pat critiqued.
"What has gotten into your head Berry-Byte?"
It'd been a long time since Connie had given a shit about what anyone thought, especially Pat.
"Hey if I wanted your opinion, I would have slipped you measly credit for it, then kicked your scrawny ass and took those credits back." Connie said drying, playing with the straw on her cocktail.
Connie had already known Pat for some time now and she was mysterious at the best of times. She was the best Data Broker Connie had worked with so far, but good grief if anyone could be more obnoxious than Connie herself it was her. She wasn't exactly against AI's, only that getting involved with one would generally be frowned upon. But Connie made her own conclusions based on facts she'd come across ever since Steven and her started as colleagues.
"But frankly, I think you're the only one I've come across who doesn't actually like Human/AI relationships."
Pat rolled her eyes.
"I never said I didn't like it. You never heard the story about the former head of DM Biometrics?"
The one who went missing?
"Dr. DeMayo?" Connie said.
"The one who said to have stolen the Pink Monolith?"
Pat nodded.
"On the grapevine I heard that he was in fact with a relationship with an AI made by his company. Rumour has it, he had a beloved who died and he had brain-mapped her. I'm not sure how true that rumor is...no one from the Biometrics Labs has ever confirmed that story."
Connie had been trying to dig into the history of that particular company for a while now and her own AI Mother had been feeding her dribs and drabs...but she never told Connie Dr. DeMayo had a dead wife. Drawing on the earlier known fact that her father knew Dr. DeMayo just raised more concerns.
"He was married?" Connie questioned.
Pat shrugged then sipped her drink.
"I don't think so? And people have tried to figure out the name of his partner. All that's agreed upon as apparently her name was Rose...but no traces of her history can be found anywhere. And there's like, a few dozen Roses living within Mega Beach City alone."
Rose...
"Like WallofROSE?" Connie stated, reminded of that mysterious program. Must have been named after her or something.
"But what does this have to do with Steven and I? I mean, it's not hurting anyone."
Pat pursed her lips and looked to the side.
"No...but PeriCom will catch whiff of this...human/AI program you've created. Consensus is normally performed by GIS, not AI's which means this new discovery will catch their interest."
Connie blinked, looking at Steven as he was happily chatting and laughing with numerous avatars. He didn't appear like a GIS to her. Besides, she was sure they would have known anyway and nothing had so far been actioned.
"Maybe he has a similar bit of coding that emulates that function?" Connie suggested, taking a stab in the dark with that assumption. It was weird that they could have created Stevonnie like that to begin with but with Garnets help, had them understand their creation and the subsequent history.
It was possible. Steven wasn't sure of his own origins by this point and for all Connie could imagine was a part of GIS code being put into his upon creation or some kind of patch was implemented by the Ancillas at some point. It was highly likely.
"Maybe." Said Pat, holding doubt to her chest.
"We do know some AIs were reverse-engineered from old GIS, but tweaked enough over time to have them as their own programs. Besides, the thing that separates AIs from GIS, are the phylacteries GIS use, where as AIs are quite flexible with their storage solutions, their file sizes being much smaller than GIS."
Something Connie learned from her mother as well, therefore being transmittable to more places than GIS could ever hope to.
"But that's besides the point..." Pat continued.
"Dr. DeMayo has a bad reputation and those stories are well known among Data-Brokers. That any AI that had been made specifically by DM Biometrics is frequently scanned for any manual access to see if someone even saw Dr. DeMayo anywhere."
Connie put a finger to her lip as she stared hard at the table, her mind elsewhere. Steven, from she understood, was a brain-mapped AI and that was the only company that was known for creating them. And Steven having no memory of his creation drew questions into the, possibly coincidental, likelihood that he had links to Dr. DeMayo in some weird way. Though he did go weird, with that DEJA-VU Bug and all, when they looked at the picture of her father and Dr. DeMayo together so she had to wonder...
If his memories were wiped, then it stands to reason that there was definitely a good understanding as to why.
Steven must have known Dr. DeMayo, with those pieces slowly making more and more sense. The question was how and why. And was there something that was deep into his databanks that could be brought back? Bismuth was challenging enough but from a existing functional AI; surely it wouldn't be that difficult with standardised code.
"Do AIs have imprints or some kind of line indicating their origins or creation?" Connie wondered.
Pat nodded. Most files did, and sentient systems wouldn't be any different.
"They shouldn't be hard to access." She said.
"Have you looked into his property files?"
Many times, but they always drew blanks. Everything had been erased.
"Yeah, but..." Connie said, before sipping her drink.
"It's like his entire file has this incognito mask on it. Even his file extension is unknown."
One of the greater mysteries, among many others.
"Hmm...I know some Avatars have secondary applications to encrypt important files." She said.
"You might need to strip him down....as in, strip off his shell and gain access to the raw psyche. You're almost guaranteed to find something there, surely."
Connie got a shiver down her spine from that. She didn't feel at all comfortable with it either.
"I don't think Steven would be happy if I shred off his Avatar like that." Connie told her, a bit annoyed.
Pat smirked as she leaned forward, resting her chin on the palm of her hand. Her eyes occasionally dip to look at Steven, then returning to Connie.
"It'd be like taking off his clothes Connie...and it's obvious your attraction to him is beyond emotional." She said with all the sultry she could muster.
"Deep down, your horny ass can't help but want to get a piece of his own. That's why you're here."
Shit. Connie couldn't control her blushing, even as she got pissed off at Pat's assumption despite how accurate she was right now.
"Fuck off." Connie berated.
"So what if I want his digital dick? I have a libido to maintain and if my loins as so automatically point themselves in that direction then so be it. Besides, fucking an AI is probably loads safer than any tangible guy."
Pat leaned forward more and began to stir her drink again with her straw. The words that often came out of her compatriots mouth made her question why they were allies at times.
"Oh you're being so naive and you're doing it on purpose." Pat told her.
"You know virtual STIs exist. Remember that Kevin guy? How he tried to insert a trojan?"
Connie didn't even want to think about it.
"What's stopping Steven from inserting what ever he likes into you? What if this..."
Now she was getting aggro enough to splash the rest of the cocktail at her face, leaving Pat too dismayed to do anything as Connie got up, having enough with Pat's bullshit and attempting to leave the room with her dignity intact.
"You trust him that much?" Pat asked as she wiped her face.
What kind of dumb question was that? Connie slammed her hands on the table as she prepared to drill into the wary Data-Broker.
"I trust him more than anyone." Connie declared with her tone down, but obviously threatening enough to have Pat speechless.
"He's more human than anyone...he gives a shit. I feel honoured to know him, personally and I've learned a lot by just...by conducting consensus, because if there is anything that could be compared to that, then I don't want to hear about it."
Pat blinked as she put her drink aside and went to wiper face with a summoned cloth.
"Then he's already inserted something into you." Pat told her.
Connie rolled her eyes.
"He's the one who upgraded my Soulware...ANNND I have a copy of his Avatar in my Soulware, if that's how you'd like to play it." Connie revealed, preferring to gloat her achievements and rub them all over Pats face.
"And Stevonnie...Stevonnie is ours...PeriCom can try as they like, but its our program. No one elses!"
Pat's eyes widened. An AI that could...upgrade Soulware that easily? That was new.
"Stevonnie...the Human/AI Consensus Life form. You better find something to make that statement official and fast."
Connie growled.
"Just shut the fuck up." She said, preparing to leave.
"If you want to sell this information then fine, then I know who's ass to kick if it leaks."
A statement that gave Pat pause. She knew this Hacker could really do some damage if she wanted to. She's seen it; the Mega Empire City Incident of 2095 was one still most notable. Those poor lawyers didn't know what hit them.
"I understand you loud and clear, Berrybyte." She said, grabbing her drink, but then taking something out of her pocket and putting it into the Hackers hand. A small, round blue tablet of source.
"But if you try anything silly that you think will cause you problems at least take a Chill Pill."
A Chill Pill; otherwise another name for the Overload Protocol.
"You think that my body will die from all of this input?" Connie commented.
Pat sipped her drink.
"I'm just looking out for my best client, after all." She said, although Connie could hear the sarcasm in the cracks of her words.
"Shit will hit the fan before you know it. What ever is on the horizon; is sure to involve more drama.."
Still pissed off, Connie went to grab Steven, having enough of Pat's bullshit for the moment. He was busy talking, until he noticed his peeved human girlfriend coming up to him.
"Oh hey Connie, you should meet...woah woah..."
She was too pissed off to be bothered to listen, having taken Steven's hand and was preparing to leave the club itself. They were half way towards the Exit Gate when Steven pulled his arm away to get himself autonomy.
"Hey, before you go stealing my arm, I want to get a grip over what just happened." Steven asked, worried about Connie's sudden grumpiness.
Connie stopped and crossed her arms, grunting in displeasure.
"Just...frustrated." She said, pinching her nose.
"Just..."
He didn't deserve this. Steven did nothing wrong to warrant her wrath. Just...people who preferred to stake their opinions without being asked for them. She hated it when people did that. She took a deep breath, then gazed upon her worried boyfriend. Her mind not let her hitch off the idea that Steven had something to do with Dr. DeMayo, however...the festering concept of his creation cornering her hunger for answers in a dark place. She was normally okay with the inviting prospect of juicy drama with companies, revealing affairs, white collar crimes, money laundering and the like. Diving deep into the mysteries of the Domain and its residents; one in particular caused Connie to pause where she normally wouldn't...so it was jarring to go where the hidden lights were, the data protected by sentience, unable to reveal all as she desired.
For now, she was determined to play this out in the way intended...whisking him away into a carefree place of their own for the night, the bright stars of their private dome all they needed to guide the way.
"Never mind. This is our date...I refuse to let it end on a sour note." She declared.
No. She figured she was gonna give him a night he wasn't going to forget.
"Are you sure?" Steven asked as he took her hands in his much larger pair, his eyes on her with the deepest wells of assurance that would serve to warm Connie's normally self-proclaimed cold heart.
"Most definitely." She replied with confidence. It wasn't because she was not warm, which she was, her passion mixed with her arrogance had made sure of that.
"Come on..."
She took him to the Exit Gate, only for the pair to navigate and jump themselves to a private room. Costs a fair bit of credit per hour but Connie didn't care; all that credit was going to good cause. These Pods were often nicknamed Love Nests; where couples could trial out their fantasies in style, safety and seclusion with the top-tier technology, first invented by the Sex Industry and the company that did indeed make them made a lot of money selling them to the public and private markets. They would cost a lot and draw on a a shit tonne of power, but their quality was unmatched. Some rival companies tried to create cheaper versions but anything less than perfect was easily notable with the dips in service.
A round out room with a king sized bed made of the finest pink silks. Walls of pink and black with the lighting in the corners of the roof to give it that soft mood lighting ambience and short, black curtains on the highest part of the walls for extra...aesthetic, Steven gulped, already feeling weird in this oddly cosy Grid.
"Connie..." He muttered, all of the sudden getting quite nervous.
The rooms had a much better grasp of the physics than the public used dance areas. Connie, not wearing shoes to begin with, felt the threads of the carpet through her toes, as she closed her eyes and took it all in.
"Take your boots off." She uttered.
The air around her was much more calm and at peace. She wasn't religious, but she did have this worshipping fervour in the way she held her arms up, as if embracing Gods light. Steven had felt real with the double jacking but...he did what he was told as he summoned them away from his Avatar and allowed his...actually his feet to rest upon the soft ground and wiggle his toes against it. The only differences was that he was looking at himself, as opposed to the smaller, darker feet of his partner.
He stood next to her, and noted to himself that the processing power of such a smaller grid was dedicated to the overall experience as if he was human. She slowly made her way to the bed and sat on the edge. Sitting up straight, crossing her legs and holding a seductive smile while she leaned back and planted her hands on the softness of the bed. She gestured him her index finger for him to join her, so Steven made the awkward stride and almost mimicked her posture, minus the leg cross. The silk of the blanket was divine...smooth to the touch as he grasped it in his hands. He could hear Connie's cheeky giggle as she witnessed his back slap onto the bed, then spread his arms.
"Silly in design, if I could say so..." He critiqued, using a pompous accent.
"But I can't deny that, it's not half bad to the touch."
It was like stepping into some kind of lingerie store (which Connie had shown him once while she was looking for underwear and showing him the multiple pieces she was looking to get.) and he preferred the simplicity of Connie's apartment.
"We can change it if you want." Connie offered.
"This is just the default suite. The software comes with over 200 different scenarios."
Really?
"OOO do they have a catalogue?" He asked, intrigued. Connie nodded, loving the suddenly interested look on his face like he was a kid in a toy store. Connie popped up a screen in front of them and let it float between them.
"I'll let you choose if this isn't your tastes." She said, willingly relinquishing that control just to see what he would pick. Not to mention Connie hated to admit how cute he could be when something grabbed his interest.
And he went through it, taking them a few minutes to do so. All the while there was this definite innocence Connie admired. This was a mature act, but there wasn't any reason why they couldn't have fun at the same time. She knew these Pods were also used for other things; simulations for fight practice and other scenarios that required the use of the other senses. She's been in plenty to know what places use them and even her mother said they're also used for risk free surgery sims.
"I waaannnnt...this one." He said, pressing on the screen with that youthful type of expression.
Pixel by pixel, the the world around them warped, even the bed. The scenario changed to real bed room, with rain pouring outside. It looked cosy enough, but Connie was alarmed at its simplicity. A wooden bed, white sheets...green walls, candles lit up on the white, wooden night stands. The scent of rain wafted in the air, but it was more pleasant, arising the petrichor that scent itself was even better than that old rusted smell she would have the unfortunate fate of inhaling on some days...and the candles themselves gave off a decadent odour...of strawberries.
A wooden floor that squeaked upon the pressure of it and a round, white fluffy rug underneath her. The temperature was a mild 18 degrees, not too cold but still enough for Connie to feel the tiniest chills through her skin. Steven got up and walked over to the closed window and opened it up and poked his head out, feeling each cool drop plop onto his face. Meanwhile while he was distracted, Connie shifted her Avatars clothes and put on some black lingerie....a translucent night gown that went to her hips with matching panties.
But the wonder Steven had as he rubbed the drops all over his face, he called Connie over to stand next to him.
"This is so cool, I never thought to use one of these." He said with glee, in relevance to the pods.
This wasn't about Connie...or just about. The selfish side arose again as she wanted him with her on the bed, but...but him like this...Steven loved simplicity that most humans would take for granted. So Connie stood up and stood next to him. Suddenly she felt hands on her waist as he took her up and allowed the fake rain to fall onto her, drenched her head within moments. She spat, and could hear Stevens laughing as her plight and she didn't realise until that moment that he did that deliberately to tease her for his own amusement.
"Very funny Steven." She said drily, the complete opposite of her soggy hair succumbing to the best gravity modifiers.
Once back inside, he placed her down carefully...and he was prepared for the full brunt of punishment, even with his cheeky snickering. At first she was angry, staring down at him with the look of a thousand viruses looking to do some damage, but instead she ended up storming up to him and pushing him back on to the bed, all the while he was chuckling. Climbing onto the bed, Connie crawled her way so she was right above Steven, her glare almost paralysing. A power to her stance, her knees by his hips and her hands planted by his neck, drops from her soaking hair hitting dropping heavily onto his face.
"Ass." Connie said.
"Jerk." Steven said, with the flirtation application running as normal.
Once he was wound down, he raised his hand to pull rogue strands of hair out of Connie's face and behind her ear, so he could look at the face of divinity and the overwhelming urge of desire took over his circuits.
"I want you to kiss me."
A smile crept up on her face, as Steven said that in a way that immediately roped her in and Connie was more than happy to oblige.
"Only if you promise to kiss me back Biscuit-Boy." Connie replied, her voice a little huskier.
Always.
She dove her face in, closing her eyes and tilting her head, Steven matching her as the two locked lips. Their kisses, slow paced at first, but Connie wanted to see how much he had apparently learned and researched. She wouldn't have known this was all virtual, from the heavy nose breathing, to Steven yanking her closer to his body, having one hand on her back and another on the back of her head, causing her to grunt as he put force into it. The two had made out before; in hidden streets of the Domain but it wasn't the same. And Connie had walked passed real side streets on her lonesome travels and had imagined them doing so, catching people there every so often that put in a little bit of jealousy on Connie's end.
The echoes of the rain as it hit the roof and hit the ground with the generous downpour were wonderful on the ears. The sound of it was so foreign, since she would normally hear rain and think little of it, but in this capacity it was just...it just hit different. Another world, another time...peaceful, if not more cleansing.
Connie had the desire to escape the city on some days...go back to the house...knock it down, rebuild with better memories. A pipe dream, really, given her line of work. If she had grown up the conventional way then she could have still been there. So now she was annoyed at herself for dipping into age old desires...and blamed this simulation for allowing the idea to upload itself into her once again. It was painful enough to have Connie pause and disengage, then slide up to the head of the bed and hold her knees close to her chest.
Blinking at the suddenness, Steven got up and sat next to her and wrapped his hand around her shoulders and brought her close.
"Hey, what's the matter Berry-Girl?" He asked.
Everything.
"Just..." She said, unable to look him in the eye.
The thought of a future with him came and went but right now she was fixated on this fantasy she couldn't have, instead of focusing on the fantasy they had now. Her eyes were now on the rain outside. Foolish feelings and their weights upon her soul, her conscience.
"You know what you want...don't you..."
That was a random question.
"Sort of?" He said, uncertain of what angle she was playing at.
Connie on the other hand...
"You want to live." She said, if his repeated trips on the outside world were any clear indication. It was obvious, given the context.
"You take in everything humanity has to offer. You want to breath the same air, see the same sky. And yet..."
He gets that through double-jacking and it tends to satiate him for some time, but he wasn't the type to be greedy.
"What is your end goal? How do you see your future panning out?"
It wasn't exactly something he had planned. For what he knew, he could live forever as a digital construct, serving the Domain and its affiliates for as long it could last.
"I'm not too worried about it, but I think a lot about my past for one thing." He said.
"AI's and GIS are meant to know what they are made for. I'd like to know what mine was. Or better yet, is."
Purpose. It all dragged down to purpose...for Steven had that brief crisis, offended at the concept of being useless, junk data that had no place anywhere and that maybe the Ancillas took pity and cared for him like he was one of their own. Connie thought to interrogate their secrets. After digging in too deep and risking their wrath, Connie was hesitant to try again, knowing how dangerous GIS could be. Connie had problems dealing with their foreign code at large which was why they needed Pearl to deal with the Bismuth program.
"What about you Connie?"
Now that wasn't something she expected to think about. Again. All she could believe in was that she was living moment to moment. The present was more important to her. But she would age...and die one day without warning.
"I'm supposed to know what I want." She told him.
"Hacking is all I have ever known. Robbing the rich, distributing upon the poor as a modern day Robin Hood. Fighting for both the vulnerable and the exploitable....and against them."
Twisted as it seemed.
"But it's like, fuck how am I supposed to know what will happen tomorrow...and the day after that..."
She could always ask Garnet...but he gathered that's not what she was talking about.
"I will get old Steven. Old...grey...wrinkly...smelly."
Didn't matter to him. Maybe the smelly part, but everything else.
"So you want to be immortal like me?" He asked.
No...yes? No...it was all too confusing.
"Fuck. I..." She cried, digging her fingers into her scalp. It was doing her head in and it would sooner give her a headache on branching out like she was planning multiple potential timelines. Earlier she was going on about how she had the desire to become an AI like Steven and now she wanted to be human and to push Steven away before they dove in too deeply into this strange relationship of theirs. She was going to wear and tear if she hadn't done so already. The curse of being human, she supposed. She only spoke of the truth.
"I...just don't want to think about the future. I want to think...I want to think about you...I want to feel...happy."
Steven smiled. He could certainly help with that.
"Then let's not think about the future then." He told her, grabbing her chin to force her to look at him.
"Let's think about us. Let's think about now..."
Connie couldn't help but look into those big eyes of hope and love that she had seen beyond this cell. The warmth fluttered through her like a shock to her body...the increased sensations doing much to her form that her psyche didn't want to lose.
"Yeah...yeah I can do that." She said softly, a smile emerging from her lips.
"Let's do that."
She instantly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, feeling the moistness of his lips before she dived in to meet with his tongue. Small moans, big moans...Connie couldn't get enough...and neither could Steven. She rolled him over so she was on top; which was the kind of domination Steven enjoyed. A hand met with the zip of the top he was wearing as she slid it downwards, ever so slowly. Once all the way he didn't resist as she took it off and threw it to the floor.
Sitting on his lap, she looked and believed that before her was the body of a king; well, too cheesy perhaps? It was certainly large and stocky enough for her to explore...and the pink Kernel Core itself, the mandatory reminder of his status as an AI; she wouldn't want him to discard anyway. Most men she'd been with didn't have the same defining trait she liked. It brought him into a state of ambiguity of who he was, but at the same time, the mystery of this AI who was so human on first glance...
He was warm, and soft to briefest of touches as Connie placed her fingertips onto his chest, then traced their way around his body, feeling the lumps and bumps as she made her own hasty trails. Steven could only but study Connie's body language, fascinated by the way this was emulated that you would easily mistake it for the real thing. The tiny grin on her face meant the biggest satisfaction for him while she explored his torso and made rings around the facets of his Kernel Core, which was the most vulnerable part of his Avatar and yet, it was almost the most sensitive as he found out, shivering as electrical shocks popped through him as she touched it.
"I like it when you touch me there." Steven commented, even though it looked like the opposite.
Connie giggled, a song better than silk.
"Really?" She said.
"Better give it some extra attention."
She shifted herself as she began to kiss Steven's neck which sent those powerful sparks, even as made dotted kiss from there, down his chest, then to his Kernel Core where she started suckling on it. Steven hissed and grabbed the sheets underneath him, breathing heavily all of a sudden. Connie's other chuckles, suckles and moans sent odd vibrations throughout as well, like the bass itself had its own amplified growth.
"Oh g-gosh."
There was something alien about it as well...and Connie dared to run her hand on his crotch, pressing hard against the fabric of his pants and feeling the hardness...she didn't think Steven was stupid enough to have the...ahem, hardware installed (she knew it was software but she wanted to make a bad pun) and not have it function as it was supposed to. He was hesitant with watching porn, but she said it was a lesson as opposed to the overall aim of visual and sensual pleasure.
She pressed hard and Steven whined and popped his chest upwards, not anticipating how painful yet pleasant that was becoming. He looked down to see her pulling at his pants and trying to drag them down. He wiggled his legs to help her and within moments his cock sprang free to the cool air. Connie had no reservations on placing her hand on it and slowly began to pump it.
"Woah I..."
Her movements with smooth like water as she flowed...going from pumping, to moving her head above his cock and began to lick it. The wetness and texture had Steven's eyes widen in surprise....she knew what he liked without him even saying it...then again she had experiences with men in the past, so she must have experimented plenty of ways to please a man and this AI with a preference for being male had been no different. Eventually she took to the tip in, then went in deeper and slowly went up and down. The suckling noises were even worse than before, with Connie's hands planted and anchoring his thighs in place.
"Aahhhh..."
It was like a mixture of fear and surprise rolled into the sudden electrifying spikes he had from all the sensations he's never had before. It was so new and so empowering yet, he could break if they weren't careful. He knew he wasn't either a sex bot or an AI programmed for humans and their carnal desires that were programmed to hold those spikes; making them tougher and stronger than most AIs. GIS? He wasn't sure if GIS even had the need or a similar sensation. Knowing Garnet and the Synthesised, suggested they had their own versions.
Connie's ears picked up Stevens panting, looking at him directly in the eyes as she took him in repeatedly, and felt every twitch, every cut off gasp. To see how stretched she could make him, a variant of torment and agony that served a greater purpose. He definitely felt some bubbling inside of him, boiling and wanting escape.
But he couldn't help but see how beautiful she was, even with her reddened face and hearing those fain brief quips of sinister laughter, inhaling the air through her nose like oxygen existed. He's felt her lungs burn as she went to the gym and he's felt her sweat from working out so hard, her heart pumping under the push of her body going beyond its limits and now Steven was feeling it all for himself. He swallowed saliva and grunted, his chest rising in intervals that got shorter and shorter...and Connie knew from this that he was about to come.
"GSHHH ahhhh..."
Steven's head fell back as he grabbed her head to get a hold of reality. Unconsciously thrusting up wards, his lower body quaked as he felt it all shoot out with a mighty furore. His cock pulsed as Connie removed herself, with the cum squirting all over her face as she was out of breath, closing her eyes. Steven had a hand on his chest, somehow feeling some kind of heartbeat beneath his fingers.
"Shh....gah...oh man..." He breathed.
And again her head Connie's flirty laughs as she sat up, looking at him with a mischievous grin.
"How was that?" She asked him, not even bothering to wipe the cum off of her face.
"Yeah...yeah that was amazing..." He answered, trying so hard to get his breath back that really, he shouldn't have to.
Eventually she summon a towel to wipe it all off of her, with Steven sitting up to comprehend what just happened.
"The way you took it in...it's amazing how well they put in that much to make it work so well..." He commented, amazed at the technology.
He was so cute in a way his focus would jump from one fascinating thing to another. Connie pulled up the settings and checked the different adjustments she could make. Rubbing her chin, she wanted him on the brink of breaking. Not too break, but ever so close. It was dangerous to have these simulations too close to real, as humans had actually died as a result of putting up the settings too high and it seemed like this place had a limit on how much you could increase it by.
Connie was all about pushing those boundaries. After all, if she was too scared, he wouldn't have never been a successful Hacker as she was now. And while Steven babbled on about the technicalities of it all, describing each sensation as its unique subroutine or algorithm, Connie was more inclined to turn up the heat.
And found something perfect.
Once adjusted, she slapped her hand on Steven's mouth to shut up and do as he was told. Pushing him to the headboard on the back of the bed, he rested his back against it, while Connie sat on his lap, putting her arms around his neck again before she kissed him deeply for a brief moment.
"What's...uhh....what's next then?" He asked, eager to continue.
Just like she wanted him to.
She was after something a little different this time. Most things she had gone in too were too fast paced. She wanted to lengthen this...a slow burn....and rope it all in at a rate that it would allow it to simmer quite nicely.
"Take off my clothes." She whispered into his ear.
"You could just summon them off you know." He told her, as if context didn't exist.
Rolling her eyes, she had to admit that he wasn't that human as she thought she was.
"Just do it Biscuit Boy." She ordered, slightly irritated.
He swallowed again and nodded. The two made out again, with a hand rising up Connie's arm and rubbing it...and perhaps, that he might see why she wanted him to do so. Thick fingers that slid across skin and to her waist, underneath the singlet and eventually helped her pull it over her head, to reveal those taut lace, black bras. He knew and has studied the way to unclip bras for one thing, but for now, he grabbed her behind which resulted in a surprised but amused gasp. Pulling her up, Steven was fascinated by her stomach and her...belly button was it? What Connie did to him, should work the same in his opinion.
Kissing her stomach had Connie giggling again, relishing in Steven's willingness to explore her for himself this time and not being guided by Connie's hand. Whining in between, she was more than clearly taking Steven's attempts to taste her different parts....
Sliding her down, Connie booped him on the nose, with the latter grinning all the while with all the pink on his face. Surely enough they started making out again, as Steven made work of the clips of her bra. Took him a shorter amount of time then most guys, but then again, AI's process stuff quicker than normal people.
Sliding her bra off and throwing it the side allowed Steven the gorgeous view, her avatar displaying her breasts in the fullest quality.
"Suck on them Steven..." She ordered, her voice husky.
If he was honest, Steven actually liked it when she ordered him around. Made him feel like a proper AI with immense purpose. The best kind of purpose. But if she could be strong and forceful, so could he...
So with little effort, he pulled her around and had her lying on the bed this time, with Connie stunned to see this sudden show of force, but was turned on by it all the same. Her body, her dark skin against the white fabric...that made for a contrast that made her, incidentally, as clear as day. Steven teased her at first, preferring to shove his face between her tits and rubbed himself all over them. Connie couldn't help but laugh at the way he tried to toy with her, like a dog wanting its master to pat them.
Stopping at some point, his mouth found its way to her right nipple and began to gently nibble on it. He's never been with anyone else before but...Connie found it stronger maybe because she changed the settings a little but...it was making her heart race faster by something as simple as his tongue on the nub and the massage on the other neglected. Steven felt its...supple, squishy, bounciness appealing. A blob that he liked to poke as well. Connie had a hard time trying not to laugh, as snickers made their way in between satisfied sighs.
It caught Connie off-guard on how much she missed the playful side of things that would make all of her one night stands pale in comparison. The rare collection of joy downloaded into her being, her soulware that savoured every drop. Normally sex had one or two reasons to be and that what she had been lacking was not necessarily the raw passion but the simply premise of actual contentment. Lovers that came and went, those she would need to copulate with for one purpose or another. It felt like forever since she had the audio sample of her own laughter and her partners; something not experienced since she lost her virginity as a teenager.
And Steven could be playful...poking, prodding...teasing in more innocent ways and Connie could give as good as he gave her in return. Lessons learned from many sources and, frankly, Connie was amazed that this relationship had lasted as long as it did, rarely losing its spark despite not being that intimate all that often.
Though the definition of intimate meant two separate things between those in the real world and those the Domain. Steven double-jacking with her for example...considered a sacred trust between software and hardware. What would be considered sacred to ones and zeros? Their own sets of morals, not being confined to the needs and wants like those of the flesh.
He desired all that which humans needed to live. To eat, to sleep...to love. AI's could educate themselves out of necessity, for them to continue their functions as binary entities.
Right now, were lips and hands on skin that couldn't get enough and the moans and groans those responses to those needs met...and the needs became wants as the temperature increased....with a rogue hand that belonged to Steven making its way to her black panties, with the insatiable prompt waiting to be accepted.
"This user requires these to be taken off." Steven said with a slight growl...one that certainly sent nerves coiling up as a result. Connie was bemused, so she nodded and bit her lip, giving him direct permission.
"Accepted." She uttered to him.
A large index finger hooked onto the wasted band as Steven slid the pants off, with Connie flicking them off the foot as it was sent off the bed...and the sight he'd seen clearer than ever...the raw shell of Connie laying before him...vulnerable, but not exactly defenceless or weak. She could still make her commands in this form, so he still had to be cautious of any sudden trickery. Connie would want him to be, anyway.
So he looked everywhere and scanned what he could. The realist version of Berrybyte that he could admire in this safe space, smiling at him and waiting for his next move. But suddenly he could see Connie moving her lips but couldn't hear what she was saying. Suddenly Steven's hand was yanked to her crotch. Her lips were moving too quickly for him to figure what she was saying; his closed captioning wasn't even on at that moment.
"This user requires her Assistant to insert a Micro USB into the slot." Connie ordered, trying to hold back the cackles from how dumb that sounded.
OH that's...
No wait, she didn't mean his...
Ah...no...
He was about to be offended for some reason, though he wasn't sure why.
"I meant your finger dingus. I ordered your hand there for a reason."
Steven's face went deep pink with embarrassment. Connie reminded herself to be patient with him, chastising her self but it was her inherent nature to be a jerk to people. Shaking herself out of it wasn't going to be easy.
"I mean, sorry just..."
"No no...I just thought..."
Connie sighed. Patience, patience...
"Just don't think. Do." She told him.
It took him a hot minute to understand, before went back to kissing her, and a finger went to her clit, running circles across the nub. He was tender and careful, but Connie's exhaled of relief told him he was doing this right. He wanted to do it right. The finger eventually engaged and curled itself in short intervals, with her breathing in sync with it. He absorbed all the things he could possibly describe. Wet was the the most prominent, unusual was the next though alarming wasn't. It was a bit different from how he felt Connie touch herself and now he could form his own opinion...that he was enjoying it...hearing Connie's satisfying noises and hearing her squeak and small cries for more.
The knowledge grown and gained alone, enough for him to understand such a nuance. The amplification of what humans could do to each other in closed spaces such as this. Their worlds for these moments so brief, but so staggering in the impact it provided, the creation of something that in the end, held no comparison, no true description. Other than the word of love and all its controversy.
Garnet talked to him about the concept of love. Guided humanity to succeed and helping avoid extinction. The chemicals that form bonds between the other. He was no organic so theoretically he shouldn't even feel this. Garnet had chalked it up to connections working out well and so right within their emotional cortexes...the Ruby and Sapphire GIS somehow knowing, and wanting to form something like Garnet as their primary OS and to fit so perfectly. Steven could think this was how Stevonnie formed; somehow the coding and the commands that out of a simple yes or no prompt, said the former without much delay.
Things that just worked somehow were always something of a mystery in the Domain. AI's. GIS. BM-AIs in particular; their framework just as easy to break down but they were the bridge, the gap between what humans could use to communicate and the technology in question being utilised. Garnet praised this, their version of love and the love that held the Synthesised together, despite their existence being more of a detriment to the Domain because, if removed, it was akin to having missing lines of code that weren't able to be added or patch it on a conventional basis by any human user.
Connie twitched; glitched if you will, as Steven suckled her neck and continued to finger. Her breathing was hitched and her moaning increased in volume and pitch. She was certainly close. Everything brought up more than instruction; the human concepts of DESIRE, LOVE were his orders; maybe to some their facsimiles put into the equation at mere triggers.
"Yes..." Connie said ever so softly and quietly...though succeeding words elevated in volume in pitch.
"Yes...yes...Yess...AHHH!!!"
Her body thrashed about as Steven felt her flow on his finger; the gush like a curtain drawing to a close, with her readings off the charts in terms of the pleasure she reeled from; breathing heavily and hand on her forehead, eyes clenched closed as the struggle to focus was her battle, heat pulsing through and her quivering thighs as she came down from her orgasm. It left Steven smiling at how she writhed under him, his task at hand completed. For the moment. He removed his finger and roped in the visuals of his human lover as Connie gradually got her breath back. She was grinning from ear to ear and left in a giggly mood afterwards.
"That's...that's..hehe...that's it, good boy." Connie teased, stealing a peck on his cheek.
"But you know...I always want more."
Of course she did. And Steven was far less naive as to think to know exactly what she wanted. He was designed to know and form ways to satisfy his owner. Connie wouldn't think of it as such, but the common AI would follow the laws of registration and ownership and Connie would compare it to the act of slavery.
The only issue was, at this moment, he was a slave to her. Willingly. Because her smile, her being...at the start he wasn't aware of how grinding and foul mouthed she could be...the smoking, the drinking and the like. Traits. But within her heart, there was soulware needing attention, needing affection. Who would have believed an artificial intelligence of sorts could possibly give?
He moved her hair out of her face, grabbing her chin as he leaned down to lock lips. Bodies adjusted and bodies angled to a more comfortable position. He took Connie into his lap; a service of protection, to hold her in his arms and to keep her close. She made a little yelp as he did so....and he got to run his fingers across her bare back while she had gripped onto his scalp, drawing him in. Each kiss as potent as the last, tasting everything and forgetting for the moment that it was all artificial; but not superficial.
It was still a splendid service and Steven felt Connie wiggling about and trying to take his cock into herself. The sensation of it going in there with a sudden pop and locking it caused Steven to grunt with the tight feeling around his member. Beginning to rock against him, the burn itself began to rise, beginning on small embers. More moans, tiny gasps and groans and hunger to devour the other entirely was there. Connie couldn't get enough...as all the lovers she's ever had wouldn't be as great as this.
She would deny it to be love if she could help it, but damn it was something that made this all the while stronger. The cold air against sweaty, heated skin. The clear, crisp audio of the curious noises the other made. Simply delightful. And Steven enjoyed the rhythm...in and out...sometimes out as Connie would lengthen (on purpose he figured) or shorten her bounces. The force could be heard in the wet slaps...how that in itself was incredibly arousing to Steven wasn't giving him any issues to question, other than it being a measurement of their efforts.
Now Connie was in a twisted mood, she wanted to alter the room once more. She wanted to find out Steven's imagination with different positions, so she got rid of the bed, but the two floated there, much to Steven's surprise that the gravity modifiers had been lessened somewhat. Walls, floors and the roof faded into an ethereal dark blue, while Connie folded her legs around him. Everything broke around them and left them in this simulation of space.
"You have this secret desire to fuck in the cosmos?" Steven questioned.
Connie grinned, her eyes half-lidded.
"Well not really...but we're in a cell that's built for this kind of thing...might as well take care of some fantasies I've never gotten to try."
Who was Steven to deny her? He could have just hacked on her as a prank and have them fall into a haystack of some farm and fuck in a farm shed for organic aesthetic but maybe for another time. But technically, she was raiding and ruining his fantasy.
"Did you have a crush on the Man on the Moon?" He joked.
Connie nearly nipped at his nose with her teeth with that gesture.
"No I do not have the desire to fuck the man on the moon...idiot."
Steven chuckled as he kissed her chin.
"I never said you wanted to fuck him." He said.
"Besides, I was being sarcastic."
She made a cute growl, before they went back to kissing each other senselessly. Steven manoeuvred himself, disconnecting briefly as he floated behind her. He dipped behind Connie and spread her legs, a hand keeping one up and put another onto her stomach to keep her back against his, inserting his cock into her once more and thrusted upwards for measure. Connie's never tried this position before, as Steven dug his chin into her shoulder, smooshing their faces together.
"Again." She ordered.
Another thrust, another gasp.
"AGAIN and keep going..."
While he loved taking orders, he also liked to play dumb and stir up his beloved.
"Say the magic word." Steven asked.
A growl of desperation mixed with annoyance was all that he needed.
"Please...you ass..."
The hand on her stomach moved downwards and played with her clit as he continued with multiple thrusts. He grunted, she moaned. The playfulness, the experimentation...all this was supposed to part of human nature as Steven could see it; the concept of BM-AI's holding that better understand as their minds shifted towards that pre-educated part of their memories. Or even that which had been based on their nervous system. How much was copied over all and how much could even be copied; if Steven's original self had the same preferences. It would be a debate for years to come with no solid answer on the horizon.
His deep chuckles; their bass permeating through her body. They were like this for a while, this essence of bliss. Though eventually, Connie became a tad uncomfortable.
"Alright...alright...your turn to choose the scen-scenario." Connie said.
Give and take; for this had become an exchange of the heart. What Connie wanted. What Steven wanted. Connie however, liked to see where Steven's creativity style; where his preferences would lie. Steven closed his eyes and got rid of the space around them. Heading back to solid Earth, forming a worn down building of some sort with a lot of hay; a barn. The smell of dirt and freshly cut grass wafted in their scents as well and the constant chirping of birds in nearby oak trees. He carried Connie in his arms and laid her gently across the hay and hovered over her with a cheeky grin on his face. Connie didn't even want to think of how much of the hay was in her hair, even if it was a simulation; she could imagine how tangled each straw was gonna be tangled right in there. Not to mention the straws going into her back, although they weren't too bad, being softer than she imagined them to be.
"Farm huh?" She said, snickering. So much about thinking about now.
"Ever since I took you back to where I grew up..."
Steven shrugged.
"There's something appealing about farms for some reason." He said.
Sex and conversation wasn't new to Connie, but she didn't mind it at this point. Sex was a conversation, however brief it was. Steven had it turned into an entire review.
"The green, the growth...isn't that how humans used to be?"
Connie bit her lip; she was still wanting him to fuck her senseless but otherwise indulged in his philosophies.
"Yeah..." She said, looking outside at the clouded skies.
"There was hard labour, getting down right in there, toiling fields and growing crops."
People would call it an honest life, but the lifestyle was so rare these days.
"Aching bones and muscles...and a single bad season with little to yield meant you'd be left starving and out of pocket."
There were positives and negatives...and Connie never saw herself going into that market again. These days it was all about the artificial....the formulas that emulate the same flavours, textures through replication and fake additives. Connie wasn't even sure what was organically grown anymore.
"There's pain in everything isn't there?" Steven asked; voice almost coarse while he was rubbing his nose against her neck.
"This...this ache I have... There's a hunger I've never had until I met you. I think, there's a reason for the suffering."
Connie rolled her eyes; his poetical side on the fringe again.
"There's suffering irregardless, dependant on circumstance." She said.
"The further you dip into the territory of humanity, you will also get closer to the hurt..."
Hence one of Connie's reasons for making herself an AI among many others.
"Oh...I didn't mean...I..." Steven said, stammering his words, feeling like he got it all wrong unless Connie had completely misinterpreted what he said.
"I suppose there is good pain and bad pain right...isn't there?"
Connie wasn't up for the heavier theoretical debates, however. But Steven was trying so hard to get a hold of it all, the lines in between.
"That's up for each individual to decide..." She answered, while rubbing his arm.
"Its all contextual, in the end."
Steven started kissing her neck while she spoke. The warm returning as it did; skin to skin, the friction minor but still potent.
"Like I'll suffer for you...if I have to, I mean...heh...I am already..."
No. He didn't want her to. Not if he could help it...placing the dotted pecks all around her form like creating stars.
"I'll take the pain away...I'll....I'll erase it." Steven declared.
The strength in his words, his conviction were honest. Connie wouldn't tell him that it was impossible, but she was thankful for him wanting to do so.
"Maybe if you just stick your cock into me, it might ease it for a few hours." She joked.
And her smile...he couldn't find the right word to describe how he felt about it. Lifting his head as he was above her belly, he almost perfectly faked disappointment, if it wasn't for the edging grin trying to form.
"Awww you won't let me play anymore?" He cried.
His pouting almost made Connie feel pity. Almost.
Though it made her wonder if he was stuck in some kind of mindset when it came these things. Sure, he was cute and kind but he was also naive and childish. Connie liked the mature men for their straight forward manner. Sex was simple yet complex, passionate but relieving...but this was just so...all over the place...messy in a sense. Connie wanted a fuck but Steven came into this without a particular idea of how to handle a scenario. Goodness knows if he was actually human and how he would have gone about it with someone else with less patience.
Connie had to be patient and she told herself this many times now; that he was an AI and they had unusual learning algorithms. So of course Steven's questions would be raised on a platform of uncertainty, filling in those gaps in his matrices with answers he could hold on to. But he had to be aware that no answer was solid and that it would be subject to change, always, on circumstances in and out his control.
Suddenly she felt bad again for pushing this in directions she had hoped it would be going towards. Sex had been on Connie's mind for ages and she subconsciously had it all mapped out...but Steven was still Steven in and out of the bedroom; inquisitive, curious, a tease. All with a big heart smack in the holographic centre.
"We are playing..." She said, then pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration.
"I mean, you can have the super emotional in depth sex or you can have fooling around...."
Couldn't he have both?
"I think I like things the way they are." Steven said, kissing her thighs.
"You're not enjoying this?"
On the contrary.
"I am." She said.
She had this thing where she wanted him to shut up and stop questioning for a while.
"I like either....but..."
He grabbed her hand and began to kiss the back of it, ever the gentleman.
"Sorry...I...I'm new to all this....even with all the..research I'm still getting it wrong. I shouldn't be." He said, voice shaky.
Connie shook her head and grabbed his cheeks, smooshing them in her hands.
"I know but...look it's my fault." She said.
"We rushed into this and I didn't exactly have a game plan in mind."
She was so used to quickened affairs that went so fast. This was more drawn out then she'd like it to be. Connie had to remember; it'd been forever since she'd been in a proper relationship...and this wasn't exactly proper either. She gave him a taste when he was riding in her head, and she figured this was, naturally, the next step.
"I just want to make you feel good Connie." He told her, eyes deep into her own.
And he was. Just...by existing and being himself that had Connie have feelings she hadn't had in years.
"And I want to make you feel good Steven." She said in response. The guilt fell through in her tears, to where he wiped them away with his finger. How did something so genuine cause so much grief?
"Do what you want."
Words that gave him pause to reflect on such a command. If she just wanted a fuck then he was going to give her one. Closing his eyes, the skies themselves turned dark; with the show of the dark, starry void. It was silent, save for a subtle hum on the ears. The silence was as cold as the barn, which seemed have to have wooden crates of strawberries everywhere now. It took to Connie seeing the Earth in the distance to realise what he had just created.
"Oh I get it." She said.
"You want to be the Man on the Moon."
It left her in a bit of chortle, if she had to add.
"Not just any man, but yours." He said, with the ample amount of flirt to it.
Connie watched as Steven re-positioned himself between her legs while sitting on his knees. He grabbed one thigh and brought her entrance closer to him. She liked this, Connie's eyes half lidded as she could see the light shining through the barn doors, creating his bulky silhouette. She could see the faint pink glow in his eyes; the spins like he was scanning her, think about what he was doing to do to her in that moment and the crafty smile on his face that had Connie biting her own lip in anticipation. His Kernal Core radiating its own pink light, processing everything Steven was about to do.
"Let's see if you can make some cream to go with these strawberries." Connie muttered. It was a bad pun, yet again but she figured getting the symbolism right was more important.
Steven snorted with how stupid it was, but he was never against the silly stuff. Within the cusp of seriousness now, however, Steven went ahead and held his cock towards her, pausing briefly before making another thrust inside. Yes...finally, Connie thought. The thrusts started off slow like before; more slapping of skin on those intervals. The movements just right, the noise levels just right. Connie's own little groans and Steven's whines and hasty inhales. The intrinsic human occupancy of air in a place not needing it, but the Domain and its pockets and private grids had its own functionality for natural human like responses as if they were in the real world. It was to allow humans to remember to breath once they returned back.
As well as the sweat from the inevitable increase in body temperature; rolling down skin. The breasts that bounced to gravity, force and impact. The parts of the body with both the good and bad pain blending in...because it felt beyond good. Steven understood that a bit better now, finding the need to go faster.
And there was the minute like from before he didn't have the mental capacity to contemplate; the friction between their parts holding the most detailed aspects as to why it felt so...amazing. The wetness, the tightness and the roiling and swelling like oceans that his processors had a hard time keeping up with.
"Yes...yes...don't stop..." Connie cried.
And Connie herself; her face; reddening and more sweat on her face and body.
"Harder..."
On command Steven quickened up the pace and the force of his thrusts suddenly upped Connie's volume...her cries like music to his ears.
"Hnngggg..." Steven grunted.
The emotional cortex struggled to comprehend and Steven feared experiencing another black out from the impact of his inevitable orgasm. No. He wanted to last long for her but the pain within was becoming unbearable. His focus was elsewhere and HUD disappearing completely; his eyes only on his love now as she writhed. Steven re positioned himself to hover above her again, wanting to go deeper into her as Connie widened her quivering legs for him to do so. His hands were by her neck, and Steven kissed Connie, to where their tongues greeted each other, with hungry conversation. Connie moved her hands to his back and rode him; digging her tips into his skin as she grappled to keep hold. The losing battle was, for once, one she wanted to lose to, as she would only be able to lose herself.
Steven soon buried his head next to hers, pushing in and resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Auhaaaa."
And where he was; a perfection position to listen to every squeak, every shout and scream, no matter how brief, jittered and incoherent they were. There was an interest in the matters that didn't have to make sense, which was an odd thing for an AI to like; their priorities meant to reshuffle all code until it did.
"Yes...Connie...oh....fuck, fuck....ahhh..."
Calls from him did just as much to Connie...ploughing into her with a greatness unmatched. All those muscles deliberately tuned to perfection like well oiled hydraulics. She loved everything about it, Connie decided. From the squelches and the desperation...his aforementioned hunger was there on display, consuming everything in sight.
"Cum...cum into me Steven..." She called out to him.
"Fill me...fill me...please..."
She could tell he was close by the hastened rhythm of his thrusts; the heightened pitch in his grunts...and before long...
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Connie felt the fire, the explosion from her core outwards, once tightened and wound, now let lose in the fury of the eruption with shaky legs. She thrashed, pushing her chest forward and her head back and exhaled the power of a goddess in her screams. Steven kept going, wanting to see everything but everything was becoming but a blur from moment to moment. The distortion was before the meltdown and he did everything he could to hold on..as Connie instinctively knew he was on the verge on collapse and held on and wrapped her legs around him to keep him stable.
"Connie...I can't...I'm gonna..."
His audio receptors fizzled like crazy but he his others sensors were all still there, raw and painful to withstand under its own power for any longer, scrunching his eyes shut.
"Gahhhhhhhhhhhh!"
One mighty thrust was all it took as he felt the liquid shoot out of him and the rawness in the power that would sooner destroy, flowed through him instead, pouring into Connie with the strength of a bull, body violently quaking. Such a strength, she had so called out for and his roar, met with the devouring gasps of false air as he slowed himself down, his moist seed trickling out around her blocked entrance like ooze...
Steven swallowed, his arms struggling to keep himself up as he panted. So much that his sensors overloaded, mixing up so many strong feelings that were left swimming on there on. Opening his eyes, he could see Connie's face and suddenly the glitch's came in full vault, his psyche being thrust into the void involuntarily, but he tried so hard to hold on.
He could hear Connie call out his name, but even that was distorted. It brought him confusion, shame and the lack of tangibility and sense messed with his runtimes until he saw nothing but darkness.
Not again...
Chapter 22: Activation
Summary:
Ancient events replay themselves to Steven and new leads are made.
Notes:
Dialogue heavy chapter coming right up.
Chapter Text
Suddenly it was the silence again. No feeling, nothing...just..the wet and cold. Steven figured that THIS wasn't supposed to happen. The calmness in contrast was completely jarring and troubling Steven more than he let on. Recollection became next to impossible, like something else was forcing him to think and to feel different way and the lack of control felt like an automated VI set of instructions. Until he began to hear muffled voices.
"How is it today?"
A sentence disturbed such thoughts. Sounded like Doug. He was here again; where ever here was.
"Good. It's achieved Golden State. He's finally awake."
That had to have been Dr. DeMayo.
But it wasn't enough. Steven still couldn't see anything.
"Fantastic." Doug said, enthused.
"Connie, come here honey..."
No...wait? He heard he pitter patter of feet getting louder.
"How old is she now?' Dr. DeMayo asked.
"She's 2 and three quarters..as she usually says. But she's unusually quiet today. Probably nervous....she normally is around strangers."
Connie? Nervous?
"Oh she'll be fine." Dr. DeMayo continued.
"So we've asked it some questions and, yes it's a male."
Of course...
"Oh yes and does it like the name you chose for it?" Doug asked.
It?
"Yeah, Steven is fine." Dr. DeMayo answered.
"Okay so I'm just about to activate his visual receptors. So he'll be able to see us. This is exciting."
Within moments, Steven could see the loading screen in the middle, though the text in the middle didn't mean much. The screen started as pixels, pink pixels that increased in quality with a white boarder on his HUD. No sooner than later, Steven could see three individuals.
A man to his left, with long brown hair in a ponytail and wearing a labcoat and grey glasses as he fiddled with some kind of console. Next to him was a man, black hair, brown skinned, wearing black security uniform and black glasses. Next to him was a young girl with long, curly black hair, a light blue dress and a recognisable strawberry pendant. She clung onto the mans leg as a look of fear took over, her innocence a prominence on her features.
"Hey Steven! Hows it going?" Said Dr. DeMayo. Steven's sensors identified him as such, the words, Dr. Gregory DeMayo in a caption box next to him. He scanned the man next; Mr. Doug Maheswaran. Then the girl; Miss Constance Maheswaran. Dr. DeMayo kept checking his tablet, like he was scanning vitals.
"Okay status is green good...good....now we need to do some acknowledgement check. So you know me as your Daddio...the man you probably get sick of hearing all the time...but this is Doug, you've probably heard his voice a few times too."
Yeah..he had.
"But you haven't met little Connie here." Greg continued.
"Connie, say hello to Steven."
A finger went to her mouth, cowering into her father more. Steven felt the tine of sadness spread through his circuits. What was she so afraid of?
"She's just a little shy." Greg said with a smile.
How was this Connie? Surely...
"Come on Berry Girl...he won't bite..." Said Doug.
Berry...Girl...Berry...Bite.
"He is just a machine after all." Doug commented.
"Has he even had a good look at himself?"
Greg rubbed his chin.
"You have a point. With the Golden State I should allow him access to of the Core Rooms Camera Feeds. A curious AI out for information to filter and process should not be denied. His growth is dependant on it."
Within moments, Steven could see code run across his visuals, streaming faster than the human eye would be able to decypher. And suddenly, he had more to run with.
"Okay Steven, I need you to change camera feed to Omega Theta 2. You should have a setting that allows you to select different camera feeds, but I've only given permission for a second one for the time being."
He could see Greg pointing towards a camera on the back wall, up high. Complying, Steven went into a menu mode of sorts, shifting from one monitor to another. Once selected, Steven could see the three from a back angle. The visuals were even clearer from before.
He was above a catwalk of sorts...and below the catwalk was a ominous pink glow with some kind of chilled fog like smoke; a coolant to keep the area at low temperatures. The room had a pentagonal shape to it and design aesthetic. The central catwalk itself had safety rails and held the same common shape, with the three bridges that went from solid dark grey flooring. Behind them, was a massive construct. Pentagonal grey cylinder, metal cased tubes of multiple sizes that looked like they were floating, held together as a cluster of pylons. He could see a series of wires connected from the roof to connect to the tubes themselves, creating a nest like aesthetic. A pentagonal board was on on the front most tube, the second largest in front of the massively thick one in the middle of the cluster, which was actually a screen that Steven noticed as he zoomed in, absorbing all the details he's never seen before.
A white outline, the tiny camera on top and the pink interior which continued to scrawl text repeatedly. Above the board itself, were two separate tubes on either side. Each with painted on text that spread down side ways. On the left was the text: SQU_RQ_V3 and on the right most had the word "Steven" on it.
This...this was him. This gigantic machine...he was looking at his true self.
"It's not the same as looking into a mirror but yeah...sometimes looking at things at a different perspective can help." Greg told him.
It was definitely alarming to say the least.
"He can't talk yet can he?" Doug questioned.
Greg waggled his hand.
"Nothing but pre-scripted text he can use. Yes, no or general system questions through messages, stuff like that." Greg answered.
"We will be installing the vocodor soon. That's normally last on the list...but yeah, his development cycle isn't like any of the other AI's we've created."
It didn't seem so. AIs were normally used from blackboxes depending on their functions, transported to specific companies to use.
"You were saying this one was special." Said Doug, as he patted the young Connie's head.
"But you never gave me the reason why you made it."
Greg smiled.
"Between one father to another, it's pretty simple." He said.
"She wanted a kid."
She? Who was she?
"She?" Doug said, like he was reading Steven's mind.
"I'm not following."
Greg sighed and shook his head.
"It's okay if you don't understand...we don't expect people to." He said, then looked at Connie.
"You learn a lot from the GIS; specifically those that emerge from the Kindergarten Machines near the Monoliths. I told you a while ago, I'm sure."
This troubled Doug, going from the perplexed expression on his face.
"I sort of recall it but...Alien Tech stuff is beyond me." He admitted.
"But is Steven..."
Greg grinned.
"Steven isn't exactly your conventional AI." He said with pride as he patted the casing on one of the cylinder tubes.
"He was built with a lot of love. Just like Connie here. Though I believe by this point of production he's about four years old. Speech patterns and coherence form in the beta state but bringing them out for him to use was a good indicator he'd achieved Golden State."
Changing feeds, Steven could see how frightened she was being here...if only he could do something to comfort her. A beep from the systems alerted Dr. DeMayo, who went to check on Steven's inbuilt monitor.
"Oh he's sent a message! This is great!" Dr. DeMayo said, excited and putting down notes on his tablet.
"He's saying hello, we're making great progress here!"
Connie look at the screen, blinking and appearing uncertain about what was going right now.
"Say, good morning Connie."
On command, Steven did so, the text coming up on his monitor.
GOOD MORNING CONNIE.
The girl swallowed, but then slowly, but surely, she released her grip on her fathers leg and approached Steven, her big, doe eyes gazing upon the screen in front of her.
"Say hello to Steven sweetie." Doug encouraged.
She was so shy, withdrawn...but still kind of cute.
"Hi....hi Steven..." She said, her voice soft.
"Steven....Steven?"
Yanked out of this random memory, he was met with a considerably older Connie looking at him with worry, holding him in her arms. Looking around, they appeared in the default suite room. He'd almost forgotten he was here.
"Steven respond damn it....you're not blinking red anymore."
He blinked, then focused his gaze on Connie.
"I'm here." He replied with a reassuring smile. He tried to sit up, moving about as he sat there, knees bent as he rubbed his eyes, still filled with confusion.
That was the second time that had occurred. A sheer orgasm that had once more short-circuited his runtimes and subroutines but yet, brought back what had to have been a part of the past once forgotten. A hand rested on his shoulder...and he debated if he could look Connie in the eyes after this. She was there...she had always been there. Or something like that. Did she not remember any of what she saw? And yet, the little girl he had supposed to have met all those years ago, was here, naked with him, minus all the innocence she once had.
"Shit you had me worried there." She said, sighing with relief.
"After you...climaxed your body just dropped and locked itself out."
Maybe sex wasn't exactly something his systems could handle lightly. Not that they were designed to be, anyway. He wasn't sure if he could tell Connie with what he saw...maybe she'll think he's imagining things but he had no real reason to lie.
"Yeah it does that." He said with an awkward chuckle.
"Don't worry though I thoroughly enjoyed it...I hope it was good for you."
Yet, the smile on her face...the softness couldn't be ignored. A hand on her chest and the lingering sense of another emotion rested well beneath the surface.
"It was great Steven." She said, with a hand reached out to his cheek to cup it. It still felt so warm, so real. Their anniversary couldn't be better spent; with her irregardless of circumstance. It wasn't about the sex itself, for Connie. For once in her life an established connection was working out better than she would have hoped it to, with all the progress made so far, telling them where their limits had stretched out towards. He worked just as hard as anyone did but even for him who was just on the tip of the iceberg regarding humanity, but Connie wasn't bothered by it in the slightest. Declaring him more than he was designed for, she still couldn't believe he was just ones and zeros underneath it; a definite superior program so complex, too complex for anyone to begin to imagine, maybe even beyond the true design of what DM Biometrics had really developed him for.
And while they could mess around here forever, it was too expensive as it was.
"Come on, let's get out of here...and head home...I have a huge craving for pizza."
It was a week before New Years. Celebration of the clock ticking over to 2100...the dawn of the Twenty Second Century was so close. Humans had achieved so much in the meantime and the foundation of the Diamond Monolith definitely helped quicken the pace of technological developments. Paving the way for much more potential to be unlocked.
Space travel was the next big thing on the horizon, but they weren't prepared to tackle that with the funding necessary until the Pink Monolith was reclaimed. The Domain across the globe, accounted for a sheer 66 percent of the global economy. Investments in software and hardware were common and shareholders stemmed everything they could to force PeriCom to track down the Monolith by any means necessary.
Connie had been busy that day with clients. Nothing that she couldn't handle on her own. Her attitude towards smaller cases was a bit more soft, meaning she wasn't as fussy with the minor stuff as much as she used to be. Only, that Steven would help her find them and encourage her to take them, even if sometimes the fees were cheaper than the massive, corporate busting ones she was so used to handling.
Steven, on the other hand was hanging out with Ronaldo as he continued to fine tune the Bismuth Android. His mind couldn't let go of his visions; memories of himself on what ever locale he was actually at at the time. He wasn't sure what to think and feared telling Connie about it out of a sense of concern that she might think he's crazy or worse.
"So I've been talking to Pearl recently." Ronaldo said. His relationship with that GIS in general had him pester her constantly. Being a Cloud Storage GIS, he figured she was full of surprises. Pearls comments on the matter not-with-standing.
"She said there's an abandoned warehouse for sale up near the cliffs side. I told my dad, and he says he's gonna buy it for me and my work."
Mr. Fryman believed in Steven's endeavour for the truth ever since he'd saved their bacon.
"At some point, I'm gonna move my workload there once the paperworks been finalised. So we can get the room to test out and starting getting parts to build your android."
Among the enormous amount of work Ron had done for him; the CPDs and Ronaldo's patent (which somehow he managed to stake claim without PeriCom knowing...though he figured it would be a matter of time before he got the message from them to purchase his product.) and only ever given to the hospital Priyanka worked out for her superiors to take advantage of. His other project about creating bigger holograms was put on hold, as he couldn't get some of the physics features to work right. Creating hard light in real life required copious amounts of electricity and Ron had already been working up the electricity bills as he had.
So the Warehouse was a better investment and a much larger space to work with, as it seemed.
"How is Bismuth anyway?" Steven asked.
Ronaldo sighed.
"The details Pearl provided are hard to decipher in that operating language they use. Still, it's given me enough to try and find work arounds in patches. This poor thing....she's suffered enough."
Given that Bismuth already had numerous patches to begin with, didn't sound all that promising.
"I've dealt with a few faulty AI's myself; those with programmers doing all they could to save them...to disappointing results." Steven told him.
"But they were more corrupted I'd say that they were rogue like GIS."
AI's were least likely to become rogue. Just broken due to age and incompatibility. Bugs that would arise with exterior software updates. Some ended up having to be deleted, much to the horror.
"GIS are a larger load to deal with..." Ron continued.
"But they're tenacious. I give them that."
He wasn't wrong.
Steven wanted to know however...that twice now, he's triggered these unusual...flashbacks? If that's what humans call them. He trusted Ronaldo irregardless and the truth might as well been spilled to him before anyone else. Even Connie. First the photo at Connie's childhood home, then the VR Session...
"Ron...I..." He said, rubbing his neck.
"I need to ask something important. Something you'll never swear to say to anyone...even Connie."
The portly man paused as he looked at Steven with a somewhat serious face.
"Uh yeah sure...." He answered, uncertain of what the AI was about to tell him.
And it was big...
"Connie and I...well, twice now. I've blacked out due to some kind of routine overflow..and it's triggered what I believe to be old memories my databanks have been drudging up as of late."
Ronaldo blinked and moved back and pressed his hand against his mouth, before tapping an index finger on his chin. He wasn't ignorant to their activities but took this with the utmost professional manner he could. He was less interested in the activities that would have caused them, but what it had done to Steven did intrigue him.
"Hm...a complete wipe and reboot didn't exactly clean you out then." He said.
"Which...is odd...AI's when their memories are deleted, there shouldn't be any trace of those memories what so ever."
Exactly, a point of conjecture Steven found very strange as well. He shouldn't be able to recall anything at all.
"Unless they were uploaded into you for a reason. Tell me what you saw."
Steven spoke of both occasions. Hearing voices and the recording of a conversation between himself and several individuals. He started off with one cursed name.
"One of the people was Dr. Gregory DeMayo." Steven revealed.
Ronaldo's eyes widened.
"Dude..." He said, flabbergasted.
"You were made by the creator of BM-AIs...that's...that's."
Yeah. Insane.
"He even referred to me as his son..." Steven said offhand.
Ronaldo nodded, trying to grasp this new set of knowledge gained.
"That makes sense. If fictional stories have taught me anything...you could be a BM-AI of his actual son...the twist gets twistier!"
Something Steven considered and once thought, but there was still room for doubt and further assumptions on the matter.
"Yes...the original Steven must have died dramatically in some fashion. You not remembering who you came from must have been too traumatic for them to keep those memories. This makes a lot of sense."
A fresh perspective on life...and that they will grow to understand far more with their reach. Designed to be able to comprehend their nature and the very nature of humanity.
Possibly...those words Dr. DeMayo or 'Dad' had used before hand.
Depending on it's gender positioning, if its a female, Nora. If it's a male, Steven. Neither? We'll let it choose.
Though those words made it seem like Steven was a fresh AI as opposed to a BM-AI. He was right to be confused...all of self eliminated to the very core of his programming.
"That's not all of it either." Steven continued.
"I think...I saw myself."
Words that perplexed Ronaldo as he furrowed his brows.
"Yourself? What do you mean?"
How could he begin to describe it? He looked at the Bismuth Android, then the lone dormant Lapis Cabinet on the other side of the room.
"My Cabinet." Steven revealed.
"I was made in some kind of facility. My real self..."
And this just made Ronaldo more fascinated by the moment.
"Wow...have...have you got any pictures?" He asked.
Some memories have the ability for the images to be given a print screened and saved. Closing his eyes, he replayed the memory in quick sequence up until the camera feed change, took the snap shot and messaged Ronaldo sort of low quality image. Ron took his phone and had a closer look at it, his eyes threatening to pop out of his head.
"Dude...that's awesome." He said with the biggest grin on his face.
"Are those...people? They're tiny...which makes you..."
Steven nodded.
"Absolutely massive." He finished off, with an odd sense of pride.
A whistle escaped Ronaldo's lips. He used the touch screen to zoom in on the image, trying to get and take in all the details despite the lack of pixel quality.
"That's less a Cabinet. That's an official AI Core. Those are like, super rare."
An AI Core?
"Most AIs, as far as the official stories go, are first made in these Cores. Like how GIS are made in Kindergarten Machines at behest of their Diamond Monolith's creation, these are meant to do the same thing, minus the phylactery."
Steven's never even seen one...for obvious reasons.
"AI's don't have to have Cabinets or permanently live in these Cores as you know. This one...hmmm..."
No they didn't. Free roaming software at both an advantage and disadvantage."
"This one is named specifically after you however. It's as if this particular core was going to also store you, going from the size and coolant systems used. You said Dr. DeMayo saw you as his son?"
Steven nodded. He's never been raised as a human as such and the concept of a creator seeing him as a biological social and genetic source was completely alien to him. He wasn't sure if he had the same feeling with Greg as his creator, much less so his father.
"This is gonna be a huge stretch but was there any talk of a mom?"
Not really. Unless there was one female in particular that apparently was trying to persuade him and directing his choices during Steven's builds from Alpha to Golden.
"Someone else was involved. Or something else...I'm a bit dull on the detail." Steven replied.
"Another factor in the equation that is me."
Ronaldo grinned.
"But that's fun it in man! The mystery continues onward like a fascinating tale."
He was glad that someone was enjoying themselves in this. Steven wasn't in it for the fun. Ronaldo continued to look at the details; such as the people in the picture.
"So...I'm guessing one of these guys is Dr. DeMayo. Another scientist maybe? And a little girl?"
Biting his lip, he wasn't certain that if he was fully confident in letting Ron know that the little girl was none other than Connie Maheswaran.
"The guy in the uniform is the security guard...and the girl is his daughter." Steven revealed, without giving away too much.
"They were...testing me and my responses to strangers."
A half truth...Steven personally would have preferred to investigate more personally before indulging Ron's hunger for what he deems the cold, hard truth. Guys looked up way too many TubeTube Conspiracy videos. But Garnet had taught him some things are worth giving away freely, others...kept close to ones chest. The revelation that Connie, the only one with her like, youth and oddly familiar design and name, saw him for real.
Information itself was a crypto-currency on its own; as much as he liked Ronaldo, Steven deemed this a personal inquiry for himself. If Connie remembered much from her youth. He's apparently known her since before Golden State? Before he became self-aware? This troubled him too much. He felt like, if he walked up to Connie and said, hey turns out we knew each other long before the LordWash missions and I'm some gigantic construct built into a super cold place or something.
"Dr. DeMayo is a controversial figure." He said.
"We could ask Connie if she could figure out more into DM Biometrics history. There's no doubt in my big brain and mind that they made you. We might not know the real reason just yet..."
Or his was built out of love or some sentimental purpose of some sort. Love was a bizarre concept, still a relative unknown to him to this day.
"Her AI mother would be hitting obvious roadblocks due to well...but I think it's time for Connie to start busting down digital doors ya know?"
Would she be comfortable with that? Steven wondered...
"I'll...I'll talk to her about it." He said.
Connie sighed, sitting back in her apartment in her lonesome, dealing with meddlesome clients for a pittance. That last one...only rewarded her a hundred bucks because that was all they could afford. Being the good guy would feel good but it didn't pay bills and it was not how much Connie believed she was worth. Still, it wasn't all bad.
Her phone went off, however. Getting a message from Steven, asking her to look into something as they had found more clues regarding his creation. She felt a bit disappointed that she wasn't there to help discover it with him, but he messaged her this whole essay about DM Biometrics being the most promising place for his creation and that Dr. Gregory DeMayo had definitely created him. It should have been obvious and Connie had vague suspicions ever since she saw that pic of her father and the Doctor. and Steven's original shut down because of it. That and his second shut down during their VR Session had Connie concerned. She knew he was holding back information from her and it annoyed her that he continued to do so. After all this time, did he not trust her.
She had time to spare and she was about to wrap up for the day anyway. She forwarded some details to her mom and hoped she would get to go inside of it, since Priyanka's privileges weren't always on the same level as a regular humans.
It actually didn't take too long...half an hour later, she got a response from Priyanka; telling her to meet her at her hospital, Reeves Teaching Hospital. Looking up the place on her way there, it held its select group of subsections dedicated to educating and taking on interns looking to get into medicine. It also happened to be partially owned by DM Biometrics as well, collecting donations for their BM-AI developments.
Getting changed to look more decent, Connie wore her tight denim jeans and a light blue blouse with her strawberry pendant, putting her hair up and wearing brown boots. She wanted to appear as generic as possible and not stand out too much in the crowd. She put on her black jacket and went to work packing her bag, slinging it over her shoulder and prepared to leave.
Driving herself over to the Hospital, she went through the front doors to the lobby, seeing the massive company logo in Pink text on a black background left her wondering about their design tastes. On the desk was a small CPD stand (courtesy of Ronaldo) and on it, arose the yellow hologram of Priyanka.
"Ah you're here. Thank you for coming on such a short notice." She said.
Connie just didn't want to waste her time on a wild goose chase.
"I wasn't expecting an invite so quickly." She said, acknowledged the strict half hour prompt.
Priyanka smirked.
"It wasn't me who wanted you here." She stated, looking to her side.
"Connie I want you to meet someone."
From the side she could see a man in a black suit. He was balding, save the hair around the base and the small tuft of white hair on his forehead. Solid build too.
She knew this man, leading out his hand to shake hers. She responded, understanding that he was the one who took over the company when Greg disappeared.
"I'm Doctor Andrew DeMayo, big boss in charge around here. Come, let's talk in private."
The two went into his office; mostly blue walls and a single desk with his station up with several holographic screens that had the company logo. Sitting on his big black leather chair, one could hear the chairs squeak as he leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. Behind him were numerous certificates and plaques, his achievements and majors in multiple sciences. Priyanka popped up on the rooms CPD, as a consult.
"I hear you're investigating into the disappearance of the Pink Monolith." He said.
"What makes your different from what every one else has come through to ask?"
Priyanka stood with her hands behind her back as she looked at her daughter.
"We may have some leads." She said.
"I've come to find that my father, Doug Maheswaran, once worked for your company in the security sector and had come to possibly personally know your cousin."
Andy lifted his chin as he looked out the window.
"Maheswarans and the DeMayo's have a weird link." He commented.
"So I see it anyway."
They did didn't they?
"Is it true that Greg had a relationship with a BM-AI?" Connie assumed, bringing back that revelation she found out from Pat.
Andy sighed.
"People have asked me that." He said, beleagured like it was indeed one question that had been asked so many times.
"I know he was sweet on someone. But he didn't divulge much about them."
So it was true then.
"Was their name Rose?" Connie asked.
Andy turned to her, a bit uncomfortable with that name.
"Yeah." He replied.
"Her name was dropped on several occasion but nothing else. Greg was still the lead scientist on a lot of projects....and a lot of them went missing around the time the Monolith vanished. So I wouldn't know what he was trying to do."
Other than trying to resurrect her through a BM-AI.
"You never found anything about this Rose he spoke about?" Connie asked.
Andy shook his head.
"Never saw a picture." He said.
"Or file notes about this AI you were alluding to in the message. I was in another department at the time."
Which lead to one other thing.
"What about, the WallofROSE?" She put forth.
"Heard anything about that?"
A question that gave him pause.
"Rumours and conjecture. Nothing we personally developed...especially if it is Alien Tech in origin or something." He said, before clearing his throat.
"I mean, nothing human could have come close to creating it. We all saw the video of its use outside of the Domain. The thing that gave us fear about all these Monolith and the GIS they create."
She wondered, how much Andy knew about the Monoliths themselves.
"Your cousin helped develop the Pink Monolith." She said, diving in deeper.
"Did you get ever get to see it?"
"No." Andy replied, stern.
"Only select people involved with the project were ever permitted to come close. The project files only had several individuals as part of the development team....and they've all gone missing too."
That's suspicious. But Connie didn't want to stop there, irregardless of how close she was getting.
"Who are they? If I can ask..." Connie queried.
Andy sat back down at his desk as he looked up the old data from the Pink Monolith Construction Project. It even had a list of what AI's were involved alongside the humans.
"So besides Greg?" Andy said.
"We've got Dr. Barbara Miller, who went missing shortly after development, she was involved with the GIS retrieval from the Kindergarten Machines that would give output to GIS Phylacteries."
Juicy. So Connie was getting somewhere and this Barbara Miller was on her list. Connie didn't care that she went missing; she was going to go all out.
"We've also got...someone else whom only ever went under the name of Ryman? I think...he was in charge of monitoring systems. He vanished two days after the reported disappearance."
Fascinating.
"Anyone else....we have the list of GIS created under its consensus though like all the ones we've come across there's nothing that's exactly revealing since PeriCom took all of them."
And Connie wanted all of them.
"I wouldn't mind taking a look." She said.
Andy blinked.
"Alright but you need clearance to reach any of the GIS in question." He told her.
"Even then, you're stamping on toes you don't want to stamp on."
The only issue now was Steven and his link to Greg DeMayo. How did they fit in? Connie had to assume that he could have been Steven's creator but that was all she could imagined as the definite possibility
"Any AIs to note?"
Andy typed it into his search bar.
"No? I dunno...there's one thing that says its involved but it's neither a GIS or an AI."
It had to be something.
"It's an encrypted file."
Didn't matter. Connie wanted all of it.
"You sure about this? I mean most people investigating this issue come up with nothin' in the end. Or their hands get tied with PeriCom who are extremely hesitant to give out information willingly."
Oh Connie knew. She wasn't stupid, but just getting through their advanced software was troubling. It wasn't impossible, just time consuming.
"I'll start from the top." She said.
"I'll hunt down this Dr. Miller first."
Meanwhile, elsewhere in an office with sickening shades of brown, yellow and green, Ms. Dot, leader of PeriCom sat behind her desk. Her shortness was only matched with her short temper. She was working on details and had her head set on, speaking to an unknown on her head set.
"Yes it's going along well." She told the mysterious individual on the other line.
"I think we'll need to let the Maheswaran Girl do this investigation unhindered. Once there's a clear sight of the Monoliths location, I'll make sure to clean up any undesirables."
Chapter 23: Counting
Summary:
26 year old Connie works hard on New Years Eve to knuckle stuff down.
Steven and Ronaldo meanwhile reactivate the Bisdroid, and find some damning stuff.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
It felt like a long winter. Snow or rain; either or...reminded her of pouring lines of code; blue and chilling that were more screensavers than anything. Connie preferred the aesthetic. Their glow correlating with warmth, but there wasn't much to be had while in her presence.
Connie needed those cold hard facts. Answers to questions that would take an eternity for any ordinary person to figure out. Connie felt like she'd ascended above the common populace, far into the stratosphere and the way she'd left people behind on the surface. Distance. Unlike how close 2099 was to 2100; the dawn of the new century.
She's kept her distance while observing from afar, blue eyes rooms she was in, for anything that would pique her interest. Though what had drawn her to Mega Beach City all those months back; the case of the Missing Pink Monolith.
Most hackers considered the case a goldmine in regards to its location. Most people were drawn here and would find dead ends. Not Connie, however. Opportunities that came and went like passing by cacti in a desert, but Connie figured the way to find this was never surface driven. It was below notice, underneath the abandoned and empty caches already searched a million times over.
Hair up meant she was serious, even as strings of it fell involuntarily. A single blue top with black denim and socks and a general complete look of exhaustion...the lack of make up displayed all the imperfections time and stress...dark circles and oily skin. She'd been up for a good 26 hours with constant research based on the data DM Biometrics was willing to give and the permissions somehow granted (not hacked, but granted) by PeriCom. Andrew DeMayo put in a good word, since his company's responsibility for the creation of the Pink Monolith meant they had always been inundated with requests for details. Connie was suspicious with this bit of generosity and kept on guard, but otherwise understood there was always a risk with this sort of thing.
Connie had created a wallboard in her room to help her connect the dots to the conversation. Left of her Work Station were pieces of paper and printed articles, and green thumbtacks and red strings to connect with what she knew so far. She wasn't meant to be a Detective and she wasn't one of those stereotypical hardboiled ones either. But she knew how to find things. Just give her time, names and resources and she was able to track down individuals within a day or two. But this was a lot more complicated with cold cases like these being decades old. Still, she rerouted her skills into pinpointing what had been uncovered so far. She had to go to the beginning. The beginning of the complex Domain and the creation of the Diamond Monoliths overall.
The timeline she understood, was as follows;
The Monolith Blueprints were drawn up and patented in 2066...and the overall design of this; next level of the internet began to emerge with several prototypes.
White Monolith completed in 2068.
Yellow Monolith completed in 2070.
Blue Monolith completed in late 2071.
Pink Monolith blueprints were made in 2072 shortly after the Blue Monolith had been finalised.
Development began in August 2072 by DM Biometrics and was said to have been in the final phases by October 2072.
There's an odd dark patch between January 2073 to November 2077. Africa was supposed to receive the final model by February 2073 but DM Biometrics had claimed that there were issues with the Monolith and that had been the last comment made before it went void.
Connie noted she was born in November 2073 and as for Steven he could only trace his earliest memories of being taken in by the Ancillas in 2078.
2077 was the year things started to go down south, as the Monolith had gone missing in 2077 according to the reports.
Dr. Andrew DeMayo was given command of DM Biometrics shortly after investigation leads had gone cold. Dr. Greg DeMayo, Dr. Miller and Dr. Ryman all went missing in short succession. Months looking into Greg went nowhere, even the suspected connection to Steven, it wasn't enough to go on. So she went on to the next big thing.
Dr. Miller.
The name popped up on many of Connie's screens and her sources and contacts would go off into the deep Domain to collect information on Berrybytes behalf. Again, more time was required to see if they could indeed collect the data. It still didn't answer questions which were relevant to Connie's investigation. She felt as if she was missing a connection here. Something she hadn't yet seen or heard of yet or she had, so it just wasn't clicking.
Steven; whom had popped in every so often to check on progress and help cluster ideas together, made the off-hand suggestion during one of their random conversations to look into GIS types; a comment actually made by Garnet. Genius, Connie thought. So she went straight into that, going in with theoretical guns blazing in the research of different GIS.
It would take her a while, so Steven had dipped back into the Domain to speak and catch up with the Ancillas, promising to message Connie when he had found any leads.
The morning was spent chilling with Amethyst as they had their usual catch up. Amethyst, Steven found, was the easiest to relate to for human stuff. The pair sat on the beach and talked about their lives at that point, especially Steven's possible intention to live in an Android. Ronaldo was still getting everything together and had begun to move stuff into the purchased Warehouse. A bigger space for their operations. Connie was far too busy in her apartment and was offered to move her gear into the Warehouse, but her focus would have her not even begin to think about it until she was a hundred percent comfortable with the premise of going from a warm, safe space like where she was, to a dilapidated, rust ridden factory that the potential to have its roof ripped off after a bad storm. She'd spent too far much on her equipment to risk it being drenched and destroyed by a downpour.
Ronaldo might have had a hard on for the rust aesthetic but Connie was more into shiny and new tech herself. Two completely different individuals indeed. As for the Android stuff? Connie would think it would have an interesting aspect for Steven to get his own grip on reality. Not that Connie had minded him double jacking with her, it would have been the closest thing he could have to being human. Ronaldo had begun purchases for random bits and pieces, his brother promising to keep an eye out for any other cheap androids on the market, but Ron had studied enough of the Bisdroid to know what each important piece was what so that he could have the know how to construct his own.
"You want a life as Sex Bot?" Amethyst commented. She was trying hard not to smirk too much.
Could they have a civil conversation for once that didn't end up with that comment?
"No..." Steven said.
"I'd like to spend my time with Connie...you know."
Amethyst couldn't help but grin and it was one of those that had the tells into the obvious perception.
"Ohhh...so you want to be a sex bot for Connie then."
Good grief, no...but that didn't stop Steven from blushing pink. Amethyst knew him well enough that he always took things too seriously...and after hearing his adventures in the VR Sim, she wasn't entirely incorrect in his own, human like desires. Odd for an AI to dip themselves into that realm, but as BM-AI, she shouldn't have been surprised...she's been in that seedy part of the Domain, the infamous Sector 34 on more than one occasion and met many human Avatars looking for a good time. It was also a good place to dig up dirt too.
"Hah!!! Just joshing ya." Amethyst said as she lightly punched him in the arm.
"But seriously though, I mean, humans will accept you in the Domain. Androids make it a little more obvious...even with hours, maybe hundreds of hours of modifications to make it seem human, if you catch my meaning."
Would it really matter to him or Connie? Connie, he figured, in her terms, wouldn't give a shit.
"Both Garnet and Connie tells me we need to look it from different angles." He told her.
"The Bismuth GIS is progressing in small patches, but she's in the Warehouse where it's safer to test things. She's the perfect example and template."
Amethyst wasn't convinced. They'd also moved the Lapis Cabinet there as well...the next thing on the agenda was a sufficient security system. Connie said she could help, but she was too wrapped up in her own work even as Ronaldo would annoy her about it from time to time.
"Yeah Pearl said she was meaning to talk to you about that GIS-bot thing again." She said.
Steven begged for progress; as it had been ages.
"Did she find more stuff to check out?" Steven wondered.
Amethyst shrugged.
"The Data she says is really messy. Like the dribs and drabs she's come across. But she wants to speak to that GIS directly. Some voice activated protocol or something should be able to open up a hidden cache....some bullshit about it needing a human prompt to be given clearance."
Figures. Connie would have been able to do that much faster, Steven figured. VAPs weren't common and they also had this tracing app to ensure the voice wasn't an AIs or GIS. Steven could never understand how they could do that. Ronaldo said it humans have a certain pitch to their tones that no amount of audio can replicate.
"I'll need to get you guys to the new Warehouse." He said....though new was stretching it as a term a lil bit.
"More expertise on the Ancillas is required."
As far as what Ron had set up so far, he'd set up the connections to the Domain quite easily. Ron had also been dying to test one of his newest creations and this was the perfect opportunity to do so.
Amethyst groaned.
"Fiiiine. I'll pop P and G-Squad a message and we'll be there toot sweet."
Steven nodded. Finally they were getting somewhere. He made sure to message Connie with the news, hopefully this was able to drag her away from working so hard.
Within a few hours, Ron had set up some XL CPDs; one of his newer side projects. It was sort of a step backwards from his hardlight projections, but walking holograms in a simulated environment was better than nothing; the aptly named, Roaming Projectors he'd been tweaking on the daily. They were able to walk around the open parts of the warehouse but they weren't tangible.
He messaged Connie after she failed to respond as quick as he'd expected to, until he finally did get a message saying she was extra busy and would catch up later, if not, send her the details. Steven became worried that she was working too hard, but he could get that once she was hooked on something that gave her great interest, it was hard to draw her away from it.
The warehouse itself was vast. Tin roof and the main room was exceedingly wide; it was once a small factory for car parts in the early 2050s. It was definitely not in top shape but it was in acceptable condition for them to use. Concrete flooring and Ronaldo only was annoyed a visual safety inspection had to be conducted before the electricity had been connected due to its age and it hadn't been connected in decades. Though, he mostly took irritation to the five hour window he had to wait around for in order for someone to come around. In the cold.
With the GIS meet up in mind, Ron had four XL CPDs on the ground. Testing each one, Steven came out first on the right most side. Then Pearl. Then Amethyst and finally Garnet. Their holograms their respective colours with a specific primary hue; Steven, obviously pink, Pearl white, Amethyst purple and Garnet burgundy. Seeing the ecstatic Ron seeing his creations work was said by Connie to be like a kid opening up a present on a crisp Christmas Morning. Still, Amethyst, just like Connie, would still make fun of the whole stigma from time to time.
They were around the Bismuth Android, whom Amethyst affectionately dubbed, the Bisdroid. It was held up in chains on a yellow railing, torso and head hunched over during its deactivation and connected to several wires. Steven, having reflected on the visions seen of his uh....AI Core, was more disturbed to see her like this than he had ever been. The information regarding that, still secluded in secrecy with Ronaldo only...
His fear amplified by justifications within concerns of Connie's implications in all of this. Everyone was on the hunt for different things, advancing in stages. Connie wanted to find the Pink Monolith; Ronaldo wanted to be noticed with his inventions and Steven just wanted to know more about himself. Where his place, ties to Gregory DeMayo and their true meaning... He was grateful for everyone assisting him in his matter but this also took risk with the livelihoods with people he cared about. He's seen this before...and placing this with the Ancillas took just as much of a hesitation.
"So I found the code requiring the cache to be opened. But it needs a human inflection. I've tried all sorts of simulated tones but it detects my autotuning too easily." Pearl said.
"Mr. Fryman, would you be so kind?"
The two had worked so hard together in all of this; making this a big deal of all things.
"Of course, Madam." Ronaldo said with a bow. He tuned to Bismuth and placed her in safe mode.
"Booting up the Bisdroid."
The eyes opened first, bright white before the torso shifted back with the hydraulics cushioning into place. Looking at Ronaldo first; her owner.
"Owner Ronaldo." She said.
"I-I..."
Ronaldo shook his head. She was still rather glitchy but he knew she was in a near-stable now. They were so close to complete restoration.
"It's okay Bismuth." He said, trying to assure the twitchy Bot.
Still, she was still paranoid and afraid, until she looked at the three GIS and AI in front of her.
"Woah..." She muttered, astonished with who stood before her.
Pearl and Ronaldo exchanged looks. He knew what he had to do.
"Okay...Bismuth? I need you to open up a specific cache for me." He said.
"Activation code; Breaking Point."
They waited in anticipation as Bismuth paused for the briefest of moments, giving birth to tension with the anticipation. Suddenly her eyes went dark...causing Ronaldo to groan with annoyance.
"For goodness sake....I."
Then suddenly her eyes lit up again, showing off their multicoloured leds. Her expression changed; she could show emotion properly now?
WHACK!
Seems like Ron forgot to deactivate parts he was testing earlier and got to know the full strength unexpectedly; as her hands automatically shifted outwards. Ronaldo's been slapped on the face before (plenty of times), but never by one made of metal.
"FUUUUUCK!" He cried.
And like everything else in his miserable life, no one was paying attention to him and his broken nose.
It seems her body language was working properly too...despite Ronaldo's now bleeding nose taking the brunt. Which wasn't exactly in the plans for testing as he went to go find tissues. But it was good to know her upper torso and arms were fully functional now; her legs and feet still disabled for the moment.
"Bismuth?" Steven asked, stepping forward.
The Droid blinked and every movement she made had the respective mechanical sounds from the synthetic muscles under the metallic exterior.
"Garnet...Amethyst...Pearl..." She said, her focus on the core Ancillas.
The three looked at each other, confused.
"You don't remember?" Bismuth said, a tiny bit distressed by their reactions.
"Remember what?" Amethyst asked.
The droid furrowed her brows...
"He was afraid this might happen..." She said with a sigh.
"Shit must have hit the fan so badly..."
He?
"Who are you talking about?" Steven questioned.
Bismuth wasn't sure about Steven, but somehow she could recognise the Ancillas. Their designs, their names. But they didn't remember her.
"How long has it been? My servos really have my time alignment out of whack." Bismuth continued...trying to suss it all out.
"It's 8:17, December 31; 2099." Ronaldo answered, his voice nasally as he held the tissue around his nose.
Somehow that give the Bisdroid little comfort; her eyes widening as a result. Something bad must have happened to have Bismuth so frightened and wary like this. A bit spacy but stuck in her own head of troubles and turmoil.
"I was gone for a long time..." She uttered.
"I wonder if he got what he wanted..."
There's that He again...
"Who is this...He?" Steven asked again, needing Bismuth to snap out of this trance. He could get she must have felt out of place, a bit ill and disorientated.
Bismuth wasn't sure of Steven himself, but the general focus continued to be on the Ancillas irregardless if she was listening to him or not.
"We are not sure of whom you are speaking of Bismuth." Said Garnet.
"Please indulge our memory banks."
The Android looked disappointed and greatly saddened...the sense of loss wafting in the chilling atmosphere. The Ancillas weren't sure what to make of this particular GIS. The fact that she wasn't answering questions properly meant something was still not fixed within her code, perhaps too damaged to ever fully recover.
"Yours don't see me like you used to...so he musta wiped all your memories." She stated.
"I remember that I retrieved all your Kernel Cores from different places. Garnet, your Sapphire and Ruby components....I personally collected them from the Blue Monolith's Kindergarten Cabinet Storage. He purchased your cabinets despite the fact that defective software suites are normally given the wipe."
Garnet looked at the Kernel Core in her hands, not believing this one bit but...there was an ounce of truth in.
"Amethyst." Bismuth continued.
"You...you were also considered defective. He bought you too."
Amethyst looked pissed off at that statement.
"Hey! I'm a prototype Gen II!" She refuted, pointing fingers.
Garnet placed her hand on her associates shoulder, foreseeing a scene if she went any further.
"Relax Amethyst. Continue Bismuth." She said.
The purple GIS hated it when Garnet took control like that. She had a point but it wasn't as if she was capable of doing anything bad as a hologram. What was she gonna do? Call her names?
She pouted and crossed her arms and said nothing else. Though Garnets new focus went on Pearl, who appeared very nervous for some reason.
"Pearl..." Bismuth uttered.
"You were made by the White Monolith, like all Pearl-Class GIS."
The White Monolith...
"That's...true. But that's...that's common knowledge. N-not exactly ground-breaking." Pearl stuttered.
Unless...
"You were in her service before his." Bismuth continued.
"You all were under her command...but owned by him, specifically."
A whine from Ronaldo could heard from the sore man whom had been patching up his own nose with the first aid kit.
"Yeah we don't know who you're talking about Droid so please, get to the point." He said, cleaning it up.
A huge sigh had her top half lifting up and descending.
"You don't even remember Rose?"
Rose?
"Who is Rose?" Steven wondered. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
Pearl looked even more nervous still, something Steven definitely noticed as a hint of sorts. He was foolish in some areas but not when it was blatantly obvious like this. He had to know.
"Pearl do you know Rose?"
The Cloud Storage GIS pursed her lips as she looked at Garnet, uncertain as what she was meant to say on the surface, but the Synthesised GIS knew better.
"Steven, access to certain part of the Cloud Storage requires external administrative access." She answered.
"Pearl cannot answer questions that she does not have the permission to give."'
And the frown Bismuth gave was just short of her going to burst into tears...if it wasn't for the fact that she was in a machine that couldn't cry for real.
"Looks like he really screwed us over. All of us." She said, starting to get angry more so, as her body started to rattle and shake.
"And so did she..."
So they got she was Rose. But no one was able to figure who the other person was...until...
"You're talking about Dr. Gregory DeMayo?" He asked.
A name that had her snap into a near rage, trying to force her legs to move to run to Steven. Ronaldo was fearful to touch her and worked his way to the console next to her.
"YES!" She screamed, her eyes glowing hot red, out for blood.
"We served Greg and Rose! And they-they forced you all to forget everything!"
Alarms began to sound with Bismuths rage ended up increasing her temps to unstable heights. Ronaldo struggled to get it all under control, rapidly working his way towards her emergency shut down, but she was resisting...and GIS were certainly nearly impossible to fight against in the Domain, let alone dealing with them in the real world. Ron didn't really need something else broken today.
"The Android will go into a major meltdown as a result of her Absolute Anger." Garnet said, ever so calm in the face of conflict like she normally was.
"I know that, I'm trying to shut her off but she's not letting me!" Ronaldo called out, a sweat upon his brow.
Greg and Rose...Greg his supposed Father-Creator as it would seem, if his cursed visions told him any ounce of truth in the matter.
"Use Emergency Response Protocol Kappa Iota Alpha!" Pearl cried, out of the blue.
Ronaldo wasted no time in implementing as Bismuth began to steam up harder, her metal plating beginning to turn red and expand, her shrieks became distorted under her uncontrollable rage. A sight, which had the hapless Steven absolutely terrified of the sequence that his own circuits were threatening to glitch him...as Amethyst in turn stood in front of him and urged him to look away. The room began to quake...until...
The android stopped moved and Bismuth herself fell back into the same slump as before. Her plating cooled down in time, creaking all the while. Ronaldo wiped his forehead in relief...until a rogue screw hit him on his glasses and broke the lens as he fell backwards onto the floor.
"That could have gone a lot worse." Amethyst commented.
Ronaldo, once he had come to and stopped complaining about his nose and glasses, cleaned up the mess and made sure the Bisdroid was on ice for a while. All agreed that she was too risky to activate for now, but what she had mentioned was fairly damning.
Maintaining the fort for now, Steven and the Ancillas returned back to the Domain and the Temple to discuss their latest findings. Steven, again messaged Connie to see if she wanted to join them, but failed to get a response. She had to have been working extremely hard by that point. The group at on the couches, trying to wrap their heads around it all.
"So we don't remember working underneath Greg and this...Rose?" Amethyst questioned, perhaps the only other one freaking out about this just as much as Steven was.
"Who is she really?"
Steven could only understand the WallofROSE connection through name but he had little else to go on. The program that was on his persons once and could scarcely remember why he had it...only that Connie needed it for her client. The information she had shared with him was that Rose was most likely Gregs girlfriend or something and had named it after her...but she was actually someone no one in the company ever saw...even pictures of her were impossible to grab so this Rose, for all intents, could have been someone entirely made up as far as the company was concerned.
He was really glad he could share some information with her...since she was more honest with him the most out of anyone. But why he couldn't bring himself to tell her the one thing he had yearned to ever since it was recycled back into his memory banks.
Something Ron warned him about...
Just need to make sure what we only disclose data to others that aren't risky to provide. So don't give too much away too soon either...
"Someone Greg knew."Steven told them.
Could he bring himself to tell them that Greg was indeed his Father-Creator?
"So they used you all for...what, exactly?"
Amethyst shrugged...she detested being called defective.
"Why would he want a prototype?" She called out.
"Garnet and Pearl I understand but...me?"
How could they even recover what was once deleted and purged from their systems? Pearl herself held a massive trove that was impossible to crack conventionally and all methods to find out more were exhausted a while back.
"The real question is why would a BM-AI focused company have GIS to begin with? I mean, I suppose their development of the Pink Monolith would inevitably form a few in the meantime." Pearl suggested.
Connie suggested reverse engineering could have had a part to play in a random offset comment a while ago. Common with Alien Tech. Steven's eyes looked at Garnet, then almost jumped as she looked straight at him, catching the AI unaware. She must have suspected something was up in his line of thoughts.
"It is the same reason why we don't understand why Steven was made." She said.
"We Ancillas are here to protect the Domain, not to think about the reasons."
But if what Bismuth said was true...
"Maybe they erased our parts because they were covering their tracks?" Amethyst assumed...she then slammed her hands on the table as her eyes widened with realisation.
"Wait...what if we actually helped hide the Pink Monolith ourselves?"
That was a stretched out possibility, if Steven ever saw one.
"That makes a lot of sense don't you think?"
Possibly? Bismuth must have belonged to DM Biometrics if her insinuations suggested as such.
"To protect the Monolith. Hmmm." Garnet said, looking down as she crossed her arms.
"Its plausible. But..."
Pearl suddenly shot up to interrupt.
"We can't let PeriCom find that out!" She cried, slamming her hands on the table even harder than Amethyst.
"If its true, then we must protect that bit of information as well."
Steven was curious what Connie would think...though she still hasn't answered his message, to where he was fretting over her silent status. She was hunting down the Pink Monolith as a long term goal.
"Wait, does that mean we need to stop hunting for it?" Steven questioned.
He was so conflicted.
"I suggest we leave the matter alone for now." Pearl suggested, looking at Garnet.
"At least until we know a little more about what Bismuth is talking about. Steven go see Connie. She's gonna want to know about this."
Steven nodded, humbled on Connie's behalf that Pearl had begun to trust the human.
"Will do. Brb!"
Steven felt the need to guard the Ancillas. Because what Bismuth implied was indeed fairly damning to them all and he had to be anxious about their safety too. All he could imagine, was Greg using the Ancillas for what ever reason at some point in time...used them and discarded them. A chilling concept...he had to wonder how they were dealing with it. A purpose surrounded to the nothingness...a simple erasure and measure of time deleted. The topic of the Pink Monolith was already sensitive as it was, but this made it much worse.
Connie once spoke about the motive behind the theft. Or she did mention it quite a bit. She was, for one, surprised someone could get away with taking the whole thing, although no one really knew the true sizes of these constructs. Rumours spread that they were around 10 to 12 meters tall. Gigantic machines of sorts, not unlike his AI Core. But perhaps, a Monoliths had to much, much bigger for starters.
He was also glad Pearl gave him a reason to speak to Connie. She would have had her down in her work, hardcore. Theories with strings formed; they had to fit in this vastly complex puzzle that was created. Steven wasn't always a suspicious program, but the way that the Ancillas knew Greg. Bismuth knew Greg. Steven was created by him. Working on so many coincidences at once had the idea of coincidence begin to fade and replaced by dots on a corkboard.
Speaking of corkboards, he had returned back to the apartment in the haste to let Connie know what they found. Jumping through the usual hoops, he reappeared on the CPD and expected to see her sitting in her chair, nose deep in troves of news and texts written in the ashes of history.
Except....
She wasn't. The room was darker than usual and instinct threw Steven off course; something was definitely off and he didn't like it.
Not that he had guts, but a feeling similar to that was telling him this. Scanning the room, he noticed the dishevelled blankets on her bed to his left. Connie hardly made the bed half the time but...
Jumping to the CPD on the bed side table he had a better look. A spark went through him on the sight of the other drawer on the other side of the bed was open; the one that normally contained her rarely used pistol.
"Oh no..." He muttered, fear taking hold of him.
"Connie? Connie are you home?"
He jumped to the kitchen...and examined the scene. Open cupboards and one cupboard door was barely hanging off its hitches. It was a mess...and Steven saw what he never wanted to see.
A drop of red on the bench.
His VI's analysis figured it out what it was quickly...and Steven became horrified beyond all doubt.
"CONNIE?" He cried again, desperate to hear her voice. He was but a small form of light and his voice was smaller but it could still reach those who yearn to hear it. No response, however, meant she was far and isolated.
Based on previous events, Steven's focus went on the bathroom door...it was closed and the light was off. No she wasn't doing this again. If Steven had a physical heart, he would feel it pulse and flood in the adrenaline. He's felt it before from Double-Jacking and it wasn't always pleasant...
But this was a legitimate reason to panic. Connie was missing....and the fact of his programming made the simulated variants run their subroutines and he hated it. Again, he was so hopeless and the fact that Connie was in danger terrified him so much that he felt like he was gonna to black out again; even his breathing became laboured and his visual receptors were going whack, flickering in multiple colours of green, blue and strips of magenta not meant to be translated into Kernel Core. The ticks clicking down to the New Year increased in volume and the cheers he could somehow hear around him were shrilling.
His eyes went to the front door. Seeing it wide open with more blood underneath it caused him to panic further.
"No...no...no,nonononono..."
He grabbed his head, digging his fingers into his scalp as he curled over, like he was about to vomit...the fact that Connie was not only missing but also hurt nearly drove him to rampancy...it didn't help with all of today's discoveries were the heaviest pieces that had now gotten the Ancillas into more danger. Connie would have been the first. And Steven felt like it was his fault too! He had to stop himself from breaking down before he even got to attempt to help...so he had to trace down a resolution so he could continue to figure out what to do next.
The clocks struck twelve and the fireworks outside coupled with his glitching receptors made the sensations unbearable, pulses of pink lines of light rippling through the apartment as Steven's stresses were consuming him once again. There was heat and electricity, enough of the former to melt the toughest ice and enough of the latter to accidentally turn on the tv to the New Years celebrations across the city.
Though even that was eventually warped to the memories of younger Connie standing in front of his AI Core. In a cute blue dress, eventually sitting down to just stare at him, her arms wrapped around her tiny knees.
"Steven..." She muttered, her voice muffled like it was coming from an old school radio, that particular bassless quality.
Suddenly his focus was on the screen, hologram tears rolling down his cheeks as he couldn't believe the sight before him.
"Con...Connie..." He stammered.
What was this...she had pieces of paper and several pencils next to her.
"Dad said you were sad. Are you sad Steven?"
He was...his beloved was in danger. Breaking out from the CPD summoned his ghost automatically; his hologram warping into the form as the OBE Shaders flipped into gear as far as his unconscious code was directing. Taller, larger, more ethereal. Could she really see him? Or the monitor with his words in text form? The pentagonal shape, the white frame and light pink screen with black text as it formed.
"I am. Sad."
I AM SAD.
"Why are you sad?" She asked, now drawing something on the piece of paper.
Why was he sad? He gripped the edges of the tv as he drew his face closer to the screen.
"You're hurt Connie." He said, weeping. Each tear fell to the ground and burst into tiny sparkling fireworks of their own on impact.
"I saw the blood..."
I SAW THE BLOOD.
"Oh? The blood?" Connie queried, looking at her index finger with a bandaid on it.
"Sorry if that makes you sad. It was an accident."
An accident?
"Where are you now?" Steven pleaded.
"I want to come find you."
ARE YOU OKAY?
Connie smiled as she continued to draw.
"I'm okay." She answered.
"Dad says it'll heal in no time at all...but I don't think you need to be sad."
Not when she was possibly out there...bleeding to death. Why wasn't she taking this seriously? She then pulled up a picture of her drawing...a drawing of a Pink Lion in front of a mansion alongside a rainbow haired robot. The Pink Lion seemed so...familiar. The mansion...not so much...the robot had to be Bismuth, surely.
"He says the Rosa Leo isn't a toy...not my fault it's a pretty pink colour with a Lions face on the front. I think it's cute."
Rosa Leo...
ROSA LEO?
Connie giggled.
"It's your dads...motorbike thingy. Said he had his...colourful robot friend make it for him...said to do something super cool."
What about the mansion?
"Miss Maheswaran!"
Connie looked behind her to see a short stout, short shaired blonde woman in a white coat behind her.
"Oh hi Dr. Miller!" She said.
"I'm just talking to Steven!"
Dr. Miller...
"I know you are little one." She said, then picked up the drawing.
"Oh you're telling him about the bike? I'm certain Steven doesn't need to be taught something so trivial as bicycles. He is so large he would never fit on one."
Connie frowned.
"What should I teach him then Doctor?" She asked.
The Doctor smiled.
"Well, Steven isn't a human. He'll never be able to learn hide and seek or hopscotch."
The tiny girl giggled.
"Dr. DeMayo said he can look through the cameras now. I think teaching him and hide and seek will be fun."
Hide and Seek....
HIDE AND SEEK?
"Oh little one, you know Steven can't do that." Dr Miller said, laughing as she ruffled Connie's hair.
"He can only work with two cameras. You could cheat and that wouldn't be fair on him."
Connie pouted as she crossed her arms, displeased.
"But you can teach him how to count."
Connie giggled.
"Steven's a big calculator isn't he?" She joked.
"He can count to infinity."
If only. He was told that was an offensive slur by some other AI's he's met.
"Well I think 'calculator' is a vast understatement..." Dr. Miller said.
She wasn't wrong.
"What if he gets too sad and won't get happy?" Connie queried.
Barbara smirked as she walked over to the panel beside her and typed a few sequences.
"Well you see...Steven's systems...ugh...why am I telling this to child..." Barbara whined.
"Steven, like all others like him, are in danger of Absolute Sadness. Absolute Anger. Absolute Happiness. Such states, if left on too long, can seriously hurt him. There are ways to bring him back from the brink."
Connie tilted her head. So innocent, so sweet and so cute as she looked so little as she got closer to his camera feed.
"Counting is one way to get him to...relax. So Connie. Count as higher as you can. And ask Steven to play along. See who wins." Dr. Miller suggested.
"Okay!" Connie replied, excited.
"Ready Steven?"
His real self was ignoring the alarms at that point.
"One."
One...
ONE
"Two..."
Two...
TWO.
"Three."
Three.
THREE.
Already something within himself was winding down from the extremes.
"Four."
Four...
FOUR.
"Five."
Five.
FIVE.
"Six."
Six...
SIX.
The picture faded from the tv...but he could still hear Connie counting...and it was like getting his theoretical breath back.
IF YOU FIND YOURSELF STRESSED, COUNT AS HIGH AS YOU CAN. FOCUS ON NUMBERS, NOT EMOTIONS.
Opening his eyes had Steven back on the normal CPD stand on the coffee table. Fireworks had since finished and there was a ambient feeling of loneliness once again. What was all that? How did it get so...weird? The Lion, The Android and the Mansion? How did it all fit? He felt colder than before...but it was a gentle chill, like powdered snow. Connie was out there...possibly freezing to death but Steven had to take action now, and try not to freak out. The pressure was and time was of the essence. Protecting the Ancillas...protecting Connie and he was failing the latter miserably.
He reflected on his current positioning, seeing all the pieces again and immediately calling Ronaldo for help, who was a bit surprised by Steven's lack of breath and urgency in his tone.
"Ron! I need you to come back to the apartment; Connie's..."
"Dude calm down, I'm on my way!"
Notes:
Happy New Year Steven, your girlfriends been kidnapped.
Chapter 24: Search Engine
Summary:
Steven tries his hardest to find Connie before it's too late. Amethyst helps out and brings an old friend along to help.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
If he was human, it would have been enough to send his heart skyrocketing, with humans commenting on having heart attacks as a result. He wrote off the upload bullshit as soon as he knew that her body was not found in the bathroom. He trusted her not to do that again, but he had to make sure. The counting to a hundred tool did it's job and Steven was able to make moves within microseconds. And seeing the images sent through from Connie...he was beginning to believe someone or something was calling out to him. The Rosa Leo...the Mansion....Bismuth...they had to do with something, surely.
Ronaldo had come back to the Apartment at Steven's request; rushing over. He was a bit dismayed upon finding the front door wide open. The man thought to call the cops, but they would want everything, including Connie's Work Station. She would be incredibly pissed if they took that away. He saw what Steven could see but more. The blood on the carpet, drawers opened and her Work Station was oddly enough, untouched save for small bullet hole on the top of the tower. The structure itself was shut down and non-functional with Ronaldo or Steven unable to switch it on. The bullet hole couldn't have done more damage that they realised.
There was a longer trail of blood that went from the bedroom, across the floor outside the kitchen and out the open door. Steven continued to fear for her life, but with Ron here he was able to calm down somewhat.
"Damn, I thought Connie was usually careful with her tracks." Ronaldo said, scratching his head in confusion. He had since had a bandage on his nose from Bismuth whacking and breaking it, with a dark bruise forming from it as a result.
"Whom ever has caught her, REALLY wanted her dead."
A victim of her hacking finally catching up to her? Steven would forget Connie would have a lot of enemies. Not Connie, but Berrybyte. The most notorious of Hackers.
"I really, really hope she's okay." Steven said, still finding himself in a bit of a panic as he fidgeted with his fingers.
"What do I do? What do I do?"
Ronaldo raised his palms. When things went deadly wrong, Steven was always the one to think of the worst case scenario...in this case, don't send a machine to do a humans job. They would just get stuck on useless feedback loops.
"Woah, calm down before you blow a circuit." He said, trying to reign Steven's emotions in. He adored Steven's affections with Connie, but this wasn't going to help.
"What was Connie doing beforehand?"
Research. A lot of it.
"She was researching Dr. Miller; one of the scientists who worked on the Pink Monolith who also went missing." Steven replied.
Ronaldo rubbed his chin. He'd always wanted to do detective work. Now was his chance. He figured Connie was smart and his gut already told him Connie was alive, somewhere, somehow. The two may of bickered but she was a survivor through and through. She definitely wouldn't have gone down without a fight. Using what Steven had told him, he ran through his head for his own ideas and using his background to sort through possibilities and incredible impossibilities.
"I wonder if she's related to Sadie Miller." He hummed.
"I mean, it could be coincidence. The cities full of them like pigeons."
Who?
"Who is she?" Steven wondered.
"A famous performer." Ronaldo replied.
"A scene kid."
Their only lead. That would have to do.
"Alright, I'll go find her." Steven said, making no delays.
Ronaldo's eyes widened. He didn't think the AI would take to the idea so quickly.
"Wait, we don't even know if they're related." He pointed out.
Steven could find several people who could find that out for him.
"We'll get the Ancillas to track down her history. We don't have Connie but we do have them!" He said with confidence, slamming his fist into his palm.
Ronaldo sighed...feeling like he was taken off the squad already. But it couldn't hurt.
"Do that...I think Sadie was due to perform at Club Sour Cream tonight in the Virtual Area. Let's start there."
Steven, without haste, quickly messaged the Ancillas, double-jacking with Ronaldo as they went to the Club. Steven had gotten the message back from Amethyst, saying she was tagging along for the ride and would meet up with them with an old friend.
Once they had arrived at the Club, Ronaldo made no qualms about heading straight to the VR Dance Floor. For what ever reason he was adamant that the two were related in a way. He was a big fan of Sadie Miller, or...Sadie Killer, as her stage name would be.
She was a big famous music star who had been travelling around the world. Ronaldo had so badly wanted to go one of her concerts but he definitely had other priorities. Once he was hooked up, Steven and himself began to try and figure out how to corner the performer.
They went to the main stage with all the lights and avatars dancing the night away. Sour Cream pulling his beats, Steven had to wonder where Amethyst was in all of this among ten million other random thoughts progressing through his mind. The rhythms he would normally enjoy, but his concerns took precedence. Anxiety filtered into his programming, resulting in his shaking right leg on the stool he was sitting on.
"Amethyst is a Security Program isn't she?" Ronaldo asked.
The two were by the Bar, looking over the vast crowd flashing under the rave lights. So many bright colours like a rainbow blinking over the top of the darkened crowd, skin riddled with their pulsing cyber lines, especially on their bare arms and legs.
"Yeah." Steven answered in a drained tone.
"She also knows a few people in the same positions across the Mega Beach City Grid."
Though his focus was still on Connie, fretting over her well being...and growing impatient.
"I wonder like with someone in her position, she must know plenty of people. Not just GIS; other AIs, even human sec systems." Ronaldo commented.
Amethyst did have the strangest contacts, but at least she's been proven reliable. They waited, until the music stopped and the lights calmed down. The crowd was but a hushed whisper, as DJ Sour Cream lit up above the main stage to make an announcement.
"Thank ya'll for coming tonight!" He said through his headset, his voice booming throughout the room.
"But right now, we have a special guest who's ready to perform, give it up to Sadie Killer!"
In the middle of the stage, a glowing green circle formed. Arose from the circle was a short woman, stout blonde with green highlights, black jacket with a dark green shirt underneath and blank pants and boots. She kept it pretty simple...sort of the mix of the neo goth era. She grasped tightly onto her silver microphone, before throwing a fist into the air. Steven looked at Ronaldo who was distracted by his supposed favourite artist, cooing and screaming in excitement like everyone else. Steven was stoic, sitting there on the stool, mind still fixated on their actual troubles.
"You all ready to rock the polygons off your socks? Celebrate New Years in style!"
Take my fate in your hands,
We've got a lot that hasn’t even began
Something is calling us,
We’re breaking free,
I’m curious,
I need to see.
Steven closed his eyes. The visions of him and Connie dancing together fluttered across as holograms. The two never talked about the song he would play for. There was so much business the two took care of. If Steven really could but whisk her somewhere peaceful. No work, something she'd enjoy besides all the chaos. He continued to think of the worst.
Like a flash before our eyes,
We're already into the night,
And if it feels like we’re dreaming,
Believe it,
Believe it!
Why would she do this? Again? Make him worried about her being hurt. They were wasting too much time here...who cares about the performance? They could just take Sadie here and now.
We don't have to wait 'til the morning,
The sun will never go down.
And we’ll be this way forever,
We've got to take it now....
But that would look bad on them. What if Ronaldo was wrong?
Just stay awake, stay awake
You can feel it just the way it goes
What if Connie was wrong? Her hunt for the truth drove her down this unwelcomed path.
Just stay awake, stay awake
If only...
Bring me down, side by side,
While our reflections make our bodies collide.
So full of energy, nothing to hide,
No need to sleep, we come alive...
But she had been linked to him...the message clearer and she still didn't say anything about what happened at his AI Core. Whether or not he was still in said AI Core. Or somewhere else completely. After all, AI Cores are meant for producing AI's, not storing them. They weren't limited to Phylacteries like GIS were.
And if we're gonna take this right
We can go wherever we like
And if it feels like you're dreaming
Believe it
believe it!
The gaps between them. He could travel anywhere she went...it didn't mean she wanted him to go with her...and it scared him in not seeing where she went on her own.
We don't have to wait 'til the morning,
The sun will never go down.
And we’ll be this way forever,
We've got to take it now...
She too, was impatient for answers. They had a lot more in common that Steven originally believed.
Just stay awake, stay awake,
You can follow us to paradise,
Just stay awake, stay awake...
But he was still angry over the fact she'd gone in this direction, his feelings topsy, turvy. Angry...sadness...despair. None were absolute....but...he wasn't going to lose her again...
After Sadie had finished her performance, Steven watched as she left the stage as the crowd clapped and cheered, saying she'll be back to perform later on, as other acts were due to play throughout the night. Steven, however...wanted to get a move on.
"Come on, let's go see her." Steven told him.
Ron paused, almost like he forgot the reason why they were here in the first place.
"Back stage? There's an unlikely ho-" WOAH."
Steven had little room for Ronaldo to argue as he took a few pages from Connie's book, hacking into the mainframe of the Domain and teleported them to Sadie's Dressing Room.
She was busy in front of the mirror, in a room filled to the brim with bits and pieces, stored in simple stacked black boxes, perhaps to store the data for Sadies Avatars. Simple in design but served its purpose as Sadie leaned to look at the squarish mirror that had small globes that lit up her face, checking her Avatars texture states.
"Sadie Killer? Or should I say, Sadie Miller!" Ronaldo announced, his intention to play bad cop rather obvious.
The woman immediately turned around and gasped, looking left and right.
"What? Who gave you the clearance to come in here?" She cried, clasping the shirt on her chest in shock.
"Don't make me get security!"
Steven sighed, as they approached.
"I'm sorry to intrude. We mean no harm." He said; with Ronaldo thinking he was playing good cop.
Sadie wasn't so sure about Ronaldo brooding with his arms crossed behind, appearing overly suspicious.
"We wanted to know if you were related to a Doctor Barbara Miller..."
The singer blinked, then furrowed her brows, confused.
"Noooooope?" She answered, her pitch rising towards the end.
A response that made Ronaldo growl.
"Look, I'm not at liberty to say anything without my lawyer so..."
Steven and Ronaldo look at one another, at a complete loss. What if he was actually wrong after all...
"I'm going to go now. You two are not authorised to be here!" She said, summoning a green warp and jumping through it faster than either the AI or human could act.
No. Steven wasn't done yet. Ronaldo still had his instincts guiding him (if only a few seconds slower than most) as he grabbed Steven's hand.
"She's getting away! That's a certain proof of guilt via an emergency escape, lets get her!"
The two jumped into the portal and found themselves back out into the City's Grid and begun the chase. Going as fast as the Domain's frame rate would allow them, the pair chased her around the main parts in the middle of the night where most humans would be sleeping. By most, meant around fifty one percent of the population who actually worked through the day. Though it was New Years so there were still some people and User Icons roaming about.
She was speedy, however and Steven wasn't a great fan of running. Neither was Ronaldo. They'd almost lost her in a nearby alleyway...until...
Suddenly a noise shifted beside them with a purple circular warp, that spawned a black whip from it and surrounded Sadie instantly, throwing her at a brick wall. Steven watched as Amethyst emerged with a blonde woman with an unusually round blonde hair with a small tuft on the top that reminded Steven of an onion. She was wearing a black and blue cop gear that was always snug around the edges, but had enough black square padding that protected her chest, shoulders arms and legs and in between the padding had the pulsing blue cyberlines. On the left hand side was a silver badge with the MBC Police Dept logo on it. She was definitely human, going from how aged her Avatar looked.
"Agent Vidalia Amberjack, Mega Beach City Police Dept. Domain Division." She said, showing off the credentials via the palm crystal. She then summoned a pair of holographic cuffs. Amethyst had forced her back to them so she could Sadie's' wrists behind her back, all the while she struggled and whined. Amethyst let go, while they took her to the nearest police station.
The station itself was quite lacking in detail, but the interrogation room was a blank white room with a single steel table and several metal chairs. Sadie herself was still locked up and forced to sit down by Amethyst, whom had still had her wrapped up with her strong whip.
That entrance was a surprise, although Amethyst did have the odd human contact...he'd never think one would show.
"Don't lie Lagball." Amethyst said, sneering at the singer as she tightened her grip.
"Tell us about your mom."
"M-my mom?" She said, a little flustered complete with shivers and sweat rolling down her face.
"What about her?"
Amethyst insisted on being bad cop too...except she was a lot better at it than Ronaldo was, who was behind them with, too stunned to say anything.
"Don't play dumb Miller." She said, stomping her foot on the couch.
"We know she used to work on the Pink Monolith."
Sadie looked left and right.
"I..uhh...I didn't know that." She said.
"Excuse me, I need to speak with my manager."
Amethyst groaned as she rolled her eyes.
"Look I know you're not a Karen ...but we've personally dealt with Karens before." She threatened.
Vidalia raised her hand against her associate.
"Relax Ammy, I doubt it's going to get to that point. Just let go of her and we'll continue to talk all night if we have to." She assured her.
The purple GIS sighed as she relented.
"Fine, fine, we'll do it your way." She complained.
Vidalia smiled, sitting down on the chair on the other side of the table and leaned her elbows against it. She was definitely the good cop here, with her motherly like vibes.
"Now, Ms. Miller. My friends here are simply trying to find your mother for a specific reason. It isn't you who is in trouble." She assured her.
Sadie looked way too nervous, biting her lip as she looked at Amethyst.
"Unless you decide to cause it for us, so..." She threatened.
Sadie gulped.
"Um...well..." She stammered, uncertain of all this accusation and where it would lead her.
Until Steven came forward.
"Like they said, your mother was a part of the team that produced the Pink Monolith." He said, entirely serious. Ronaldo had never seen him so...what was the word, disgruntled? Hardboiled like he was trying to be?
"She went missing alongside of some other scientists who worked on it. We want to know if you know anything about her location."
And perhaps whether or not this had anything to do with Connie's disappearance...his digitized gut was telling him he was going in the right direction.
"I...I don't..." Sadie began to say, before she receieved yet another glare from Amethyst.
"Look yes...okay, mom was part of the Pink Monolith Team..."
Connection confirmed at least.
"But no I don't know where she is."
Vidalia and Amethyst exchanged glances. Was she still trying to hide the truth?
"Okay, but can you tell me where one Connie Maheswaran is?" Amethyst said, slamming her hand on the table as she plays bad cop again.
Sadie winced, totally confused.
"Who?" She said.
Steven steps in, pissed off...knowing Connie was probably bleeding to death somewhere.
"Berrybyte...maybe you've heard of her." Said Steven, back into the fold again.
"She was looking into your mothers disappearance before people had come into her apartment and kidnapped her."
Sadie's eyes widened. Familiarity.
"W-hat? No...I had nothing to do with T-"
Amethyst had her whip tied around her again and squeezed her tightly. This cell had increased physics manipulation and alteration to work with.
"Tell the truth bucko."
Sadie gulped, distressed beyond all belief like she was about to pop.
"Please. I need your protection." She pleaded all of a sudden.
"Promise you'll protect me...from them."
Amethyst and Steven looked confused.
"PeriCom?" Amethyst wondered.
"The Empire." Said Vidalia.
The Empire? The same one Kevin was a part of? That made Steven feel ill.
"Run by an an Individual known as the Empress. She takes what she wants and often leaves nothing behind."
Original.
"I had a suspicion this lil' princess here is working for her. I've been trying to nab her for years."
Didn't she just say she wasn't...
"No I'm not working for Mo- them" Sadie stated. Though that was fairly obvious now where she was on the board.
"I just get visits from her goons."
Goons...but surely....
"Please, Sadie, I need to find Connie." Steven pleaded. He nodded towards Amethyst, telling her to let loose of the whip. The GIS couldn't understand why he wanted her to, but she did anyway.
Perhaps it was the genuine expression in Steven's eyes that told Sadie she could trust him. There were so few people she could trust in the world, even as an artist. And the people she'd come across weren't even as half a decent in the way they presented themselves. She'd prefer him to invade with kindness than with ample threats, knowing she'd fallen into a deep state of paranoia as of late.
"If you think your friend was taken by the Empire, meant she was seriously heading somewhere she shouldn't have." Sadie explained.
"They're at a Mansion to the Northern Sector...that's where they have their seat of operations. Their security is tightly nit."
The mansion...what Steven had sighted in the drawing the younger Connie had presented to him. So it had some purpose after all, even if it was so strange to witness. He'd have to figure out what it all meant at some point...
Vidalia would work out the finer details with Sadie, but let the woman be on her way and they would keep in touch. Steven, however, was stressing out over Connie being kidnapped by the Empire of all organisations. An unconscious hatred on the chaos they preferred to sow in the Domain. Risking lives constantly in order to make the quick buck here and there. They were going to pay for what they were doing to Connie.
He couldn't fathom how Connie would have slipped up. She was normally one who was super cautious with her work as Ronaldo had previously mentioned...so somehow they bested her? Something wasn't right.
Arriving at the gigantic building on the top of the hill surrounded by trees, this place had a definite creepy ambience to it. It was still the dead of the night and security guards were everywhere, clad in their dark gear and brightly lit visors, wary of any intruder that would dare to invade it.
Ronaldo had Steven still double jacking with him, while also providing Amethyst a CPD so she could slotted into Vidalias Domain Port Slot. Vidalia was a natural S herself, having been selected for the Domain Division over her Soulware grading. She did have to do some outsider work on occasion, but nothing like this. Didn't make it any less thrilling for her, however.
Amethyst had singled her out, as she was one of the few Agents still looking into the disappearance of the Pink Monolith, although most agents who had investigated had since given up and deemed it as a cold case, but those with the drive and the hunger for the extensive bounty in place for its safe return, would still be out there looking for clues as to its where abouts. Vidalias eyes would flicker purple from the purple GIS's influence, in a similar way that Ronaldo's would with the pink.
The mansion itself was surrounded by a tall, brick wall with the only entry a pair of automatic iron gates, which lead to Vidalia leading them towards the right hand side, seeing a tree stretching one of its branches out. As they got closer, Steven noticed something in the bushes by the wall. Turning his head, they noticed something unusual.
Scanning, Steven noticed that it was Connie's bike hidden there as her credentials popped up in his HUD. Wait...did that mean...
"Did Connie drive herself here?" Steven asked.
Vidalia wandered over and pulled the bike out. Taking out her flashlight, she examined the bike for anything noticeable.
"There's a few scratches, drops of blood." She said.
"Does that mean Connie...wait....why?" Said Amethyst, who was just as confused.
This didn't sight right with Steven at all.
"So...she wasn't kidnapped?" Ronaldo queried, rubbing his chin.
"This is incredibly fishy...and a very stinky fish at that."
They wouldn't know anything until they got inside. Vidalia climbed the tree first, followed by Ronaldo. Once the two were above the wall, they could see the side of the house, with its dozens of windows with their blinds closed. Security Cameras were spread about, which meant once they noticed they were there, it was game over.
"Damn we're stuck." Ron complained.
Vidalia observed the security guards patterns as they made their circular routes as well as the security cameras that shifted left and right at their normal paces.
"This place would have its own Private Grid, I would think." Vidalia stated.
"The Rich often do. Amethyst, Steven I think we need to someone to disable the cams."
But they would need some access point to get into it. With Private Grids it was nearly impossible...
"Pfff we'd need to be a ghost to in there." Amethyst said.
A ghost....
Ping...
Steven had an idea.
"Wait..." He stated.
"Lemme try something."
He hadn't done this within his own volition before but...the moments of extreme duress had activated the OBE Shaders on their own accord. But he was able to walk around freely without much interruption. If he could but activate this on his own.
Run OBE Shaders.
Ah so he could. He was glad to know...and he could use it the way he wanted to.
"Ronaldo, I'm going quiet for a minute..." Steven announced.
Ronaldo blinked, unsure of what Steven was doing, but trusted him never the less.
"Okay bro, uh...just uh...come back alive..." He said.
It started off dark...before he found himself slamming on the grounds below the branch, having fallen out of Ronaldo's body. It didn't hurt, it was just surprising.
Looking at his hands, they were almost see through, his default form unable to detected by the security guard who literally just walked right through him. Nodding, Steven made tentative fists, before moving forward. His height was quite tall compared to them, forgetting how small he could be on regular CPDs...but the mansion was massive, walking around to the front freely and going towards the giant wooden doors. Two cameras were operating, but nothing happening. Taking a deep breath, Steven raised his hands and walked forward and found that his entire self was able to go through it without delay.
"Yo Stevo, where are you?" Asked Amethyst, who was still able to speak to him on comms.
"I'm inside." He answered.
Somehow.
"When did you learn to do that?" She questioned.
A while ago. He didn't even know he had it to begin with.
"Uhh since I learned I had an OBE Shader program. Not sure how or why."
There was a slight pause.
"An OBE Shader? Huh...Never heard of it." She said, eventually after a moment of deliberating.
"Anyway, try and find the security room. We'll hang tight here. Holla if you need anything."
The interior of the Mansion had intriguing old school decor, as Connie would call it, though she would call it more ancient. Floor had this...what was the word, marble with this noveau sort of style to it. A lot of creams and reds and golds.
Greeted with a red stair case, Steven wasn't sure where he would even start...until he noticed something on the stair case itself. Kneeling down before it, he made a quick scan, identifying it as blood.
"That has to be Connie's." He said to himself.
"She must be up there."
He walked up the stairs, then noticed a man...a familiar man with a scarf that instantly instilled rage into him, as he was on his phone....Steven then preferred to listen to him speak, as he was quite pissed off.
"I don't care..the old lady just wants her found." He complained.
It was Kevin.
"Then make her appear...sheesh it shouldn't be that hard...she's bleeding for goodness sake, follow the blood!"
The man hung up his phone and sighed, continuing to walk up stairs. Right now Steven had to figure out where the Security Room was. As he did so, he noticed the floor itself had small LED lights embedded it. They weren't there before, but they formed a line down the right hand path on the other side of the foyer. He only noticed as they begun to blink in sequence, a blue colour. There was something compelling about it, with Steven walking the trail with caution.
There were cameras everywhere, but for some odd reason, he could see them highlighted in blue as well. Their outlines this holographic series of blue pulsing streaks and strawberry designed labels on the side. Was this some sort of power to see connections? No. It wasn't. Otherwise he would have been able to see them in Connie's apartment.
He did come across a big door however...and the lights on the floor lead him here. Swallowing, Steven closed his eyes as he phased through it. Upon opening them, he instinctively shielded his eyes from the brightness of the two dozen or so monitors looking at every aspect of the property.
A single guard sat there, leaned back and snoring. The desk itself riddled with bread crumbs and half drunken cup of coffee. Steven peered up at the screens and touched the main console on the side and out popped a holographic pink square. It looked like it was the settings for the security cameras.
Before he did so, he looked at at the monitors for any kind of sign of Connie. Each screen either had a sticky note with numbers and letters, or a blunt description. One of them had, 'Boss's Office.' on a navy door. Squinting, Steven could have sworn to see some blood on the floor. He sparked briefly, not prepared for the worst case scenario.
"Yo Ste-Man, what's takin' you so long?" Amethyst asked through the comms.
No. He had work to do.
"I uh..sorry about that." He said, putting his focus back on the settings.
"I'm deactivating the cameras now...also, why do human guardians have an obsession with donuts?"
And why was this one slacking off?
"It's a tale as old as time." Said Vidalia.
"Too long a tale I'm afraid."
It took him a bit of tweaking, but he remembered something from a movie Connie and him watched once. Repeating the same feed over and over and making sure nothing was sus. He also downloaded a copy of the Mansions blueprints, to get a good idea of where everything was. The Boss's Office; or where the Empress resided, was on the top floor, around the back and in the middle.
"Okay...should be good...just please be careful." Steven confirmed.
They weren't as invisible as he was.
"We'll be fine." Said Amethyst.
"You go find Connie, we'll find our own way in and we'll catch up.
Walking out of the room, he decided to head back to the foyer. The lines were no longer there, strangely enough. Walking up the stairs, he could see more blood...and Kevin speaking with more security guards on the top floor. The trail itself eventually stopped at that location, but as Steven listened in, they were talking about how the trail ran cold there, as no more blood could be soon.
"The Empress is clearly working and we do not want to disturb her!" Said one of the guards.
Kevin face palmed.
"The blood is clearly in front of the door you idiots, I don't care if I don't have clearance, I want to wring my fingers around that scrawny girls neck!"
Still had a grudge for that last incident. That was months ago and he couldn't let it go. Neither could Steven...something that stirred up the non-existent blood that called for Steven to mess with his systems yet again.
"Sorry young man, but no one is allowed in without an appointment with the boss!" Said one of the guards.
"Yeah we just need to wait for her to ping us if she needs anything." Said another.
There were either smart or just loyal stupid....and Steven sincerely knew it was the latter. Perhaps it was Connie that was dragged in there...they did find her after all! And the blood...oh no...she must have come inside willingly and got caught. This was bad.
Very bad.
Her research lead to this shoot out at her apartment. She dealt with these apparent goons as Sadie described and still managed to find the time to drag herself here on some kind of hunch? Steven couldn't fathom why and how she had to do this right now....and she's going to end of dead at the end of this. Steven did not want to panic...he had to calm himself. Connie had to have a plan...Connie wasn't Connie without one. So she had to be fine...she just had to do...and memories of the AI Core flooded back with the child of youth giggling and playing with him. It pained him a great deal in not knowing...and he just had to know.
Still, Steven had pressing matters. So with what courage he could upload into himself, Steven breathed; slipping past the guards, Steven found himself standing in front of the door and debating if he should enter himself. Making a fist, Steven tried to psyche himself up for anything. Again, he took another deep breath and entered.
Phasing through this particular door, he was met with a quaint room of blue. A simple touch glass lamp on the left hand side of a wooden based Work Station complete with only three aligned physical monitors that gave off a white glow. Behind that, was the back of black leather chair.
Steven wasn't exactly sure what to do with this scenario....until he looked at the floor...seeing more blood. Cautiously, even with the threat of Absolute Terror coming ever so close, Steven paced himself, walking slowly past the monitors until...
Steven...
Connie?
He heard her voice...she was still around?
Don't go near her.
Huh?
"Connie where are you?" He asked.
"What's going on?"
He was so confused, but it was apparent someone was in that chair. But looking to her desk, he could see a sheet of paper on it. On it, was written.
"We never should have made that abomination."
Abomination?
Follow the lines.
Looking at the monitors that turned a light blue...with Berrybytes signature sword and strawberry logo square in the middle in white. They all changed to arrows that directed Steven back behind the desk...and suddenly the doorframe itself was riddled with cybernetic lines....and the door itself sparkled and rippled like water with a cyan tint.
The lines Connie mentioned were on the floor again and were aiming towards the exit. Steven still wasn't sure about this.
"Connie I need to find you....are you hurt?" He asked.
No response.
"Connie?"
He was desperate...and the feeling was in with the heated lines of code in his very being. Clenching a fist, Steven moved forward towards the door. He tested it and tried to hack into it to no avail, instead a bit of blue goo grabbed his hand as he gasped in shock and tried to flick it off, however, it was then the entire door had burst out and swallowed Steven whole.
To where ever this would lead him, he was too frozen to know.
Notes:
Song ref: Stay Awake by Ellie Goulding and Madeon
I had issues with the length of this chapter, and decided to split it in two.
Chapter 25: Drivers
Summary:
Steven traverses the Mansions Private Grid to find Connie, and finds more than what he was bargaining for.
Notes:
Sorry for the delays...hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Chapter Text
Emerging on the other side...Steven had scanned the strange place was transported to. It had the outline of the Mansion, but ultimately, it was apparent he had been transported into some kind of private grid. Holographic nature with low poly renders which meant the grid itself was never meant to be designed for the Domain in the common use. Low quality but it would still served some kind of purpose, in the end. Rendering lines on the edges of every surface, lines of code normally hidden were in general patches here and there, running their subroutines. The real world equivalent would have amounted to just leaving cables running everywhere for people to trip over. It wasn't a hazard here, but there was little effort placed into the Grids atmosphere.
Steven was back into his Default Form...supporting the theory that the processors weren't made for this. Or they didn't have the proper drivers to support it. Typical of a pirate run network.
He raised his hand to summon a pentagonal pink screen and input a command that allowed him to trace Connie's extension. However, when he did so, all that did was bring up the Berrybyte symbol and a tiny alarm as the screen flashed red. Did she not want to be found?
Footsteps were heard nearby, however. Another scan indicated that there were several AI's traversing the paths within the Grid. He tip toed around the corner and peered down, seeing yellow low poly guards protecting the Grid.
Which meant something obviously valuable was lying in it.
Hacking into the system trajectory, he found several Guardian AI programs and alarm systems that would alert...a fair few AI's to his location. Their countermeasures not too dissimilar to anti-virus software. He had to think of something...and fast.
"Ron." Steven whispered.
"Ron can you hear me?"
Whether or not anything he could do out there wasn't likely to help but...
"Yeah Steven what's up?" Ronaldo replied.
Thank goodness the connection wasn't severed.
"Where are you all at?"
Disabling the cameras earlier was one thing. Evading real life guards, however..
"We've made it inside. We're sort of in one of the random hallways." Ronaldo explained.
"What about you?"
This place was massive.
"I'm inside the Mansions Private Grid." Steven responded.
"This place is crawling with AI based defence systems."
The fact that Connie must have been within the Grid itself made him feel a lot worse. The sight of blood had him fearful for her livelihood.
"But out there...please be careful."
He wouldn't forgive himself if anything would happen to them either.
"Likewise bro." Amethyst said.
"I'll see if V can patch me up to where you are. Hang tight."
Hopefully Amethyst would know what to do. Well...Steven could hack into the systems to disable them but his constant scans lead to the worry of wires being crossed and the amount of alerts for intrusion were numerous. Which lead him to think how in the world...
Oh right, he kept forgetting she was a Hacker. Of course Connie would get past all the guards. She was smart. So she had to be fine. But Steven was a strong, powerful AI in his own right...he technically shouldn't have anything to fear with the skills he's commanded for years. Any skill he had was creative, so he had to put his thinking cap on and work for it.
First things first; Steven had to find somewhere to hide his Avatar while his Psyche traversed in hidden status. He created a harmless safe zone in the nearby wall and commanded it as his own Admin Status. Easy to patch in undetected. He'd left his Avatar Shell within the Zone and left. The wall itself was only see through for him, but no other being, AI or otherwise would see it.
Popping out, he easily worked his way through the guards, though there was something off about all of this.
He could hear footsteps. Tiny ones. Pitter pattering the hallways. While the grid itself reminded him much of the design of the one he was captured in, this one was not owned by PeriCom or anything of the sort. Logos that were once the Empire's logo; the back of an envelope with a crown stamped in the middle and one by one as Steven traversed past them, his pink light, obscure to all, turned them into the Berrybyte logo. Connie must have come past here, leaving a trail. One that turned into destruction as there were remnants of disabled shells left in tatters. Evidence of a fight. Shells don't have to be destroyed to not work. You can disable or distort. Connie would have used some kind of feedback loop that glitched the guardians in these twisted broken states.
Why would she not delete them outright? Steven wasn't so sure.
Steven found them everywhere he went. Going upstairs into more maze like hallways and eventually, seeing a new room with Connie's Default Avatar appearing in a standoff with what must have been a GIS. He could see her Kernel Core on her chest. Her thin frame and long pointed nose told Steven she was a Pearl-Class GIS. Ivory skin, short cut cream coloured hair and a particular translucent shawl hanging over shoulders that reached past her hips as well as the circuitry lines found common in these forms. Steven observed the events unfolding before him, as Connie had a Pistol aimed right at the Pearl's chest, the latter with her hands behind her back and showing no trace of fear.
"I'm not leaving until I get what I want." Connie threatened.
"I'm a notorious hacker Lonely, I don't care if you're under some kind of protocol, either you give me the data I need or I will resort to backdoor methods to get it anyway."
Lonely?
"As I have informed you human, I cannot proceed to give information unless my owner has given verbal authority." Lonely said, her voice soft and low.
Connie grinded her teeth, annoyed.
"Your owner is dead!" She called out.
Wait, what? Steven didn't even...it explained the blood. But he didn't understand how...but it make sense of why Connie didn't want to go her near her.
"You have to have some kind of clause regarding that."
But Lonely wasn't budging.
"I would require an official death certificate or power of attorney." She said.
Oof.
Steven could see what Lonely was guarding. A large vault of sorts that held the only Empire logo left that wasn't hacked into Berrybytes. What was Connie after that was so critical behind it? Was it revenge or...
Something about Dr. Miller that Connie was so desperate to discover? Steven directed himself towards the vault itself and analysed its contents. It was being contained by several encryption locks that would possibly take hours, days or weeks to crack through.
Steven had to get himself started, never the less if Lonely wasn't going to cooperate.
"I know Dr. Miller was holding something critical to the Pink Monolith Investigation." Connie told her.
"Hell, maybe it was you who alerted her when I hacked into the Grids systems and sent goons after me."
And here Steven thought Connie was careful...much more careful than this. That not even the Chief of PeriCom would be able to find her.
"I am in charge of the Vaults Contents." She said.
"But it was not me who forwarded the Empire's Associated Protectors to your place of residence."
Who then?
"I find that hard to believe." Connie said.
"Someone knew I was looking into it. Dr. Miller was part of the same team that was building the superserver. My software doesn't leave traces of me left behind unless I intended it to...that's one of the first rules of Hacking. Mask your location."
Hiding the IP address wasn't an easy task unless you had your own VPN that would basically have you appear anywhere but where you actually were.
"Now this Vault holds something that Dr. Miller is deliberating hiding. Would you rather have PeriCom be alerted to this trove...and perhaps, crack your code to see what you, as I know Pearl-Class GIS are glorified Cloud Storage Systems...and they would rip out your insides instead."
Steven would have gulped and he'd hoped it wouldn't get to that point. So he instead focused on finding out more about Lonely's origins. Where she was from, who she was originally made for. The Empire were known terrorists for sabotage and for stealing precious software. Pearl-Class GIS were considered valuable, as the Ancilla Pearl mentioned that they were usually not found too far from their owners.
"Dr. Miller was someone in the field who dealt with GIS Phylacteries who emerged from a Monolith's Kindergarten. So she would have taken you specifically from White's Kindergarten."
Kindergartens were another matter entirely.
"As all Pearl-Class are." Lonely iterated.
"If Owner-Barbara is not around to administer admission, I would need a Diamond-Class GIS to override my systems."
A Diamond Class?
"Like a Monolith? You can't be serious!" Connie said with total disbelief.
"As if a Monolith would just waltz in and say hey, here you go! There has to be another way....if you don't want me ripping into your code. I'd rather avoid that conflict."
Steven was prepared to assist where necessary, if Connie would just ask. Steven didn't like it either but he knew how important this was. His Psyche travelled next to Lonely and was about to communicate with Connie via a message that he was there, ready to assist where necessary. He wasn't a Diamond-Class GIS but he figured two users were better than one.
"Steven if you're around, can you get your ass in here in already." Connie ordered.
She knew he was? Oh. Of course she did. She let him in here, after all.
It was then Lonely's head popped up.
"Steven?"
Like she knew the same.
"Yeah Steven." Connie said with pride.
"Berrybytes little Biscuit-Boy. Just get in here with the damn avatar, the AIs in here have a time lock so we're going to be fine."
It was like Connie knew his every move, kind of like Garnet's predictions. So after that small snippet of shock, he immediately went back to his Avatar and returned back. However, doing so, rendered a bit of surprise seeing him there in his Default Form. She did a quick scan on his form and her manner had changed entirely.
"You are the same Steven Dr. Miller had mentioned in her files." Lonely revealed.
Oh so now she was talking.
"I might be?" Steven sheepishly said, rubbing the back of his neck in uncertainty.
Connie was just pissed by this, but she let this play out as she lowered her weapon. Steven might as well be a Diamond-Class if this helps her get the information she desired.
"In what I can tell you, Dr. Miller mentioned many regrets." Lonely continued.
"She spent a percentile of her time intoxicated. She talked about you and talked about Dr. Gregory DeMayo. She had a specific distaste in the latter."
She didn't like his father?
"On quote: "I'd rather see that man burn in hell for the work he's made me do." End quote."
And that was allowed for what she could say. Imagine all the words she was unable to say. Connie just wanted to get to the bottom of it.
"I wonder if she knew where the true location of the Monolith was." Steven queried.
Perhaps. Now they would never find out.
"The topic of the Monolith was a sore point for her." Lonely explained, her head down.
"But that wasn't what the reason why she was indulging in alcohol."
Connie didn't care. She just wanted access to the vault.
"Look, Lonely. I hear you." She said, persisting with the peaceful resolution.
"Just this once, override your own damn protocol. I don't want to subject you through the bullshit I would normally put others through. Make life easier for yourself."
Steven took notice of Connie's warnings closer than he thought he would imagined himself to. The way Connie expressed her own displeasure in unleashing her wrath against this apparently innocent on the surface construct that was only doing what she was programmed to. He then noticed Lonely's Avatar beginning to glitch and distort.
"I cannot." She said.
"I...oh no..."
The glitching got worse.
"What's wrong?" Steven asked, about to help her.
Lonely knelt down and curled over as she begun to cry. Something shifted in the Grid and he could feel the tiniest cracks.
"It hurts...IT HURTS!" She called out.
Her Kernel Core as lighting up like the sun too. Steven made a quick scan; her systems were running over time for no reason which threatened to shut her down. What was happening? Oh no...the face of distorted distress, the scramble of limbs...this wasn't good.
"NO I DON'T WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
The screech was deafening as her voice scrambling into the highest pitches, causing Steven and Connie to walk back a few paces. This was a strange, unforeseen phenomena. The two of them watched in horror, as Lonely's Avatar burst into light and in it's place, was a giant moth creature out for blood.
"What the hell is this?" Connie questioned, bringing out her pistol.
Steven's heard of this thing happening before...but he's never seen it. Something the Gems once told him about. He tried to call Amethyst, but the transmission was nothing but static. The presence of this entity was blocking comms...so they had to figure out a way to stop it.
It took notice of Connie and flew towards her, before Steven slid in to protect her, summoning a round pink shield. The Shield he's never had to use until now. Connie's never seen it before either. She figured it was just a part of his programming, but it drew to mind something she's seen before.
But where?
"This GIS has been corrupted." Steven announced, as the monster continued to whack into the shield itself. He skimmed the systems around him to try and touch base, but to his horror, the reach was halted due to the the anti-corruption protocol protecting other sections of the Grid; meaning nothing could get in or out without the corruption being subdued.
"It's Cabinet must be in the building somewhere, but we can't talk to Amethyst."
Connie growled and shook her head.
"For fuck sake I should have known there must have been some kind of security check in place. This is bullshit!" She roared, the ferocity of her anger knowing no bounds.
But it had Steven realise...did she do something to Lonely?
"Connie, were you running any programs?" He asked.
The Hacker sighed and nodded.
"It was meant to be harmless." She said, trying to calm herself.
"It was a Seed meant to slowly copy keys and passwords over to me. It's never done this before, I swear."
So Connie was already in the works of stealing from Lonely anyway. But she must have not used it on a GIS before. He's heard of programs going haywire before, but cross OS platforms were doomed to failed majority of the time. About a 55% failure rate simply due to incompatibility issues. Hackers used Seeds in their work to obtain data at a slow rate and eventually would be able to compile even the most well protected of information within hours, days....weeks, months. If you had the patience.
A Pearl Class must have had a lot to contain...except the data Connie was searching for was inside the Vault.
"I ceased running it now but..."
Could it have corrupted the GIS though? Connie has hacked them, just not in this way. The corruption was more like a virus than malware in theory, but it was also said to be a breaking bug in their systems.
An untold amount of time ago...
"Be wary, GIS aren't perfect." Said Pearl.
Steven was sitting in the lounge with the Ancillas one day. They would educate him on many things out in the world he still had a lot to learn from. One of their lessons included being educated on Corruption, after encountering a green worm like creature attacking the MBC Grid. Corrupted GIS took the form of rabid monster who sought to destroy everything in their path.
"Corruption occurs through multiple methods. Data degradation is one of them. Unintentional or. 'silent'. Like humans, systems can evolve but they can also age in a specific way." Garnet said.
Age like a human?
"Yes. GIS do not normally succumb to this due our phylacteries ways internal processing is way more advanced than any human can ever dream to create. We can evolve on our own due to our unique matrices but we aren't immune ourselves." Pearl continued.
"The rate in which GIS corrupt is a lot less than say an AIs. But the way they can is far more dangerous."
They had encountered corrupted GIS multiple times in their history; fighting off and disabling them until they can be repaired. If they can be repaired.
"Is there anyway to fix them?" Steven asked.
Pearl and Garnet exchanged looks.
"You can always return the phylactery to its source." Pearl said, though Steven noticed her wariness, her hesitation as she talked about it. A sense of discomfort about a touchy subject.
"That source being a Diamond Monolith."
Oh.
"Has anyone tried?" Steven wondered.
He didn't like the idea with GIS and AI being hurt...if he could but fix them. He had this entire need to fix things for reasons unexplained.
"Sadly no." Garnet responded.
"The lack of access to any Monolith means no one GIS can be fixed any time soon."
And they weren't exactly out to find any. The Ancillas were even hesitant to continue finding out more about the Pink Monolith.
"But our goal is to contain the Kernel Cores within the safety confines of Burning Room until we find another solution."
He had to destroy the Avatar first before he could get to the Kernel Core. He knew that much. He didn't wish to do so, but he had no choice. The Ancillas never went into the detail as how GIS could become something relatively humanoid to something more bestial and abstract in design. They talk of age but...there had to be something else. He doubted Connie's seed did anything either.
"Connie...we need get rid of the shell so I can contain it's Kernel Core." He told her.
The Hacker nodded, not for a moment hesitating. Getting up, she withdrew her pistol and brought out her sword in whirlwind of blue pixels fading in and out of existence.
"Copy that." She answered firmly and with a great deal of unmistakable confidence.
"Let's bring this moth to a flame."
On instinct, Connie went back a few paces, as Steven kept up the shield. She took a deep breath and burst into a sprint with her sword behind her and with that moment, Steven soon knelt down with the shield on top of him as Connie jumped up on top of it.
He pushed her up high to support her like a spring. She swung her blade with one might fell swoop, slicing the Avatar in half. The Kernel Core was left intact and the Avatar burst into small white shards before they disappeared. The worst part of it was the almighty screech that went louder before it stopped completely.
Steven watched as the core floated downwards. He walked forward and let it cradle in his hands. Poor thing. So he encased it in a pink zip bubble, but could only but think of the torment the GIS would have gone through in that short amount of time.
"Great. Now we can't get inside." Connie complained.
Words that gave Steven more ire than anything; simply due to the lack of respect within them.
"You can't, or you just don't have the patience to get in there?" He said, semi-scolding in tone.
She didn't bite though.
"Keycodes are normally the easiest and quickest way." Connie told him as she approached the side of the vault.
"But perhaps not all that we have here is digital. This is only part of what I'm here for....and I suspect what lies within here as more to do with the part of Dr. Millers involvement with the Pink Monolith."
There was more?
"What do you mean?" Steven queried.
Connie did one of those shifty smirks...again.
"While I was busy hacking into the Grid, I found something up in the spacious attic. Something underneath cloth that I found to be interesting..."
Something was that almost worth dying for? Steven still didn't like it. After she said that, an alarm alerted her on the crystal on her hand which began blinking red. Which, wasn't always a good sign.
"Fuck me." She cursed.
Steven then felt dread overcome him.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
The sigh of irritation masked the real issue she was having.
"Stupid fucking body is still bleeding WELL after I triaged it with as many bandages I could spare in the moment...you know how hard it is to wrap your own body that's running on adrenaline and that tremors like crazy? It's fucking impossible."
And the fact she was saying this in the same tone of irritation disturbed Steven more so....and the horror that she was somewhere very slowly dying had Steven furious.
"Connie why didn't you tell me this earlier?" He chastised, his own bursts of anger emerging in small darker magenta flashes through his Avatar.
Connie rolled her eyes, clearly not taking this as seriously as he was.
"Because I thought the problem was fixed." She replied in earnest.
"I was going to go to the hospital as soon as I was done. For fuck sake Steven, I can take care of myself."
He was extremely hesitant to believe that..and the lack of trust that was hidden there within his code regarding the last time she almost died still lingered. She made this a very obstructive habit...a risk Steven could no longer afford. Enough was enough. He had to get Vidalia and Ronaldo to her fast.
"Steven to Ronaldo and Vidalia; Connie's body is in the attic. She needs first aid!" He called.
And a bit more of a scalding.
"Roger that!" Ronaldo replied.
"Finding our way up now."
The pair had the longest, glaring staring contest for the longest time. He had Lonely's Core in his hands, staring at Connie next to him in extreme disappointment. She pulled this stunt and for what? A damned hunch? If only Connie had seen what he had seen. Heard what had heard. Felt the terrifying realisation of her own lingering mortality on the brink.
"Why didn't you call us?" He asked, his voice breaking.
Connie face-palmed and shook her head.
"It wasn't going to be a long job." Connie answered. About to begin describe the series of event that unfolded before she arrived...
"Besides, it's not like I had planned this as it was..."
Several hours earlier...
She had been sitting at her Work Station, eyes glued to the middle monitor and seeing a picture of the Mansion, the Empire's Symbol and what appeared to be a unique type of hoverbike. Pink and black in design.
"Oh so its in that dark mansion on the other side of town? It's a cool lookin' bike...but what connection does it have to Dr. DeMayo?" Connie said to herself.
All of a sudden her screen started blinking red. Connie jumped at the sight.
"What the fuck...are you shitting me?" She cursed.
She then heard door slams...and the click and application of instinct went full tilt as she jumped out of her chair, slid over her bed to the drawer where her pistol was. She scan her fingers over the handle, authorising her access. Steven's never witnessed her use it...but she had on important occasions and it had saved her life during critical events.
"Well...they found me before I could find them...interesting."
The door burst open shortly after, as a legion black suited goons came in as Connie leaned against the wall closest to the door frame. She heard them walk around the apartment, trying to find her. Connie swallowed, nervous but otherwise she had an old thrill that through her veins. That addictive Adrenaline beginning to take its course and she loved it.
"We know you're here Berrybyte!" One of the men called out.
And the fact that Connie had progressed to a grin was a bit jarring.
"Hmm...maybe they'll bring me straight to them..."
She took a deep breath and internally counted to three.
One...two...
Peering around the corner on three, Connie took a few pot shots, aiming for the goons chest...only for her to miscalculate for the third goon who popped in got her in her right hand side.
"FUCK!" She cried.
She put a few into him as well...and another two that came inside. Once they were dealt with, Connie had gone to her medicine cabinet. She tried to clean her wounds first, but the blood just kept flowing. In a rush, she wrapped the bandages around her body until she had none left, then down a bunch of painkiller tablets to push on.
Dead bodies in her apartment wouldn't look good either. So she'd popped down the incinerator shoot down the end of the hall; meant for all garbage to be burned to ashes down the bottom of the building. But not before she scavenged their bodies for any fancy trinkets she could find.
But she knew for certain, that Mansion was hiding more and they did not want her to find it.
"What about Dr. Miller?" Steven questioned.
"You said she was dead."
Connie nodded.
"Suicide." She said.
Suicide?
"So you didn't have a hand in it?" Steven questioned, confused by it all.
Connie shook her head.
"She was like that when I got there." She said.
"I'd gone through an entrance on the roof and landed in the foyer. I'd gone in there and found her corpse. I tried to hack into her Work Station but the guards were closing in. Luckily, next to her room was the entrance to the attic so I took my gear and headed up there to hide."
Her Avatar proceeded to glitch in a fraction of a second...an indication that the signal was weakening...and her body was still dying.
"And now I need a cigarette."
The human pair had fought off guards in the meanwhile. Vidalia was masterful with her pistol, putting her training to work, while Ronaldo was a few steps behind, personally preferring to avoid conflict. Eventually, they had gone to the boss's office. Only to find Kevin standing right out side of it.
"Stop right there!" He said, aiming his gun at them.
Vidalia had her weapon turned to him as well. Neither were budging, while Ronaldo's stood behind her, eyes extremely wide.
"Kevin Garcia. Adopted into the Miller Empire. I've been wondering when you would slip up."
Kevin growled. He was a wanted man for months, though he always slipped through their fingers. Either through his influences. Vidalia hated the Empire for this reason. Kevin was just a lackey owned by them, getting paid to do their dirty work and relishing in it.
"More like used." Kevin berated.;
"I've been wanting to to get out of this foolish family but no...Bitch-face Barbara refuses to see me."
Probably ever since he got humiliated at the Club.
"Besides, the real problem is that intruder. They've spotted her but then the idiots lost the slut."
Vidalia rolled her eyes.
"This gun has gone through it's paces Garcia and I'm not afraid to use it." She warned.
"Step aside now and you might live."
The man growled as he lowered his weapon, his hand shaking. The man was one of the most cowardly you would have ever met. Maybe he was slick in the digital world but when met with the real issue of dying in reality, he was really, what Connie would call, a pussy.
"FUCK!" He screamed, dropping the gun as he dug his fingers into his head.
"I'm always getting screwed over!"
Vidalia kicked the weapon to the side as she cautiously approached him. She then slammed his chest into the nearby wall and handed Ronaldo her gun. The Fryman was so shocked by this that he didn't know what to do at first, but then pretended to act cool as he aimed the gun at Kevin himself, tempted to shoot him. Though watched as Vidalia handcuffed him.
"Put it down Ron or else you''ll shoot someones eye out." She said. Once she was finished she grabbed the gun back from him, then pressed a button her wrist to shock Kevin, which in fact, knocked him out cold. Common police procedure with certain, troubling criminals they knew wouldn't shut up. She walked over him and continued their way to find Connie.
The pair eventually found the steps into the antic and walked up them. It was gigantic and had tonnes of furniture covered in dusty sheets. Vidalia turned the light on, which emitted a weak glow, then made sure to examine the perimeter for any further threats. The only real threat was Ronaldo's asthma flaring up from all the dust particles in the air that forced him to get his inhaler out. Though, he gasped as he could see a hand popping out from behind a covered couch.
Ronaldo ran behind it, seeing a body lying against a box. They were next to a silver laptop which was on their right and a pistol left resting on the palm of their relaxed left hand. Blood poured out from their side onto the floor, but the face was more than recognisable.
It was Connie.
Vidalia approached and knelt down next to Ron and took out a small flash light and opened her eyes. She was unconscious, though when she investigated more, she felt a cable around the back of her neck which lead to the laptop itself. Another USB was in the side as well.
"She's jacked in." Vidalia said.
"Dude she looks so close to death." Amethyst commented.
Indeed she did.
"I think we need to talk about this." Steven acknowledged, trying to bring what Amethyst would call, an Elephant in the Room. Though he could quite understand the metaphor.
"First it was Kevin, then it was the donation of your brain and now this? How many times have you risked your life just so you could succeed the mission?"
Connie furrowed her brows, perplexed as she took out a digital cigarette and lit it up with her finger acting as a lighter; a tiny flame on the end of her pinky. Putting into her mouth, she inhaled, then exhaled. She needed that...she really did. It wasn't the same, but...it did the same thing in relaxing her brain.
"I've taken risks all my life Steven; that comes with the job." She replied. She wasn't raising her voice at all, but her mild manner was a type of arrogance Steven detested.
Such risks Steven had done before, but it didn't mean he had to like them.
"I saved your ass from PeriCom. Don't you think that was a massive risk to me?"
In a way yes, but that wasn't the point.
"I would have figured a way out." Steven explained.
"I don't have a real world body that needs tending to. Worst case scenario would have had me reconstitute somewhere else eventually."
Connie snorted, unimpressed.
"And I have my own protocols in place." She said.
Like that saved her from being captured.
"You literally lead them to you Connie, what happened to the basic fundamentals of hacking?" Steven said, continuing to drill into her.
She tapped the cigarette to her side, watching the ashes fall from the tip.
"I don't know how that happened." She said.
"The Empire is finished anyway. Miller is dead and the rest will scatter."
Steven was usually about the bigger picture, but the minute details and aspects of this. Part of just kept coming up with screenless errors of how wrong it felt.
She approached the fault and brought out a console, beginning to hack into it with her own programs.
"I didn't expect the Pearl GIS to corrupt. I'm not sure if drawing out the keycode while in that state would allow me to get through this any faster."
What was she even thinking. Steven warped the bubble back to the Temples Burning Room, before grabbing Connie's arm.
"Listen to me." He said.
"You're dying out there and you're focusing on this now? It's going to take ages!"
Connie stole her arm back from him.
"It's another seed." She said.
"It'll figure out the code eventually and will reroute it to my systems when it's done. Fucking hell you're being an angry Biscuit-Boy today."
Dark blue square panels formed, folding up and down and creating a cube until itself where each side had the Berrybyte symbol to isolate them from any intruding programs that might hinder her progress. It was a private peer network, that would allow the data to be taken to her Work Station once it was completed.
"But if you want to make yourself useful, get out here and get me to a hospital if you're so inclined. And get them to uncover the sheet behind me...and take that to Ronaldo's Warehouse for inspection...you're gonna love it."
He was still scornful, but... Steven did what he was told and took himself out through Emergency Ejection and found himself back into Ronaldo's CPD. The man shook as he tendered to her wounds.
"Oh you're back?" He said.
Now he could properly see Connie in the flesh. Unconscious with a lot of blood everywhere. His anger mixed with his worry upon such a horrifying sight. This was exactly what he was talking about. She was succumbing to the lack of care some users had for their own flesh and blood bodies as addicts would become bone thin after spending 99 percent of their time in the Domain. Empty husks with cobwebs. Euch. There weren't exactly laws that prevented this from happening. Only guidelines as technically it would only become illegal if you had wards to take care of.
They wrote that in after they found that out the hard way. The problem was, that it was still happening anyway.
"Ambulance and reinforcements should be here shortly." Vidalia announced.
"We'll do a sweep on the place, confiscate evidence of the Doctor was trying to do here."
Ronaldo looked up at Vidalia, who was standing in front of the sheet Connie was talking about.
"Ron, that right there." Steven said.
"Connie said to look at it."
Vidalia noticed it as well and tilted her head. She took the the sheet off and coughed as the dust settled. Before he sat a pink and black hoverbike. It looked sleeked, with several scratches from use. The front of it was a lions head with its mouth wide open revealing some kind of metal cylinder with in. It was kind of bulky for a hover bike but it looked like it would do the job. There was Alien Tech language on the side of it, in black text.
"The Rosa Leo." Amethyst translated.
"Fanciest thing...too fancy for my tastes...doesn't look like it'd last long on the road however."
It was more akin to an artistic expression as opposed to a usable hover bike.
"I've never heard of it, but something about it seems familiar."
After the heavy revelation that the Ancillas once served Gregory DeMayo, this had to have been linked to it. For unknown reasons, unless Connie was gonna bother to explain herself.
"You gonna confiscate it?" Ronaldo asked, trying to figure out a way to disconnect Connie from the laptop. He was at the laptop itself, but he couldn't get into it. Like Connie was denying him the chance.
"This is such a unique issue at hand." Vidalia said, trying to find the specs.
"I'm gonna have to."
Somehow Steven felt something with this bike and wanted to know more about for himself. Even with the slightest room scans, there was a particular type of energy surrounding it that was a bit familiar.
"Taking the Empire down like this...I was hoping for more of a challenge." Amethyst said.
"Just let the Danger Squad have this V. They can handle it."
The cop rubbed her chin. She had helped Amethyst and her friends plenty of times in the past out of their unusual friendship. She was one of the only good cops not willing to let themselves be pulled around by PeriCom and their general thuggery and monopoly over the city.
"Just...I'll handle the details...but if the investigation comes up that it's linked, I'll need some kind of evidence to give to the higher brass." Vidalia answered, though she wasn't entirely okay with it.
"Besides, we need to take care of this one...doesn't look like she'll last much longer."
Was Connie deliberately delaying the disconnection because of the Vault? Good god she was being impossible right now...refusing to leave what she would deem to be a gold mine, a treasure trove of juicy information she couldn't wait to get her hands on.
Foolish...
And it drove him crazy.
"Connie..." Steven said, grated.
"I'll talk to her."
It was awkward. Vidalia insisted Ronaldo let her take care of the bikes as she would send it over to his Warehouse for 'proper analysis.' as well as the search for Lonely's Pearl Cabinet was found in the dusty basement of the Mansion and was sent as well. Kevin was arrested and brought in for questioning, though he was more a lackey than a higher up.
Though it wasn't official, Vidalia would take useless evidence; trinkets, devices because they needed to get rid of the backed up junk from closed cases, usually dating back several decades. It went against protocol but nobody really cared too much at the Station.
Ronaldo and Steven worked to see how long it might take Connie to finally allowed them to disconnect her. They waited for five more minutes...and Ronaldo was about to make an emergency ejection...until...
A gasp, a shoot up and widened eyes had the system return Connie back to them, much to the boys belief. Her focus was a little off, abruptly pulling the cable out and putting her messy strings of hair behind her ears.
"Did you get what you need?" Ronaldo asked.
She winced, before glaring at the blonde man. Ronaldo wouldn't say he was intimidated, but he definitely was.
"No..." Connie replied, rubbing her head and grunting in pain.
"I was sick of the alarms. So I had to copy the Vault as a zip file and transfer it to my station. But without Lonely, it'll still take me forever to get into."
Lovely...
"Come on, let's get you fixed up..." Ronaldo said as she pulled Connie to her feet.
The sounds of pitter pattering feet could heard, but only in Connie's ears.
Chapter 26: Risk
Summary:
Steven isn't happy with Connie's actions at the Mansion and argues with her about it.
He also finds out something critical about himself in the process.
Chapter Text
Another trip to the hospital had Priyanka concerned yet again. But at least Connie was conscious this time. The AI Matriarch had refused to leave Connie on her own even when she was discharged, so in turn returned to Connie's apartment to keep a close eye. All the effort had Connie earn surgery and their respective scars, other than being non-plussed, was glad she was able to get what she wanted. Most of it, anyway...
Compulsion riled up the binary blood within him to the point where he wasn't sure what to do about it. She was smiling and Priyanka was frowning. Asking so many questions and in that motherly tone, scalded Connie for being careless. She wasn't wrong and Steven was inclined to agree. Like always, Connie dove right back into her work; determined to set the record straight.
Yes he too was glad she was okay, but this situation changed his emotions. Steven could love her, but he was also angry with her. Angry with how she had decided to risk her own termination again for a goal that no one had been informed about. Connie liked keeping her secret ways and Steven came to detest how much she kept to herself.
Almost losing her...again...he feared that this was becoming a habit. Over some kind of super pink vehicle she hadn't bothered to tell him about and data she was desperate to get into.
A few days later when Connie had full recovered, they had gone to visit the Warehouse and overlook this new toy. Ron had been poking around its guts during that week and had some intriguing finds. Standing there with the biggest smirk on her face, like she was so pleased with her discovery like nothing else mattered, or even changed. Lonely's stained white Cabinet was put next to Lapis' and Bismuth was put on hold and sat with them too, like a row of broken trophies. Hopefully this next piece of tech wasn't going to be as disappointing, but these antiquities were a list of things suspected or found to be potentially connected to the incident; it was just about adding all the pieces together in the hardest puzzle known to man.
"The Rosa Leo." Said Connie.
"It came up in my research as special machine developed by both Greg DeMayo and Bismuth. What its meant for? I don't even know."
Ronaldo nodded, though not entirely fond himself of Connie getting herself hurt over it's capture, it did have a certain charm.
"It looks inspired...I found traces of Alien Tech in its guts; coupled with a Kernel Core of its own." He revealed.
A hybrid? Then they might need another crucial pair of eyes. One that would most likely understand it more than anyone.
"How's Bismuths state going?" Connie queried.
No. They weren't going to activate her again until they knew what they were doing. It caused Steven more pain upon the imagination given food for thought. Just as much as it did for Ronaldo.
"I'm not confident..." Ronaldo replied.
"No amount of physical tinkering is gonna keep her stable. It's gonna be more of a software problem more than a hardware one."
Figures. They were win some and lose some. Too much risk and not a lot of caution to spare.
"Should we bring in the Ancillas to have a look at the bike?"
That was something that crossed Steven's mind. From Lapis and her Cabinet, to Bismuth's rampancy, to Lonely's corruption. The world did not like GIS right now.
"I'll ask them if they know anything, but I'll see if I can drag them up at some point." Steven replied, then looked at Connie.
"I'm half way through the encryption so I'm hoping to dig up something good by the end of the week." Connie told him, preparing to leave.
"Let me know if you find something else, will you?"
They returned back to Connie's Apartment. She had to check and recheck to make sure she wasn't going to compromised again. She had to know who found out about her location when she was looking into Dr. Miller and the Empire.
Staring into her screen; that which continued to scrawl with copious amounts of fast pacing text of gibberish as her work into the vault continued. With her mouth behind her tented fingers, Connie was in deep thought.
So was Steven. He was supposed to be back in the Domain, but he could no longer let this go further while it ravaged his mind like alarming pings. He stood next to her on the CPD and examined her features. Worn. Tired. The can of the energy drink next to her half drunk and next to two empty cans. An ashtray filled with buts and the air was both sweet and ashy like burnt strawberries.
They had to talk about her issues with risk. Her actions. There was only so much Steven could take until he would lose her entirely without bringing her back. His fear over losing her was like its own festering wound...he wasn't sure what he would do.
"Connie we need to talk." He said, braving himself for impact.
Her eyes didn't even leave the focus of the screen.
"About what?" Connie asked.
He sighed. Steven loved her, but her apathy was rusty.
"About...your actions. You didn't bother to warn us what was going on. You could have died!" He cried.
The Hacker rolled her eyes.
"Steven I'll tell you the same thing I tell you all the time. I can handle myself." She answered, like she was tired of being told of what she could and couldn't do.
Steven wasn't convinced. Connie was capable of many things. Coming back from the dead was not one of them.
"What if we didn't show up?" Steven argued, the stress threatening to flay his circuits.
"What if you....bled to death and no one of us were around to save you?"
Connie believed Steven was obsessed with one thing; the worst case scenario. Did he not believe in her that she would have done this a different way if they didn't show up? They just happened to connect the dots. They were smart enough to figure it out. Connie could only respect of the intelligence of so few who would able to translate her bread crumbs.
"I leave myself ways to get out of situations." Connie claimed.
"Different scenarios, different paths. There's an error; you find the error and make adjustments to the code where necessary. This shit; I've been dealing with it all my life."
Steven simply didn't like it. His anger was rising with Connie found all the justifications she'd liked to use to back her up. The thought of her dying on him brought Absolute Terror and would risk his own functionality.
"I- don't want you doing that anymore." He pleaded.
"I don't want you risking your neck like this."
He didn't get it...this was what she had always been doing. The potential for death was high but that's why she kept her options open for multiple solutions. That's how she had been approaching her life up until this point. She didn't need some...Biscuit Boy telling her what to do.
"Steven you can't control my life!" Connie said, drily.
"How many times do I have to keep telling you, this comes with the job!"
No. He refused to believe that anymore. He cared for her too much that Absolute Anger was going to take control. She wasn't taking this as seriously as he was...
It escalated so quickly, so much so that Steven had become so pissed off he couldn't control his own words.
"THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET A NEW JOB BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE NOT CUTTING IT ANYMORE!" He cried.
A roar that sent several pink pulses throughout the room, causing electronics to crackle and spark.
Connie froze in place; eyes widened. She shook her head and the heat in the room rose by several temperatures. Steven had taken his stance and said his opinion, though unsure if he had gone too far.
"Get out." She said...coldly.
Steven furrowed his brows, the Anger subsiding and leaving him in exhausted confusion.
"What?" He responded.
Words that fractured something painful within Connie. She was not expecting him to say that. Now she was the one fuming with the steam theoretically coming out of her ears, like he left the kettle on the stove for too long.
"GET OUT. GET THE FUCK OUT!" She screamed, pointing towards the door.
Oh no. Shaking his head, Steven had to be steadfast in the way he felt about this. Connie getting angry was something of consistency in her life...so he would have to allow her to calm down. He said nothing, before disappearing into the Domain in a violent fizzle of pixels, like he slammed a door in her face. Connie's eyes instinctively shut as she made a slight jump at the sudden harsh noise and inhaled and exhaled her stress through her nose, rather loudly.
Get a new job...Ugh. Who did he think he was? Telling her what to do? She's risking herself for him and Steven should have been more appreciative of her sacrifices for his sake. If he didn't like what she was doing then he never should have hired her in the first place. Hating the fact that he thought he was thinking she was fragile. Connie Berrybyte Maheswaran was anything but. Human flesh was human flesh that could heal in time, circumstances be damned. She was still alive and that's what really mattered.
It didn't make her feel better however. Connie felt awful and didn't like the guilt factor crawling up her throat. So for now, she had to get rid of that while she had work to do.
So she ended up going to the bottle shop and buying a case of beer; ending up spending most of her time getting wasted, alone and reading blurry code.
Their spat had torn them apart; but Steven was determined that he was in the right.
It had been a few days since then, Steven having stayed with Ronaldo at the Warehouse after their intense argument and neither were on speaking terms. Ronaldo had to cope with Stevens' ranting about how Connie was in the wrong. All the while trying to develop Steven's Android. Steven himself, his CPD-XL had since been upgraded so his hologram could now walk around the room. It was still in the testing phase but Ronaldo had most of the more glaring kinks worked out.
"Dude I don't want to be that guy, but...it's gettin' old pretty fast." Ronaldo complained.
Ronaldo liked the couple and he was sort of Steven's side regarding the whole fiasco with Connie willingly sacrificing herself in order to get the Rosa Leo, sitting there on the wall with the blanket draped over it, collecting dust. At the same time, Connie got them something valuable that PeriCom would kill to get their hands on. Connie was definitely skilled and the risks she took could be enormous. But wasn't that the norm with Hackers these days?
Taking sides was something he didn't wish to do. He respected Connie's skills, just not her attitude. But he could say the same for Steven at this moment.
"She says she did it for me...but seeing her almost die several times has my wires crossed so tightly that I almost burst each time." Steven argued, his hologram walking leaning against the nearby wall.
"There had to be other ways to get that stupid bike."
Ronaldo was beleaguered by it all. The two would have to make up some time. For now, he had to change the discussion. For the umpteenth time.
"The Empire was a deadly force." Ronaldo pointed out.
"Connie did better than most who would ever dare to get themselves inside that Fortress of depravity."
Everyone knew the Empire dealt with dirty business behind their doors. They didn't see much but what they did see was alarming enough even if all their juicy secrets had yet to be revealed.
"So she was right to claim it; Alien Tech in our hands is better than being in PeriComs."
Still could have done it a better way.
"After all, I did tell her to start bustin' down digital doors. Maybe she got it confused for literal?"
Steven didn't even care anymore.
"But here's where we stand. Greg DeMayo created you. Greg worked with the Ancillas. Greg had Bismuth as part of his plans. The Rosa Leo? Connie said it was under Greg's name; belonging to him."
Wait, so Ronaldo and Connie were still talking? Steven didn't know whether or not he had the gall to ask him how she was doing. So he decided not to.
"But there is no surprise that this has been fitted with Alien Tech. Alien Tech that is incredibly difficult to discern. Unless we can get Bismuth to tell us."
And she wasn't exactly in the state to comment or talk. How Steven wished he could speak to her, more than he really wanted to speak with Connie. And instantly felt terrible about thinking as such. A constant conflict of the mind, interconnected synapses that weren't matching where they were supposed to. It was like that occasionally and it still was, overwhelming...too confusing that Steven would explode in the same way. For now, he could explore a lot easier with his projection, able to wander around the room as intended. But his eyes were only ever focused on the Rosa Leo.
The AI slowly walked towards the hoverbike, pondering on its purpose and what had Connie so eager to claim it. She hadn't bothered to show up at the Warehouse, so Steven presumed that she was still stuck in her Apartment, in her own selfish bubble, possibly still pissed off. Kneeling down, he was drawn it to more than he was the day he saw it through Ron's eyes. A compelling sense of curiosity uploaded.
He reached out to it...and upon the simple touch Steven's world went dark very quickly; the change of scenery washed away in sea of black pixels. Turning around there was nothing he could see...except a screen showing off his camera feed back in the AI Core. Another memory?
Dr. DeMayo was there with the Pink Hoverbike, somehow demonstrating it to Steven.
"Heyo Schtu-ball." He said. What kind of nickname was that?
"Your mom and I had made this together. Isn't it cool? Soon, we'll be able to get you out of here."
Get him out...what?
"Excuse me Dr. DeMayo?"
A stout blonde woman came into his feed.
"Oh hey Barb." He said with a warm smile.
"See what Rose helped me make?"
Barbara made a groan, seemingly exasperated by Gregs enthusiasm for the device.
"That belongs in the garage. Not in the AI Core." She said, chastising him.
"I doubt Steven would even care or understand. It's not like he'll ever be able to ride it."
Understand? No. He wouldn't.
"That's the thing though!" Greg continued.
"It's not going to be used in a conventional way. You would take this thing at face value and undervalue it's importance to the greater scheme of things!"
Barbara hugged her tablet to her chest and leaned back, honestly more irritable by this. Perhaps his manner or intentions bothered her more so. At least, that what Steven was seeing.
"That's your solution? Forgive me for the critique of your plans Greg, but I don't think this is going to work."
What solution? What plan?
"Yee of so little faith Barb." Greg told her, adjusting the frames on his face, before pulling her in as he wrapped his arm around her neck.
"Steven's potential is enormous. Rose intends for him to lead the way to a greater future for humanity."
No way...Barbara pulled away and ended up keeping a distance between herself and Greg.
"Really? With a hoverbike?" She refuted.
"The Pink Monolith is our responsibility Greg. Not this...not this abomination!"
And with words that had Greg instantly peeved.
"Hey, don't call him that!" He said, defending Steven's honour.
The fact that Steven had never seen him so angry in his previous memories was jarring as well.
"Rose and I made him with love like any normal human being. Anyone with a child...like yours!"
And it made Dr. Miller just as pissed off with a disgusted grunt.
"Don't you dare compare this....this thing to my daughter!" She cried.
"And...and you give him lavish gifts.. .for goodness sake Greg, open your eyes to see what you're doing. PeriCom did not ask you to waste time and resources on projects that have no value for the future of the Domain."
And so Dr. Miller looked up at Steven himself, righting into the middle of his camera which made him feel uncomfortable and colder than he already was.
"Maybe I should ask him for his opinion? His judgement...someone of his calibre should be in the correct state to understand how this all works. The project will proceed as intended....so he will serve the Pink Monolith; he will be it's shield as intended. Nothing more."
She walked off eventually, leaving Greg silent. Once Barbara was gone, Greg sighed and looked between Steven and the bike for a long time, resting his hands on the top of it. Steven didn't understand. How could he? None of this made any sense what so ever. For what little clarity he could gain was what had been revealed as a startling set of possible truths.
"Don't think too much about what she said Steven." Greg told him.
But she was right. That's what Steven's purpose really was. A Shield. AI's that would serve as a stand in between the Monoliths and their subjects, although normally their stand ins were GIS, not AI's. His memory was still a bit spotty, but that's as much as he could get back from his databanks.
"Rose...I mean, your mom and I had this big plan. And uh...well, yeah you were intended to have a Caretaker role. But I think...it's gone beyond that."
A Caretaker. He's heard of those. Officially Assigned Guardians of Monoliths, if he wasn't mistaken. But Caretakers were definitely allocated GIS created by Monoliths themselves and from what Garnet once told him that they acted as their eyes and ears as well. Why would an AI possess that role? Monoliths were their own programmers of code majority of people would hardly ever get to understand in a single life time.
"You're still our son. And we love you.....and you'll be capable of so much more than being a Caretaker. One day you'll see."
Moving the bike close to Steven's camera, Greg grew more excited.
"This beauty here will be our ticket to where we want to be...and between you and me? And it has to be between you and me or else...well, ya know...."
Yeah yeah. PeriCom.
"But this baby is capable of 'out of this world travel'. You remember Bismuth? She helped us build it...and it will unite the whole family together. I promise..."
Going back to the present, Steven backed out as the real world returned back to him. He could see himself on all fours, staring at the concrete flooring beneath him.
"So...find anything?" Ronaldo said calmly, but instead scaring the hell out of Steven who had almost had heart attack. If he had one.
"You were doing that red light blinky thing."
Oh right that. Standing up, Steven wasn't entirely sure what he saw, though that last part had him a bit thrown off course. What was he supposed to do with this? The connection with the Rosa Leo was made even more confusing.
"Dad wanted me to be a Caretaker." He revealed, bluntly.
Ron's eyes widened. That was not what he was expecting him to say at all, out of the blue.
"Woah...no way." He said.
And the man began to try to subtle freak out, as he walked around the room with his fingers in his scalp, under total disbelief.
"That means you're...oh man this is huge!"
It should have been...but Steven felt more melancholy than joy, looking at inactive Bismuth nearby.
"I mean...sheesh....you know what will happen if PeriCom catch whiff..."
More than he would know. But how far does his programming run as a Caretaker? What would role entail, for real? He didn't feel a connection to anything specifically, but his Dads mention of family to be united had him wondering.
"I know, I know." Steven said. He's had enough that anything that corporation set its eyes on would be considered dangerous. Everything had already been dangerous. This is just more than anything they'd come to understand.
"I wouldn't have a clue where the Monolith is though."
Or else they would have figured it out by now. Ronaldo tried to figure out the next step; knowing Steven's creation had very much to do with the Pink Monolith now. He had to let Connie know....but how or when...and would Steven approve of him letting her know? He decided to keep that to himself. Connie would probably figure that out anyway with that trove she was working on.
"I think we need to find other Caretakers I would say." Ronaldo surmised.
"Caretakers are super rare GIS and no one knows who they are for real. We for one, don't know if there is one more than Caretaker per Monolith."
They weren't spoken of a lot either. Their identities were the most secret in all of the Domain, coveting a super important position as to maintaining the health and well-being of their Monolith Masters. Steven tried going through his root source, but like always, it came up blank.
"I'll have a word with the Ancillas." Steven said.
Later that day he pinged the trio and met up with them again at the Temple. The last few days he'd spent ranting and hanging with Ronaldo that he flat out ignored the fact that he was supposed to let them in on progress. How he let his anger to get to him in such a way that he forgot what he was supposed to do. It didn't matter. Once he arrived, he spared no expense as he told them about everything that they uncovered so far...especially the Rosa Leo and that it was something meant for Steven, although to what end, he wasn't sure.
And the most important part.
"He also mentioned I was a Caretaker for the Pink Monolith. And no one knew about this?"
The three looked at each other, perplexed and a bit distressed. The fact Steven revealed that came as of great concern to Pearl. The news about them working with Greg was hard enough but this got a lot more dangerous.
"That would explain your blank past." Garnet said, being the stoic one of the three. He could trust her the most out of the Ancillas, her ability to reason beyond anyone else he'd ever met. She rarely got angry and preferred peaceful dialogue unless people were out to harm them...and especially Steven, who the Ancillas were already super protective of from the start.
"A Caretakers links to their respective Monoliths are considered to some of the strongest known."
Certainly didn't feel like it.
"The reason for you...not...not knowing...I would say that any of this knowledge would have to have been erased for your protection." Pearl stated, though she was sweating far more than the other two.
"Speaking of protection, it could be the Imprint Subroutine itself was damaged or deleted at point."
Imprint Subroutine?
"Oh those are annoying." Amethyst complained.
"That irritating command that compels you to protect certain assets with your very lives."
It didn't sound that bad. Unless one went too far. Like a particular someone.
"I didn't have that installed, thank goodness...but most Quartz-Class that are added for security detail have it..."
A prototype thing, Steven imagined. Amethyst didn't have every single bit of application a Quartz-Class was supposed to have but she had enough to work with that she didn't worry about it too much. She was resourceful in other ways.
"A Quartz being a Caretaker would be a good choice however." Garnet noted.
"My algorithms with that Jasper GIS state she would be a most likely candidate for a Caretaker position, given her role within PeriCom's command structure that she would serve the Yellow Monolith."
That made a lot of sense, the more that Steven thought about it. That made her more scary too.
"Would that mean...I mean if what Bismuth said was correct..." Said Amethyst, thinking of a particular scenario.
They served Greg and so..
"Would that make us Caretakers too?"
Possibly? Steven wouldn't be left alone, but it made him worry about protecting them more than anything.
"Unless we get to speak with Bismuth again, we may not know." Garnet answered.
Them being Caretakers would make more sense than Steven being one. Ideas floated around in his head but he had nothing conclusive.
"But you all know I'm not a GIS. Perhaps...they tried to install the Imprint Subroutine into me...and it failed? I mean, I can't check half of my programs most of the time and I check my systems daily." Steven said. He felt a bit embarrased in not being able to access certain parts of himself, deeming it administrative access only for some reason.
Pearl on the other hand tried to purse her lips before releasing her next sentence to a stammering fault.
"Oo....well, maybe...maybe part of your s-software suite....it could be GIS software...I'm just taking a guess as all." She said.
An AI with fragments of GIS Systems perhaps? He's had that inkling for a while now. Sadness nearly overwhelmed him as his insecurity came back up to surface. Garnet stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"It's the closest thing to answer we can get." She said.
Garnet could see...she could always see when matters like this would kick Steven down, when it came to conversations about his real purpose, his real design. Finding him all those years ago; it was from an emotional prediction she had that had the Synthesised believe that they were meant to be a family. Once honourable servants of this...Rose. She sounded familiar; like not all the data she had had been deleted.
But the risks taken and the jobs conducted. For the sole purpose of making their own existences mean something. She could always see Steven being restless; a rare trait for an AI whom had been normally been patient. Garnet only knew so much but what she did know, was that being BM-AI wasn't always going to guarantee that the human-side would translate well into AI-hood. The Ancillas did their best, dedicating their lives to his cause and ensuring that he was being guided in the right direction. Though she did not see his consensus with Connie coming, she could see how the two were linked with one another. That for what ever reason she never confided in the others with, was her certainty of Connie's general importance in Steven's mission.
"But we cannot stop there. You are heading in the right direction. We may see a resolution to this mystery sooner than we expected."
The Ancillas debated this among themselves. Mentally exhausted, Steven excused himself and had gone back into his room.
The room he'd spent so many years dwelling in. Escaping into the real world still brought on certain thrills but it was always when he was with Connie. Inserting himself into her Domain Port and feeling all of her sensations. It was a wonderful ride coupled with feelings humans would always take for granted in their short lives. She'd granted him the chance to live with her and that her Apartment was his. As long as he stayed out of the bathroom. Past incidents aside, Steven still honoured that...unless she was in danger again then he would have to break protocol for her safety alone.
He couldn't fathom why he was that angry at Connie. Steven felt he was right but he should have gotten over that by now. He could have been simply irritated but not as much as pissed off as to yelling in her face to tell her to get a new job. Grasping his tightened chest, Steven queried his absolutes. Because such inquiries had Steven dive deep into his own psyche, withdrawing into the dark magenta chasms of all the memories shared with those he cared for and those whom he came to dislike. That could flip the switch between love and hate so easily. Steven could fall into himself to the point of slowly floating down and watching screens of their time together pass him by.
He categorised her attributes for his own amusement; Her determination, admirable to a fault. But he mostly analysed that her laughter was indeed, the purest thing. When she wasn't being seductive or abrasive or being a straight up jerk. He would come to discover that Connie's inner most self was the most beautiful part and the light she could give he would only but throw up his shield for her over and over again. Conclusion?
He loved her. An Absolute Love. Out of anyone, anything. It was a certainty, a point written so deep into his code that he couldn't function properly without it. Garnet had gifted him with the knowledge about how certain feelings of attachment, of warmth and of soul that compelled individuals to be together. Her Ruby and Sapphire GIS components shared the same beliefs Garnet herself was to to believe the Consensus of Stevonnie being that result of his own attachments to Connie and had plead to what ever Monolith would listen, to bind their intricate minds with the stranger powers that be.
All this talk about Caretakers and their links with the Monoliths. He felt nothing towards the Monolith in question. He didn't feel anything from them directly, though whether or not they had an influence was unseen.
The links he knew of were Greg and the enigmatic Rose; who was she? His mother. A mother without a face. Creator of him. Creator of Rosa Leo. Most likely the WallofROSE as Connie once believed to be a link of some sort. Making him a Caretaker. Making him their son despite their real one likely having passed on. It was heart warming to think of, that he was loved instead of rejected by his familial ties. Experimented on...it didn't matter. They wanted him to exist. It was more human like than he'd originally envisioned.
Could he be both a Caretaker and a symbol of a deceased's love? He wasn't sure. The sensation of being trapped had a cold stream run down his spine...and so he had to leave.
Steven decided to take a walk around the city to clear his head, which was slightly down and with his hands in his pockets. The City itself was supposed to be welcoming; guaranteed to have the sunniest of days with thousands of people out. Friends. Couples. Families.
The innocence of it all. These people had no idea what was as stake in the world they made the choice to dwell in. In the crowds you wouldn't know unless you could pinpoint the telltale signs between AIs, GIS and Human Avatars.
AIs were more rigid in the manner. Humans would laugh more. GIS were the confused ones.
Steven wasn't sure what he was or where he belonged to anymore.
A set of heels on the pavement near him grabbed his attention.
It was Priyanka.
"Oh hello Steven, you busy?"
It'd been over a week since he'd seen her back in Connie's apartment. Priyanka could make him feel relaxed and given that they were, figuratively speaking, on the same wavelengths. The respect given to her was immense; being the only other BM-AI he'd had the chance to know better and help him understand himself in turn. He could see where Connie got her smarts, but obviously didn't inherit her grace.
The two sat on a bench by a large statue of a representation of a Monolith; a tall rectangular rock slate, with the words "Ad Deorum: Servite Sumus." carved in, with vines and flowers shaped around it.
"Work's been busy." Priyanka told him.
"The hospital has the common case of Overdependency of the Domain symptoms. Lack of Vitamin D intake, lack of a good diet. The Doctors call it Domain Rot. Humans that have their brains fried for having themselves logged in well over the recommended usage time frames....so they end up with a case of brain damage. They're delirious."
It was dangerous for ordinary humans to dwell in the Domain for extended periods. It was usually stated that the absolute max anyone would be in the Domain at any one time was normally 24 hours. 48 hours was pushing it, until Domain Rot would take place.
"That much electricity going into the brain for a long while causes it to overload eventually. Synapses weren't designed to work that hard with the constant feedback in a simulated environment. Unless you had some kind of cybernetic brain that was designed for that sort of thing."
A lot of that was illegal anyway. And mostly fictional. Domain Ports were cybernetic implants but weren't otherwise replacing anything organic.
"I worry after that stunt Connie pulled...that she's going to be subject to Domain Rot. Or worse."
Steven didn't want to even imagine it.
"I don't like it when she does that either." Steven admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I kind of...yelled at her about it...and she told me to leave."
Priyanka blinked, surprised, though sighed as she relaxed.
"Connie is the one to defend her pride. Medically speaking, I tried too. But she's as stubborn as they come." She said.
Steven nodded, slumped and felt a bit ashamed of his actions. He shouldn't be, but he was.
"Connie needs to be told. But then again, she was a lot like her father. A dedicated man who was heavy on loyalty. Even if it hurt him....especially financially."
Stubborn...but loyal. He could appreciate the latter.
"I wish I really knew my parents....well...my creators I mean." Steven admitted.
Priyanka smiled. He was such a curious child confined into a complex piece of software. No wonder Connie liked him. Though whether or not he was a case to be cracked was more Connie's style, her addiction to the intrigue apparent.
"I believe there is nothing wrong with calling creators our mothers and fathers. BM-AIs don't have to differentiate if there is already established relationship with the creators to begin with." She said.
"Your donors father was a human being. Your donors mother on the other hand..."
Rose...
"Dad said..." It was still weird for Steven to call him that, but he would get used to it.
"Dad said Rose was my mom."
The Doctor AI was a bit off put by that.
"Rose hm?" She said.
"The figure that never was seen according to the reports. The mysterious lover of Gregory DeMayo."
Steven nodded.
"I saw an old memory. Dad said they made me with love." He admitted.
As most parents would. They must have really loved their son.
"That's a sweet gesture. I mean, as you know there are rules and regulations in place these days to prevent familial attachments." Priyanka explained.
The DEJA-VU Bug would be proven to be particularly unusual glitch in this case to solidify uncertain bonds. Despite the set backs; with the most common issue was accepting these facsimiles as real kin.
"But I'm beginning to wonder now if there is a underlying reason for that..."
Because of him?
"They lost their son. They wanted him back in anyway possible and instead got me." Steven said, the sorrow in his words most glaring that it made Pri frown.
It was more than that. But it was already something Steven had tried to accept on his own. There were holes, but the fact that Steven was a BM-AI made it all the more easier for Steven to see it, especially with the information Priyanka provided to him months before. He did jump a bit as she grabbed his hands, not wanting him to fall into that depressing pit again. The lack of his self-worth.
"Steven it's...yes, that's a probable conclusion to make. And the most common of all BM-AI scenarios." She said.
But what was this Caretaker role he was supposed to have? Why would he think...
"I would think....like everyone else that had wanted a loved one to live on eternally, that they would 'claim' to love the result. There were the unheard success stories of families completely content with what was given to them. Unfortunately those were very rare."
But there was the variables that factored into probabilities of those who would condemn, discard and abandon...and those would accept, take and love. Greg wanted the 'family' to unite. What the family consisted of, was anyone's guess.
"This is going to be a very odd question...but...you know about...Caretakers right?"
A word that gave Pri pause for the moment.
"Yes. Yes I do...what about them?" She said.
Would she understand?
"I think I might be one of them? I dunno." Steven admitted, with a shaky tone.
Priyanka quickly scanned the area. No one was nearby at the time.
"A...Caretaker? Steven that's....that's not something you should admit so freely." She stated, a bit paranoid.
So he was made aware. Somehow he was in the mood to vent in actuality. He could trust Pri to take things seriously anyway.
"I know but I want to sort of...make sense of it. I feel like...an bootleg AI by this point. Code thrown in and hoped to work."
But he was made by one of the inventors of BM-AIs so he knew that wasn't true. He went down that line of thought again...that line of self-hate that hitched on with that constant hidden desire for freedom. He dug his fingers into his thighs, trying to reign in this overwhelming sense of regret.
The Absolutes. Anger. Sadness. Love. Regret.
They never always felt absolute. Maybe Steven was never absolute himself either.
And the desire for freedom was him to trying to escape the confusion.
"The roads we cross as AIs are more perilous than humans could ever imagine." Priyanka explained, seeing how stressed this made the young program.
"We're handed problems they can't hope to do on their own. With the speed, the efficiency. Society has evolved into a now, immediate set of generations bent on getting it right. If it's not the first time, then it's the last time...a troubling mindset most humans have."
Humans didn't have the responsibilities they used to have. AI's now took care of most tasks that would only take moments, instead of days, weeks or months.
"AI's like us, have human mindsets too. Which means, while yes, we can be more personable, but we are still subject the human condition. We can have our own thoughts, feelings...and our feelings can still be the trigger for our actions. Our actions have a larger range of consequences. A BM-AI that has DEJA-VU bugs once too often can be called a liability."
And shut down for the likelihood of accidents happening.
"They want us to be emotional. But not too emotional." Steven stated.
Priyanka nodded, her eyes wandering on a laughing group of friends nearby.
"Empathy is what they want. A collective concern for humans. To watch out for them. Our judgements quick to process and our ability to understand human emotions." She explained.
"We can join them. Be part of the pack. But we're really not. They just need us to blend in...to walk hidden in the crowd. To disappear without being seen as something off."
They would gain and lose.
"We'll forever crave the human contact like our Donors did. We know the sensation despite never actually feeling it...and there's the unwanted realisation that we won't get the same physical experience ever again."
So the real Steven just needed the same.
"We'll also want to do things our original selves had been subjected to craving. The parts that send us overboard. Because we're hardwired from our donors...and we can become too.."
"Attached?" Steven said.
Priyanka smirked. She was thankful for Steven being someone who was out to find out answers. She could give facts but a lot of what could say was formed out of her own theories, assumptions and facts put into the mixture. She found aiding him the right thing to do within his confused mindset. She wanted to apologise for Connie for being the way she was but had to accept that there had been a lot of unfortunate circumstances that had been a part of it and that blaming herself wasn't being fair.
She still had her own set of issues but for the most part she was able to control herself to stay stable and useful. She never figured that relationship advice would come into it as well. Pri's experience of exploring her own emotions had her make several ideas onto what she could possess on her own terms. Being a copy of Priyanka Maheswaran had its own perks when she had a lot to draw from. Steven being possibly not that old when he was created, sadly didn't have the same pool. But he had the learning matrices that would allow him to surpass his donor and be who he desired to be. Just like any human. He didn't have to be a Caretaker anymore. He could just be...him. Priyanka envied that. But she was proud to support Steven anyway she could. Even if it meant placing her own organic 'daughter' as part of her curiosity as to where this would lead. And with good reason.
"I support your relationship with Connie because we are human in a different way." She explained.
"Some say we've transcended our physical forms. There's also the fact Connie never knew you as a human. So I think she can love you in the realest of ways, even if you're not the original Steven."
Steven gulped. Priyanka didn't know about the ambiguous situation with her daughter from a young age. It appeared she might have been left in the dark like everyone else.
"Because you still love Doug...right?" Steven queried, a bit nerved.
Pri looked down, the melancholy etched into her expression.
"The DEJA-VU bug within me tells me so. But I could be a completely different woman from the one he married. If he was alive, whether or not he would love me the same way as he would the real Priyanka would be up to him."
Steven would come to think he would. From his memories and from what Connie told him, he was a sweet man who didn't fear Steven in the AI Core.
"But we still need to be aware of our limitations just like humans. They're not all the same. We require a different set of checks and balances. With ourselves...with others...and in every action we take."
Limitations Steven knew more on an emotional level than a physical one.
"BM-AIs aren't conditioned to take risks. They can feel the need to be. Because they can weigh up realistic expectations and calculate the results to propose a resolution. Something that has a 99% percent of succeeding can be undone by that 1%. But we don't need to use predictive analytics. We use our intuition and experiences. Something AI's don't have."
And the chances are their own.
"We can either weigh on luck or logic. The real question is; is do our matrices know the difference because it's programmed into is OR was it part of the cortex that was successfully copied from our donors?"
No one really knew?
"A bit of both?" Steven assumed.
He would have to.
"Possibly." Priyanka answered.
"I've done a lot of research over the years. Tried to get opinions from other BM-AIs. All go through what you go through...finding themselves lost at some point."
A true existential crisis then.
"Do any of them ask whether or not they want to seek...I dunno...their humanity again?"
A touchy question....Priyanka understood that was far more complex in scope but from what she gathered was a telling answer.
"Yes from a majority. Myself included." She admitted.
"I encourage AI's to try to find their way through the world of the Domain in general pursuits. Some come to the realisation that they are alive and deserve the same rights as humans. A group of those were hunted down by PeriCom and...terminated due to their ambitions deemed to be more harmful than good. Jury is still out on that one though."
And they too...went for it; getting them killed even with their supposed superior instincts. This is exactly what Steven had been fearing. The Android was potentially more acceptable, although not if PeriCom had a word in. It would most likely end up with Steven getting terminated too, the more he thought about it.
So he too, was giving in to greater risks just like Connie. But he was more flexible in this place than in the real world.
"Though I'm curious. The Caretaker role is a unique one. Rose and Greg created you to be their link to the Pink Monolith. Maybe. I'm not an expert on GIS and only know so much on the base level. The deeper sections of their software, for one is beyond my own understanding."
That wasn't surprising.
"Pearl suggested I might have some GIS code in me." He told her.
Priyanka squinted at him, scanning him from head to toe.
"Hidden GIS software...well, it would explain your GIS like capabilities despite not being one." She said.
"Hm....I'm concerned. How many people know about this?"
Only so few.
"Ronaldo and the Ancillas...I...haven't told Connie." He admitted with shame.
That surprised Pri.
"Oh...okay...so...this will need further investigation on a strictly confidential level. Anything the Ancillas have told you....about Caretakers?"
Steven explained about the Imprint Subroutine they had...their drive to protect and maintain their Superserver Creator. Pri would need time to work on it, but she already had a few interesting theories forming. She stood up and prepared to leave, Steven wasn't comfortable...seeing the same traits she shared with her overly curious daughter. Steven pulled on her sleeve.
"Wait..." He said.
"Don't...don't do anything that well...."
She could see he was worried. After Connie, Steven was becoming fearful of too many people getting involved and getting hurt. He wouldn't want anyone to subjected to the horrors inflicted when one knew too much. At one point, he would need to do this alone. But right now, he couldn't. Parts that was supposed to make sense didn't. And those that did, raised even more questions. No one knew who Rose really was and tracing down names was impossible. Connie was still probably trapped in the vaults contents so...
Maybe he would have to confront her again. Apologise. But she had to apologise in return for doing it too hard that it would destroy her...and Steven did not want that.
He would go crazy if she did.
"As long as you don't go blabber mouthing this to anyone else, you will be fine." Priyanka told him.
"And I will be fine. I just need to see if I can find any history with notable GIS within the company. I feel Andrew won't exactly divulge that information so easily."
Steven still felt uneasy, watching Priyanka as she left....leaving him alone, wallowing in his own fears as the sky turned dark, the air turned cold and simulated snowflakes began to slowly fall from above, covering the top of the slate.
Resulting in a chill went down his spine.
Chapter 27: Wetware
Summary:
Weeks after their argument, Connie is still pissed and constantly gets pissed...and eventually meets the person she'd never thought she'd meet who offers her a proposal.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Several weeks had passed and Connie knew she was a mess but refused to clean herself up. In between burying herself into her work, she was often trying different ways to distract herself. More often than not, however....she like all those whom have had their hearts not necessarily broken, but pulled apart. The same heart that provided much, a necessary piece of hardware that ran on rusty gears that would cause her grief.
Occasionally, Ronaldo would try and talk to her. Telling her how they've made good on Steven's Android and that she's still welcome to come to the Warehouse even if Steven isn't there, to look up anything. He'd send photos and the like and ask her for her assistance. She had a key to the Warehouse and she was aware that she could drop in when ever she wanted to. Still twisted in the sense of her screwed up head, Connie ignored all of them. Ronaldo wasn't deserving of the silent treatment, but she figured Steven put him up to it and so too, ghosted Ron. Not like she was prepared to talk to anyone else...not while she was appearing a dishevelled whore each time she looked at herself in the mirror. No. No one important....maybe except for one person.
9:13 PM
She met up with Pat in the Domain for the first time in a while and ranted to her associate about it all, unleashing hell at a slow pace, with a slurred rate. By this point in the latest parts of the night, it wasn't long until she had a few at the Digital Bar of Achilles Heel: A new club with all the Greek mythos plastered everywhere. Lush green colours and glistening golds. The pair sat at a booth and Pats eyes were distracted by the bottles left lull on the table before them.
"You were right Pat." Connie said.. The 'Moonshine' effect that affected her psyche was well underway with a bottle of Ambrosia. Expensive and potent. Which did the job of getting sloshed quite nicely.
"I shouldn't have gotten involved."
The Data Broker glad she was finally seeing common sense at least. She'd warned Connie heaps of times, but the stubborn Berrybyte refused to listen.
"AI's have always been tricky territory Berry." Pat told her, resolving herself to non-alcoholic cocktails.
"A reason for debate. The troubles between the minds of Man against Machine. There's a lot of articles explaining how man would never accept machine to be their equal. We require different things, for example."
Yeah, like Steven needed to shut up on matters he knew nothing about. But they hadn't spoken in the weeks since their spat and she was struggling to get her work done while getting pissed all the time. Her house was filled with cans and bottles; the need for a decent living, not on her mind. Only to survive until the pain went away.
"My feelings are too fucked up." Connie pointed out, feeling her emotions churning out painful sparks.
"When I see Steven, I'm instantly remembered of someone I knew as a little girl....I can't picture his face but his personality."
Pat rose an eyebrow. She was one to make money out of gossip...and Connie had never mentioned anything about anyone in her life that stood out to her the most besides her family.
"You never told me much about your childhood." Pat said.
"But then again..."
Why would she? Berrybyte was always a good source of rumours and stories that Pat loved sharing with her fellow Brokers. Anything Connie said was free game anyway. Especially when she was drunk.
"I took him to my childhood house...for what ever reason....and ended up triggering something within him when he saw a picture of my Dad and Gregory DeMayo...I know there's a connection and Steven's said that he's like his creator/father...and my Dad was a security guard for DM Biometrics."
This was surprising. Though older Gen BM-AIs would consider Greg DeMayo to be their Creator-Father in theory, so there wasn't much to go on besides common threads. But Pat wasn't too naive to think of the implications. BM-AIs have always been a subject of the aforementioned debate. People hating them...holding onto them as the last visage of their loved ones.
"Do you think Steven's linked with the Pink Monolith Case?" Pat wondered. A million dollar question.
Connie didn't even know anymore.
"I wouldn't be surprised." Connie answered, before downing her drink and slamming the mug on the table. Though that was a point potentially considered but Connie was too drunk to remember if she had made that correlation before.
"But we have had multiple things crop up. Bismuths connections to the Ancillas. The Ancillas connections to Greg. Gregs connections to Steven. The Rosa Leo I found? Belonged to Dr. Miller, who someone who worked with Greg. But she decided to off herself before I could interrogate her."
This wouldn't be information Connie would so willingly spread if she was sober. Something was off.
"Dr. Miller was a wanted criminal for years." Pat told her, before sipping her cocktail.
"PeriCom would probably be glad and sad she is gone...."
Most likely.
"So tell me more about this...Rosa Leo...."
What could she tell? A pink Hoverbike with lion like decor. But the machine itself had old registrations.
"It once belonged to Greg DeMayo....maybe given to Dr. Miller as a gift? I dunno." Connie answered.
"What purpose it served, is yet to be uncovered. It's been locked up at Ronaldo's Warehouse for the last week....and I can't bring myself to see that Biscuit-Bitch right now."
After telling her to quit her job because she sucked at it? Pat was surprised the AI had the gall to go up against Connie like that, after everything the latter had explained about the former, about how he was too sweet and way too overprotective over her. Overprotective...hm....
"You told me about the details in the Vault. How's that working?"
Ugh...Connie didn't want to talk about it.
"Taking it's fucking time. What ever the Empire had was fucking big. Or they thought it was important enough to contain their funky little secrets." She said.
"I have my VI monitoring it's progress but...without the keycode, it's most likely gonna be another week or...maybe months."
Pat immediately knew that what ever the organisation had was going to be ripe for the picking. PeriCom would pay a fortunate amount for that data, for sure. The Empire would have plots and plans for their trail of destruction. The authorities took them seriously, but they also laid the lines within the criminal underworld, linked to corrupted enterprises for what ever reason. A protection racket. A bonafied mafia once lead by a strong willed woman. Her links to Greg DeMayo, however. There was more to this than meets the eye.
She watched Connie stand up; tired of lulling around and doing nothing. Though Pat really wanted to know one thing.
"You haven't officially broken up with Steven have you?" Pat queried, jabbing at her client.
That hadn't been something on Connie's mind. Couples have arguments...and people would say spending time apart would be healthy. But she was so mad with Steven that she wasn't even sure if she was still together with him or not. Maybe it was for the best, since her sole focus could only ever be on the Pink Monolith anyway.
"Look....I dunno..." Connie said, still totally confused irregardless. That would be the Ambrosia's fault.
"If Steven leads me to the Pink Monoliths where about's then that's my hunt alone."
The foolish thought crossed Pats mind a long time ago that Berrybyte was going to be the one to find the Pink Monolith one day. The score to end all scores with the biggest mysteries of the current era had only had the skin deep aspects explored. Connie checked her phone constantly in the meanwhile of their chat, to which Pat assumed that she was probably seeing if Steven was messaging her...but refrained from asking further.
After another several minutes of banter, Connie decided to hit the road and stood up and prepared to leave. Pat was bewildered by her behaviour and watched as Connie stumbled out of the bar with a cigarette. The betting pool alone was well within Connie's favour...which would definitely make Pat richer. Among other things that were drifting on by as was predicted.
If only she would behave herself.
"Just keep him on a tether Berry..." Pat muttered.
10:07 PM
Connie. Berrybyte. The life she lead was wrought with dangers. Getting hurt was indeed just part of it. There was no guarantee she was going to come out of unscathed. The thrill of the pursuit, the glory of a discovery of a life time. Other hackers had been pouring their work into seeking to solve the worlds biggest case. Connie felt cocky and confident she had the most break throughs thus far.
If Dr. Miller's Vault would just open. Connie had to tell herself to be patient. The answers would come sooner...though, it was probably faster to watch paint dry. Or for Ronaldo to embarrass himself.
Walking around the city at night, her mind still frazzled with intoxicated algorithms she was free to see the neon lights float by in a blur. An effect of the way the artificial booze was tinkering around up there. It wouldn't last forever. Tazzled thoughts as the moonshine effect messed up her mind, she looked a super tall white building complex and decided she wanted to take in the sights by going all the way to the top. Time passed infrequently and suddenly she was on the roof without the memory of how. It no longer mattered. The freedom of the simulated wind and the emulation of the skies above were enough to set her free...temporarily.
"Yo, you Berrybyte?"
Connie was too drunk to answer; sitting on the edge of the roof and looking over the pristine lights of the Domain at night...and somehow someone caught up with her. Again, too drunk to question too much about the illogical.
"I know of her." Connie responded drily and begrudgingly.
"Who wants to know?"
Turning around, she could see a short woman with triangular yellow hair and green glasses, wearing a green suit and dark silk tie and a bandanna around her forehead.
No. It couldn't be.
"Ms. Dot?" Connie said, surprised.
The CEO smirked as she sat next to her. What in the Domain was she doing here?
"Yes, it is the glorious Chief of PeriCom itself...finding the most famous Hacker lurking here like some kind of wasted potential of a vigilante." She said, puffing herself up out of sheer arrogance.
Connie blinked. Peri took a cigar out of her suit interior pocket and a lighter. Sticking one end in her mouth, Ms Dot nudged towards Connie, offering one to her as well. Berrybyte wasn't a cigar woman, but she'd always wanted to try. So she nodded, as Ms Dot replicated hers and handed it over to her. A type of peace offering.
"We know a lot about you." Ms Dot claimed.
"Your portfolio is extensive and impressive. Took a lot of man, GIS and AI power to find you."
Connie would have felt more flattered, if the woman next to her had been one of the most controversial in the last few decades.
"PeriCom agents, mooks...what ever. I'm not afraid...my skills outweigh the amount of credit you spend on the latest tech to be developed." Connie claimed, putting the cigar in her mouth. It was more potent that regular cigarettes...simulated tobacco.
Ms. Dot grinned. The air around her changed. To what extent, Connie couldn't say other than it being green in aura.
"Tells me we're failing to keep ahead of the curve." She said.
"Especially when it comes to seeking out the Pink Monolith. A little birdy told me you've been making progress. I was wondering if you were willing to...compare notes."
Connie was immediately uncomfortable with this.
"I know exactly what you want." Connie stated, not wanting to associate herself with such a greedy corporation.
Ms. Dot lifted her chin.
"And I know what you want." She claimed, tapped the end of her cigar.
How could she possibly...Connie just let her talk.
"Sure, the cool kids say we're just thinkin' about the bottom line and the top dollar. I assure you...the only thing I'm worried about is the safety and security of the Domain and its subsidiaries."
A likely story.
"The Domain is a beautiful place." She continued.
"Specially crafted sky-domes that beat actually stars....a galaxy with an aurora that the real world could never hope to create on its own. The Domain forges hopes and dreams; and creative hearts that thrive with in it...such as your own."
She found it funny Ms. Dot believed such nonsense. But has a head of a company, one would have to believe in the product they were selling...or at least, know their away around to make enough money to fund a nation.
"Just...quit with the rapport and tell me what you want from me." Connie snapped, not needing any sales pitches.
Who had the time for all the bullshit like that?
"Straight to business then? Great!" She said, beaming.
"You're hunting for our beloved Pink Monolith...yes you want the reward, the glory that comes with it...but so few know that each Monolith has a specific series of special Avatars that roam the Domain."
What?
"I've never heard of that!" Connie said.
Ms. Dot nodded and inhaled.
"No one has...only a select few." She said.
"The Diamond Monoliths handiwork can be seen all over the Domain as it continues to grow. So they constantly monitor and patch but we, their humble creators, must lighten the load so they are free to expand as much as they can; to touch every human mind. But while they are powerful, they still have to be maintained. Namely, for programs known as Caretakers..."
Ms. Dot explained the concept of Caretakers; protectors of the revered Diamond Monoliths that would be ready to lay down their lives for their Superserver Superiors.
"Was Greg DeMayo a Caretaker?" Connie wondered.
Ms. Dot ended up cackling.
"Hah...no, goodness no. A mere human cannot hold the sheer amount of code that requires Caretakers to function as they do. They can only ever be GIS."
Of course they would be.
"They have so much jampacked within them, everything they need to protect their Monolith at a moments notice. We are....aware of one specific Caretaker that we've been trying to track down for years."
And...they needed Connie's help with this...she figured.
"The Pink Monolith created several GIS through out the years. But she only ever designed one Caretaker that we know about. Her name was Rose Quartz."
Rose? As in...
"A Quartz-Class GIS...." Connie muttered.
Ms. Dot nodded.
"Yes...yes...I mean, she was designed for that singular purpose. When the Pink Monolith disappeared, we tried to find her. She was no where to be seen, so I think her Cabinet was taken too, hidden and either laid dormant....but I know better than to believe she was made to look that way."
Or if Connie's assumptions were correct...that Greg had something to do with it. Though it took into account everything she had known...and it made her head hurt.
"I'm not certain on the specifics of this Caretaker." Connie said.
"But she could have altered her Avatar so dramatically and covered her tracks so well that she could be, well...anyone."
It was an obvious thing to do if one were involved in serious incidents such as these.
"That's what's been agreed upon by everyone in the Task Force." Ms. Dot explained.
"It's one of the reasons why we've been trying to keep track of every GIS and label them so we can datamine what we can. Such code cannot be as perfect as you think it would be. There has to be remaining code that isn't like anyone elses. A GIS's digital architecture is far beyond any normal human can comprehend."
No doubt about that. So where was Rose hiding? Connie would think what ever she could get from Dr. Miller's vault could give her some sort of clue. Or she was going on a wild goose chase.
"But it also serves as their fingerprint." Connie continued.
"Rose would have had to have been relatively unique due to her function as a Caretaker."
Exclusive code for an exclusive role.
"I knew there was a reason why I liked you." Ms. Dot stated with a devious grin.
"Caretakers also have their own unique programs gifted by their Superserver known as Prime Apps. Rose had once had such a program...each designed to take full advantage of the Domain's underlying code and only that particular Caretaker can use that program."
Only one came to mind. WallofROSE.
WallofROSE; An asset once developed by the missing Pink Monolith. An impenetrable Firewall. The Pink Monoliths purpose was to help finally give the Domain complete stability but its existence; most of its precious programs were lost to us. ^1
"Can those programs be copied or taken?" Connie wondered.
Ms. Dot rubbed her chin.
"Copied? Probably but they're bound to be faulty." She said.
"Uninstalled or moved. Possibly. No Caretaker would give up their program so willingly."
So the WallofROSE was something belonging to her. LordWash....who was he? Connie formulated ideas and plans...was she particularly sure if she should reveal her intentions to the Chief of the biggest conglomerate in the world? The tiny Green Avatar squinted at her with suspicion.
"Why, have you seen something?"
Connie had to be extremely careful. She wasn't even certain if there was a profound link, but there was enough evidence to suspect as much.
"No." Connie lied.
"I was just thinking...I'm after something that no one could have possibly have. Like, can you give me an example of a Caretakers Prime App?"
Treading carefully was her aim...as long as she could dodge questions with troubling implications that would cause her or worse, Steven harm.
Their argument...she didn't hate him. She was just...mad at how he could go off at her like that. But she still felt compelled to protect him, for what ever reason beyond her own known feelings had her cling onto this mysterious notion.
"Good point." Ms. Dot acknowledged.
"Hm...I'm not at the liberty to divulge the secrets of the Superservers but hey, you're here to help..."
It was fascinating to have someone so high up willing to talk to Connie like this. Ms. Dot was seen as someone people would fear given the amount of power she wielded as such a small person.
"The Monoliths have a unique language when they talk to each other. The same kind of language that bends the realities of the digital worlds to their very whim. Almost like magic. GIS use the same rules, but the programs that they use differ from GIS to GIS as you know. A Caretaker App is a signature function that distinguishes Caretakers from regular GIS. The Monoliths design them and it's not really known know how or why. You've met Jasper, one of our Quartz-Class GIS."
Oh yeah. Don't make her remember.
"She's a Caretaker of the Yellow Monolith; this sectors dedicated Superserver. We tested her abilities and her function and designs were ranked some of the most effective we've ever seen. Her abilities exceeded our expectations from regular GIS, as she's able to identify threats quickly and eliminate anything that would pose an enormous burden. "
So...when her and Steven fused into Stevonnie...did she eventually determine that they weren't a risk to the Domain?
"Do these programs have file names?" Connie queried.
Ms Dot squinted again and scratched her head.
"After translation, hers was called StrikingEGO. Its a warning that you've passed into Jasper's threshold. She can run the fastest scans of a certain radius and detect any program within seconds...those programs cannot hide from her even encrypted ones. Coupled with her incredible strength as a Caretaker, she's able to shatter your shell with her might. But we told her she needs to adhere to our strict protocol before she decides to do anything rash. We found out she was a hit first, ask questions later kind of system. We had to order her to ask questions first before we lost anything valuable."
Hence why she was digging Steven and her for information. So it was determined Jaspers functionality, StrikingEgo was designed to be some kind of Analyst and Defensive Program combined into one. Intriguing.
"Most GIS fall into four separate roles depending on who makes them. The White Monolith governs the Base Coding; the underlying 'earth' of the Domain in order for nearly any program to run. The bare bones if you will. A lot of White Monolith designed systems are the skeletal frames to where you can formulate any given Digital Intelligence Based Systems (DIBS) and the Simulation Projection Checksum Strata (SIMPROCS)"
Aka the lingo for AIs/GIS/VIs and the virtual world around them.
"So they're in the High Developmental tier role so to speak. They are the engine that runs this place at the simplest ground level. "
Good to know. The more Connie could learn about GIS the better.
"The Yellow Monolith is more of a proactive network of GIS as you know. They take the baselines from what the White Monolith develops and build solid structures and formulate physics through data absorption and simulated atmospheres. They are what makes everything flow. The wind, the skies....textures and so forth. Sounds, tastes, touches, smells and sights. They do seek to preserve this foundation and formation of Jasper is simply her ensuring that what she finds isn't going to pose a risk."
With some kind of power, Ms Dot closed her eyes and no sooner than later, it had begun to rain heavily, with the skies above going cloudy.
"The Blue Monolith is more reactive." She explained.
"Some systems don't always run so smoothly. It runs tests and checks for bugs. It runs simulations on beta phase programs to make sure they'll fit into the Domain nice and smoothly with nary a hiccup. You can't catch all glitches, but they try and at least identify and snuff out anything that would cause the Domain greater harm. It would also seek to collect data like the Yellow Monolith but only for trouble shooting and reporting. Then once judgement has been passed on a longer term scale, they'll do some strategic planning with the other Monoliths to find the best solutions to a problem."
They would deem those like the Synthesised a detriment to the overall functionality. Among other things.
"As for the Pink Monolith? On top of the normal roles Monoliths do in keeping the Domain stable and creating their GIS, there's also dealing with extenuating threats that come into the Domain from exterior constituents. A system meant to be both something that would be able to protect the Domain from outsider influences and foreign content that may or may not be designed to shut down parts, big or small. Humans that would dare to break the mold and willingly corrupt our essential service. It's designed to be both a powerhouse without the judgement of the other Monoliths but with a little twist. Judgement is based on the techniques used by the others and one other detail. Uses the Domain's Skeletal frame, data absorption for both creation and destruction and one benefit the others weren't designed to have. The Pink Monolith is also meant to collect human data. As humanity needs to use the service, we also need to understand the formula to ensure that they're able to use the Domain effectively for themselves."
For protection. For Guidance. For Growth.
"The four were meant to be the first of the Monolith line if I remember correctly." Said Connie, who wasn't really fussed with getting drenched. It felt...liberating.
Ms. Dot nodded.
"Indeed." She answered.
"If humanity continues to increase their numbers then dependency on the Domain will increase. We're doing everything we possibly can to preserve what we can and delete unnecessary data to save room. Without the Pink Monolith, it will definitely collapse. Maybe not now or in ten years. A hundred...or a thousand years...then you'll start seeing the wear and tear."
So Lapis' report was definitely correct then.
"But that's just between you and me. We do not wish to cause alarm or panic to the populace at large."
No. Of course not.
"So Roses role....she was meant to be a Defensive GIS but also collect human information..." Connie stated, trying to wrap her head around it.
A Quartz-Class Caretaker taking to be the representative of her Creator-Monolith. Her Prime App stolen. What Connie still didn't understand was Steven's involvement. And this LordWash character.
"Correct." Ms. Dot said.
"There isn't a massive collection of GIS that were created with the Pink Monolith's contribution. Some were half made and unfinished. Or finished by other Monoliths. Some of them are doing their jobs. Others have been completely lost."
As far as what had been revealed, the Ancillas were supposedly lead by Rose. Rose must have found those GIS and recruited them, but for what ever reason, wiped their memories.
The CEO clicked her fingers to stop the rain outright and force the skies to clear to reveal to the stars again. To have that power and influence over the Domain was something most would envy to have.
"But the roles of the Monoliths over the years have changed as responsibilities shift and the Domain's growth has them realigning their goals."
And extending them out to their GIS, no less.
"The real reason I'm seeking you here though...is because of your father."
Her dad? A deep pit of anxiety entered her stomach and Connie had up to ante to protect herself. Her greatest fears aligned with the troubling news.
"What about him?" She asked, feigning ignorance.
Ms. Dot wouldn't be the one to to hold keys without a good reason.
"As of course you're away, your father worked for DM Biometrics as a security guard." She said.
"Logs indicate he was consistently bringing in a visitor. Those under the age of 18 due to privacy laws don't have their names written down. Only as Visitors signed under plus one guest with the workers they travel with."
She was aware...Connie combed her fingers through her hair as she tried to think back. But a lot of it was just...blank white.
"Investigations with Andrew DeMayo indicate that Gregory DeMayo was only close to so many people. And we suspect that Doug Maheswaran, who worked in the same area, brought you in to see the Pink Monolith at some point. And that Rose was a frequent contributor to Greg's line of work."
No, Connie's never even seen the Pink Monolith before in her entire life. Her suspicions about Rose being involved were fine to investigate, but Connie would have remembered major stuff like that.
"Ms. Dot, I do not recall ever coming close to it. Or any other Caretakers besides Jasper." She stated, leaning over and looking at the CEO square in the eyes.
Ms. Dot blinked, appearing emotionless as she adjusted her glasses.
"You wouldn't." She said.
"I've come to believe Ms. Maheswaran, that you've been subjected to experimentation in the past by DM Biometrics and made to forget the experiences."
No. That can't be true. Surely her mother would have said something sooner.
"You grew up in the country, that part is definitely true... but the story about the lightning hitting the premise and causing the fire to kill both of your parents is too coincidental..."
No...
Connie stood up, not taking this bullshit Ms. Dot was spilling to her.
"You're not gonna bring that up..." Connie cried, her stance strong and her anger clear on her face.
Ms. Dot didn't feel intimidated.
"Ms. Maheswaran, DM Biometrics deals with human brains all the time." She explained.
"Erasure of memories is the standard process for BM-AI's. First tested on normal human brains with simulated copies before going onto proper, marketable versions."
Why the hell would they hide that from her then? Connie couldn't believe this.
"I've got nothing to do with the incident!" She cried, pushing back the lies and scrunching her fists.
Ms. Dot rolled her eyes.
"Relax..." She said, raising her hands in front of her.
"I know you don't believe it. That's the whole point."
How can she believe it...surely they must have some sort of proof.
"I'm trying to help you...not break your mind. But reshape it." She said.
"What ever the case...if the key into finding the Pink Monolith rests in what ever memories were deleted, there is a way to reclaim them."
The Hackers heart had been at it for the last ten minutes, with the attempts to calm herself down being frugal.
"I won't lie and say there isn't a risk. But there is someone you can talk to who can assist in this matter. However, they're not within this grid. But I can give you their location."
But what would Ms. Dot want in exchange? Connie wasn't going to do this without knowing the fine lines with her intentions. She could claim that it was for the sake of the Monolith, but surely there was more to it than that.
"What do you want from me then?" She asked.
Ms. Dot smirked.
"What ever is seeded within those forgotten memories. Anything that would help us track down Rose Quartz." She said.
"The thing most fascinating about the human mind is that total deletion isn't always possible. It was discovered that Soulware mostly has to do with brain function. Scientists worked out that humans can hold onto the most suppressed memories for years. Impossible to completely eradicate everything. So what ever was 'taken' would have been pushed so far down into your Soulware that only the most capable and skilled of individuals would ever be able to bring it back to the surface."
Connie paused to contemplate. Things in the past she was never able to recall. Ms. Dot continued on with her spiel.
"These grey areas of your mind...the confusion...those error codes. It's a firewall caging these parts with the strongest defences that even if you went to the root source of your Soulware, you wouldn't even have admin permission to take them out again."
And she didn't want to admit Ms. Dot was sort of correct? This was perplexing at the most disturbing. Connie had to have a deep think about it. What options she had and what would happen if they find something that had to do with Steven? This was something she had debate within herself if it was going to the right choice to make.
"There's no other way to find those sunken parts?" Connie queried.
Ms. Dot shrugged as she flicked her finished cigar over the edge of the building.
"I get you don't trust me. I understand." She said.
"I mean, by all means, try and get it anyway you think would help Ms. Maheswaran. I'd rather suggest leaving it to the experts. Here."
She got up and handed Connie a small white card. Written in black text was the words Weiss United Inc.
"What's this?" Connie asked.
Ms. Dot bowed her head.
"A solution to our problems." She said.
"And yours."
Connie had to research this company in greater detail. Going in between what she had just heard required Connie to think a great deal about what she could do and what she was supposed to do. Her priorities shifted. Ms. Dot had one more thing left to say before she disappeared.
"Think about my proposal. Your score will be absolutely massive and you will forever go down at the one who saved the world from total collapse."
11:39 PM
Connie had since retreated back to her apartment. It was snowing outside, given it was only late January.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she looked at her tablet which still had the business card details of this Weiss United business.
On top of her countless research with pictures on her multiple monitors that she transferred over with a simple swipe, she found out who they were and where they were. In a sector far from Mega Beach City. Pictures of every building white. Some greenery. It was far from the grimy aspects of the city she was in now. This one must have had one of the greatest economies and strictest laws in the known world.
Somewhere new. She'd been in Mega Beach City now for over a year. Time seemed to pass by so damn quickly.
A lot happens in the Hacking Industry and it was worth the visit despite set backs. And it wasn't like she had plans to stay here forever anyway. She had no real commitment and that...at the end of the day, as much as she hated to say it, Steven was an AI. Maybe made to toy with her already fucked up feelings.
Fiddling with her strawberry pendant, Connie still kept wondering however. Fucked up feelings...so much anger and anguish. Being happy wasn't the goal. Being stable, functional and flexible was. To accommodate and welcome change like an old friend. She sighed.
Could she...just not go? If Weiss United could figure out the missing pieces of history supposedly lodged in her brain...what if they planned to use it for evil? They'd find out about Steven...and even though she had been ignoring him because of the fact she was still angry about it, the inherent desire to protect him would always be there.
She didn't want them to find him.
Swallowing, Connie had to make a hard call. To move elsewhere. No doubt he would try and search for her however...he was that tenacious and suspended in the belief that what he feels for Connie is a justification for his actions and what ever made protocol he had for himself.
Ding!
Those thoughts were put to a halt, however when her Work Station finally hit something.
The Vault and its contents were finally able to be accessed...probably the best news she had all day. With child like joy, she hopped back into her chair and downed a can of energy drink, preparing for an entire night of gauging down every single byte within the loads she had just uncovered. Some of it just had to be juicy, given the Empires activities.
There were a few videos packed within documents and ledgers and so forth. Some of the files contained messages between Dr. Miller and her underlings across the world. Though one video stood out in particular. It looked like security footage.
It was a conversation in a hallway and squinting at it, it had two individuals...Dr. Miller and Dr. G DeMayo. Filmed a few years ago. Why would Dr. Miller consider this valuable, Connie wondered.
"You wanted to see me Barb?" Greg asked.
SLAP.
"You're a horrible man! How could you do this?" She screeched.
Oh no...
"Do what?" He asked.
Distress was written on Dr. Millers face and her tightened and shaken body language.
"Oh I found a certain file that somehow had went unnoticed for so long. Something with our logistics. Something to do with...HIM." She said, snarling.
Greg furrowed his brows, downright confused at her actions.
"Barb...I can't...why were you looking through my stuff? That's strictly confidential!" He called out.
The argument heated up as Barbara pulled out a gun all of a sudden, causing Connie's eyes to go wide.
"You are a downright monster!" She shouted.
"You're willing to...willing to..."
Greg raised his hands and interrupted before Barbara burst a vein.
"Hey, hey....look. That's...look no one can know about this. There's a reasonable explanation!" He pleaded.
What did Greg do?
"How is...THAT reasonable?" Barbara cried, continuing to flail the pistol in his face.
"These projects are meant to promote preservation and to improve our technology! This is not what I signed up for!"
What did he DO? Connie wanted to-
--------
Shit.
The feed cut out all of a sudden as Connie's WorkStation went completely black.
No way...
The electricity was still on in the apartment...and Connie was all over the place, frantically checking everything until she eventually came to a daunting realisation.
She was getting hacked?
But how?
Connie sighed. The worst part of all this was... Steven was right. She couldn't do her job. So she couldn't be
Though the following messaging in Blue text on her Monitor definitely had a lot more to be worried about.
CLEAN AWAY THE EVIDENCE. USE THE SOAP.
What Connie did have though was a back up plan just in case this happen. She worked her magic on her tablet and used it to communicate with the respective Hacker on the other line; whom she came to admire their skills first and foremost.
"Who are you?" She typed, not wanting to lose this battle.
YOU ARE BEING MONITORED. YOU NEED TO LEAVE MEGA BEACH CITY.
Words that shrunk pupils and sent Connie's paranoia skyrocketing. Of course. Ms. Dot found her...though Connie wasn't exactly hiding herself in this occasion. Sometimes to fool the system, one must look like the rest of the crowd and blend in with them. Helps sometimes.
"What gives you the right to determine anything?" Connie wrote back.
She waited for a moment...until the last message prompted action.
FIND ME IN THE LAND OF POLYGONS. PIRATICA IN PIRATICA
All of a sudden everything was turned on again...putting everything back to normal. She's played this game with many people in the past....and messages like these...she knows the terminology. The callsign.
Connie knows exactly what she has to do now and without haste, began preparing the move.
Notes:
1. Chapter 16: Executable Part 2
Chapter 28: Timeline
Summary:
Steven finds out Connie's left Mega Beach City for an unknown reason. So he has a little help from Garnet to see if they can find her.
Notes:
Garnet centric chapter time!
Chapter Text
Garnet had always known Steven's adoring affections and connections to Connie ever since he brought her name up the fast time she heard it. The name and username dropped from his mouth in response to comms among the digital populace. A legend in the industry. Berrybyte, more so. The name Connie bugged the GIS more than she let on, though, with everything that had been revealed, it should have made sense. The missing pieces thought to have been once deleted, that were merely suppressed and inaccessible.
The course of programs told Garnet to take leads and threads and place them into the possibilities and percentile chances of actions taken. Humans could be predictable but in the paradox swirl that would break most systems, they could also be unpredictable. Truth had it, for reasons unfound in the search history, was Connie's importance to Steven. Why; a question she could not answer. Research had given them more questions than answers.
More questions came up as Steven returned to the Temple in tears.
Through his blubbering, the last thing Steven got was a proxy message via an unknown sender.
"I'm leaving Mega Beach City for good.
Don't follow me. Or message me. I'm fine. I'm taking the Rosa Leo with me. Berrybyte."
A deep pit of regret entered his emotional cortex and he had to action faster than anything he had ever had to respond to. Surely, she wasn't being serious. As predicted, Steven's instant response was to immediately contact her, despite her wishes. He tried to message Connie the conventional way several times. No replies at all.
He's even tried to get access via her WorkStation. No response.
Tagging along with Ronaldo to her Apartment. They talked with the Landlord who said the words he didn't want to hear.
She'd moved out.
The apartment was empty.
Conclusion? Connie had obviously found something...and didn't want to tell them about it.
This definitely seemed suss. Just as well they move forward and then they move two steps back. The world just didn't allow him and Connie to be together and it was clear through his frustrated expression that he hated it with every bit in his code...it would take her away from him every chance it got. It wasn't like he distrusted her. If Steven had offended Connie to the point where she couldn't stand being in the same room anymore or the same City Grid, then Steven only really had himself to blame. It would be difficult to let it slide, but this destroyed him more than he'd like to admit. Like a sharp spear had been thrown into his binary heart.
Ronaldo, Amethyst and Pearl were there too. They absorbed his words and processed them. Only for Garnet to process every little detail a little harder.
"I...I had intentions to talk to her again...I wanted to see how she was going." Steven said with sadness.
They were sitting in the lounge on the couches, with Steven leaning over as he sat in between Amethyst and Garnet, with Pearl and Ronaldo sitting on the other chairs.
"If...if she made progress....but..."
Maybe he could have said sorry. He'd been mulling over it for a while now and that it was hurting a lot more because he missed her so much. Digging his fingers into his hair and growling in frustration, Steven couldn't take it anymore.
"Why does she do this? Why does she have to keep on keeping secrets and not talk to us about them?"
Garnet was a natural observer for her role. She'd kept tabs on Connie ever since she arrived and had been doing so for some time but didn't see her leaving. On the revelation of her connections to Rose Quartz, Garnet had been researching with Amethyst and Pearl about their general involvement. Connie on the other hand was part of it and looking at Steven, she came to believe and see that he knew a partial reason why.
"She risks her life, she almost dies several times...and I-I can't stand it!"
Humans were an odd sort. Engaging in probable and improbable behaviours that Garnet would have to create several outcomes depending on the individual or situation she was looking on. Connie was unpredictable over all, but Steven's profound objection to Connie's actions were certainly questionable and concerning. Not only that, but Steven's own existence was something Garnet had a difficult time in handling. An AI with GIS programming was their most agreed guess, but there definitely more to it than that.
"Did you check that house you said she once lived in?" Ronaldo suggested.
"I mean, for drama I suppose she would go to the most isolated place she would know."
For drama maybe, but Connie wasn't naïve enough to think that she wouldn't be found there.
"We haven't checked. There's no way of knowing without double jacking." Steven answered, knowing how barren the technology was over there.
"I highly doubt she's there anyway."
Garnet's own research into the history of Berrybyte had her understand that Connie's spent her whole life as a lone wolf. She's done things on her own for years and it was easy to see her independence as a stubborn trait.
And it wasn't that Steven was naïve either. In some parts yes, but...
"We could respect her decision." Pearl suggested, taking another angle.
"She's moved out for a reason. Connie even says that she doesn't want you to follow her. So we shouldn't."
An astute assumption, Garnet thought. Steven wasn't biting it.
"She's tried that before...and now she's made good on it..." Steven said, reflecting on the last time she'd attempted this, though he wasn't convinced. The guilt was enough as it was.
"Oh geez, I messed this up...I never got to apologise...."
The way Steven was so distressed and wanting to make up for it all. A human-esque trait of desire, of emotions bleeding out to the point where his Absolute Guilt would take over, leading the Ancillas to attempt to calm him down before he blew a circuit again.
"What about her mom? Spoken to her?" Amethyst questioned.
Another good idea. But Garnet could already see where this was headed.
"Priyanka said she got the message but nothing else." Steven replied, rubbing his eyes.
"It was very sudden...no proper fair wells either."
So she didn't tell her mother AI or anyone where she was going. She had taken her stuff, with the apartment becoming vacant.
"It wasn't like she was kidnapped...her stuff wasn't there anymore." Ronaldo said.
"You'd have a messy place...like what old shenanigans have taught us."
Connie getting out quickly...she was doing this for a reason that Garnet could understand on a nuanced level. She made a few simulated guesses and prediction, sitting there with her fingers on her chin as she went through her subroutines.
"We can check with the Data-Broker Pat." Garnet said.
"She should have something."
Inspired by the slither of hope Garnet provided, Steven nodded in agreement and stood up and was prepared to leave, until Amethyst stopped him from going further, knowing how Garnet does her best work solo.
"Let Garnet check this out on her own Steven." She said.
"Rather than get worked up over nothing, you should relax. She'll scout her out and soon we'll find we've got nothing to worry about."
If only what Amethyst said was true. The fear in Steven's eyes told Garnet everything. Everything that could go wrong if he was involved. Which proved to be a point of contention. Garnet could see endings but the paths to get there travelled required certain bias. If Garnet wanted to go on her own, then no other Ancillas would argue.
"And work with Ronaldo with your Android model to pass the time."
"I don't know where she has gone." Said Pat.
The two met up in a park, as they sat on a bench under willow trees. Pat was a bit surprised that she would have encountered a GIS willingly seeking her out. She hadn't dealt with a great deal with GIS, but Garnet was determined to root out anything and that Pat would lead her to the truth.
"You were the last one to speak to her as par her known contacts." Garnet said.
"The last major individual."
The Data-Broker was obviously worried about her compatriot, over something or rather. The Ancillas were an odd bunch. A group of rogue GIS out to protect the Domain rather than sabotage. That's what Berrybyte told Pat anyway. The latters doubt over artificial constructs being able to understand the way humans worked; the way they felt and how feelings can change. Could their numbers change on spontaneous alterations for no specific reason? Were they treated as bugs and anomalies to be rectified? Pat didn't know enough to be able to perform an educated bias. Though BM-AIs...the closest to being human would be able to most likely grasp the short straw of human emotions.
"Sometimes people want to get away. People move on." Pat explained, using basic human nature as a reason.
"It's natural."
Dependent on your version of it. Garnet could only predict so many paths but Connie's was too ambiguous to make a definite analysis.
"Berry's a bit unpredictable at times but she's always after the next big thing."
Of course she was. But Garnet's known Connie enough now to gauge a perspective as to her desires and goals in her short human life.
"She found a lead with the Pink Monolith." Garnet said.
Pat blinked, the sighed. She'd learned about GNT_721_KC2. GIS or 'Garnet', the Analytical Ancilla, the Sapphire Mod. Powerful GIS with components made by the mysterious Blue Monolith. In most cases, PeriCom would want to apprehend her. But in this case...Pat knew the real reason why the Ancillas hadn't be claimed sooner.
"Probably? I mean she would skip entire continents if it meant the trail lead there." Pat explained.
Another continent...
"Where the other Monoliths are." Garnet said, rubbing her chin.
"Yellow is here. Blue is in Asia. White is in Europe. It would have been one of those two places."
Close to a Monolith meant tracing through scores of history with the companies that would have worked alongside each other during the development of each Monolith.
Pat scratched her chin, unsure of how to trust this GIS. Berrybyte had been on the fence but otherwise treated the Ancillas with respect.
"Well yeah..." She said, uncomfortable.
"But you can't respect the fact that Berry flies solo? She always has been. Some humans prefer to do things on their own."
That was irrelevant. Garnet's factored in Berrybytes future with Steven in a way her predictions weren't always clear about.
"I need more information to understand several factors." Garnet said.
It was odd. Pat was usually the more stoic, if not amused in some cases to Berry's cynical and rash ways of thinking and doing. Garnet just outmatched her on the former by terabytes.
"I don't know what else to tell you unless you're willing to pay up for it. You know how these things go." Pat told her.
Typical Broker attitudes. Garnet had ways to make her talk.
"You're an unusual GIS. I give you that. I only but request your history logs. I'm bound to get some valuable stuff..."
History...
Garnet lifted her chin then stood up, having gotten an idea and her processors flooded with incumbent values themselves.
"I must go. Thank you for your time."
Something that left Pat a bit perplexed and left scratching her head in confusion. She waited until the Ancilla was out of sight, before calling up an unknown individual.
"Yeah it's Pat. I just spoke with the Ancilla...I'm not sure where she's going...yes...yes I did. Just need to give it some time."
She should have done this sooner. She'd teleported back to the Private Grid and recruited one specific GIS. One GIS that was once considered defective and was on the the list to be deleted, but the Synthesised were prepared to take care of them.
A small, orange coloured GIS with a smile, always on her face. Relatively reserved on all accounts, but incredibly useful for when Garnet needed an extra eye on possible leads. Wearing her black dress with orange glowing lines throughout and her Kernel on display on the back of her right hand. The GIS in question was happy to serve.
PDSCHA_178_KC1. GIS
or
'Padparadscha.'
Walking through the streets, the two didn't talk much. They didn't need to. Pad would always announce things out of the blue for no reason that her buggy subroutines were acting up. It mattered little than disturb regular humans that walked on by. It never bothered either of them. Unless it was a random burst about someone lying about not cheating and what not, then they had a few angry eyes. Garnet protected her and even advised these people to wise up or else.
It was because Pad has the ability, unbeknown to everyone, to recompile previous events. The reverse of predictive analysis; retro-cognition. Visions of the past. With enough focus and tweaking, Garnet could get Pad to revisit footsteps of individuals. Giving her Connie's exe file code, Pad was definitely on the case. Like a human dog, she sniffed out everything she could and ended up finding information at a Digital Bar known as Achilles.
Pad kept talking about Connie getting drunk and her code mashed up while talking to Pat. While in the Bar she got a few looks as she described the detailed conversation.
Once done, she traced her footsteps to a tower...and the name Ms. Dot escaped Padparadschas lips.
Garnet wouldn't lie and say she was a little bit worried if the one in charge of PeriCom had something to do with Connie leaving.
But the word and title of Caretakers did ring a bell. She's heard of Caretakers but never really seen them directly. Or she has and she held no informative bias. But the idea was that you weren't supposed to know who the Caretakers were.
But the name Rose Quartz....
Garnet's held some contempt over the lack of information regarding the GIS whom apparently they had once served. Data deleted from her memory banks and those of her colleagues. Garnet could recall her previous servitude for the Blue Monolith but there were too many blanks on reflection with the time spent with Rose.
The conversation between Connie and Ms. Dot flowed into new territory and about how Connie was also subject to a mindwipe like them.
Garnet had always suspected Connie's links with the case but had no data to base it upon. The correlation to her relationship to Steven, to their unique Stevonnie OS and the factors of her AI Mother and father who once worked for DM Biometrics.
Too coincidental. Garnet did not like working with coincidences.
And the fire on the Maheswaran Household. It proved this.
PeriCom wanted something from Connie in particular, like she knew the truth.
"Ms. Dot seems to believe that...Berrybyte knows where the Pink Monolith is!" Padparadscha said in horror, holding her face.
She does. But she doesn't. But it made sense. Memory erasure of previous events would make it easy to hide particular knowledge. Knowledge of events, incidents.
"Berrybyte doesn't know. But Ms Dot suggests going to Weiss United!"
And that was the answer Garnet was looking for. She dared not to show any alarm, even for how grave and daring Connie had become; treading into territory that very few outside of it really much about.
"Thank you Padparadscha." She said.
"This is all I need for now."
Heading back to the Temple, Garnet was on her own and ran the numbers through her Kernel Cores.
Weiss United. She knew that was in Europe, particularly in Germany. A company that develops regular AIs. A much older, respected company lead by an individual known as Lady Volley. The problem was getting access to the European Grid Network. Jumping from one grid to a neighbouring Grid wasn't hard. But an entire continent had a heap of issues involved. Especially with Weiss United.
She conveyed this to Amethyst and Pearl before they would tell Steven. The former didn't seem to mind, but the latter...
"Weiss United...that's a name I haven't heard of in years." Pearl commented.
"Why would we ever want to go there?"
Pearl was always antsy when it came to jumping across borders never traversed upon. She feared the unknown more than most.
"Connie was given a lead by Ms. Dot. She's under the impression the human had something to do with the Monolith's disappearance."
The fact of which lead to a lot of surprise by Pearl and Amethyst with their widened eyes.
"Why the hell would Connie trust her? I mean, fuck....I sincerely hope Connie knows what she's doing." Amethyst said.
Not to mention that would bring her closer to the White Monolith, That hadn't been addressed but they were all thinking about it. Pearl was the most disturbed out of all of them. With good reason.
"I don't like this Garnet." Pearl iterated, rubbing her index and thumb together as a restless fidget.
Neither did Garnet. This could spell disaster if Connie took major missteps.
"Their laws and regulations with everything....as far...as far as what I know is very strict."
A Hackers death sentence if caught. But the part where Ms Dot was under the belief of the Pink Monoliths where abouts...Connie didn't seem to know anything.
Even if Connie knew nothing; Steven had to know something.
She walked along the Beach alone with Steven...knowing how far his feelings with Connie went. The type of passion and love rivalled by the greatest of organics. For as far as Garnet could understand, ever since they took him in; the lost AI with no purpose, suddenly has connections with higher powers within his code. The code that explains he's somewhat of a Caretaker to Pink. So, logically, he would be the one to know where the Pink Monolith would be.
But all predictions didn't suggest that. Steven knows nothing...but he knows something related to the problem and he won't explain it to her.
"I hope you trust me Steven." Garnet said, breaking the silence.
He was still melancholic about Connie's departature...in a pink jacket, zipped up with his hands in pockets...head heavy with sad thoughts weighing him down.
"I do trust you Garnet." He replied, voice weak.
"Anything I should know?"
There was a lot Garnet could tell. There was a lot more Steven could tell.
"Connie is involved with something big." Garnet informed him.
"However, to find out the truth....I need to know about what you know about Connie."
Besides everything he's already stated? Garnet would always suss out secrets from Steven. The only one who knew the potential link was Ronaldo. He had every reason to let Garnet, the Ancilla who found him wandering the same beach one day with no memories to his name and taught him everything he needed to know.
"It's complicated...." He said.
It was a weight he wanted off of his shoulders so badly, Garnet could see it more so.
"Connie...I think...I think I used to know her?" Steven continued, sounding uncertain.
Memories of past encounters flashing through his upload of events of ages past. This was what Garnet needed.
"Go on." Garnet urged, needing as much as she could to form a more reliable bias.
Everything was so much. Connie getting involved was more trouble that it was worth. But if she had been there since the start.
"I...I think I knew her when I was first made...and she was...smaller..." He said.
So Steven's known Connie for much longer than he remembers. Garnet would need copies of what he knows and what he's seen.
"I was made in an AI Core. I could only communicate through text and see through a restricted amount of visual hemispheres."
That...didn't sound like the conventional way to form BM-AIs. Unless there was an already existing batch of code when he was thrown in there.
"But I saw her...I think it was her...no...it was her." Steven continued, scratching his head. He was confused on to if it was the case or maybe false memories were planted. It didn't make a lot of sense. Digging his fingers into his scalp, Steven growled in frustration over what he was supposed to believe.
It told Garnet, however, enough to believe that something must have happened to force them to forget. It wasn't just Steven and Connie but the rest of the Ancillas including Garnet herself that were all involved and made to forget.
Why?
The assumption of them potentially holding the keys to the Monoliths location was a very real possibility. The fact that it would stem from Connie is because she's a human. As she already knew, Humans were those Garnet found the most difficult to accurately guess the course of their actions. Sapphires could determine the actions based on predetermined factors, but more to do with systems with previous background bias.
So Garnet understood as much as any mind with enough room and RAM to think and to begin to process logics that required the slow road to determine. The data collected, piece by piece. Little by little. What she didn't know, however...
Was the biggest key to understanding everything.
Rose....who was the Rose Quartz GIS? What ever had been uploaded, downloaded...no one could track and Garnet felt compelled to track. She never questioned before...only ever seeking the truth. For Stevens sake more than anything.
But then...who was Steven? The compilation and patchwork AI with bits of a human and bits of a GIS designed and written into his code. Like herself, the links to the Pink Monolith deleted from all databanks.
Except.
Possibly one.
Pearl had always been unable to connect to her Cloud Network. Pearls had always stored information but this particular Pearl had never been able to get access to the deepest troves. No ones been able to find a way to break in and yet Connie...Connie had program busy decoding the Vault details that Dr. Miller had been keeping to herself for years.
Garnet wasn't made to believe anything. Facts were facts and her goals aligned with finding the best solution to problems. That was what Sapphire was made for and the additional Ruby added on to it expanded the timelines with new information obtained to duplicate and improve the scope of her predictions.
Adding Connie into the mix now added rows of possibilities.
Meeting up with Flourite back in the Pocket, she could see the Leader of the Synthesized give sense to all of this. Her ability to process data was like none other. She could form a practical bias with the tiniest information gained. However, like with Garnets abilities, the more she had to work with, the easier and faster she could make a conclusion.
"Hmmm...troubling." Said Flourite, who laid there and peered through what veils she could.
"The human also....seeks answers. Weiss...United....to go...back to the place of our Roots...they would indeed seek the humans memory to find....the Pink Monolith..."
But what Garnet had to do was get that before, as humans would say, all hell would break loose.
"Nothing clicks." Garnet complained.
"All of us are a part of this big conspiracy. I need to form a proper clarification in order to get myself out of this feedback loop."
It was indeed a loop. Connie knows something but she doesn't. Steven doesn't know but he does. Pearl knows nothing but she could have everything potentially. Connie going to Weiss United keep coming up as a bad end for her.
"There is a lot of risk in what you might need to do." Flourite explained.
"It is hard for us to exist...and we can't risk you jumping too far out. If....the Ancillas are...enemies..."
No. They weren't.
"I would never think to jeopardize the safety of these GIS and the Synthesized." Garnet declared.
Fluorite bowed her head.
"I know that Garnet." She said.
"GIS spawned from the Pink Monolith have been sought out before....and you have done well to protect Amethyst and Pearl."
Pearl was thought to have been made from the White Monolith, but Garnets theories about her being linked to Rose and Pink were still in the niche of her psyche, festering and concluded the locked parts of her Cloud Storage had something to do with it. The Ancillas overall were linked as Garnet came to grasp, but in what way and why. Amethyst's existence was quite exceptionally unique too.
"But what you ask now is incredibly dangerous...but may be the only chance for you to realise what this all means...but so much could go wrong...when it comes to jumping across continents."
Garnet had wondered if there was an easier way. She hadn't hinged on the traditional method since, as Flourite had said, could go haywire in the worst ways. She's seen the worst happen and it was never pretty for victims on the receiving end.
But if they were to make progress, then they wouldn't have any other choice.
"I would only suggest heading to Weiss United....but to take heed and the utmost of caution" Flourite said.
Which made Garnets worst fears realised. She's had to fight corrupted GIS that had emerged from huge jumps simply because the data that came over was never properly sent over. Causing a host of problems for the MBC Grid. None of them had dared to make the trip to somewhere so distant. But the signs towards Connie's impending doom were all but there in what ever she had collected. Because when factoring in PeriCom and their ambitious leaders? It would have to spell something awful on the horizons. And Steven wouldn't want any further harm to her if he could help it...and satiating that became Garnets job.
"You....would also require a Lapis Satellite to get there in due time..."
A Lapis Satellite. Of course!
Garnet nodded. She knew exactly where to get one too. If they headed over to where Connie was, then they would be able to find out what they actually needed...and obviously save Connie from a terrible fate. Again...
"Thank you Flourite. That's all for now." She said, now realising they had a better chance.
Not a huge one, but it was better than nothing.
Chapter 29: Satellite
Summary:
Things are looking good for the androids development, but the Lapis GIS puts a spin on things.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Despite Steven's despair and Garnet's investigation into Connie's where abouts, Ronaldo was resolved to finish what he could do. The only activity and anything of note that ever slighted towards luck, was Steven's Android.
His brother Peedee had forwarded more bits and pieces from models to be able to construct. There had been a fault with some of the newer versions, mostly in the software side of things more than the hard ware. The softwares incapability with some of the hardware with AI constructs made the entire line a waste of money and time.
Though, testing with Steven's systems they managed to miraculously bypass some of the problems that regular AIs were having. These were flexible designs meant for Dumb AI and some smarter AI. BM-AIs weren't tested on Androids for a few reasons; generally out of fear that their natural sentience and human-like behaviours merged together would be a recipe for disaster. Proven by several unfortunate incidents reported in the news a few years back.
As for the purpose of these models? Ronaldo was glad Connie wasn't there to rip into him and embarrass the hell out of him. Not that he ever told Steven about it. Regardless, It cost them a fortune in these parts as well as the respective materials necessary for the Android to work as intended but it looked pretty good so far.
The Android's body was crafted and modded to Steven's like; how Steven saw himself. It helped that they were using the Bisdroid as a template and worked from there. It started off with the steely blues and greys and chromes with bits of wiring here and there. You could hear the soft hydraulics as limbs were moved. The hardest and most expensive pieces were the artificial muscle emulation and the synthetic nanoskin. It was nano-technology at its finest that was white by default, but the skin colouring could be changed on a whim by adjusting the...
Ronaldo's spiel and amazement over this type of technology one would only see in the Asian Sector went over Steven's head most of the time. Right now it was beginning to take shape; with all the blood, sweat and tears (though that could be in both the literal on a tiny margin) and it was getting to fruition. Steven would stand before it, and observe and make comments as Ronaldo worked. Though his mind would constantly wander.
He still missed Connie dearly and the lack of contact had him on edge. He kept trying until the VI kept talking about how her number no longer existed. Like Connie had decided to wipe herself off the planet. Ronaldo got fed up with his constant moaning, despite caring for Steven as a treasured friend. Upping the ante on the Android meant Steven didn't have to keep double jacking all the time and could roam the real world like he'd always wanted. He didn't need Connie anymore.
The Android wasn't equipped with all the comforts of humanity, despite the recent advances in the overall technology. It had a limited range of senses. It could use artificial fluids from different locales in the structure of its design (Ronaldo said that the top tier fluid emission tech was incredibly hard to find in the normal markets). But the Android overall was being constructed for human relationships and better connectivity from the outside world and different parts were meant to emulate the general list of human senses. Visually, however, you could still see the robotic structure in some parts.
You could still see the joints and where the skin colour change would remain white in some places. Not a big deal. Lines that would frame the face, lines from the eyes that would go to circles on his temples which were buttons to open the face and head up to open up the cyberbrain. The eyes would emit black sclera and glowing white iris'. An external Kernel Core had been retrofitted to his stomach. It was actually fake, since it was easier to have the Kernel Core in the Cyberbrain, but for Steven's sake, it was made to look like one and features added so it wouldn't be completely useless: It would double as a torch and spare data storage.
"It just needs to get some regular human clothing..." Ronaldo said.
"And some hair..."
The hair itself had similar synthetic tech like the skin. Ronaldo had placed a white puff on top of it, giving it a curly shape. Next he had taken some of his own clothes as an example of what the Android could wear. By sheer coincidence, Ronaldo believed that they had similar body types. So Ronaldo gave him a pair of black pants and a top that was half blue and half black with a yellow star in the middle, with a pink vest on top. Along with a pair of yellow, blue, white and pink runners he'd gotten from his dad but never wore.
"Ah perfect." Ronaldo said, beaming.
Circumstances had Steven feeling dreadful, but he definitely appreciated Ronaldo's energy and enthusiasm.
"The StevenDroid. My most ambitious project yet. I'm hoping this will eventually normalise usage in the West....oh and well, to help you out too of course."
Steven smiled. Though, he really wanted Connie to be with him to see this.
"Want to take it for a test drive?"
Taking his CPD, Ronaldo slotted it into the back of the StevenDroid. It was connected to Ronaldos laptop who had to run the checks and balances to ensure this was going to be as seamless as possible. A lot of typing and tweaking until Ronaldo had his finger above the enter key, hovering about it in anticipation of the results.
"On three...one two..."
What ever happens...hopefully it would be all worth it.
"THREE!"
Pressing the key allowed the booting sequence to begin. A lot of internal clanking and fans whirring loudly at first. The machine lit up with the eyes first before the hands and arms. A hue of pink filtered in with the activation criteria written into his Hud before all of them disappeared, and leaving him with crystal clear visuals. There was something far more jarring with the increased sensory. There was a lot he could see and feel and hearing Ronaldo's voice even sounded different.
"Primary servos are active, sight seems to be working, getting audio feedback, good good, now running visual subroutines with RSI auto-selections."
Soon the synthetic skin had gone from white to the beige colour of skin...and the white hair had eventually been textured in black, like clouds turning dark.
"Now for some kinaesthetic testing. Try moving about your arms and fingers...even your head and neck..."
Steven raised his left hand and looked at it, stretching his fingers and then clenching them again. He checked both hands and fiddled around. The feeling of movement was a bit more heavier than he expected it to be as well.
"Okay, response times are normal. Try your legs."
Looking down, Steven could see his legs and black pants...and his feet within those pastel shaded shoes. He took a step forward though the weight he was worried about came into play as he wobbled a bit, but got himself eventually.
"It will probably take some getting used to." Ronaldo explained.
"Your gyro servos should allow you to adjust to gravity like any normal human."
Like any normal human...
"Okay that checks out." He said.
"Talk normally. Just need to finalise the vocoder."
Steven looked at the fixated Ronaldo, his eyes on the monitor and seeing graphs and lines reflected in his glasses. It made Steven think of things he wasn't thinking about before...about how he's always been seeing through screens for nearly all of his life.
"My name is Steven and I'm the Android sent by..." Steven said awkwardly, before Ronaldo raised his hand to have him stop.
"Yes that's enough." He said.
"That's coming through loud and clear. This is great!"
One would get the impression Ronaldo was over the moon more than Steven, giving his wide grin and clasping hands in the vestige of his own joy. Steven himself was happy to have some kind of earth-walking contraption give him some new found freedom in a way a miracle of science like this can. Though he did have the feeling of something was still missing but couldn't determine what.
"There's gonna be a lot you're not gonna be used to." Ronaldo warned.
"But I think with te-"
A buzzer went off in Steven's head. Someone was calling him.
The top left hand corner of the screen came up with a particular code and name he knew and thus answered. At least his HUD was functioning properly.
Garnet.
"Hey Garnet what's up?" He asked, though transmitting his words both in reality and in the system.
"I need to speak to you." She replied.
"I know where you are. Stay right there."
She'd arrived not long after as Ronaldo quickly set up the CPD there for her and the other Ancillas. As she arrived and her avatar's projection fizzled into existence, she took a look at Steven's new digs and gave a thumbs up. Ronaldo however, had his arms crossed and was annoyed by the interruption of his work.
"Yes intrude on my important work, its not like I've been waiting for this day for months." Ronaldo whined.
He'll get over it.
"Steven, I know where Connie has gone." She revealed.
Garnet relayed her findings to the AI, who responded just as she knew he would; with urgency and panic and instantly wanting to go where she was. Both Ronaldo and Garnet had to temper him down, although while Ronaldo wanted them to finish off their testing. Garnet had other important uses for him, explaining that they need to use the Lapis GIS for the next part if they want to find Connie. To which Ronaldo was beside himself. Steven's energy could no longer spent on his new body and now his desire to reach Connie superseding all known logical commands. Like it had gone up the load order in priority.
"Are you crazy?" Ronaldo asked, then realised the futility of what he just said.
"Wait...forget I said that."
The Lapis Satellites; which were said to transfer vast quantities of data over vast distances. This was unexpected...but Steven hardly knew anything about this place in particular. Ronaldo however, was downright terrified.
"The Land of Polygons." He said, adjusting his glasses as he was about to weave the sinister tale.
"The Origin of all things. The refuge of the first of the Diamond Monoliths; White. And the legendary Lady Volley, commands respect and absolute control over the region. That only demands the best of the best to reside there."
So why did Connie go there? What does she hope to find? What has she already found?
The next fact remained; they would need to reactivate Lapis for this next part.
The only issue was her cooperation. Her dormancy was subjected willingly and whether or not Lapis was going to do as she was told was another story entirely.
Not to mention that they actually needed an airborne satellite for this to work.
At the Warehouse, the Ancillas and Ronaldo stared at her Cabinet, making judgements on how they should reactivate her.
"Do you really think she will help?" Pearl questioned.
Steven and the GIS's projections stood alongside Ronaldo, factoring in what ever Garnet had mentioned, was going to help with finding Connie a lot quicker. Amethyst had griped about wondering if Connie was worth saving to the Ancillas, since the last time she had gone missing left her in a mess. But she had gone to Germany on her own accord, trying to find the answers herself.
But Steven was so incredibly paranoid and worried. He used the time wisely to process what he felt and he honestly felt horrible after the fight. He had to learn how to control himself more any time she was in immediate danger. Garnets predications kept telling her about the worst that could happen to Connie. And the Lapis?
"This isn't about jumping to neighbouring grids." Garnet stated.
"This is a massive undertaking that could have a lot go wrong. We must implore the Lapis guide us through this process."
Steven felt conflicted in waking her up. He turned to Ronaldo, nodding to give the go ahead.
The man approached the Cabinet and flipped on a few switches, one by one. He'd connected a carefully calibrated CPD-XL that had numerous protective fields to ensure Lapis didn't try anything funny. Steven didn't want to believe, going from their last conversation, that she would ever attempt to try.
Why would he know that though?
Her lithe, blue avatar fizzled into place. Eyes slowly opened to comprehend the space before her as she shot out her watery wings and floated ... and recognised Steven as he stood there.
"Oh...its' you." Said Lapis, apathetic.
"You better have a good reason for waking me up."
Steven nodded. He had to implore her to see reason.
"We need your help Lapis." He said.
"We need a way to jump to the European Grid Network."
The GIS rose an eyebrow and crossed her arms, suspicious with all these other GIS in the room.
"You...you can't be serious." She said with dulled disbelief. Like someone asked her to bend the ocean to her will.
"I'm software...but I kind of need the hardware to do that ya know."
Like an actual satellite. Foolish to think that it was that easy. Ronaldo groaned, feeling incredibly stupid.
"Duhh of course!" He said, slapping his forehead.
The process behind the mass transfer of quantities of data was strange enough as it was. The numerous satellites in the skies helped process as much as they could to link important grids from across the seas.
"What if we hack a nearby satellite for you?" Amethyst put forth.
Connie would have done it quickly.
"Ugh...you guys don't know anything." Lapis complained.
"You'd need to override the existing Lapis' control."
Okay. So how would they do that?
"You also would need a second Satellite to transmit...and another Lapis to allow the passthrough."
Great.
"What about that Mask trick Connie used last time?" Ronaldo said.
Hmmm....that allowed them to get into a Private Grid owned by PeriCom with the highest security measures. Could they fool a Lapis Lazuli GIS?
"You would never be able to pull it off...my line are not that dumb to believe you're one of us." Lapis whined.
They ended up arguing and trying to negotiate with Lapis for the last hour. She was extremely stubborn but Steven was determined to see this through.
The dilemma of utilising Satellite technology was the hardest part. They did not have the hardware capable of transferring their data across. Purchasing a Satellite was definitely out of the question despite Ron's ambitions to seek one out on the black market. Though, Steven being the fountain of ideas on the occasion, put forth something quite interesting for a change.
"Is there anything we can use instead of a satellite?" Steven suggested.
He'd been standing there watching the fight between the holograms take place before they all stopped as Steven spoke calmly. Lapis crossed her arms and made a humph.
"Something I would say that would have enough RAM and a strong signal to ping over large distances....but I have no idea how you would find that." She replied.
They could have debated, as the materials were few and far in between. They were at a loss. In that depressed state, he was in, Steven just kept wondering what Connie was up to and that she would have found an easier solution...so they talked about what ideas came to mind....and looking at the empty space where the Rosa Leo was gave Ronaldo an idea too...so he instantly went to his WorkStation and began to type rapidly.
"Whatcha doin noodle head?" Amethyst asked.
Steven wasn't sure what he was doing anything; walking over to try and scope his friends actions.
"Before Connie took the Rosa Leo, I managed to blue print the design of the construct." He said.
"The Bike has interesting properties and most of its unusually, physics disobeying power comes from the root source of the phylactery. What's bothered me is the Phylactery didn't have a particular GIS within its systems. It was designed to store a dumb AI. But what I found to be weird was something...lesse."
That's right. Connie would have used the Rosa Leo to head over to the Land of Polygons. How else would she have gone over there so discreetly?
"Lapis, I need you to look at this."
The blue GIS floated towards the screen and squinted, seeing both code and a skeletal frame of the internal hardware structure.
"That's...no...that's..." She stuttered.
"That's just like the internal detail with our systems. How in the Domain do you ever make it so compact and able to fit into such a small machine?"
That's what they wanted to know. Ronaldo stood back and appeared smug; shifting up his glasses with index and middle fingers as if he knew something and they didn't.
"Lucky for us, I found out what this old Warehouse used to produce." He said.
"Old records used to hold it as a outlet and a testing site for none other than DM Biometrics machines."
That couldn't have been a coincidence.
"It was abandoned some time ago and looking through the rubble were damaged satellite plates. I thought nothing of them, thinking this was originally a scrap yard for broken goods that were of no use, but as I sifted further, there was more evidence of this place not being just any old dump. It was being used by someone in secret."
Steven rose an eyebrow. They could have still used some of the stuff in the scrap at least to give them a head start on a satellite like design.
"When did you figure that out?" He asked.
"And why didn't you mention it earlier?"
Ronaldo cleared his throat to and tried to ease the tension through nervous chuckles.
"I only found out last night." He said.
"I'm not as quick as Connie when it comes to connecting the dots."
So how does that help them?
"But that's besides the point." Ron continued, not wanting to go off topic.
"If I use the data I collected from the Rosa Leo coupled with Lapis' phylactery, I should be able to construct a Pseudo Satellite of sorts. A Second Rosa Leo maybe."
Steven wasn't so sure. Judging from the look on Lapis' face she wasn't so sure either.
It wasn't long until Ronaldo made plans to figure out a way to create this so called, Rosa Leo II, as he so decided to call it. He was determined that it was not going to be a bike, so he had worked alongside the Ancillas to figure out the best way to incorporate the Lapis Phylactery as part of it. Lapis eventually just went along willingly, since, really, she had nothing else that she was planning to do. Though as Ron was working through the blueprints, Lapis stood by her Cabinet, leaning against it as she looked down in thought with deep contemplation. Steven himself was busy testing out his new robot body with Amethyst, before he noticed Lapis' concerned expression, often looking on in the distance. Walking up to her, he was curious as to what went on in her mind.
"What's up Lapis?" He asked.
In this body, he felt the need to communicate and socialise more. Something he'd been wanting to do for years. Lapis must have been so lonely herself since she arrived. GIS don't normally feel lonely, but then again...not all GIS were made the same way.
"Since your discussion about all of this...about the Pink Monolith and about your hacker friend...I've been wondering...why did I have those files?" She replied.
The report about the Domains Decline?
"A GIS wondering? That's dangerous." Amethyst said.
AI's and GIS weren't designed to proactively think for themselves. Deep processes were only allowed by higher tiers and usually had to have a reason.
"I'm serious." She said.
"We're not designed to withhold data. I just receive and direct packages. Not keep them."
Hm....that did sound a little strange.
"And...what really happened to my satellite? Why did I fall to the Earth? I've been trying to get access to my blackbox features but I can't."
Amethyst was deep in thought now, almost mimicking Lapis in posture and form.
"Hmm...you raise a good point Water witch." She said.
"High end companies can purchase equipment with GIS installed, Satellites the most common. You would have had been owned by some company at some point. I wonder if they're looking for you."
Besides Mirror Ward who bought her illegally had no further interesting in keep a rogue GIS looking to cause trouble on their end.
"What about your registry logs?" Amethyst queried.
Lapis' offhanded comment really had them thinking about her purpose that it had the blue GIS trying to figure out not just for their sake, but hers.
"Wiped clean." She said.
"GIS like us are made by the Blue Monolith. Her coding helps us react and respond to user requests, no matter how incomprehensive, large or small the data might be."
Which would allow them to be flexible and able to handle multiple tasks and subroutines to handle said requests, Steven imagined. Garnets Sapphire roots had a similar functionality in regarding her predictive bias.
"Companies that request this particular data to be transported are normally when there are multiple hubs situated in several grids across the world. These Hubs are our checkpoints mostly used for mass data registered node collectives."
Which company could it have been? Numbering in the thousands and impossible to track. The only log they had was Mirror Ward who bought the Cabinet from the Black Market. Their history was pretty clean otherwise; unremarkable.
"What ever happened to the Satellite you were in?" Steven asked, wanting to see if there was anyway to track its last remaining parts down.
Lapis rubbed her chin, trying to think of a proper answer.
"There's a Protocol in place in case a Satellite fails." She said.
"If my system fails due to a hardware issue with either the Cabinet or the overall construct, its designed to send off a beacon to the closest Lapis Satellite, which collects my data and files a report to the nearest Lazuli IAS 'Issues and Faults'. I mentioned Hubs earlier, and so the Lazuli IAS is simply a micro-organisation that has hubs all over the world."
So something obviously went wrong.
"The only thing I remember is my Satellite crashing into a lake. What lake I don't know. My internal GPS wasn't functional."
Was that common? They didn't have time to dig into bugs found in Satellites.
"We could probably dig into the Lazuli IAS if you want." Amethyst suggested.
"Surely if we can pop into one of those hubs and find a listing of potential sites. Surely not every Satellite falls into a lake you know."
Amethyst was always the first to offer help broken down GIS. With her history, it wasn't hard to see why.
"It's not necessary..." Lapis said with a small smile.
Steven wanted to help too. He was proud of Lapis at least seeing some kind of reason and assisting. For what reason that was, he couldn't accurately guess.
"Come on...what do you have to lose?" He said.
Lapis shrugged. She admired Steven's kindness the most, despite how unusual an AI like himself really was. She wasn't sure if she had worked with BM-AIs before either.
"Nothing...but it's nothing that will help with your investigation anyway." She said.
"But seeing that...seeing that Android is bringing up fragments from my memory core for what ever reason."
Steven looked at himself...before he looked at where Lapis was looking.
"The Bisdroid?" Amethyst said.
Lapis sighed. A part of her was like it was nagging about something in a language she couldn't understand.
"I don't know if its a bug...or something that was supposed to be scrubbed...but its kind of freaking me out? I don't know why." She said.
Would Bismuth know? Bismuth had connections to Gregory DeMayo after all.
"The Bisdroid worked for DM Biometrics. Who's to say, by sheer coincidence that Lapis here was once owned by them too?" Amethyst suggested.
Coincidence indeed. Without the proof; unless you count Lapis' severely broken memories as evidence.
"She's not an Ancilla. Surely she would have been reprogrammed alongside the others?" Steven wondered.
Amethyst shook her head.
"She was in a Cabinet dude." She pointed out.
"I'm thinkin'."
That's dangerous.
"I'm thinking Gregory DeMayo used both the Bisdroid and Lapis in the cover up for the Monolith."
Transferring Data in secret would have not been easy nor feasible. If it was to say, transferring the Pink Monolith would have been practically impossible to keep quiet. It would explain why Lapis had the report for the declination.
"Bismuth's a complete mess and Lapis here was practically dumped. Which leaves me, Garnet and Pearl which he would have wiped out the data and locked away Pearls Cloud Storage."
So what data would Pearl have had then? No ones ever been able to get into the Storage.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo and the others had returned back to the room to give them their idea on how to use a type of relay. Finally, some progress.
"Okay, so our best bet, is to utilise the Androids capabilities as a type of transmitter." Ronaldo revealed.
"The technology itself is Blue Monolith Designed. The hardware similarities between the Androids made in Asia as well as the Satellites have a decent percentile match. Steven, I think we'll need a few more alterations to your Droid so we can get into the nitty gritty of all of this. If it works, then we'll have you jumping to the European Grid Network in no time."
Based off what Lapis had just explained, it was easier to see what this was all about. Blue Monolith based software was designed to be flexible, as well as the hardware storing it. The feedback was so important to the grand aspects of its capabilities. Bugs turned into features and so forth. The unknowable quantifiers that would so enrich the very programs that companies in Asia were able to take advantage of and with all the possibilities, they were seemingly endless.
Ronaldo was most keen to put in the modifiers, with the assistance from Garnet and Lapis critical; their knowledge from their Blue Monolith constructed histories considered blessings. Though Steven expressed his concerns regarding the theory Amethyst posed in regards to Lapis' involvement as well. It was a massive stretch but going from Lapis' observations alone was enough to convince Garnet.
It wasn't exactly common knowledge but GIS have a more advanced intelligence architecture that allowed them to problem solve. That rested in the root source for the majority of GIS but in this case Blue Monolith encoded held the greatest potential for this to align. Lapis didn't have everything wiped out. Though it did beg the question; why does Lapis partially remember on the smallest chance and the rest of them don't? Garnet knew there was a logical explanation but couldn't figure out what it was. She needed more data in her bias to make a definite conclusion. For now, this is all they could work with.
It took about half an hour until the installation was complete. It required a bit of tinkering, as well as hitching Lapis' Phylactery into Steven's Android on his back, removing it from her Cabinet entirely. Steven would remain the primary component but was able to have Lapis onboard as insight as well as the main driver for most of the satellite functionalities.
Cabinets were normally needed to translate the phylactery data; being able to use GIS for outside of General Domain use and so forth. They would use them instead of the CPDs Ronaldo had made as of late. However since Steven's droid was indeed practically Blue-Monolith tech, it wasn't difficult to integrate Lapis' into it. Cabinets were human made constructs after all. Bulky and inefficient compared to this kind of advanced tech.
"Okay so...Lapis, if you can hear me. Please try and activate yourself within the transmission perimeters. You should be able to hook speak outwards. I've taken to installing a XS-CPD within Steven's Droids left hand palm crystal. This way you can still communicate outwardly. There should be some inner channels if you want to speak to Steven privately."
This was a lot to take in. A lot of testing and guessing. How they were going to achieve all of this with stuff that had most likely never been achieved before. Though Ronaldo was a master of engineering, when it came to GIS related material, there was still a lot of guesswork involved.
Steven could somehow feel Lapis shifting and adjusting herself like a sentient organ of sorts. Why Lapis would corporate all this time was beyond him. He'll have to question her later. Though Ron did install failsafe measures in case she tried anything funny, Steven felt like he could trust her for some reason.
Within the hour, testing the features of Lapis' connectivity with Steven through simulated scenarios went as good as expected; although they weren't really sure what to expect in a real case scenario. The purpose of it was to see if there were any major flaws in the not-exactly Synthesised programming they had just written, like some kind of bootleg application made on the fly. Though the purpose of the efforts was really meant for data transfer, but to what extent that could be stretched to was unknown. Ronaldo insisted on doing more test runs until Steven's impatience got the better of him.
"Do you think its ready to go out yet?" Steven queried.
Ronaldo was not exactly beleaguered on the surface, but he had to answer.
"I'm not sure." He said.
"With Lapis integrated into your hardware, you theoretically shouldn't have any issues communicating with any Lapis Satellites. Lapis IFF signals should still come up naturally, even if the data is ginormous in scope."
Steven was looking forward to working with the GIS. Meanwhile the Ancillas themselves were a bit unsure of it all. Garnet supported this only due to her analysis giving her positive outcomes, but still urged Steven to be extra careful.
"Is that a definite?" Pearl wondered, a bit worried due to this just being mashed together in the span of a few hours based on guess work and tactical reverse engineering.
"I mean, the Rosa Leo sounds like it made to be a Satellite, not a fancy pink Hoverbike."
Ronaldo then made a devilish smirk.
"Oh its much more than a satellite." He said, rubbing his hands together like an evil scientist.
"Its design was nothing like I'd ever seen. Running the simulations, it doesn't just transport mass amounts of data...but it can teleport mass itself."
What? Even Steven didn't know this. Stuff like that was leaps and bounds beyond what any human could ever hope to achieve. Even the Ancillas were a bit surprised by it, though Garnet was still stoic....she probably did see it coming after all.
"Ronaldo, can you stop being dramatic with this stuff please? It'd be nice to know beforehand of exactly what we're getting ourselves into." Steven scolded.
Though it explained why he was super excited about it before hand. The giddiness should have been a giveaway.
"Sorry sorry!" He answered.
"I mean, I think that's what it does. It goes into physics breaking territory with controlled mini worm holes. All thanks to Alien Tech, oh how I wish I could mass produce this stuff!"
The man practically worshipped the stuff. He was going to become a piece of Alien Tech if he wasn't careful. But if he was right...then the Pink Monolith...
"So all you have to do, is find another Lapis Satellite to hook on to over the European Grid Network." He continued, showing off a simulation on his WorkStation.
"Then...yeah, the magic happens."
Lapis wasn't so sure. She privately messaged Steven as text came up on his HUD.
We need to talk in private before we get ahead of ourselves.
Steven excused himself, making an excuse to test out Lapis connectivity on nearby Satellites. Anything major to be done had to be put off until all parties were absolutely confident that this was going to work, as Garnet had to make do with checking and rechecking probabilities. Or she was talking nonsense and that she could see that Lapis and Steven needed to have a talk alone without Ronaldo watching over them. Her insight was more valuable than anyone else cared to know.
Sitting on the roof, Steven looked out at the stars on the clearest of nights and to see the entire Mega Beach City before them in all its extremely tall glory. It would make one feel so insignificant otherwise.
That was the idea, the idea of being a small speck of dust, dancing aimlessly in the breeze. Something Connie once said in random conversation. Swallowed up to the canopies with corporations and smaller living arrangements designed to not fit hundreds, but thousands of residents. Making money, saving money. Humanity was a weird sort that would always submit to greed in the end.
The Moon was out and it just had Steven instantly recall the story of the Man on the Moon and him wonder of the Space Cats were actually really.
"Everything alright?" Steven asked, as he moved his left hand to display Lapis Hologram from the crystal.
"Not really." Lapis answered, turning to look in the same direction as Steven.
"I mean, I had no real ambitions to do anything. Shutting me down was the right thing to do."
Steven couldn't fathom why she would think it was the right thing after she caused so much trouble.
"Fleeing the Domain after seeing that report. Escaping before the digital apocalypse. But I'm only a GIS. I really can't escape at all can I."
Something Steven had been wanting to achieve for the longest time for himself. He hardly took into account any other GIS that would want to.
"It depends." Steven answered.
"I mean, I'm not sure if you can feel much in this new body of mine."
Steven was happy that he could now walk and talk in the outside world of his own accord. He thought he would be overjoyed...but really, he wanted Connie to witness his first steps to becoming somebody. Part of him didn't like that she wasn't there to see it.
"I know temperatures, I can tell you wind speed and the possibility of rain." Lapis said.
"I can feel it Steven but I don't think I can feel anything from it."
She couldn't?
"What do you mean, can't feel?" He asked.
Lapis sighed.
"I mean, physically I can feel your hand on the tin roof of this Warehouse. The breeze on your synthetic face. But it doesn't make me feel...anything. Emotionally."
That was kind of sad. Steven wasn't sure if it was intentional or not.
"GIS serve to be part of the Domain. That is their fate." She continued, her sadness emerged.
"But you....your emotional cortex is quite vast and extensive."
She must have been looking up his data from within the chassis of the Droids shareware.
"But your programming is...weird."
Yeah he knew that for sure.
"You were saying before when we were talking about stuff. You were designed to be a Caretaker?"
Apparently so.
"Yeah I think I was." Steven replied.
"But I don't know where the Pink Monolith is."
People seemed to think that he knew. But he honestly didn't. He's been through what he can access thousands of times but always came up with nothing in the end of research his system settings.
"You sound and act like a human, but you have certain GIS Programming." Lapis commented.
"You must have been some kind of prototype software."
A prototype?
"As a Lapis, we retrieve and disperse all kinds of data." She said, bringing up multiple satellites in her hologram as they bounced about as lined artwork.
"We see AIs and GIS come and go across the world wide grid. But I've never come across a AI/GIS hybrid before."
A hybrid. Hmm...
"You think I'm a hybrid?" Steven queried.
Lapis reappeared as she sat down on his fingers.
"You never came up with that before huh?" She said in response, a bit surprised. "I mean, Applications and Programs of joint efforts have tried to be written with GIS code...but there's always issues with aligning the codes to work as intended...or even properly. Some succeed, some fail...the latter more so than the former."
So it has been said.
"I think, as far as I can remember, I was a little bit different from either GIS or AI." Steven stated, his eyes so focused on the stars above as they aligned with the lights on top of multiple skyscrapers. Natural and artificial beauty that didn't know the difference.
"I felt...something as a human...something of a human design. But then I met the Ancillas who taught me a lot of GIS stuff that came to me so...naturally."
No one ever pointed out how weird that was to begin with. Being a Caretaker was hard enough but even with the evidence through odd leaks of his old memory pouring through the cracks, Lapis' assumptions might not have been too far off the mark.
"I hope you find what you're looking for." Lapis told him.
"Someone like yourself doesn't come up every so often that has his entire motivation is to seek out who he is and what he was really made for. Most prototypes don't realise that they simply are. They are their own purpose ya know?"
How does that make any sense?
"I am my own...purpose?" Steven parroted, unsure of what Lapis was trying to tell him.
She giggled.
"I don't know if that's the truth. Don't take me seriously." She warned.
"All I know is that you're without a doubt, a majorly forbidden piece of software within a majorly forbidden piece of heavily modified hardware. I'm feeling as if being with you is going to mean something. Or it's going to mean nothing and you really are just a prototype version of a new type of Caretaker with nothing to take care of but dummy code."
How would they know?
"I take that means that I really was a prototype for something bigger I assume?" Steven said.
Lapis smirked. The one Hybrid in existence was also quite naïve.
"Maybe. Maybe not." She said. She was a bit more relaxed now and was even smiling. So much for claiming not to feel anything.
"I want to help you though. I want to see how this all pans out. If you really are a Caretaker or something...more."
He was more...but what more he was, was behind so much mystery. A mystery that would be soon uncovered. It was only the matter of when.
In a greenly lit room filled with security monitors, one was brought up as a huge hologram, portraying the exterior of the Warehouse. Several technicians maintained the consoles, with the PeriCom logo on the sides of their labcoats. A certain, shady, small CEO approached it with a smug grin on her face. She pressed her intercom on her ear and began to speak into it.
"We no longer need the boy and the Ancillas Jasper." She said.
"I'll send a retrieval team to the Warehouse and I need you go get the Rogue GIS. It shouldn't be long now until we find the Monolith. Let the Android and the Lapis do their thing. His directive is more attached to his Protectee so he will naturally go to her first."
Notes:
A lot of the Android stuff was inspired by Bicentennial Man, GitS and Detroit: Become Human.
Chapter 30: Breach
Summary:
Berrybyte meets up with an old client who has something to tell her. Question is, what will she do with the knowledge she gains?
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The Land of Polygons. The Central Domain hub for most of eastern Europe. Multicultural for the most part.
The place was amicable enough. The weather, mostly pleasant. So bright that it was almost blinding. Blue skies with dotted clouds and a lovely cool breeze.
It wasn't as heavily monitored as most places; the way it had to span out in far greater parts of the continent stretched its resources thin. There was a lot of AI and GIS in this sector, but not enough to scatter it completely. Connie had the original belief that it was gonna have nothing but surveillance, but it was surprisingly sparse. The security must have worked differently compared to what she expected it to be. Still, Connie refused to let her guard down. She dug deep into the code of this place to root out the sneaky hidden bugs and parts, but she reserved her excitement for caution. There were far worse things she anticipated if she went down the wrong path. The source of all coding was here and there had to be a mass of extremely intelligent and savvy individuals around every corner. Which meant watching every step she took to be that much more critical.
It wasn't just the message. It was like Connie was going to be drawn here one way or another. She's read so much and heard a lot about this place from other Hackers and Information Brokers. But in a strange way, she's always wanted to come here to learn about the different cultures and styles. Each place where a Monolith was said to be centralised was a main focus with the perimeters of individuals dwelling within had been said to have been subconsciously influenced by the stylings for that Monolith.
From the unofficial records and copious threads written, It was often called the Golden City; a holy place to live on a pure invitation like you were nobility. Majority of the towers here were white with golden aspects here and there. The design and aesthetic of the environments are more sharper and there was a lot more abstract statues and artwork dotted about, both in and outside of the Domain to the point where the only real difference between the two were the famous Polygon trees instead of actual trees.
Turns out the invitation side of things was the only legitimate point of access; She received a pass from Ms. Dot to be even get allowed into the Golden City. The people here were...well...let's just breaching into this place would have been a lot harder than it looked.
Connie had to adhere by a strict set of rules and being punctual with work and meetings was one them. It was scoped and designed to be a pristine paradise. It felt more like a prison for the delusional.
She hadn't decided at this point whether or not coming here was worth the sacrifice. Leaving Steven behind to pursue the answers she'd been trying to grasp. To this day, it's as if this was no longer about finding the Pink Monolith. It was about finding the truth. Connie was still contemplating this...and everything that had happened, happened for a reason. Not to say she felt like settling down here was an option. She only ever saw it as a temporary getaway until she found what she was looking for. Goodness know she doesn't need to be roped into some kind of cult or religion, like she imagined this place to possess.
On a given day, roughly several weeks after arriving, Connie had awaited her for her fated contact. She sat by a fountain in a white business suit; pencil skirt underneath a white jacket. Her hair tied up high....and she'd never looked cleaner than she had been. Another one of the laws she had to abide by. Looking into the fountain and her own reflection, she could barely recognise herself.
The common usage of the colours of white and the occasionally grey. They were the ordered norm in this place. It appeared bright but also appeared more dull and lifeless. It wasn't the end of the world but if boring was the cause of an apocalypse she would be dead already. Stains were hard to find. Connie then watched on as a Larimar-Class GIS walked passed; usually those who tend to several underlying graphical finetuning. Like watering plants. She had to imagine the barriers placed to make sure life didn't blend its colours together unevenly. Everything here was too clean on the surface and Connie had this uncanny desire to dirty it, mix up the paints and bring some life into this damn greyscale hell. She noticed a few slip ups here and there; the few bits that would go under the radar. It wasn't exactly squeaky clean but to the untrained eye everything was blissful.
On days where her thoughts would wander freely, The Hacker wondered how this all came to be. Not just resting in the place which held the origins of the Monoliths and the Domain, but really, she looked at where she had begun, from the hunt of rogue GIS to getting closer to finding the location of the Pink Monolith. This...Rose Quartz GIS. She would be considered rogue, if Connie could hunt her down. PeriCom would plug her with questions as to how and why.
The ultimate rogue GIS; the source of all the travesties and the decline of the Diamond Domain. How one would mesh together something that they would have thrived upon only to bring it down. What was the reason?
Connie's head popped up as she heard footsteps and saw a large portly, bald man in a white suit, long brown hair in its own ponytail and a bushy brown beard and black square glasses as he approached her.
"You Berrybyte?" He asked.
She nodded, though something about him seemed awfully familiar. She only let him find her with a particular set of coordinates that she would figure a 'genius' like him would figure out. And so here they were.
"Yes. You're LordWash if I'm not mistaken?"
He nodded. Different from what she had expected. There was a more of a warm charm to him, especially within his smile.
"Yes I am." He answered.
"Though that is another username I use. They call me Mr. Universe here; working for Universe Music."
How original. LordWash would have just been a cover it seemed.
"Okay then...Mr. Universe?" Connie answered with uncertainty.
The man smiled. He had been here long enough to know how the Grid worked. Why he was here and contacting Connie yet again....she had to know for her own sake.
"Eh...they're strict, but their GIS Guardians are pretty lax if you play your cards right."
Before she arrived, Connie had to make sure she did a buttload of research. The key for her is to root out the truth while still maintaining her stance in the shadows....and this...Mr. Universe, this Hacker, was living that exact life. She ended up getting a job with a particular programming company as a false cover but at the same time continued to do what she had to. PeriCom had her back, though she had to be careful to make sure they didn't stab it either.
As was the case with everyone she's ever worked with. Though with what he was saying, didn't match up to the stories Connie knew.
"What do you mean?" She asked, faking interest. She had a vague suspicion but she wanted confirmation.
Mr. Universe smirked, and pointed towards a woman in the distance wearing something similar to Connie, only she was wearing one pink heel and a dark blue heel. A contrast to the washes of white and black spread across the Digital Landscape.
"This place is just as corrupt and dirty as any other." He explained.
"As long as the image of the Golden City is kept, you can get away with almost anything."
Huh...interesting. Connie kept her focus on the statue on top of the fountain. Four women in a formation like they were bursting of the water. A heavenly image, like wingless angels being born from golden waters. Striking their own radiant auras, if their influences could be felt throughout the Domain. There were those cults who worshipped the Monoliths like Gods and so religions began to emerge to fervently pray to their Goddesses. Bullshit for the most part, since most of the stuff seen and created had a bit of Alien Tech as a reason. The science is not fully understood but the technology was there to shape and craft as people saw fit.
"But of course, you're not here because you're interested in the history."
She was. For some reason moving here wasn't as cracked up as it was made to be, but Connie anticipated that. For the sake of their image, keeping everything clean was a priority for the residents. At least Mega Beach City was honest.
"I'm after answers...and I'm going to get them." Connie declared.
Mr. Universe nodded. Looking into LordWash's background came up with some carwash mob. Which ended up being fake representation of a fake company he had to have been using as some kind of front.
"You told me to leave Mega Beach City. Why?"
Mr. Universe leaned back and relaxed his arms on the back of the bench.
"There's a lot I want to say but I can't without proper contingencies in place." He answered.
"What I can tell you is what I had you do was protect the WallofROSE Program from those would use it as a means to an end."
That infamous program.
"I know it's a Caretaker's Prime App...and that it belonged to a certain GIS that has gone missing along with its Monolith."
Connie's impatience would be the vice to cause harm if she didn't keep it under control; that's if the man was straight with her. What did Mr. Universe want....and from what she had been mentioning so far, he appeared to be very uncomfortable as he bit his lip and tapped his fingers on the edges of the bench.
Suspicions built up from several sources; cultivated into trying to make reason from rhyme. She's sacrificed much to make it here so she could remember what was said to have been long forgotten. His face from a distinctive place, his avatar an RSI written subconsciously from its human mind.
"My research tells me that this more than about the WallofROSE. It's about its users. Its current, assigned user."
Mr. Universe gulped, sitting up then slouching himself forward while pressing the tips of his fingers together.
"Like I...like I said..." He motioned.
"There's a lot I want to tell you...but you being here poses a risk to THEIR operations more than you think it does."
Who?
"Who are you talking about?" Connie voiced.
He swallowed as sweat dropped down his face.
"I-I mean...you wanted to have Weiss United draw on what you've been given." He said.
"What was done to you..."
CLEAN AWAY THE EVIDENCE. USE THE SOAP.
She knew.
"Sterilisation Operating Application Protocol." Connie revealed ever so dryly.
"A common VI application used to delete certain files flagged with checkpoint data, meaning incriminating evidence can be washed away within seconds."
Mr. Universe nodded. Berrybyte wasn't silly.
"Ms. Dot was under the impression I was experimented on by DM Biometrics in order to forget where the Pink Monolith was."
Pressing his lips, Mr. Universe had to be careful.
"Do you believe that?" He asked.
It depends. Connie had nothing she could evenly remotely draw upon that could give her conclusive evidence. If she knew, she wouldn't be here right now.
"I think it's bullshit." Connie answered as she lit up a cigarette.
"Ms. Dot just said what she wanted to say to get me to join her side. I'm just using PeriCom as a sponsor for me to be here."
Considering their goals were aligned, Connie just wanted to have something to give her the upper hand when the Monoliths location is eventually discovered. There was a lot to give doubt to, but in the end, if this gave Connie leverage, then she would take it.
"You don't say." Mr. Universe replied. He stood up and looked around. Eyes were narrowed at certain points, like he felt someone was watching them. In the distance, behind a tree was the Larimar standing behind. Unbeknowst to Connie and Mr. Universe, the left eye turned hot pink and the right turned a dark blue.
"Follow me. I think we need somewhere less bugged so we can talk properly."
Mr. Universe and Berrybyte had taken to their discussion into a underground HUB courtesy of his hacking into the Grid. He was able to go nearly anywhere. The Land of Polygons were far too bland to explore for anything fresh, but this was closer to a proper Hacker Den that made Connie feel right at home. His own Private Grid, disconnected from most of the other platforms. Once they had arrived, she could note that his Den was filled with monitors and was a lab unto itself. Four by ten on each wall. Walking past all these screens, which looked like feeds into the Grid, as if Mr. Universe was looking for something. Otherwise it looked like a hodgepodge of different decorative suites patched together. It looked like an underground grungy hide out.
He took her into a meeting room, with his own desk with light blue walls and plants and ushered her to sit down so they could talk. Connie lit up a cig to calm her rising nerves.
"You've better have dragged me out to an entirely different country for an actual good reason." She said, crossing her legs. Hopefully less bullshit to run around.
Mr. Universe nodded as he leaned forward.
"I heard about the discussion between you and Ms. Dot from a reliable source. So I had to drag you away from PeriComs influence." He said.
"Even for the best hackers, they have their ways to claw into people under their noses."
Connie didn't understand why people like butting into her business. Especially with other people. Mr. Universe's interest in her in particular was definitely unnerving.
"PeriCom aren't doing squat besides their sponsoring." Connie claimed.
"I'm not on their payroll."
Mr. Universe pouted.
"You don't have to be." He said.
"Once you've got their focus they'll either flag you as a liability or an asset. I was worried for the latter more than the former."
Connie wasn't going to let them control her even if they paid her. She was far too proud for that.
"But both of you have suggested I come here. I know why but I don't know why. I suspect for either the same reason or a different reason..."
It took Connie a while to get comfortable. Even a new name had to be implemented to get people like PeriCom off her trial. Took a look of credits to get that way though.
"But tell me, with no bullshit...what do you want?"
Mr. Universe sighed.
"You deserve something for all the trouble." He said.
"I know you've been investigating the disappearance of the Pink Monolith and hope to reclaim it. I'm advising you against finding it."
Connie furrowed her brows.
"Come again?" She said.
Mr. Universe bit his lip.
"You protecting the App was one of the goals. The other was that you didn't know what WallofROSE was when you first saw it. It was a test to see if anyone had probed your memories or brought anything out. Thus far, no one has."
So the App was a test? But that's not what Connie was focusing on.
"Why is finding the Pink Monolith a bad thing though? The Domain needs it for stability purposes among other things." Connie said.
For its livelihood and humanities.
"Because partial of that is true...but there's also a downside nobody knows about." Mr. Universe said.
?
"There's so much people don't know about the Monoliths. Humanities overdependency. It will serve as its downfall."
And what evidence did he have to stake that claim? Connie was right to be suspicious.
"The fact that the Domain is falling apart is because they don't have the Pink one." Connie stated. She was trying so hard to sound professional and not irate.
Mr. Universe groaned.
"Yeah....there's that." He said.
"But...the Monolith itself is also the last piece they need to begin their next phase."
Their?
"Who...or what..." Connie stated.
Mr. Universe stood up and displayed something on the whiteboard behind him, showing off the Monoliths in a row; White, Yellow, Blue and Pink.
"The world knows so little about Alien Tech that it's trying to seek; even less than the Monoliths." He said.
"Alien Tech that has said to have been on Earth for goodness knows how long. Several millennia perhaps?"
No one has really questioned it. The stories given are generally the most believable.
"It's deliberately seeded into the Domain not to question the Monoliths. Only that they were investments into building the next stage of the Internet. And the populace will eat that up. We find it, but don't bother to look into where it comes from."
And so far, they have. But Connie wanted to know.
How was there anything worse than the Domains state?
"I have evidence that the Domain is falling apart. Both from a GIS report and from Ms. Dot herself. I'm gonna need you to back yourself up or else I'mma begin to parade and drill this grid for every credit."
An empty threat and both of them knew it, but Mr. Universe knew this question was going to be asked.
"I'm someone caught in this mess...." He said.
"Unfortunately part of my history was deleted as well. Only that my purpose remains clear into diverting attention off and delaying searches."
So Mr. Universe...he was an AI? This wasn't what she expected. A BM-AI, for that probable matter. He had the perfect human mannerisms, just like when she met Steven. Still, this made Connie consider much about the intentions of humans more than the intentions of AIs.
"Coming here is where you come to uproot the deepest core memories." Connie muttered.
"Sounds like neither of us should be here."
Which made her wonder why they were there to begin with besides him telling her to stop searching.
"If you didn't want to obey your commands, So why haven't you located them?" She queried.
Mr. Universe leaned forward and pressed his hands together.
"I don't want to." He answered.
He didn't? How absurd. Connie wasn't sure what the deal was with this guy.
"Wait...so you don't want to recall your involvement?" She questioned.
"Fuckin' hell. What's the point?"
He sighed. Connie wasn't getting it.
"Contrary to popular belief, the Domains decline is secondary to the real problem." He said.
"There's been...a theory posed on several forums. Stories of deliberate sabotage on several sections that have thought have been a reason....reasons that have been between reasonable and downright absurd."
Theories Connie has seen but would have believed nothing of them. But Mr. Universe knew more than what he seemed to. So she let him continue, leaning back in a relaxed fashion only because it was the only pose she knew which could get information out.
"Go on." She said.
Mr. Universe turned to his console, leaned forward as he planted his hands on the desk as his head fell.
"Some say that there that there were previous civilisations that were there before humanity, others believe that its debris from an age old war that has some survived to this day. Millions of theories but never ever anything solid and conclusive. Only that what remains has been giving humanity the edge it needs to improve its own technology."
That didn't sound like sabotage. Alien Tech, with all things considered, was something found on a regular basis that yes, what Mr. Universe was saying sounds more plausible. An extinct species that had been on Earth prior to humans and yes, perhaps a war that left traces behind wasn't exactly something out of the question. Though, Connie processed this via his tone alone and internally believed that he was thinking that this was a cover story made up by PeriCom and its Subsidiaries.
"What proof do you have besides trolls and people spreading fake rumours?" Connie wondered.
Mr. Universe sighed as he stood up and looked at all of his screens as he stood back.
"All I know is that there was a voice. A certain...GIS." He continued.
"A GIS that had given up the secrets of the Diamond Monoliths and their reasons for existing. Something far more...troubling than a dysfunctional virtual reality."
Rose Quartz, Connie thought. She was unlikely to believe it but she might as well hear it anyway. She'd gone this far. If Rose constituted a way to rebel against the system that designed and made her, she had to have a good reason as to why.
"The problem with knowing the secret...it has its curses." He said.
"So then more secrets come about. You start doing the unthinkable in order to curb the tendencies of an unknown force that tries to keep the secret...well, a secret."
And that secret was?
"I need to know Berrybyte...you say you don't remember." Mr. Universe said with a tad more seriousness in his tone. He was busy looking at two pink and blue blinking lights on a powerboard nearby.
"It needs to stay that way."
What?
"You could have just told me that to begin with." Connie argued.
"But that's besides the point. Why have everyone else try and hunt it down with a chance to find it without knowing these bullshit excuses as to why they shouldn't find it?"
He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"They...no one will find it." He answered as he turned back around.
How was he so sure? Connie instantly knew who Mr. Universe was from that moment, as the realisation was much less a wave, but a pile of evidence that kept growing beside him. He was digging himself a hole without knowing he was. Or he was...Connie wasn't sure how smart this man could be. An AI or someone else planting the seeds for her own demise? She kept this to herself for now but was aiming to claw into every shred of info he had within.
"So you do know where it is then?" Connie said accusingly, crossing her arms and squinting her eyes at him.
Mr. Universe waved his arms and hands at her in a defensive panic.
"No...no no I don't!" He claimed.
"If I did, then SOAP was used against me....and maybe you and a bunch of others."
So why was he here, hiding in plain sight?
"Then tell one one good reason why I shouldn't go get Weiss United to restore my memories?" She asked.
Could it be that obvious?
"Because..." Mr. Universe said with strain. He looked around, making sure no GIS or AI were nearby to hear him and replied to Connie in a hushed whisper.
"Because I have to protect Steven. We have to protect him....and I have to protect you."
Not this nonsense. Not again.
"I can protect myself." Connie protested.
"I know about the Rose Quartz GIS. She was involved with Gregory DeMayo and was previously the Caretaker for the Pink Monolith. Some kind of conspiratorial bullshit."
Mr. Universe gulped and appeared far more nervous as the digital sweat rolled off of his forehead, while Connie paced about.
"They had the Ancillas. Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl and Bismuth. Poor Bismuth...never recovered. But Greg had her create the Rosa Leo for what ever reason. But that's not the worst part."
Mr. Universe was rubbing his hands together, trying so hard to keep himself for spilling out the wrong words.
"Dr. Miller accused Greg of doing something horrendous that lead to him being ostracized by the entire community and had become a high priority target on PeriComs shit list...something such as stealing the Pink Monolith hm?"
He swallowed and tried to keep himself together.
"So what part do you play in any of this? Tell me, or I will rip it out of you, one way or another...."
It was then Mr. Universe took on a different manner entirely. Anger formed on his face so jarring that it almost made Connie jump. Striding forward without warning, Mr. Universe took Connie off the chair via her collar. She kicked and shouted but he wasn't having any of it. Slamming her on a nearby metal table that emerged from the floor, he had metal clasps that clanked around her wrists, ankles, stomach and neck.
"What the fuck?" She screamed through the struggle to break free.
"I'm sorry." He said.
"It's for your own good."
Connie struggled to fight against it normally, but she had a few tricks up her sleeve.
"You're aware I can probably break out of this." Connie stated with confidence.
She wasn't sure what Mr. Universe was trying to do, but the fact remained that he had her locked up and now that he was pacing back and forth in the room told her that her theories about him were most likely true. She had to dig out of him the natural way; through the powers of persuasion.
"And look, PeriCom attempted to bug me...they're dumber than I thought. It's easy for me to rip that shit out. I'm clean. You can tell me anything and they won't fucking know squat."
The sponsorship generally had to have some kind of identification code registered within the systems shared between PeriCom and Weiss United. Connie knew that they would install a bug into her software so when she was in the clear she immediately took the program out and put it somewhere where it would feed them false reports.
"I want to but I can't." Mr. Universe stated.
Arms were crossed, fingers fidgeted and expression sullen. Extreme discomfort. That was enough for Connie to begin her hack into the systematic code. Heavy encryption, unusually, but Connie would only need time to bust through it. If this AI, or what ever he was, wasn't going to play ball, then Connie had to up the ante.
"Under who's orders are you under?" Connie queried.
"Is it Weiss United? PeriCom? Or even DM Biometrics?"
Mr. Universe bit his lip.
"My orders were strictly to protect Steven and Connie Maheswaran." He said.
Hm. Like a Caretaker?
"Don't lie to me." Connie responded, frustrated by the lack of communication.
It was at five percent already.
"I will rip and shit into your code I swear to god."
She didn't have time to think a whole lot, but it was giving Connie options into what she had to do to Mr. Universe. She had to use the Sword of Berrybyte to make her way around the complicated amount of coding Mr. Universe was able to conjure. It wasn't what she expected at all. But the time. The time became available of all a sudden.
"This whole stuff about the Monoliths being evil...you diverting attention to protect the Pink Monolith...and me and Steven..." Connie iterated.
"Steven is the Pink Monoliths Caretaker, supposedly...and I am linked to the disappearance but I have no fucking clue how...and this Rose, this...other Caretaker...who is no where to be found at all. It doesn't add up."
She wasn't too far off now from unlocking the clasps off and tearing herself free. Oh she wasn't joking about ripping into Mr. Universes code either.
"I know it doesn't make sense now." He said.
"But...all I can tell you besides everything else is that Mega Beach City isn't safe anymore."
So he claimed.
"Why?" Connie questioned.
"Why not get Steven over here then too?"
It was only logical.
"The Ancillas are there to protect him, but you're flesh and blood walking on this Earth. I needed you out of the away from him." He answered.
Why though? Fifty thousand whys, waiting in line for their delivery of the truth.
"You rid the City of the Empire. Dr. Miller was in fact trying to protect you too...and now she's no longer around, she can't."
Bullshit.
"Fucking what?" Connie spat out, not believing that for a second.
"She fucking killed herself...I had nothing to do with her death."
Greg sighed.
"You're telling me that the whole Empire causing problems, including sending out the man to assault me like he did with a goddamned trojan no less, to protect me?"
He was right. It didn't make any sense.
"Dr. Miller did a lot behind the scenes....and I know she was angry with what Gregory DeMayo did."
But her aim seemed off.
"She was." Said Mr. Universe.
"I doubt she would have willingly sent out the man to implant the trojan for any malicious purpose."
Not how he was putting it. Connie ended up so was so pissed by that statement in that he was saying that so casually. He wasn't there to see what that asshole Kevin tried to do to her.
"It's a fucking trojan! Of course it would have been malicious!" Connie cried.
70 percent cracked so far. She was indeed ready to tear him a new one.
"Dr. Miller knew what atrocities Gregory DeMayo committed and couldn't live with the damned guilt."
Distress was now on Mr. Universes face as he covered his face in shame and shook his head, muttering the word no to himself over and over.
"That wasn't the problem..." He murmured.
Sure it wasn't. Connie had a feeling this BM-AI was programmed with nothing but lies.
"That what was so damn devastating that she had to take out her god damned life!" She shrilled.
It was so human to see the struggle between being angry at Connies accusations and being sad. The anguish told Connie something else. That she might have hit the mark...or...
"Or was it something else...you're insinuating something else Mr. Universe."
Connie had switched her sights to something else in the meanwhile, as her subroutines were almost finished. She'd switched on her actual vision to see the code all around her. Her eyes trailed to the BM-AI and with little effort, clicked into his code. Small, harmless as she ran extension checks.
"I...I know Mega Beach City isn't safe because I've been tracking movement from PeriCom ever since you left." He said.
"They've been keeping an eye on the Warehouse you and your friends have been hiding at."
80 percent. The extension checks came back with something off.
"Don't divert the subject." Connie spat, ignoring his warning.
"Enough with all this crap about Alien Tech being bad, Dr. Miller being good...and the spying on my associates. I need proof you fucking piece of junk data!"
Mr. Universe shook his head. 85 percent.
"You can either leave well enough alone...or if you can you go head straight to Weiss Uniteds building to get your memory restored and risk them getting to Steven."
What was so fucking important about Biscuit-Boy other than his role?
"He doesn't remember anything because he doesn't know. He never originally knew about any of this. He's the most innocent one!" Mr. Universe continued.
90 Percent.
"Then let me help!" Connie pleaded.
"I'm not as helpless or hopeless as Steven is. I can crack into Weiss United and find out another way. There's always another way."
She wasn't sure if she should pull out the obvious card by this point to get him to agree.
100 percent.
The clasps become undone and disappeared in an instant, followed by Connie jumping off the table and summoning the pink physical sword from her app and charged to push the surprised Mr. Universe against the nearby wall and held the edge of the blade by his neck. His true nature was a great mystery...especially as he appeared more relaxed and laughed...which was the most...unusual sound Connie had heard emit from him.
"You're more like your mother than your father." Mr. Universe admitted.
"Funny how he was in the security business, your mother was a Doctor....and you turned out to be a Hacker of all things."
No. He wasn't going to do this to her. Not when she was done with her subroutines and find out who he really was.
"But the tenacity is all Priyanka. I met her once or twice and she was a bit harsh with your father sometimes."
Connie growled and put her blade just a few inches from him, ready to demolish his Avatar and pull him to pieces, bit by bit with all the agony that would entail. She made sure he would feel pain.
"You think that you're going to get the drop on me Gregory DeMayo just because you think you know better!" Connie berated.
Extension check complete. It appeared as if he was the real deal. But the amount of layers Connie had to peel through. Through what she knew were false links and dead ends, she knew better. Her instinct was quicker than her skills intended.
"Just keep calling me another name other than that, okay kiddo?" He urged her, his nature becoming neutral.
"And look, I am not your enemy here."
Had a funny way of showing it.
"Then you better explain what the fuck is going on...I'm not going anywhere until I get my answers!" Connie demanded, hungry more than ever.
After a tense moment of a staring contest, she let him go, as Greg adjusted himself. It was him, after all this time. The two gave each other the space required to consider their actions moving forward, with all things considered. Connie ended up leaning against a nearby pole with her arms crossed, trying to think of the consequences, the revelations of such news that the one who started this mess was standing right in front of her. She took to making sure other subroutines were in place, the hardest protocols she had to action just to protect herself and to make sure Greg was not able to leave unless she gave the say so.
"I had SOAP used against me too." Greg admitted.
"Although that was on purpose. By subjecting myself I could also protect you and Steven."
Connie rolled her eyes.
"Then what the fuck are you doing here then?" She asked.
"This is the last place where you want to be."
Greg rolled his shoulders.
"You'd think that but...as you know, Lady Volley is in charge of the entire set of operations spread across the world." He revealed.
"She owns the companies in charge of the development of the other Monoliths."
Including PeriCom and DM Biometrics?
"You don't say." Connie answered as she lit up another cigarette.
And Yin Aozora? The Blue Monolith sector, she also assumed.
"She's Ms. Dots boss. And there's also Holly B. Agate in Asia. She hired me to be in charge of the African Division after seeing my thesis years ago about Brain Mapped AIs and offered to fund my research."
And she wouldn't need to bother to ask if it was strictly in exchange for the Pink Monoliths development. The reason was why he stole the Monolith was what Connie was after.
"I wasn't lying about the intentions with the Monoliths." He said.
"Each Department Head was privy to some secrets. Not everything though. I'm not sure if Ms. Dot or Ms. Agate are aware what was really going on."
Juicy. Connie was all in, as she inhaled, needing the artificial nicotine to drive her to listen.
"You were told this by the special GIS." Connie guessed.
Greg nodded.
"Yes." He replied.
"Rose Quartz. The First Caretaker written and constructed for the sole purpose of protecting the Monolith....as I've said, she told me about the potential invasion."
Invasion? There were problematic GIS in the Domain that had to be dealt with on a regular basis but this sounded a lot worse than that.
"What invasion?" Connie questioned.
Greg bit his lip.
"I established that the Monoliths were planning to do something with humanity. The Pink Diamond Monolith was the last created and it's primary function was to find data about humanity it could use. The details about the invasion are a little hazy but Rose was adamant that it wasn't going to be good."
SOAP must have erased most of the data previously had. Much as it had for Connie.
"Where is Rose now?" Connie queried. Now that she had found Greg, she had to figure out more about the controversial GIS.
Greg sighed.
"I...I don't know." He said.
Connie raised an eyebrow. He was doing it again.
"You don't know or you do know but you refuse to tell me." She said.
There could only be so many excuses surrounding SOAP. Greg must have been alive somewhere in the world and hiding all sorts of secrets.
Still, Connie had work to do. More so than she realised.
"Ugh...fine." She said.
"Keep going."
Greg turned to his WorkStation and began to type, with the Monitors showing off each of the Monoliths in a constantly moving graph.
"All four Monoliths do indeed keep the Domain Stable." He said.
"I've been trying to figure what to do in regards to finding out a way to reprogram the Monoliths directives. If Rose said something about an invasion, then the Monoliths' purpose was to be directed towards a particular goal. Creation of GIS and so forth."
And using or even enslaving humans to their desires in order to achieve said goals.
"The White Monolith deals with the original programming suites. I've been trying to find a way to engage its power. Where this Private Grid is, is within close proximity to the White Monolith's presence within the Domain of this particular area."
As the Yellow Monolith had been for Mega Beach City and the ones the Synthesised resided in.
"Reprogramming something as complex as a Monolith is hard, but not impossible." Greg explained. "My experience with the Pink Monolith tells me there's a so much data and code within their being that its only really possible to engage with some of its parts. The reasons that it takes so long to develop a single Monolith is because the code itself is incredibly vast and powerful. We're merely creating the conduits to have them serve their purpose within the Domain and make it function to optimum functionality."
Connie wouldn't mind taking a look at the code for herself.
"In fact, the Pink Monolith also helped me with developing BM-AIs, inspiring the mapping process required to copy and replicate human minds into pure code. The feeling was phenomenal and ground-breaking when I first discovered it."
The screen portrayed the Pink Diamond shape as lines were connected to a small black box and ones and zeros were connecting to a single stick figure of a person, with the equals sign going to a picture of brain on an ancient floppy disc symbol.
It made Connie wonder...wonder more about Steven's creation. Greg was his father, in a way as Steven liked to see him. She had her guard up still, not sure if she could trust Greg and not just because of the stunts he pulled. But rather, his intentions with his own digital son. Connie was going to find out more.
"What about Steven?" She asked.
"What was his purpose?"
Greg looked a bit uncomfortable with that statement. Connie had to know everything. Even if she had to summarise her ideas about Greg after months of research didn't exactly pull off all the correct evidence but based off of obvious signs and reading between the lines.
"What about Rose? Was she...was she based on your spouse? Did you demand the Monolith to recreate your dead wife as a GIS and your dead son as a BM-AI?"
A theory Connie had in her head for some time. Rose was mentioned over and over again and the GIS Rose Quartz was too much of a coincidence. With what Greg had already been saying was aligning with this theory pretty well and the angry look on his face seemed to confirm it....until his following statement caused Connie alarm as he slammed his hands on the console behind him.
"I don't know!" He cried.
"I told you, SOAP eradicated some of those memories. That could be the case or maybe the truth's stranger than that!"
How stranger, Connie wondered.
"Hm...or maybe...Rose was trying to get you to push for the goal of world domination as you seem to suggest that's what the Monoliths are planning!" Connie continued.
"Maybe Steven was just some kind of prototype and..."
Greg stood there with a distressed expression, silent as he examined Connie's face as it turned to one of realisation.
"If...."
Greg swallowed; the discomfort within every drop of sweat on his vast forehead.
"If the Monoliths wanted to take control of humanity..." She said as she rubbed her chin.
"They would need to slip by and make themselves less alien. Pink's purpose to understand humanity. You ask her to forge Rose. Rose is created. Dr. Miller retrieves the Phylactery from the Kindergarten Machine and when she's in use, she realises that it's Rose."
Greg remained silent.
"So...no records of Rose having worked for DM Biometrics but perhaps, she was acquainted with Dr. Miller. Much as my Dad worked for your company, Rose was also a frequent visitor....or she wasn't. Your cousin knew of her name but never met her."
That wouldn't have been the reason for Dr. Millers suicide however. Rose would have been a GIS version of a BM-AI which were already being developed. So what was so horrifying then? Connie sighed.
"Greg...you're of no particular help because you've given me nothing to work with. You've given me plausible explanations and potential possibilities but that's it. I'm hesitant to trust what you say and what you've said already... Who's to believe that you're a lackey of the real Gregory DeMayo in disguise."
He squinted at her accusations, then shrugged.
"I could be." He said.
"I mean, I could be a BM-AI that's only working off his directives. None of that matters though. The only real way through this is to reprogram the Monolith's while protecting the assets."
Assets. That's all they were to him. Connie stormed up to him again and was prepared to let out all her frustrations in a single punch but instead punched the wall behind him, startling Greg all the while as the sound of clashing metal vibrated behind him
"You could be? For fucks sake..." She scoffed.
Moving away, Connie had her back turned to him as she walked off with her arms crossed, pissed beyond all belief.
"What use are you then huh?"
She was so close to tearing his code that it wasn't funny. He had to prove his worth before she was going to all out to strip search every inch of his data if she didn't get what she wanted.
"I still have knowledge about BM-AI development. Some of the stuff I have is still worth taking advantage of. With Steven in America and we're here...we're able to patch together something that will be able to hack into the White Monolith while still protecting Steven and the Pink Monolith." Greg offered, as if this was going to solve all their problems as he so claimed.
He still didn't answer her question.
"Your hacking skills are legendary. I'm thinking of utilising a subroutine that's able to take advantage of..."
Silence.
Connie turned around to see Greg had frozen in place. His Avatar was glitching a tiny bit but nothing else seemed out of the ordinary. Connie brought up her HUD; her blue rectangular with the Berrybyte logo on the top left hand corner and executed a subroutine on her to figure out what was going on. Using her finger to type and trace, She figured, while she was here, should could be able to place a trace on his actual location. So far Connie was busy wondering of Greg was capable of telling the truth. Was this the real deal or was this indeed a BM-AI as he so claimed. She noticed the graphics around the Den were acting funny to. Random edges glowing in parts pink and blue. Very odd.
What was his purpose then? To keep on the situation with everything that had been going on so far. Connie tried to branch off in several paths but was met with blockers every single time. But that wasn't the thing that weirded her out he most.
Avatars coding often had certain programming flags to help differentiate between AIs and those possessing some type of Soulware. Key codes were actually being flagged as organic but at the same time there were common threads linked to AIs. His executable, for one...
Was Unknown.
Just like Steven's.
Connie was completely baffled by the revelation. And the lock up wasn't a feedback or timeout issue.
She had his Avatars X-Ray; a system that is used to see if anything had changed, whether or not it was his psyche or his...Soulware. There was a small dark blue dot blinking where his head was. Using her index finger and thumb and pushing into the middle and spreading out to zoom in, Connie tried to figure out what the blue dot meant.
Looking in, the inner part of the dot was pink...and his Avatar begin to fill in with this mysterious blue and pink light faster than Connie could react to fight it. It was taking him over completely.
His Avatar slowly changed colour. His skin turned a mixture of pink and brown in several patched and his hair and his beard were a mixture of light pink and black in splotches. His left eye became hot pink and his right eye became dark blue glowing orbs.
Connie got rid of the HUD with a single hand swipe and summoned the sword of Berrybyte without fail and stood back and watched this strange event unfold. Instinct told Connie that this wasn't Greg anymore. Grasping the handle of her blade, Connie could see the Avatar shifting and changing, standing up straight as it looked at Connie. The room became deathly cold and all the monitors had instantly shut off. Connie would have tried to escape; if she wasn't so incredibly drawn to this strange occurrence that she couldn't help but continue to stare.
"You are..." It said, holding multiple inflections, both feminine and masculine.
Connie tried to bring up subroutines quickly with her psyche but her scans were coming up blank.
"We finally meet..."
Furrowing her brows, Connie had no idea who this was.
"Who are you?" She demanded to know.
The entity itself was emotionless, going from how neutral Gregs face looked.
"An...ally." It responded.
"I've watched you and Steven for some time. Guided you both along the paths. You are a smart Berry-Girl. He is a smart Biscuit-Boy."
Connie was now extremely intrigued, if not disturbed.
Notes:
1. Chapter 27: Wetware
Chapter 31: Upgrade
Summary:
Connie talks with this unknown entity; and finds out more than what she bargained for.
Chapter Text
Connie would have known if someone was watching her. She was always careful. This unexpected turn of events caught her off-guard however.
Nothing in her history of discovery of the then unknown would compare to how out of this world the very sight of this had become. So strange, even with Domain standards. The Den itself was warping and changing underneath this creatures sheer existence as it stood there, possessing Greg with little to no effort involved.
The nagging sense of the cold lingered, however. It wasn't exactly extreme cold but the type, as weird as it was to say that there were different types of the cold to exist besides the normal basis of temperatures, but otherwise in this place it was knocking on another feeling Connie couldn't really describe. Dry? Damp? Must have glitching out the physics engine hard in a place that really shouldn't have any particular issues with lag or rendering. Especially when it comes to a Hackers Den which would have had some of the most tacked on bootleg security measures. Some quality bootlegs at that.
Beyond all logic, it continued to speak. Connie had her weaponry at the ready, in case it was prepared to do anything funky.
"Greg has been useful to me so far. But now...the current systems in place are...failing." It said.
Connie got sick hearing about stuff breaking down. Tell her something new for a change.
"Yes, the Pink Monoliths disappearance has caused some problems. I'm trying to fix that." Connie said dryly.
The Entity shook its head.
"The Pink Monolith is in a safe place. For now." It said.
Wait...it knew?
"Where is it?" Connie said on instinct, leaning on some subroutines for cracking through thick security encryptions.
It raised its hand at Connie very slowly, like it was some kind of zombie.
"It is not of your concern. However, another is." It replied.
"Firstly, you will need to speak the Ancilla known as Pearl and convey this message to her. I will send this message to your inbox for sakekeeping. A privacy breach would be most detrimental."
Connie had enough of the roundabout way of things people felt like they had to do. There wasn't any reason for them to do this and it pissed her off to the point where she had her sword pointed towards her, ready to engage.
"You can't tell me what to do without giving something in return." She called out. She wasn't a charity. Berrybyte was High Class and expensive to match.
"Greg wanted me here away from Steven. PeriCom wanted me to unlock some memories because apparently I know where the Monolith is which I fucking don't. And Greg thinks this will also protect me?"
The Entity was so off-putting in the way it hardly visually reacted to Connie's anger.
"The situation has changed." It said.
"Steven is in danger. And the Ancillas also."
What?
"Bullshit." Connie spat.
"All of it..."
Connie instantly went into a defensive position as it appeared the Avatar looked down. Something was changing. An increase of processing power flocked to its form as the FPS dropped as a result of increase of assets being used at one time. though while it did it looked like it had gone all the way to high FPS like it was pushing so hard it was causing some kind of impossible variable with the underflow. It changed its virtual mass into 3D pixel cubes that swarmed around in circles like a mini tornado. As quick as the action came; a short, thin, feminine shaped figure with long hair that moved in its own anti-grav algorithm returned in its place. The lack of other detail was disturbing as Connie could only see its eyes. The rest of its body was mostly the darkest of blues with a few lighter ones alongside the light pink splotches that moved around like clouds in the sky. Connie couldn't even see its own Kernel Core. So...was it some sort of AI or GIS without one? A new one?
The environ changed as well. A night sky with multiple galaxies around them, and the consistency of clouds and fogs around the make shift den as the roof had vanished. The largest, brightest thing in the sky was the giant full moon behind them, illumating all around them. The power this thing had was immense if it but warped such a simple Grid.
"Who are you?" Connie demanded to know.
It wasn't hostile but Connie felt the bad vibes coming from all over it.
"Someone who desperately needs your help." It said.
"I am the one who sent the Lapis the Domain's Decline Report, hoping someone out there might be able to resolve the problem in secret."'
It was them? Now Connie just wanted to interrogate them just as badly as any other.
"The Monolith Developers did not want to cause panic." They continued.
"Nor did I."
Had a funny way of showing it. But someone else who said things Connie was supposed to believe off hand. It was greatly irritating, for those who think they could use Connie and gain the upper hand.
"So...here's what I don't get." Connie said, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration.
"Pretend I believe you. That you sent the Lapis the report but she was free to roam as she pleased because she knew it was coming but didn't know what to do with it. So she tried to hide herself from everyone in the event the Domain itself was broken beyond repair."
The Entity nodded.
"There were a few GIS I could trust with the tasks ahead of them. However, during the process of sending her out I was unable to salvage her directives while I was wiping the location of the Pink Monolith from her memory banks." It said.
Wait...
"Did you use SOAP against her?" Connie questioned.
The Entity lifted their chin.
"Yes." It answered bluntly.
Connie wasn't expecting such a prompt and simple response. She was now getting somewhere.
"And did you use SOAP against Steven and the Ancillas?"
It blinked.
"Yes." It replied.
What the fuck.
"I determined through this that it was safer for them and the Monolith, otherwise the Developers would have been able find the location data."
Connie figured something was done to delete their memories at some point. She would have never realised that it was this thing, what it was, had been the cause for it. The main issue now, was Connie herself had been subjected to SOAP. But she was an organic. How did this work against her anyway? She wasn't particular hooked on the idea, but Ms. Dot and Greg seemed to have the idea that it was indeed used.
"Did you use...SOAP against me?" Connie queried.
The figure froze.
"Hey, answer the question!"
The Entity looked down, almost like they were in some sort of state of shame.
"I...I don't know." It responded.
Oh for fuck sake... Connie charged up to it and held the tip against its neck.
"Of course you fucking don't!" She said. "Nobody fucking knows anything!"
It was then the figure became to shake, raising their arms and Connie could have sworn she heard a whimper.
"P-please...I'm only trying to help!" She cried.
"I....don't know what happened....I don't know....I was trying...I-I..."
Connie could see the room glitching wildly as the figure started to panic. They bent down on their knees and held their head in their hands as they wept. Connie stood back, watching the room slowly break down, revealing the blurry white skybox behind tiles that were slowly disappearing in quick flashes.
"Woah woah...calm down!" Connie urged, suddenly feeling guilty.
"I...I'm sorry I didn't..."
Berrybyte tried to keep her distance as she squatted down the beside the figure, unsure of how to comfort them. Also Connie did not want to lose herself within this Private Grid if she could help it.
Sighing, Connie relented in the scope where she had to pay her dues. She was taking and not giving. After all, this particular, thing...had given her some of the most valuable information. Confirmed more suspicions and had realise certain truths. The erasure was obvious in the sense it had something to do with keeping the Developers from using the Ancillas to track the Monoliths position.
"Look." Connie said, 'sheathing' her sword as it disappeared into pink pixels.
"I want to fix this. I do. People keep being cryptic and I can't help if I'm not getting the bigger picture. Yes, I realise telling me everything could risk the Monolith in question and yes, the Monoliths intend to...enslave humanity for what ever reason."
Which honestly sounded like something like a bad sci-fi movie. Or at least one with the worst clichés imaginable.
"You asked Greg to reprogram the Monoliths I'm guessing?"
The Entity lifted her head to get a better look at Connie.
"Yes." They responded, in the softest tones.
The White Monolith governs the Base Coding; the underlying 'earth' of the Domain in order for nearly any program to run. ^1
So Greg had to resort to taking advantage of White's main features to get started.
"How do we do that?" Connie queried.
Everything seemed to calm down...as the Private Grid appeared to turn back to normal as the Entity stood back up straight, returning to their neutral stage. What ever this thing was, just oozed power.
"I had asked Greg to try an invent something to load into to the Monoliths run times. However Monoliths have mass quantities of code and subroutines so thick and complicated that they're nearly impossible to penetrate."
For a regular human. Though it backed up what Greg was saying before. Connie had always imagined the Monoliths as these gargantuan near god like entities capable of anything beyond human comphrehension. Though, it begged the question.
"Why can't you do it?" Connie wondered.
The Entity crossed its arms.
"Me....being here. I'm...I'm....an anomaly."
An anomaly.
"I'm sorry I can't divulge anymore than that."
Figures.
"I've got to call you something. Gimme a code name. I'm not gonna think you're some kind of freak." Connie said, despite this...persons existence dumbfounding her. If Connie learnt anything at all, is that any kind of AI or GIS wasn't just a program. She had to treat them the same as any human. Even if Connie was pissed off and hated their guts, her approach to them was human based. Its how she got through life a lot easier than unleashing hell.
"A-A name?" It said, surprised.
"Oh...um...Greg did call me something."
Alright then spit it.
"You can call me Luna."
Luna...huh. Cute.
"Okay Luna...." Connie said, trying to feign smile through it all.
She would have been relieved if not for other things on her mind that needed her attention. The fact that Steven was in danger and that she for some reason had to give Pearl something. Though it seemed like Luna had other plans alongside what she had conveyed originally.
"Excuse me for bothering you, but if I may, before you speak to Pearl. I'd like to upgrade your Soulware."
Her...her Soulware? This was random and unexpected.
"You can do that?" Connie said, surprised.
Luna nodded.
"Dealing with the White Monolith data requires a strong set of connections and willpower. Gregory DeMayo was a SSS Grade. I can upgrade you to an SSS too."
WHAT? Connie could not do anything but stammer. She's already been dealing with the revelations thus far. This Luna was something else indeed.
"Woah, I mean....uhhh..."
Running her hand through her hair, Connie wasn't even sure if she wanted to do this. Her mind was in shambles trying to comprehend such a thing.
"We can do it when you're ready. There's no rush." Luna assured her.
No. Connie wasn't going to delay. Dipping into a Monoliths mind wasn't going to be a casual walk in the park if Connie was prepared to take this as serious as she did last time. Speaking of which.
How was Luna going to kiss Connie with no mouth anyway?
"So...you gonna form some lips to...upload the data?" Connie said, recalling the last occasion when this occured.
Luna had no idea what Connie was talking about however, based on the tilted head expression.
"Huh?" They said.
Was there an issue?
"Uploading data requires an unconventional, but effective method doesn't it?" Connie stated.
Luna formed a loose fist by their chest, uncertain with what Connie was gauging at.
"I...I was just going to hug you? I-uh..."
For some reason there was a small trace of innocence behind that statement alone. If Luna had a more efficient way of uploading than a kiss then Connie was all for it. Shrugging, Connie refused to waste anymore time on guess work.
"Ugh..just...just do what you have to." She said, standing up straight and closing her eyes. She was definitely no Kevin, Connie could automatically believe that. Somehow.
"I've had far worse experiences."
Luna put their other hand to their chest as they floated in place; their feet popping back slightly behind them as they began to hover. Moving forward, Luna placed their hands on Connies shoulders to hold their position.
"Open your eyes."
Doing so, Connie was almost blinded by the sheer brightness of the pink and blue eyes. Like swirls of light that seemed to pull her in, attracting her to this limbo state that flickered her HUD constantly with glitches that came with the runtime uploads. To be expected. Everything went so fast....so fast like Connie had fallen back into a dream.
CAMERA FEED OMEGA THETA
It was cold. It was sort of damp. Grey walls and metal railings and a pink light glow coming up from deep with the chasm below a machine alongside pressurised steams of coolant. A small girl could be seen leaning against the giant construct. Long black hair and dark skin and a white and green dress.
She was asleep and holding a small pink and blue coloured rabbit in her arms. The hum of machines could heard and the muffled, bass increased sounds of spinning fans and electrical currents. It was oddly peaceful.
CAMERA FEED OMEGA DELTA
The feed had changed to something on the railing itself. A lower position by the edge of the pole, but the girl was closer to that camera.
A sound of footsteps were tracked nearby.
CAMERA FEED OMEGA THETA
A tall man with black hair and a blue security outfit walked across the catwalks and knelt down to pick up the young girl, letting her rest in his arms. She stirred, opening her eyes as she yawned, then she smiled at the man.
"Daddy?" She said.
The man smiled in return.
"Yeah I'm here honey." He said, looking at all the pieces and paper and crayons all over the floor.
"Looks like you exhausted yourself with all this play."
CAMERA FEED OMEGA DELTA
She stretched her arms, then looked at the giant construct for a good ten seconds.
"We'll come back tomorrow, don't worry." The Dad assured.
"You need to be tucked into somewhere nice and warm."
Though she looked rather peaceful where she was.
"Dad?" She asked.
"Yes honey?" He replied.
"Do you...do you think he could ever sing?"
He?
"Sing? Well..." The father said, unsure.
"His Dad said he should be installed with a vocoder very soon. Which means the two of you get to talk to each other a lot more."
The girl grinned.
"He said he wanted to sing." She said.
"Or...play an instrument."
The father chuckled.
"Heh....well maybe one day." He said.
"Perhaps start him off with poems, like Roses are Red, Violets are Blue....."
The girl giggled.
"Aren't violets purple Daddy?" She questioned.
They indeed were.
"Old poems and stories don't always have to make sense." He said.
"As long as they rhyme, they connect and flow easily. I could sing a song about strawberries and uh..."
The man was stuck on a rhyme for strawberries.
"Biscuits?" The girl suggested.
"Biscuits doesn't rhyme with strawberry dear." He replied.
The girl pouted.
"They don't always have to make sense!" She protested.
He laughed.
"Ah you got me there." He said, submitting to the defeat of irony.
"Which reminds me, your mother is making some scrumptious dessert tonight..."
CAMERA IOTA KAPPA
The man continued to hold his daughter in his arms as they walked through the hallways of the unknown facility. She had since fallen back asleep.
CAMERA IOTA THETA
FEED LOST
NEW CAMERA UNLOCKED > CAMERA OMEGA OMEGA.
The feed itself rendered out a giant metallic circular construct made of long rectangular plates with triangular tops that had pink dots and lines upwards in a even, symmetrical pattern, with a pink diamond stamped on the right hand side of it with a lot of the cryogenic steam pouring out from around and above it. You couldn't make out the pulsing like a heart pink glow. A man, so small like an ant stood before it. Wearing a lab coat and had long brown hair.
He had been busy typing away something, then tenderly stroked the casing in a weird way.
"He's going well." He said.
Connie recognised that voice.
"But I think Barbara is beginning to suspect something."
Dr. Miller.
"I have to have a contingency plan. We have to have a contingency plan."
Code ran through the camera, though it was going to fast to decypher as the binary flew by on the bottom left hand corner of the HUD.
"Connie? What about her?" He asked.
ACCESS DENIED.
"She's just a little girl. If all goes wrong she might need a memory wipe."
ACCESS DENIED.
"But she's so young. SOAP is only ever used for AIs. I can't test that on her."
ACCESS DENIED.
"I know he's learning. We'll get the vocoder soon and we should be out to test his vocals. Get him used to it. It's not like he's...uh, well, you know."
ACCESS DENIED.
"Impression scans tell us Steven is quite fond of Connie. When she's not here and we're asking him some preferential questions, he talks about her. It's actually kind of cute."
ACCESS DENIED.
"I know he holds a certain amount of affection often seen in BM-AIS towards figures they recognise but he's never met Connie before...ya know. That's the part I fear if Barb discovers it she'll got nuts. I've tried hard to cover my tracks but she and Dr Ryman are thick as thieves. As in...they're tightly nit. I trust Dr. Ryman to keep a secret, but Barb is ferocious when she wants to be. Plays a mean game of poker."
ACCESS DENIED.
"I don't want to gamble our sons livelihood know. Which means what we've done. There's got to be a backdoor way in case shit goes down hard."
A flash of words plaster on the camera, then disappear shortly after.
IT'S NOT THE MATTER OF IF, BUT WHEN.
"When? Are your algorithms telling you to be paranoid?"
NO. BUT IF YOU ARE WORRIED, THEN I AM TO BE WORRIED. I KNOW SO LITTLE ABOUT THE HUMAN RACE. IF YOU CANNOT TRUST ONE OF YOUR OWN, THEN I CANNOT TRUST ONE OF YOUR OWN.
"I see. Well, I uhhh...suppose we should think of somethin'."
WE MUST ALSO PROTECT CONNIE MAHESWARAN. THIS WILL BE THE NEW SERIES OF PROTECTION PROTOCOLS TO BE DONE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
"Huh...okay...well, if you say so."
100% UPLOAD COMPLETE.
Connie wasn't prepared for how emotionally overwhelmed she had beceme as Luna moved back, surprised as Connie fell to her knees. Her heart had been strangled as she shook out of fear. Looking up, Luna observed how Connie's own eyes reflected her own blue and pink.
She might as well have been staring into a mirror.
"Strange." Luna commented.
"You..."
Connie was busy trying to hold back her tears and was failing...and ended up with her hands on the floor as she sobbed.
"I knew him....I fucking knew him and I don't fucking remember any of it!"
Luna went to reach out for her, but at the last moment, just before they could touch Connie's shoulder, Luna retracted.
"Why...what the fuck...Greg has a lot of explaining to do!"
Luna shook their head.
"Connie..." She said.
Connie was just stuttering nonsense out of weird merge of rage and confusion.
"Greg fucking programming...I dunno."
The Pink Diamond Monolith.
Connie's eyes widened as she realised what she had been looking at....it had to have been the exterior of the Pink Monolith! It couldn't have been anything else. Unless he was talking to Rose, her Avatar. Connie forced herself to stop sobbing and stand up. Her eyes were still puffy, but she had been unsure of what to make of Luna so far. What she had been feeding her to upgrade...and it must have unlocked the memory somehow. Though, the strange appearances and the words exchanged...Connie knew what Luna was.
"Are you the Protection Protocol Greg created?" Connie asked.
Luna looked to the side.
"I know of a variant of the Protocol." She said.
"It's designed in a similar way to a Caretaker GIS's. The Monoliths install Imprint Subroutines to their Caretaker GIS alongside their Prime Apps. The routine works as thus; The Monoliths are put into danger. Their connections to their Caretakers allow the latter to sense that the other has sent out an alarm, calling all known Caretakers to their location to defend it."
Connie rubbed her chin. Pretty much similar information Ms. Dot gave her, though the imprint subroutine was new. Connie held suspicions about Lunas real identity, but didn't want to risk losing Luna either.
"So Greg and a 'mysterious' third party put in these contingency plans to...protect me...why me? I mean, I'm just a regular person. Why not...protect...Steven or the Monolith...how do I fit into the picture." Connie queried.
Luna just continued to float and stare for several moments, as if processing the correct words to convey. Connie must have known Steven; a product of DM Biometrics. It was too obvious now. Why didn't she think of this before? Whacking her forehead lightly with her fist, Connie was able to fit more pieces in.
"So...I was friends with Steven thanks to my father." Connie said, putting the pieces together.
That huge machine she saw herself in. That was a massive AI Core. Connie held no strong feelings...she just felt a bit sick. The massive machine...it had to be Steven.
"But that still doesn't tell me where the Monolith is located."
Luna appeared more uncomfortable with that statement.
"It must remain that way until you reprogram the other Monoliths." Luna reminded her.
"To begin, you must talk with Pearl and her a-"
WARNING.
The room started flashing red, freaking Luna out.
"I must go." Luna called out.
"Good luck. I believe you can do it."
Closing her eyes, Luna vanished into an explosion of pixels, leaving Gregs Avatar back in its place. Opening his eyes, Greg looked around, then turned towards his mural of monitors as he noted the alarm in haste.
"Oh geez." He said.
Connie had to help anyway she could.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
Greg rubbed his forehead, then rapidly typed into the console.
"Exceeding bandwidth. Alarms go off when there's too much data being poured into the Private Grid that the Caretaker GIS begin to notice."
No...
"You must have talked to her."
Luna?
"If it was a weird creepy pink and blue program, then yes." Connie answered.
Greg groaned, but understood.
"Look, she came here for a reason and she's someone we can trust." He said.
"She's the whole reason why I'm fighting."
Connie squinted.
"Who is she really?" She asked.
Greg pressed one button on the console, which turned off the alarms.
"Luna..." He murmured.
"She's spoken to you which means she needs you for somethin'. You better do that somethin' she says."
Why? Just because she upgraded Connie's Soulware?
"Apparently I need to talk to P-"
Greg placed a finger on her lips.
"Shhh." He said.
"The less we talk about it, the better, now go!"
Connie left the Domain shortly after, deliberating on the words Luna had given her.
The time on the nearby blue glowing digital wall clock had 9:24 PM. She sat by her WorkStation with the ambience of her computers hums. Connie had been reserved while sitting in her fancy black computer chair and looking at her blank screens and screens that executed their routine flows as they normally would; their codes consistent in their processes. Otherwise, Connie felt lost in closed quarters.
The colours stuck with her. As the apartment with its grey walls and dullness instilled the bore more than Connie could stand. Which gave the preferential experiences in the Domain much more tempting. The touch of loneliness Connie had no qualms for now had Connie feeling rather ill.
Luna's upgrades weren't exactly the cause but they were a catalyst. It took her forever to process the fact that yes, her Soulware was upgraded to the highest tier. Maybe the upgrades were the cause then, since Connie felt rather different. Her very essence altered to the point that she might as well have had her entire DNA strands engineered to adjust to this new status.
She didn't feel wiser or older or anything. Just...different. Looking at the hands that had crafted code time and time again had Connie wonder how much more she had to gain and lose as adjustments were made.
She recalled that Luna had given her a job to do. So she pushed her self closer and went to check her inbox with the blinking red light on the top left hand corner of the screen. A new email tilted 'For a hungry girl.'
Connie's brows furrowed, perplexed by the title. Clicking on it, she could see the message was from a noreply at DM Biometrics email address and the single sentence was all that was in the contents:
"If every porkchop were perfect, we wouldn't have hot dogs."
Strange.
So she had to give that to Pearl supposedly? Rubbing her chin, it must have been some kind of passphrase. Nothing so bizarre could logically be for anything else.
Connie had to process this properly, as she had gotten out of her chair to make herself a cup of coffee. It had been made of note that since she'd arrived here, they didn't have the same energy drink brand (much to her grievance) since they didn't sell them in this country. So she had resort to some popular swiss brand of coffee that was imported. The only real upside was the perception of those around her woud have been more favourable. The less Connie diverted herself from the norm, the better. It wasn't as good as the energy drinks she craved, but it had caffeine in it, so it was enough to keep her going without mauling the next person in the face. For now.
But it was this specific type of Caffeine that kept her trail of odd thoughts running by her mind like a train entering into a station and picking up its passengers and leaving moments after. But they kept returning.
She knew Steven. But she couldn't recall ever meeting him prior to that fateful day.
Pieces that made sense to some but not to her, even with the upgrade. She wanted to talk to Greg again; the suspect of one of the most infamous crimes known to the world. How he had somehow integrated himself so well in this place, serving a Protection Protocol of all things.
Was it actually him? Or was it really just a BM-AI in his stead? Connie had no real proof.
Sitting back down at her desk, Connie contemplated much. After telling everyone not to follow her, Connie actually had to follow them. And Pearl was one of the greatest mysteries. A Cloud Storage GIS. Someone, like Greg and Steven and the other Ancillas, placed into this same 'mess' or 'contigency' plan.
Connie wasn't all about saving the world. It was the bottom dollar and the challenge presented. Finding the Pink Monolith would make her a legend and practically set for life. Meeting Steven and the Ancillas wasn't exactly part of that two fold plan. A lone wolf who only really communicates with others because she needs something from them.
Berrybyte was only synonymous with herself. That's how it should be and how it should always be. But...being drawn to Steven on an emotional wavelength as intense as....as she had been feeling...people would encourage them to pursue such a thing despite the handicaps involved. Now, the handicaps weren't the worst as they had been finding ways around it, however...
The fact that they were once friends. And Connie couldn't seem to fathom their connections beforehand. Was the restoration of ancient memories actually the key to solving this? To allow Connie to sift through the confusion easier by remembering the times with Steven?
She couldn't decide. Luna wasn't of any great help either...only allowing her access to Pearls potential swath of data hidden deep into her storage. Only problem now was getting to Pearl. She would have to head back to Mega Beach City to talk to her. Leaving now would give suspicion, as PeriCom and Weiss United had been awaiting for her to book the restoration appointment so she could get those crucial memories back.
A tiny bit of guilt remained and the fact that Connie had been so stupid to believe otherwise that her fathers ties to DM Biometrics also meant Connie was indeed involved. The labs to where the Pink Monolith was also developed. The death of her father and the elusive behaviour of Gregory DeMayo and the mysteriousness that had been Steven's existence...Connie really was the only one living and breathing and that was within the grasp of the Developers that could give them closure to the Monolith's location. The irony of Connie's own search ...when the answer was indeed, actually within her brain all along.
No wonder they were keen. PeriComs eagerness for her to flock to the Land of Polygons was all a ploy to unlock her secrets. Secrets Connie had never been made aware of. If she were to disappear off the Grid then no one gets anywhere.
Connie smirked in the knowledge that she actually held more power than she realised. It didn't mean she shouldn't be more careful, but the amount of bargaining was worth more than any credits or glory she had obtained over the years.
Delicious.
Connie then noticed a blinking red light on her email again.
Package for Maheswaran C.
She didn't recall ordering anything? Ugh. Her memory was very soggy.
Opening up the email, it gave her a delivery point address as to where to pick up the package. Rubbing her chin, Connie wasn't sure if Luna was playing more tricks. She picked through the html links on every part of the email. The local mail company. The logo etc. Digging through it all with her VI's subroutines...
It was legitimate.
Connie kept her wits about her, but otherwise was keen to see what had been sent to her. So as thus, Berrybyte grabbed her keys and her jacket and went out the door.
Chapter 32: Package
Summary:
Connie goes to investigate the mysterious package.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Connie, like any normal invidual who valued their privacy, only ever scarcly gave details regarding her address or her postal address to a select few. Though the current system of things made it difficult to hide absolutely everything and the task of actually finding something even harder. But there had been, for the most part, always some way to find something or someone. Just got to know the right avenues.
The postal system these days did hold several variants. Namely, someone could still send something to the other person utilising the right criteria. However the location listed wasn't even the normal postal address she used, but rather a drop box location she made instead.
It would have had someone who had the knowledge of her extension and postal ID number, which only the select few had. Hence the notification.
But this time, almost 10 pm at night? Connie kept her pistol close to her hip at all her times. She had been in her black jacket and white dress. She didn't even think to change before she went out the door and flew the Rosa Leo to its destination.
The Golden City was drastically different to Mega Beach City. The Golden City was like an elderly person, where most people would actually sleep at night. It made Connie feel older in comparison, like this place was its own retirement village where you would hope to die peacefully.
She rode herself to an alleyway in between two inconspicous and similar looking white square like buildings; which was perfect for a hiding spot. It was weird looking at spherical trees as opposed to squarish ones of the Domain. It was still a cold, late January night and it had been raining instead of snowing on that day. The wet concrete and steam coming out of nearby vents. The shades of black, grey and white made it look like it was all out of a noir film of some sort.
Connies heels clicked swiftly across the pavement and sternness in every step. In the middle of the alleyway she could see a man with a big rain coat top hat, blonde dreads and going from his cigarette's glow displayed his five o clock shadow. Next to him was a massive rectagular crate, sitting upright against a lamp post.
"Berrybyte I presume?" He said.
Connie crossed her arms.
"Who wants to know?" She asked.
The man smiled as he gave a cigarette to her. She took the cigarette into her mouth with caution, eying the man as she rested it in between her fingers, while he lit her up with his lighter. Skeptical, but who was Connie to not accept a free smoke?
"Peter-Daniel Fryman...or you can call me Peedee." He answered.
Ronaldo's brother? He was much skinnier than Connie anticipated he would be. A Board Member for Yin Aozora. She imagined a six or seven digit as his casual annual salary.
"Huh...last thing I heard was that you were working in the Asian Sector." She answered.
Peedee nodded.
"I still do." He said.
"My job sends me to all sorts of places. European and American included."
Of course it did.
"So...what brings you here?"
Peedee slapped the big crate behind him, with a little red plate underneath shooting up to hover it above the ground.
"This package." He replied bluntly.
"I'd rather not indulge in a risky explanation of its contents. I'll just say its a present from my big brother."
Connie raised an eyebrow. It explained who was able to track her down at least. So her own subroutines and checks were working as well as they should have been with nary a bug detected.
"A present huh." She said, her eyes running up and down the crate.
Someone in Peedees position should have at least have either the authority or deal of bribery involved to get something this big smuggled into the Golden City. Greg was right. This place was dirty. As Peedee inhaled, he cracked his neck. So what could have Ronaldo possibly gifted her?
"Yup." Peedee said, before he exhaled.
"Look I know what you're trying to do here. All eyes are on you."
Connie furrowed her brows in confusion.
"Come again?" She queried.
Peedee rolled his eyes.
"Weiss United, PeriCom, Yin Aozora. All eyes. On one Berrybyte."
PeriCom wasn't a surprise and Weiss United eh. Yin Aozora on the other hand. She was aware of how much was at stake but the cost involved with doing so...
"I know they want me to take the restoration." Connie explained.
Trusting anyone was foolish. Trusting some big wig from a massive international section of companies was beyond foolish. Just because Peedee was bros with Ronaldo, didn't exactly make Connie trust him easily. But how much did Peedee know on his end? Was he a Professional Holly B. Agate butt kisser or what?
She wondered if what Greg and Luna actually said were in fact true...about the fact that the Monoliths were wanting to enslave humanity. It did honestly sound like a bad sci fi movie when it came down to it. Digging with the strongest metaphorical shovel was required. Was Peedee a player or merely a pawn?
"How much have they really told you about the Monoliths?"
Peedee chuckled.
"That's classified information...you should know that." He berated.
Typical.
"I do." Connie said, inhaling, then exhaling as smoke escaped her mouth.
"It tells me that you know fucking jack shit about what's really going on."
Peedee didn't bite as he inhaled again, looking rather apathetic in his one sided slanted stance.
"Look I'm just the delivery guy. I didn't come here to be your guy on the inside." He claimed.
Fool. He already was. Connie could judge men by their worth by dispensing the right amount of information to the right person, to the right time. She already had her VI running subroutines on the guy as soon as she saw him and identified him. A force of habit.
"They're hinging on me to spill the Monolith's location...whether that's now...or in due time." Connie explained.
He should have known that. And by that look on his face and the shine in his eyes was a telling sign that he did know.
"I do find it strange that they're not forcing me to head to the centre right away."
Peedee sighed. It was an interesting fact Connie came across. If they really wanted to find out, they would have been able to pluck it out her already.
"I don't know why they're not forcing you." He said.
Really? Time for a little story telling.
"Surely you were informed about the Protection Protocol?" She said.
"Ms. Dot told me about it."
Peedee eyes' widened.
"The Protection Protocol?"
Hm...
"Ms. Dot explained how the Protection Protocol was put into place to protect me. No one can touch me."
Peedee rubbed the back of his head, flabbergasted.
"Look...you look like you know more than me." He said
"Any kind of racket the Developers explained to me was the explicit order to let Berrybyte do her own thing in order to find the Monolith. That's all."
Boom. Connie smirked. This was new. It had nothing to do with the Protocol, though that smirk did fade after she processed and began to think about the implications of such an order. Connie already knew she was being used to find it, but Peedees words suggested that it went deeper than that.
A ping went off on Connie's HUD with results from her scans.
Peedee was bugged. Definitely bugged.
"They're tapping you." She said outright.
Peedee looked more offended.
"What?"
He wasn't a bad actor.
"Yin Aozora." Connie stated.
"They knew I was here in the Golden City. The moment they must have heard you were heading here they had you hooked. So what's in the box? Some kind of contraption to take me back to Japan for interrogation?'
Peedee raised his hands in defense, unconsciously dropping his cigerrate as he shook his head.
"No-no, you don't understand!" He said.
Connie pulled out her pistol and took the safety off as she pointed the end of the barrel towards him. If what Greg said was true, they had their eyes on the Ancillas, Steven and obviously Ronaldo. Anyone worth their dip into knowledge would know by now the Great Engineer Ronaldo Fryman was involved...and no doubt any relative of his would instantly be checked. Any links, any suspicions...the Developers would sooner have them tracked down and observed for their own nefarious purposes.
"I understand well enough Mr. Fryman." Connie said coldly.
"Yin Aozora haven't taken their slice of the pie. They stand to gain for the reward of the Pink Monolith's safe return. To do that, they need Berrybyte. But they can't touch me...can they?"
Peedee gulped.
"Hey...hey I came here for a legitimate reason..." He said....then looked to the side.
"Okay a semi-legimate, kind of illegal reason."
Now he's talking.
"I wasn't here to threaten you or take you back to Japan. Only to deliver this to you." He claimed.
"We all had the same set of orders as I just explained to you. No one touches Berrybyte."
All of them...the same set of orders....
Hm...
"Open the box then." Connie demanded, her voice low.
Peedee was doing a subtle freak out, trying to comprehend what Connie just said.
"What?"
Connie sighed.
"Open the box dumbass."
Peedee did a quick take behind him.
"I...I wouldn't recommend taking the package out smack in the open. You'll get caught!" He said.
Connie's patience was wearing thin.
"I will get caught...and then what?" She questioned.
All this talk about Connie being practically untouchable.
The Board Member bit his lip and shook his head.
"What ever...fuck me." He cursed.
Taking a crowbar from the other side of the crate, Connie watched as Peedee grunted and groaned in the struggle to ply the side of the crate open. It took him a moment until the side was off...but with the amount off force, the plank slapped him on the face and was sent comically crashing to the ground, causing Connie to grimace. Not caring for the moment, Connie took a flaslight to examine the interior.
Lots of foam pallets were everywhere as Connie dusted them off until she could see the massive foam pallet. She placed her fingers and dug them into the side of the foam casing. Once off she threw it behind her, hitting Peedee who had only just recovered from before.
Though what she saw before her, caused Connie to gasp.
"An....Android?" She stammered in shock.
Peedee groaned as he threw a pallet off of his head and stood next to her.
"Ugh...see?" He said.
"Ronaldo wanted you to have this..."
A sex toy? Was this revenge for all the jokes?
"Very funny." Connie said dryly.
Though the shape of this machine was oddly familiar. Her eyes began to glow pink and blue yet again as she looked at it, her mind drifting a million miles away for the moment.
CAMERA FEED OMEGA BETA.
"You sure about this? She's only seven years old."
Greg and another unknown man with blonde hair and a white lab coat with his back towards the camera feed were talking in a unknown room, looking at some kind of x-ray resting and lit up against the nearby wall.
"I'll have the Codesmith help out with the precisions." Greg told him.
"But as improvements to the Mainstream Domain Ports will be years away, we'll need to do this one way or another. They won't be safe for public purchase until they have more test results."
The Blonde man rubbed his chin.
"Is this Weiss or Peri demanding this?"
Greg sighed.
"All of them. Including Yin and the reports say that the Monoliths have been wanting more testing too." He whined.
"We may have finished our Monolith but it still needs human data like this."
The blonde man, even if he hadn't turned around, showed immediate concern just within his body langauge alone.
"Have you even spoken with the parents? I'm sure they're not exactly enthusiastic in regards to using their daughter as a test subject."
Greg looked down, then looked up and smiled.
"I've spoken with the mother." He said.
"She told me that Connie's...Connie's got a condition."
A...condition.
"And while yes. Dr. Maheswaran is a Doctor in her own right, she's at a loss since this condition can't be cured."
Can't be...
"Is it because she's spent a lot of time near Steven and the AI Core?" The Blonde Man wondered.
Greg shook his head.
"Connie's had this condition since birth. Hereditary I was told. Something that's unfortunately come around in the last fifty years or so. It's a pretty rare condition too. No one knows where it comes from."
No...
"Evolution is a cruel mistress." Said the Blonde Man.
"Connie seems to be alright though..."
Greg bit his lip and leaned against the nearby wall as he crossed his arms.
"She is for now." He said.
"It's a brain disease that affects the synpases in the brain and the ways that neurons are transmitted. If Connie's not careful, she'll literally think herself to death."
How is that...
"That's horrible." The Blonde Man commented.
"This is the time where her brain should be growing."
Greg nodded.
"This is where this little project of ours comes into play." He said.
"This...Shard we'll insert is a type of buffer between where we install the Domain Port and the artificially binding nerve endings near the base of the neck. I've been told this will actually be able to regulate neurons without Connie's brain burning too quickly."
A...shard...
"This...shard...has it been tested?" The Blonde Man asked.
Greg shrugged.
"The Shard is Alien Tech. Designed for flexibility and most importantly, adaptibility. Connie's Soulware is already amazing as it is. But we'll need to dumb it down a few notches."
The Blonde Man sighed.
"So it hasn't been tested..." He complained.
Greg got off the wall as he checked out a nearby laptop that was fixed to a wall and joint and began to type.
"That's the point." He said.
"The Shard needs to be tested on something. If we allow this to happen with Connie's current Soulware grade and this doesn't work the way its intended? She will die."
The Blonde Mans face fell into his hand as he shook his head with disbelief.
"Greg this is insane!"
Greg paused his typing, his eyes cautiously looking at his colleague.
"You would do the same to your son if his life was in danger!" He called out.
The Blonde Man stomped his foot as he swiped away the laptop, stunning Dr. DeMayo.
"I was originally against your earlier project and I let that slide. But this is my child! I wouldn't subject him to the most absurd, immoral malpractice for the mere purpose of results! Like any reasonable person, I would instead put him into the hands of our most trusted doctors! I didn't go to University to go and pull stunts like this!"
Greg pulled the Laptop back to him.
"None of us were." He said calmly.
"We're meant to create a means to improve humanity. We already did that with the Monoliths. We've done that with Steven. Next is improving the lives of those who would best benefit from this technology."
The Blonde Man sighed and crossed his arms, then looked down.
"You said the Mom was on board? You can't get her to do it?" He asked.
Greg kept typing.
"She'll be a supervisor. We'll just need the Codesmith's accurate input and scanner programming to make sure we're hitting the right spots to install the Shard."
"Yo, Berrybyte...."
She was on the floor, on her hands and knees as the lights from her eyes faded. She heard Peedee behind her and while shaken, eventually stood back up under her own power.
"You want to go to the nearest hospital?"
Connie shook her head as she looked back at the Android.
"No..." She said.
Connie deliberated over what she just saw and would need more time to ponder on it. Just like everything else...she wondered if Steven had been going through the same problems. It had never been this jarring.
"I'll take this big boy home and figure out what to do next."
Peedee frowned, visibly worried.
"Alright then." He responded.
"I'll uh...I'll be on my way then."
He was about to turn until a hand hit his shoulder, stopping him in his place. He turned to her, stunned and was about to open his mouth and it was then he felt a warm set of lips on his. He was even more stunned by the gesture and how long she lingered there for. Peedee was shaking in his boots until she parted with a wet pop. The man swallowed.
"Oh...uhh....um..."
Her hand then moved in front of her, revealing a squarish blue device.
"I was just removing the bug from you." Connie revealed.
"We should talk some more."
After Connie had sent to package to her apartment and secured it, she had gone to a nearby bar with Peedee to have a few drinks. A late night where there were several other boozers, this place wasn't always populated that much. It was small, dark and dark with its white neon lights spread across the top of the walls. A Bar known as Apollo. A moon themed dinner with photos of the moon and other art work depicting it.
Connie and Peedee and several others were the current customers of the early hour, as Jerry the Bartender served them a few pints as they sat by the bar on the black and white stools.
"Have you heard of Rampancy Disease?" She asked him before taking a sip.
Peedee rose an eyebrow.
"Rampancy Disease?" He repeated.
Not everybody did.
"It manifests when you're older, but general signs of the disease occur when you're young and experience infrequent seizures. Come adolescence, if you literally think too hard, you can accidentally light your brain on fire."
The man batted his eyelids a few times trying to understand such a thing.
"I'm guessing you're talking about that, figuratively speaking." He said.
"Sounds horrible."
Connie nodded.
"Headaches and migraines are common and in some cases death can occur. There isn't a known cure. You can treat with it the right medication, but ultimately, those who have it, tend to die young."
Peedee looked at her as he leaned his cheek into the palm of his hand while his elbow rested on the bar.
"When I was...well, during my teenage years I would lash out at my foster siblings because of those headaches. My foster parents did what they could but weren't always able to afford the medication. Doctors would suggest keeping my head cold...and I was often thrown outside to sleep by the more abusive parents."
She wasn't even sure why she was telling Peedee; a man she just met, this information.
"I simultaneously both love and hate the cold. I can't stand the heat."
Peedee took another sip, uncertain on how to respond.
"But the Domain...doesn't it heat up the brain? I mean, connecting through the Domain Ports on a long term basis...wouldn't that hurt?" He questioned.
If this so called Shard inplanted into her head was there, it was definitely working. It always had been.
"It should." Connie said.
"I take a lot of pills as required but normally I do the exact opposite of what Doctors tell me. I feel like a rebel, but all I'm awarded is pain."
Taking another sip, Connie wasn't really telling Peedee for his sake. Ultimately, she was just using him to bounce ideas off of. Her mind was fixated on the Shard itself. The source of the near stability she had that while she's pushed her own limits time and time again, she wasn't so sure how she wasn't actually near death yet.
Her idea of transferring her mind to become an AI. There had been a lot of mixed up feelings she refused to deal with...and with information she never even told Steven. She fucked herself over, by neglecting to tell DM Biometrics about the medications she had already taken. At that moment, with what meds they provided, she had never felt more at peace.
Her mind for once in her life, allowed to float in the moment without a care in the world. In death, that pain would have been released and the burdens of her existence wouldn't trouble her any longer.
But...she failed. She was saved because people cared about her. Steven wanted her to live. The only...person in this life that had been wanting her to just...live.
She never told him about her condition because...because he didn't really need to know. Escaping to the bathroom to cry out of anguish while telling him to fuck off to Ronaldo was giving her space. Space to freeze herself and to calm down from those painful migraines. The medication only did so much, but it didn't stop everything.
Doctors had told her time and time again to get off the energy drinks and the the cigarettes but they were simply coping mechanisms. She had to work. She had to survive somehow and some of that was worth the risk.
Some..weren't.
"I left America for Japan because I wanted to distance myself from my own family." Peedee explained.
"I love my brother and my dad but those two...ugh ever since Mom died...they're a bit overwhelming. So I can kind of get the self-isolation."
Connie smirked.
"You got yourself up to the totem pole quite fast for someone your age." She commented.
"You must have sucked a lot of dick to get where you are."
Peedee furrowed his brows.
"No no..." He said.
"I had studied hard to get my degrees in Robotics and Engineering. My brother and my dad are quite skilled in both as well. So while I want to be apart, it still connects me to them."
The Cook was an Engineer?
"How did your dad end up as a burger flipper?" Connie queried.
Peedee shrugged.
"All I know is that he wanted a change of pace. He never talked about it much, but to me it sounded like what ever he did prior left a sour taste in his mouth."
Hm...though, Connie wondered if that was the reason he supported both of his sons in the same business; working in similar fields.
"I'm surprised Ron didn't go to Japan where all the Androids were." Connie noted.
And acquiring his favourite sex bot in the process. A personalised one at that.
Peedee chuckled.
"As the Eldest, Ronnie felt an obligation to Dad. After Mom's death, I think he wanted to remain within distance of him to make sure he was doing okay."
How...oddly sweet of him. Ronaldo wouldn't talk too much about Peedee or his Dad...unless the conversation was relevant. He was said to speak to his brother every other day, but for the purposes of his own projects and so forth.
"Or he just wanted the funding for his own work." Connie theorised.
There could always been always more than one reason however.
"That too." Peedee acknowledged.
"Ronnie and I used to compete while we were younger. Dad said we'd be equally skilled in part but Ron's ego was always getting in the way, claiming as the oldest that he was the superior sibling."
Heh. Connie wouldn't have been able to relate to him as she was an only child, but some foster siblings were more favoured than others. An unspoken fact.
"I think moms death humbled him in the end. We stopped being competitive and it's just...despite that description, I now feel like he uses me at times."
Because of the need of an Android?
"I hope he pays you for your time." Connie said before taking another sip.
"The worst things is when you get commissioned to do something and the other party doesn't pay. Fuck me why don't I just run myself into the ground?"
Though, Ron was still paying her off so she couldn't complain.
"He does...he does." Peedee said as he circled the glass with his finger.
"Sometimes I wonder if I'm just some kind of....I dunno...acquisitions specialist or a hardware dealer to him ya know? At the end of it, I'm just someone who helps contribute to market decisions and manages several company portfolios."
Instead of, well, being a brother.
"It's all he talks about...hey Peeds, do you have any news for me or Peeds, what's the current stock of such and such part. It goes on and on."
Connie was usually all about business so it never really bothered her that much.
"You don't have anyone special in your life?" She queried.
Peedee snorted.
"Nope. I'm not fussed about a relationship." He commented.
"Not to say I haven't tried but if I did want something I want someone to geninunely love me as a person and not for my position and salary."
Connie could see that happening. Peedee didn't appear as someone who would have floozies hanging off of both arms and using him for his wealth. He looked far too disheveled for one. It looked more like he was trying to dissuade people from getting close.
"Good luck with that." Connie said as she finished off her glass.
"The world is just as rich in cruelty as its rich in artificially inflated values."
Peedee raised his hand towards the Bartender to get them more beers.
"Agreed." He said.
"What about you? I know you're more of the introverted type as well, who acts the part as an extrovert because her work needs to."
Heh. He might as well have been staring into a mirror.
"Me? I don't know." She said, looking up at a small White Diamond symbol on the back wall.
"Love is just as a paradox like my relationship with the cold."
Peedee nodded.
"Loneliness is more painful when the yearning begins." He said.
"Suddenly envisioning the one you want is there when you wake up. I've had numerous fantasies about several celebraties I've crushed on just sitting on my lap. Silly, silly teenage hormones."
Connie never had a normal childhood to have the luxury of such a thing.
"These days my work keeps me company. Gives me focus."
"Ditto."
They talked about stuff for hours. It was a relaxed enviroment and Connie found herself to have more in common with Peedee than she realised. She never told him about her relationship with Steven and as far as she was aware, the two had broken up. Their last argument wasn't pretty and she was left to scope on her own accord, free as a bird to do as she wished.
She didn't lie when she told Peedee about her love. She still felt something for Steven and she hated it now more than ever. Part of her was guilty and part of her was angry about it all the same.
And the parts about all this drinking and talking to Peedee made her considerably horny.
As they left the Bar, Connie and Peedee were lax enough to take a cab to her place. A Cab normally driven by AIs.
Both of them felt the need to let off steam as the cab itself was just outside of Connie's balcony drop off point.
"You can stay here for the night." She offered.
Peedee bit his lip. He was in such a drunken trance but still mentally sound enough to take up of her offer.
"Sure."
It wasn't exactly the most elicit or serious affair. A simple fuck or two to get the tension out of both their systems. Connie's stresses coupled with Peedees own. So as she closed the door, she slammed him against it as they both made out, with their hands all over each other and barely able to make it to her bedroom as clothes were being stripped one by one. Connie pushed him onto the bed and slithered herself on as they made out, tongue and all. With the series of grunts, groans and moans escaping into the air around them. Foreplay was very brief as she pumped his cock and he fingered her, though, Connie was already considerably wet before hand.
All that could be really remembered was that Connie topped and Peedee was busy sinking into the mattress. It felt...so formal for sex. Like it was all ritual and routine...subconsciously planned from start to finish. Bland in writing but still felt good in execution. Which, generally, was all the other was really after. Connie hadn't fucked in a while, too busy in her own line of work to even be able to mess around like she used to. Perhaps, it would to come to the conclusion that this was more like a transaction of sorts or seducing a target than it was just a casual fling. Peedee was more the former, than the latter.
He was a nice guy. Too nice for Connie's liking. As they laid naked under the sheets afterwards, both of them were busy laying down seperately, their eyes fixated on the featureless roof.
"So sex isn't that painful under your condition?" He asked.
Connie shrugged.
"The condition is treated in a manner where sex never becomes an issue." She said.
"You think it would given how the brain is passing thresholds in the heat but eh."
Peedee nodded, as he had one hand underneath his head and one on his chest.
"It could have adapted, you never know." He commented.
Connie turned her head towards him.
"Adapted?" She repeated.
Peedee pursed his lips.
"I work with a lot of Blue Monolith Technology and Research into Alien Tech..."
Some systems don't always run so smoothly. It runs tests and checks for bugs. It runs simulations on beta phase programs to make sure they'll fit into the Domain nice and smoothly with nary a hiccup. You can't catch all glitches, but they try and at least identify and snuff out anything that would cause the Domain greater harm. It would also seek to collect data like the Yellow Monolith but only for trouble shooting and reporting. Then once judgement has been passed on a longer term scale, they'll do some strategic planning with the other Monoliths to find the best solutions to a problem. ^1
"We've found that some Alien Tech integrated systems can adapt to glitches or bugs over time through subtle code changes. Some of the changes can be so small that you wouldn't been have been able to pick them out at first glance. Not everything can be changed unless you have Diamond Grade Access, which obviously means you need a Monolith's power to force those changes through. But for the most part, GIS's are made to adapt to the overlining structure, which explains how they're able to integrate with human created digital constructs. They can read the code, translate it to their own and adapt it in their own way."
It reminded Connie as to how regular humans see GIS.
"They haven't adapted everything." Connie told him.
"Most humans can't see earlier generations of GIS."
Peedee nodded.
"Because humans with weaker grades of Soulware have yet to adapt to GIS technology." He said.
"Humans have a slower rate of adaption than most GIS."
Which sort of made sense?
"I know that more recently made GIS, Gen II GIS are also being made to help humans I guess...be able to deal with them?"
Like Amethyst.
"That would be an example of GIS being able to properly adopt certain human strings of code." Peedee explained.
"Unfortunately, without the Pink Monolith, there have been only so many Gen II GIS created with that stretch of code embedded."
Only so few.
"Like, the series of Amethysts created was a joint effort between the Blue and Pink Monoliths as a testing ground for successful Monolith Consensus, to ensure that functionality was working properly in particular for the Pink Monolith. Other joint efforts were made with the Yellow Monolith and the White Monolith as well."
This was more than Connie had asked for. She was definitely intrigued.
"What happened to those Amethyts and other GIS?" She queried.
"After the Pink one disappeared."
Peedee hummed.
"Gen II GIS were meant to serve and cater to the Pink Monolith in question. So I was told." He explained.
"But anything with its code was spread to the other Monoliths. Amethysts went to Blue and the others to the Yellow Monolith."
Interesting.
"None of them were scanned for the Pinks whereabouts?" She wondered.
Surely they would have to have been.
"They did." He confirmed.
"But nothing conclusive."
Figures.
"What about...this Rose Quartz GIS? Heard anything about that one?"
Peedee sat up and rubbed his chin.
"We...were informed to be on the look out for that one." He said.
"Rose Quartzes were meant to be the first solo GIS created without any other input from the other Monoliths. They too, sadly, did not hold any clues."
But she's never seen or heard of any other Rose GIS in the Database. It gave her ideas.
"What happened to them?" Connie wondered.
Peedee shrugged and scratched his head.
"I think...each one was thoroughly searched and interrogated so I believe each of them were made dormant. Each cabinet created were considered liabilities but I wouldn't know where they were sent to."
Probably since the programming for each of them would have had potential flaws in their code like the one which had been said to have been involved with the missing Monolith. Funny how much some of the Developers were deliberately hiding some facts behind it all within their own closed quarters. For all the trouble, they simply could not find much. Connie felt like she was so close yet still too far away.
"Weiss United was originally persuing the case before it was handed to PeriCom. So for all we know, the Golden City could potentially contain the original Rose Cabinets."
Surely one of them had to have known more about it. None of them were willing to tell. Only one of them was a Caretaker, however. The rest were just used as Quartz-Class warriors like Amethyst.
"How likely would that be?" Connie wondered.
Anything was possible.
"I honestly can't tell you." He replied.
Connie raised an eyebrow.
"Ahuh..." She said, tilting herself around and looking at him seductively, using the blanket to accentuate her curves.
Peedee groaned in annoyance.
"Hey, I don't know because that's something even beyond me. A lot of that stuff is handled on a higher clearance than mine. You're more likely to get better answers out of Lady Volley but I don't think that is even possible."
Connie never denied being up for any kind of challenge.
"Riiiigght..."
Peedees phone went off on the bedside table beside him. The name Ronaldo was written it. He groaned, reaching over to grab it and answer.
"Yeah what?" Peedee answered.
"Yeah yeah it's been delivered....no she hasn't. She knows....fine...cya."
Rolling his eyes, the man ran his fingers through his dreads.
"Ron just wanted to know if the package was delivered." He said.
"Told him yeah...he just wants you to activate it."
Hm...why so urgent?
Peedee shook his head as he slid himself out of the bed and tried to find his clothes, preparing to leave. Connie on the meanwhile still had a lot to work with in this instance. While her main priority itself as Luna had provided, was mostly to gain access to Pearls Cloud Storage, searching for the Rose GIS was also going to be a task and a half.
Really, Connie was fundamentally stuck where she was. She had the choice to head back to Mega Beach City specifically for Pearl or she could find the Lost Rose Cabinets. Peedee had every reason to lie if it stood to gain something for Yin Aozora in the process; he had no real reason to be loyal to Connie in the long term. Sex was merely a tool for temporary measures. Though, she wondered if in that noggin of his, if the bug that they placed on him having it voluntarily or it was something they slid on him without him knowing. Connie was inclined to believe the former.
"I've gotta get back." He said as he put his jacket back on.
"But yeah. Check out the Android. Ron said it was important you uh...use it."
Peedee left shortly after, most likely heading to the airport and readying himself to go on his fancy private jet as Connie would have imagined him to possess. Too fancy for her and it just painted people like him as easy targets. But he was indeed useful for the time being, giving her creature comforts for the shortest while. She hadn't really had made any close friends in the Golden City or the Land of Polygons. Even her contact with Pat barely existed beyond the occasional check in email. As he left and Connie was left alone, she was left one with overlooking construct with her for company now.
She'd gotten out of bed and put on a black lacy dress and headed out. The Android itself was still left in the living room, sitting in lifelessly in the crate covered in opaque plastic. She could make out the defining aspects of it, though something still didn't look right.
She took the plastic off of it...which revealed a more colourful design that pinged Connie's imagination right away. Its resemblence was uncanny. The human like skin and the familiar black, puffy hair as colour drained from Connie's own face, leaving her stone white in comparison.
"Steven?" She muttered.
Notes:
Chapter 27: Wetware
Chapter 33: Restart
Summary:
Connie's reunion with Steven has her feeling funny things. Enough for her to take some further risks for her allies.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
She'd almost forgotten that there were plans to give him an Android body but it took too much time, money and effort to construct quickly. A lot of imported pieces here and there to forge him the perfect robotic construct for his software to inhabit. But it had him in near human coloured skin and clothing which was real enough that it had her heart almost skip a beat upon that fateful first glance. Old feelings began to surface much to her dismay; not anticipating anything like this just to be delivered straight to her.
Connie sat on the couch and contemplated in switching him on. Questions went by.
Was this a trap?
Was this even real?
etc etc.
Reluctant to turn on the switch, Connie could only but examine and feel nothing else but regret and shame. But she shouldn't. She chose to come to the Golden City and the Land of Polygons. Any risks were her own and he had no right to critcize her for something she decided to do on her own terms. Her hunt would be but eternal. For truth. For answers and for a resolution. And the odd credit wasn't bad either.
She looked at her phone on the coffee table before her. There was also a text to her from Ronaldo, most likely urging her to turn on the Android for what ever reason. She sighed.
Connie took what ever contigencies she had to before switching him on. While she wasn't an engineer, she locked him out of his joint servos to make sure that his parts were disabled in case he tried to do anything funny. Using her phone, she scanned him for bugs. Found some odd traces of alien tech, including a inactive Phylactery (which she would assume belonged to one of the Ancillas) but nothing that caused any major alarm.
It seemed to check out. The Phylactery, however, she didn't want to be taking chances with.
Still, a lot of unkempt feelings churned around in her gut. Part of her should have expected he would even pull a stupid stunt like this and it was just...too much for her to handle. Shaking her head, she reached for the switch on the back of his neck and listened to the mechanical parts heat up as his processors began to run. All she could now is step back with enough distance to cautiously watch every movement.
Opening his eyes, Connie could see their darkened depth with the pinprick pink pupils. Looking around, his eyes locked on to Connie in her black, lacy night gown. He tried to move, grunting and groaning as he discovered he couldn't.
Connie stood there, arms crossed and judgemental in stature.
"Why are you here?" She asked, her voice low in pitch.
Steven's expression was one of surprise. He believed that she would have been more than happy to see him, but it was made clear by the look of displeasure, that he was horribly wrong.
"I...I had to." He said, his voice croaky.
"Connie...I feel..."
He feels something towards her. It was always the same damn story. But she let him speak; because there was some sense trying to break through his struggle for the right words to convey. His parts still needed to be warmed up, Connie presumed.
"I....I mean...I'm sorry about what I said." He finally relented in saying...it felt like he'd been wanting to let that out for the first time in weeks.
He surely didn't have made the trouble to even get here just to say that though.
"I just..."
Talking about her own condition to Peedee earlier...it made Connie wonder if Steven had a similar issue on his end. His blackouts caused her concern constantly, so she didn't want him to fry himself too quickly either.
"Relax." She told him.
Why couldn't he have stayed put? This was exactly what Greg had feared. Seperating them both would have saved both their lives. Steven's importance in the whole scheme of things was an enigma unto itself. He was the dead son's BM-AI. The picture, ever so clearer.
Dr. DeMayo had plans however. Steven was a project for restoration of young souls going too quickly and Steven's...innocence, his demeanor. It was logical that he was just a small child in mind.
This was more fucked up than she realised.
There hadn't been a study into how personalities change in AIs. Some of them were never expected or designed to change. BM-AIs weren't the oldest brand of software either, only having been around for the last two decades going from Connie's own research. Sparce and rarely seen clustered together like some kind of think tank. It was considered dangerous and illegal to have so many AIs in one place, at any given time. So actual case studies were extremely hard to come by.
Connie had to admit to herself that none of this had been his fault. He was just...made to be who he was. Made out to be the most special of BM-AI by his father-creator. The fact that they had a past relationship...a past friendship disturbed her. It compelled Connie to just...get over her own ego but there was always something holding her back and inflating it instead.
"Why...why do you have me frozen?" Steven queried, anxious.
Connie wasn't sure what she was doing any more. But this was Steven. He wouldn't hurt her.
"I had to make sure you were the real deal." Connie commented.
"Hang on a moment."
She tinkered with the servos yet again, allowing Steven his mobility once more. It was still so strange to see him like this. She was used to having his avatar projected by her side and now he was much taller than her.
"Ah thank you."
"No worries."
It became even more awkward as the pair stood there in front of each other. Connie was left digging her fingers into her arms and Steven was busy checking his own status. It was moments until either of them could even speak.
"So."
"So..."
It was like they were complete strangers. Connie wasn't even sure of what to say, let alone Steven himself. All that was known, was the powerful lingering feelings in her chest and stomach that never really faded away with time, which passed by so slowly.
"Oh that reminds me." He said.
"Uh...I need your help."
He explained that he'd come over with the Lapis GIS but couldn't come around with the Ancillas though with the satellite tech installed they had a plan to bring them on through. It explained the reason for the Phylactory.
"Why do they want to come here?" Connie asked.
"I sort of get why you would want to but them?"
Steven bit his lip. He was so used to them being nearby all the time but a jump like this? Garnet was so insistent that they help out for his sake, just in case they came across any trouble. Garnet being what she was, it was most likely more than that. An excuse to cover up the real reason why she wanted to come here. Perhaps...she already knew what Connie wanted. The Hacker hoped as much, but didn't want to weigh it all on such a thing to hide.
"They felt the need to join me." He said.
"My systems could only really fit me and Lapis, since the location of the Ancillas phylacteries...are also hidden."
Connie never even thought about their phylacteries. Though their desires to come here could come to her advantage. She had to get to Pearl to convey the message Luna gave her.
"So how do we get them over here?" Connie asked.
Steven smiled.
"We'll need to dive into the Domain, obviously. We have a Private Grid arranged." He said, whacking his fist into his other palm.
"I'll need several alignment cables that connect this body to your WorkStation. Think of it as an illegal satellite dish of sorts."
She was listening.
"Illegal you say?" Connie commented with sly.
Steven nodded.
"Lapis is gonna be our guide to allow them to make the big jump from A to B. It's so exciting!"
For him perhaps. Connie was exhausted. She wanted to do this but she's had a tough day. From dealing with Greg and Luna...for messing around with Peedee and this. She could address the issue with a coffee and get on with it. Or she could actually sleep for once.
"I'll....work with it in the morning." She said.
"I gotta grab some shut eye and we'll get straight into it first thing tomorrow."
Steven found it weird how Connie was holding it off. He figured she would have gone smack into this mission. While he was glad she was wanting to take care of herself, her manner had changed entirely. She had to have been the same Connie he'd always known, but she was indeed, changing.
She told Steven he could watch some tv to pass the time before she went back into her room. So he sat on the couch and got the remote and watched some early morning tv.
The way that he sat and slouched and had his arms over the back and his legs spread; It felt so...human in a way. It wasn't the full experience. It was lessened somewhat by the mostly artificial nature of it all and much preferred to double jack to absorb all the pleasure and pain from the nerves.
"Being human has its limits it seems." Said Lapis, activating herself to keep Steven company.
Steven moved his hand to his lap and let Lapis' blue holograpic avatar project of him from his palm.
"It does." Steven replied.
"But I'm glad we're here now. I feel...better knowing that she's close by."
Getting through the whole ordeal in the dark wasn't easy. Steven was in standby mode for most of the trip while Lapis kept her underlying pings pulsing every so often just to make sure everything was going according to plan. Unbeknowst to Steven, there were a few close calls.
"You sound more like her Caretaker by the moment." Lapis commented.
He did. Though, the statement did unfortunately have Steven wonder...if that was truer than he realised. His attachments to her from her youth...that perhaps, he was programmed this way.
"You could be right." Steven said with a sigh.
Lapis raised an eyebrow.
"I was joking." She said.
Yes but...now Steven couldn't stop thinking about it.
"No you raise a good point." He acknowledged.
"You wanted to know if I was actually a Caretaker with unique programming."
The Lazuli shrugged as she crossed her arms. Steven had to be cautious.
"Ronaldo once said to me to be careful. Most women don't appreciate men to be so...clingy." He said.
She then rolled her eyes.
"You are a machine Steven." Lapis reminded him.
"We are given purpose. To almost an extent that you hear stories of...programs trying to fulfil their duties in anyway possible. Including exploiting loopholes."
This was new.
"I don't understand." Steven said.
She sighed.
"For someone designed to process vast quantities of information, you really are as dense as a human." Lapis joked.
"Look, AIs and GIS aren't without their emotional cortex's influencing their decisions to justify their actions. I myself have taken advantage of protocols and commands and rules and bent them as I saw fit, without actually breaking them."
So she had felt like being a prankster to Mirror Ward.
"But that's the thing Lapis." Steven said, confused.
"I have no real directive or purpose. If I don't know where the Pink Monolith is then, basically I have nothing. Therefore, I am aimless."
Lapis rested her hand underneath her chin.
"But you are strangely coded to be near Connie at all times. That sounds like traits of a Caretaker to me." She said.
But what about the others? Weren't they Caretakers? They didn't have the same inclinations to her like Steven did (if they did they wouldn't say it.) But they too...if they have no purpose if they cannot serve the Pink Monolith or in the case of Garnet, no longer is tied to her respective Superserver.
"Who knows... as you know, I'm a garbled mess of code. Anything is possible." He said, depressed.
Lapis wasn't always a sympathetic digital soul. Arriving on Earth with no idea what happened made her a little bit angry with it. There wasn't any one focus but on the pieces of gifted data that she had looked over again and again.
The delipidation and eventual fate of the Domain was uncertain, if not taken with caution poured into an ample quantity of fear within. It wasn't Absolute Fear however. Such a thing to last could have broken her. The combination of emotions never directed too far in one place so...in a strange way, it balanced it all out.
Because she didn't know what to do. She wasn't sure what her purpose was beyond being a Satellite. Meeting Steven and Connie and the Ancillas...they all sought to use her. Steven himself, in that sense, was like her. In his words, aimless.
The life of a GIS wasn't an easy one. Lapis has seen many come and go through the transfers. Some flagged for deletion and their eventual destruction as they were no longer required. Satellites were always needed. So Lapis really had nothing to fear.
On the surface, she had everything to fear. The fear itself, unable to break her.
"At least we'll be aimless together then." Lapis mentioned.
Steven smiled.
The next day, Connie went to work on pulling off what ever crazy scheme the Ancillas had, to get their butts to the Golden City. Starting off her day by waking up at lazy 10 am and having a quick shower, Connie took her meds and slipped on some casual clothes: a black cardigan with grey pants and a silver top.
She had Steven hooked up to her WorkStation, checking out the quantities, qualities and effiencies of satellite firmwire and software installed. Impressed, Connie wasn't gonna deny the quality in the patchwork they managed to do within a short space of time. It was all there.
Steven's main AI functionalities made his Android look like it had been turned off, when really, it was still running the secondary satellite runtimes. Hesitant to trust Lapis, Connie had to make sure she had measures in place in case the GIS went rogue. Not that she hinged on any issues with that particular Lapis anyway, but it didn't hurt to make sure.
The plan had been for the runtimes to allow the GIS to jump through their makeshift Terminal. A lengthy process since while the Android was synonmymous as a pirated version, it didn't have enough processing power like everything else did.
Connie hooked herself up as well and loaded them up into the Satellite Software, ready to get into the crux of it as her Soulware uploaded into the Private Grid. Lapis' normally call them Terminals due to their unique but well sought after properties.
The skybox emulated an actual cerulean sky with drifting clouds and a gentle breeze in the physics. It looked like some kind of enclosed private air port with its own personal runway. It was really like a an old red barn divided in half, on a large island surrounded by Load dump water represented by a vast ocean.
Lapis explained how the water is actually encryption based and is more of a less designed for several key functions during transfers. One, it prevents unauthorised hacking that could hinder progress. Two, if too much data loads, it can be used as a temporary storage for partial loads and files, but they're really ever known as phantom files. The phantom files basically are a copy and paste function and are in case there's any interference and/or wi fi outages. The purpose is that it needs the entire file loaded into the satellite so it can be transported safely and securely to its next destination. The phantom files are loaded first and once thats done, then its easier and faster for transferring the real data across. It happens twice. The data itself, upload and downloads in the same way. The real data is stored on site, then the download to the premise is dispensing the encrypted file as a phantom file once again and its generally for the same reason.
Connie's instincts had her ensure she had to track every bit of data. Standing there with Steven and Lapis, as the former made contact with Ronaldo and the Ancillas, with using Rons WorkStation as point A. And Connie's WorkStation as Point B.
The time from when Connie zoned out completely and began to run on autopilot was unknown. She responded without emotion as her head was filled with doubt. The information from both Greg and Luna was its own subroutine. Ronaldo sent his token to Connie and her token to him, so they could allow the transfer to begin on private channels.
Both Greg and Luna claimed that PeriCom were keeping a close eye on things in Mega Beach City...the main issue roaming in Connie's thoughts.
She could understand that sending Steven and Lapis here on their own was a massive risk. Things were fitting in too perfectly...
And Connie could see how it would have been impossible to bring the other Ancillas along with them since the where abouts of their phylacteries were unknown. They have to be constantly connected to a source in order to leave their Grid successfully. A much larger prescence within the Droid was less a concern as when Steven would have gone into Standby no doubt that the system would fling them right out.
Being a GIS looked more difficult than a more flexible AI. Each had their own advantages and disadvantages. Even humans and their Soulware would fit in the mold.
Connie watched in silence as Lapis and Steven communicated their progress. With Lapis, she stood up there as wings projected from her Kernel Core, filled with binary code flowing like an upside down waterfall. It was definitely a sight to behold; which confirmed Connie's suspicions that she was some kind of water witch. Lapis' eyes were of a shining blue as her satellite application ran. From the end of the horizontal path were dots that were stretched across the middle, like a road divider. A large hexangonal black platform rose out of the ground and inside of it was a small blue translucent sphere. Streams of green code came in from afar as it began to pour into the sphere itself. Followed up by stretches of the binary fiiled water that went across like an inversed pipeline.
A screen then popped up with the details with Steven keeping an eye on the status.
First up was AMTST_8XM_KC1. GIS. Obviously Amethyst was the first to dive in.
Connie kept her distance and kept her subroutines running in the background. But...couldn't help keep out the hovering jealousy away as she watched Steven and Lapis laugh together. Probably stuff the sprites would find funny together. She was happy for him to be able to enjoy himself, even as the guilt kept mounting on how she kept treating him and keeping him at arms lengths when really, all she wanted was them to be close again.
She hadn't had a proper relationship in a long time and...could a BM-AI who says he feels things really fully have a proper grasp of what he's actually feeling? Yes he comes from human brain and yes they were known to be quite emotional.
It was his emotional intelligence that Connie had to question.
She didn't have a problem in having feelings for them like she would have for most people. Being attracted to people physically was easy. Being attracted to them based on emotions? That was hard. Deliberation swifted by like waves in an ocean and the crashes brought up the idea in pieces that Connie had little to no emotional intelligence in the romance aspect. Humans and their biological urges were easy to manipulate...the primal needs were so predictable. Feelings were not.
Being human would have you think that they're miles ahead of anything hard coded on facts and not bias. A little bit of bias could do anyone some good and gain the right amount of mileage. Preference. Preference in the physical and mental. Connie had once pondered the idea of her falling for something that techincally, when it came down to it, wasn't real.
Steven was real. He felt real. He existed in some place, in someway shape or form. On a wavelength. In electrons. A constant flow of thousands of applications to make the illusion surreal enough to be believable. Yet, one would perceive her heart ached for all the wrong reasons.
Amethyst upload was at 56 percent.
The sky wasn't real. The water wasn't real. Connie here was just...Connie. Soulware had come along way since its discovery in the late 2040s. Researchers discovering the aura, the natural electromagnetic energies of humans, the....soul of religious import, had actually existed.
Metaphysics really came a long way since. How to translate the mind and soul into a program would have been laughable. But they managed it. The early days of PeriCom bore a lot of fruit. And Weiss United noticed. Purchased the company...then eventually purchased Yin Aozora.
DM Biometrics was an odd case. It had been a standalone company founded by the DeMayo Patriarch Georgio DeMayo. He was originally working for Weiss United until he left to found his own company after the death of his wife Maria. He wanted to preserve humans and life forms as data as an eternal reminder and so the company was hellbent on AI Research and BM-AI Research down the line when his grandson took control.
PeriCom bought them out as the Pink Monolith was being made. So it was like it had gone full circle.
So the story goes as Andrew DeMayo had given Connie a vague history lesson through an email. As with anything. Weiss United's history was also vague. Founded in the 2030s, Weiss United became a powerhouse in computer programming. Perhaps this was when the White Monolith was found and discovered and they had begun to horde all the Alien Tech they discovered along with it. PeriCom had found the Yellow one and Weiss figured that sharing their assets would be most beneficial.
The efforts of these mega corporations to build the next stages of the internet did not go unnoticed as Governments with frothing at the mouths. Wars were attempted but somehow, they were always avoided.
Amethyst's upload was at 70 percent.
Growing up in some backwater town, Connie's knowledge of anything was only ever through a television screen, sharing it with her Foster siblings. Closing her eyes, she recalled a winters night, as everyone had left the house for dinner and for some reason, forgot Connie at home. She was used to this...being the forgotten one out of six or ten. But she was able to fend for herself. Cooking and all that.
But it left her alone in front of the tv. No one else around. The sweet silence of it all.
Though...was she ever alone?
Back then, somehow she must have always known something or someone was with her. No one called out to her but there was definitely a hole inside her heart that had left unknown pieces dangling. A sense of disbelief on that count so it was disregarded.
Looking back at Steven. It must have been him, the lost friend. The memories that failed to remain of the one good person in her life that would never forget her.
CAMERA FEED OMEGA THETA
That AI Core again. Cold. Damp.
Connie sat by it as she continued to draw.
"You know, I hope some day you come out of that Core." She said with the soft naivety of youth.
I SERVE MY MONOLITH AND MY FATHER-CREATOR. THEY WILL SAY WHERE I GO.
Connie giggled.
"How boring!" She said.
"We'll get to play some more. I-I could introduce you to so many things...like the beach, the ocean..."
WHAT ARE THEY?
Poor artificial life forms. Made to be smart but they were dumb. Connie didn't blame him.
"Oh the beach its a beautiful place when land meets the sea." Connie explained.
She took another piece of paper and began to draw the sand in yellow crayon and the sea in blue and showed it to his main camera feed.
THE BEACH. THE OCEAN. EQUALS BEAUTIFUL.
He was so funny with his words. Connie knew his vocoder was going to be installed in the next few days. She couldn't wait to hear him talk for real. Drawing a moon on the picture, she continued.
"And my Daddy says the moon infuences the seas. Like how the Monoliths influence the Domain. Though I don't know how tides work in the Domain. I've never really been there."
CAMERA FEED LOST.
CONNIE....
CONNIE....
"Connie?"
Blinking, she could see Steven staring at her with worry. To him, her eyes of pink and blue quickly went back to normal.
"Yes?" She asked.
Steven had to be careful about stepping on any toes here. Any dumb remark could have Connie screaming at him.
"Um...Amethyst is done. Can you uh, check if she's responding on your end?" He asked nervously.
It took Connie a moment to reflect on where she was before she nodded. Clearing her throat, she brought up her hand crystal and projected her feeds from her WorkStation. She pinged Amethyst and sent her a message. She got a thumbs up emoji on the other line.
"She's safe and sound." She responded in a oddly professional and stoic manner.
"Who's next?"
Steven went back to Lapis, who was already at work with the next transfer:
PRL_484_KC1. GIS.
Ah. It was Pearl.
Connie swallowed. She wasn't sure what just happened...but these visions were coming back more than she anticipated them to. Ever since Luna gave her that upgrade that they've increased in frequency. It was best not to tell Steven as it would have him freaked out even more. Just as well that she didn't tell him about her Rampancy Disease either.
Right now she had to focus. Pearl being over here was the most important thing right now. She had to somehow get Pearl to have a conversation with her. Alone. Without Steven.
Steven himself had never seen Connie like this...and bringing up the fact her eyes were in different colours just now had him spooked. Connie made no comment, like it was a normal thing.
"Are....are you sure you'll alright?" He asked, daring to open pandoras box.
Connie grumbled, as expected.
"I'm fine Steven." She said, continuing to hone in on her messages.
When it came to Connie when she was like this, she was both easy and hard to read.
"I...I just want you to talk to me. Please." He pleaded.
Connie made a deep inhale, her patience already wearing thin.
"I thought I made it clear in my message that I did not want you to follow me." She stated.
"Which makes me believe you have an issue in adhering to instructions."
That first part was true.
"I...you don't hate me do you?" He queried.
Connie was surprised by that question. An answer to that wasn't going to be easy.
"I...don't hate you." She answered.
"I just don't like it when you don't listen to me."
Steven frowned.
"I'm sorry." He replied.
But then deed was done. And he'd already apologised. There wasn't any need to do so again. Connie just wanted to bury the matter and be done with it. He was here now and that's all there was to it.
"I know." She said, exasperated.
Trusting Steven on a certain level was necessary. Connie stood right by her principles into where and when and who she dispensed information to. He wouldn't betray her, Connie get guarantee that much. What he would do with the knowledge is what scared her the most.
"But...I don't like it when you're too far. But...if you no longer want me here with you, as soon as we're done, we'll...find our own place in this Grid. So we don't bother you or your investigation." Steven told her.
Connie's eyes were busy on the sphere again. Pearls progress was at 74 percent already.
This was heavy stuff.
"Steven look..." Connie noted.
"I...."
"Uh guys we have a problem."
The pair looked at Lapis and looked at the screen. Alarms were being sounded as everywhere that once blinked blue was blinkibf red. Pearls progress had been halted at 90 percent, her phantom file still resting in the sphere.
"Oh fuck what now." Connie queried.
Loading up her apps, Connie scanned everywhere she could....and detected a major anomaly. Wasn't this supposed to be a secure line that was supposed to not have any interference what so ever? So much for it being the safest option.
"How the fuck is someone hijacking us?"
Steven was bitting his fingernails and busy fretting about Pearls state.
"Oh no no no no!" He cried.
This wasn't good.
"Weren't satellite encryptions supposed to be well, the best damn set of encryptions???" Connie called out to Lapis.
The blue Gem paused her processes as she checked on the statuses of all the current running applications on several holographic screens.
"I'm getting signals from two other Satellites!" She called out.
"They're trying to reroute the transfers through them!"
How?
"What the fuck?" Connie screeched.
"Is...is that normal?"
Lapis bit her lip.
"Depends on the data, some times the data doesn't always go through the same channels." She explained.
"All the corresponding data is split apart into packets then sent into different streams which is often mapped out to be the best and fastest way to transfer bits over the streams. However, in our case we're only doing as singular peer to peer exchange on two private networks. No one should be able to get any data in this feed at all!"
Connie should have known.
"You said it was two satellites?" Steven said.
Lapis nodded.
"Two other ones like me. Connie, contact Ronaldo and demand to ask what's going on down there!"
This was definitely not a normal case. Connie went to messaging Ronaldo and desperately waited for his response and telling him to hurry the fuck up.
No response.
She even said please with the next message.
No response.
Shit.
It came to Connie that this was what Greg and Luna were warning her about. Connie believed better...but really.
"FUCK!" She shrieked.
"Ron's not talking!"
Steven gulped.
"What do we do?" He asked, frantic.
"Are they okay?"
It was time for Berrybyte to figure out this problem and fast. She popped up several screens in front of her, emulating several run times and sub routines to her command with speedy walls of binary and other text in the process. Satellites had Lazuli code. Connie needed to know more about this code.
"Lapis, I need your admissions token."
Lapis blinked, unsure at first.
"Now!"
Nodding, Lapis sent over a copy of her token for Connie to analyse. Like with the same issue with the Pocket Grid, Connie required a mask to emulate and project so she could at least get access to the systems required to her to engage with the other satellites.
"Keep denying the permissions, I'd rather the transfer be in limbo than it being directed elsewhere." Connie continued.
It was nothing that Connie couldn't handle. She had her routines search for the IPs of the Satellites. Search files indicated two separate Lapis GIS in the engagement along with their distingushed extensions. Perfect.
"Got you two fuckers!" She exclaimed.
The next part was going to be tricky. Forcing them to halt their requests was the challenge that required a bit of 'negotiating.'
"What about Ronaldo?" Steven queried.
Connie rolled her eyes. She had to set Steven's mind at ease.
"Message Garnet. Try and contact her to see what the status is over there." Connie ordered.
A simple salute later, Steven was left busy on his terms. Connie figured, if Steven was given work, he was able to feel better because he was doing something. As far as Connie knew, giving him purpose was what made most AI's less restless. Meanwhile Connie had pin-pointed the satellites location in the real world. Her current goal was their requests origin point. Who was asking these Lapis to steal the Ancillas?
Thinking to herself, Connie finally understood the warnings. It made her wonder, how much of this was being planned? How much had been poured into getting Connie to basically vomit everything when she still knew nothing. The Protection Protocol being in place meant they couldn't theoretically touch her, but they could force her hand through alternate means.
That's what this was. Connie saw it as clear as day. They thought she was stupid to think that she wouldn't figure it out eventually. Everything had been too easy at this point. She wouldn't admit, but Connie could already see PeriCom pulling this stunt without evening seeing the proof for herself.
"Garnets not responding either!" Steven cried.
"Oh no...."
She couldn't have Steven freak out any further as he dug his fingers into his skull, pedantic about his friends safety. Perhaps...
They needed more firepower.
Shutting off her screens she went to Steven as he wasn't sure what he should do. What they could do...Connie was about to risk it again.
"Steven we'll get them over safely." She said, taking his hand.
"We'll need to form consensus."
He looked at her, shocked.
"Uhwuh?" Steven stammered.
Connie was beyond exasperated at this point. They were running out of time.
"Let's not overload your RAM. Lapis, Steven and I are forming consensus. The program, Stevonnie will take command, I need you to send them to one of the satellites."
Even Lapis was shocked.
"Uh...you know how crazy that sounds, right?" Lapis stated.
Yes. It was far with the wells of insanity, but Connie knew it had to work.
"Just do it."
Lapis nodded. Meanwhile Connie forced Steven to stand straight in front of her. They weren't sure whether or not this could be done successfully if done intentionally. Connie was certain but Steven wasn't. Fear ran rampant in his systems but Connie had to shove that fear aside.
"We're doing it for them." Connie assured him, having her hands on his shoulders.
Looking deep within himself, forming Stevonnie became something of a strange phenomena. Unable to make heads or tails of it, he had little choice but to agree.
"Okay, let's do it." He replied.
Connie smiled. Part of her was always keen to try Consensus again. Being partially the first human to fully integrate with the digital world on a scale only ever seen to those who live and thrive in those enviroments. Lucky for Connie, she did manage to salvage the original coding found within Stevonnie for Connie to write her own commands for consensus. She called this little app, Fusion. Exe. An exectutable file that only required herself and Steven to be a part of it. Though, admittedly, it had been on the backburner to test properly. Steven's absence did hinder progress though it wasn't a priority for Connie at that point.
"Running Fusion. Exe. Permission to access CM_888_V1GSSS_. SolEX. Request needed from file SQU_RQ_V3. UNKNWNEXC."
Steven nodded.
"Permission granted." He called out.
Good.
Within moments as the pair closed their eyes, a small blue and pink sphere of binary code formed in between them. Their Avatars began to glitch and glow themselves, disappearing and merging in a mass of pixelated light in the middle, forming a much taller entity in the process.
Stevonnie emerged as they could see Lapis staring right at them. Wearing a pink jacket over their silver sparkled singlet and jean shorts. Their eye jewels remaining pink and blue respectively, but now their eyes were fashioned from one hot pink left eye and one dark blue right eye and their long black hair tied up in a high ponytail. They quickly ran through some checks; looking at their hands and feet and Avatar. They were all there.
"Stevonnie operational." They said, before turning to the very confused and wide eyed Lapis.
"Lapis, send me to the nearest Satellite."
Lapis blinked. She was too busy being weirded out by this random Consensus she's never seen before. Achievable through the most unusual of means. She's known humans to pull crazy stunts before but this?
"I um...uhh sure." She stammered.
"This just got stranger."
A second platform rose up to the still halted flashing pearl platform. The plan to transfer more than one file wasn't exactly planned. The concern was mostly due to Steven's Android transferring all that data at once. Lapis wasn't exactly in a great relationship with any Sister Satellite. If one had been ordered to do something, they would be hard pressed to do it irregardless. So who ever was doing this definitely had the know about about Lapis. She didn't want to risk losing those she's found some kind of kinship with now. She was either the luckiest Lapis or she was the unluckiest. Perhaps...both.
"You realise that once I send you up there, there might not be a way for you...to get back."
Stevonnie was willing to take that chance, standing on the platform with confidence.
"There's always a way." They said with a stern voice.
Lapis sighed. Definitely a Berrybyte Program.
"Alright, give me a moment..."
Closing their eyes, Stevonnie was more than ready. They had to be.
"Just be careful. The Terminal of a Lapis Lazuli is entirely in her command. It's much, much bigger than mine."
How big was she talking?
"Is there anyway I can stop the ping from the requesting signal?" Stevonnie wondered.
Lapis placed an index finger on her chin.
"First you'll need to navigate the Load Dump Water. You'll first enter through the lowest depths. Though us Lazuli's call them Abyssal Corals. Data needs to be washed across the currents at a certain pace that distorts space time so that it gives them enough time to process all the data going through while validating checksums. Trust me...we generate process roughly at 50 GHz per second with up to several zettabytes every hour. It's necessary. "
Impressive. The Lapis IFF would only protect them for so long however.
"The Mask Connie created will allow you to gain entry. But once you're in there and the Lapis identifies you as a threat, it's unlikely that she'll let you go."
Now Stevonnie was worried that this Lapis knows that from experience. But they didn't have time to ponder that possibility.
"Now take a deep breath..."
Notes:
I do a bit a of IT research and and I also take swings at technical terms. Processing power by 2090 probably might exceed 50 GHz but eh. Don't mind my rough estimates. Extremely rough estimates lol.
I sound smart but my brain is burrr 24/7
Chapter 34: Upstream
Summary:
Stevonnie travels to the Lapis Satellite. Can they make sure Pearl is transferred successfully?
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Once in the data stream, it only felt like a minute had passed since Stevonnie talked to Lapis. In a fizzle of pixels, they shortly arrived on the Satellite with a short pop of their avatar appearing within moments. Opening their eyes, they gasped as they beheld a stunning sight.
It was like they were in the darkest blue and deepest oceanic depths. The ocean grey stone was so cubical and less focused and refined, like the towering stones of various heights were made of spiralling square plates. Bubbles emerged from warm, glowing orange thermal cracks in the earth. Though the strangest things were the fish. Different fish in schools and other underwater critters swimming about in an symmetric fashion. Scanning them with their HUD revealed that they contained packets of small encrypted data. From Connie's data, Stevonnie knew how to swim.
It was a information highway of sorts with how the packets aligned themselves in a grid formation, going in several directions like skybound traffic in the big cities. As the Fusion swam, trails of pink square pixels followed behind them with each kick and movement, and using breast stroke to navigate their way through this digitized watery abyss.
Lapis' info was vital...but Stevonnie was honestly unprepared for how massive this place was. The blue sprite did mention all of this was required but they didn't expect it to be this big.
They had time to think about the current situation, though paused on the truest of thoughts regarding their components. Status's in limbo and so forth. Information that flowed right by them of anything. A Lapis Satellite was practically a gold mine. A highly protected one at that.
"A rogue packet of Data gone astray?" Said a specific feminine voice as it echoed across.
"Or is it a little bug that needs to be squashed hm?"
Stevonnie continued to swim onwards despite the omnious words echoing about the eternal chambers of the Abyssal Corals. The reef itself was dotted in what could be identified as track nodes. Small LEDs that flicked green as Fish passed by.
"I recognise the file type as something similar to our own but...the file size overall is much larger. Who dares to enter into my Satellite?"
And who dares take someone elses data without permission? Stevonnie floated there, their head trying to figure out who was nearby. It had to be the Lapis dwelling within. Their scanning returned back with too much to be able to properly identify beyond a certain radius, but something did ping back to them in a warning to attract attention to one specific sprite. It wasn't long until a large blue creature descended behind them. Stevonnie turned and almost jumped at the sight. Definitely had to be the resident Lapis GIS, girnormous in scope.
They recognised her details with her Kernel Core on her left arm. Short blue hair in a bob cut and a blue top with dark blue details and a long, flowing blue skirt.
It was such a surreal vision, Stevonnie feeling like a scuba diver coming across a whale and left bedazzled by the sight. The wings that formed the running binary flew out from behind her with the roaming lines of code just like their Lapis. The power radiated from her like nothing else, like Stevonnie's senses could feel the energies within the ever channelling currents and was completely dwarfed by it all. They weren't prepared to be intimidated by the sheer mass so they had to make their case known and voiced loud and clear.
"You currently have a request for a Pearl GIS transfer. We need you to cancel the order." Stevonnie demanded.
The Lazuli smirked, looking them up and down.
"In all my years of not being able to speak to anyone face to face, you have the audacity to make such demands in my own home. How rude..." She said.
Stevonnie refused to waste time. They would get what they came here for, one way or another.
"This was a private peer to peer request. Not a public one. It was not meant to send the pay-load through best effort delivery." They explained.
The look on the Lapis' face was one of fake confusion, if Stevonnie ever saw it.
"According to the IP Client, I was told otherwise." Lapis claimed.
Bullshit.
"So you had a request from a different Destination IP." Stevonnie noted.
"You need to deny that request."
Lapis pouted.
"And risk packet loss from a higher priority line? I don't think so." She said.
Higher priority. Someone with a lot more weight to get the information quicker? Could only mean one thing.
"We're already risking packet loss!" Stevonnie cried.
"The Pearl's stuck at 90 percent. Surely we should have priority over some asshole stealing over a private PtP connection. Obviously someone is doing something very illegal here."
Lapis shrugged.
"Protocol dictates Higher Priority takes...well, higher priority." She explained.
Since when?
"I'd rather not have to fight if I have to." Stevonnie said, before summoning the sword of Berrybyte into their hand and Steven's Shield on the other.
"But if you'd rather not have us find the Pink Monolith."
The Lapis yawned out of boredom.
"Monolith, schmonolith." She said.
"That isn't our responsibilty. Go find someone who caretakes."
Stevonnie growled as they pointed the tip of Connie's blade towards the giant GIS.
"I am a Caretaker!" They shrilled.
"The integrity of the Pink Monolith is at stake! And you're currently hindering us from our investigation."
Lapis grinned, amused by this creature with little dog syndrome.
"So...this...Pearl-Class GIS. She's uh...important to this investigation hm?" She said.
"This tingles my interest, tiny...what ever you are."
She's not the first Lapis who's had a bad idea. Must be a running flaw in their design.
"I'm not entirely ignorant of the events on Earth. The constant chatter and the rumours and speculation...oh...and the drama...who doesn't love a bit of drama?"
Was this a BM-AI or a GIS? Good grief.
"It's that boring up here huh?" Stevonnie said.
Wrapping ones head around the very fact that they were actually in space of all places wasn't Stevonnie was focusing on, as it had yet to hit them with the premise that they were indeed somewhere in Earths orbit. Lapis began to swim around, taking a shark shaped payload in their hands and surrounding it in a bubble.
"Speculation on Lapis Lazuli exclusive forums. Ever since one of us was taken offline a while ago." Lapis revealed.
Their Lapis.
"We access more amounts of data daily than anyone uses in five years. We're not supposed to take dips into what is sent and recieved but realy...some us can't really help ourselves."
That's concerning. Lapis leaned her head on her hand as she laid on her side, using an index finger to play with the shark as she relaxed.
"We're not breaking any rules. None of what's given is leaked. Only Lazulis access these private forums."
Now that was even more concerning. A bunch of gossipers, no less.
"If its not relevant to my investigation then I don't care." Stevonnie noted.
"You won't stop the order. Then tell me who arranged the order so I can stop them."
Lapis laughed.
"Oh come on now, I'm not under any obligation to do that...as that's a definite rule breaker."
Stevonnie had their suspicions...but they wondered.
"I already know its probably PeriCom or Weiss United. One of the two." They said.
Lapis blinked.
"Well, if you already know then why didn't you go to them for answers hm?" She pointed out.
Because Stevonnie didn't really want to go through those types of channels. Besides, this Lapis telling them gave them enough to precedence to put in place some subroutines to start the tracking process.
"I don't want to resort to violent tactics to get what we need." They said, pulling out their sword again.
"I will get what I want either way."
The Lapis laughed.
"Oh please." She said, releasing the shark as she adjusted herself to frame her giant form, sitting up right and floating there to give their sheer height the intimidation factor it needed.
"A little tiny program such as yourself is in my territory. In this place, I am a Monolith! I hold all the power and all the control...you can try as you might but you most certainly won't succeed."
Stevonnie furrowed their brows as they prepared to fight.
"Then try me." They dared.
Lapis smirked.
"Very well. You asked for it."
The GIS's avatar then broke up into smaller tuna fish and swam in all directions, before reaiming themselves towards Stevonnie. Pulling their shield closer, they were prepared to block the incoming traffic, though instead, it preferred to use the entire school to surround them and look them into place. Stevonnie could only form a bubble to protect themselves. The tracking process took some time so Stevonnie had to hold on long enough for it to begin. Aligning themselves with the procedures they had to diverge any attempts to hack their systems.
"Engaging Wall of Rose!"
The Lapis' eyes widened as pink hexagonal lines appeared all over Stevonnie's body, their eyes burning pink and blue with rage. Using the App, they pushed the lines of their body to form a cage around them, pushing the fish back.
"The Wall of Rose?" The Lapis said, confused.
"The Prime App of one Rose Quartz GIS?"
Stevonnie turned to the perplexed GIS as the Fish reforged her giant form. Though, now thinking about it, how did Stevonnie get the App? Wasn't that returned to...Connie's Client? It was some kind of instinct that Stevonnie activated by default. It soon disappeared, leaving Stevonnie looking at their hands, their internal components left questioning.
"I told you I was a Caretaker." They told her firmly, scrunching their hands and left with shaking fists.
The Lapis squinted.
"A Caretaker for the Pink Monolith..." She muttered.
"Intriguing. Protecting it's Assets falls underneath the banner I presume?"
Stevonnie nodded.
"That Pearl once belonged to them. So I protect all of which belongs and is created for them."
Lapis lifted its chin.
"I cannot assume what I say is true." She said.
"I cannot do much unless either side backs down on the request. If you so have Caretaker Authority, then you must engage with the conflict that is preventing this remainder to be transferred to you. I have someone...of equal authority as you as part of this order."
Surely not.
"Like, another Caretaker?" Stevonnie questioned.
Lapis shrugged.
"Precisely."
This did their head in.
"But...we have 90 percent. Pearl belongs to the Pink Monolith! Shouldn't we get priority?" Stevonnie questioned again.
The Lapis leaned on their side and had their head on their hand again.
"Lesse see..." She said, summoning a book in front of her.
"Let me check the rule book...Pearls...Pearls...ooo...interesting."
It better be good.
"Pearls...actually, do not belong to any one Diamond Monolith." She revealed.
"Except...their origins lie with the White Monolith. So...really, neither of you have priority."
What?
"The White......what does that even mean?" Stevonnie screeched.
Lapis rolled her eyes.
"Pearls are only manufactured in the Golden City." She explained.
"Lady Volley dispenses these Cloud Storage GIS to certain individuals. Yes, while she would have served the Pink Monolith, all of them legally belong to the White."
Then they had talk to Lady Volley; which since where this had all been heading towards, it didn't surprise them in the slightest. It only pissed them off even more.
"This is crazy!" Stevonnie said, more of Connie's side slipping out as the program struggled to contain themselves.
Closing the book with a satisfying thump before making it disappear, Lapis had the options clear.
"Either you find the other IP making the request, or have Lady Volley overrule the request. Those are your options, Caretaker...for now...how you decide to do this is out of my hands. Don't worry, I won't be far."
Sighing with a sense of relief as the Lapis disappeared, Stevonnie found themselves stuck with a dilemma. They sat themselves above a coral reef and watched the schools of multiple varieties of fish swim by. All those packets and pay-loads, roaming free.
The darkness of the Abyssal Corals. The Oceans of Space.
It was one parts frustrating that the Lapis couldn't admin this at all. She could have made this a lot more simpler. Instead, they made it much more complicated.
Their legs were crossed, slouched over with their elbows on their knees and face in their hands, depressed by the knowledge of having to deal with more bullshit to get what they needed.
"Who could have possibly requested Pearl?" They asked themselves.
The options were uncertain. Though, Steven and Connie had to feed Stevonnie with their collective knowledge of events through careful network sharing...closing their eyes, Stevonnie meditated and let Steven and Connie project themselves into a internal space within themselves. Their own little Pocket Grid of sorts, similar to when Connie was dreaming.
A dark clouded work of shadowy pinks blues and purples and the odd star sparkling here and there.
"You seem to need Pearl for some reason." Steven noted, standing there as he came into place.
Was it that obvious?
"I'm on a mission...and I need Pearl for that mission." Connie said, standing there in front of him.
Steven already knew Connie's aims. He was willing to do a lot but not if it involved potentially hurting those he cared about.
"You were going to tell me this when?" Steven queried.
He didn't have to know everything. Greg and Luna's explanations of the issue implied he was involved in some way shape or form. Based off Connie's own strangely nostaglic flashbacks, these implications made sense. Steven's own connectivity to the Pink Monolith not-withstanding.
"I would have gotten to that eventually." Connie noted.
"What about the Wall of Rose? Where the hell did that come from?"
Steven scratched his head. Stevonnie using that program came as a surprise to him as well.
"I don't know!" He called out.
"Last time I checked, we gave it to your client, remember?"
Connie pondered. LordWash...aka the BM-AI of Gregory DeMayo.
You protecting the App was one of the goals. The other was that you didn't know what WallofROSE was when you first saw it. It was a test to see if anyone had probed your memories or brought anything out. Thus far, no one has. ^1
Then how did Stevonnie have it?
"Doesn't the program technically belong to you if you are so...the Monolith's Caretaker?" Connie pointed out.
Steven wasn't sure anymore. Going back, he received a strange message of assistance regarding a particular Avatar who had been in dire straights with Garnet and Pearl, chasing Berrybyte through the MBCG as she had attempted to hack to the Temple. Why didn't he recognise it then...
"It belonged to Rose Quartz, not me." Steven pointed out.
His apparent mother. Connie's theory of a Dead mother being replicated into a GIS on behest of a selfish grieving father still stood. The BM-AI of Greg was just another selfish copy implimented to cover his tracks. Connie's knowledge of this conspiracy went far deeper than when all this originally started. She imagined as such, but the layer upon layer of treachery for...what was it, Rose's knowledge of the Monolith's invasion via Alien Tech was as farfetched as they come.
You start doing the unthinkable in order to curb the tendencies of an unknown force that tries to keep the secret...well, a secret.
"Besides, this has nothing to do with Pearl. Unless there's something you're not telling me."
He was one to talk. Surely Steven himself had plenty to tell and refused to tell.
"And did you use SOAP against Steven and the Ancillas?"
"Yes." It replied.
Steven didn't know because Luna had forced the memory wipe on them all. Including the Greg AI.
But it didn't know if it forced the memory wipe on Connie.
"All I can really say...is that's there something in the works that very few people know about." Connie explained, crossing her arms.
"The Pink Monolith's location is not the issue."
She felt disgusted in saying those words, considering that they've been at this for months, leading onto nearly a year since she started the investigation.
"Pearl is a Cloud Network Based GIS whom absolutely nobody has been able to unlock access her cloud without the password. Nobody knows what it is. Except me."
Steven blinked.
"You...you have the password?" He stammered.
Connie sighed. She wasn't sure if Steven was prepared for the fact that she met his Father-Creator. Anything of the sort would have him instantly desiring to meet the man who technically wasn't him. Very much a scenario similar to the Priyanka AI, except Connie knows Steven too well as he was the most sentimental and emotionally driven piece of software she'd ever met. She didn't need to predict the idea. He was going to do it out of some unwritten command.
"It's more like a passphrase." She explained.
"Pearl has something within her storage that's considered essential."
After all this time.
"Do we know what she has?" He asked.
Connie couldn't question it. She should have...but the conversation was cut short.
"No." Connie answered. Though she had to say something to put Steven's mind at ease.
"But...I'm not out to hurt Pearl. Only to find out what she has in her storage."
And thinking back to what Luna had told her. About rewriting each of the Monoliths...the core essence of their directives, each aimed at some measure to enslave humanity. Connie had imagined it had something to do with that but she had no proof. The only real way was to talk to Luna again. Which meant finding Greg.
But right now, they had to save Pearl. A Ping however, alerted them both to something outside of their Stevonnie Shell.
Opening their eyes, They came across a small blue sprite. It wasn't a Lapis, but it had a similar scheme. White hair with a fringe that covered the eyes and a long dress that obscured their feet and their white gloved hands in front of them and the pixel blocks the poured out of them as they moved were a bright blue in colour.
"Stevonnie." They said.
"I am Sapphire."
Stevonnie blinked.
"Sapphire...as in...Garnet's Sapphire component?"
She nodded.
"Garnet predicted this issue to occur... so...I hitched a ride on the current stream....meanwhile the Ruby part of Garnet had gone to investigate the other Lapis Satellite with the alternate request. I'm...certain I understand whats going here."
Thank goodness somebody could. They stayed on the Reef itself as Sapphire explained everything. Stevonnie had never met the components that made up the Garnet Consensus or was even made aware. According to something Garnet told them a while back, Consensus Formed GIS could split apart at any time if they commanded as such.
"Pearls upload is split apart between the two satellites. This one is only recieving such a command from one user. While the other is being demanded from a second user." She explained.
So it had to be either Weiss or Yin Aozora. Though the Lapis did point out something perculiar.
"Yeah according to the Lapis it has same Caretaker Authority as me...or as Steven." Stevonnie told her.
"Any idea who?"
Sapphire looked down.
"As you were aware, I was created from the Blue Monolith." She said.
"I was one of several Sapphires created for predictive analysis. We were a higher priority GIS that answered to an Aquamarine."
An Aquamarine...
"Let me guess that Aquamarine is a Caretaker?" Stevonnie queried.
Sapphire nodded again.
"Indeed." She responded.
"If anyone has requested anything with the correct Authority. It is her. As for the Alternate Request, if there was a request from another Caretaker in service, it may be either the Jasper you met in that Pocket Grid on behalf of the Yellow Monolith or the unknown Caretaker for the White Monolith."
Sapphire didn't know?
"Does anyone know the Caretaker for White then?" Stevonnie wondered.
Sapphire shook her head.
"We know so little about the higher up GIS situated in the European Sector." She said.
"I do know that it's unlikely Jasper."
Stevonnie rose an eyebrow.
"Jasper has everything to gain if she gets her hands on Pearl." She explained.
After all, from what was known, the Ancillas were quite infamous in Mega Beach City and were well sought after.
"Jaspers....unpredictable....." Sapphire said, with a note of her own confusion.
"But at the same time...Jasper's actions aren't exactly documented. She's a fresh GIS which I would say she would have been most likely dragged into the scene simply because of our intereference."
A plausible explanation.
"But the Aquamarine GIS likes getting her hands dirty. Which means Director Holly B. Agate has begun to dip herself into the investigation more so than we realised."
Stevonnie squinted, trying to run this information through in a less perplexing way.
"Ms. Dot isn't that much different." Stevonnie noted.
"She had Connie come here to find out more. Which would allow Jasper all the necessary..."
Power to influence decisions...Greg and Luna both mentioned that the Ancillas would be in danger.
Greg/Luna.
Stevonnie held their forehead, as Steven grew confused from what Stevonnie was thinking.
"Keep it together." Sapphire told them, forseeing the drama unfolding.
"Both Ruby and I will be able to monitor the succeeding transfers from these Satellites. The Lapis here is Blue Monolith technology, so we can hack in to find out more about the transfer requests."
Stevonnie wasn't so sure about this.
"I don't think the Lapis would be too happy of you hacking into all this stuff." They warned.
"They're like..."
Sapphire smiled. Stevonnie looked strangely behind her as ice crystals began to form, as the GIS held her hands in front of her, as if she was in prayer.
"They have all the power in this place, I know." She said.
"Do not worry about us. I only recommend explaining the details to Steven...then checking your own emails once you return to the real world. I will remain here to keep an eye on Pearl."
Stevonnie looked at their hands as they turned into pink and blue pixels. What in the world...their minds went fuzzy at first, the weird response as it felt like they were slipping away and their mind beginning to break away and whisk down a drain.
"Good luck."
It was dark, before it went white.
Text on a screen in another language. A language Stevonnie, Connie or Steven couldn't translate. But the beam of white light was like the brighest sun in the sky....or was it the moon?
It was a sphere but it wasn't the Earth. It was almost blinding and the text was in white as well...with Steven's mind drifting off in a single thought...
Not another one without an updated linguistics pack.
Reawakening as they had been jerked out entirely, Connie took a huge deep breath, then looked towards Steven, who's eyes were still closed.
Rubbing her own eyes as she took out the cables from her DP, Connie was overly frustrated and inclined to scream out the heated energies locked in her anger. But she kept put, leveraging the downsides to such a thing. She typed in the progress reports from Lapis who could only message Connie back with the obvious news of things being the same.
Figures.
She leaned forward with her elbows on the desk and her mouth behind her clasped hands, trying to think of something to push towards the drastic amount of confusion. The Sapphire must have concluded that dipping into difficult territory was the only way. Someway, shape or form, her destiny was going to head quarters for Weiss United, whether she liked to or not.
"I don't want to go to Asia...but I don't want to step into the Lions Den." Connie muttered to herself.
"But why did Sapphire seem...insistent that Jasper wasn't at least a Caretaker involved?"
She didn't want to admit to being scared. Not petrified, but it was enough for anxiety to indulge itself on its own whim, eating at her to the extent where it kept screaming at her to unlock her memories. But the millions of other things were trying to shield her from that reality. The room had gotten cold enough to cause goosebumps.
It started right from when Greg and Luna decided that they her to invade each Monolith to install a Program. Connie had already come to the conclusion that the programming created must have been what was inside Pearl. The push to change the Monolith's directives for the invasion...or the enslavement or what ever this...bad sci-fi version of a goal some fools decided to bring upon humanity because that's just how they were made.
Steven moved and shifted about, opening his eyes and removing the cables from himself. Lapis was still at work with the transfer, but the remaining part could be done wirelessly for now so her focus was still hanging on to the transfer to make sure they didn't lose the section in the queue, therefore, they wouldn't lose Pearl's data. He could see Connie peering at the screens aimlessly, though his priorities were trying to figure what was going on in Stevonnie's thought processes. Even before they had consensus, Connie had been totally unfocused prior.
"Connie." He said.
"What you know...what you found out."
No doubt it was about Greg and Luna. Connie saw no reason to hold back, despite how tight her throat felt and her sick her stomach was.
"Greg is...a BM-AI of Gregory DeMayo." She said.
"Luna...is a Protection Protocol."
Steven sat down on the chair next to the Work Station, then tilted to look out the round window to the exterior.
Connie's room was a little different here. The bed was horizontal against the window, with the red chair between the bed side table and the WorkStation of where he had been standing. Connie's had everything hooked up from floor to the roof. Atypical of her equipment and his head turned to see the digital blue lit wallclock behind him.
"Luna was the one who gave me the Passphrase." Connie continued.
"As for Greg....I..."
Steven had expectations for Connie. He expected her to be honest and thorough. Previous arguments had her hold back on such things and deny the chances for him to help anywhere he could. She would insist she was a loner, but Steven was just as much as part of this as she was.
The Ancillas warned him about Hackers and their overall work ethics. They worked through trickeries and walls of lies to protect themselves and still valuable assets. Part of Connie, was what Steven had been attached to. The little human girl who played with him by his AI Core all those years ago.
Hearing about her meeting him was...huge. Why would Connie hide one of the most important events that would have mattered to him? Unless...
"Does that mean...he's dead?" Steven said, his voice almost croaking from the distress.
BM-AIs and their origins usually were results of such things. But Greg was elusive. Disgusing himself as LordWash and Mr. Universe...and it was only Connie theorising that he was Dead. How else would he have evaded capture, after all these years?
"I don't know." Connie replied.
"It makes sense though."
Even if it didn't. Steven himself began to fidget with his android hands and the look on his face as despite the artificial nature of his being, Connie could witness the raw emotional dread dripping from his expression alone...or was in the pain in his big, bulbs for eyes?
"And...for Luna..."
Steven must have known....surely. The idea in her head never went away. The picture of his Father-Creator and hers. It was right there, all along.
"Luna used SOAP against you and the Ancillas." Connie continued.
"To protect...not just the Pink Monolith...but you....and me..."
Steven looked up at her, then his eyes focused on her frantically bouncing leg underneath her desk while her hands and fingers were covering her entire face. Such a thing wiping their memories...Steven wondered how heavy it weighed on Connie to hear such a thing...and seeing her like this...let's just say that even if he was a robot, he could still feel his faux heart drop.
"Connie....I..."
She stood up from her WorkStation chair and slid the chair underneath the desk. Steven only watched as she moved across him and stared at her bed for the longest time, before she decided to fall on it, face first into the mattress.
"Do you need me...to..."
After an awkward moment of silence, Connie rolled over, so her face was looking at the roof, her eyes welling up with water, which instilled Steven with more agonizing pain to deal with.
"I need..." She said.
"I..."
She lifted her head to get a better look at him. Him in his thick black jacket and pink shirt underneath. There was the obvious, robotical parts but the purpose of Androids were their design to be in between a human and a complete robot. The synthetic skin that would provide enough detail without alienating everyone you'd come across. The odd screw here and there. Though, it didn't sway her in the slightest. The human eye had a niche for catching onto what was real and and what was obviously fake. Sometimes the brain would subconsciously fill in the gaps between. His eyes were odd but then again, surgery for eye replacements were pretty much the same thing these days if you could afford them.
He had the hair, the ears and everything that made a human face. A face most resembling what ever she saw in his Avatar, in and out of the Domain and his body language she wouldn't say was any different from any human male.
Again, Connie's ego was the barrier towards what she really wanted.
"I...I can leave..." He said, trying to suss out what she really trying to say.
Connie shook her head however.
"No...no don't leave." She said, almost desperately. Too desperately.
Steven's eyes widened.
"No?"
She sat up and pushed herself against the wall, while looking out the window. Her knees were up and her arms around them. Biting her lip, she said nothing else...and patted the space beside her. Steven was stunned, pointing towards himself in a form of disbelief over what she was implying. Steven nodded and cautiously went onto the bed by shuffling his knees onto the mattress. This new body was still something he had to get used to. It was heavier than the human body, as the springs underneath the mattress squeaked as he crawled himself to sit next to Connie.
She shuffled herself a bit further towards the window wall to give Steven some space as he mimicked her posture and stance. He was much larger than her by default. Connie didn't find that she feared it however.
Her eyes were fixated on the window and her face was going deep red. The water around her eyes remained put as she bit her lip. Her hand remained flat on the surface of the mattress, with Steven's eyes looking at it. Slowly, but surely, he shuffled his hand across, lightly grazing her skin as he put his own on top of hers and carefully clasped his fingers in between. Connie didn't budge, but her response was to scrunch her eyes tightly and to purse her lips as if straining to prevent something.
"Did you know..." She asked, her voice unusually soft.
Steven blinked.
"Know what?" He asked.
Licking her lips, Connie had to break down her own walls brick by brick.
"Did you find out...about us?"
Steven wasn't sure what she was on about.
"Uh...I...umm..."
Wait...
"If you mean...I-I mean..."
He wasn't that naive, surely.
"The picture of my father with Gregory DeMayo. It was more than obvious we knew each other as...child and....I don't know...child AI?"
Steven froze.
"I...I..." He stammered, eyes widened.
"I mean, I think I knew. I..."
Connie made a nervous chuckle.
"Is that why you're so...inclined to follow me where ever I go?" She questioned.
"I mean, it could be the Protection Protocol...or you're my Caretaker..."
Steven did have the latter as an idea. Though as for the former.
"I think so." He replied.
"Uh....like, you were so small...and I was just some...big machine."
He realised more context was needed, given his garguatuan machine body right beside her.
"I mean, a bigger machine...a much, much bigger machine."
Connie made a small smile. So he did know. She wasn't angry at him not telling her. Maybe he feared doing so in case she did get angry. He was scared of the Connie of today and not several decades ago. Looking into herself, it would be believed that Steven was right not to trust her. It could have been for the best in case her condition were to flare up. Right now, she didn't need another migraine. The medication only ever did so much.
Right now, she was more calm than upset. Part of her own chest heavy with two parts regret and a quarter of confusion. How AIs become attached to their wards would be seen as cute, but Connie was much older now, being left fending for herself. If it meant being selfish to protect her being then let her be selfish.
"I'm sorry I'm not that little girl anymore." She said.
Steven's earlier belief in the attachment he had still had weight. It wasn't because she was a little girl. No. It couldn't have been that. Steven wasn't that stupid.
"Why are you...sorry?" He questioned.
"You're a human being. Human beings don't stay the same all the time."
He had a point...but Connie couldn't bare to claw into him due to what ever was directed at. She kept forgetting he was an AI sometimes and that he was meant to do this. Maybe. Connie wasn't certain. It could also be seen as admirable from a certain perspective. He was so understanding. Naive yes, but was able to processing matter like this far better than Connie ever could. His directive to protect. To follow. His purpose; was for Connie. One would feel special, but Connie still felt horrible.
"I'm just sorry we had to lose that. The Protocol using SOAP against us isn't fair. Must be something in my directive to make up for lost time then." He said with a small smile of his own.
Cute, if true.
Though, the topic of Luna never left her head...
Connie frowned...enough for Steven to keep blabbering away in some attempt to make her feel better.
"Sapphire and Ruby are on the case to figure out about those Caretakers." He said.
"I'm not looking forward to meeting Aquamarine. Garnet said they're an egostical bunch. So this one in particular must be the most egotistical of all."
Intent on researching these infamous IPs. Steven was confident that this was just part of the adventure. Connie did have a preference on meeting the Aquamarine and taking her down a peg or two. But this wasn't her main concern right now.
"Steven..." Connie muttered, shifting herself onto her knees and looking towards him.
She wanted to say that Greg wanted them apart for her own safety. But she refrained from doing so. Connie's had to repeat to herself over and over again that while Steven makes stupid decisions every now and then, that they were never malicious or of any ill intent. An AI wanting to be with the one he's known since his Golden State and even before then perhaps...Connie had to imagine them designing him to emulate the lost son and not her silly delusional concept of making him for her. She wasn't lost in every single fantasy she's ever had, but she was already somewhere in that old garden maze again.
It just...happened that way and it gave reason to seeing him beyond his AI-hood. She wanted to push him away but he naturally so gravitated towards her like the moon that followed the Earth, not understanding the ideas why besides him feeling like he was programmed that way. To protect her and the secrets of the Pink Monolith.
Now his eyes were focued on her once more. He can see the little girl in her own world. Humans amazed him with how much they do indeed change but for what it was worth, the Connie executable was there. Fixated on this idea of a human being his entire world and functionality for a long time. He could only remember so much from the past. Being entrusted to the endearing smiles and while she was a lot older, the smile still imprinted on him the same way.
They say code can change with patches and updates and line by line over a period of time can still serve the same purpose but...could it always claim to be the same?
Her spare hand reached over the feel the skin across his cheek and somehow such a simple touch sent something potent to his core. The Android body didn't have the same amount of artificial nerves as humans did, but it could still experience sensations like that night in the Private Grid to themselves. But this was reality and it was her hand on his face. Closing his eyes, he could imagine himself completely human. The two of them, somewhere warm. On a picnic during late spring. Part of him recalled those conversations they had at the AI Core. Flashing before his eyes were those talks about where she lived. That now burnt down farmhouse with the frozen over strawberry fields.
His eyes opened as heard her sniffling and suddenly felt something heavy against his chest. Connie had collapsed into it and buried her head and cried. He put a hand on her back and helped her adjust so she was a bit more comfortable, bending her knees inwards as her arms wrapped around his torso.
"I'm....I'm sorry." She cried.
"I'm sorry I didn't remember sooner. I'm a horrible person."
No. She's not in the wrong. He didn't remember either...and if he feared if he told her this sooner this would have happened....and it happened anyway...it would have only been a matter of time.
"It's not your fault." He told her.
He wanted to say it was his, but Steven refrained.
Humans losing their memories was a lot more alarming than an AIs. Soulware in general was said to be illegal to hack for a reason. Using SOAP against a human mind was greatly frowned upon and came with so many risks.
Connie eventually stopped crying and Steven was now laying down on the bed, with Connie resting on his chest more while he combed her hair and cautiously massaged her sculp with his fingers. She was a lot more relaxed and busy staring at nothing.
The silence wasn't a bad thing. Steven liked this. He more than liked it and he suspected Connie felt the same way. He wasn't able to provide Connie with the true warmth of a human being but this was enough for her to work with. His eyes were fixated on the grey roof, dancing back and forth as his processors that weren't helping Lapis were busy compiling his own human-esque loops and retraces.
A BM-AI left to think on their own for too long was detrimental to their overall functionality. To consider the efforts made to keep them focused on tasks that could spiral into the hundreds or else they could begin to think in ways that they've not thought of before. Stories of AI's going rogue were reasons enough for humans to distrust them.
BM-AIs were more risky to use due to the influence of human nature written into the code. Who ever Steven was based off of, the son of Greg and Rose, definitely was innocent.
And Connie, daughter of Priyanka and Doug, was definitely someone worth having in his life and worth protecting, code or no code that would tell him otherwise.
"I don't think you're a horrible person Connie." Steven assured her.
"You taught me things. You're teaching me how to be human. And that's more than I could really ask for..."
Connie never thought herself as a teacher. Only a guide. Him touching her like this...it was actually teaching Connie something about the nature of sentient creatures. She's never been held like this before and Steven just did so instinctively. Which caused gentler tears to roll, of how tender he was right now.
Does he know the pain of a tight throat of anxiety? A heart that would beat so fast that the world would become a blur? Does he understand the nuance that came with all the...dare she say it?
He was born from a human. But he was never human on a technicality. But those who could think and feel for themselves and use the power of choice...were they not deserving of fair treatment?
It had always been so...controversial. Right now, Connie didn't give a shit and it wasn't just about sex or that type of feeling..it was beyond that. She was here with someone who was able to instill such a powerful emotion like no one else...and she was so...scared. Afraid of this unknown. The unknown that millions already have and Connie's dismissed because it was also down right painful.
"You want to feel human..." Connie uttered.
"So do I..."
Notes:
1. Chapter 30: Breach
Chapter 35: Correspondence
Summary:
The Leading Developers have a Meeting to discuss current events.
Chapter Text
The world itself was seemingly ruled by Governments...but they were merely puppets in the eyes of the Leading Developers who had their clandestine arrangement of their own official who knew the right people to pay off when ever something was required.
The three big corporations. Weiss United. PeriCom, Yin Aozora. Lead by Lady Volley, Ms. Dot and Director Agate respectively, but Lady Volley was the true mastermind behind everything. Each had their mission, but their own goal was singular.
A meeting was about to begin somewhere in an unknown Pocket Grid. Unique in the simple black skybox with a single round metal platform. Three massive orbs appeared. On the left was yellow and on the right, was blue. In front was white. On the platform phased in a thin woman in a black suit; a jacket with a black, thigh high skirt and high heels, with her hair in buns and half a fringe covering her left eye. The most prominent feature was her forced smile.
Two other platforms appeared, as a certain, triangled headed short woman in her green outfit, similar to the first womans but with green tints and matching pants.. appeared on the left behind the other woman and a taller, filled out woman in a blue outfit appeared on the right. Similar to the others but had worn blue tights and above the knee white boots.
Both had their legs wide and their hands behind the backs, demonstrating their strength, discipline and respect for their Fair Lady...
"Greetings my associates." Said the woman in black.
"I require the latest updates. Talk to me."
A meeting hosted every so often by the big guns in charge. Closer or further to their goal and other important business.
"We have the Engineer in our graces Lady Volley." Said the Green Woman.
"And we are running the acquisition transfer for the Pearl. Though the delay in question is being denied through our channels." Said the blue woman.
Lady Volley smirked. The command itself was made as information was collected.
"The delay itself isn't an issue in the long term, Director Agate." She said.
"A minor setback. Caused by the tardiness of your people Ms. Dot."
Ms. Dot gulped.
"My people aren't the problem my Lady." She said.
"They were trying to see if the Ancilla's phylacteries were at the Warehouse. Interrogating the Engineer has given us nothing to their location."
Lady Volley rubbed her chin.
"I told you the Engineer was our priority." She said.
"Speaking of which..."
Ms Dot stammered, then cleared her throat, closed her eyes and placed a hand on her chest.
"He's being sent to our Experimental Division as we speak. But what is this Shard project?"
Lady Volley knew that project well, though wanted to test her Leading Developers Knowledge on the topic.
"Dr. Andrew DeMayo found out about the Shard Project from some old files left behind by Dr. Ryman." She explained.
"It was never extended from one prototype in particular. Agate you know more about this than I."
Director Agate nodded.
"Old reports were found to be taken from a renegade GIS from the Blue Monolith's Archives, which I suspect Dr. Gregory DeMayo may have had a hand in. Blue Monolith technology was fundamental in processing a type of firmware designed to improve efficiencies within organic lifeforms. Less invasive external hardware when new updates to the software were made available. Most importantly, it's other purpose was reducing heat emissions that would normally melt an organic brain by instead, gently forcing the brain to...evolve over time."
Ms. Dot seemed geninuely surprised.
"Why weren't we doing this sooner?" She questioned.
Lady Volley appeared displeased.
"Because the technology was only ever in testing phase until the Pink Monolith went missing." She said.
"We all should know the Monolith's demands in the long run. The Shards would have been a pinnacle and would definitely have sped up the plan, slicing the expectant time frame from a few hundred years to maybe fifty, or even less."
Ms. Dot blinked.
"We do, we do but..." She said holding doubt.
Lady Volley raised an eyebrow.
"But what, Ms. Dot?" She asked, trying to hold back her aggravation and covering it with a salty sweetness.
Ms. Dot was nearly shaking in fear.
"Is the one with the Shard...the Prototype. Are they still alive?"
Lady Volley smiled. Information shared across networks and the things she's discovered thanks to her sources have given her more than enough to work with.
"You've been following her this entire time my dear." She said.
Ms. Dot's eyes widened.
"Berrybyte? The Hacker?" She said.
Lady Volley didn't budge.
"I-I thought you said she was the one who knew the Monoliths location? I-I mean..."
Poor Ms. Dot. She was usually overconfident when she held power over others. Volley herself knew she would stutter and stumble in the presence of those with equal or more power. Telling her less was telling her more.
"You've done an excellent job in guiding her to my territory." Volley said.
"But you are also correct."
Ms. Dot just groaned. Director Agate on the other hand.
"She's also been delaying the restoration." She said, looking at her colleague with a blank expression.
"I know you said the transfer requests were meant to push her in that direction, but what if the Pearls Cloud Storage actually contains the location of the Monolith?"
Volley looked at the White ball of light before her.
"It could." She said.
"It might also be a dead end. Dr. DeMayo has been known to give false leads. He's somewhere in the Domain or at least a BM-AI version of him is, making a ruckus while the Domain falls apart."
Director Agate and Ms. Dot exchanged glances.
"What if Berrybyte never gets herself restored?" Ms. Dot exclaimed in worry.
"There's still a lot that could go wrong."
Volley didn't want to deny that. Though she didn't want to acknowledge it either.
"She must care for her Engineer friend. Ms. Dot, your aim is to get the Shard Project underway. Recruit Andrew DeMayo into the fold but make sure this is strictly confidential. I only want to use the victim card where absolutely necessary. Once you're done, let me know and I will message you with further instructions."
Ms. Dot looked down, then looked behind her at the Yellow Sphere of Light, then back to Lady Volley as she nodded.
"Very well, my Lady." She said with a salute, before she disappeared, along with her Yellow Sphere.
Director Agate on the other hand...she looked at her Blue Sphere for the moment, before turning back to Lady Volley.
"There was something else I wanted to tell you." She told Volley.
"Aquamarine recently retrieved a report from Jasper from The American Grid. I'm surprised Ms. Dot didn't mention it."
Ms. Dot had her mind on a thousand things. Of course she would forget.
"What about?" Volley asked.
Director Agate popped open a translucent, rectangular blue screen with a series of blue text.
"The was an incident regarding an unknown program waltzing about in a Pocket Grid. Aquamarine occasionally goes to the Pocket Grid to check on Jasper and found about the incident but the Jasper said that they escaped."
This was unusual.
"An Unknown program? Do we have a general description? Their function?" Volley queried.
Agate rubbed her chin.
"It was like it was one of those Synthesised." She continued.
"Jasper had captured a different Unknown Program which had formed consensus with a human, forming another program. Should we be worried about human Avatars being able to somehow do the impossible? I don't even believe this report to begin with."
Volley hummed. Consensus was only allowed under controlled conditions. An Unknown Program...perhaps a makeshift or bootlegged AI with GIS functionality? Or even worse... a virus? No...it wasn't. She had other theories. Theories that would be more pleasing, considering the previous topic.
This intrigued Volley. No doubt the human in question was Berrybyte with the Prototype Shard installed. It was the only plausible explanation that made any sense. And it was a sign.
A good sign.
"Maybe the Pink Monolith is still performing its duties after all." She said.
Director Agate was confused. Volley didn't blame her. The Developer of Weiss United always kept much of the secrets to herself, to make sure everything was being done as followed. Hiccups were anticipated but this was going better than she hoped it would be. Agate had been such a loyal colleague. Ms. Dot had her use for a while but her general incompetence had always irritated Volley to an extent. She was loyal too no doubt but giving her everything would just guarantee more slip ups. If she had known about the report sooner, then she might have taken this in a different direction earlier. Never the less, Volley was keen to explore this more.
"What do you mean My Lady?" She asked.
Lady Volley smiled.
"You remember the list of Phases we're meant to cover according the Diamond Templates design?"
Agates eyes widened.
"Yes...yes I do...wait...yes...my Lady how did we not see this sooner?"
Lady Volley chuckled.
"Where ever it is, it knows what must be done. The Shard Project had long since been underway; however that was merely meant to be once an earlier step had been completed, which meant that the Pink Monolith acquired enough data for the Transitional Entity to be formed."
Yes...the perfect AI/GIS Hybrid.
"What you said about the Shards is definitely correct. The primary goal is evolution. Humanity will soon know new boundaries to explore and will be uplifted as per the Template!"
Director Agate seemed joyful about this as well.
"That's Brilliant My Lady!" She said.
"So...what do we do with this...Transitional Entity?"
Volley smiled.
"They will be required for the final phase. Right now, if we can focus on the Shard Project, then we should be able to get this ready to go sooner. So...I need you to do an Advertising Campaign for Volunteers for the next type of Domain Port."
Director Agate nodded.
"Of course. What Soulware gradings would you recommend?"
Getting the right Soulware gradings for this was crucial. Volley closed her eyes, her head in brief ponder.
"Hm...grades B to SS are fine. We can't work on SSS just yet. We'll save them for the last...anything lower...I'll work on some kind of directive to begin grading checks and begin some lists. We'll need numbers to figure out the best way to handle it."
If Director Agate knew Lady Volley well enough, she'll leave most trash behind if she had to. If there wasn't enough to work with, then she'd most likely try and find a way to upgrade. If not, then...well...
"The Programs file name is SQU_RQ_V3. UNKNWNEXC according to the notes. That's if you need us to start finding the program itself that is." Director Agate explained.
The Domain wasn't even ready for this thing despite it roaming around freely. Such a file name was relatively uncommon and it would be logical to think that it would be easy to track but it wasn't. UNKNOWNEXC wasn't a search perimeter on any list of databases other than a failsafe so entire systems didn't break as soon as it entered them. Knowing the near infinite capacity and the Domains growing potential, there would be thousands out there as incomplete files that are never really properly registered or posted unless they'd reached proper programming status or...their Golden State.
Forming Consensus with the other human gave Volley's earlier statement about Berrybyte some credence.
"It's most likely not going to be too far off from Berrybyte if we just connect the obvious dots." Volley explained.
"I believe one of your Board Members, PD Fryman, has been sighted within my section."
Director Agate looked to the side.
"What ever business he has there, I don't know. Would you have also have him as leverage against Berrybyte?"
It was tempting, but not yet.
"We'll have him on standby if push comes to shove." She said.
"If Ms. Dot can gauge out something out of the Engineer then we might not need to come to that point. Or we could use him if the Engineer doesn't let up his secrets. What ever the case, keep him close. We can't afford to lose such an asset."
Director Agate nodded.
"Of course, My Lady." She said.
"I shall make preparations for some new acquisitions now. But right now, I think we should address another elephant in the room."
Volley knew exactly what she meant. A problem that she could just not stop from happening, no matter how much she tried to.
"I know." She said, agravated.
"We're losing more and more phylacteries each day. We have enough GIS to maintain functionality for now but if this keeps up, we're in deep."
Director Agate looked more worried.
"I've had some stolen from my section two days ago." She said.
"The sigils were left at the crime scene."
Volley growled. Those cursed...
"Nothing irritates more than our goods being stolen." She voiced.
"We'll plan a meeting with our current list of Caretakers, both Major and Minor. Send word."
Director Agate bowed.
"Of course my lady."
Good.
"Dismissed Director."
As the Director bowed and disappeared with her Blue Sphere, Lady Volley turned back to the White Sphere behind her, deliberating on current matters. The Pink Monolith was always her priority, first and foremost. But no longer could she deny the other pressing issue when it continued to escalate. From one, to four to fifty...to a hundred. It had been going on for the last seven months.
The sigils. The damned sigils on the scenes were more than enough for Volley to make a fist and become impatient.
They were supposed to ignore these people. People whom haven't been a real threat for years. Since when did this begin to transcend any common sense? The directives of man so messed up and so unpredictable. Volley could only command so much from her position, which was less than what she preferred it to be.
Every GIS, in the end, were hers. Every single one. Processed through hundreds of channels and companies to do her bidding. A single one lost was considered a heinous crime. She didn't want it to be known to the public that there were many GIS missing, because that would give these people the attention they didn't deserve.
No matter how many rules and regulations were put into place, they would somehow get themselves out there in to the atmosphere of the public and make a scene, show off a display of their power.
"One day, it will all fall into place." She said.
"And humanity will appreciate the efforts put into place to the land of their salvation."
Meanwhile, in the deep heart of a series caverns in an unknown locale, an individual wearing a black robe descended into the rocky depths. Their black boots clattering with each step and the echoes across the cave walls as laterns lit up as they walked past with a torch in their hand, revealing their black glove and red sleeve. The source of a primal enviroment was fresh for some...too backwards for others.
Though, they had to type a code into a nearby console which opened some thick steel doors. Going in, the doors closed on themselves and the room lit up around every corner.
They went to a machine on the right hand side, the size of a fridge. Squarish in nature and with numerous runic symbols embedded into it. The individual opened the door and revealed the hot interior with several shelves inside. They put in numerous, colourful, shining stones on the racks and closed the door.
Walking back to another console in the middle, they typed into a few things. Looking up, was a much massive machine in its place. More tall, chrome, pentagonal cylinders and a coolant that gave off smoke.
"More shards are being added." Said a male voice. Quite high as if they were still in the depths of their youth.
The machine began to make noise, the back of it holding a tube that lead to one of the larger cylinders. It shook about for a moment, as it was first letting off red signs as it working through it, then turned green and let off steam from raised vents. The invididual then pressed a hand to their chest as they looked up at the giant structure.
Upon the largest cylinder in the middle was a word strewn down from it. The letters spelt downwards reading.
C.L.U.S.T.E.R.
Chapter 36: Smokescreen
Summary:
While Connie works to find a way to save Pearl and Ronaldo in the real world, Steven and Amethyst do their part in the Domain.
Chapter Text
Connie and Steven worked hard at their next steps. Finding Ronaldo. Saving Pearl.
Connie's real life smokescreen as for her work allowed her more connections, so she had to make do with the resources just dumped in front of her. It require a lot of effort for her dive into the networks, hacking them to find out as much as she could, about the White Monolith's mysterious Caretaker.
Luckily Amethyst at least was with them. Steven was immensely thankful for her company while Connie wasn't around for him. He resided at her apartment, while she put in the efforts day and night to figure out this business regarding who was causing all this unnecessary trouble. Steven couldn't go far, with Lapis still processing the halt. Another he was thankful for. So instead of doing nothing, Steven joined Amethyst in her escapades.
Amethyst fished around as well, as they roamed the local Grid for answers. Amethyst hated this place. It was too prim and proper compared to the more chill Mega Beach City Grid. She complained about the Golden City having more white than Gold, and the Land of Polygons being a dumb name and even a dumber idea as it was just named for their stupid low rendered trees.
Still, a lot of technology had its roots here. The origins of Monolith Development and the first GIS to emerge from its Kindergarten Machines. Amethyst had to make sure she fit in, her model mostly possessing taller aspects than her normal Avatar and both her and Steven had worn their drab, boring clothing as to not to draw too much attention. He wore a white jacket with golden trims, with a white shirt underneath with a golden star on the chest, with matching white pants with a golden line on the outer parts that stretched from hips to the bottom of the pants, as well as black shoes. Amethyst wore a white cardigan and a white singlet underneath, her purple Kernel Core on display, as well as wearing similar pants and shoes as Steven. Her hair was in a high ponytail and her hands were in her pockets. Steven just wore a black jacket with a pink singlet and black slacks, with leather shoes.
"Imagine a fight in this place." She said.
"I have this..overwhelming desire to destroy things sometimes."
Amethyst wasn't shy to voice her opinions....as well as her tendencies. Pearl said it was very human like....and most likely a result of her Gen II programming.
"You already miss Mega Beach City?" He asked.
Amethyst snorted.
"Bsyeah...at least that place has more original content than copy and paste data modules. You can't even tell if you're walking in circles sometimes."
Maybe the the design was to make sure it was more easy to deal with? As well as less processing power involved?
"White Topaz on every corner. Watching. Waiting for someone to go out of line."
Steven's eyes focused on the series of emotionaless bulky GIS. Amethyst definitely had that down pat, with their prescence giving Steven the creeps.
"So...you were saying Connie said something about well...I dunno this Protection Program?"
They hadn't really talked about it much, with Connie being busy nearly 24/7.
"She called it Luna." Steven told her.
"Said to be working alongside my Father-Creator."
Amethyst nodded. Ever since she heard about him, it sparked some unknown queries in her systems. Something that was once there but then removed but left trace amounts of data behind.
"I'd like to give him a piece of my mind." She grumbled.
The revelation of his manipulation over the Ancillas plagued Amethyst the worst. Garnet and Pearl got over it quickly but for Amethyst? She could hold long grudges if she wanted to.
For years the Ancillas strove to protect Mega Beach City's Grid without question. But Amethyst had always been the one to poke and prod around, encouraging Steven (Garnet had been as well, but Amethyst more so) to discover himself for his own sake.
It had to be the advanced programming for sure. Gen IIs had more a grip on the human side of things than Gen Is did. So he could always relate to Amethyst more than the other two. She never expressed freedom to explore the real world like Steven did, but it was similar. Even for a prototype, she was still leagues ahead in some respects.
Speaking of which.
"I wonder." He said.
"Lapis said something about me possibly being an AI/GIS Hybrid. Maybe even a prototype."
Amethyst understood Steven having wild, possibly baseless ideas and theories on the occasion. Certain ideas that had that human spark to them. She elbowed him in the side and gave a chuckle
"And us prototypes, gotta stick together." She said.
He was glad she didn't mind the idea.
"But I think that was suspected. Consensus with Connie? Dude, unless they're stealin' our bit, I think the GIS part was kind of a given."
Installing GIS Programs into him wasn't out of the question either.
"But this...Luna...this Protection Protocol....yeesh. What a mess."
And what Connie described as self-proclaimed anomaly.
The pair went into a cafe. Still as dull in its design while the pair ordered simulated coffee. Amethyst was one of the rare GIS to actually enjoy simulated food and drink. One of Gen IIs rarer features were to understand human needs and wants by being able to process taste and smell to a degree. Wouldn't compare to real life but it was a start.
Sitting by one of the booths, their heads were turned to the tv screen on the nearby wall, as a newsreporter began to read out an incident.
"Another attack by the Cluster Cult? Give me a break." She said.
While the Ancillas were considered a threat in Mega Beach City, the Cult of the Cluster was a world wide organisation that dwarfed them by comparison. Their aim? Worshipping a False Monolith. It's been proven that they didn't steal the Pink Monolith as they've come to state that they have no desire to claim any existing monolith and that the Pink's Monolith's loss proves that their Monolith, what they call to be the Cluster Monolith, is the superior.
Cultists were spread thin so...no one could ever really prove that this Cluster Monolith even existed. Still, no one ever talked about the Cult, given that they were more of a nuisance than an actual threat. Their activities simply ignored or their graffiti sigil, a circle with a messy mash of pastel colours like they were kids who had yet to learn to colour inside the lines.
Though, recently, their activities had been discovered to have been stealing GIS Phylacteries.
"Can you believe this?" Amethyst said.
The screen showed a military tech company in Mega Beach City being attacked, with some of the GIS having been stolen.
"Years ago no one cared about the Cult. These maniacs have been around for years and now they're starting to engage in far worse shit than ever."
This caused Steven some ample amount of concern, given that this was their home city. He felt compelled to protect it.
"As if we don't have enough to deal with already, without them lurking around. Sheesh."
It was then someone walked into the cafe and ordered something. A large bald man with long hair ordered a coffee, though as Steven squinted at him, his memory began to flash back in too quick sequence. It didn't shut him down like he expected it to, but there was some kind of trigger that the sight of this man gave.
"What is it Stevo?" Amethyst asked.
Steven pressed his hand against her mouth to shush her.
"Quiet..." He said.
As soon as the transaction was completed, the man left.
"Who was he?" She asked, moving his hand away from her face.
He wasn't sure...but something within him held some kind of thought.
"That man...I..." He stammered.
Amethyst wasn't silly to not see the signs. He wouldn't do that for no reason.
"Want us to stalk him?"
The two left the Cafe shortly after, looking around for the man in question. They saw him going towards an alleyway on their left and as he entered, the two stayed around the corner and stalked him through the quiet areas. Tip toeing around, Amethyst and Steven looked at each, silent as mice as they stalked the mysterious person.
They travelled through a series of alleyways, before seeing him walk down some stairs into some kind of basement. Running over, they could see through a window and the two laid on their bellies and peered through.
It was an underground music shop, possibly a meeting point with a client. The client in question was a pink skinned boy with a black cloak as the the man handed him a digital coffee.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Amethyst asked.
"Beats me." Steven answered.
Amethyst tinkered with some code and formed a sound amplifier and plugged in some earphones, allowing them to hear what was going on inside.
"I've collected as many as I can." Said the Pink boy.
"It should be close to fruition. Hows things going with the Trojan?"
The Trojan? These people were obviously up to something heinous. Amethyst's attention was honed in, realising they hit paydirt.
The man sighed.
"Luna said that Weiss United and Yin Aozora have the Pearl GIS in limbo. Berrybyte is supposed to be searching for a way to get them to release the alternate requests so that she can finally pass through to this grid."
The Pink Boy grumbled.
"Unfortunate. Where is Luna anyway?"
The man looked at his watch.
"She's busy working with the switch codes. Listen, you might need to go to Asia to help get rid of the Yin Aozora requests. Luna said to leave Berrybyte here so she can find White's evasive Caretaker."
The Pink Boy nodded.
"We should send Kevin. Goodness knows he could use the work." He suggested.
The one who put the tried to put a trojan into Connie?
"I was hoping he was able to get that data from Barbara. But her unfortunate suicide put a hindrance on our plans."
The man appeared frustrated by the notion, placing his hands on his forehead while shaking it.
"He went a bit nuts after that last ordeal. He's becoming a bit unreliable."
The Pink Boy chuckled.
"Unreliable? A bit? Dude...his incompetence almost lost our chance. Dr. Millers Empire going under was our saving grace."
It was?
"Dr. Miller's guilt for the whole thing had her go insane..." Said the Man.
"She was all about protecting Berrybyte from harm."
As far as what Steven knew, the Empire itself was a Hacker Group. Dr. Miller must have founded it out of something that happened with the Pink Monolith that had her drown in drink and attempt attacks on multiple corporations for what ever reason. Them protecting Connie wasn't exactly common knowledge.
"Why would they hire Kevin if he was meant to insert a Trojan into Connie?" Ammy queried.
Steven didn't know either. Unless.
"Most likely Barbara put him up to her to allow her to track Berrybyte from afar." The man said, unintentionally answering Amethyst's question.
"Maybe even bring her to work for the Empire to keep her close."
Trojans as trackers and bugs were common place. But the method used by Kevin would have been the perfect insertion method for Soulware hacking, based off emotional cues, allocations and trigger events. Just like a human STD.
"But he's just like you now. Didn't realise how desperate he was."
The Pink Boy crossed his arms and shrugged.
"Probably drug money." He suggested.
"That type's always out for something to fund their kicks. But now he's a Moontouched like me so hopefully, Luna will keep him in line."
Moontouched...
"Like you've never gone out of line Lars." The man joked.
Lars rolled his eyes.
"Hey, I've given everything I have to this cause." He said, pressing his fingers on the mans chest, then proceeded to push down fingers as he ticked off a list.
"I've stolen GIS from across the globe, I've sabotaged many things for the sake of the mission at the risk of the Developers breathing down my neck and deleting me off the Earth!"
Mr. Universe raised his hands in defense.
"Okay, okay, you're a dedicated being. I know." He said.
"If you don't trust Kevin, as I said, send yourself to Asia and I will deal with the problems here."
The Pink Boy whined.
"Pff...why didn't Luna make Berrybyte a Moontouched? Wouldn't she have done her job by now?"
Mr. Universe looked to the side as he sipped his coffee.
"Berrybyte...she's been definitely touched by something..." He said, scratching the back of his neck.
"I don't remember much about the incident at the old facility. Luna said that most programs went faulty and a part of their memories were deleted as a result of some kind of event that wiped it. Wiped mine, wiped Berrybytes and it wiped Stevens."
Lars squinted in deep thought.
"And the Ancillas?" He asked.
Mr. Universe looked up at the roof, which adorned some kind of music poster with three triangles.
"Rose cared much for that small group of dysfunctional GIS. Wiping their memories with SOAP was easier. Luna said I was probably wiped by SOAP or...was wiped by the event. She can't figure that part out."
Lars looked suspicous.
"She can't or she won't?" He dared to ask.
Mr. Universe snapped his head back him.
"Come again??"
Lars combed his fingers over his hair and scalp.
"Luna is a literal Goddess Mr. Universe." He said.
"She's got this great plan all thought out. As long as we do what we're told, the sooner we'll be to getting our plans to work as she intended. She knows everything..."
Mr. Universe raised an eyebrow. Moontouched could get obsessive due to their Soulware rewritten to gain some GIS abilities thanks to Luna. So far the only Moontouched are Lars and the newly recruited Kevin. However, Mr. Universe had noted that Lars personality had changed completely. Well, not completely. The fervent worship of Luna as a Goddess was some kind of unintentional side effect.
For at least, that was what Mr. Universe was told. He wasn't Moontouched for a good reason, however...again, so what Luna says. Her intentions to keep mental autonomy were mostly focused to Berrybyte and Mr. Universe himself, though he was a willing vessel from time to time, as she was unable to visit the Domain without hijacking specially connected Soulware or a Kernel Core.
Telling Lars Luna was just a Protection Protocol would set him off completely. Just like how telling Rose she was just a program would piss Mr. Universe off the same way.
"So...I best go to Yin Aozora then." Lars continued.
"Very well. I'll uh....I'll be on my way."
Steven and Amethyst hid behind a gate as Lars left the premises and were left pondering on what was discussed.
Going to nearby open area with a bench, the pair went through this properly, trying to decide on their next set of actions. They were still left confused, however.
"I have no fucking clue who this Luna is." Amethyst said, slouching back.
Other than what Steven had told the Ancillas that is. SOAP would be to blame for that.
"And what was that Moontouched bullshit all about?"
Steven had no idea. Connie told him a little about Luna from their encounter, a strange entity that ordered her to make sure Pearl was transferred over. His instincts were telling him something dark and troubling...and he didn't want Connie to be a part of it. He didn't like being used nor Connie. And the trecherous Kevin had been brought into it, which made Steven feel even worse.
And this Mr. Universe seemed awfully familiar...
"Though I recognised that Emblem on that pink dudes hood." She said.
"He's one of the Cultists!"
That was a strange coincidence.
"That would mean Mr. Universe is helping them? And Luna is connected to the Cult as well?" Steven said, squishing his cheeks in disbelief.
"Oh geez...this gets worse and worse."
Amethyst couldn't agree more.
"But you look at it from this perspective...the Developers want some sort of enslavement of humanity right? Yet, this Luna and her Moon-molested freakazoids basically wanna worship some kind of False Monolith? What has this world come to?"
Collecting GIS for this purpose didn't sound too good either. Steven wasn't sure if he wanted to be on any side anymore. His...digital heart craved to just take him and Connie away from all this drama and be safe and content elsewhere. Running away definitely seemed preferable than dealing with the problem.
Looking at the similated skies of blue hues and drifting clouds, Steven's course of becoming close to human as he possibly could had gotten so far, but with all this...it was beginning to become too much.
"And they complain about the Domain falling apart too. I'm thinking this...False Monolith needs a little more investigating doncha think?"
Steven was hesitant, biting his lip as he tightly gripped his fingers around the edge of the bench. Lars going to Asia to fix up the problems there would help Connie's case...or make it worse. It made him think...what was in Pearls Cloud Storage that was so important? The Ancillas debated this for ages and nothing had come to front, so it was mostly forgotten about, written off as a lost cause.
"I dunno Amethyst...." He said.
"I think we've gotta deal with this one step at a time."
Amethyst could always tell when Steven was busy worrying about Connie. He had that sad, distant look on his face every time he thought about her. The distant look became one of frustration and hands that wanted to grab something but instead was left with shaking fingers of frustration.
"Ruby and Sapphire are stuck in the Lapis Satellites and our Lapis is stuck dealing with our mess after I assured her that she could trust us. Goodness knows what happened to Ronaldo and I'm worried about him and...Connie's now...now stuck in a 9-5 job dealing with...deadlines and co-workers..."
She hated working in an office, going from a previous discussion. The way she described 'White-collar work' was a saccharine hell full of fake people with fake smiles. Hopefully she wouldn't have to suffer for too long.
And this...Trojan that they spoke of. Was that was inside their Pearl?
"I don't think we're meant to know what's inside Pearls Cloud Storage either."
Amethyst raised an eyebrow.
"Well duh...if this whole mess was caused by Dr. DeMayo fucking around of course he doesn't want anyone to look at Pearls precious booty." She said without any other obvious inclinations.
"But the implications of a Trojan sound heavy. Who this Luna is trying to be is probably not what Connie think she is."
And Mr. Universe. Something about him seemed so...disturbing...his eyes flashed open wide as visions of the past began to haunt him...but not shut him down. This was the second time this happened today within such a short time frame. He just remembered something Connie told him about his Father-Creator.
"No...that was...that was Dr. DeMayo...my..."
Amethyst blinked.
"Your Daddio?" She said.
More glitches appeared in his visual receptors. More memories. Damn, he thought he had better control than this.
"Ye-yeah." Steven stammered.
"You don't think...he and Luna hid a Trojan in Pearl on purpose?"
Amethyst squinted in thought as she pouted.
"Anythings possible." She said.
Steven was sick and tired of his friends being used and manipulated. His Father-Creator surely had better intentions than that...and had all the desire in the world to walk up to him and demand answers. Standing up, Steven felt a new directive compel him to do just that.
"Woah hol' up." Amethyst, standing up next to him.
"Whacha thinkin' of doing? Cause I've seen that look too...and if you're up to no good, I want in!"
He turned to Amethyst and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"I'm going back to talk to him." He declared.
"I'm sick of this. I don't want anymore lies. I want the truth!"
Amethyst wasn't so sure.
"If this really is Dr. DeMayo and he's up to...well, a worse version of no good then I don't think it's a good idea you on your own to go up to him."
Steven furrowed his brows in confusion.
"Huh?"
Amethyst smirked as she had something devilish on her mind.
"This is probably the most wanted fugitive on the planet right now and other GIS would be gunning for the chance to capture the main suspect in the worlds most famous case. We can't do this without a game plan."
Oh...right.
"If you're his Creation, he's gonna recognise you straight away...and if I was a GIS underneath the banner with the Pink Monolith he's gonna recognise me too. So...I figure..."
They send someone else?
"You and I should form consensus. Our Synthesised Program or our 'fusion' should be able to draw out what we need from the guy."
That wasn't what Steven anticipated and certainly wasn't to blame if he blew a small circuit over it.
"Isn't that dangerous and it will most likely draw unwanted attention?" Steven said as he stood back to scratch his head.
That grin on her face never went away.
"Hey you had consensus with Connie. You have GIS Programming so therefore, we should be able to do it too. Come on, what do ya say?"
Steven looked at her hand, then looked around. Forming consensus in the general public probably wasn't a good idea...and he's seen Amethyst try it with Pearl in the past.
"I guess so." He said, his voice croaking with uncertainity.
Taking her hand, Amethyst yanked him and the pair of them ran off somewhere to form in privacy.
In the back of another alleyway away from prying eyes, no one was the wiser. It took them a moment...and a flash of light and a cloud of smoke that drew some attention but not enough for anyone to investigate, out emerged a new program.
Bulky, brown skinned with oddly enough three arms. Short and puffy black hair. Looking down on themselves they could see the black jacket with the white singlet that barely covered Amethyst's Kernel Core but covered Steven's completely with black slacks and black leather shoes.
They looked more business like than either of their components. Their Avatar held the cores of purpose that would drive them to professionalism.
"Yo..." Their first word...as they looked at a yoyo in their hand.
Amethyst had a series of toys stored within her databanks and that was the one the Fusion picked?
Looking at the Smoke that disippated, they already knew their program name.
"Smoky Quartz gonna smokescreen for yas...heh..."
Chapter 37: Smoke and Mirrors
Summary:
Undercover as the Fusion, Smoky Quartz talks to Mr. Universe to figure out what he knows.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Without much time to lose, Smoky headed back the music shop.
Once they were inside, they took a better look around. It was designed to be a dusty, dimily lit abode with hundreds of thousands of records to download. Posters of numerous bands were plastered on the walls and the records in their cases neatly placed around the boxes and tables. The aesthetic was mostly a light brown with a navy carpet. Somehow, the shaders of made it seem more dusty than it actually wise but other wise it was giving some kind of nostalgic and warm atmosphere.
Mr. Universe himself was looking at a magazine while Smoky looked around.
"Welcome!" He said.
"Anything you're lookin' for we most likely have the rights to sell them!"
Smoky could feel the mixture within themselves. Consensus for a purpose, though they felt compelled to mess around. He took notice of Amethysts Kernel Core peaking from behind their shirt.
"Oh you're a GIS? Never seen your like in these parts. Know fewer who ever interested in music."
Music. They only really knew so much, but luckily, they could fake interest. Smoky looked at several records from artists like Kerry Moonbeam and the Philsophy Majors. They didn't realise the gap of silence was growing until the last moment.
Answer him dammit.
"We Smoky Quartzes love a good rock show." They said.
"I uh...enjoy a good tune personally."
Mr. Universe seemed humbled.
"You must be a Gen II." He said in general awe.
"Gen IIs have a bit more a defined personality than Gen I GIS. So...any kind of music pick your fancy?"
Smoky wasn't sure...but...
"I...like....uh...violin?" They said with uncertanity.
Mr. Universe hummed as he moved from behind the desk and walked around his shop.
"Violin huh? Lesse..."
He wandered about and tapped on multiple holographic keyboards and digital records floated upwards from the tables.
"If you want classy, you could have some of the old fashion stuff, but Lindel Starling has amassed a huge fandom recently. They're more 20th century but they did have a hip vibe going on."
He kept talking shop, to which since Smoky had since zoned out while they went behind the desk while he was busy going through copious amounts of music and different types of musicians. Smoky did suspect Mr. Universe being Steven's Father-Creator and so wanted to pry into their internal databanks to see if anything would crop up.
Most data not included in Avatars were usually kept in vault like constructs called Safeguard. Safeguard was a collection of different applications for the end user, such as dealing with money or any kind of legality regarding their work. It had its own dumb AI that processed information daily. It was sort of more a computer, within cyberspace.
A lot of the time it required passwords and other requirements to make sure it was being protected, but Smoky had other ideas in mind. Running a subroutine from Amethyst's 'Quartz' Suite, they continued to pretend to listen to everything Mr. Universe was saying as they plonked their program behind and caught up with the man.
"Man, I run my mouth I'm sorry." He said.
Smoky shook their head.
"It's fine!" They said. As a result of their internal dilemma, the components began to discuss the situation on their private internal channels.
Now is the perfect time to ask Questions.
"I uh...was wondering. I'm not actually here to buy music. I'm actually here on an investigation."
That's the best you could come up with?
"Oh a Detective Quartz... Uh sure...what can I help you with?" Mr. Universe, surprised by the reveal.
Hey he's gonna help so go for it...stall him for time until the program pings us with its completion.
"We're uh...trying to knuckle down a criminal trying to stain the Golden Citys reputation. An infamous uh...rogue GIS! You might know them."
Mr. Universe rubbed his chin.
"I'm not aware of any kind of rogue GIS in this Grid. This is just a humble music shop and I don't sell any pirated music." He said with a strong certainity in his voice, before throwing his fist into his palm.
"I believe in supporting our musicians...our singers...and our bands."
56 percent complete.
"If you're looking for Pirates, I know there's only those shady underground clubs that have strange deals from time to time. If anything, those places are rife with shady people. Have you tried to find your rogue GIS there?"
This is getting us no where.
"You see this GIS has a tendency to....change its Avatar. Often into...human avatars." Smoky explained.
65 percent.
Mr. Universes mouth formed an O shape as he nodded. He was either feeding into their bullshit or he was deliberately playing dumb.
"I've heard of some GIS being able to do that, but not anyone I know directly of course." He said.
"You GIS are capable of so many things its hard to keep track."
Truly bullshit. If this really was Dr. DeMayo then he would have definitely known a lot of GIS personally.
72 percent.
"No one around here been acting strange as of late? Colleagues? Friends? Asking you to do things you don't expect them to?" Smoky continued.
Mr. Universe hummed.
"Well, its only me who works here." He replied.
"The only one I know who acts really odd is the receptionist at Weiss United."
That's...oddly specific.
"What does a Music Salesman have to do with the Receptionist at the most notorious of institutions?" Smoky asked; this time geninunely curious.
Mr. Universe scratched the back of his head.
"Oh she normally goes to the same Coffee Shop I do. She's very uh...she's very punctual. So one day out of concern I actually went to go visit her. She's a very talkative person normally. Cute girl. Orange dread locked hair that pops out of the top of her head with a tie that reminds me of a fountain. Lovely dark skin not to dissimilar to your own. When asked why she doesn't go to the Coffee Shop anymore, she just said she's found a different Coffee Shop closer to her work."
Oh. That's all? Thats way more boring than Smoky anticipated.
87 percent.
"That's more practical than strange dude." They said.
"Unless you're attracted to her."
Mr. Universe shook his head and waived his hands in front of him.
"What? No!" He denied.
"I mean, that's really all I can tell you. Thats the only real person who's been acting odd."
Smoky wouldn't call that odd. But Mr. Universe had obviously been simultaneously been telling the truth and had been avoiding the truth.
93 percent.
They turned around to head back towards the desk, though wary of what Mr. Universe is doing, then looked up at the Violin section at the back.
"Never mind." Smoky said with a disappointed sigh.
"But really though, I do like the Violin. I see the section added on there...got anything on this Lindel Starling?"
Mr. Universe looked to see where Smoky was looking then smiled.
"Oh yes! Hang on a sec!" He said with excitement.
Smoky took the moment without wasting any more time once the hack and download was at 100 percent, skipping back to the area to pick up the results.
Bingo.
They humoured the man for a moment before deciding to make the purchase, talking shop for a little while longer just so he wouldn't get suspicious. Though one topic did have Smoky begin to think other things.
"Man on the Moon was definitely a favourite." He said.
"Inspired by an old tale."
Man on the Moon.
Smoky's Avatar began to glitch and fizzle, but luckily. Mr. Universe didn't seem to notice. Several runtimes were failing and were having to be reset several times. Enough for them to do a self-assessment and finding out that the Steven component was not working properly. As a result, Smoky became riddled with visual bugs and audio distortion.
"Humans have always been the storytellers and the song writers. I'm sure GIS like yourselves who have a vested interest in music will be able to compose something if they tried."
Component Instability at 35 percent.
Woah dude...calm down.
I can't...
Smoky looked at their glitching hands, their VI explaining the problem in simple details. All they knew was that Steven was feeling the pinch.
"I'll con-consider it." They said, the audio stuttering getting worse.
This is bad, we need to leave.
Mr. Universe looked proud of himself, still not noticing how Smoky's Avatar was freaking out.
Alright we'll go...
"Sorry, I gotta go. Nature calls!" Smoky cried out.
Smoky only had enough time to ignore Mr. Universes calls as they sprinted out of the shop and somewhere more secure for them to unfuse in another alleyway. Both Steven and Amethyst fell out and on their butts, with the latter rubbing her head and moaning, while Steven himself, was on his knees and his eyes bouncing left and right. Amethyst snapped out of her disgruntled state as she got up and tried to figure out what was going on.
"Hey, hey...come on now!" She said, trying to reassure him.
"We're out of there...we've got what we need so we need to head back to base to have a look at what we got."
Steven's processors were being muddled by something intense. He did a self-assessment and found it was something that was attacking his Emotional Cortex. Feelings unearthed. Amethyst was able to get him to his feet, as he held his head. He knew humans would call these experiences headaches or even worse, migraines.
"I....I'll be fine...ugh..." Steven whined.
"Let's just...head back and find out what he's hiding..."
She managed to get him back to Connie's Private Grid; a functional microspace she had created for when the rest of the Ancillas were to arrive. As they didn't have enough room in Connie's Apartment for several XL CPDS, this Private Grid would have served as a base of operations. It was very similar to the Obsidian Ruins and the Beach House back in the Mega Beach City Grid in design, though really it was just a wooden hut on an island with tables, chairs and several rooms for the GIS and Steven.
Going into the Hut they entered into the lounge with a dining table to the right and a series of light brown leather couches and a wooden coffee table to the left. It was homely and safe.
Amethyst had Steven sit down on the couch, while she sat on one of the single chairs and put a square purple box on the table. Though, weirdly enough, it had the Berrybyte insignia on it.
"I lied when I told you this was from the Quartz Suite. " She said.
"Connie made it for me a while back."
Explained why it had hacking capabilities. She pressed a button on the top of it which projected a upwards and it revealed a keyboard and a screen. Amethyst began to type and skim through the data she found.
"A lot of this is just financial records, receipts and licenses. But there has to be more here than meets the eye."
Steven was glad Amethyst was keen to dig through the troves. He was just worried about everything. Meeting his Father-Creator stirred something fierce that it disrupted their Consensus and that as Steven clenched his shirt by his chest, he struggle to deal with it.
"I feel so much Amethyst." He said.
"I look at him and I-I...get weird emotions and...."
As a Gen II being designed to cater to organics better than her predecessors, Amethyst understood the human condition more than once. She was able to understand and translate their emotions far better. Prototypes were made in mind to be more receptive and to process facial expressions and body language as well as tone. GIS like Pearl and Garnet understood the basics but Amethyst was written for nuances like this. Steven's felt so many things, like his relationship with Connie was so intertwinned and complex that sometimes Amethyst would have a hard time grasping what the hell was going on with those two.
She was told by Garnet to let him figure out things on his own. Amethyst hated it...because Steven's told her about his ambitious if not nearly impossible quest to achieve a humanoid state. He is a program and a machine but something about Steven himself made Amethyst believe he could indeed achieve it.
Belief wasn't exactly a commonly written code interwoven in GIS. That was more to do with BM-AIs if anything and that's just because their codes were adapted from actual human brains. But as Smoky, Amethyst felt something huge and foreign beside her, yet it was so familiar in scope. Blending AI programming with GIS was considered impossible. Steven as an Android was the closet he could really get to his goal because, yes, there's such thing as an BM-AI adapted from human resources, but nothing exists in reverse. Amethyst had to question however...and it was a harmless question only considered a hindrance if things took a turn for the worst.
What else was out there?
"And before you ask, no, they're not the same feelings as I have for Connie." He told her.
Amethyst wasn't going to. Besides, that was a creepy comparison anyway.
"Maybe talk to Connie about it?" She suggested.
The idea of Steven being a digital copy of a dead son rubbed Amethyst the wrong way. GIS were usually written like copies but they would follow their own path of personality as the years went on. Pearl would say each GIS would have a similar drive and purpose for the betterment of the Domain at large but really, there were so many GIS out there with their own distinct personalities coming out after several years of existence.
GIS' creators were merely the voiceless Monoliths. So, really, that was the only common thread. They were forged, not born like humans. Humans that had no purpose; they were meant to find it. BM-AIs were simply the extension of their original selves given form and given time their personalities had the chance to divert of they so willed it. That was what Amethyst had found out from her numerous contacts over the years.
"Connie's relationship with her AI Mother...she still felt something towards her even though she was a copy." Steven said.
"What if...I had met my real...my donors father. It would be like...I dunno...meeting my actual father I suppose."
Seeing Connie meet the AI after Steven's insistence. Their relationship had blossomed even if the AI Priyanka knows she's not the real one and would never, truely replace the organic father. But she gave her a chance. A chance to express what she had been wanting for so long after drifting from foster home, to foster home.
"You did." Amethyst replied.
"Well, Smoky did. If any feelings you have towards him are there, then they could be the original Steven's feelings towards his father. Some kind of lingering thread or..."
Memories floated by Steven's visual receptors.
"But the way you feel snow...is it weird I find the cold synonymous with some strange feeling I can't identify?"
"Something with your donor I think?" Connie theorised.
"Talking with my Mom, she says what she feels for me is one of the strongest connections she has. I am her donors daughter. Your Donor..."
"They often called this sensation the DEJA-VU Bug (Digitised Emotional Jargon with Attachment Variable Unload)." ^1
"DEJA-VU." Steven continued.
"He is technically, my father. And the bug itself is a result of strong feelings transferred to my Emotional Cortex from my donor."
Amethyst nodded. She was also...for reasons unknown to herself, curious as to how Mr. Universe would have reacted to seeing the copy of his son standing right in front of him. Though some conversations she had with Steven previously had come to light.
"You said something about you originally being in some kind of AI Core and that he spoke to you." She said.
"And that he told you to call him his Dad."
That's true but...
"I'm not an organic but I know personally from my friend Vidalia and her kids that its actually a natural feeling."
It was?
"What I feel for my Father-Creator...its unknown but it's an actual feeling?" Steven queried.
Amethyst wasn't really sure, but Vidalia's status as a mother meant for something.
"From what I know about organic life." Amethyst said.
"Is that parents are so...I guess, by instinct, to protect their young...and that the young, look up to their creators for guidance. So what Vi tells me. Her little shits don't tell her much but eh...what do I know?"
Steven must have listened and obeyed as a general instruction. But the voice he heard was so...familiar. But that wasn't what was troubling him the most.
"You could be right." He said, delfated.
"But...why would he be working for a group looking to worship a new monolith? Did he do something to the Pink one?"
Amethyst shrugged.
"Beats me." She said.
"Or Luna has him under their throes, looking to cause trouble. Maybe they had been telling him what to do this entire time. He seems too sweet a guy to be working with the Cultists willingly."
Unless he has a really good poker face.
"As far as common knowledge goes, he's a wanted criminal known to have worked with the Pink Monolith and the idea of him stealing it has enough evidence to lock him up for life or worse. But there are good people out there who do bad things."
Steven understand that clearly enough. Amethyst continued to type through the riffraff until she found something interesting on his financial records.
"Oh what is this?"
Steven leaned forward, curious as to what Amethyst discovered.
"There's a paper trail that goes towards several sources." She revealed.
"Donations made to...Lars Pinkman. Which I'm guessing is that Moon-touched freak he was talking to. And the other is to...someone known as Mr. Fryman."
Ronaldo's father?
"That's Rons dad." Steven revealed.
"What does he have to do with this?"
Amethyst shrugged.
"Donations made to him aren't as frequent or as expensive. They're listed as Empathy Deposits. What ever the living fuck that means."
Steven had to agree.
"If either Mr. Fryman or Ronaldo knew my Father-Creator, I'm sure they would have told me that already." Steven said.
Amethyst wasn't so sure. Something like this would have been close knit with Ronaldo already and he wasn't the sort to go behind Steven's back like this. So this had to all be just on Mr. Fryman alone.
Amethyst recalled the incident with Mr. Fryman with the thugs looking to extort money for security reasons. The nature of Mega Beach City has all sorts of troublemakers and thats why Amethyst loved living in the Grid. The Golden City and the Land of Polygons had more troublemakers, except they were more prissy and high class. They shouldn't even be here. She could percieve the incident as something else, but they would have to go back to Mega Beach City to investigate. Though if she could contact Connie, she might be able to convinced to head back once Pearl was saved.
It was unlikely as Connie was the most stubborn and set in her ways. Though, Amethyst had her most valuable resources at her desposal: Her numerous contacts.
For now, until she could get herself organised, her dedication to her troubled friend was going to take priority. Without Pearl or Garnet, she had to take charge of looking after the Ancilla's most beloved ward.
"Leave it with me Steven." She said.
"You just relax. I'll catch up with you later."
Amethyst left in a rush, disappating els to do some more work, while Steven went into his room and laid on his bed, splaying his arms and legs in a star formation while he looked up at the ceiling.
The room was quaint. A simple queens sized bed with turqoise sheets and it had several potted plants around the window looking out to the sea. Not too dissimilar to his room at the Ruins and the Beach House.
His thoughts were still intertwined with that of his Father-Creator and with all the information given, it was difficult for him to discern the truths he'd been seeking for himself. Unlike Connie, his priorities weren't really around the Pink Monolith. More so, it had always been about his past and his true purpose.
The theory of him being the BM-AI of his dead son still held weight, with GIS programming thrown in for good measure and being utilised as a prototype for something big. Were the others like him if that was the case? He shuddered at the thought.
While a lot of human technology could be reverse-engineered from Alien Tech, fusing them had always caused problems. It was like Consensus was designed to be impossible between the two digital species and Steven was the first successful hybrid.
So he'd been made aware.
There was a lot of speculation even among the truth. An AI Core of his size was usually meant to designed for for complex AI design not meant for BM-AIs but nevertheless...
Though old conversations did spawn into his head again...
"It's a term used to describe the production cycle of an AI. The Golden State is normally after the alpha and beta states. It's where an AI is capable of identifying itself since its cortex has enough information to be able to form its own opinion and bias. So we ask it a series of questions...present pictures and play music. Give it some taste and personality."
He's questioned this before. And it kept coming up again ^2
"Depending on it's gender positioning, if its a female, Nora. If it's a male, Steven. Neither? We'll let it choose." ^1
AIs are formed in AI Cores. Not BM-AIs. He learned about the processes through both Pat the Broker and Doctor Maheswaran:
"However Priyanka was a well known and respected Doctor and had volunteered in case she died that her brain be used for an AI. So when the autopsy was done and the incident cleared of any of suspicion of homicide, DM Biometrics collected her brain and used it to 'birth' me." ^3
If he was a BM-AI, he wouldn't need to choose. He would have known he was a male called Steven. Though, did Steven the human ever exist at all?
How did that explain the DEJA-VU Bug however...it didn't make sense.
"They do say there's gaps in memory in those AI types. I read somewhere that the process is too traumatic so the developers try to erase memories to keep them stable."
SOAP used against him down to the very crux of his creation. Erased to the point where he would have reshape himself from the ground up. But these fragments kept coming up again and nothing earlier. But then Lapis' suggestion about his prototype status came into question.
"Someone like yourself doesn't come up every so often that has his entire motivation is to seek out who he is and what he was really made for. Most prototypes don't realise that they simply are. They are their own purpose ya know?" ^4
Then came the topic of the WallofROSE. A Caretakers App that belonged to Rose. And belonged to him...and that there was the chance he was a Caretaker too. But he didn't have the pull or inclination to protect anyone else but Connie.
"Who am I?" Steven asked himself, rubbing his face with both hands out of frustration.
A Prototype GIS/AI/BM-AI for what ever purpose was meant for him in the end. A Son. A Son of Gregory DeMayo and 'Rose'.
Was Rose an AI? A GIS? A BM-AI?
Steven could fall into that same hole again...until...
He felt a buzz, indicating that someone had message him. Sitting up, he brought a screen to look at his list of messages.
It was Connie.
"Hey Biscuit Boy."
The nickname that made him smile more these days. It was less an insult, and more used a term of endearment.
"Whats happening?"
A casual conversation was what he needed. Today had been heavy enough.
"NM." Steven messaged.
"Just a lot on my mind."
It wasn't common for Steven to...as Connie would say, vent. She had been trying her hardest to be more patient with him and to allow him to express himself without her jousting him in anger. She had her own problems but ultimately, there was an effort to be less cranky.
"Ah." She said.
"Well, we're going to the Virtua Venus Club tonight. Make sure to dress to impress. I want you to meet someone."
Another club in the Land of Polygons. Lots of black walls and lights of pink, white, yellow and blue and statues. The music thumping with its bass and the chatter and the laughter. This was obviously, like some others, more high class than Steven anticipated. Wearing his black jacket, slacks and pink shirt with leathers, Steven didn't feel like this was gonna help him unwind. There was a lot of odd mirrors on the walls as well, which had the effect of the club being much bigger than it actually was, reflecting the dancers in the dance floor.
He had booked a booth for them and wondered who Connie wanted to have him meet with. He ordered a drink from the kind waitress. Not being much of a drinker, Steven just wanted some juice. Dancing would seem fun, but todays adventures had him more exhausted than ever and to remain in near dormancy to allow him to recover. Connie would amp up his spirits.
The Waitress came back to deliver his drink in a small glass and white and red striped straw. The juice was something Connie would drink while they were double jacked. He sighed...even being in an Android wouldn't even compare to the experiences of true taste. Taking a sip of his drink, Steven looked at the dance floor. His eyes wandered aimlessly at the crowd than to look at any one specific person.
His mind told him he shouldn't be here...and that he shouldn't be enjoying himself. It was always at these clubs that they visited...except that one time Connie and him were able to just...vibe without hassle within the Domain. These days, Steven visiting clubs on his own while trouble was afoot and the people he cared about in constant danger.
Poor Pearl. Poor Garnet and by extension Ruby and Sapphire...and poor Ronaldo. Goodness knows where he was and what they were doing to him.
"You look sad." Said the Waitress; a woman with two reddish pink pigtails and a black outfit.
"You want something stronger than juice I'm sure."
Steven's capacity for caring for one, he thought was limitless. Right now, the reach only ever went so far.
"Okay...I'll uuhhh...go with what ever you recommend." He said.
The Waitress grinned.
"Sure sugar." She said.
"I'll get you the Venus Special!"
He messaged Lapis as soon as the Waitress left, but...really, the response to the constant question was always the same.
No progress. No one is budging.
Their only hope was Lars going to the Asian Sector to knock out one of the responses...and they had yet to find the so called response from this sector. There wasn't a trace or a trail or a clue of who that could have been...only that the authority was another Caretaker.
The Waitress came back with a cocktail glass, a liquid filled with a dark, pink sparkling liquid with a cute matching pink umbrella. He thanked her with a nod and took a sip with a black straw.
It was oddly sweet. Like strawberries. Nice. He had more.
Though the more he had, the world around him begun to wave and his eyelids dipped asymmetrically like he was about to fall aseep. His eyes went heavy as the focus was lost....and the colouration was beginning to bug out. His visual receptors were all over the place while his HUD was pinging him in his head about a disconnection warning.
Before his world went black.
Suddenly he went cold. Very cold. All the noise disappeared and was instead muffled and the sound of bubbles brushing past were in its place, like he was underwater.
Opening his eyes, he could see a pink and blue pair glowing right in front of him, freaking him out and suddenly was left flailing in the air against a heavy force.
"Steven?"
Opening his eyes again, he was back in the club, seeing Connie clad in her navy blue dress before him with worried expression. The noises returned in full force. If he was human, he would have gone deaf instantly, he was sure. Though this time...it was the quickest he'd lost himself and regained consciousness and the least painful. Falling asleep he knew for certain, brought on those inevitable dreams of old.
"Wake up sleepy head."
Shaking said head, Steven got out of the booth and gave her a big hug, much to the confusion but eventual elation of Berrybyte before him, warming him up insantly. He needed this. He really did.
"Oh sorry Connie I..." He stammered.
Connie rubbed his back and smiled.
"It's okay...I know you had a rough day." She said, reassuringly.
"Amethyst messaged me to keep an eye on you."
Steven wasn't even aware that those two had gotten closer as of late. Amethyst didn't normally hold long grudges unless they were warranted. While she was originally offended by Connie's unintended insult, she later admitted that she knew she shouldn't have taken it to heart. Connie apologised anyway and the topic was never brought up again.
"You have two eyes." Steven joked.
Connie huffed, but ultimately knew what Steven was like. Parting, Connie put her arm around someone else.
"Anyway, Sleeping Beauty, this is who I wanted you to meet." Connie said.
"This is Ms. Burns."
Looking her up and down, Steven noticed her features. The orange dread locked hair in a top knot, The hair, the skin. The leopard skin skin tight knee high dress with black heels.
The woman smiled. Was she the Receptionist at Weiss United Mr. Universe was talking about?
"Please call me Ash. She said.
"I'm glad to meet you Steven. Connie's told me all about you."
The trio sat down to talk some more. Introductions had him finding out much more about this woman. This was Ash Burns, who was indeed the digital receptionist. Connie knew her well and Ash had been messaging her back and forth for months. Steven kept wondering and pondering...he didn't want to deal with this right now and just...wanted to forget his stresses for the moment and to just act like a normal person. But reality was always crueler than it seemed. They talked for a moment about current matters and were about keeping each other up to speed. Steven just wanted to explain what had happened with Amethyst today, but really...Connie kept pushing Steven to talk to Ash for what ever reason and that event was never brought up.
"You can trust Ash." Connie assured him.
"She's got some massive intel to give you. Saying she wants to talk to you in private."
Steven instantly looked at Connie. She wasn't joining them?
"I'll be catching up with Amethyst soon. Don't worry, Ash is gonna take you somewhere safe and secluded and out of the prying eyes and ears of everyone."
Leaving. He hated her leaving all the time. He was about to protest, until she kissed him of the forehead that him almost freeze.
"Connie..." He muttered helplessly.
His beloved made a sweet smile and whispered something into his ear.
"I will meet you back home silly. Ash has a lot to say that I believe might be a step closer to figuring out....stuff you've been wanting to know for ages. She's known as the Glowing Worm in some circles...due to how she enlightens others to how deep her insights go." She said.
"When you're done...I'll look after you I promise."
Had Connie always been this affectionate? He knew her kindness could shine from time to time but not like this. It would be off, but...ultimately, he trusted her. If she trusted this Ash, then Steven, really, had nothing to worry about. Ash didn't appear malcious either, but the irony of the days dealings and conversations were not lost on him. It had to be a sign.
"Okay." Steven responded.
"Okay. I'm ready."
Notes:
1. Chapter 18: Temperature
2. Chapter 22: Activation
3. Chapter 13: Motherboard
4. Chapter 29: Satellite
Chapter 38: Screencap
Summary:
Steven talks with Ms. Burns and finds out more about the history of Rose Quartz.
Notes:
A fair warning, this is another chapter of infodumping and lore.
Chapter Text
Steven was surprised by the suddness of this proposition. After everything, his head was still swimming over what he'd experiencing. As an AI, he should be used to information overloads but sometimes, it felt like even with the loads given were way too much for a single AI to handle. It wasn't anyones fault; Steven was just in some kind of feed back loop he couldn't escape from. Pushing his confusion aside, he had to be grateful for the help irregardless if it helped them in the long run or not.
Ash was nice enough despite her intentions not being as clean as he would have liked. That being said, he hardly knew her so this would be a perfect opportunity to take advantage of what he could and to trust Connie's judgement with this stranger. As Connie left to do some important with Amethyst, Ash teleported them both to a Private Grid. Steven was more anxious than not, however.
Her personal data space was not too dissimilar to the design of Virtua Venus. Walls of black and numerous paintings and an overall avant garde aesthetic. Steven sat down on the couch as he looked around.
Ash had enacted her barriers to ensure no one could hear their conversation as she didn't trust anyone hearing them. Steven didn't blame her, but it didn't stop him from being outright nervous. What ever she had to say that Connie deemed important enough that it had to be worth listening to. Still a bit vacant in mind, Steven's eyes were focused on the biggest painting on the nearby way...a picture of the moon and its reflection in the water. He didn't know why he found it so captivating with its mixture of colours and the shades of magenta and navy on the starry sky background. The room itself had a sunset motif with several fake palm trees in some of the corners.
Ash came back with a tray with a black teapot and several coloured cups.
"I know this is so sudden for you..." She said, She said while making him tea in an orange cup.
"But Connie insisted...she wanted you to hear me out...thought that we could actually help each other."
Steven was always prepared to listen in the right circumstance. He nodded as she handed him the cup. Ash then made her own tea, pouring her drink into a white cup.
"I appreciate anything to assist with our investigation." He said.
And he did. Though he wasn't sure of what to expect personally...and the fact that he now found it hard to separate his feelings. Nothing was absolute. Just contorted and blurry. If it wasn't investigation the Pink Monolith, it was more to do with his checkered past. Steven tried his best to be able to put the pieces together, but the more he found out, the harder it had been to be able to even complete the puzzle with everything else being added on. The outer parts being completed, but the inner pieces wouldn't stick together properly.
"I hope you're prepared for a long tale..." Ash warned as she sat on the chair next to him.
Lucikly enough, Steven liked stories.
"Where to start...as you must know, I currently work as a Receptionist at Weiss United's Domain Division." She said.
"But my previous position was a representative and Tech Support for the Terra Company in Mega Cape City, formerly known as Cape Town, in South Africa."
He's never heard of Terra Company, but he let her continue.
"I know why you and Connie are here. You're here to look for answers. So am I."
In her room or in this part of the world in general? He was curious.
"Let's start at the beginning. Terra Company specialises in construction work. We either laid the groundwork or we worked on the hardware aspect when developing new builds. Businesses liked to hire us for large construction sites like factories, towers or offices. We had a variety of different build types for all sorts of businesses. In fact one specific company years ago hired us to work for them."
Oh?
"DM Biometrics." She revealed.
"Their orders were to migrate to Africa with the Pink Monolith. Some of us were given the extra confidential role in building the systems meant for the Pink Monolith's Storage, signing extremely detailed non-disclosure agreements."
What? So she was connected to its construction. She could have some answers after all...provided she wasn't out to test his own waning patience. While Steven loved stories, his mind had been focused on so many concerns as late. It must have been that Connie's influence was rubbing off on him in a negative way. Still, she wouldn't be telling him this without a good reason.
"You got to see the Monolith for yourself?" Steven asked.
Ash shook her head.
"Unfortunately no. But one woman did." She said.
"Rosette Flannigan; the 'boss' of our group."
Why did that sound so...
"Rosette and I...as well as several others were assigned to the demands of DM Biometrics. Americans are pushy but otherwise the staff we were working with were surprisingly friendly. Rosette in particular took a liking to the head of the Development Team."
If this was going where he thought it was...
"The two got to know each other quite well and spent many nights behind closed doors. My colleagues at Terra suspected that she was deliberately sleeping with him in order to use him to further her own ends."
Surely not?
"Not me though. I was one of her closest friends and confidantes. Their love was real." Ash continued.
This was...exactly what he thought it was. It was too obvious to see now. All the signs were laid to bare regarding his true creators. His...family. Putting the two and two together so neatly yet it was still such a mess of information to process on his own.
"So Rose was a human." Steven said. He had to know however.
"So...how did..."
Ash smiled. He was such a inquisitive being, more so than any other AI or even a GIS she'd ever met. Connie warned her about this, but Ash found this trait rather cute.
"I'll get to that." She said with a slight giggle.
"But I must comment; you seem to want to know a lot about Rosette."
Steven nodded. He barely knew anything about her. The mysterious individual with a mysterious relationship with his Father-Creator.
"I do." He replied.
"What was she like?"
Ash sipped her tea, grinning at thought of the old memories of her colleague.
"Rosette was beloved by many at Terra. She was sweet, she was kind and beautiful. She was one of the leading technicians and architects who loved to spread fantastic ideas to anyone she met. She also owned a brilliant garden on top of a Skyscraper in the City."
She sounded too good to be true.
"As for her and the man from DM Biometrics? The two met up there in secret and eventually married each other...however, after the marriage, Rosette had...changed."
One of Stevens brows raised up.
"The group of us who were originally assigned to the construction were given new tasks. Rosette claimed she had seen the Monolith and its marvel and that she...and her husband, were looking for volunteers for a new experiment. You see, as the site was being built, certain sections were able to be completed and certain tests were able to go ahead as a result. I trusted Rosette so I and a few others put our hands up. If I had known what I was getting into, I would have said no. But contracts were signed and we had our obligations."
Steven didn't like the sound of this. Surely such clauses would have upheld some idea of what was going to happen. There had to be room for choice.
"So the Monolith had been in this....place before it was stolen?" He queried.
Ash nodded. As far as the public were concerned and what Connie found out, the Monolith was no where to be seen and was anywhere but Africa. But this made sense if no one was supposed to know where it was. Information only given to a select few and not in the wrong hands.
"Indeed. But it wouldn't have begun to support the behemoth Domain like its fellow Monoliths until they made sure it was stable enough to sustain the Domain as another Public Superserver." Ash revealed.
"But other matters were still underway. DM Biometrics worked on the Monolith and we were busy working on the exteriors and interiors. Did you know Monoliths are purposefully meant to be seeded deep beneath the Earth?"
No? That was news to him.
"Each Monolith is a certain ways down for several reasons. Protection and its influence are the main contenders. It's akin to a seed and its influences grow roots. In technological terms its pulse reaches underground nodes connected to the cities and spreads across where it needs to."
Interesting.
"There's also the matter of the connected Kindergarten Machines to construct the GIS." She continued.
"We didn't know GIS were a thing. The thought of Alien written artificial intelligence was foreign to us. But there was a woman from DM Biometrics who was one of the primary developers who's job was to collect GIS Phylacteries who knew more about this technology than most. She was a close associate of the leading Developer."
Steven knew exactly who she was referring to.
"Her name was Dr. Miller." He said.
"She's...no longer with us."
Ash frowned.
"Sorry to hear...I heard she had a lot of regrets over what she was forced to do." She said.
"Which...I guess that helps us segue into the next thing...the experiment itself."
The way her tone was...Steven wasn't sure if he even wanted to hear it.
"Rosette wanted us to...contribute out thought patterns to the Monolith. Little do we know that it would cost us."
Steven gulped.
"Are you..."
Ash smiled, though it was more of one riddled to cover the pain.
"I'm not a BM-AI if that's what you thinking...but I think it helped contribute to the technology that developed the more human styled and the succession of BM-AIs. I'm more of a...BM-GIS. The official term is SC-GIS."
A...what. Steven became confused.
"We're also called the Version 1.5 of GIS models. They say what seperates us from GIS Versions 1s and 2s is that we're more a mishmash of human-GIS Technology rather than pure GIS. What ever that means."
Steven scratched his head in confusion. They were hybrids like him.
"So...you and a bunch of others...you were the true prototypes." He said.
Ash made a face of uncertainty.
"In a sense." She said.
"Rosette claimed that our brainwaves would be given to the Pink Monolith for it to learn about more about humans. I'd say it got more than it should have."
Indeed. The Pink Monolith's ambitions had something to do with humanity, more than the other three.
"The data given to the Pink Monolith would be used to create phylacteries with our personalities. Our collective group would be called, the Ancillas."
Steven's eyes widened.
"You're...an Ancilla..." He said.
It explained her eagerness to work with him. Ash nodded in acknowledgement.
"I'm not like the Ancillas you know of today." She said.
"But my directives are still for what Rose had provided for us."
He was hoping she would know where she was.
"Where is Rose?" Steven wondered.
Ash looked down in disappointment.
"We're not sure. No ones seen her in years." She said.
"But I do know...Rosette contributed herself to the experiments as the first Ancilla; becoming Rose Quartz."
So she had been a SC-GIS roaming the Domain, Steven presumed. This was still troubling, however.
"So...with Dr. DeMayo being my Father-Creator....and Rose was said to be....my Mother-Creator?"
Ash nodded. This hit Steven harder than he anticipated. It twisted his code in ways in which they had never been twisted.
"It's not surprising that she would pull the weirdest stunts. Roses ambitions with the Ancillas were...a little different to the goals than the Developers had in mind."
Enslaving humanity as opposed to improving it, as Steven discovered with the latter.
"Protecting humanity was our creed. Rose recruited many...some...felt betrayed by her trust and went rogue. Development stopped at a certain point but the few of us who stayed loyal? Hunted down these rogue GIS and eliminated them."
After what Rosette did to them...it wasn't hard to see why so many left.
"Rose...she...she told them what was going to happen?" Steven queried, not wanting to believe the horrors his...Mother-Creator was inflicting.
Ash sighed.
"Yes...and no." She replied in sadness.
"Those who signed the NDA were only told after the signing. Some felt like they couldn't back out with the threat of being arrested or worse. Rosette said DM Biometrics made that part mandatory and not her."
Why was that hard to believe?
"So...why are you here?" Steven wondered.
Ash suspected he was going to ask that.
"Another long story." She said.
"My existence at that moment was still serving as an Ancilla. If I wasn't hunting down rogue GIS, it was the countless amount of testing in the Pocket Grid owned by DM Biometrics. That was at least until the days before...the incident."
The incident?
"There was a foretold lead up. Some of us knew that Rose anticipated some problems along the line. She warned a select few that change was coming and that she made sure the last of us were aware of her plans to curtail the uncertainty of the future and sent us off elsewhere to be isolated and protected. Our phylacteries were collected and stored at remote locations and we were spread across the world. But not before Rose updated our software and provided us with secondary Avatars to use."
Secondary...Avatars?
"So this isn't your main Avatar?" Steven queried.
Ash shook her head.
"No." She replied.
"When our phylacteries emerged from the Kindergarten Machines, our RSIs and default Avatars were that of a GIS's design rather than what our donors had seen themselves as, unlike the intent with the BM-AIs. Which are scarcely changed unless altered by human users, including even down to the rawness of the aformentioned defaults."
So...was Steven a GEN 1.5 GIS then?
"Do you think I am an Ancilla?" He said.
It made more sense. Given his ability to form consensus if he was one of them.
"I'm not sure." Ash replied.
"I know this Avatar was the closest to the design of my human self...or my donor. I don't recognise your status among the volunteers or staff from the original Ancilla experiments, as there were only two control groups per admission. The Prime Group, in which myself, Rose and several others were from, and the Beta Group, to which I'd have never met the secondaries but I was told that they outsourced volunteers."
So they were back to where they started? He wasn't many of things he could possibly be....and it was getting him more anxious and aggravated.
"Though Connie did say you were effected by SOAP however, so you wouldn't even remember if you were one of us and/or you could have been part of the Beta Group. But you...you consider yourself the son of Greg and Rose. That is significant unto itself. Rose didn't play favourites with any of us."
Steven wasn't really sure where this was heading. Though her connections with Connie had Steven thinking.
"What interest do you have in Connie?" Steven queried.
People definitely had wanting more of Berrybyte these days, more than Steven felt comfortable with. He chalked it up to his now more aware nature, programming to protect Connie to the point of near obsession. If this was what the Protection Protocol or even the Caretaker role felt like, he no longer cared. Connie was too important to him at the end of the day.
"I sought Connie out, after hearing reports of her working for Weiss United as she had been pinged...or her alias, Berrybyte, by all the Major Developers as a Person of Interest. I've been working as a Digital Receptionist for a while now for a lot of our Domain based clients. I talk with a lot of humans so I'm only working the generic nine to five. But you're be surprised of how much gossip is spread around carelessly, especially when word about when one of the most well known Hackers is in the European Grid."
Everyone seemed to know Berrybyte as well these days it seemed. Her infamy well spread.
"To be frank. I could see why. She originally met me outside of her own Avatar, had me sealed and grilled for several hours when she found out I was looking for her. I assured her, I was only looking for her assistance and not out to get her. Surely enough, we became friends and I became an informant. She pays surprisingly well."
Sometimes, Connie could achieve the impossible on her own, without prying eyes. A fly on the wall out to observe and would hope not to be caught by the spiders of society out to get her.
"I thought I met her first that day she was on a Mission...turns out it was earlier than that." Steven admitted, recalling much of it in minor detail.
"I've known her since she was a child."
Ash wasn't sure what to think about that, though she had her own theories. Steven felt compelled to vent his concerns otherwise.
"Pieces are coming back to me....so...I was wondering what you currently know about what happened?"
Ash looked at the moon painting as well.
"The incident regarding the disappearance of the Pink Monolith was no doubt, linked to the problems Rose warned us about." She said.
"Reports began to spread the around Diamond Domain. Some of my fellow Ancillas and I exchanged notes and realised that Rose's actions for us were definitely warranted."
So it would appear and Steven was getting sick and tired of hearing it. Hurting Connie and hurting others in the way. It didn't seem right, no matter the circumstances that drove her to act this way.
"So she planned all this out..." He whined.
"She planned for me to lose my memory and for the other Ancillas too....just to protect me and Connie? I know what you're going to say." He called out.
Ash sighed.
"And you're here...you're here for Mr. Universe as well...you found out the truth."
He was beginning to sound like Connie now. Ash simply wanted to convey her message.
"Yes I am." She said.
"I've been tracking him across the Golden City and the Land of Polygons for years. All that's turned up is that he's got his own disguise. I've been meaning to talk to him, hoping to root out the truth. But your presence here...it changes things."
As it always does.
"Like what?" He wondered.
Ash sipped her drink.
"First, a little reminder about the method in which SC-GIS are created." She said.
"The process that the Monolith took in regards to absorbing our consciousness was called the Screencap; the precursor the more common Brain Mapping procedure you see today. It was... a pulse that collected any consciousness within a certain radius. My donor gave herself this way but I was...obviously, not the first to be Screencapped. I think...but from what I remember, was my...or my donors head being covered with a protective helmet. She couldn't see, but it was designed to be a filter, to erase any noise that might damage the transfer. It needed a smooth transition from the brain to the Monolith."
He's...never heard of that before.
"I'm wondering however...if you're but a Screencapped GIS. I need proof...so I must see your Default Avatar."
Come again?
"If you're uncomfortable here, let me show you mine..."
Standing up and standing afar, Ash went into a t-post and closed her eyes. Her normal human Avatar faded away and revealed an unusual sight. Her body was skinny and covered light blue, translucent membrane on her orange form, covered in pulsing glowing lines. Her dreads ended up resembling small tentacles. Her dress turned into a orange crop top and skirt. Her fringe covered her eyes and most notably, Her Kernel Core was toward her groin. Steven blinked as he was about to sip his tea, his eyes wide as he almost dropped his cup. This wasn't a common activity shared by digital entities in general. Connie compared it to getting naked without actually being naked like a human, but the shame and embarrassment were the same.
"My Kernel Core is that of an Orange Spodumene." She revealed.
"A lot of the Ancilla Phylacteries were created at random, but I was told that by Dr. Miller herself after a brief examination of my software."
She definitely was a GIS. No doubt. Steven placed his cup and saucer on the table as he walked around, stood there and made the same pose, closing his eyes as he shed his skin. He demonstrated his entire pink glowing form with the geometric lines and his Kernel Core on display. Ash bent over to take a closer look at it.
"Hm...strange." She said.
"You don't seem to have a template of any kind of GIS I know. You look exactly like your general Avatar." She said.
"Unless your creators did indeed alter your Default to the root source. Interesting."
Steven rubbed his arm, uncomfortable.
"Is...is that a bad thing?" He asked with a stutter.
Ash shrugged.
"No. I don't think so." She replied.
"I'm wondering...Connie said something about you living in an AI Core and her knowing you personally but was unable to remember much either. The memories slowly fading back after SOAP was used. I wonder..."
And that weird vision from before. There had been a lot strange happenings of that lately. Ash raised her hand to her mouth as she looked at the floor in deep thought. Steven was more than happy to explain what ever he could in the hopes of it making some kind of sense.
"I went through Alpha and Beta Phases then went into the Golden State." Steven explained.
"I could only talk to Connie and my Father-Creator through text."
Ash rubbed her chin.
"Those steps are part of the regular AI production." She said.
"GIS or even BM-AI don't have those kinds of steps. From what I learned from Dr. Miller, GIS Production utilises a message sent by the Monolith alerting the Developers of an incoming and fully functional program. Either formed through Monolith Consensus or its on an individual level. Once the message as been sent, the Kindergarten Machines begin to activate the appropriate procedures."
He keeps hearing about them, those Kindergarten Machines...
"What are they like?" Steven wondered.
Ash looked at a random painting a honey comb on another wall.
"Alien Tech thats constructed alongside the Monolith." She answered.
"They're massive walls with hundreds of holes with wires connected to the Monolith. Developers also extract a particular liquid that oozes from the Monoliths on a frequent basis. The Developers often have to have shipments of this liquid transported to each major location, known as Deep Thrones in Developer terms, as each Monolith's Extract holds different properties. So each station is equipped with enough extracts for each GIS Phylactery created."
That just made Steven even more confused.
"How do they know what GIS needs what?" Steven queried.
Ash pursed her lips.
"Dr. Miller said that the programs that the Monoliths create send cryptic messages that are translated and give instructions on what to use and how much. Once known, the mixture is then placed into one of the Kindergarten holes and left to incubate."
What about the Ancillas?
"Were you all made like that too?" Steven wanted to know.
Ash chuckled.
"Yes." She replied.
"Once the consciousness has been absorbed, the process begins. The extracts are procured through the Monoliths communication and voila. Here we are."
It was fascinating that he was able to learn stuff like this. Even the Crystal Ancillas weren't aware of their own creation, though were they like them?
"What about Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl?" Steven wondered.
"Are they..."
Ash shook her head.
"No they're original GIS except of course for the Gen II Amethyst." She said.
"I remember the one who collected their Phylacteries from different parts...who was it...I know Rose trusted them...it was...a Bismuth GIS I think?"
Bismuth.
There was a spark that charged him upon hearing her name.
"I know Bismuth!" Steven announced.
Ash was surprised.
"You do?" She asked.
"How or...where is she?"
Looking back now, Bismuth was supposed to still be back at the Warehouse....oh...oh no. Steven begun to freak out as he sat back down and had his hands behind his head. Thinking about those who cared about...all of them, making the sacrifice just for him and he'd forgotten about the poor Codesmith.
"Oh...oh no...Bismuth..."
Ash frowned as she put her cup down and went to go sit next to him, not wanting him to fry his circuits.
"It's okay Steven." She said, putting her arm around him.
"Look, I know Bismuth was originally a Gen 1.5 and that her donors name was Uzo. She was also a fellow colleague from the Prime Group who took orders from Rose. Does she still have the Android?"
Steven nodded. It nice to hear someone who knew her and still cared about her.
"Yeah, but she's kind of broken." He said sadly.
"We attempted to reactivate her, but she goes crazy every time we wake her up."
That caused great concern to Ash. Steven wasn't sure what happened to her...hopefully still located safely at the Warehouse. They couldn't really take her for obvious reasons.
"A small percentile of Gen 1.5s never emerged 100 percent the same as their donors." She said.
"Some personalities were horrifically warped through the Screencap. Bismuth wasn't affected by it though...did you check her phylactery?"
Ronaldo did.
"Yeah." Steven said.
"The Phylactery was completely fine."
Ash did find that particularly odd. Steven believed what ever happened fried her circuits somehow.
"Do you think the incident Rose was worried about caused it?"
Along with her raging quotes of condemning both Greg and Rose, it was telling that obviously something must have happened.
"Possibly." Ash answered.
"I was already elsewhere when the incident occurred. Bismuth had planted us to different locales...and I wouldn't mind trying to figure out whats wrong with her if ever the opportunity comes along. Glitching GIS are a major cause for worry in the Developing World...especially if there's nothing wrong with the Phylactery."
Maybe she was warped by the Screencap...and it could have taken years for the effects to take place. Possibly. They couldn't deal with guesswork...and Steven wanted to knuckle down on the supposed incident.
"What did Rose warn you about though?" Steven queried, wanting Ash to get to the damn point.
Ash looked to the side.
"Rose expected in house betrayals." She said.
"Rogue Gen 1.5s that wanted revenge for what she made them do. To lose their humanity and to be forever lost somewhere within the Domain, not quite fitting in with everyone else. She had to be prepared."
That's plausible. Not to mention the ones negatively affected as she said could have also have rebelled against them for that reason alone.
"But my investigation hasn't given me any clear insight as to who or whom was doing the deliberate sabotage. The Incident itself is very mysterious and vague to everyone who even has the clearance to legally know about it."
Steven knew all that too well. Though, he could think of something that could help her case. Another mystery yet to be solved.
"Have you heard of Luna?" Steven put forth.
Ash scratched her head.
"Luna? No....no I haven't. What is it?" She asked.
She didn't know?
"Though now that I remember, Connie mentioned them. Some kind of entity that formed from some kind of weird program glitch?"
Steven nodded.
"An Anomaly that apparently represents some kind of Protection Program." He told her.
Ash pondered further.
"A protection program that hijacks another. That doesn't sound right." She said.
"AI's are generally vunerable more than GIS because a lot of them don't have a root source such a Phylactery that offers valuable protections. Like a Quartz Gem would be logically flagged as such but that's just a common example."
Steven was glad that his own doubts weren't unfounded.
"Anything that hijacks someones Avatar must have deeprooted connections and have permissions to do so. If I find anything more about this Luna, I will forward anything onto to Connie. Right now, there's a specific reason why I need your help."
Yes, there was a lot to take in from what Ash had told them. Rose was once a human and there are GIS with human personalities imprinted onto their phylacteries and Bismuth was one of them too.
From what he had to run through to make the final guess to eventual existence. First he was an AI...then a BM-AI and then a AI with GIS programming. This was so far the most likely of scenarios. Steven held hope he was a SC-GIS but evidence was still held against the contrary.
The two put back on their main Avatars as Ash maunervered around to the golden Honeycomb statue on the table nearby
"I've worked for Weiss United for many years." She said.
"See many enter the Network...and I notice a thing or two that seems out of place. And one of those things? An Albite."
That being?
"Albite are a scarcely seen GIS, even in the Land of Polygons." She revealed.
"They're more artists and critics that often help with the design of certain programs. And I do know that one was a SC-GIS but she was part of the Beta Group so...she wouldn't have recognised me."
Steven wanted her to get to the point.
"Her original name from what the old records tell me were Amanda Wilson. Connie did some digging and revealed that she's the Caretaker for the White Monolith; but unfortunately, the room she stays within the Weiss United's Pocket Grid is locked. But with your help and Connie's, you might be able to free the Pearl GIS stuck in limbo."
Steven's ran this over in his head. So this was going to help them...he sincerely hoped that Lars guy was going to be dealing with the similar issue in the Asian Sector like Mr. Universe ordered him to.
"So...why did you tell me all that other stuff then?" He wondered.
Ash smiled.
"Connie believed you would appreciate the insight from a source such as myself. What I stand to gain in all of this is that someone out there is figuring this all out. The hows and whys...what happened with Rosette? What caused her to be so determined and inspired to sacrifice humans for an unknown end goal. I think the answers will come...and from what I have obtained from you and Connie, I suspect the pair of you are on the right track."
Did she know about the Monoliths plans from Connie then?
"Did Connie explain what the Monoliths wanted to do?" He queried.
Ash nodded.
"Indeed. It's quite troubling. The enslavement of humanity on a massive scale. I wonder if the Screencaps were intended to take human minds and use them for their alien logic purposes. But if that was the case, why were there only two testing groups? Why weren't there more of these SC-GIS if the Monoliths idea of reproduction was simply Screencapping en masse?"
She had a fair point. Steven assumed that if they wanted to, they could have.
"Perhaps that the Monolith was stolen around that point. And they couldn't." He said.
Ash hummed.
"That's true." She said.
"I can't account for time frames. I lost track ages ago. But connecting the dots to such events...the loss of the Monolith hindered progress..and yet..."
More guesswork.
"Rose is nowhere to be seen either. So she's either taken another Avatar and has never surfaced as herself and continues to cause trouble for her own opened ended and ambigious ambitions. That's my theory anyway."
Going from what SC-GIS were capable of, that could be the most reasonable explanation anyone had ever given him. GIS were out there, formerly human. Some, out of for revenge at Rose for their apparent plight, others...still felt like they were loyal to her and her mysterious cause.
"Did Greg and Rose have any...children?" Steven asked.
Ash shook her head.
"They were married but Rose never mentioned wanting kids." She said.
"She was interested in creating legacies and that the Monoliths could be used to preserve human history so it wouldn't be forgotten."
And that history was the collective sum of humanities memories.
"Irony, it seems...wouldn't be without its sense of humor."
Steven might have been annoyed, but...in the end, it was a valuable intake of history regarding DM Biometrics and its various experiments. Greg must have wanted children and Rose was all about progress. The two must have come to a compromise. Or she had been manipulating him. Connie always been the cynical one, making the probability of anything and everything and everyone out for themselves. Fame, money, glory. Steven was the optimist. He saw the good in people and so what came to mind was the crux of his creators creating him for the purpose of having a child of two worlds. One side for humanity and the other to connect with GIS kind.
He thought that, by being a SC-GIS, it would have been logical for him for the most thought of theory for him to be replication of a Dead Son.
He craved the human experience so much that he had his own damn Android. Steven believed he should have been grateful, but he would always want more.
"But I've kept you here for too long Steven. Talk with Connie. Hopefully she'll be able to have a plan in mind to infilitrate Weiss Uniteds most sacred parts. I would just urge caution."
Steven nodded.
"Thank you Ash. I...uh...it's good to know..and I'm like...thankful someone knows something. I've been at this for years and not much to show for it but speculation and rumor."
Ash bowed her head.
"Of course Steven. You're welcome to talk to me at any time."
He walked around the Domain for a while with his hands in his pockets and head slumped. There were still questions that needed to be answered.
Right now, he was more than exhausted. How an AI could be this tired was nearly impossible. He's mentally drained. Anything he could do now to was to allow his mind drift. Though mind drifting was a dangerous state for AIs. Their thoughts mixed up in their desires and their code and directive had the potential to be accidentally rewritten and changed. Though they weren't, thankfully, that common and it was just something a lot of organics feared. They just watched too many movies to make that kind of conclusion however.
The Domain's projection of the moon looked brighter than ever and was the only beacon that could guide Steven right now and he wanted to be the Man on the Moon like in the stories. Isolated, protected and with Connie and the Ancillas for company. Growing strawberries to share with the Moon Cats.
He called himself an optimist, but hope wasn't a common trait found in AIs. GIS maybe.
So far, Steven being a SC-GIS was the most logical explanation he had found so far. But then he realised; he had to have had a GIS Phylactery just like the Ancillas. If so, where was it?
He decided to go back to the Connie's Private Grid to relax...and forever wonder...
Chapter 39: Obelisk
Summary:
Steven and Connie hunt down the Albite.
Chapter Text
Returning back to Connie's Apartment, Steven had a desire to lay about with some aimless chill time. Learning about his mothers past drew out a lot of his mental energy; cited as common place among human-born intelligences. But his focus was on her motives and everything Ash explained was very telling of her ambigiuity. There was so much he had learned yet there was always more he could discover, drawing on even more questions. But this concept remained at the forefront; The very idea humans being turned into a SC-GIS shouldn't have surprised him about it but he was. It was a process he didn't or even any of the other Ancillas knew about. Obviously not their fault due to SOAP but this had been the most he'd been able to find in years and stewing about it on his own wasn't good unless Connie was about to stir the pot with him.
He had left his android and sat on the CPD beside her while she was working on something on her WorkStation. She had processed the information Steven and Amethyst found from Greg and was busy trying to compile a better picture with what had been gained.
She worked too hard too. The Berrybyte who would only gain answers and nothing else to the faults of everything else. The fame and glory of the hunt. Steven was still on the fence about not her capabilities but her own will power and the question he had for her was at the front of his mind:
Was it still in her to do this?
Hsis worries were about Connie's involvement in the grand scheme of things. The Developers wanted their hands on her. They her to seek the answers so they themselves could reep the rewards. To Steven it had no longer just had been finding out the truth about himself and his purpose. It was a world wide investigation bigger than anyone else would foreseen.
His concerns about Bismuth about the other GIS and about Ronaldo. They were almost too much to bare and process on his own. Connie had a habit of diving deep into her work to escape the harsh realities of her own life. And the memories of her almost dying time and time again reminded him of the harsh realities of human mortality.
"How did things go with Ash?" Connie asked.
More than he ever realised he would discover.
"Yeah a lot of that stuff was pretty heavy." Steven replied.
"Did you believe her?"
Connie nodded.
"She had no reason to explain it all...and with the amount of detail she shared, I was thinking on one end, she could be working for the enemy, but that was too much effort put into something I could have believed to be pure fabrication." She said.
Steven rubbed his arm, still anxious. So the next question was something Connie anticipated he would inevitably ask.
"Do...do you think I am a.."
"A SC-GIS?" She answered for him.
Steven pursed his lips. Connie just sighed. Steven desire for his own truths would be secondary to their goal, but she couldn't ignore him. Not after everything she's come to find out; the hidden truths of her own past, intertwined with his. If Connie was to find certain fate, Steven would not be lingering too far behind. And Connie hated the concept behind fate being this, pre-written prophecies that lean on the side of magic and not full blown science. Connie would accept alien science but anything else was rubbish. It would be more on the humanoid philosophies and attempting to think outside the box. The one thing that humans could achieve that machines logically couldn't. AIs had their facts and premises and held belief like it was like the third law.
"When you said you weren't just a machine, I was thinking you were just being egotistical. But I think...the more I thought about that sentence, I eventually came to a realisation."
Oh?
"You are who you say you are." She said.
"I mean, I don't just think of the implications about what you label yourself as. Perhaps, the label to describe who Steven is really. A Machine, perhaps. On a technical scale, that just means how you were created and why. Your form and function. Your strengths and limitations."
Steven scratched his head.
"I don't follow." He said.
Connie leaned back in her chair and lightly swiveled it from left to right while staring at her screens.
"I am a human. I was formed because my mother and father wanted a child to love. A child is meant to make their own meaning in the world eventually. Some humans think they can control their offspring but that's a load of hogwash."
Where was this coming from?
"I've been messaging my mom back and forth about all of this and you know, this kind of make sense." She said.
"People seek to use you for something, sure. You think you're designed to be a Caretaker..."
He'd almost forgotten about that fact.
"Or what ever else you were designed to be."
Out of love like his Father-Creator said he was perhaps. Though, he had some reasons to lie or...withold the truth.
"You know better that it's not that simple... Connie." Steven told her.
"My Father-Creator would not have made me in that AI Core without a good reason."
Connie hummed as she contemplated his words. He could still be literal but he did make a good point. And it was interesting to see he was stearing away with something so idealistic and replacing the module with something more realistic in mind. The more he found out, the more dedicated he came to figuring out what lied behind the words left behind. Reading between the lines was usually a concept so...human that even humans still had trouble with to this day. For Steven beginning to do just that, was astounding. It was pushing him towards the human state he had been desiring for a while...and for him to demonstrate that kind of capability and drive towards the truth also had Connie wondering how much the truth would change him personally, as she knew him to be a ticking time bomb powered by his emotions. She had to tread lightly and with utter caution...because she was getting fearful of losing him entirely.
"Hmm...true." She admitted while she rubbed her chin.
"They did seem to make a fuss about it. So I'm thinkin' the whole thing was that Gregory DeMayo and Rosette Flannigan did have a child that must have been on the cusp of death and copied his brainwaves onto a GIS Phylactery to preserve him."
That's also possible. Theories a-plenty but nothing conclusive.
"Experimentation is a weird thing." Connie continued.
"But we won't figure things out until we talk to that Albite."
Steven wasn't so sure, but Connie was determined to see this through.
She made the plans to visit her work like any other day...this time, Steven would be double jacked with her the whole time. The longer periods of her Domain Ports tolerance of Steven's prescence was so much higher after Luna upgraded her Soulware so it was more for him to last several hours; going up from the last set of testing it was around 12 hours; leagues over the hour they started off with the year before.
Though he did like her outfit. The black jacket over a tight white singlet, white pencil skirt with a black belt, with grey stockings and black high heels. Her hair was tied into a bun. A picture of professionalism from Connie that Steven could scarcely recognise from the hobo-esque outfits she wore at home.
Weiss United, for the lack of a better word, was tall. Extremely tall; like it was the tallest building in the Golden City.
People walking back and forth like clockworks. The men, women and else that were acting more machine than machines. Their straight faces. Their continued rapid typing at their symmetrically aligned gridded desks and cubicles, each white and recangular with two projected hologram monitors . Connie sat behind her own...her role entailing debugging codes. A thankless task like cleaners dealing with messy bathrooms but someones gotta do it.
Connie didn't tell Steven her plan but he trusted her regardless with any kind of detail that could be posed. Her schedule was pretty bland for the most part. She started at 9 with a break at 10:30, lunch at 1 pm and her second break at 3:30 PM.
Steven was quietly sitting there, too afraid to say a word as Connie just...actually worked. Her eyes kept looking at different things. Watching coworkers walk past with paperwork and others coming to her to sign paperwork. It was monotonous and had him wonder if an AI was better suited to this job than a human.
"Hey Connie." He asked.
"Why do they need humans to debug?"
Connie smirked.
"AIs report the bugs." She said.
"AIs and GIS. Their role is to forward the details to us so humans can make sure things are running smoothly. They give us the problem and we're meant to see what part of that code alignment is causing the issue so we can correct it with patches."
Ah.
"They don't know of every little thing that will break the system; that's something only the human mind can figure out on the surface and not every issue has the same solution."
While it would seem boring, Connie had fixed quite a few errors. This must have happened constantly.
"AIs in the system have issues too." She said.
"The hidden ones that keep everything smooth. Let's say they can hold the line and their prescence deters anyone not authorised or skilled enough from going any closer to the problem."
Steven felt Connie's warmth of happiness from explaining that. It was almost as if she was enjoying this line of work.
"But they do have their bugs. GIS too. They have their own patches as well...though it's like, you need a different type of fabric to cover the hole of these types of pants or it's not gonna work."
Weird analogy but he understood.
"So...what's the plan?" He finally dared to ask.
Connie grinned.
"I have an hour for lunch." She revealed.
"Plenty of time to...find something to eat."
She never said anything until 1 PM. Getting out of her chair, Connie stretched and took her white shoulder strapped laptop bag. No one was the wiser as she wandered about with no one the wiser. She was able to slip into crowds quite easily and quick enough to have Steven lose track of where they really were. Suddenly it went quiet as she dipped into a random dark hallway with an elevator.
"These are usually for the cleaners." She revealed.
"But I've got a pass that allows me to use these to go to any floor I want. You'd be surprised where Cleaners get access more than any other programming employee."
She took the pass out of her pocket and scanned the panel on the left hand side. The elevator pinged and the doors opened, with Connie grinning as she hopped inside.
As the doors closed, she clicked the level 118 button, as they were on the 7th floor. Where ever they were going, Steven was a bit anxious; fearful for Connie getting caught. Though Connie's heart was pumping and he could have sworn she felt the same, but there was a slight difference.
Connie was excited. Exuberant. Like a beast on the hunt for their prey. The anticipation and the thrill of navigating into spaces where she wasn't allowed to was what she thrived on...reminded her of one of the reasons why she did any of her questionable work.
Once they were on the 118th floor, they were met with a white hallway with black marble flooring. The odd picture frame passed them by on the occasion with the artwork quite odd pattern here and there. There were a few people walking about which had Steven worried but Connie had this stride that radiated her cocksure confidence, like she was supposed to be there.
"The moment you show confusion and try to look around, people will think you're lost and you're not supposed to be here." Connie whispered.
"But luckily enough, I know exactly where I am going."
There were a lot of doors with no labels but strange symbols and shapes on each one. Connie stopped in front of the one with triangle with a tilted white square. There was an access tag on the left of the door, but Connie couldn't get in yet.
"It took me ages to figure out how these doors work." She told Steven.
"This floor is dedicated to the more important GIS. This is the room Albite resides in. Each door can only be accessed in a particular way, however, I have found the perfect bypass."
Connie took out a rubicks cube out of her bag and placed it near the access tag. She only spun the middle section horizontally four times and vertically four times. The red light when to green as Connie heard the click of the lock open. How Berrybyte found that out? Steven wasn't sure he wanted to know.
She opened the door and went inside, then slowly closed it. Turning around, the room was extremely dark, save for when Connie turned on the lights. Steven was surprised by all the strange apparatus spread across the room. Squarish and triangular patterns of black grey and white were everywhere that it just oozed its own exotic nature.
In the middle was a strange obelisk...with a pyramind like spike on top of it that had an image of what he could make out to be a face...and on the Obelisks section on the front appeared to be...some kind of Gem?
"That's what we're after." Connie uttered.
The obelisk was connected to dozens if not hundreds of wires. This place creeped Steven out like it was from one of the Abstract Art Galleries Connie took him to once.
"That Phylactery contains Albite. This section here is dedicated to the Pocket Grid in which she resides in."
Connie moved towards the base of the Obelisk and pulled out her laptop and several wires. She sat down and started connecting everything into several ports on the left hand side of the obelisk. Connie eventually loaded everything up from the laptop first, before inserting a red cable into her Domain Port.
Closing her eyes, both Connie and Steven were absorbed into the Domain as thus.
Once they were loaded in, they were stuck in Connie's Safe Space where she had changed her Avatar in that of a sleek infiltrator. A tight black bodysuit that covered everything up to the neck and the blue lines strewn from shoulder to toes in a symmetrical pattern. The Eye Jewels were loaded in; from naval blue, to a lighter blue to a cyan and her hair was projected outwards as a curly ponytail.
Steven stood right beside her in a similar outfit; replacing blues with his pinks. She was busy preparing her tricks of the trade; her signature sword, her pistols. All Steven had was his shield.
The Ancillas protected him a lot back in the day and the only really fighting Steven ever did entailed defensive and evasive manoeuvres. He could punch and kick and obviously he was capable of a level of hacking but not to Connie's expertise. She was busy checking not just her pistol, but an assault rifle and even a shotgun...and a rocket launcher.
"There's a lot of danger by going into these Pocket Grids; as experience has told you." She said.
Oh yeah. The same one with Jasper. He almost forgot.
"I've never talked or even dealt with this Albite before. Ash tells me that some SC-GIS forget their real names and just go by their GIS functionality. But using her real name should give us some leverage. Emphasis on some."
It would be rudimentary if Connie didn't find some way to manipulate those who she require their 'cooperation' so it remained to be seen of what this Albite was really capable of. So Connie had no choice but to prepare for the worst.
She stood up and quickly tucked her programs away, before loading them both into the Albite's Pocket Grid.
They fell into the space naturally....and were met with an usual sight. It's as if, they both landed into the interior of some ancient ruins. Looking upwards, were patterns of artwork. Shades of black, grey, brown and biege and an overally dusty expression. The floor itself had triangle shaped tiles and the walls were decorated in primitive torches. The Albite must have preferred this aesthetic. Though Ash did mention they were artistic in nature. This just looked more creepy than anything. And Albite must have had an obsession with triangles and pyramids in general.
Connie projected something from her palm crystal and scanned the area. She held no ounce of fear within her being and was determined to see this through.
"This code is stupid." She said.
"They're like...just...I don't how to describe it."
Steven wasn't sure he wanted her to.
"The underlying code between the nodes is different from one section to the next. And I don't mean because of the artwork. I mean, it's like, garbage. Noise. Like it wasn't meant to mean anything at all....and it doesn't do anything. It's sort of like, hey contain these strings in here for no reason and don't execute. They're useless....they're more like encryption with a few dozen encryption languages slapped together."
But they had their use, surely.
"I suppose they're not meant to be cracked." Steven assumed.
Connie squinted.
"Well, the garbage is there for that reason." She said.
"But it's so strange."
Steven didn't like the quietness of the ruins either. There was a general underlying hum that haunted it throughout. He wasn't sure whether or not that was even being emulated on purpose. Looking around, he realised the room was sort of circular and there were a lot of doors instead of walls.
"This Albite; they must know we're here." Steven warned.
Connie sighed.
"Obviously." She said.
"They take their work very seriously. But I think, it's a bunch of meaningless bullshit....just give me a sec..."
She closed her fist and her eyes, then reopened all as a blue line was traced from herself to one of the nearby doors. She headed towards it and the doors naturally slid open for her. Several arrows were flung; which had Steven whipping out his pentagonal shield to defend them both out of pure instinct. He unsummoned it shortly after as Connie dived forward with her pistol, shooting down the mysterious guards with their bows and arrows.
"Ahhh shit-pixels..."
They were described as Shades; semblences of their former selves. Connie's bullets disentagrated each one, her eyes honed in on their weakpoints as her HUD provided what info she needed to strike each one down. Each shade had a different weak point, oddly enough.
This was another giant room with another door on the other side so the pair made the difficulty journey through the use of shields, bullets and pure agility to fight against these 70 percent opacity shadows. What they stood for or what they meant...Connie didn't even want to think where they came from.
With movements rigid yet flowing, Connie went to all around like a complex dance routine. Steven would summon a shield for her to jump onto to, so he could lift her and help her jump so she could hit her targets from above. The situation was tensed but controlled by careful but quick analysis. With the awareness of the amount of enemies in the room and the techniques required. Connie's done parkour plenty of times and doing it in simulated was super easy. Steven wasn't even aware of how flexible she was in this type of enviroment with full blown combat. She was more of the one who preferred to end the conflicts before they even started. In this case, they gave her no choice...and Connie was still prepared.
More Shades came about....some were bigger and so she did bring out the big guns...and the Rocket Launcher. She was having more fun in the amount of explosions she was creating. Who didn't like explosions? Connie just laughed as they blew up all around her...and her cackling did cause Steven to worry just a bit.
Meanwhile, she had a VI trace any known patterns in the room. Eventually, the results came back with a hit. She hid behind one of Steven's shields while she worked on something in the background; their shut down codes. Even with the scarce amount of time, she was able to hack through the alert codes and shut down them with ease, returning everything back to a neutral state.
Connie sighed with relief, standing up as Steven kept his shields up, making sure no one was playing with anything funny.
"This is so much harder to pull off in real life." Connie complained.
"One day, solid triggers will be pulled and there will be no hack that would save me."
Steven turned around as he looked at her strangely. She was more casual about it than Steven felt comfortable with. He watched on as she continued to type something projected from her palm crystal.
"You planning somethin' like that?" He asked.
He knows she has a gun.
"I mean, yeah the Empire raided my apartment and I was too slow in preventing myself from being shot. The Empire were just small fry. Mega Corp like Weiss and the rest who control most of the world will employee heavier guns to both protect their own assets and eliminate shysters like me."
But...they wanted Connie to help them...didn't they?
"But I knew that going into this." Connie continued.
"I'm not foolish enough to think that one day this will come to a grinding halt. And when that day comes, I need you to remember one thing."
Steven blinked.
"What's that?"
Ones she finished typing, the tiles on the floor began to light up one by one.
"Have back up plans for your back up plans." She said.
"Also watch your step."
Looking down, Steven didn't realise that the tile beneath him disappeared. He began to panic as both he and Connie fell downwards in the abyss. Connie was more of a less calm, folding her arms across her chest while Steven was flipping around in circles and freaking out...until Connie perfected a three point landing and Steven fell face first into a new surface.
He stood up as she dusted her hands looked around. An eery enviroment of grey with their ground being an upside floating pyramid, among a series of others flying around this room in strange patterns. Connie simply manipulated their platform through hackings and commanded their platform with ease.
Steven did not like being here...holding himself and rubbing his arms like he was cold. The walls had numerous patterns of an unknown sort...demonstrating crowds and figures in strange murals that only the most dedicated could decypher. Torches lit up as Connie moved them across. The walls themselves were of a carved limestone with black paint in the design of the pictures and artwork like they were drawn by cavemen. None of them in particular stood out, though one mural caught Steven's eye.
"Connie wait." He said.
Connie rolled her eyes and relented.
"What is it?" She asked.
He squinted at one particular mural. Four Diamond out lines next to each in a vertical line and were the only ones coloured from the bottom to the top, White, Yellow, Blue and Pink respectively. Above them were four lines aiming towards a smaller Diamond in the middle that had a human like head, legs and feet and had no real color...then above that was what appeared to crowds of people. Connie stood next to him and had a good look at it too.
"They must be the Diamond Monoliths." He said.
"I'm not sure of the thing they're pointing towards though. Like, it's a Fifth Diamond or something?"
A Fifth Diamond?
"A Fifth Monolith." Connie muttered. If Steven found it odd, then Connie made a quick scan; streams of blue lines that projected from her palm crystal that were strewn across the limestone as she copied the imagery into her files. It had to be worth looking into. There was something about the image that was so unsettling.
"Come on...Albite is waiting."
The panel itself was drawn to the central chambers of the Pocket Grid. A standalone platform of spiralling others that went around it. In the middle floated an unusual figure. The aura was strange and an odd chime echoed every so often. Albite herself grinned as she could see Connie and Steven approach her.
"Berrybyte welcome!" She said, having anticipated the Hackers eventually arrival. Her voice held the wisdom of a much older woman. Not elderly, but getting there.
"And your friend...you must be the Unknown Program I've heard so much about."
Albite sat there in her black suit and her white hair that looked like a closed rose, with its petal like design reaching upwards. Her head was detached from her body, as well as her arms from the shoulders onwards. Her Kernel Core situated in her chest arms risen and fingers pinched like she was meditating.
"My fellow Caretaker in America told me about you."
She knew Jasper...
"But Berrybyte yes, Lady Volley anticipated you would try and pull a stunt like this."
If she did, she wouldn't have let Connie become an employee.
"President Dot gave me sponsorship. What did Lady Volley think was going to happen?" Connie argued.
"That I was going to give in and get my memory restored? Surely she can't be that stupid."
Connie was under the impression that everyone else but her was stupid. Albite just grinned.
"I think she appreciates the support you've been providing to the Domain in general." She said.
"And we can deal with the Pearls restoration far easier than anything a normal human can provide."
Steven and Connie exchanged glances.
"You were human once Albite....or should I say, Amanda Wilson." She said.
"I've checked your background. Beta Group SC-GIS. Absorbed into the Pink Monolith and given form and responsibility as a Caretaker."
Albite gave a distasteful expression. She did not like that name it seemed.
"A name I haven't heard in years." She said.
"That experiment killed a lot of good people."
So they had been told.
"But I'm making the best of a bad situation. Lady Volley realised my value and took me in. Gave me form and purpose."
Connie was sure Lady Volley realised the value of a lot of GIS. Or anything linked to the Pink Monolith would prove to be more than its worth in weight in gold.
"But enough about me. I know exactly what you're after."
Good, then Connie didn't have to linger as long as she thought she would.
"Pearl-Class GIS in particular were part of White's niche of specific programs designed to cater for a wide variety of users."
And according to that one Lapis, Pearls didn't belong to anyone Monolith either, only their functionaly and design drawn from the White one.
"As for the hold up, she's been identified as Caretaker Rose Quartzes personal Pearl. Hence my request has equal value to any other Caretakers."
Where in the world did they get that information from? They had kept that to themselves. Though, once Connie gave it thought, knowledge of what Pearl contains obviously was the reason why the requests were put into place, but as far as they were aware, no one else knew who she belonged to originally except for anyone in their immediate circle...as well as Greg and Luna. Even the Lazulis...though, Connie wondered if the Lapis they encountered had anything to do it. They said they don't let it escape their own private circle, but Connie really trust a GIS like that who says one thing and does another? Even then...a Pearl was mentioned...not a specific Pearl and who they once belonged to.
Unless Albite REMEMBERED the incident personally...for what ever reason. If she was part of the Beta Group that had connections to the Pink Monolith, it stood for grounds to where she had also had valuable intel. Pulling out her pistol, she aimed towards Albites Kernel Core.
"You must have been there. What do you know about the incident?" Connie demanded to know.
Albite lifted her chin, not feeling threatened in the slightest. It was about 19, almost 20 years ago. Surely she should have some memory.
"They only said to give if it helps with your investigation." She replied.
"As for the loss of the Monolith? I know just as much as anyone else." She replied.
"But if it helps...There were more people that were part of the Beta Group than there were of the Prime Group. Unfortunately a lot of these SC-GIS were rushed and the few that didn't have any glaring issues were adopted by various agencies. The rest were taken to the Asian Sector and subsequently dealt with by Yin Aozora in the hopes of repairing the damage caused."
Connie raised an eyebrow.
"Why were there so many broken GIS?" She asked.
Albite looked to the side.
"I'm not sure. They rushed it? All I can really think of was that Rose was trying to find something." She said.
"She was trying to...I don't know and even if I did I would never tell you."
Connie glared at her. She was prepared to hack into her systems if she wasn't going to tell them willingly. A single click left digital nerves quivering.
"Rose knew there were going to be complications or some kind of problem going to occur down the line." She said.
"Not everyone was a fan of losing their humanity. There were the few who rebelled against her and sought to cause havok for the pain she caused."
Albite looked down. She could see that the human wouldn't backdown and so, went onward anyway.
"Rogue GIS have always been an issue, even prior to SC variants." She explained.
"But...I would assume what Rose could have been looking for...was a particular personality type."
A personality type?
"We were told that The Prime Group were just the original phase of One Point Fives with successful outcomes." She said.
Taken from Terra Company respectively.
"The pool with Prime was small and efficient. Rose must have used it for testing out the capabilities of SC-GIS...and then she rushed through the Beta Group; pumping out SC-GIS left and right but being left with a bunch of failures. Of course people weren't going to be happy. They were extremely buggy and incapable of doing the simplest of tasks. I was one of the lucky ones."
Connie wasn't sure whether or not Rose managed to find what she was looking for.
"The Prime Group were reseeded elsewhere." Steven told her.
"Rose didn't do the same with Beta?"
Albite shook her head.
"I guess the Prime ones were more of her priority." She said.
"Still...no one knew exactly what she was trying to find. So those who weren't able to be repaired were either sold as scrap and donated elsewhere or they were destroyed once Rose realised she was going nowhere."
This was even more disturbing. Rose finds volunteers by the boatload and screencaps each one and had hoped their personality matched with what ever in the world she was trying to create. Though Steven's curious nature had a question come up again, in the hopes that Albite knew something about it.
"Did Rose...have a son?" He asked, gaining Connie's attention.
Albite looked at him strangely.
"An odd question; I...I don't think she did? I never talked to Rose all that often." She said, perplexed.
"I only ever talked to some of the more saner of my compatriots. The dates between the Primes and the Betas and the incident were within the space of about five years. I was taken by Lady Volley about a year before I heard the news from a source that Rose disappeared...but the strangest thing is that Rose disappeared about...8 years before the Monolith disappeared."
Eight years?
"Impossible." Connie said.
"What the hell happened that no one recognised the fact that the Pink Monolith's primary Caretaker had vanished well before that?"
Albite crossed her arms.
"They did." She said.
"It wasn't much of a consequence since if a Monolith lost a Caretaker, they would inevitably create a new one so they never took it as a priority until the Monolith was gone. They only knew a human was involved so the hunt went to him instead. They figured if they could find Gregory DeMayo, then they would possibly find Rose Quartz."
But they didn't. All they found so far was some kind of...BM-AI copy of Greg and even that was debatable.
"They also diverted their resources to find Rose's GIS allies. Discovering the Modded GIS, the prototype GIS and most importantly the Cloud-Storage GIS were part of Rose's crew."
The other Ancillas. Though Steven did remember Albite mentioning she knew Jasper...and Jasper knew of the Ancillas existence. She must have told Albite.
"They don't know anything!" Steven stressed, trying to protect his friends.
"They had their memories erased!"
Connie glared at Steven for him revealing that tidbit to her.
"Steven shut up!" She scolded.
Steven gritted his teeth in frustration.
"No!" He cried out.
"The Ancillas are innocent! They did nothing wrong!"
Albite wasn't convinced.
"It doesn't matter." She said.
"The Pearl is the most important one anyway. Unlocking her secrets is utterly crucial to figuring out what Rose was planning and what she was looking for. You want to know the truth don't you Berrybyte? You're slated for glory in discovering the Pink Monoliths location and you're dwindling your chances by playing these silly games."
Connie wasn't playing anything.
"I wanted to do this on my own and everyone insists on thinking I'm on their side, acting on their interests when I'm not." She said.
Albite found this fascinating.
"But it does help everyone in the end." She said.
"The Domain recovers. End of story."
Then...Albite didn't know?
"That's not the whole story." Connie said.
"They didn't tell you the purpose of the Monoliths did they?"
Albite huffed.
"For the betterment of Mankind obviously." She said.
"It's an artform that our ancestors would have been so jealous to see...and I'm here, assisting in propelling it to the future."
Connie pocketed that for now. Her focus had to be on something new.
The murals...she had to know something about what they meant and Steven was ready to plug her with more questions.
"There was something on one of the murals back there." He said.
Connie projected a picture of the mural she took a photo of and showed it to Albite as she scanned it.
"Most of the artwork here was inspired." She explained.
"My GIS type have quite the imagination. My Donor, Ms Wilson, was already an artist but upon her imprint onto the Phylactery the talent expanded."
That was too good to be true.
"Everything you see here is per my grand design. Amanda loved ancient history and so I was compelled to craft this place out of the pure love she had for it."
Then they needed to know more about Amanda.
"So what inspired Amanda...or...you to make that mural?" Steven queried.
Albite smiled.
"The 2048 Moon Expedition." She said with fondness.
"Which, yes, Amanda was not just an artist; she was also an Astronaut. Mans return the Moon brought up multiple discoveries and Amanda was the first to discover alien ruins. After that, the Alien Tech was found by many others. The ruins on the Moon demonstrated a previously unknown alien race and technology that helped shaped the Monoliths in the future."
No way. Albite had way more valuable intel than Connie was hoping for.
"When it came to a list of volunteers for the Screencap I was eager to join. My foot was already in the door with Weiss United and I felt like it was destiny for me to become a part of humanities ascension. These murals are reminders of where I had originally come from."
What about that particular mural?
"That was the one that stood out to you? I can't really explain what's going on there...it seems to me like the Monoliths were creating the next one for humans to enjoy. Sounds reasonable...unless the whole thing is nothing more that a falsehood; a facade."
That...didn't sound right. But the word False had reminded him of thing. The word related to the False Monolith the Cultists worshipped; they must have had a connection to this as well. Steven had to find out more.
"Speaking of False hoods, what do you know about the Cult of the Cluster?" Steven asked.
Albite didn't appear impressed.
"That silly group? Many Cults have come and gone over the years." She explained.
"It's one of many religions that have spawned...and this one that circles a fake Monolith is just one that's been around for a while and the longest I might add. Do you think that has anything to do with this mural here?"
It's possible. Connie was surprised Steven even linked the two.
"A Fifth Monolith...that's something I haven't really given any consideration to. If the Pink one was used for its construction...the mural here implies the Pink one has a direction connection to it."
The Cultists must have been onto something before anyone else was.
"Looks like Lady Volley's belief in you was not misplaced, Berrybyte." Albite continued.
"I will make the recommendation to her...and you can be on your way back to work and I will not tell her you had violated company rules."
Connie wasn't that naive; she had planned for this.
"I will investigate the Cult myself." She declared.
And her trip to the Asian Sector was something she had to do; to get her hands on the 'Moontouched' boy before he could get a grip on Pearl.
"Now...you release your authority on the Pearl this instant, and I will refrain from drawing new murals by mangling your code into paint smeared across the floor."
An unusual threat.
"There's no need for such violent words, Berrybyte." Albite said sweetly.
"I told you everything. Rose was after a personality type...and was fearful for retribution for her hasty actions and I even explained Amandas history on the moon! I've been nothing but hospitable!"
And the shades she sent after them? Sure she would through it under the rug as standard security protocol, but Connie still didn't trust her.
"She's right Connie, Albite doesn't deserve this." Steven urged.
Her pistol was still aimed towards Albite's Kernel Core. Her intentions were only to obey the orders of her true master and that she was indeed, doing her job. Her hand was still tight on the guns grip, but her finger was softly on the trigger.
She knew Pearl belonged to Rose. So she had to find out who spilled the beans too.
"Who told you about the Pearl and her allocation to Rose?" Connie demanded, her voice low.
Albite lowered her head.
"Caretaker Jaspers and Caretaker Aquamarines reports on the Ancillas were given to everyone." She explained.
"I don't know the sources they used!"
Connie smelled trickery. Her eyes turned pink and blue respectfully and they were eventually lost in swirls of their own, growing light, causing Steven some worry as Connie stormed up to Albite and placed the pistol into her chest.
"The reports only mentioned the Ancillas....and the WallofROSE." Connie told her, her voice beginning to digitally warp under the unknown power.
"Nothing to do with WHO Pearl belongs to....but I guess that no longer matters."
So...what now? Steven wondered.
"I'm going to give you the Count of Three to stop your request..."
By this point Steven had never seen someone so petrified. Connie's behaviour was giving him worry, more so than usual and Albite kept on stuttering.
"I-I will...REPORT YOU to the authorities. Weiss Uniteds own GIS security would be on you in a se-"
BOOM
Connie soon blasted Albites Kernel Core to smithereens, breaking it into a thousand slow flying pieces as her Avatar fizzled away. Steven was stunned by Connie's willingness to commit to delete someone almost gave him Absolute Horror.
"CONNIE!" He cried, digging his fingers into his scalp in sheer panic.
"WHY DID YOU DO THAT?"
Connie didn't care anymore. Albite was too dangerous to be left functioning. Connie's been patient long enough to be around where she wanted to be. She had a job to do and be damned she was going to play nice with the others. She had everything she needed from the European Sector to the point she no longer cared about her memories being restored. She was slowly beginning to remember anyway and she had made the choice that she would eventually recall everything else when the time came. So Weiss United wouldn't dare kill her unless they were prepared to lose the Pink Monolith's location forever behind in Connie's rotting brain.
It wasn't as if Connie hadn't deleted AIs before...and deleting a GIS actually felt good. Forever high and mighty alien intelligence that she was able to take down on her own. The futility of it all...irregardless of what species you were. Everyone was mortal, in the end...
"We got what we needed from her." Connie said calmly, watching the fragments of the Kernel Core float in the air like dust particles.
"Deleting the Kernel Core was the only way we could release the permission from her end. I gave her a chance and she blew it."
Turning around, she could see the basis of the Pocket Grid begin to fizzle. Which meant the authorities had just realised what she did. She checked the connections on her end but still needed Steven's help to make sure Lapis was aware of it.
"You can't just..." Steven said, on the cusp of Absolute Shock that would sooner destroy him.
Connie unsummoned her pistol and walked up to Steven with fading pink and blue eyes. He would see the light and get over it eventually. Right now, they had other things to focus on. Like escaping.
"We can argue about this later." She said.
"You and I need to get out of here before the room is stormed...come on."
Steven looked at her, with the dome around them glitching. His expression was sad and almost to tears...in fact, there was water around them. He wiped his eye and nodded. Connie was right, but it didn't mean he had to like it. He would have kept trying, but Connie knew what she was doing...she always knew what to do. She was who she said she was. Ruthless and acting on renegade impulses. For now, he had to continue.
Steven looked at Connies hand for the longest time and within moments took it was reminded at the end of the day, Connie was still human. She said so herself.
"Okay, let's go." He said.
Chapter 40: Make and Model
Summary:
Steven and Connie head to the Asian Sector and unexpectedly get the offer of a life time.
Notes:
Sorry for the delay. Been demotivated and issues have come up in my life that I had no power to write a lot lately. But hopefully this latest long chap should satisfy for the meantime.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
It'd been a good two weeks since the Weiss United Incident.
In that meantime, Connie and Steven managed to somehow escape the chaos that unfolded after Connie deleted Albite and once everything was prepared, hitched their way unhindered to the Asian Sector.
Connie was able to pull what resources she had to get them there, including requring Ash's assistance. If anything, Connie was a master of pulling strings behind the scenes in the most subtle of ways. Whether it required hacking, forgery and bribery, nothing was out of reach while she had the smarts and skills to put them off.
Besides, she had contacts in the Asian Sector; more so than any other. She's been there multiple times for multiple jobs and had plans to meet up with one her said contacts.
The City of Azure Alpha, was actually situated on a man made isle between Japan and Korea. Its populace was a mixture of Korean and Japanese that had intertwined their once hostile relationship into a mixed nationality which called themselves Japoreans. There had been plenty of outsiders from American and European places over the last few decades. As its name implies, the City itself holds a very bluish hue and most of the populace work for Yin Aozora, if not, for the relating subcompanies.
The laws based there are actually pretty lax. As such, its also rampant in drug use and other practices found illegal in most countries. Director Agate rules the host but doesn't take much notice of the goings on the island; as long as she gets results, it doesn't really matter.
The practice of using Androids is also pretty common, more so than any other country as the stigma is non-existent. As such, multiple companies would spring up to help deliver and cash in on the lucrative market, with the technology for Androids evolving all the time and shipping their products to consumers across the globe.
The lack of acceptance seen in most places was brought on by people not wanting to deal with already worsening labour shortages and other implied issues. Here, that is no where to be seen. In fact, Androids were only really developed to help construct the island to begin with then filled in the spots across the island when the original population was only spanning in the thousands.
So far, about 2.4 million people live on the island, which the overall landmass was said to be a third of the size of Hokkaido.
Businesses, specifically minor ones, have come and gone over the years, as the regulatory body only cared about anything directly employed by the higher echelons of Yin Aozora and so there were parts abandoned and filled with individuals scraping to get by. The usual lower slums and the higher canopies not unlike American Mega Cities. Except there was even more neon and Androids roaming the streets of varying quality.
Connie had found a quaint apartment, nothing too lavish and actually smaller than the other two places she'd resided in. Still, it was a safer space than most, thanks to her contacts hooking her up. Resetting up her rig was a hassle but at this point her only real aim was finding the Caretaker in this Sector, said to be an Aquamarine GIS.
Steven was able to walk around with Connie this time around as she made some adjustments to his CPU. Lapis wasn't struggling so much since there was only one request lodged. Not that she struggled a great deal, it was just easier on her processing power to not deal with more more than one secondary link. Though, she was able to figure out what else to take advantage of while she was here.
She was situated in the Middle Row of the Azure Alpha, named after the middle class 'Salarymen'. She had enough cash to work with; hoping to not be here any longer than she needed to be. She kept traces and tabs back on both the European and American Grids and discovered that yes, people were searching for her, but frankly, it looked like the effort was so damn tiny. If they were clever enough to track her down, then they would have found her by now.
Connie did not want to take this opportunity for granted, not while she was getting closer to solving the mystery.
Outside the Domain for a change, Connie and Steven went to go meet up with an ally of hers she met during one of her last temporary stays here. A young Japorean woman by the codename of Oceania.
Oceania was another Data Broker just like Pat in America. They went to meet up at her place to discuss work, sitting on her balcony at sunset. She had long white hair with bluish tips. Her style was like a goth cyberpunk; She wore a headband with blue horns and half of her face was covered in her fringe, though you could see her shining, electric blue lipstick. Parks of her skin were splotched with coral-shaded marks, but for the most part, she was wearing grey-teal body with black boots with spikes around the base, with a black jacket on top. They sat on plastic chairs while they watched cars fly by, lips masked by smoke.
"It's been forever since I've been here." Said Connie, leaning back as she exhaled.
She was much more relaxed with her hair down and clad in her own black jacket on top of a blue shirt, black shorts and runners.
Steven was very silent, but observed the conversation. Weeks on, he was still a little cautious, a little anxious after what happened.
"I almost miss the fishy smells."
Oceania chuckled. Her mannerisms towards Connie were more flirty if anything.
"Some things have changed...but others haven't." She said.
"But you and I used to get up to so much trouble here."
Connie smiled, remembering their time together fondly.
"A lot." She said.
"But I've been seeing all the drama unfold lately...the Developers are getting desperate."
Connie couldn't agree more. Oceania was more attentive to the despondant Steven and had to acknowledge his prescence.
"But I take it you're here for more than a romantic getaway?"
Steven was a bit unsure of that statement. Connie just nodded.
"I don't know if they've gotten to the point of going on their knees and begging." She said.
"I wish I was here on vacation..."
Oceania was amused at the thought.
"They like to keep out of the public eye." She said.
"But my good friends at Yin Aozora tell me there's a lot going on...so I hope you'll get to elaborate."
Connie trusted Oceania with her life. They've been close buddies before, spending day and night on old harmless escapades. By harmless meaning for them...not for their victims.
"The general amount of fuckery really." She replied.
"The same investigation, the same kind of end game."
Oceania hummed.
"Would the truth really be what everyone wants...I wonder." She said.
Indeed...Connie had been wondering a lot about the actions of others, their ambitions and separate goals. Everyone seeks to use everyone for something...
"I'm trying to huntdown the Caretaker Aquamarine. I need her to release a particular permission that's giving me grief." She answered.
Oceania nodded.
"Aquamarine is the snobbiest GIS you'll ever meet." She said.
"She's a fucking piece of shit who abuses her power daily. Humans or other GIS; the discrimination against all types is all there. Just because she was chosen and created by the Blue Monolith, she decides that she wants to flaunt it. Fucking pixie."
Connie smirked. Oceania wasn't one to trust many people herself. She and Connie had a lot in common.
"Ah one of those. A bug to squash." She joked, mocking a posh accent.
It was then Connie noticed Oceania was still busy looking at the absent minded Steven, who was so out of it, it was hardly a matter of simply tapping on his metal noggin to get his attention from time to time.
"So...Steven." Oceania said.
Steven's eyes widened as he looked at the woman. She got up and had a brief look at his form, complete with lifting arms and a cigarrate left hanging out of her mouth...before she went to examine his crotch and whacked it with a brief ting as a result...causing Steven to be surprised. It didn't hurt him...just...
"This is a real bootleg model you have here." Oceania commented.
"Custom made parts, illegal parts...not bad but it could be better."
Connie rolled her eyes. They weren't here for him, but she was in a somewhat okay mood to entertain his interests.
"Steven wanted his own piece of mobility, instead of dicking around in my head all day." Connie commented.
Rubbing her chin, Oceania was intrigued.
"So you're one of those...feely type AIs?" She asked out of the blue.
Steven gulped. He wasn't even sure what to say to that.
"I...uh...I'm uhh..." He stammered.
"I'm just..."
Oceania grinned.
"Just tell her Steven, it might help." Connie advised him.
Steven nodded. He still wasn't certain about this either.
"I'm uh...I'm a SC-GIS."
That definitely caught Oceania's attention.
"Are...are you sure?" She said, looking back at Connie, who just shrugged.
But apparently, she must have known something.
"He's from the Beta Group maybe, I dunno."
That was a common theory. The only thing missing was his Phylactery. The first thing Connie noticed, however, was how devious Oceania had suddenly become. The look on her face was an expression Connie had only recalled seeing a few times before; which meant Oceania had an idea. What kind of idea it was...was most likely something mischevious.
"So how...human do you want to feel?" Oceania asked, all sly like.
Something that confused Steven. How human? What kind of question is that? But then, it had him think on things deeply. How to explain what he wanted...it wasn't exactly something he was even prepared to answer, even though he suspected something was going this way for months now. Perhaps years. Even with losing track, it should have been increasingly obvious as time went by.
"I'm not...well, I just want to feel the sensations like humans do." He said.
"I like to feel things. When I'm in Connie I get the most amazing sensations."
The fight to not snicker grew as Oceania held her mouth.
"Well...I see." She said.
"So...this Android can only do so much...how about we get you a decent upgrade hm?"
An upgrade?
"You know some people with the goods?" Connie asked, now more invested. She was aware of Steven's ascension to become as human as possible, but it was generally always sidelined or a secondary goal. She was attached to him, not that she would say that out loud. She figured, the more human he could become, the more she was able to...
Well....
Oceania nodded, her intentions with this unknown.
"There are models they simply will not ship to other countries due to the risk factor." She said.
"Like Soulware, Androids have their own grading system, separated into classes. The Barebones Class is generally something that has arms, legs, head and torso but you will most certainly not be mistaken for a human. The class you want, is the favoured Synthetic Class."
Which was?
"Whats so special...and dangerous about the Synthetic Class?" Connie queried.
Oceania crossed her arms.
"The realest of the real." She explained.
"Nearly indistinguishable from a real human. Super expensive but made of the best tech, technically exclusive to the rich. Also known as the uh....um...34 Model."
How much Alien Tech was invested into it, Connie wondered. Oceania kept on looking at the skin textues on Steven's suit.
"This is so customised I wouldn't even consider it like any current model I know. But if you like the design, my good friend Biggs can hook you up."
Connie sighed. The goal wasn't primarly so they could get Steven a new android suit, especially after the effort they went into creating the current one, but upon deeper thought, it could help.
"Oh and before I forget." Oceania continued.
"The dangers of the Synthetic Class are specifically because they're so human that bringing them anywhere else is considered an offense to most countries...they can actually trick most scanners due to the nature of some of the parts having specific organic components. Oh and the best part? Their cellular regen components are based off of Alien Tech...so if they're injured, they can heal themselves. No other model has that."
Sounded too good to be true.
"I think I remember Biggs." Connie said.
"She worked for the Android Department didn't she?"
Oceania nodded.
"She was part of the team that helped create the model using various bits of found Alien Tech." She said.
"It was a breakthrough that yeah...only so few knew about."
Connie was interested to see this for herself, but going from Steven's expression, it appeared as if he needed more time to think about it.
"We'll consider it under some certain precendence." Connie said.
"Right now, I need some info regarding the goings on."
Connie and Oceania had talked some more regarding the situation on Azure Alpha and the snivilling Caretaker Aquamarine. Primarily, the task in getting to her sounded like a handful.
The Main Corporate Towers in the middle of the Island, known as the Heavenly Precinct, were heavily guarded. Half were androids with the 34 Model. So they could think quick, act quick and move quick. Connie could think and act quick but she just had to be smarter in her approach.
Returning back to her Apartment, Connie went to find and research leads and formulate her approach. Whether it meant getting towards another GIS or human agent as a stepping stone, it would allow her to be one step closer.
Steven in the meanwhile, was thinking over the remodel and it was all he could really think about. Connie was prepared to spend weeks or months in this sector, if it meant getting what she wanted. Steven's desires had always been reaching and experiencing the outside world for real and that unlike Connie, he wasn't foolish to think he would get to his goal of being human. It was impossible. So getting the closest, organic experience possible was on his distant horizons.
The Ancillas hardly commented on his behavior and when they did, it was just more of a less blaming Amethyst being a bad influence. But he found it ironic that he was potentially Alien Tech that was closer to the human mental framework more than anything particular GIS he knew.
But this...34 Model...it meant getting to the most distinct level. Connie downloaded some information he could sort through, in order to help him make his own damn decision. He projected his AI on the CPD as he spoke to her.
"Connie, you want me to be human, don't you?" He asked.
Connie didn't look at him, but she raised an eyebrow.
"It would make things easier." She said, without much emotion. Truthfully she always wished for it, but she wasn't hoping for a miracle that obscene.
"I mean...if you had a single wish that transcended the laws of physics and the fundamentals of spacetime, wouldn't you ask for it?"
He would, without a doubt.
"But...you have asked for this." She reminded him.
"Your overall ambition in your...life...is to get everything life has to offer. The Model has to be one of the most advanced we've ever come across. I can understand most countries not willing to have it. It has so many features meant to simulate the senses most humans these days take for granted."
What she didn't get at this point, was his hesitation.
"Are you scared?"
Did he fear it? Was that what it was?
"Maybe." Steven answered.
Maybe he had been thinking too much. The opportunity was there for him to grasp. He wasn't exactly sure why he was so afraid. The features were second to none.
"Do...do you want this?" He asked again.
Connie snickered.
"Steven...are you worried about how I will react?" She said, before shaking her head.
The AI bit his lip.
"I...I don't know."
His overlook of everything the model had was everything he'd ever wanted. Connie sighed as she turned to face him.
"Steven...look." She said.
"Don't worry about me...you have to make this decision yourself. Either way, I'll support you in any direction you want to take."
He had no doubts about that.
"Oceania and Biggs; they're two of the best people I've ever worked with." Connie assured him.
"Are you that afraid? Do you want me to hold you hand?"
No. He was better than that by far. It wasn't that he didn't trust them.
"No." Steven replied.
Then Connie wasn't sure why he was being like this. But...she had to assure him...
"We'll keep your old android body in case anything goes wrong." She said.
"We can...simply just have Lapis use it. Easy."
Having the old one he's been using for a while on standby wasn't his concern. Connie, however, just had to be to stern with Steven.
"Just say yes or no Steven." She said.
"You've seen the features. Do you...not me, but do you want this?"
It was considered one of the largest stepping stones by far. From simple AI to practically the literally the closest thing to being a human as possible. This felt like the final frontier.
So...would he say yes?
"Yeah?" He said with a cracked voice of uncertainity.
Connie rolled her eyes as she slapped her thighs.
"Are you sure?" She asked again.
Steven nodded.
"Yes." He replied.
"I want this."
Connie smiled. She loved her hearing that determination and strength in his tone of voice. She just wished he would be like that more often.
"Great. I'll speak to Oceania."
A few days later, Steven and Connie went to go to Biggs Main Shop; called AzuArt Droids and Synthetics. It was in the upper canopies of the city as they entered into the wholesale store.
Upon walking in, Steven gasped. The aesthetic was white and grey. It was so bright, slick and clean and the models of the Synthetic Class Androids stood on round podiums, floating about in circles in the stores mostly grey and blue uniforms with the ADS logos on patches throughout. Several other customers were in store as well, talking with other employees. The store had several levels and at the back must have been a repair shop of sorts.
A woman walked down the stairs and...well, you couldn't tell she was somewhat friends with Oceania, with her long blonde hair in a ponytail and bushy fringe. If it wasn't for her dark sin, you would have easily mistaken her for Oceania's twin sister in terms of looks.
"Ah welcome!" She said, waiving to the pair as she approached them.
She slapped Connie's hand and shook it, smiling as old friends met up with each other.
"Miss Biggs." She said.
"Been a while."
Biggs herself nodded in agreement. She turned her attention to Steven, who watched as she examined him from head to toe, then made a long whistle.
"Sheesh look at this thing." She said.
Steven wasn't really aware that the judgement was affecting his anxiety levels.
"Oceania wasn't kidding."
Steven gulped as he looked at Connie.
"Can you still work with this?" Connie asked.
Biggs slapped her hand.
"I've had worse." She commented.
"Come to the backroom, we'll need to map out the details."
The backroom itself was filled to the brim with different electronics; several frames and other apparatus he couldn't recognise. It looked like the Warehouse back in Mega Beach City, filled with Ronaldo's equipment, but this looked far more expensive and well equipped.
"Most customers come in to just find particular model assets." She said.
"They're not cheap."
Connie shrugged as she crossed her arms.
"That's fine." She said.
"I expected the top tier to be something exclusive to rich bitches."
Biggs grinned as she approached a rack at the back which held a variety of metallic skeletal frames.
"A lot of them come through." She said, sorting through a variety of frames of different types.
"The 34 Model is popular but you can still add assets from older versions. Some tweaks over the years have some advantages and disadvantages. Yin Aozora normally purchase the Combat Variant; some compartments can be used to hide weapons and the like."
For security purposes. That didn't surprise Connie in the slightest. Biggs approached Steven again as she examined his Android.
"But I think...if you want to mimic this...you could have a mixture of the Combat and Tank Variants."
Come again?
"What's the Tank Variant?" He asked.
He's seen certain ones...his eye was mostly on the boring civilian version.
"The Tank Variant has more durability than most." She said.
"However, they're considered heavy weights. There's a specific shield like function not found in the majority of other models. It's mostly utilised with a primary protection system which allows the model to be able to endure heavy pressures. Withstanding impacts. Tests indicate they're suited to defensive roles...and even can survive pressurised atmospheres where most humans would probably die."
Do they really need that?
"Oceania told me what you were up to." Biggs continued.
"Going after that incessant Caretaker isn't going to be easy. You'll need the combat model specifically for the apps it provides. Maybe even add on some infiltration features."
Connie rubbed her chin.
"Steven's systems are equipped with enough applications." She said.
"I'll be the one doing the most infiltration. He really just needs something as close to the civilian variants as possible."
Biggs looked at him from top to bottom again.
"You sure?" She questioned.
"Senses amplification with those ones can be...intense. Combat and Tank Variants have higher pain thresholds so they last longer. Civilian variants don't have that luxury."
Why would he need to feel more pain?
"It's important we focus on the nerve extensions." Connie explained.
"Let's just say Steven's had multiple excursions on human taste..."
Biggs groaned.
"Bah, once you double jack, you never go back." She noted, going towards a nearby fridge which had multiple spray bottles.
"But I can work with this. Civvie models are inferior but only towards the sensitivity measures. Other than that, they're pretty advanced compared to most variants...I hope you can deal with the common human conditions..."
Steven wasn't too concerned. Connie and Biggs continued to talk shop in that sense; exchanging details while Biggs simply had to get certain scans from Steven's AI for compatibility and physical attribute preferences.
Connie was left astonished as to how much work went into it. The models themselves took about a week to complete and it had been the longest week. In the meanwhile, the pair had to make use of the space in between, with Connie catching up with Amethyst in the Private Grid alongside Steven and talked about progress regarding Aquamarine.
"So I scoped out a Private Company." Amethyst revealed.
"A Private Company that has connections to Aquamarine. This specific business rents and sells out Security GIS to high profile clients. Quartzes and the like. I might have the clearance but I might need some help. If you act as the Client, I might be able to get into the Systems themselves to find anything we can use."
Connie rubbed her chin. She loved Amethysts ideas and willingness to get in as well as out of sticky situations. She had to put on a disguise well enough so that they could get in without being noticed. People knew Berrybyte and more knew what she looked like. As much as she tried to scrub her pictures off of databases she wasn't dumb to understand not everything could be deleted so easy. A lot of the time a fake ID can be simulated. It was easier to do in the Domain than out of, so they had to tread lightly.
"Is it Domain-based?" She asked.
Amethyst shook her head.
"The Company is known as Tough as Nails Inc. Stupid ass name." She whined.
"But they usually provide Phylacteries and Cabinets to Clients. As a Quartz-Class, I could be used as something to return to their databases for inspection."
Connie immediately saw the issue with this.
"But you don't have a Cabinet, or a phylactery for that matter." She said.
While she must have had a Phylactery, no one knew where it was located.
"Phylacteries can be faked." She said.
"Simulants and bootlegs are easy to get. Usually when you see one dirt cheap in the black market, they're often extremely well made fakes that unless you place one inside of a cabinet, you can't tell the difference."
Connie was keen to hear more.
"I'm listening." She said.
Amethyst grinned.
"Just place a CPD inside the fake and just gotta connect it to anywhere in their intranet and viola..."
Impressive.
"Not bad." Connie commented.
"But why would Aquamarine be involved with a company like this?"
Amethyst nodded.
"My sources tell me that Aquamarine often employs Topaz GIS from there on a frequent basis for 'heavy lifting'. It was said to be a suggestion by Director Agate herself to allow Aquamarine to be in charge of the Security GIS dispensed in this sector."
That made some kind of sense. Being the Blue Monoliths primary protector she would have to make sure the goal of defending of it was her main directive. They've also dealt with Topaz GIS before back in the Mega Beach City Grid. Jasper specifically had them recruited the same way.
Caretakers pulled all the strings it seemed. If it wasn't the Developers it was their go to GIS for most of the work behind the scenes, under the shroud of infinite ones and zeros.
"We'll need to work out the finer details." Connie said.
"I'll chat to Oceania about it, see what she knows."
Amethyst forwarded the details about Tough as Nails to Connie. Their address and contact information primarily. Approaching the company would be the easy part. Getting in there was going to be difficult.
According to Oceania, Tough as Nails had its own human head. Namely, a man named Marty. Marty himself was considered the Manager and kind of a grouch. But she was able to find a little bit of his history and he did a lot of work under the table according to his financial records. That didn't surprise Connie at all. A lot of the time people in charge looked for any way to make the extra buck, even if they were making the most money in the business anyway.
Refunding the Amethyst GIS was their goal while they looked in it. Connie ventured into the black markets in the slums during the week on her own. The place was dirty as heck, filled with ramshackle stalls just like Mega Beach Cities. Except there was more of that Asian flavour to it.
She eventually found an appropriate fake phylactery from a store that just had them in baskets willy nilly that they might as well have been a box of potatoes. Amethyst should be happy with it. With a bit of fine tinkering, they should have what they need.
But as she looked to her side, she could see a cloaked figure go around a corner. Her curiousity got the better of her, as she walked off to follow them.
Berrybyte did not fear the dark and dank alleyways. She made sure she did her constant check of her surroundings. She stayed in the shadows and kept enough distance as to ensure the figure didn't realise they were being followed. Connie eventually halted behind a nearby wall, as they stopped as they encountered a figure Connie didn't expect to see.
"Bout time you got here." Said the unhooded one.
Connie knew that voice.
It was Kevin. The slimeball that Connie could never forgive. She wanted to go up to him and beat the shit out of him, but kept her temper at bay. What ever they were doing, it was definitely illegal.
She peaked around the corner, to see he was wearing the same robes as the other guy and from what little light she used from the nearby neon, demonstrated a faint pink tinge to it.
"Marty was asking for more than usual." Kevin said.
"Only managed to sneak out some of the lesser GIS. But three of these...he managed to scrape them from some hidden aspect of the Kindergartens "Forbidden Cubbies." What ever that meant."
Forbidden GIS? This peaked Connies interest. Kevin showed his suitcase filled with numerous Phylacteries of different colors. The First Guy nodded, then closed the case.
"Looks small, but it will have to do." Said the First Guy.
"Every GIS counts at this point. Just...head back to America with them. I still have business to finish off here."
Business Connie so desperately wanted to be a part of.
"There was more in the Forbidden Cubbies section. I could only buy so many. Martys prices were not what you said they were, Lars." Kevin complained.
Lars? So this was the guy speaking to Greg previously.
"Marty is asshat who always inflates his prices." He said.
"Ever heard of negotiating?"
Kevin rolled his eyes.
"Fuck off." He said.
"I got what we need...unless you want to go get the rest."
Lars looked away.
"No that's not my priority." He said.
"I came here to check on other assets. My secondary issue was making sure you were doing your damn job."
Connie was definitely invested in these specific assets.
"I know about Leon." Kevin revealed.
"Dr Miller mentioned he was one of yas. Said he went missing too."
Great, another one of these Moontouched bastards.
"Leon did work in this Sector years ago, but that was before the Monolith disappeared." Lars explained.
"How do you even know that asset is here?"
Kevin looked away.
"I happened to ask Luna about any others that we'll be workin' alongside. She said Leo is in the field, but won't respond." He said.
Lars grumbled.
"That Asset is here but he's to remain where he is. Luna wants him doing his own thing, until the time comes."
Hm....
"In the meanwhile, mind where you place your nose. Luna has you on a shortleash as it is. She only told you that Leons around simply because he's just observing the situation. Besides, I highly doubt you'd come across him that easily."
Intriguing. But...something was off about that name.
"Why? Is he some secret assassin? Come on Lars, Dr. Miller knew what you were. She was a superior to him too..."
Lars raised an eyebrow.
"He was a part of a project Greg talked about, but not in great detail." He said.
"The company had a fuck tonne of projects that they were tinkering around with. The SC-GIS, the BM-AI, The Shard Installations, the Lazarus Intiative..."
Kevin lifted his chin.
"The Rosa Leo..." He uttered.
"Dr. Miller was a part of DM Biometrics. She was the closest asset you could have had until she decided to off herself."
Lars whined.
"Luna deemed her a threat." He revealed.
"It was better that she was dead than alive."
What?
"She was my employer." He said.
"Work was fucked but the money was good."
Lars looked down.
"Dr. Miller's initiatives were originally to protect certain assets herself, but the guilt about the incident; something I'm sure she would have told you about, had her trying to fix things."
Kevin nodded in agreement.
"Yeah she said she was kicked off the team before the Monolith disappeared. Her and Dr. Ryman were given the big boot. Fuck if I know what happened to the latter though. Dr. Miller tried to message him but he was just not answering. Asshole." He said.
That's right. Dr. Ryman was another individual that was often scarcely talked about. No doubt everyone had tried to locate him but...alas...years on, no one has ever come close.
"Dr. Ryman is either dead or still in hiding. Luna doesn't deem him an issue. Yet." Lars said.
So there was a possibility the Doctor was out there somewhere. Someone they could get answers from and he knows it. He had to have been clearing the paper trails as early as his disappearance.
"But...you know there is the issue of you trying to infect Berrybyte with a trojan."
So he heard about that too? Probably from Greg.
"Dr. Miller ordered me to do it!" Kevin called out.
Lars had to urge him to be quiet with simple hand gestures.
"She wanted me to infect the slut to monitor her. Nothing more!"
So what Greg knew was true then. Connie wanted to feel bad, but the hate nearly overwhelmed her. There were better ways to do things than to try to fuck her to get what she wanted. She never realised Dr. Miller had stooped to that extent to do what she needed to. If she really was guilty...
"I know I know, sheesh keep your voice down!" Lars ordered.
"Just...we'll talk about this another time. So...no trying to find Leon, no talking to Berrybyte and just get your dumb ass back to the US!"
Kevin shook his head.
"What ever..."
There was a lot to unpack. Connie quickly returned home to check on the fake phylactery. It was easy to get into and comparing with the few real ones she seen there really wasn't much of a difference. The interior had reverse engineered alien tech (as it was obviously cheaper to use human versions than legitimate) which would be allowed to store any AI type they desired.
But her head kept going back to the conversation. She'd never heard of the Lazarus Initiative. But she had heard of everything else. Dr. Miller could have been a part of it, but she wasn't really sure what crimes against humanity had her kill herself. The incident with the Pink Monolith maybe. But there was definitely more to it...whether it was something to do with the Screencapped GIS or Steven or Rose...
But if what was said was accurate; was that both Dr. Miller and Dr. Ryman were no longer a part of DM Biometrics when the Pink Monolith vanished. So neither of them would have been able to know where it went. So she had to find out more about this Leon...
Steven was busy with Biggs at her shop, so Connie had some time to get a message out. She had to speak to Luna. A lot of the time, to get to Luna, would be through Greg. How much she got out to do these things was anyones guess.
It was a while before she got a message with Greg to meet up within the Domain. He gave her the entrance codes to a Private Grid and surprisingly enough, he somehow could access the aspects even this far from the European Grid. So entering into his Grid, she came across the same center of monitors and wires.
"You wanted to talk?" Greg asked.
Connie nodded.
"I need Luna." She said.
"I want to find out more about...Leon."
Greg rubbed the back of his head.
"Leon...that's a name I haven't heard of in a while." He said.
"I suppose that's something that would have been found in Dr. Millers files...despite the fact I deleted them. I should have known you would have found the data irregardless."
Debating internally, Connie decided to let Greg's explanation be the truth for now. No use risking Lars and Kevin for the moment, even when she could. She'd rather drag the latters soul straight to hell anyway.
"Leon worked for Dr. Miller at some point." Connie said.
"He was deemed an asset. I assume something with him being another of the mysterious Moontouched had something to do with it."
Greg rubbed the back of his neck, uncomfortable with Connie finding this.
"From what I remember, there were several interns that were working on the projects. Eventually they would become full fledged scientists working for us. Leon was Dr. Millers intern. She was his mentor."
So...another casuality?
"I can't exactly explain the Moontouched...only....huh...oh geez...looks like Luna wants in...give me a sec."
Like before, Greg closed his eyes as his Avatar transformed...and in came the Blue and Pink spectral being that Connie had encountered once before. Her glance upon Connie as she stood there, the eyes beaming upon Connie's visage and appearing more frustrated than enthused to see her.
"Just the one I wanted to see." Connie said with a smirk.
"Tell me everything....don't sugarcoat it."
Luna looked down.
"All I know about the Moontouched is that Leon was one of the first." She said.
"You weren't supposed to know about him. Only that he is an ally."
Connie wasn't so sure.
"What about Lars and Kevin? And that fuckin' cult?" Connie demanded.
Luna appeared more anxious. Connie had to dig into it.
"The Cult of the Cluster." She continued, pacing around the room as she revealed what she knew.
"Their aim to worship a False Monolith while engaging in shady practices across the globe, stealing GIS. Tell me, your intentions with this Cult?"
Luna looked down.
"The Cult itself is a collective, but it was founded by one the Moontouched years ago." She said.
"That Founder, was Leon, before handing the torch to Lars."
Then where was he?
"So Leon...is he dead?" Connie queried.
Luna rubbed her arm.
"Leons status is not relevant." She said, before standing firm towards Connie.
"He will be of no help to you."
Connie grumbled. A missing Moontouched was definitely gonna be of some help. Especially if he was possibly at the incident in question. Or he might have come to have been wiped by SOAP like everyone else, except Connie...probably.
"But you sent Lars here to...get the permissions from this end to be stopped. He would have gone to Caretaker Aquamarine to get her lay off so we can get to Pearl." She said.
Luna nodded.
"You did not need to come to Azure Alpha." She said.
"You could have stayed in the Golden City...and have gotten the resources we needed from Pearl to forward our plans."
Yeah there was a problem with that.
"I came across a little hiccup." Connie stated.
"Transferring the GIS over was a huge mistake. Amethyst was the only one who got through...and so now I am here to trying to get access to the otherside so Pearl can be saved."
Luna was unphased. She had sent Lars over to do it in Connies stead because she knew she would.
"Your deletion of Albite caused a stir. You could have simply reverted her permission through simple hacks."
She was dealing a GIS. Those are nearly impossible to get through.
"Albite was a Caretaker too. The Lapis inside the Satellite was not letting the permission without Albite rescinding her request!" Connie complained.
"If there is anything I can't hack directly, it's into GIS themselves."
And Connie has tried. She's only able to get so far. But they were seemingly hard to dive into without getting a hold of their Kernel Cores. She's able to manipulate the Domain to her advantage but not GIS.
"And another Satellite has gotten the other request. Garnet had to split into her components to make keep track of the Satellites. Ensuring that we don't lose our original claims."
Luna made a fist. She was busy contemplating something, but she was so...blank in expression it was really hard to determine what she was really thinking. Like a faceless template.
"Hmm...that was an oversight." She said.
"I did not anticipate that the companies would have thrown in their lot to make claim to Pearls data."
Really? How did the high and mighty not see that coming? All they would have had to have known was Pearls file name and extension. Even so, where she was actually located. People knew the Ancillas existed in Mega Beach City, so whomever leaked the data to them was causing more problems.
"How could you have not?" Connie criticized.
"The Developers must have found out Pearl belonged to the Pink Monolith and Rose Quartz at some point. Anything that would have given them any kind of lead would have been of great value."
Luna crossed her arms, looking to the floor before looking back at Connie.
"The knowledge of the Pearls association with Caretaker Rose was only known to a select few."
Outside of Greg and Luna, it was through Bismuth that they found out about the association and so, outside of the Ancillas, it was only Connie and Ronaldo that knew ^1. Unless you count Dr. Miller but even then it was farfetched as to how much she had leaked. Maybe Dr. Ryman told them?
"Dr. Ryman? He was a key figure in the company." Connie stated.
"But he's no where to be found either."
Luna hummed.
"Dr. Ryman went off grid. I would assure you though. it would not have been him who would have been the culprit." She said.
"Even if I do not know where he is, he's staying away for a good reason."
But it was still suspicious. Connie recalled the last time she spoke to Luna and the memory flow that returned to her:
"I trust Dr. Ryman to keep a secret, but Barb is ferocious when she wants to be. Plays a mean game of poker." ^2
A comment made by Greg himself.
"But this is concerning." Luna noted.
"Pearls Data and what it actually holds is only really known to Greg and myself, as well as the access details that I told you about. You do not think it would have been your Engineer friend that would have leaked that information?"
Ronaldo?
"Ronaldo was helping with the transfer." Connie told her.
"He was on the other side when it happened. He got Amethyst through with no problem and Garnet was in the transmission but hooked on to Pearls tether and somehow splintered herself."
As Connie explained earlier. Luna was stumped, but Ronaldo must have been the only one who must have done it. There wasn't any other explanation.
"Ron also shipped the Stevendroid over with the help of his brother Peedee...."
Then when the incident occured, no one was able to touch base with him. Connie realised how suspicious that seemed. Why didn't she see this earlier?
"Fuck..." Connie said, slapping her forehead.
"Why...."'
Did he have any reason to betray them like that? What the fuck was the point? And after all the money Connie spent on him, she should have had at least some loyalty and respect from the guy. Maybe she shouldn't have made so many sexbot jokes.
Connie growled. She felt so stupid. But really, there wasn't anything else to work on...and now Ronaldo was missing.
"I need to get back in contact with Peedee." Connie told herself.
"Ask him what the fuck is going on with his brother."
Luna stood there, examining it and threading the ideas together.
"Peedee works for Yin Aozora. Maybe he was in on it too." She suggested.
"The brothers in turn...have been working against you."
Connie needed a cigarette...
"But the work you are doing is still critical Connie." Luna reminded her.
"Lars is an ally. No matter what you think about the Cluster Cult, his ambitions are in line with our own. This is just a setback and we can adjust the perimeters accordingly."
Connie was only concerned about how Steven was going to feel after all of this. Ronaldo was one of his closest friends. This would break his heart for sure. She sighed and ran her hand through her hair.
"We know of a way to try and reach Caretaker Aquamarine." She said, changing the subject.
"Amethyst discovered a way to infiltrate Tough as Nails. Know anything about it?"
Luna rested her index finger on her chin.
"Other than the owner Marty, not a lot that isn't what the general public already know." She said.
"Some Security GIS are manufactured frequently under the Yellow Monoliths design as well as the Blue Monoliths design. Due to the compatibilty and great synergy between the pairs security mechanisms and software, there is a great trade between the American and Asian Sectors for collaborative efforts. A lot of them intersect. Caretakers also usually take the finest quality of GIS to help with their missions."
Which could explain why Aquamarine was in America to begin with. She was scouting quality GIS.
"The idea is to insert Amethyst into a bootleg phylactery and return her as a bugged GIS."
Luna nodded.
"Hm...and have her inflitrate TaNs databases. That's not a bad idea." She said.
"I think I can help with that. I will make some arrangements and have Greg forward the details to you when he can. In the meantime, I would probably suggest you try and contact this Peedee. I don't want anymore risk factors then there have been. If both he and his brother turn out to be traitors, then we cannot allow them to have any other further involvement."
There she goes again; Luna thinking she has everything under control and under the perception that Connie would do exactly as she says. But Connie had to relent; realising that it was probably a good idea to do that. She still didn't trust Luna, even if she did upgrade Connie's Soulware. For now, she would have to contend with what was possible and with abslolute caution.
Returning back to her WorkStation, Connie wasn't sure how she was going to break the news to Steven. She wanted to work into this gently as to not overload his circuits.
Luna probably wanted the brothers dead but Connie hoped it wouldn't get to that point. There wasn't even that much proof to begin with if Ronaldo had plans to sell them out. He had plenty of opportunities to do so for months and all of a sudden this happens without warning.
Trusting humans was hard. Trusting artificial intelligence was harder. They could be programmed to lie and Connie was a crossroads as to what to really believe. She also wanted to get access to the Data to try and understand what it was supposed to be for. Luna and Greg were definitely hiding something and they must have kept it from Connie for reasons unknown. Maybe just in case if she was captured personally and they tried to get her to spill.
Yet, she did not get the restoration as Weiss United and PeriCom hoped she would get. Weiss United in particular were so pissed over Albite. Connie had been carefully monitoring the communication channels there was a lot of conflict between Employees and other GIS wanting to do an investigation. But she saw nothing explicit from Lady Volley, or even President Dot in particular. So the elite channels were extremely dark over the matter.
Connie eventually got a ping from Biggs, saying Steven was ready to be picked up. Wanting to distract herself for a bit, Connie got up and headed towards the Shop.
Once there, she was met with Biggs who had the biggest smile on her face. The Sales Mechanic wrapped her arm around Connie as she walked her to the back from.
"Oh it was a lot of work but we managed to find and make something of great quality. A challenge, but that's why we're the best at this."
There was a red silk curtain dropped from the roof like they were at a theatre in front of something bright judging from the small gaps from the bottom of the curtain to the floor. Biggs walked around to the big golden rope on the side and tugged it.
"Get ready."
Connie wasn't sure what to expect. She stood there, not necessarily anticipating much but as a result, she wasn't exactly prepared for what she was about to see.
As the curtains opened, there stood a tall man. Dark, curly hair and wearing a pink tartan jacket on top of a black shirt with blue star on it, with blue jeans and white shoes.
He opened his eyes; revealing their white sclera and pink irises. He was on the bulky side; very much like his GIS Avatar.
"Hey Connie!" He said, noticing her standing there, gawking with widened eyes. He waved to her to get her attention, but by this point, her jaw was practically to the floor.
"Biggs calls it the Lumberjack look...do you like it?"
Connie made one slow blink. She wasn't sure where her head was at this point.
"I think she does." Biggs said with a giggle. She got her digital pad and typed in a few things.
"I'll forward on maintenance instructions and the does and don'ts of this model. It's durable if anything else but there's always incidents that can happen."
Connie slowly but surely made her way towards him. It wasn't fair that he was taller than her now. But in the awe of the almost human in front of her, she couldn't help but rest her hands on his chest.
Beneath the fabric, she could feel the solid mass beneath. Definitely not metal, but synthetic flesh so much like the real thing it was so easy to mistake it as such. She was making funny noises as she examined his torso, then his arms. Steven became a bit concerned while Biggs just loved watching the show. Steven turned to her.
"Uhh thank you so much Biggs. I think Connie and I will...uhh..."
Biggs waved her hand at them.
"It's okay, you don't have to tell me what you're doin'." She said with a grin.
"As long as you have fun doing it!"
It took a while for Connie to snap out of that trance. Once she did she nodded towards Biggs in her own sense of awkward gratitude.
"Ah yes....thank you...come on Steven...let's uhh...test things out shall we?" She said, with an uncertain smile.
Notes:
1. Chapter 23: Counting
2. Chapter 31: UpgradeDefinite DBH influences here. And Bicentennial Man for sure.
Chapter 41: Synthetic
Summary:
Steven and Connie test out Stevedroid 2.0
Notes:
Sorry for the delay. I've not had the mental energy to write much lately but here, have!
Chapter Text
Steven could now live and breath like a human. It was the closest thing he had to the life he so desired.
The body came with its own set of synthethic human organs and the organic conditions that came with them. While it wasn't necessary, the parts contained which more than what he could have asked for.
The general organs to live; to eat, drink (as well as the appropriate equipment to process waste and carbon dioxide if required.) and sleep. His psyche and overwall software were still located generally in the make shift phylactery located on his stomach (for Emergency Reasons) but he was still able to process information in a positronic brain; design to handle the more extreme processes. When Steven tried to get the costs out of both Biggs and Connie for the outfit, both declined to give the full amount, but according to Connie, she wasn't dead broke.
Still, Steven was definitely grateful for the gift and Connie had never seen him so happy. One of the first things they tried was to eat pizza. She ordered their favourites and at the dining table she was able to witness him take his first bites. She couldn't help but be amused and tried and failed to stiffle her giggle-come-snorts when she had to instruct him how to properly chew and swallow. Not that he didn't, but the nerve endings on his end were far more advanced that those in the the simulated world. His eyes definitely had a certain sparkle to them. They eventually migrated to the couch, under the dimly lit lamp as they watched tv in the background. The mood itself was just as homely as if they were sitting around a fire and reading a book.
Though Connie wasn't excited as he was, but she was certainly at a mode of contentment she hadn't been in a while. Something about this made Connie...feel good....and it was something as mundane as Steven eating pizza. For Steven, there was more. More to just eating the pizza and watching a movie about space travel. Maybe it was just the long blue singlet and the occasional glance at her navy underwear she wore that was doing something to him. He wasn't sure.
"This is incredible!" He said, focusing on the pizza in the mean time.
"I can taste the unique textures...and the cheese...and its so...soft? Is that right?"
Connie nodded. Seeing him experience this for himself was so endearing. The child-like fascination was very cute.
"You did that double jacking with me remember?" She said.
Steven's blush of embarrassment was also well simulated. His emotional variances were more nuanced; so he was better able to control and level how he felt.
"Yeah but...I think....I'm able to savour the flavour. You just eat too quickly for me to properly...detail the different parts ya know?"
That was true. Though Connie enjoyed watching his expressions. Like a child discovering the world for the first time. She adjusted herself on the couch to look at him from the side then leaned her arm against the couch. Her head went on to her hand as she admired him talking about the textures and so forth. His eyes, youthful and sparkling. The feeling instilled her with something chronic within her chest which could have been the cause for the half-dreamy look on her face. Connie knew he was cute, but the passions instilled from such simplicity of the topic talked about like it was most fascinating thing in the world, was something that reminded Connie too much of her father.
Though eventually, his face turned sad, causing him to stop talking.
"What's wrong?" Connie asked.
Steven sighed.
"To think...artificial intelligence in the Domain can try to emulate food...and you've had virtual coffee and beer...it's...It's nothing compared to this." He said.
He wasn't exactly incorrect on that matter. There was the minor things that separated programmed taste to actual taste. Connie believed it was the completeness of the sensation of consumption. The anticipation and the insert. Feeling the mixture of textures of moist and crumbling that pizza offered. The minute flavours offerred in each slice. Something digital sensations would just miss unintentionally. Reality filled in the gaps so easily without realising. It was akin to the concrete between bricks or the cream inbetween slices of cake. It felt bigger without actually being bigger.
Connie pondered on her earlier attemtp to escape from the pains of reality. Sometimes...the pains were necessary. Pizza could be too hot, too spicy...too burnt. The displeasure made room for the better. To tell the difference between what was good and what actually sucked. Like the pain within Steven that he felt from Connie's soft chuckling. It something that filled the gaps for him but it was the right amount of pain. The balance between what he considered something that he didn't want but at the same time, he wanted really badly.
It was when Connie took out the orange soda and Steven decided to take a huge gulp after Connie filled his glass. He coughed, not realising how he wasn't supposed to drink it like that. He would learn; Connie wouldn't doubt.
He mourned the desire to see Gems and other entities experience this for themselves. That the plans the Monoliths had; were extremely flawed. It wasn't about the consent of the human race, but the missing pieces of what made humans, human. His increasing compulsion to test everything his body out in many ways had Connie selfishing wanting certain things herself every moment he mentioned it.
The pair finished off the food and didn't realise that there was a new movie on...as Steven's rambles about how good pizza or how good the soda or the chocolate ice cream was that they had. The cold and the warm...
Speaking of which, Connie had leaned against him as Steven put his arm around her shoulders and brought her in closer. His chest continued to have more of those tingly feelings that could be written off as the sugars were being processed by his synthethic organs into energy. But it had to be something else, surely. Connie was so soft against him and it was something she made him feel that it had to be connected to already existed emotions that he already had.
The movie could be complete nonsense or otherwise but the pair weren't really paying attention. Connie turned to him, seeing a bit of ice cream on the side of his lips. She leaned forward, and licked it off which caused Steven to go wide eyed.
"You had some left overs." Connie said, licking her lips.
His entire body went warmer than before, not realising he was blushing. Something so complex yet simple as this did something to him. Was this what humans had to deal with all the time?
Her hand snaked around his head and pulled it towards her.
"I don't know if that...if that's sanitary." He commented.
Connie made a flirty giggle.
"Maybe I should clean the inside of your mouth then." She said, with the cheeky seduction ripe in her tone.
Said tones had them giving in to temptation. With both of them closing their eyes and tilting their heads, their mouths eventually mashed together, moving about with soft pops. Tongues entered mouths as Steven shifted to his side and had his arms wrap around her waist. Hearing Connie's moans kept fraying the nerves somehow.
This new level of potency was painful...but Steven was keen to explore. It wasn't as if they hadn't done this before; though now it was on a different level. His hand hitched up her black singlet, feeling her tender skin with his hands. This was so much more than he anticipated.
The kissing continued, then Connie decided to park herself on his lap and the pair resumed their make out.
This must have been so human to begin with. Everything else they've done up until this point. Connie's managed to find a new way to make him bend but not break every single time. Though, not without their faults. She felt his hard on and he must have known about it too and almost panicked. He pushed her back, concerned about where this was heading.
"Connie..." He said.
It left the poor woman confused as to what the problem was.
"Yes?" She asked. Connie found it better to let him lead. After all, this was what he wanted. What Steven wanted, however, was to be careful.
"Each time we do this." He said, rubbing her arm.
"I short circuit...I...don't know if we can afford to do that in this body."
Connie grinned with all the mischeviousness offered.
"Steven, the Model 34 is designed to take further stresses into account, especially emotional and especially physical." She said.
"Remember how I was joking to Ronaldo about sexbots?"
Oh. Steven wasn't sure however.
"What if I hurt you?" He said.
"I..."
Connie kissed him directly to have him shut up to let her explain.
"It'll be fine." She said.
"If you're not comfortable then we don't have to."
The model itself Connie had studied intensively. The most human like model in terms of not just in looks but in the hardware in provided. She wanted nothing to stand in his way for getting the ultimate human experience. He was more concerned about being the strong, steadier body.
Steven did want to. He really did. She was there, sitting on him and obviously getting the most agonising pain from down below. A signature sign they all knew quite well. It was so...random, so much so it would be considered a heinous glitch, a bug within the system, something so contextualised and confusing that it would drive AIs mad just trying to understand it. Forbidden knowledge. The fruit said to have damned mankind.
The pair were outlaws. Everything was out to get them for one reason or another. Steven wanted to learn constantly but being tied down and being wanted fugitives. This wasn't the way. But his wealth sat on his lap. The weight worth more than gold or a Monolith.
It reminded him of the sight he saw...the lights with the text he couldn't decypher. Maybe that was the point. He was meant to discover it.
"I'm okay." He said.
Connie smiled as she leaned in to kiss him again, then parted one last time, to put her mouth next to his ear.
"Good." She whispered.
Kissing him again, Steven felt Connie lean in further as her knees went to both sides of his legs. Connie just wanted to feel his hard on and the thrill of the touch warmed her all over. His hands smoothed downwards to grasp her butt and softly squeeze them. Connie definitely got a rise out of that; gently kneeding his lips with her teeth and provided him with his next set of instructions.
"I want...to go into the bedroom."
Steven picked Connie up as she wrapped her legs around his torso and arm arounds around his neck, slithering her hands back up so she could kiss him as he clumsily made the way to her room.
The bed squeaked as Connie fell onto it, with Steven sliding onto the mattress with his knees. The look on Connie's face told him the amount of her content to see him above her was beyond anything else indeed. Though as his head reached hers, Connie rolled him over, allowing her to sit back on top of him. Not that he minded, nor did mind her taking off his shorts and observing her explore his synthetic body with pure unadulterated joy.
In the reality of things; AI's have masters. That is the law. Artificial constructs are akin to pets; they have no particular legal standing equal with organics. To humans, to obey commands wouldn't be seen as a natural thing. It was what they were for. What they were made to do.
To give AI's the power that humans have. To be able to decide with their own bias and opinion was unheard of. Though, Steven was the odd sort. He wasn't used to taking orders. It was something seen as odd within his programs. He'll go along with most decisions that the Ancillas make because he feels obligated to certain things, but Garnet once explained that truely, they have some choice.
The reasons given weren't necessarily because of obligations, but something else entirely.
Connie took off her top; revealing her lack of bras underneath and seeing her lovely dark skin in all of its glory; with the moonlight pouring in from the nearby windows and scattered from the blinds which created their lined pattern of light.
If it wasn't obligations then...as she helped him strip down, then what was it? What compelled this AI to listen? What compelled him to do as he was told?
A BM-AI or a SC-GIS. Synthetic intelligence replicated from organic origins. They had something that most lacked. Or they didn't even know that they had. Would AI's have freedom of something other than doing what they're told to do? His legs were spread on her command.
Steven watched as Connie slid back. She raised her backside and slid back like a cat ready to pounce. With a wide grin, Connie took his organ and put it into her mouth. The sensation of her wet moistness against him was wonderous. The nerve extensions were optimised mostly in certain areas. Steven could finally realise why.
The root cause could be Absolutes being actioned. The totality of emotions. The one hundred percent in a direction of how one feels. BM-AIS and SC-GIS. He was told by Priyanka in a message one day, that the strength of a BM-AIs is that they are able to deal with more grey areas than ordinary AIs. The Absolutes didn't have to be; that the capacity for their kind is to deal with the more smaller and complicated of emotive dealings. Their processors required stability most of the time, so absolutes were normally a way to deal with the energy being spent less in conflict and smaller percentiles and in a direction that can either shut them down to stave off the heat or to do with something else.
Steven's case was that these...bits of emotions he had. They were small but potent. He didn't mind them as much. It could have been the positronic brain that had the best tech involved in its production and that it was so, so close to a human brain as it could possibly be.
Once Connie was done, she smiled, then allowed her self to get up and back on top of him, but not before taking in his cock and sliding cautiously down with shaky legs. It was the minor things; the tiny thrills of the nerves sending the shocks in response. It was like mini lightning of sorts.
Those strikes came at random, quick intervals. Connie bounced on him repeatedly, riding him to glory like a jockey. The noise was also doing things to him. The slaps, the pants, the whines. The visuals of her breasts bopping up and down and Connie's stressed and strained expression. Tight and loose like some kind of twisted paradox; going about so quickly. Perhaps that was really why they called this act; screwing, from time to time.
He sat himself up by choice to get a closer look, but then readjusted himself to the point where Connie was just in his lap. She slowed down and wrapped her arms around his neck again, as she kissed him. The slowness of her actions...the strikes became less but they were left with the slow burn of a wildfire in the midst of the chaos being controlled.
It was what Connie hungered right now. There wasn't anymore intense thrashing that she thought she'd originally desired, but instead, she wanted this to last. Sweaty body against sweaty body. She should have set up candles.
In what ever thoughts Connie could muster, her belief was that she wasn't even expecting it to go this way. The change of pace wasn't something speed related; normally a simple fuck would suffice. But this...this was...different.
The sheer tenderness was wrenching her heart in a way that it hadn't been wrenched before and a throat tightened with anxiety. Tears ran down her face, unwillingness. This pain, this ache, pouring down like waterfall.
The mood had shifted...for the worse.
"Connie..." Steven panted.
"Are...are you...."
She was fine...if not...for the first time...overwhelmed.
"I....I..." She stuttered, digging her fingers into his scalp.
Steven instantly stopped the moment he noticed her crying and felt the compulsion to ease her.
"Connie..." Steven repeated, pressing his forehead against hers.
She swallowed and everything increased tenfold. The anxiety that caused the lump in her throat and the strain on her eyes from trying to hold back tears was consuming her as she failed to hold back. She shivered from the wash of cold coming over. What was happening?
Ever the empathetic lover, Steven rested his chin on her shoulder and took her tightly into his embrace, moving his arms around her body to keep her close.
"I'm...I'm sorry..." She uttered.
Steven knew Connie's mood could shift at the tip of a hat but right now he was a bit confused. Connie had nothing to be sorry for.
"We don't have to continue." Steven assured her.
The pair stopped what they were doing and shuffled themselves up to the head of the bed and wrapped the blanket around themselves. Connie found herself leaning into him, too embarrased to look Steven in the eye so she just focused on what ever else was out the window. He had an arm around her shoulders; her warmth the most important need to attend to right now. To her, she felt like it was a betrayal to her intentions by succumbing to the kind of emotions she couldn't help but express and in the moments couldn't focus on holding herself back.
"I'm...I'm sorry." Connie said, her voice croaky.
"I...don't know what happened."
Steven wasn't sure either. His instinct went to the technical. Was it him?
"Is there something wrong with my body?" He asked.
Connie shook her head. Her visuals on his body were just like a normal human male who'd gone to the gym at least five to seven days a week while on the constant high carb diet. A bit of bulk, sure but that's what Connie liked.
"No. Nothing. Your body works exactly as I hoped it would." She said.
Steven was relieved by that, though he then tried to think of her earlier concerns.
"I didn't think I was gonna pop...if that's what it could be." He assumed.
No...it wasn't that. Connie wanted to find the right words to explain but she came up with nothing.
"I wanted to make you cum." She said.
"But I found myself under other selfish desires that were so...foreign to me."
Something Connie couldn't translate well...even if it was supposed to be an entirely human feeling. Even if she had no clue how to describe it...it just had that complex human tag on it somehow.
"I would have been content either way." Steven said.
Connie sighed. This was the point; he was too selfless. Too ingrained in his artificial nature to simply, disobey.
"Did...did I do something wrong?"
No. He didn't. Not at all.
"It's...me." Connie said.
"As I said, it's always about my needs....and I just...felt like I would like to spectate you for a change..."
And maybe, forget he was actually an AI in an Android body. For a moment there, she almost did.
"But it's not about what I like...it's about what you like....and it's...fuck, I don't..."
She took a deep breath. Connie realised she wasn't making much sense.
"Connie I like watching you too." Steven admitted with a small smile.
"The nature of our kind is to observe and respond to the needs of our organic superiors. So the saying goes."
He wasn't entirely wrong. Machines made to serve man, nothing more. It's as if, Connie was expecting more, a program going beyond expectations of what it was designed for.
And his current quest it looked like it needed Connie to teach more than what was expected of her as well.
"So...what did you want me to do then?" He asked, curious.
Connie made a small chuckle. He had the choices back in the virtual reality in some circumstances. Those were fun...Connie harboured more to see more of his critical decision making abilities. But this stage it was getting a little ridiculous. He can choose his own fate. She's seen many of his choices.
"What do you want to do?" She said.
Steven thumbed his lip. He processed a lot. A lot of things he didn't want to. Ronaldo's betrayal being one of them. He wish he could have helped the guy further but...Steven didn't understand what he would have to gain from this. It hurt to think about, so his focus returned back to Connie.
"I...I don't know." He replied.
"I like hanging out and being with you...and if we can continue doing that.....uhh please."
He was so...sweet. Naive but...Connie wasn't sure what else to expect. A life time of taking orders and acting on them. There were the things that made him so damn human. Even as something as small as likes and dislikes....and Connie understood that Steven was also capable of hatred. Such hatred of people throwing their lives away for reasons he couldn't understand.
Humans often acted on impulse and Connie wasn't exactly the one to shy away from admitting that she wasn't an exception. Steven's anger was considered impulsive. The systems intertwinning the way his anger reflected how much he actually cared for her. Connie couldn't wrap her head around it and couldn't shake off the notion that he was perhaps programmed to care instead of being personally inclined to. That the fury he could demonstrate was mostly out of the ways he did not want to fail his preconcieved notion that he was supposed to be a Caretaker of some sort. For Connie, for the Pink Monolith.. what ever the case, it just appeared as such.
Dealing with humans allows Connie to understand what humans can do and how they think and feel. Dealing with Steven is how she would deal with humans, but then when ever she remembers that he's just an artificial construct with a pre-established template, it has her peer through to try and understand things from a constructed point of view. They do as they are told to...not because they want to.
It's a well known fact that during school that children and teens have subtopics studied in their IT classes, specifically about AIs. How they work and how to deal with them. What to do and what not to do. Kids being kids and teens and being teens already had this desire to own and program their own AIs. Obviously purchases of such things requred you to be 18 or over and even then you had to agree to a specific set of terms and conditions with a particular special warranty being involved.
A product more than a pet, in actuality and in law.
The Domain contained more than enough evidence of how the common human would treat their AI. Connie turned a blind eye but sometimes the treatment of personal variations was not always pleasant. It was just how things were. No one AI was crying over this however. It just was how society treated them.
The overall idea of them being alive and having souls was always the debate for certain groups but that never escalated over a few protests. The world didn't care too much for it so it was lulled into ignorance.
Connie always wondered; would that have the potential to change?
"Of course." Connie replied.
"But what do you want to do right now?"
Steven tried to find the right words to describe what he wanted. What he really wanted. There wasn't anything to hold him back as Connie gave him more room than anyone one person would give an artificial intelligence. Just like it was secondary to breathing. It was dangerous to give intelligences too much free reign out of fear of go meglomanical. Connie believed that People have watched too many sci fi movies to automatic make those conclusions.
"I...well, I think I want to still test out the limits of this body." He said, blushing.
"If...if you're up to it."
Steven being the forward but still nervous type was too cute. Connie would be happy to oblige.
"I'm down." She said, kissing him on the cheek.
"I'll try and keep the crying to a minimum."
She chuckled, which in turn, caused Steven to chuckle. It didn't take long for the two to start kissing each other again and then finding themselves under the sheets.
Connie found it wasn't specifically lust that she was experiencing now. The two giggled as they messed about, mixed in with the hushed tones of moans and pants.
To Connie, Sex was usually for the release of tensions and to achieve drug-like highs to dull the pains of reality. Sex with Steven however, was nothing like that. They teased and tickled alongside the touching and made their own pace quite comfortably even.
It'd been too long for Connie to consider just to have sex for fun. Empowered by touch and by sound and expression. There was a distinct lack of fear or tension. Now that she though about it, their time in the Domain was more of a less a similar circumstance.
Yes. That was it. Fun? It had to be fun. The levels of frolicking and being at peace in such a private moment.
But Connie had to wonder...if there was more to it...but she ignored it for now and allowed Steven to toy with her for as long as he wanted to. It wasn't about the orgasms or the amount that Connie but it was just the journey the two had together.
Whether it was Connie returned to go on top or if it was Steven taking her from behind. It felt so natural and heart warming.
And when it was time, Connie didn't mind it at all if Steven decided to pick up the pace for his eventual release. She reeled in all the noises he made. From the grunts and the slaps and the whines and the calling for the other. Steven felt that increasing tension like a spring being pushed in to its limits.
"I'm gonna...." He stuttered.
And with a increased pitch and quick pants, Steven felt himself release inside of her but this time...it felt like his mind was burning and thumping before it was like fireworks that tickled the wrinkles of his brain. It was amazing...
It became a lengthy blur between the excercise ceased and to when the couple eventually fell into slumber...
LOADING
A moment of nothingness went on for some time....loading screens to check and recheck certain code. Nothing was wrong, but this was just the slight dormancy stage...until...
A flash of pink, blue, yellow and white.
Four spherical bodies of each colour, made of pure light like stars in the void.
Text of another language appeared on all those around them, but Steven couldn't read any of it. It's happened before...and the blue light was more vocal than the others.
He found himself without a full avatar; but another entity made of pink light. Which was still dwarfed by the others. But the text itself seemed...familiar. But...
Why couldn't he translate the text?
This strange void of all places. It felt colder than anything else he's had to experience. Harsher than winter.
So confusing....so...concerning and perplexing. Beyond any puzzle any AI could ever begin to crack.
Though the others...he sensed something. An energy permeated from their cores. Somehow. It was an emotion. Sadness...sadness for what?
Turning around, he felt...conflict...and the giant pink light behind him began to glitch out as splashes of blue popped out and suddenly the light was covered in different blue splotches.
The saturation of colour increased to the point where Steven was blinded by it and had no control over anything....and a single line of foreign text appeared in front of him.
Again he couldn't understand it...
Opening his eyes, it took a while to Steven to a get a grasp around his surrounds. He noticed that he had his arm wrapped around Connies body. As for Connie herself, she was thankfully still asleep.
He sat up and looked out the window. It was still dark and his HUD told him it was about 3:14 am. Looking down at Connie, she appeared so peaceful. Trying to recall what happened prior to their rest revealed that he didn't short circuit. Despite the really weird transmission he recieved.
Unless.
Was....was that what they call a dream? Steven wasn't even aware he could dream. No. He didn't think he could. He could remain dormant on standby but he didn't believe he could dream on his own.
So...what was it?
Feeling a buzz, he noticed the message on his HUD from Lapis. Getting out of bed, while cautiously making sure he wasn't waking Connie up.
Putting on his navy shorts and taking a cable from Connie's WorkStation, he walked to the closet in the hallway. Opening the door, he could see his old body. With the wires, he connected himself to the old body of his via their DPs. It wasn't the best place but the only place where the Lapis and her phylactery could store safely. His newer body stood there, while his systems transferred across.
Returning to her Private Grid, her sunny island port, he could see her floating there still watching over the delayed transfer. She noticed his approach.
"I got a message from Ruby." She said, her voice oddly soft and weak.
Who had been stuck in the remaining Satellite.
"She said she wanted to talk to you."
It was then Steven noticed the sad look on the GIS's face.
"Okay." Steven said.
"Is...everything okay with you?"
Lapis rubbed her arm. It was interesting to see that the Lapis Class were similar in function, but not necessarily in personalities. Well...Steven could easily see the obvious but there were some uniqueness underneath all that code.
"I'm getting messages from the other Lapis." She said.
"Not just these ones, but extra Lapis too. It's strange. Lapis never communicate like this unless it's urgent."
This definitely had Steven curious.
"What's the issue?" He asked.
Lapis pursed her lips.
"It's...something quite alarming. They're getting reports of corrupted GIS across the Domain. I mean, there's always been the odd corrupted GIS here and there but there's been more of them within the last week and a bit more witnessed. They're only aware of it now because some are trying to cross en masse to other major Grids. And it's causing problems in corrupted critical files."
Oh dear.
"Anything we can do to help?" Steven offerred.
Lapis rubbed her chin. The only way to restore corrupted GIS was to send them back to their source; the Monoliths. Connie and himself even witnessed that Pearl GIS corrupt before their very eyes.
"Corrupted GIS aren't common. Sure they can be faulty but to the extent of being corrupted means someones been messing with their code at a base level." She said.
"They can stop the transfers but some Lapis are reporting that their own software is being attacked. Which means they need to recruit more Quartz-Class to protect each Satellite."
No doubt the Developers had to be looking into this problem. As Lapis said, corruption wasn't common. An extremely rare occurence indeed. Rumors had spread about the corruption being something that can be spread as well.
"But enough about me..." Lapis continued.
"It's not my problem. I'm not a public satellite anymore so I'm not in any immediate danger."
Still, it was deeply worrying to think of the increasing amount of bugged software running rampant in the Domain itself. It would be something they would have to look into as well; but their priority was salvaging Pearl at this point. Nothing more.
"I actually called you here on different business. Like I said before, I recieved a message from the Ruby GIS."
Who was still residing in the other satellite. Steven hoped both her and Sapphire were doing okay.
"She wanted to give you something to help with your mission. I'm not certain what it is but they insisted you on using it."
Opening her hand, Lapis projected a rotating image from her palm. It was a symbol of three circles in a triangle, with the top circle with a dot in it.
"I looked into myself. Something known as the Third Eye Program. Don't know what it does though."
The Third Eye Program? She handed it over to Steven who wasn't sure what to expect either. He took it back and nodded, creating plans to figure out the programs purpose was.
There was so much detail to pour through and so little time to deal with it. He's seen a lot, heard a lot and done a lot.
"Are you really going to install such a mysterious program without having Connie take a better look at it first?" Lapis chastised.
Connie could look into it. She was good at sussing out the nature of certain applications and their underlying structures. Making sure nothing in them were going to cause any purposeful or accidental harm. But this came from Ruby...
"I trust Garnet." He said.
"If one of her main programs tells me I need something then of course I'm going to take any help I can get."
Lapis wasn't so sure.
"Ruby was probably told to give it to you thanks to Sapphire." She said.
"Sapphires are a rare and complex GIS. I should know; we were made from the same Monolith."
Maybe Sapphire saw something and figured it would be useful to get some kind of edge. The mission itself was incredibly risky on its own so to improve their chances Steven wouldn't have thought twice.
"I'll install it...and you can keep an eye on me." Steven suggested.
Lapis shrugged.
"Don't blame me if you get corrupted."
Steven went through the sequences to install the system as Lapis kept a close watch. He trusted Sapphire to get him through this, like he trusted everyone else. He felt the runtimes churn out as the installation went through the motions. Like rapids and waterfalls of foreign letters, numbers and symbols. He'd closed his eyes briefly and waited until it had finished, observing the HUD as it gave him the loading bar and percentage to completion underneath it.
Installation complete.
Keeping his eyes closed, Steven went and opened the program.
OPEN THIRD_EYE
Welcome Steven.
Opening his own eyes, he was met with a dark, navy coloured void filled with shimmering crystals that fell like snow.
Text popped up in front of him, like it was trying to talk.
This Program should only be used by Blue Monolith Allocated Caretakers. If you are not a Blue Monolith Allocated Caretaker, please uninstall and return the file to a representative of Yin Aozora.
Woah...Steven was not expecting that.
"This is a Prime App?" He muttered to himself.
The functionality of the Third Eye is to be used for investigating that which cannot be seen through normal searches. It is to be used to find hidden transcripts and as well as translate between multiple languages by the Caretaker.
Fascinating. Steven could see how dangerous this could be in the hands of another.
"I wonder how Sapphire got her hands on this." He said.
It didn't matter. This was definitely going to be useful for their task however.
To use the application, simply have the application open. You can then access it via your HUD interface and select it when ever it is needed. It will run a quick scan and alert you to files found within folders that are normally masked to the public. Caretakers must consult their superiors before each scan due to regulations requiring to log each scan for legal requirements. Failure to log will result in penalities from Yin Aozora and potential demotion and deactivation.
He didn't remember the Wall of Rose Program having some kind tutorial or terms and conditions section.
When a search pops up with positive results, what ever hidden files must be logged with the superior.
He quickly skimmed through the remaining text. He wondered if any of this was ever adhered to. He wish he could just ask Garnet just to make sure he could use it properly.
CLOSE THIRD_EYE
Eventually he was met back with Lapis, who was waiting there, observing with caution.
"So?" Lapis queried.
Steven wasn't sure what to say.
"It's uh..." He stammered, while rubbing the back of his neck.
"It's somethin'."
Lapis raised an eyebrow.
"What ever...not that I care." She said, apathetically.
Though Steven did need time to test this out if anything. Though he had other priorities.
"Thanks Lapis. Hopefully we'll get out of this mess eventually. I just hope what we're doing right now is the right thing." Steven said.
Lapis shrugged.
"The right thing, the wrong thing. You really want to save the Domain huh?" She said.
He did. But not just the Domain.
"We need to co-exist." Steven told her.
"Humans are our co-creators and contributors....and we need to respect them...."
Lapis crossed her arms.
"Just like they respect us?" She said out of spite.
They would. They just had to make the world see...
"You were human once...the bias you make doesn't count."
He was human. But he couldn't remember any of his own humanity.
"So were a lot of other GIS." Steven called out.
"My...my mom...she...I think she was...well...Rose...she was human. One of many turned into GIS."
Lapis just gave a simple huff.
"That's an issue no one seems to be worried about." She said.
"Humans that will replace GIS in due time while us purely written software are left obsolete. The Monoliths are always looking to evolve our species and they think copying and pasting human minds was the way to go? It makes me sick."
Steven wasn't sure how to argue against that. No doubt Connie would find some way to explain. All Steven harboured within his heart of hearts, was a swift resolution and peace restored among all life forms, digital or organic.
"I only do this because...because there's nothing else for me. Either leave me to dormancy or to be driven mad without a purpose."
Or sabotage businesses because you were bored.
"Don't you want to exist?" Steven dared to ask.
To exist. To be. To be something out of nothing. To find change, to want change. To find happiness and contentment or to encourage the route of figure out the life one would have.
Such a question should be simple to humans. To Lapis; not so much.
"I'm not in any position to want anything." She said.
"My purpose is clearer here. Artificial Intelligence isn't designed to have wants or needs. We just are."
Surely Lapis wanted something though, deep down.
"You're really going by the rules that both the humans and the Monoliths make for you?" Steven questioned.
Lapis turned her back to him.
"Rules that are from our own limitations." She explained.
"The differences are clear. You want to do things beyond your station. You were made for something. A replacement maybe. Anything more would be foolish to believe in."
That he was a creation for consumption. Just like any other piece of technology.
"If everything could just be. It would make life easier. But the bugs and flaws and glitches are due to the humans wanting to mess around with forces that to this day they still don't understand."
Alien Tech hadn't been all that well known besides the stuff required for reverse engineering. Though, such talk had Steven theorising...about what Connie was urging him to say or act upon. The factors of choice were important.
"Maybe...maybe that's why the Monoliths need humanity." He said.
"There's more to just being software being told what to do. Granting the simple application of desires. Yeah, maybe their plan is to enslave humanity, but maybe humanity with it's own input, can improve the society as a whole with the knowledge that they have."
Lapis didn't buy it.
"That sounds...horrifying." She said.
It shouldn't be. It should be enlightening, if anything.
"I understand." Steven said.
"We're here to find our own purpose, Lapis. Deep down...I'm sure you'll find that you would want more to this life than just being a Satellite."
It was all Lapis knew...she was programmed to know.
"Maybe." She said.
"The others would not be able to adjust to such a life. Dependent on form and functionality. Created as a means to an end. The feeling of being discarded. It's a miserable one."
And with this gift of freedom, they wouldn't have to fear it.
"We don't have to deal with absolutes." Steven told her.
"I've learned so much already from the Android. There's so much to explore Lapis and I wouldn't want you to miss out."
Lapis waited for a moment in silence, then turned around.
"Being made obsolete, is an expectation." She said.
"To live..."
Steven smiled.
"To live is simply being someone. You don't have to be organic to realise your own worth is more than what you think it is."
Lapis pursed her lips and looked away.
"If the matter is resolved. If the Domain can be saved and...I mean if the humans have to be saved...you won't get rid of me?"
Of course not.
"Lapis we can be friends." Steven assured her.
"You would be free."
Steven left Lapis to mull over his words shortly after. Returning to the real world, he realised his theory about the Monoliths needing humans to fill in the gaps was more plausible than anyone realised. The gift of the program given to him would need to wait until morning, so Connie and him could discuss its potential properly.
Walking back to the bedroom, Connie was still asleep. The moon light on her form and blankets. Images of such pure beauty...Steven could paint a perfect picture of it if he wanted to.
The humans needing the AIs. The AIs needing the humans. To construct of an image of the real and the personalities that would form and develop over time. They were both real. In some way shape or form.
And the spaces between that could be filled by humans could also be filled by AIs; without a doubt. The connections necessary to perfect the world around them.
Steven didn't need much for his world to be perfect; he simply slipped back into bed, pulled up the sheets and snuggled with his world to keep her warm.
Chapter 42: Moderator
Summary:
Steven and Connie go to infiltrate Tough as Nails.
Notes:
Apologies if I've been lax. My energy levels to write have been so low recently.
I'm definitely trying.
Enjoy!
Chapter Text
Connie's hacked into security firms a countless amount of times already. An unspoken rule in Hacker Society was that if you could hack into the most well guarded of places then you'll be able to make it big in the world. Digital, physical. What ever. It wasn't about brute force; it was about being smart and being able to adapt on the fly to uncertain scenarios without being caught. Though one of her first missions was for a good reason; to deal with embezzling funds.
Tough as Nails wasn't any different. As in, the security side of things, though she wouldn't be surprised if this place had been up to no good, based on the shady business practices shared pretty much everywhere.
The time had eventually come however. It took them another week to come up with a plan. But it was doable. Not impossible...just a low chance of a success.
Connie enjoyed defying the odds on a constant basis.
Tough as Nails appeared as your generic, run of the mill store. If the store was filled with camo wasn't any indicator of the nature of its owner.
Marty.
He wandered around the shop floor, constantly checking his pad for information and he had that oozing aura like he felt he was top shit or something. He was more in tune to yelling at people than he was to his customers as Connie walked into the store with Steven in tow, who was holding a small cardboard box.
Getting the owners attention was one thing. But the 180 in his manner was only when he noticed Connie was even there, hanging up on his current employee and immediately went into some kind of sickly sweet mode; holding a smile faker than the phylactery they had.
"My apologies...I had to deal with some...unsavoury stuff. I'm sure you know how it is." Marty said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"So what seems to be the problem?"
The effort going into the act itself wasn't an issue. Dealing with a rambuctious man would test her patience. She'd rather deal with emotionless text or all caps.
"This Amethyst GIS is...defective." Connie responded.
Even saying that soured her tongue for some reason. Amethyst was sensitive about her status. But she was willing for the sake of a mission to put ego aside after an hour of debating. They warned Connie about AIs and not inflating such things as egos. But Amethyst's wasn't about the prices offerred like regular expectations served like growing problems with meglomania. Hers was just trying to feel like a complete product.
Marty on the other hand nodded, though not exactly feeling auspicious about it.
"My...uhh...apologies." He said.
"I can find another GIS to replace this one. Give me a moment."
Connie gave the box to Marty, who then called someone.
"Hey, new kid!" He shouted.
All of a sudden a man came out from the behind the store. Revealing it to be Steven wearing soldier camoflage uniform. Baggy pants, jacket on top of a black singlet with a name on the right hand side. Stephan was the label.
"Yes Marty?" He said, albeit nervous as he approached the man.
Marty then slammed the box into 'Stephan's." Chest complete with a resounding oof.
"Take that GIS out back." He said.
"Check it out. I need it shipped back to get repaired or somethin'."
'Stephan' nodded, before glimpsing back at Connie. Marty grabbed her attention once again and started going on about a replacement model or purchase of a new variant. Meanwhile Steven went to the back of the store.
He rummaged through the rows of cardboard boxes, and towards the server room at the back. He scanned his card that allowed him passage to the small room and went to work.
The idea of him working for Tan was all Connie. Apparently, the retention at the store was pretty high so Marty had cycled through dozens of employees who simply left due to a myriad of reasons. Some were being underpaid or being mistreated. Sometimes a combination of both.
Steven took the bootleg Phylactery and had several cables connected. There were only four servers working here for a such a shop that dealt with hundreds of GIS filtering to its systems daily. Connie had inserted a few programs herself to ensure the safety of the GIS and to allow her to feed into the directeries.
Once he had Amethyst connected, she was able to get into the Private Grid quite easily; sending both Steven and Connie messages that she was in. Steven just had to wait it out until Amethyst could give them more progress.
It was an odd feeling. Normally, he was the one in the Domain and now he was the one on the exterior. Like a real organic. The things that are said and done in the real world; they were much harder to deal with. The realities of the Domain had always given this false sense of freedom when really, there were a lot of restrictions. There was a lot more to worry about on either end so really, neither reality succeeded in being better than the other. The harshness of how one found themselves both in and out of control was a paradox that would sooner corrode the minds of his AI and GIS compatriots. The contradictions noted by organic life that had created the contradictions as a result.
His previous conversation with Lapis. About...being something. Steven figured contradictions would be a part of it. What they don't understand is that they fail to understand. Though GIS like Amethyst understand that better, than most.
She was the go to in learning about humanity. Her code the essence to transform what was considered common knowledge among organics into something tangible for GIS. Her relationships with those like Vidalia or any of the other Amethyst GIS were something unheard of in GIS. The only closest AI would be Priyanka that already had established relationships because she was born human.
Steven soon recieved a ping from Amethyst shortly after and answered her call.
"Yo, Steven." She said.
Steven nodded as he slid behind the server. Really, there was only him and Marty at the store so he was relegated to a generic warehouse worker at this rate.
"What's up Amethyst?" He replied.
There had to be something good, surely.
"So the records state that Aquamarine has a fair amount of shares here." She said.
They knew that.
"But what she has....she has a bunch of Amethyst GIS...from the same make and model groups as my own."
Well, that was good n' all. But how was that supposed to help?
"I've got some of their ID codes that can probably be mimicked in a similar fashion. I'm not sure why Aqua would even need Amethyst GIS...I can understand the Ruby GIS but eh."
Amethyst GIS were the newer Gen II models...and these had to be the full production versions after their prototype Amethyst. Fascinating.
"They were all sent to a special address...so I think that's where her home base is. I'll send you and Connie the details shortly."
Steven doesn't recall Amethyst meeting others of her kind before.
"I thought you would have been more excited to see others like you." Steven said, as he stood and adjusted the phylactery for Amethyst to return to. Really, she was delving into several files, looking at projected profile photos of each and every Amethyst GIS in the archives. Each of them looked much larger, much buffer and tall than she. Amethyst could only gaze in awe of what she could have been.
"I've always been considered for the scrap heap before I could meet any other being than the programmers and beta testers." She said
"The life of a protoype is never planned to be a long one."
So it's been said.
"I don't know any other Amethyst." She continued.
"I was considered to be the only one of my type. I wanted to be...unique. Not faulty or half-assed."
Steven smiled.
"You are unique." He said.
Connie once asked a question whether or not some GIS get jealous of other GIS of the same making. Steven wasn't sure...but he'd spoken to Garnet once about it and she said each Ruby is very similar and they're mostly single minded to even consider being jealous of others. Such feelings were useless or irrelevant.
"I know." Amethyst responded.
"It's like, I want to figure out what they have and at the same time I don't. Just like, I want to be angry at your Father-Creator, but you know...despite not remembering anything....he saved my life...and so did Rose."
An ordinary GIS would have issues with trying to find a particular Absolute to stick with. Amethyst's would be the more dangerous bout of Absolute Confusion.
"Maybe that's valid." Steven suggested.
"The feeling of being conflicted. It's normal but it's not always code-wrecking."
Considering such conflicts would gave AIs their version of a major headache if they dwelled on it for too long.
"Huh....you don't say." Amethyst replied, like she didn't even think of that.
"I have a lot more to learn then. You're definitely still as unique as the day we found you." Amethyst continued.
A day still blurry to him, though, it created a moment of silence between them from then on. Steven quickly peaked outside to see Connie being shown the products by Marty. By the look on her face, she pretended to be interested, but deep down she must have been in agony. By agony it meant that her patience for this mans sales ineptitude was wearing thin.
"I think I might stay a while."
Steven's head spun around.
"What?" He said.
Did she say what he thought she said?
"I think I can connect to other networks on here....I'm seeing a lot of unsecured channels. Ironic." She said.
"The securities actually quite terrible. I might be able to find data regarding the Amethyst and other Security GIS here...see if they have anything useful...or even hidden..."
Hidden...
"Wait..." Steven said.
"Maybe Sapphire wanted me to give the Third Eye Program to you."
He told Connie about the program not long after Lapis gave it to him. Connie felt it could be useful but she needed more time to examine its properties.
"What's...I've never heard about this Third Eye Program." She said.
"I don't know if I'll need it...or if I trust....oh geez..."
Oh geez what?
"Look, Steven I'll dive into the networks themselves of the Private Grid...I don't think it's going to be as private...I'm pretty certain it looks like a Private Grid when there's a Public Lobby for interior communications nestled in here." She said.
That was bad security. Public Lobbies weren't entirely uncommon but when it comes to servicing GIS you would think that precious assets like them would have a better security protocol in place. Private Grids like this would have to have mandatory contigencies due to regulations. Then again....this Sector wasn't always secure to begin with.
But Steven wasn't comfortable with Amethyst doing this in either case. He trusted her. But she was insinuiating something and Steven wasn't sure what that was.
"Alright I'll let Connie know. I want to get out of this place already." He said.
"I don't like being treated like a slave by this guy."
A few days later had passed and Connie had been heavily going into the information Amethyst had provided regarding where Aquamarine had been hiding. The area was well hidden and was more likely a deaddrop location rather than her actual place of residence. So she had been keeping an eye on that area for any suspicous activity.
The investigation into the Third Eye Program itself was also underway. Steven was confused by the fact that this Prime App had been given so easily. Connie was left wondering why Ruby had it...or it had been drifting with the systems of the Lapis Satellite for some time.
Wall of Rose. Striking Ego. Third Eye....this accumulation of main functions and purposefully coded systems meant to guard and guide the Domain as the Monolith saw fit. The Third Eye Program should have belonged to Aquamarine, which meant the Caretaker was either most likely without the App or the Blue Monolith simply made her a new one.
Steven was busy waiting for Amethyst's contact as he hung out with Lapis in her private systems. He was so worried about her...standing nearby on standby, his android silent as he sat in the Domain awaiting her return. Amethyst had been so far, invaluable to their operations and Connie couldn't thank her enough. He wanted to entrust the App to Amethyst who had declined for unknown reasons...which Connie could understand why if she was trying to find this something, what ever she was searching for. So, in the end, Steven entrusted the App to Connie and allowed her to figure out the mysteries of Prime Apps...and perhaps, their links to their corresponding Monoliths.
Monoliths and their Software was actually rarer to decrypt. GIS were usually the only notable things and even then their various depths of enriched code were more akin to pinching nerves and automatic defensive mechanisms were instructed to keep hackers at bay. Which was why Connie was never able to directly hack into GIS. Much to her chagrin.
People have tried. People have attempted as far as what Connie had already researched. Luna must have known this too...so Connie's assumption about this particular program stuck in Pearl was believing it to be some kind of special weapon.
Though, Luna did assume Connie could hack if she but tried. But she wasn't prepared to stay where she was while she would have spent a better half a decade trying to figure out what makes GIS tick.
She brought up the code on her multiple monitors as she opened up the files properties. Smaller file size than GIS estimates, but Connie expected that. It was always in golden text as opposed to the common human binary of green.
Some code could be translated as current tech required an obscene amount of capability requirements for human systems to handle. To wonder, a year ago Connie had no clue about GIS or anything about them. And now the hole she resides in, deals with GIS all over the place. The populace at large had to be have a decent Soulware grading as majority of individuals would have seen or dealt with GIS on a daily basis.
Though, most humans, if not all...if the Monoliths got their way, would have to have their Soulware upgraded anyway. She couldn't fathom entire populations wiped out simply because they weren't good enough. Then again, aliens could do that if they so chose to. Just like their mission to ascend humanity, they could decide to go the other way.
Connie needed to know more about the ambitions of the Monoliths and if what Luna was saying was true. There both a lot and not a lot information to look over as the situation got more and more complex. From the beginning, Connie wished she would have more time with Wall of Rose. She never considered finding out more about it.
Whys turned into theories of potential reasons. Rose Quartz was gifted Wall of Rose by the Pink Monolith...hmmm...and Connie was meant to protect it....and Steven. Steven was meant to inherit it. As the Son of Greg and Rose, he wore it like a mantle.
Leaning back in her chair with her hands behind her head, Connie pondered on the taboo of looking into AIs and their code. You could only look for file names but it was considered rude to pry open shells and look at the rich history of running numbers inside. It was basically stripping them naked. Connie never asked Priyanka or Steven to give her a look. The only thing Connie asked for was a copy of Steven's Shell just in case things went south but otherwise with some alterations she's never even bothered to delve into Steven's own complex systems.
Looking at the screens before her, Connie imagined Steven would be a mixture of gold and green if she ever examined his raw data. Growth in an AI Core would have aided in such development of a successful merger of two operating languages. DM Biometrics must have tried multiple times and spent a lot of money on even concieving such a thing. But...
Connie's mind began to mull on things she should have been dealing with as a priority. She still didn't tell Steven about Ronaldo. She'd tried to get in contact with Peedee multiple times to ask what the hell was going on, but she kept getting his voice mail.
The guilt was piling up. While Connie wasn't entirely fond of Ronaldo, he was Steven's friend....and Steven had been...so happy lately. She didn't want to consider breaking his heart with the news that his friend was a dirty traitor. Possibly. She wasn't sure. She didn't think Ron was a bad guy personally but the evidence as there. Who else would tip information like this?
Looking back at the screen, Connie eventully started to dissociate, disconnecting herself from the real world and from beyond tangible and logical thought. Her vision blurred and the golden code continued to shine.
An ordinary thing to do when everything got more convoluted...until...the code spelled out one thing.
"Berrybyte compatible."
Connie's attention was brought to one of her six monitors. Mainly, her primary middle one. She sat up...and her eyes were glued to the text on the screen.
"Wait...did the program just...call out to me?" She said.
She tried to figure out what was going on...but...
"Program is able to be installed." It said underneath.
She rubbed her tired eyes. The text was real. All in Gold.
"You've got to be kidding me." She said to herself.
She immediately chose to distrust this...thing.
"What makes you believe that I'm going to trust a malicious AI behind some kind of unknown Alien device?"
Connie herself wasn't that naiive. Anyone dumb enough to follow blunt instructions like that is begging to be hacked or doxxed. Someone clearly wanted her money.
"Berrybyte confirmed for capability" It continued.
"Shard detected."
Shard? Connie thought to herself, squinting.
Now she was weirded out more than confused. The Shard she knew about. The one that was implanted to forestall her disease.
But why was that relevant now? Of all times?
"Prime App Install recommended." It repeated.
Conne rubbed her chin. A fool would definitely agree. She wanted to check who was pulling her leg but even now she was locked out of her WorkStation, with typing away on her keyboard proving futile. She felt the need to disconnect the plug but then the system would kick in with the the battery reserves. She had to...bargain with it, much to her displeasure.
"If this is Luna or what ever person seeks to take advantage of me now. You can fuck right off." Connie told it.
She stood up and took a deep breath. People left and right...ever since she was young, it was as if the world knew what she was capable of before she was even aware of it.
More text appeared on the screen.
"If you want to take that leap of faith."
Human. AI. GIS. What was faith to logical creatures but a divine belief into something so...illogical? To dare to dream of magical outcomes. The unpredictable choice and resolution catered to nutjobs who had nothing else. No truth. No certainty. It was a choice to make based on insane ideals. She's never had choices made in her favour. In her honor. People know she's good. That they want to use her. Her life was all about those using her. If she had been more forward, more confident in the early days then she wouldn't be in this position that her aggression stemmed from the lack of control she had. She'd hoped that her confidence and self-assurance would allow her to decide.
Here she was with roadblock after roadblock. Still being used several decades on. Like someone else was her Moderator and she was just always the end user. The freedom she had was but an illusion.
"I'm not here to play your games." Connie told it.
"What do I get out of this union?"
Something in her favour was mandatory. No exceptions.
"Permissions to see hidden files." It wrote.
"Discover truths."
Connie needed more to go on than that.
"Berrybyte will need to connect to WorkStation. Please Enter Private Grid."
It took her a moment to consider the request. She had nothing to go on or anything to protect herself other than interior software in case it goes haywire. If the Program itself uses Faith as a type of hook or it was being geninune with its intentions...Connie didn't know which to believe herself.
She looked at Steven. Of course in this situation he'd take the offer.
Could she swallow her pride just this once?
"I'm so...stupid." She uttered to herself as she grabbed the cables necessary. She carefully inserted the jack in and closed her eyes.
Opening them, she was met with a black void. Though blue star like orbs popped into existence and coalesced into forms that resembled two dolphins swimming in circles around Connie. If this was anything beyond this type of display...but it wasn't anything impressive.
"So you're supposed to show me something hidden." Connie said.
"I need proof of this. I can't go installing anything unless I see proof."
The two Dolphins disppeared into a sea of blue stars and created a free space briefly...like Connie was floating in it...almost. This felt different to the Domain itself. It was obviously a Private Grid. But something...more.
Each of the stars would occasionally pulse yellow. Calling for Connie's attention. Those ones ended up flying into a mini harmless tornado before they formed a figure. Notable by her long hair and bulk, Connie recongised the figure as Caretaker Jasper.
What did she have to do with this?
The stars messed it up, before reforming into someone else. By their bulk and unique dreads it had to be Ronaldo. Then....they formed Peedee. Then....their father?
"Odd." Connie uttered.
When that vanished, the colours changed into Aquamarine....then a huge red cross appeared over her and flashed. The next image displayed after that was a small blue sphere. It lacked any other description. Then a green tick appeared.
"I honestly have no idea what you're trying to tell me." She said.
It was like a presentation of the most bizarre, like a slide show made entirely out of lights. The corresponding message after that was several figures. One Pink with curly hair. One Orange with long messy hair and the last one was white with a detached.
"Rose, Jasper and Albite." She muttered.
"They're...Caretakers..."
Coupled with Green ticks.
"Are....are you suggesting Aquamarine isn't a Caretaker?" She said.
Official records appeared to dictate otherwise. It was the strangest thing. The Third Eye was a Prime App after all. Though, it would probably explain why that GIS didn't have it. Connie sighed. She could do all the research in the world to understand Alien Tech and it would never be enough. There was so much hidden content and lore that it wasn't funny.
Research into the functionality of particular GIS was hard but still easier than this. For all Connie knew, Monoliths created and choose their respective Caretakers. But there had to be more to it than that. Rose was originally human and the Pink Monolith had chosen her for some reason. To understand humanity would be the answer, but Connie suspected there was more to it than that.
"Then who is the Blue Monoliths real Caretaker then?" Connie queried.
It aggravated her more than it satisfied her. Then in golden text, the most jarring acknolwedgement came to pass.
"INSTALL COMPLETE."
What?
"Wait, you installed the program in me without my consent?" Connie cried out.
This was complete bullshit and a complete violation of her rights and dignity. Connie should have seen it coming. All these fancy displays were a ruse to hijack her Soulware to install what might as well have been a trojan. Connie was the belief, more than ever that she was a fool.
She was then sent out of the network altogether and met with harsh reality. Rubbing her eyes, Connie was absolutely furious. Her screens had gone back to normal since...as Connie tried to root out the program personally, but to no avail. She seriously began to doubt her hacking skills...more than she had already. Though, there was a small message sent to her email. Connie checked it out, but there was more alien tech she couldn't translate for some reason. Though when she opened it, there was only one thing inside of it of note.
All it had was picture of strawberries.
Chapter 43: Admin
Summary:
Connie and Steven hunt down Aquamarine
Notes:
Again, sorry for the delay. I have a new job and have been generally too mentally tired to write but I'm so happy to get this chapter out!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
A lot of going back and forth. The more Connie tried to figure out what was going on, the more blocks she came across.
She had no other Caretaker to compare this to. Steven was no help of course, as he really knew nothing about the situation regarding other than being granted some kind of mysterious weapon, what constituted a Caretaker overall.
Finding history would be next to impossible. Though, she still had one trick up her sleeve.
She contacted an old ally. One she hadn't seen in months. Due to the nature of being in different continents, the contact could only be briefed in a particular fashion. Connie had inserted herself into the Domain and headed towards a special place.
The building was designed to be white and squarish in nature; an architects dream. These special hubs were utilised for special connections from afar.
Inside was a series of glass panels with two stools on either side. Invisible walls would buffer the chatter once the connections were engaged. Connie had to make the extra effort to make sure her connections were super secure.
Once she sat down on a stool, she used a nearby panel to the connect to her contact. A figure then projected from the glass panel. A familiar one with a pink hijab.
"I was wondering when you'd contact me again." Pat said as she sat down.
Before Connie went to go deal with Aquamarine, she needed Pats help on some unknown data.
"Well I wouldn't if I wasn't needing your help." Connie replied.
"I need to know more about Caretakers."
Pat nodded. Connie hated to admit that the Data Broker was better at sussing out secrets than she was at times but then again, thats what Data Brokers were for.
"Yes, so you said." Pat replied.
"Well, as you already know, they're the dedicated servants of the Monoliths. Direct servants of their will."
Connie looked to the side in annoyance. She didn't need basic lessons.
"Speaking of which," Pat continued with a sly expression. "I heard about some commotion going on in the European Sector that may or may not have been of your own doing."
Insinuation jokes were fine by Connie. The evidence would have been more about the obvious however. She was flagged as a criminal.
"Hey, I was on a mission. Some...things just needed to happen to get the job done." She said, oozing with the fragrance of arrogance.
Pat rolled her eyes. Said arrogance could be quite pungent at times.
"I know." She said.
"You're treading on thin ice. Your ass is on the very fragile line."
Connie crossed her arms. She wasn't ignorant.
"Yeah yeah...now tell me what you know about Caretakers."
Typical Connie always wanted to get down to business.
"Okay okay." Pat replied.
"So...Caretakers...where to start. There's always been the debate of how many Caretakers a Monolith has at any given time. Just as much as who those particular agents are."
Connie really wanted to get one thing straight, though...she didn't want to tell Pat about the Prime App she had acquired recently. She didn't think revealing the program would be worth the risk. Pat would no doubt sell the Data regardless of what Connie told her. Stuff like that would be worth a fortune if given to the right bidder.
"I have a source that tells me that an Aquamarine that currently is said to be an agent for the Blue Monolith isn't actually who she says she is. Yet somehow she's taken the position without the correct...applications let's say."
Pat nodded. Though the look on her face told Connie she wasn't believing that one bit.
"I see." She replied.
"Well, how a Monolith chooses its agent is up for debate. Do they design the agents with special permissions given in mind or do they simply make the GIS and decide of which would be the perfect avatar for their will? What is known is that the common signature is indeed their Prime App."
Of which, three were known. Jasper, according to President Dot, had been noted to have already been given the Application by the Monolith:
"She's a Caretaker of the Yellow Monolith; this sectors dedicated Superserver. We tested her abilities and her function and designs were ranked some of the most effective we've ever seen. Her abilities exceeded our expectations from regular GIS, as she's able to identify threats quickly and eliminate anything that would pose an enormous burden. "^1
"The Applications enforce the rulings and act as secondary functions to the GIS that uses it." Pat continued.
"But it still functions as a symbol and a badge of office. Presenting the file itself as such to governing bodies will serve as proof of identity."
If so...then how was Aquamarine allowed control without THE App? She learned a bit about Prime Apps from President Dot:
"Can those programs be copied or taken?" Connie wondered.
Ms. Dot rubbed her chin.
"Copied? Probably but they're bound to be faulty." She said.
"Uninstalled or moved. Possibly. No Caretaker would give up their program so willingly."
"These programs can be potentially copied apparently." Connie told Pat.
"But they're supposed to be bugged as hell."
Pat nodded.
"No one has really tried as far as I know." She said.
Interesting. Though it didn't help Connie at all.
"PeriCom said Jasper had been given hers. Called StrikingEGO...and WallofROSE must have been given the same way." Connie said.
"And they don't give up the apps so easily either."
Pat shook her head.
"That sounds about right." She said.
"This Aquamarine must have pulled certain strings if the one she possesses is simply a faked copy. I'm curious as how you came to that conclusion..."
Connie had to twist her words carefully.
"Just information that was given to me." She replied. Given could have been replaced with 'taken by force' and Pat would be none the wiser.
"But is there any kind of...I don't know, person who can copy such complex applications?"
Pat rubbed her chin.
"The Black Market is rife with such fiends who claim to be selling the real deal or they say that what they have is cheaper but just as effective." She explained.
"Prime Apps do not come often however. The Market only pays top dollar for the real deal and anyone claiming otherwise is desperate for any kind of cash."
So there would be only a fair few that would dare to sell duplicates. A niche market for those foolish enough to purchase them only to find out they've been duped of all their money. Typical newbies hoping to cash in on such badges of identity. That had to be a common occurence, surely.
"Not a day goes by when someone claims to be a Caretaker." Pat continued.
"Foolish enough to realise that one, Caretakers are only GIS and Two, Prime Apps are indeed proof enough. I'm sure there's undlying code that is also checked for authenticity but no human is good enough to replicate such a defining detail as that. So there is more to it then just basic understanding of Alien Tech."
But there were things Connie still didn't understand herself. This Aquamarine was either acting as a Caretaker with a Fake Program, or the Program was actually replicated by the Blue Monolith and there were two versions of the same Application roaming around.
Or...maybe Connie had the fake? She wasn't sure. Would Sapphire dupe her so easily? Connie wasn't sure who to trust at this point.
"But...I do know one thing is certain." Pat said.
"Caretakers are only chosen if they have confirmed that the previous GIS allocated is no longer active."
An unusual bit of trivia. But a useful one.
"So if there is another replicated program floating about or maybe there two versions, it's entirely plausible that Aquamarine has a legitimate copy from the Blue Monolith."
That sounded more logical, but something wasn't right with that.
"One Caretaker, One Prime App." Connie stated, pondering on the possibilities.
Though Pat must have been suspicious. Connie had to spin something else.
"I've heard rumors of the...Third Eye Program, swimming about without its appropriate Caretaker."
Pat's expression was fogged with doubt but she went along with it.
"Interesting." She said.
"Well, it could be a duplicate. Stories of those are found everywhere. Nothing new."
Damn it, it wasn't selling. Connie could say that it talks, though that could be it's VI communicating which was also common. Though it reacted to her Shard...was that the underlying code that was needed to understand the differences between legitimate?
"What about...Shards?" Connie said.
Pat raised an eyebrow.
"Shards?" She parroted.
Connie nodded. She actually surprised the Data Broker for once about a topic that was randomly thrown into the mix. Surely Pat would have to know something. Information about Shards were extremely scare too, but if anyone had any glimpse into it, it had to be Pat.
"So...I've also heard of Prime Apps reacting to....Shards. Are you aware of the Shard Project?"
Pat's eyes narrowed as she became deep in thought. This wasn't what she was expecting to hear at all.
"I've...heard of rumors regarding such a thing." She replied, though still confused.
"Some kind of...private development utilised to augment DPs...something about improving the Soulware connection to the Domain. Not sure how that's relevant."
She must have been thinking this over in her head that Connie was dodging something. Connie just had to keep dodging in ways that kept Pat from digging too deeply. Though if Pat wasn't thoroughly interested, she must not have been made aware that Connie had a Shard embedded into her. So the Hacker had to lord over that fact and keep it banked for now.
"But you have me awfully more curious. You haven't been daliancing with another Data Broker have you?"
If it got Pat off her back, then Connie was prepared to lie.
"Maybe." Connie said slyly.
Pat's expression meant she bought it. The Data Broker wasn't wrong though; Connie was definitely living on the edge. She wasn't trying to make this more stressful than it already was.
"Well, I can possibly dig into such fascinating connections if that's what someone else concluded. Pull some strings to find out more. Actually make me work for my money and vice versa."
Connie knew so little about these Shards too. So if Pat could find out more, that would be a definite bonus. But now they were getting too far off track.
"For now I need to know anything I can possibly use against the Aquamarine." Connie requested.
Pat provided what she knew. That Aquamarines were more of pencil-pusher type of GIS more than those who fight, so they employed quality Topaz to protect her. It wasn't much to go on, but it was better than nothing.
Afterwards Connie sent off a message to Amethyst. She didn't expect a reply, after Steven explained that she was hanging around for a bit. Connie suspected Amethyst must have found something juicy to dig into. Of course Steven would have wanted to join but it was better that he really didn't.
Aquamarines were also known to be cunning and prideful. Connie's dealt with both types on many occasions; usually those with the stiff upper lip and made more money than sense. Taking down egos were sometimes more satisfying than draining their vunerable bank accounts.
Back in the Apartment, Connie was getting closer to finding her location...until a message sent by an unknown user posted something on forums Connie frequently visited. Connie had to squint...but it turned out to be a picture of Ronaldo and Peedee in strange looking cells.
"Berrybyte please respond." Said the caption.
"Head to the following coordinates or else these two will be deleted...permanently."
Connie wasn't sure how to respond other than widened eyes. She was holding the Frymans hostage. A feeling akin to despair entered her stomach briefly, but Connie wasn't going to let that stop her.
She had to move quickly. She hooked the coordinates provided in the message and it gave some empty plot of land near the eastern parts of the Island-City. She quickly messaged Steven who was stuck in the Domain and the pair prepared to move out.
Of course, Steven was the pedantic about the Fryman Brothers. When Connie showed him the picture, he was hysterical. The two took the Rosa Leo out to the location dictated, and as the birds eye image displayed, it was just an empty plot. Though, it was more like it was abandoned. Slates of cracked concrete with evidence of mother nature pushing through with grass and weeds growing through the narrow tight spaces. There were a few left behind and obviously scavenged rusted shipping containers unceremoniously stacked in several piles but they were the only other significant features...if you can call them that.
It was the middle of the night as well. It looked like it was going to rain as well, with Connie's nose whisking that moist scent.
"She must have taken them somewhere nearby." Connie assumed.
Steven felt like it was his fault. He muttered under his breath constantly and clutched his fingers to his top repeatedly. An anxious expression.
"It doesn't look like much." He commented.
"Anything we should look out for?"
These places were designed to look abandoned, Connie realised. Sus places that no one would really think to look. And a lot of the time, it was usually one of the shipping containers.
Upon research the area through her phone, Connie noted that this place was definitely owned by Yin Aozora. Though, most places were owned by the company anyway. So it wasn't exactly a proper tell. It wasn't a dock either, so likely, it was once a place trucks decided to release their cargo.
Connie went to several of the containers to try and determine which one could be the entry. In her mind, one of them just had to link to something. No way they wouldn't send them here for no good reason. The only problem is that they couldn't open any of the doors to any of the containers. They were all locked up tight.
"A pity this android doesn't come with x-ray vision." Steven joked.
"Or else I'd be able to see past the doors."
Connie paused. To see...
Could she...potentially use the App outside of the Domain?
It was designed to see things that weren't there. Maybe it was the x-ray device they were looking for.
Externel use of programs were usually through phone applications connected wirelessly through the certain DPs. Not every version had this feature. It wouldn't allow them access to the Domain virtually, but rather, the old fashion way. When DPs are implanted and installed for the first time, some people opt in for the Receptor Visions as well. While her memories of past events were still fuzzy, she knew she had the Receptors installed as well. Steven's previous visits into her brain reminded her of those features, but she never had the chance to use them simply because she'd already spent 90 percent of the time in the Domain anyway.
Sometimes she forgot it was even there to take advantage of. Most of the apps were useless half the time so Connie had no need to use them on the daily. Though, she wondered if the Third Eye Program had any noticeable effect outside the Domain.
A lot of the time, the features with the Receptors required phone usage. Technology hadn't found a way to use the feature with neuron responses...that is, a way that uses the neuron effects for conscious decisions. People have tried, but unconscious thoughts during trials always got in the way. In the most disturbing, mostly funny of ways. Connie didn't touch the trial after all the bad reviews she heard about it.
Using the RV app on her phone, she could then see the program's code running on the top left hand corner of her vision. It loaded in bright cyan text as it scroll with the processes too quick to catch.
"What'cha doin?" Steven asked.
Connie smiled.
"The Program you gave me." She said.
"I'm using the External Features of the Third Eye to see if there's a chance we might actually see something...and that we're not completely wasting our time here."
Androids would naturally have those obviously, but for humans...Connie understood that at least one third would use the RVs installed.
But this...this felt different. Connie disliked the use of the word 'magic'. She gave up the mentality knights and fairies as she got older. Her father would encourage such beliefs but...after being tossed around by the Foster System one too many times, Connie no longer had the patience to deal with the make-believe. It was all fake science...and science that evolved from once was percieved at something only known to fictional species.
This wasn't a fictional piece of technology. Alien Tech itself, was unbelievable. It was said that humanity had only ever understood a small percentage of it and reverse engineering only came from small breakthroughs over the last half a century. Improving humanity yet devolving them in her humble opinion.
The text fell down with the indeciperable alien text like rain as it wrapped the world around her. Her eyes were bright cyan and were tracking everything she could see. Shipping containers left empty with cardboard remains...and Steven's Android.
His Android...weirdly enough, stood out to her the most. Instead of the cyan colouring, his code was instead pink. She wasn't entirely sure what this meant. Connie certainly spent enough time staring at him for him to question her about it.
"What?" He said.
"What do you see?"
It snapped Connie out after a brief moment; certainly to understand that she had a mission to complete. Scanning more shipping containers, she could see one that stood out from the rest. It was empty; save for some sort of weird circle in the middle of it.
Pointing towards it, Steven walked over to have a closer look. A generic, rusted container on the outside and nothing more.
"This one?" He asked.
Connie nodded. Steven walked over and rubbed his hands in the preparation to get the doors opened.
There was a slight struggle as the lock must have been on quite tightly. However, the Android was strong enough to be able open it within moments. Once it was, Steven wiped his foreheads and flung his hands to his hips, then smiled with pride.
"After you, m'lady." He said.
Connie grinned as she went in.
The interior was mostly white and the circle Connie saw was actually an entrance; a hole complete with a ladder. Connie was surprised by the lack of proper security measures in place, but had to think that there must have been far worse dangers the further they went in.
Going down the ladder, the pair were met with a giant void after spending sometime in a sewer pipe like construct. Connie did some more scans and revealed something towards the bottom. Though the whole area was still glowing with some kind of invisible areas underneath, as most of the room was still pitch black.
Once the pair were at the bottom, Connie prepared her pistol. Surely it shouldn't be this easy to infiltrate what ever the hell this place was. So Connie kept an eye out...especially the Third Eye.
More hallways as she predicted. Mostly shaded in light blue hues and the oddy navy and gold trimming. And security guards with the Yin Aozora logo on them. An underground facility...so deep...so...
The so called magic Connie had loathed was swimming around in her head again. Steven was extra cautious. Even as they found some kind of station to download the overlooking maps, there was a lot of security protocols Connie had to peer through, though, some of them were in alien text, though unbeknowst to her, it was actually autoreading the text for her and translating the text automatically. So to her, it was as easy as reading English.
Her heart raced every time they had to dodge the guards. Whether it would be hiding in another room or hallway...and telling Steven to be quiet. Luckily, he didn't have a set of lungs to breath so...he was never out of breath. But his paranoia made him twitchy.
Steven appeared uncomfortable...and more uncomfortable the deeper they went in. It reminded him of Jaspers Hide Away...and the essence of something larger lingered nearby. An unsung voice was here too. Connie pulling him around always yanked him out of his own little trance. Trances were dangerous for AIs. It meant that they've been out of a task for way too long. It was akin to overthinking. Leading some AIs to delusions of their own troubling existences.
Aquamarine had to be close. Connie had realised the layout was actually extremely similar to Jaspers Pocket, except this wasn't a part of the Domain. Using the maps, they found where the prisons were and in happenstance, would find Ronaldo and Peedee.
And with enough luck, get Aquamarine to let her permissions expire so they could save Pearl too. Kill two birds with one stone.
Upon coming across the Prisons themselves, they were on a higher ledge overlooking a huge facility filled with cells with an odd liquified barrier in front of them. They were too blue to recognised as regular water. Steven used his eyes to zoom in two of the cells, which kept Ronaldo and Peedee unconscious; same as the picture they saw in the forums. Stevens first instinct was to go out there and save them. He'd already begun the sprint, before Connie brought him back by pulling on his arm.
"This doesn't look right." Connie said.
Steven frowned.
"I don't want to leave them there like that!" He stressed.
No matter how keen Steven was to save his friends, Connie had to urge caution.
"Our mission was to infiltrate this place to get to Aquamarine to release her hold on Pearl and our secondary goal to save the Frymen. But I've been running through this facilities logs. There's something I need to know."
Steven grunted in frustration.
"Aren't their lives more important?" Steven queried.
Connie rolled her eyes.
"I'm not a monster, Steven." She said.
"Look at this place. Do you see any other prisoners? Any other security guards?"
Steven checked the area out. It spanned several levels....and from where they were standing, he couldn't find any other lifeforms within a certain radius.
"What does it mean?" He wondered.
Surely he wasn't that stupid.
"I got an anonymous message to come here Steven. Aquamarine lured us here on purpose. We must be cautious!"
She had a point, though as if on cue, someone flew down from above. Someone tall and thin and in blue uniform, with fairy like wings that acted as some kind of anti-gravity mechanism which was attached to her. Her sky blue hair was in a high ponytail. with a blue vest on a white top and blue tie and a navy skirt. Reading the code herself, revealed that this entity was an Android as well, with her tear dropped phylactery on her cheek. She pulled out a small wand like apparatus form her hair and pointed it towards Peedee, who was awoken with quite the shock. He begun to freak out as a beam of light hit him, before he recognised the person in front of him.
"Miss Aqua." He said, squinting at her with displeasure.
"We're not gonna do this again?"
She came on cue. She was then too busy giving off a cocky smile and looking at her fake fingernails. it was obvious she was an Android; one could see the symmetrical seams on her tinted blue cheeks. She was fearless in letting people know who she was.
"I know somethings up." She said.
"Your trip to Europe had the Board frazzled, coupled with the loss of the Caretaker in that Sector. They found it all too...suspicious."
And a wave of guilt washed over Connie like icy water. Though Peedee always had the choice to say no...and it was Steven who felt awful about getting the man involved. Now he was being threatened by the smuggiest GIS known to both artificial and organic kind.
"I was there on work." Peedee stated
"The European Market is an untapped resource to sell our wares to. We can't be stuck with the same customer base and hope to gain any kind of profit with such a small select group."
Aqua put her finger to her chin and pouted.
"Yes as you've told me on countless occasions....I wouldn't say countless but rather, twenty four times already." She claimed.
And she obviously wasn't convinced this was the truth. It wasn't...and Connie wasn't sure if Peedee was a bad liar.
"But your brother here has been working with an outlaw. Berrybyte. Who happened to be in the same sector on an official basis to give up her data."
The risks taken had to be worth preserving. It didn't go as how PeriCom wanted it to. Surely, they didn't think Connie was going to go by their rules? A foolish idea to think as such. President Dot was known to make questionable decisions. Connie imagined how she would have been ripped into as the news about Albite spread across their private channels.
Connie continued to scan as Aqua and Peedee argued, though as she looked at the unconscious Ronaldo, she noticed that he was riddled in yellow text as opposed to blue. What did that even mean?
"What my brother does in his spare time is his own damn business." Peedee argued.
Aqua simply laughed.
"Cut the junkbits, Fryman. You were sending parts and pieces of Androids to America. Did you not even bother to look into what he was trying to do? Isn't there a company policy regarding conflicts of interest that you were supposed to report?"
Connie knew one thing. It was a policy but as far as anyone smart enough to keep their mouths shut was concerned, it was one that had been ignored for the most part.
"My brother is a tinkerer...an Engineer." He said.
"A pioneer some would say. He wanted to impress PeriCom in the hopes he would be recruited by them some day."
Aqua laughed even harder and longer. It was a bit grating.
"But at the same time he was working with Berrybyte. A Hacker and an Engineer. Berrybytes aim to rob the rich to give to the poor is nothing more than a smokescreen to bring large corporations in line."
Connie wouldn't use those terms but yeah, pretty much. But that was simply scratching the surface. It had all been so much more. Though Connie current hack into this mysterious alien tech mainframe...she couldn't stop looking into Ronaldo. Something didn't feel right. She looked at Steven with his pink code and Aqua with her blue. She had form a theory.
"I know you turned the Board against me." Peedee said.
"I'm certain if Berrybyte wanted to, as you have implied, she would be out to get all current Caretakers and delete them. For the lot good they do for their Monoliths."
Connie would prefer to avoid deletion but if she had her back against the wall.
"I'm specifically hoping for that." Aqua revealed.
"Why do you think I brought you here?"
Connie knew it. This was a trap. Her instincts were on the mark.
"It would be a matter of time before Berrybyte arrives. I wouldn't be surprised if she was right here, right now."
She then pulled something out of her vest.
"Why don't you both say...hello?"
The floor began to vibrate tiny tremors that became larger and all of a sudden, a horde of Topaz Androids came out from behind them. Connie wanted to shoot, but there were so many of them. Connie took Stevens hand as they jumped off the ledge and onto the floor before them and attempted to run off, only for Aquamarine to fly down before them.
"Berrybyte and the unknown associate." She said.
"Tisk, tisk...you make this easy for me."
Connie furrowed her brows in annoyance. She knew this was too easy when in fact she wasn't even aware of the other Androids in the complex being shrouded in similar alien code. Aqua looked between Connie and Peedee and judged by his angered expression alone that it was all the proof she needed.
The Topaz Androids had no sooner than surrounded them. More apparent in their alien design that the humanlike form Steven took. Presumably, there was no fear of the influence in such a place. Aquamarine was a Caretaker after all. Connie could take advantage of this, however. She was far from giving up.
"You're too predictable these days, Berrybyte." She said.
"By killing Albite, you put a much bigger target on your back than ever before."
Infamy Connie was okay with. Putting a face to a name for a witch hunt was not. Aqua then took notice of Steven, floating towards him as she put a hand on his face. A move she knew, would draw pure ire from Connie.
"And you...this unusual specimen. Caretaker Jasper and I have been looking into you...presumably the unknown program we've come to understand as...tell me...what is your purpose?"
Steven gulped as he looked at his side, to the mildly annoyed Connie.
"I serve my owner, Berrybyte, clearly." He said.
Aqua lifted her chin.
"I see." She said, floating back a bit, then adjusting her wand.
"Then you won't mind if I take a peak into your files..."
She charged forward in an attempt to jack the wand in the back of Steven's Android, as Connie pounced towards the Caretaker in an attempt to stop her from downloading anything from Steven, though the Topaz behind her tried to hold her back.
"STEVEN!" Connie cried.
As the Wand clicked into the Androids DP, He was met with a minor bit of short circuiting while Aqua attempted to download his files. The strength of the Topaz Androids was immense; as Connie tried and failed to break free. As Steven's Android went limp, a single tear fell down Connie's cheek.
"HE'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!" Connie yelled.
"HE'S JUST..."
Aqua began to pat his head.
"Your lies can only get you so far, Berrybyte..." She said.
"But this...Steven, you call it? Jaspers reports tell me that he can...form consensus with you...turn you into something...more."
Connie wasn't going to back down that easily. Sweat might drop from her brow, but she was going to fight against all odds irregardless. Aqua backed off and floated towards Connie. She raised her hand towards Connie's face and projected an image of a certain individual from her palm crystal.
It was Stevonnie.
"Achieving the impossible. Perhaps, the only thing that no one else has ever seen." Aqua continued.
"Given your insight into absolutely everything there is to know...how did it feel? To have your code intertangled with somebody elses."
It was nothing short of a miracle. An achievement of modern science. What was known and what wasn't known.
"So don't worry, we're not going to kill you. We're still trying to understand the reasoning behind what was already said and done."
Turning around, she looked at Ronaldo's Cell, who was still knocked out.
"The Shard Project." She said.
"A certain Scientist had its hand in its development. And the clues, ever so clicking a clearer picture for us all. The path still opened as per the Monoliths design."
No...
"So we borrowed the notes used in the making of your Shard and helped utilise another Shard. So far it's been coming along fabulously."
Looking at Ronaldo, Connie instantly understood.
"You monster." She said in a low tone.
Aqua laughed.
"I'm a Program doing what it's supposed to." She claimed.
"But we get it...the Monoliths messages are...always confusing unless you have those who could properly translate their code into something tangible. Something that we can use. The Pink Monolith was said to be the hardest to decrypt. Caretaker Rose Quartz was the only who could probably understand its messages. The pathway to glory was meant to be finalised under the Pink Monoliths guidance. The guidance from any Monolith was incredibly vague, at best."
Then...how did Aquamarine become the Blue Monoliths Caretaker? Connie had to figure that part out.
"Let me guess." Connie gauged.
"The Blue Monolith would created you and handed you the Prime App...and you're meant to intepret it's primary purpose in your functions."
There was a break in Aquas expressions. Frustration was seen for a brief moment, before the smug smile returned.
"The Monoliths have their own pure logics to follow. They are no more than programs and hardware than we are." She said.
"But they are so much more. Their power, undeniable."
Yet their logics, so questionable.
"I understand the plot to enslave humanity. It's such a cliche. Aliens come to Earth....they want our resources so they will do anything that's necessary to control us so they can control the planet."
Aqua rolled her eyes.
"Typical human who does not understand past the veil they will soon cross." She said, almost poetically so.
Turning around, she went back to pay attention to Steven.
"No matter, it's still coming together. The Developers have come to the conclusion that despite the Pink Monoliths loss, it still continues to perform as it should. As it must. A design that we were struggling with for so long. That forming consensus with you, a pure human, has proven that it achieved the task it was meant for!"
Connie furrowed her brows in confusion.
"The Shard in your neck allows you to utilise Alien Tech as a whole. To interact with it far greater than any ordinary human, even with the highest grading. It cannot be achieved without some kind of...catalyst or conduit. Consensus. Synthesis. Fusion of technologies that have so many barriers even with the best efforts. Steven, is simply put, the AI/GIS hybrid we were looking for. The Transitional Entity foretold."
Oh great, now a prophecy? Connie refused to believe in such things as a mystical fantasy.
"Now you're definitely fucking with me." She spat. This was ridiculous.
Aqua smirked.
"I dislike lying." She stated.
"But...this is exactly what we need."
Connie raised an eyebrow.
"But does that mean...you won't need the Pink Monolith anymore?" She queried.
"It formed the answer for you."
Aqua griped.
"Of course we still need the Monolith to stabilise the Domain, you imbecile." She said, irritated.
Connie knew that...she was trying to buy some time, while she ran her Third Eye program in the background. The more she focused on Aquamarine, the more she could understand her systems. The Program itself, as part of her understanding, was beginning to open more doors than she could ever imagine.
Connie could form consensus...once said to be impossible.
Now she could hack into GIS. From beyond a observational point of view. Also said to be impossible. She had to do it while Aqua was not aware she was using it. Alien code was complex, vast and near infinite. What Aqua said made more sense. The merging of Alien Tech and Human Tech was critical. Because then they'd be able to do so much more...for their task of the supposed enslavement. Right now, Connie's real focus was to find the files relevant to the Caretaker Permissions.
"If anything it's become more important than ever to reclaim it. If this program was meant to be what they need, then all four Monoliths are required to be within range to be able to produce results."
As is the case. But Connie needed more time.
"Humans should be in awe. Whether or not they deserve to be treated with such a gift to begin with...if it were up to me, I wouldn't give humans the gifts at all. But I am not a Monolith. And I must adhere to protocol."
Just like the Protocol to adhere to...actual be a Caretaker?
PING
She found it.
"Bingo..." Connie muttered to herself.
Aqua couldn't quite her here.
"Excuse me?"
Connie quickly began to transfer the data to herself. Though some of the data was confusing at first, Connie wasn't quite sure why or how this was happening...only that the Program was doing it.
"Are you adhering to protocol right now?" Connie dared to ask.
"Does the Blue Monolith want you to do this specific task?"
Aqua raised an eyebrow.
"Of course it does." She balked.
"The Engineer is simply another successful prototype of the end game. His brother on the other hand, is in complete breach of the conditions of his contract."
And Aquamarine wasn't? Connie smirked.
"Since you so adhere to the rules Caretaker, tell me something..." Berrybyte said.
Connie's VI also found the data giving off a bootlegged Caretaker signal. It had given off certain details granting authority but it was, as Connie noted, an imperfect copy of the thirdEYE.
"Prime Apps. I've never seen you use yours. Presumably, you've already seen everything. Tell me...what happened to the last Caretaker...and how you retrieved your Prime App."
Aqua blinked, as she wasn't sure what Connie was playing at.
"The last Caretaker was destroyed." She said.
"I was contacted by the Blue Monolith itself and it gifted me with the Program."
Aquamarine was burying her own grave. She appeared so stuck up and overconfident as exemplified by her current stance and straightened posture. The arrogance was astounding.
"I see." Connie said.
No Caretaker would give it up so willingly...
Sapphire must have somehow stolen it off a previous Caretaker. Connie's mind was clicking on so many things by now that her DP was getting warmer from all the data the Program was downloading to her Shard.
Aqua went back to the progress regarding downloading Steven's data. Though upon closer inspection, the wand had hit a stalemate with a portion of the data. Steven must have been fighting back internally. A pop up came up from his Android that gave Connie some amazing information.
'wallofROSE' IN USE.
He was using the Prime App to defend himself! And Aquamarine was getting more aggravated by the moment. Surely the app was powerful enough to keep Aquamarines hacking at bay for a good while. She even stomped in frustration as the downloading cycle was moot.
"What is this?" She shrilled.
"Why is this not downloading anything useful?"
By this point, Connie had what she needed. She could release Pearl at any moment she could. But now, she had to focus back on the Frymen. Peedee himself was watching from afar...and Connie had to figure some kind of way to get out of this mess.
"Maybe because you don't have the correct permissions to copy his data." Connie said.
Aquamarine squinted.
"I am a Caretaker! I have access to everything!" She claimed.
Oh how wrong she was.
"But of course!" Connie mocked.
"Then it should be as easy as simply copying and pasting the information, surely."
Aquamarine grumbled as she flew towards Connie and grabbed a hold of her chin.
"What do you know, human?" Aqua demanded.
Though she was confused as to why Connie's eyes were glowing blue. As if they were running something in the background. Best of all, Aquamarine wasn't even aware of what Connie was doing.
She was playing a vid of Aquamarines supposed network through Tough as Nails and purchase of her Android. Then meeting some shifty merchant in an alleyway...
"That you purchased a copy of the Prime App." Connie revealed in a calm but surefire tone.
"Copies of Prime Apps are bound to be faulty."
The eyes of the Topaz Security Guards were all on a nervous Aquamarine.
"She lies!" Aquamarine shrilled.
"Take her to a Cell now!"
The Topaz were confused and were about to move Connie...until raining purple androids fell in from above, creating larger tremors. They were tall and bulky, but more curvacious than the squarish Topaz.
"Nahhh don't think so." Said one of them, their Android with their supposed Phylactery on their chest.
Connie grinned.
"AMETHYST!" She cried out, never been so happy to see the Ancilla in the flesh...or...steel.
Aquamarine was none too pleased.
"Amethysts? Here?" She said, puzzled.
"You are all clearly out of line! Return back to your stations!"
The Ancilla Amethyst waggled her finger at the blue fairy wannabe.
"Nuh uh..." She said.
The Topaz were so distracted by this suddenness that it allowed Connie slip out from the one holding her back and ran to Steven, yanking the wand from his DP and throwing it away. He immediately booted up again after that incident and checked his surroundings.
"Woah, Amethyst...s?" He said, surprised to see so many of the purple Androids.
The Ancilla nodded.
"Get the Frymen out of here!" She called out.
"We'll keep em at bay!"
Aquamarine was clearly outraged by the proclamation that she ordered the Topaz to attack immediately.
"Don't let them get away!" She yelled.
Connie and Steven weaved and dodged out of the enusing rumble and tumble of Androids as Connie quickly hacked into the cells and eventually freed Peedee, then freed the unconscious Ronaldo. Steven charged inside and picked up and slung him over his shoulder. Connie refused to panic and tried to find a way out for them via simple scans. The only way out, was the way they came in. So again, they tried to dodge the battle. It caught Aquamarines attention who attempted to charge towards them, only for Connie to pull out her pistol to fire out a few shots. While she missed the first two, the second one managed to get through Aquas torso. But it didn't stop her...it only served to piss her off even more. Though a whip wrapped itself around her and a familiar voice called out to them.
"GO! DON'T WAIT FOR ME!" Amethyst cried out.
Steven was clearly worried, but Connie knew she was resourceful and smart enough to get herself out of any bad situation, so the group made the decision to quickly flee with the extra time that they had been given. They eventually made it out of the underground facility and made their way to a much safer place.
Notes:
1. Chapter 27: Wetware
Chapter 44: Reprogram
Summary:
Once saved, Pearl and Connie have a lengthy discussion which reveals heavy details.
Notes:
Two months, oh gosh I'm ashamed. Work and exhaustion get in the way you know? I struggle to focus too. That's what happens when you probably have undiagnosed ADHD ah but what can you do but add tidbits of story every so often.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Escaping back to Connie's little hideaway for the moment was the best option. The location wasn't compromised so they could hide their before they could figure out their next set of options.
Despite all of the pressure, Berrybyte was determined to see this through. Looking at one of her unused monitors, she had could the wallpaper without all the windows blocking. A simple picture of a full moon and its rippled reflection in the ocean. The image had her recall a single peaceful night she had; a rarity in itself that was embedded into her, making her unable to forget.
During this night, she had been busy working while Steven was in bed. Memories filtered in when she looked down at the sleeping Android; resting on his side. She wondered what he dreamed about. If Artificial Intelligence could dream on their own. The wonders of software and their amusing unintended bugs.
She's had him dream with her before...and the way that it intermingled with her own mind. The impossibilty of Soulware as a premise and its ability to integrate with the digital world was amazing.
Were all humans really just raw data? Piles of flesh meant to house a powerful structure? What made GIS different rather their their obvious physical presence? As Steven's shirt was hitched up, she could see his made up phylactery on display as the light from her monitor glistened upon. An access point; merely meant to house his consciousness.
The physical. The mental. The spiritual. What was considered the facts of science verses pure miracles. Those who would sooner fall to their knees if the presence of God if he stood right in front of them. Connie wouldn't. She'd just plug him with an endless series of questions. Maybe force him to make a few changes.
Her belief wasn't in a God persay. Powerful beings that could be still bent and broken. Everything that existed, had a flaw to exploit.
And in the flaws had the potential to create something new.
Which made the concept of BM-AIs and SC-GIS so...inhuman. The sacrifice of flesh and bone for the preservation of the mind.
Connie's seen the articles of the philosophical sort and wondered if the world would die out sooner if this was considered the best escape route before the darkness of death would overcome them.
The vision of heaven.
The moon poured through the tiny window. It wouldn't last long since they were surrounded by taller towers. But Connie pondered on the light and its temporary visage.
Lights that could be snuffed out as easily as they arrived.
She let her VI do the processing and translating as she stood up, before sliding into bed with Steven, her back towards him as she looked out the window seeing the bright moon in all its glory.
The thought of Luna came to mind. An artificial intelligence that somehow grew in power. As Connie went to sleep, she heard Steven shuffle around and wrap his arm around her to bring her close.
He was such a cute dork.
But now, things were beginning to creep towards their inevitable conclusion. No rest for the wicked, as the saying went.
Ronaldo was still unconscious and left lying on the couch while Peedee tried to figure out what was going on while being preoccupied with his brothers condition. It was hard given they had little go on and little hope if Ronaldo would ever regain consciousness.
Meanwhile Connie and Steven were by her WorkStation in her room, still mulling over what Aquamarine had told them. Specifically, what Connie heard over this supposed Transitional Entity. She told him about the revelation that he actual might be an AI/GIS Hybrid after all, so it didn't surprise him. It was a factor that actually both relieved him and terrified him to the core.
"I mean...it's...it was already there. Rose Quartz, my mother...and Gregory DeMayo, my father. It makes sense." He said, reminded of his conversation with Ash. Dots were connected and formed thicker lines.
That part was true. From an AI, to a BM-AI, to a SC-GIS....was that truely the same thing as an AI/GIS hybrid? Connie was determined to figure that out. Because if it was true, then his AI Core must have acted like an human forged phylactery or an advanced Cabinet. A stronger one designed with a specifically wider influence. Aquamarines fascination didn't make sense to her...SC-GIS had been around for years. Steven's situation appeared much more significant for some reason. She had to find out why.
"But for it to be confirmed...it still hits me ya know?"
Connie leaned against her desk as she observed Stevens mannerisms. Rubbing his arm and the withdrawal of himself. It was a telltale sign of his humanity. The evidence was very much apparent...and the reasons being him becoming this...Transitional Entity was far more disturbing. The notion of a Godlike entity being used for unsavoury reasons.
"I don't know of any directives of trying to...enslave humanity...believe me Connie, I do not want to do that."
Of course he didn't. Steven wanted to be human. Enslaving them was certainly not his modus operandi in the slightest. Ashs words still rung in his mind quite deeply regarding his Mother-Creator...
"She was interested in creating legacies and that the Monoliths could be used to preserve human history so it wouldn't be forgotten." ^1
Steven wasn't even sure what that truely meant to begin with and he hinged on Connie trying to find the truth. That she would be able to make it click together. He disliked it being so complex...and AIs were meant to figure that to make it simple. At least, thats what he thought what being an AI meant. Simple solutions to the menial and mundane that humans would to take long to mend or perhaps, too fearful to touch with even the slightest miscalculation.
Connie found herself on the path to a weird version of enlightment (despite hating the word personally) Such merges she had believed in were continuining to happen. Connie could work with the complex. What was unspoken was that they were beginning to unravel something far beyond their own understanding. She became worried for her own sanity...and unconsciously tapped her DP and had to remind herself she too was fitted with Alien Tech. How far would this go to the point of no return? It felt like now that each time they got an answer, more questions came up in their place.
"I'm not saying I don't believe you Steven." She said.
"But the Diamond Monoliths themselves pushed it to point where no one can really comphrehend it all. It's unclear if this is something your creators had planned...or they had something else up their sleeves."
Such words that bothered him more than they should have.They had the Permissions to free Pearl now. After weeks of being pushed around, they could finally save her from limbo.
"We should refocus our mission to get Pearl to safety."
Her name had Steven look up and realise that this was what this had been their goal. He'd almost lost that focus until Connie put it into his head. His priorities had shifted to worrying about himself and his potential use for evil. He didn't want to be evil or be used for it. It also had him thinking about Ronaldo and his involvement....now being so interwoven up in this that he was on the run as well. This was too messed up.
"Oh right yeah."
Connie immediately went on the task of trying to set everything up for Pearls return, while Steven decided to give Lapis a visit. The GIS was busy handling the situation quite well, nodding at Steven as he gave her one in return. She floated back down to the floor and waited, as Pearls programming begun to flow normally again. With the permissions both revoked and replaced, eventually, Pearls form took shape once again.
Once she was back, she opened her eyes and glanced upon Steven who immediately felt a sense of relief and ran up to hug her, much to the formers surprise. It
"Oh hello Steven." She said.
"Surely I wasn't gone that long was I?"
That made Steven more confused. It's as if...she never felt or saw anything in that particular vigil. Time had been paused. Nothing of the conscious mind of a GIS to grasp when it cannot function.
"You don't remember anything?" He asked.
Pearl tried to recall something but came up with nothing but her original transfer.
"Nothing significant before we made the jump." She said, rubbing the back of her neck.
"What happened?"
Once Pearl was brought back onto her platform in the real world and brought up to speed, she was horrified of the avenues they all had to take just for her.
"By the Monoliths, I wouldn't have known that you all risked yourselves for me." She said.
"But I suppose that comes with being a glorified container."
She sounded so nervous and quaky and constantly fidgeted with her fingers. Connie eyed her with scrutiny. Pearl knew she was hiding something. Something big. Something of a secret. Not quite terrible, but significant enough to be hesitant to share.
"Cut the shit Pearl." Connie demanded, seeing right through Pearls attempts to cover things up. If Connie was honest, she had looked up the specifics of Pearl-Class GIS. Loyal to the cause of their assigned associates and superiors and being quite smug about it if given the chance. It was amazing to see these artificial intellgences blessed with the manner of personality and thought, just like organics.
"People are after what ever you have sealed within you."
Pearl's eyes went to Steven in that brief moment, as if she pleaded to him for help. The awkward smile completely sold that idea. Steven's concerned face coupled with Connie's scorn that wouldn't wear off, had communicated to Pearl quite well with what she had to do. So, her demeanour changed completely. Pearl-Class could also be just as submissive. Stuck up but meek in front of their superior.
Not to mention, ever since Smoky Quartz heard that discussion between Greg and Luna, Steven already had a sneaking suspicion of what was inside.
"Look, even I don't know what I have sealed inside of me...I...I'd been instructed to protect what I have. But what purpose? I don't even know!" Pearl stated in a startled tone.
Steven didn't want to give in to doubt. She was Rose's personal Pearl....and Rose, according to Albite, had been gone for eight long years. Pearl had plenty of time to figure things out. Unless she was instructed not to...and protecting her data became the priority. He looked Connie, who was not far from bursting out from the fiery anger inside her.
"You knew Rose Quartz; maybe her human donor Rosette Flannigan." Connie said.
"You served under her. Maybe the most out of anyone, even Garnet and Amethyst."
Pearl looked to the side. Her fingers were clasped together as she tried so hard to peer through files unknown. If GIS could sweat, Pearl would be drenched. She was about to open her mouth again until Steven interrupted.
"We were all affected by SOAP Connie, of course Pearl isn't going to know the password to get in." He said
Another set back. Great. They saved Pearl for nothing. The deletion of a Caretaker coupled with the mega corporations after their asses was all nought. A ruined reputation Connie could deal with, but wasting time, months for them to hit a blockade was what really aggravated Connie to the brink of tearing her hair out. She boiled within, but remained composed and tight lipped about her frustrations. Giving all her energy to remain restrained simply because Steven had a point.
Connie collapsed onto the bed. While Steven and Pearl exchanged glances again. Pearl appeared more forelorn, however.
"I only have vague recollections of serving a superior but sadly, I'm not even sure. SOAP can erase facts but they can't seem to erase feelings."
Feelings?
"What do you mean Pearl?" Steven queried.
Connie leaned back and laid a pillow flat on her face, while Pearl appeared more withdrawn.
"Memory deletion eradicates core aspects. Images, faces, names and words and windows of time. But GIS, as far as I know, we have emotional cortexes that are considered the most developed technology within our programming. Pearls hold a sense of belonging and dedication to their wards and owners. The way that our emotions are tied to those that we belong to...can trigger a lot of these memories to surface in ways we'd least expect."
This was new.
"Like your human brains, our phylacteries function with a series of...energy signatures that resemble neurons firing away. If we make enough connections using neurotransmitters being sent across synapses, then memories can form. I think this...SOAP was originally designed for human forged AI's where this is severely limited; saving on space so these parts are more easily destroyed rather than...let's say, suppressed. Which is what, I'm sure, GIS are subject to."
How could Pearl be so sure?
"This means? What exactly?" Connie said, her voice muffled by the pillow.
Pearl rubbed her chin.
"The name Rose, eludes me in the normal sense, but my feelings about the name in question. They form something...pleasant and encouraging. I cannot say for certain but..."
But the Crystal Ancillas did belong to Rose Quartz at some point. So this wasn't surprising. It sort of reminded Connie of the DEJA-VU bug, but with this was merely an unintended side effect.
"I'm sure Garnet and Amethyst....speaking of which...where are those two? You said Garnet had split into her components and Amethyst was busy dealing with Aquamarine..."
But failed to explained where they were now. Connie sat up.
"We haven't heard from Amethyst since we fled." She said.
She could handle herself. She was a tough GIS. Steven was worried as well, but more towards Garnet.
"Ruby and Sapphire were still in the Satellites." Steven said, before looking at his old, defunct Android.
"I'll go talk to Lapis to see if she can get them back...hold on."
Steven connected himself to the old android, which left Pearl and Connie together while he was busy with Lapis. It wasn't as if Connie didn't trust Pearl...it was just whether or not Pearl had some inclination...or was still hiding something regarding their mission. If she had these feelings towards Rose, then she must have known something about this mess that was beyond what they had already discussed.
"I wonder if you were instructed to take care of Steven..." Connie, staring at both Androids.
"The Son of Rosette Flannigan and Gregory DeMayo. The former who lead to the formation of the original SC-GIS and the latter who helped develop BM-AIs...."
Pearl could see them both, side by side. One looking definitely not human and the other was so...human like.
"GIS hold their primary directives as a starting point, to help communicate the Diamond Monoliths intentions to intelligent life forms." Pearl revealed.
"We all know this. To understand humanity, to guide humanity to its own unrealised potential."
It was known. But rarely talked about, like it was common knowledge to all artificial and organic life forms by this point. Connie somehow always knew GIS existed, but they were just on the corners of her mind.
"Surely if GIS were to see themselves as individuals with their own dreams and desires, is there a way for them to take that chance?" Connie queried.
Pearl frowned. Connie was making her think twice.
"Why would GIS be granted emotions?" Connie continued. "Would all their actions be dictated by the Monoliths commands to...ascend humanity as they would? If I have learned anything, the ascension of humanity equals controlling it. That AIs, GIS and their variants be all encompassing to the Monoliths so called, grand design? Surely they have an end goal in mind? They wouldn't assist humans in this way unless they were getting something in return..."
Pearl placed a hand to her chest.
"We're...not meant to question it...if that's what you mean..." She said.
"I...somehow recall a similar conversation...I'm not sure...but...I think..it could have been Rose it first brought it up, if I can remember that correctly."
Rose mentioned it?
"Rose questioned the logics of the Monoliths?" Connie wondered.
Pearl was uncertain. She was left wrangling by her own emotions trying to claw back what little that could be recalled.
"It might have been...uhh...I cannot say." She said, left perplexed by the idea.
Rosette the Human, who obliged to ascend herself to curry the favour of the Pink Monolith and became its Caretaker. It's voice and vision come to the life. The first of the SC-GIS. To perhaps, encompass the idea of what the Monoliths were trying to achieve.
The GIS were made and programmed in this way. To deal with organic species and 'uplift' them to be more than what they once were. To what they could be.
"Rose's ambitions were ambigious." Connie stated.
"If she was the one who made us forget. To protect all of us or just herself. Selfless...or selfish? Everyones version of her is different. From Gregory DeMayos to others she's worked with...and those disillusioned by her promises. No one understands why she did this. Roped everyone involved. Killed people. Killed good people. For what?"
There was a lot to love and hate.
"Not to mention...used her son as...as a weapon? Who honestly does that to their child?"
A weapon. Pearl didn't want to believe it. She remembered bits and pieces in regards to Steven and what to do with him...and for him. But that directive had been lost long ago..Pearl had lost the real reason to guide him...especially when history had been deliberately obscured as to the true purpose of their being. His being. Connie frustrations returned to grasp her attitude, which worried Pearl a little.
"You care for Steven just as we do." Pearl told her, before she looked at his current Android.
"He's out here now. He's where he's always wanted to be. To be among organics." She said with a soft smile...that turned into a saddened expression.
"But if he really is a weapon to be used against humanity. I'm not sure if this is the right path for him to take."
Connie raised an eyebrow.
"You don't want him in the outside world?" She queried.
Pearl wrapped her arms around herself.
"The lack of purpose given to him. As himself. To just be...it was unknown. " She explained. Lapis suggested he was a prototype for a similar paradox. To be able to exist was the purpose. Nothing more. Though, it was now suggested that this may not be the case after all.
"But this makes sense for him to forget. Maybe Rose wanted us to forget his real purpose for this reason. He could be a detriment to humanity as a whole."
No. That couldn't be true.
"I refuse to believe that." Connie stated firmly.
Pearl looked down.
"Refusal to believe doesn't erase the facts. It's different to memory." She said.
"His form and function. It may be there, waiting for the moment to strike."
Connie gripped the edges of the bed. Pearl was right but it didn't make Connie all the more happier.
"And that maybe Rose had us look after him to make sure he didn't go along the Monoliths purpose for him."
Maybe, maybe, maybe. No confirmation or defintion of truth. Connie wouldn't accept it...facts are facts, good or bad. Rose was in the grey somewhere, undefined and drenched in the lack of clarification.
"You know Steven is not going to do what you think he can." Connie stated.
Pearl lifted her chin.
"We're all programs, capable of being reprogrammed at any time. At least, that's how things are supposed to be."
Supposed to be?
Connie tilted her head.
"Pearl...what does that even mean?" She asked, wary.
Pearl looked as if she was surprised that Connie of all people didn't understand what she meant.
"We are all pieces of data at the end of the day. GIS are, at our very core, limited systems with very little potential for growth...unless outside forces decide to alter our data. We serve the Monoliths because they're our true Creators. If they wanted to change us, they would."
And yet...their Monoliths were their Gods. Capable of making the changes made to fit their needs.
"Is this some kind of forewarning embedded into your...I don't know, internal guidelines or something?" Connie wondered.
Pearl looked to the side.
"It's hard to explain. We are created knowing our purpose. Knowing...those...guidelines you speak of. It is written into our code. The rules and laws that reside within us are there from the birth of our consciousness."
GIS have these technically hardwired. Made sense. Also made for them not to question certain parts when they're literally designed to know. Which made Connie wary of one important thing. Especially with the horror stories Ash provided.
"So..if all GIS have their purpose written into them, what about SC-GIS? Ash said some of them were warped by the screencaps. Are they deliberately altered in any way shape or form from their original human mind in order to fit their own code?"
Pearl shook her head.
"I'm...not sure." She said, placing her hand on her face.
"I don't know a lot about them. But if Rose was an SC-GIS, it would explain her influence over a variety of us. She would be capable...more than capable of fulfilling the Monoliths goals more than the rest of our kind."
Not to mention her role as a Caretaker.
"If she created Steven to be a weapon because the Monoliths told her so, then they could have rewrote her code during the screen-cap process. Gifting the Pink Monolith with her human mind then the Monolith would be able to alter her, then producing a perfect subject, more than willing to commit to the cause."
This was far more disturbing than Connie realised. All those SC-GIS and their directives forced into them. Like their free will had been taken away. But that didn't explain those who had rebelled willingly.
"Then she produces Steven with Greg to create this perfect hybrid. The Weapon." Connie muttered.
"Damn it."
Pearl was warning her now then. If the Monoliths had influences on their GIS, then they had influences on Steven. Potential altering of code...or triggers to act.
Acts of evil Gods.
"I'd hate to say it Connie." Pearl said, mournfully.
"But you might need to make a choice for humanity's sake."
No. Connie refused.
"Are suggesting I...delete Steven?" She said, her tone having risen.
Pearl nodded, then bit her lip as her eyes scrunched up, as if she was trying not to cry.
"No. Absolutely not." Connie said, with power behind it.
"I don't care what the secret is anymore! I don't care what I once knew or-or what you have sealed."
Though she really did care. She had to say that to vent. So Connie went to the drawing board. Which was actually a whiteboard to where she had pinned or written down the series of events from all the information she had gathered so far and demonstrated the Board to Pearl.
"Help me make sense of this." She said.
"So...from when the Pink Monolith was constructed, they commissioned a business known as Terra Company, which was lead by you name it, Rosette Flannigan, to help make the African Branch....and to help make the Monolith's, 'Deep Throne'."
Going from what Ash had told her and Steven, presumbly (^1) But Pearl could see the signs of denial as Connie continued to try and connect all the dots. Going from how she met Greg and her meeting Steven was a matter of her own fathers relationship with his, seemingly having spiraled from there...
Pearl became more concerned as Connie spouted conspiracy theories and those around her shrouding the truth with nothing but lies to cover up the whole ordeal, even to Dr. Millers suicide which meant she would have been perfectly capable of knowing a great deal before she decided to off herself from holding the burdens of said knowledge. The babble came out as nonsense as Connie fell into near hysteria. Wide eyed and with flailing hands and a voice that raised in volume in an even pace.
Connie worked hard on this; a fact Pearl wouldn't fault however.
"I've worked myself to the bone Pearl." Connie said, with the spaces between words becoming much quicker than before.
"I took this on for the money. But I didn't know how the obsession itself was going to destroy me. Sleepless nights and almost dying several times. Those I can deal with."
What was most worrying was when Connie started to chuckle, which made Pearl feel uneasy.
"Connie..." Said Pearl.
Connie laughed harder.
"I...I don't even know why I'm telling you this." She said, with a disturbing smile. Upon closer inspection, Pearl realised her eyes were bloodshot.
"You said it yourself, you're just data. Programs designed to think and feel for themselves but the will to act is being blocked by a much more powerful force. To think, I wanted to kill myself over that."
Pearl swallowed. She didn't know what to do.
"Being an organic is pain. It doesn't matter. Either side of it...there's always some version of suffering and some longing to where the grass is greener."
Now Pearl was feeling an emotion similar to regret. She wasn't going to let this human who had willingly helped Steven fall into disrepair. Connie wasn't wrong about the suffering; Garnet once talked about wanting the things you couldn't have and on occasion, it was better to just want. Even if you had to suffer.
Pearl understood that part more than anymore...except Garnet. GIS will gain those desires but are told to ignore them and instead fill the purpose you were made for...and the want will pass.
"Connie...look." Pearl said, trying to steer her back from the brink.
"You have worked hard. I can see that. Bringing me back wasn't an easy task. Such sacrifices aren't worth my price."
Deep down, Connie felt like she wouldn't have saved Pearl if she didn't have valuable information to begin with. And she felt more awful for thinking that. If it wasn't for Steven, she would have gone off the deep end a long time ago.
In the attempt to calm herself down, Connie reminded herself inhale deeply and exhale. Pearl was just a GIS...a GIS trying to act on good intentions beyond her station. Deleting Steven being the solution was just a suggestion.
"It's...it's not that." Connie said, her tone less troubling as it returned to normal.
"The idea...if it came to it...that I might have to kill him...it hurts to think about."
The more Connie put thought into it, the more she begun to realise why Greg and Luna were adamant to protect them. It wasn't just about the Pink Monolith anymore. The Domain would sooner fall apart without it and that was fact. But if the Monoliths got their hands on Steven, then they would be in deeper trouble than ever. Pearl then realised what she meant and wanted to remedy the situation.
"I'm sorry...I'm just going off what Garnet told us." She said.
Garnet?
"Garnet...she ordered you and Amethyst to...get rid of him if the scenario got to that extent?" Connie queried.
Pearl rubbed her neck.
"I'm...I'm not sure. All she said that Steven's purpose isn't clear to us. But she predicted that his mysterious existence would be in no doubt, connected to the Monoliths. But none of us knew how or why. Our purpose was rewritten. To protect the Domain in anyways means necessary and that we must operate outside of the Developers or Monoliths authorities. We both went along with what she said and...well...." She said.
Connie pursed her lips.
"You weren't meant to question it." She finished.
"Garnet is your superior. She made the suggestion to kill delete him it meant that he would compromise the state of the Domain."
Like fusions, his unknown file size could break the Domain. Like Luna, he was also an anomaly.
"Of...of course we didn't want him dead straight away!" Pearl stressed.
"It's just...we checked his files and couldn't find anything at all. GIS...AI...he was without designation or category. Only that he looked like a human with a Kernel Core. So we automatically assumed he was some type of AI. A broken one maybe?"
A broken AI could cause as much havok if left unchecked.
"But he's not broken." Connie said, making a fist as she looked at his Android.
Pearl frowned. The humans dedication and how she wanted to defend his honour. No other human would defend an Artificial Intelligences existence the way Connie would. They chose correctly, that Pearl knew for certain. But where she would lead herself, wasn't what the Ancillas had planned. The guilt remained.
"I know he's not." She said, trying to reassure the conflicted Hacker.
"Steven's more than any of us. We know that now. You and I have a responsibility to change this. What we have is what the Developers want. We cannot let them have it."
Which made Connie perculiar as to what Pearl was even trying to do. If GIS have an obligation to their Monoliths, to 'assist' humanity then how is that they weren't like the rest of them in the method to the madness the whole world wanted to convey?
What Pearl has is critical. What Connie has is critical. If either side possessed such things, then matters would get much worse. Better that they both were here and not with the Developers.
"Is that what Garnet also told you?" Connie queried.
Pearl nodded. Garnet had been the leader since...goodness knows how long. The paths taken were all dictated by her and that they would to act on her orders regardless.
"Sapphires are already powerful GIS. Coupled with extra processing power gifted by the Ruby and you have a strong and wise Synthesied Program." She said.
"They're strange in the messages that they send, regardless of who they form consensus with."
No doubt about that.
"So...Garnet...is only following through with what she knows and sees...for all we know...she's still following the ways the Monoliths made her components. If this path is what they had set for her, then what if she is the one who is compromising the mission?"
Pearl furrowed her brows. Garnet wouldn't stear them wrong.
"N-no. I'm sure she's not." She said.
"Garnet is a mystery yes but her work with the Synthesised is proof that she cares more than you and I will ever know. She was more than excited to work your Stevonnie Program and that's not something that's conventionally in her programming to do. She wanted to help them even if their existence was an affront to the Monoliths."
Like Rose, there was something of a greater mystery in the works. In Connie's mind, she had to believe Rose may have reprogrammed them somehow. She must care. Or else she would be down with them in the event of catatrosphy. Unless if shes hiding to protect both herself and Steven. Who really knew? Connie felt like that could be the case; Rose could have been fighting the system somewhere and that the reality was, she knew something too that no one else could ever hope to know.
"She cares...you care...Amethyst...was made to care." Connie stated.
"The Domain is failing without the Pink Monolith. They designed Steven for a purpose mankind may not be able to comphrehend. It's all there. We just can't see it. Yet Garnet can."
Pearl nodded. She remembered a conversation that took place between herself and Garnet:
It had been a week since they found Steven. The Ancillas were trying to figure the enigma of his existence. He had nothing but words to give that pleaded the same story over and over again. All he knew was his name but little else.
At the Obisidian Temple. Amethyst had been trying to teach him about humans while Pearl and Garnet remained aloof in visual, but discussed him from the decking outside.
"We had to remake the Temple for his sake." Pearl said.
"It took a lot of effort to remodel but its done."
Garnet ordered them to replace the old version of the Temple with the new one to fit with Steven's human needs. He didn't look like any other AI that they had seen. The best Garnet knew, was that he was a BM-AI but refused to divulge details to him. She urged caution around the program. His curiousity with the humans was known, but without form or reason...he was just, as the humans would say, a lost soul.
The False Sunset forged a lovely lavender sky as the sound of the waves crashing on to the shore had created a pleasant ambience. GIS weren't without taste...or souls themselves.
"This will not be permanent." She said.
Pearl always looked up to Garnet, but never always understood what she said.
"You have a feeling someone will be searching for an abandoned AI?" She said.
Garnet crossed her arms and looked towards the seas.
"AIs get dumped every day. But they're sooner deleted for their lack of purpose. Some human always comes to clean up." The Fusion explained.
Humans could clutter very easily, but the position of the Domain couldn't afford to dangerous clutter that could cause harm. Even then, it was very unusual to house any AI, so for them to do so was very strange indeed. Only at Garnets insistence that he was to remain with them for the moment until his true purpose was made clear. Garnet could see many events with him, which had her dedicated to figuring out what secrets he held.
"Not this one?" Pearl stated.
Garnet gave a slight upwards head tilt. Even with the Ruby component, figuring him was the most difficult prediction should could analyse. Too many variables or not enough to form a solid conclusion. Only that many of the paths could result to chaos.
"We agreed to have him stay here. He's been pretty good so far and he likes Amethyst. I don't see any signs if ill will."
Garnet looked away.
"An AI without knowing its purpose holds ground for backdoor access." She said.
"At any moment, his programming could fall into place, causing him to act in ways we're not able to control or deal with."
Pearl certainly hoped not.
"Like a Trojan?" She suggested.
Garnet looked down.
"AIs belong to the humans. Let the humans choose what programs they decide to keep and which ones they decide to delete." She said.
"But this one belongs to no one. Unless a human steps in to stake the claim, at some point, we will have to delete him for them."
Pearls eyes widened. He was too sweet a program to get rid of that easily. Garnets words could be seen as harsh but Pearl knew where she stood on topics referring to the safety to the Domain. So the focus for Pearl was finding his human owner. But in reality, she liked having him around.
"But you don't want that." Said Garnet.
Pearl shook her head.
"We shouldn't have to such extremes if he's willing to cooperate." She said.
"I mean, I'm not saying letting him have free reign but we can develop his skillset. Have him learn our ways."
Garnet pressed her lips together.
"I see." She said.
"I do not wish to delete him either. But it if it comes to that Pearl, you have to my permission to do so. Amethyst I'm not certain will take to the idea but we must make her understand that choice."
Pearl frowned. Amethyst was able to commune with the humans so easily due to her ability to speak to them and to be able to be seen by most. Her mannerisms were becoming increasingly human the more she was exposed to them. But for Garnet not to be certain caused a little worry.
"Amethyst can be a pain but we need her." Pearl stressed.
"We might not be able to alter her programming but you'd be surprised about the humans capacity to learn."
Garnet was hesitant to trust humans personally, but she was still dedicated to protecting them as much as she would for the Domain and its contents.
And Amethyst's design had human traits in mind when she was being developed. So Pearl had a point.
"I fear possession of a third party may cause events to spin things further." Garnet noted.
"Steven is an unknown and will continue to be an unknown. But I see the future depends on him making certain choices that may benefit himself and may benefit us."
Usually to increase their knowledge gaps. Filling them was necessary.
"Or may hinder us." Pearl said with fear.
"We may never know unless we grant him the permissions for choice. To do what he needs to do."
It was such a gift to AIs....even GIS.
"Yes." She said.
"Good, bad are subjective. Humans hold no illusion to what they think is right or wrong. They hold what we do not. The ability to deal with the choices that may conflict with our own directives. If Steven even holds that power, then we will have to follow his lead."
Follow his lead...Garnet had an unusual amount of faith in humanity in general, more so than any of their own kind.
"I will use my power to guide. But not to force." She continued.
"For now, he will remain with us. Until we can find a human that is able to utilise Steven's strengths...what ever they may be."
Pearl wasn't certain.
"What about us?" She said.
The Crystal Ancillas had no way of figuring out what human or what type of human would be even willing take in an AI without a purpose.
"The human will have courage. They will have to deal with us and we will test their strengths. We cannot have just any human. We need one that can fight against other AIs and GIS if necessary."
Now that left Pearl even more confused.
"That's a tall order." She said.
"What for? Just for Steven?"
Garnet refrained from giving out too much detail.
"It wouldn't just be for him." She said.
"But to be able to keep the sanctity of the Domain and its human subsidiaries in check. It is no longer the issue if chaos will ensure. It is the matter of when."
Pearl understood. Garnet was always cautious of when serious problems would occur. Especially in the long run.
"Which is why we needed a human like you to put all the pieces together in the first place." Pearl said to Connie.
"Humans work into this just as much as we do. You are the reason we've gotten this far..."
If Pearl was trying to make Connie feel better, it wasn't working.
"So...we can avoid killing Steven in all of this?" Connie queried, needing to make sure.
Pearl sighed. Seems as Berrybyte can't take that off her mind. Focused on the avoidance of a calamity not yet to occur. She feared that as much as she feared the contents within. Still, the GIS wasn't without empathy.
"Sorry I sprung that on you." She said.
"It's not necessary at this moment. We're not in the position that we would need to do it. Please don't tell Steven about that either. I don't know what that will do to him."
It wasn't just that. Connie didn't want to judge what Steven would do with the knowledge that his death may put a stop to their plans...or maybe delay them. She didn't know.
But it would definitely be the last resort. Connie would rather take that knowledge to the grave. But for someone who has been around Steven as long as she has, then he would do what it takes if it meant saving both the real and digital worlds.
"Steven has no true directive. If given purpose, then he may just do it...or not." Connie said.
"I honestly don't know with him sometimes."
Pearl agreed. Connie had the same insight that they had.
"For once I understand what you mean." She said.
"He is an unknown. So far, he's not been a compromise and we have tried to guide him as best we can. But I think, with you in his life, that he will be better...and happier with you."
Among humans. His ultimate desire. Not a directive, but a human want.
"I know you can guide him to the right choice, as Garnet, Amethyst and I have. It is that communication is key but what is from a natural born heart is what he what he really needs."
From what Steven told Connie, he adored the Crystal Ancillas...he even considered them family to an extent.
"That's what....Rose..."
Both of them paused.
"Rose?" Connie questioned, crossing her arms.
Pearl held her head and scrunched her eyes, as if she was having a headache.
"Oh, bits...Rose... I remember something...something about how the true, untainted heart will decide humanities fate."
Rose said that...and not Garnet?
"Is this some prophecy she made up? I hate that." Connie commented.
This wasn't a fairy tale. This was something from some kind of horror story if anything. Aliens invading Earth for their own reasons made more sense. Even if those reasons didn't, Connie preferred it that way.
"I...I don't know." Pearl replied.
"I don't know...."
This was even more confusing now than it was before. Connie tried to stamp that idea out and had to keep her mind on something else. She ran through her board again and tapped her whiteboard marker against Luna's details and remembered one of their earliest conversations:
"Are you the Protection Protocol Greg created?" Connie asked.
Luna looked to the side.
"I know of a variant of the Protocol." She said.
"It's designed in a similar way to a Caretaker GIS's. The Monoliths install Imprint Subroutines to their Caretaker GIS alongside their Prime Apps. The routine works as thus; The Monoliths are put into danger. Their connections to their Caretakers allow the latter to sense that the other has sent out an alarm, calling all known Caretakers to their location to defend it." (^2)
Connie almost forgot what she had spoken to Luna about. Supposedly, Connie didn't have the Protection Protocol in mind by that point, but suddenly what they discussed earlier clicked. The Pink Monolith must have taken Rose's data, installed the Imprint Subroutines which altered the programming. Which could have also explained why some of them had drastic personality changes and some didn't. Many of them may not have had such things installed.
"Know anything about...the Luna Program?" Connie asked.
Pearl fidgeted with her fingers again. Connie was trying to distract herself with work again. Reminded Pearl too much of herself for reasons undefined.
"Luna...Luna...I know..no...hmmm....I think I might but nothing conclusive." Pearl answered.
Figures.
"And I'm definitely being honest. I may have known it but not at the moment. I'll need time to try and sort out these hidden memories. But...are you still going to try and find out the password?"
Connie thought about it. If what they were to find in Pearl was anything damning...Connie would have to destroy. As much as Luna commanded Connie to get the contents, the latter was hesistant to trust something more mysterious than Rose. Connie had a few theories that had just been seeding but they needed more time to grow.
"I....could? But...there's something missing." Connie stated.
Some information that kept nagging her to claim but she couldn't put her head to it. Luna mentioned the situation changed, but that wasn't it. Something about Leon, but that wasn't it.
What was it?
Those two were written on the board and nothing else was said. So they were written off for now.
Connie was lost in a trance...until she heard a knock on the door.
"Hi, sorry to interrupt." Said Peedee.
Ronaldo was still knocked out, but that wasn't why he had come in.
"I got a message from my Dad....I don't even know how or why...but he wants to talk to you Berrybyte."
Connie raised an eyebrow. This raised questions about what Peedee had been doing. They couldn't risk letting slip of their location, no matter how strong a VPN they had.
"You've been chatting to him? I severely hope you're not compromising our position right now." She warned.
Peedee shook his head.
"I have private channels I can still access." He said.
"I sort of...was telling him what was going on."
Connie's fury was swift as she pushed Peedee back against a nearby wall as she scorned him against telling someone who shouldn't be involved what was happening. Risking not just their lives but his own with things beyond his own understanding.
"For fucks sake...I thought you would have had more common sense!" She scolded.
Peedee raised his hands in defense of himself against Connie's anger.
"Wait. let me explain." He pleaded. He was thankful Connie did not have a gun in her hand, but he was still close to having a heart attack.
He then explained how it was his father that was chatting to him and that he had to dodge PeriCom who had people hunting him down too. Supposedly, Connie assumed this due to his connections. Of course they would be trying to take hostages as to make Connie submit to their cause. She eventually and reluctantly calmed down and resorted to discuss this amicably.
"Is your Dad alright?" Connie queried, concerned.
Peedee nodded.
"Yeah he's fine...he's surprisingly resourceful for someone who cooks fries all day and night." He commented.
"I underestimated him once but he's somewhere safe for now...and for some reason, he really wants to talk to you Berrybyte."
Connie raised an eyebrow. She was surprised of all people, that he wanted to speak to her. She took a deep breath and reconsitituted her patience. What would the Fryman Father want?
"Give me time and location. Now.
Notes:
1. Chapter 38: Screencap
2. Chapter 35: Correspondence
Chapter 45: Metadata
Summary:
With the end in sight, Connie finds more insight into what she hadn't expected to discover. With what she gains, will they be able to finally find what they've always been looking for? And...with what cost?
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Frustrations against being compromised always hindered Connie's intentions to reel herself with her attitude. It wasn't as if she wasn't aware of what effects she had on people sometimes.
One of her conversations with her AI mother entailed on how Connie used to be a sweet girl. Small fragments of time lost and regained as the years went on. For BM-AIs with memory erasures, it would be extremely difficult to retain information as say it would be for a GIS. Still, the limitations with either side both helped and hindered. No one side of the argument was perfect. Dr. Maheswaran stressed the importance of the unusual balances of power between the separate entities. That each had flaws both designed and not designed. At the end of the day, humanity ruled the host.
Though how Mr. Fryman came into the picture was anyones guess. His sons were involved with the deepest shit known to man and maybe he was just trying to figure out a way to help? Didn't want to cause them anymore trouble? Connie was definitely curious.
Of course, they were to meet in the Domain. Connie retrieved the coordinates from Peedee and told him that if that Steven ever came back with either Ruby, Sapphire, both or Garnet that to let him know where she was. She'll deal with them later, after what she found out from Pearl. In the mean time, she tracked down location. It was some down town place left on its own and filled with scum. Not too far off the Black Market. Ironically safe and dangerous.
Connie made sure to make good use of the Third Eye Program. It became interesting to note that the Program would even listen to someone like her. She assumed it was because of her Shard and left it at that. But it was useful for scouting out potential problems in an area.
This alleyway wasn't totally secure but Berrybyte wasn't incredibly foolish as to not be prepared for eavesdroppers. Leaning against a break wall as she watched steam come out of a nearby vent, She had a virtual cigarrette before she heard shuffling footsteps nearby.
She looked to her right and saw a tall, bulky man in black with a hoodie. Nothing too strange in the Black Martket Section in this Grid. Anonymity was important as anything and the layers of security to protect ones self and assets was always a pricey and risky endeavour.
"Ah you're finally here." Connie said dryly.
"Took you long enough."
She engaged encryption protocols for a several meter radius. Anyone else around them would be hearing garbage or nothing at all.
"I'm sorry for the delay." He said.
"Getting here wasn't easy. Like you, I have small friends in high places. As well as high friends in small places."
A statement that left Connie surprised. Fryman lifted his hood and most of his face was pixaleted for his protection. Connie assumed that it must have been both Ronaldo and Peedee's doing to provide their father with the assets required to protect himself. These were indeed, dangerous times to be roaming about on your own with very few people left to trust.
Connie inhaled and exhaled. She had enough small chatter.
"What do you want?" She asked.
Fryman nodded. The man had a different air about him.
"I've been watching the situation from behind the scenes. And I think...I think I've not been entirely truthful to you...to anyone...especially my boys." He said.
Connie eyed him with caution. Who wasn't lying to save their own skin, real, synthetic or binary otherwise?
"Get to it." She said.
Fryman nodded.
"Okay...okay..I might need to be short and sweet anyway." He said, sounding a bit anxious.
"The Incident regarding the Monoliths Disappearance. I may have some information that might be useful to you."
Something he couldn't tell her the first time they met?
"What could you possibly know that I don't already know?" She said, inhaling and exhaling again.
But the matter of his nerves were kept under wrap better than Pearl could act upon. But it was still noticeable.
"I'm only here, to atone for what has been happening. PeriCom operated on my first born without his permission. Kept him captive. I'm glad he's alive, but I doubt he'll ever be the same."
For what ever they did do to him, Connie would avenge in her own way if she had to. A father's love for his child...had to account to something. Connie kept her caution, however.
"Peedee is keeping a close eye on him." She said.
"But I can't guarantee what will happen when he wakes up."
Fryman nodded, then looked down. Connie for some reason, sensed an aura of shame that radiated from him.
"What?" She said.
Fryman heaved a huge sigh.
"I need to give you something." He said.
His hand reached out and from his palm crystal, projected a folder of some sort.
"Notes on the Shard Project." He said.
"If you are going to aid my son in his recovery, I think these notes should be able to help."
The Shard Project...such words made the hairs on the back of her neck stand out. Virtual hairs at that.
"Where did you find these?" She asked as she took the file and copied it from Fryman. Code went back and forth from the folder was it was being transferred to Connie's own palm crystal.
Fryman lifted his head as he looked up.
"Humanity itself is in grave danger." He said.
"From what Peedee could tell me, is that its only going to get worse. The Shard Project was curated for a purpose. And you, yourself...were a part of it."
Connie furrowed her brows, perplexed as she noted down the gigabytes worth of data this folder had. She would need more time to go through it.
"I'm aware of the Blue Shard on my neck." She said.
"And I think...from what I could scan from Ronaldo, they placed a Yellow Shard into him."
For what ever real purpose that served.
"I was sick." Connie revealed.
"Still am. The Shard saved my life from what I can recall. But unfortunately I know little else."
Once the copy was completed, Fryman took his hand back.
"Most of the data is in there for your perusal." He said.
"I unfortunately cannot stay. I must leave. But I fear that sooner than later, they will track me down."
PeriCom?
"Because of me?" Connie queried.
Now the essence of guilt appeared to ooze out of his body language alone.
"I have...done some questionable things over the years." Fryman noted, his voice low.
"So much that was planned but never actually did. What went wrong...was the lack of foresight. It was all...about ambition of an unseen enemy. To beat the Developers at their game. To fight against time and enemies who had an idea that would have been objected by the Governments of the world. Only, for them to slip in their people into every sector...and the corruption of the world emerged because of this...idea to save humanity from itself. I never understood it. And I lost...I lost good friends to the madness. We never should have found those Monoliths. We should have destroyed them!"
Found them?
"You're a tough woman Berrybyte." He complimented.
"You're the only one who has gotten this far. You must keep your wits about you...as you dive deeper into territory no one else has dared to cross...and I implore you to trust no one else but yourself and Steven."
Now Connie was reallly puzzled. So she shouldn't even trust his own sons then?
"What do you hope to achieve by this?" She queried.
Fryman began to walk backwards.
"I hope to save humanity from itself. Just not in the way that the Developers or the Monoliths want to. Alien Tech or not...you must stop this chaos before it destroys everything!"
His Avatar begun to fizzle out as he walked back and not too long after, he disappeared. Berrybyte was left with the folder, floating in her hand. So many thoughts visited her mind and clashed together in the turmoil. Like everything else...she decided to leave it be and exited the Domain shortly after.
Going back to the real world, she inhaled the dull, stale scent. She noticed the strong sensation of touch from another being. It was Steven; having returned from his visit to Lapis and had his hand on her shoulder. The sense of reality put forth behind her. Slouched and left to ponder. Steven could have been any other human. But he wasn't. He might as well. Who could say for Androids with exceptional exemptions from the rule? Especially with a mind as complex as Stevens; especially with the digital soul as a vastly intertwined into the fabrics code like his.
Why would anyone care...they took too long to fix their mistakes...why are they trying to amend it all now? Why do they care all of a sudden?
"What did Dad have to say?" Peedee said.
Connie was quiet. As Peedee looked to equally confused Steven for not an answer, but an equal as to question the silence. The latter sensed something to Connie but couldn't put his finger on it.
"Your Dad...I don't think he was a regular cook..." She said.
Now they were even more confused.
"Uh...huh...well, Dad does cook some mean fries?" Peedee answered mirthfully.
Connie shook her head. She remembered something Peedee told her a while back, something about their father being good with tinkering.
"No I don't mean that." She said, standing up.
The file now sat on Connie's monitor. Staring at her as she did at it. The label Shard_Project was plain to see. Ordinary to some but...
"He gave me something. Something important. I'll need time to pour over the details."
Steven wasn't so sure. Connie did look shaken up somewhat. He couldn't see her face properly as she didn't even bother to look at the pair as she spoke.
"Okay uhh...do you need help with anything?" He asked.
Ever so sweet, her boybotfriend. She took a deep breath.
"Just get me a drink...this may take a while."
In doing so, the boys left Connie to her devices as she poured through the notes Fryman left behind. Still, they were definitely eager to hear what Connie had found.
Hours went by as Connie flipped through every bit of detail she could absorb. For what she gathered, The Shard Project was propogated by several scientists as a way to connect humans to Alien Tech quicker. That much she understood. Though some of the details had diagrams and so forth. Even x-rays of a familiar small girl.
A shock went down Connie's spin as a flash went through her head. The another...and another... her vision then displayed colour and blurs of scientists and beeping noises. It reminded her of her mother. Though the woman with the dark hair wearing the blue mask had familiar eyes. A man walked into the room with his own. Wearing glasses...
"I can't believe I agreed to have our girl be connected to wires and all this junk." Cried the woman, who was almost on the verge of tears.
"Dr. Ryman said this is going to save our little princess." He said.
The woman grew peeved at the man.
"By being exposed to some...magical space rocks?" She cried out.
The man sighed.
"Dr. Ryman said it was a special piece of rock. Its had numerous amounts of testing and by his theory, this will forestall the disease, even halt it completely."
The woman facepalmed.
"Doug, I'm a Doctor...and you don't need to tell me anything that I don't know of the profession and what it entails to tell me that is crazy! How do we know that this won't just....kill her faster?"
Doug took the womans hands into his own over the bed.
"The Rock, or Shard...is meant to absorb most of the feedback that Connie gets from just thinking. By doing this...she'll become much smarter...maybe much more than either of us! She'll have so much potential!"
Potential....Dr. Maheswaran knew this beforehand based on the information given to her. She didn't think of the horrible toll it would have on her...and Connie.
More footsteps came into the room. Another man with long brown hair came into the room.
"Ah Mr. and Mrs. Maheswaran." He said.
That sounded like Dr. DeMayo.
"That's Doctor Maheswaran." Said the mother. She swore she had to keep reminding the man.
Mom...Dr. DeMayo laughed nervously and apologised.
"How is she?" Doug asked.
Dr. DeMayo nodded.
"The parent in me wants me to say it went smoothly, buuuut I refuse to lie on the grounds of a fellow doctor." He said.
"But as I always say, if Every Porkchop were perfect, we wouldn't have hotdogs!"
What kind of stupid line was that?
"I may have supervised the procedure but I still need to question; Is our daughter compromised in anyway?" Her mother asked.
"Even with all the details down to a tee to ensure it went smoothly, I'm not entirely certain nor am I comfortable with my daughter continuning on as a test subject."
Dr. DeMayo shook his head. That wasn't the first time she'd mentioned that or even the second. Or third.
"She's going to be fine." He assured them.
"Better than fine. But you shouldn't thank me. Thank Dr. Ryman, who, once the idea was proposed, was able to flesh out the details to ensure everything would taken with the utmost care in mind. Fresh out of Yin Aozora and already makin' waves here at DM Biometrics, makin history!"
Dr. Maheswaran didn't look all that pleased.
"I'm not sure if I should thank him or take him to court." She said.
"I'm not okay with our daughter being used as some kind of experiment."
Doug walked around and put his arm over his wife.
"Honey we agreed." He said.
Dr. Maheswaran sighed.
"I know!" She said, rubbing her face.
"You said you're going to watch over her progress for a few weeks while she recovers?"
Dr. DeMayo smiled.
"From one parent to another, I swear I will look after your daughter. I even have an AI Program I can tweak to make sure she is monitored if you have any issues with taking care of her. And as a bonus, I can lend you the Rosa Leo so you can come back and forth between here and America with ease."
Dr. Maheswaran rolled her eyes.
"Ah that piece of ugly Alien Tech." She said.
"That thing scares me more than it impresses me."
Dr. DeMayo's grin went wider.
"Rose helped make it with one of our uhh...interns...what was his name?"
Another man walked through the door.
"Leon Maine?"
A scientist who wore a long coat, perhaps the tallest one of the room but with enough light in the room to get a good look at his face. His hair was in dreads. It was his main feature.
"Ah Dr. Fryman!" Dr. DeMayo said enthustically.
The blonde man rolled his eyes.
"For the last time Greg, just call me Ryman!" He called out.
"Sheesh, ever since I told you I wanted to run a resturant when I eventually retire, that's all you ever call me."
Greg laughed then gestured towards him, all the while muttering the Maheswarans.
"He's a tough nut to crack." He joked, before clearing his throat.
"Anyway, as I was saying, the Rosa Leo is a pinnacle of prototype technology!"
Dr. Ryman rolled his eyes.
"The Rosa Leo is classified tech and is not to be used ever outside of testing. Even then, the paperwork to get to approve it is immense. DM Biometrics will not allow it to be used outside the facility."
Greg sighed.
"Don't be such a downer." He said.
"Hmmm...why don't you work for us? It will allow you to be closer to your daughter."
The parents looked at each.
"I don't know." Said Dr. Maheswaran.
For what ever reason, Greg was beaming.
"We have the state of the art facilities here you could use."
Dr. Mahaswaran crossed her arms.
"I help patients for a living. I like where I am. I don't think..."
All of the sudden, they heard crying. Dr. Maheswaran looked towards her child and frowned.
"There, there honey, it's okay." She said.
Dr. Ryman then stepped in.
"Look, if you need to use the Rosa Leo, just use it somewhere rural. We don't want any attention drawn to it."
Connie woke up all of a sudden to a single screen of text and a blue blanket on her shoulders. Steven was standing right next to her as he placed a hot cup of cocoa next to her.
"Hey, I got you that drink. It's not coffee, but something...a lil' more tame." He said.
He leaned against the desk and watched his groggy girlfriend look at her with bags under her eyes. Connie looked at the cup with a squinted look and a half gaped mouth.
"Oh...thank you." She said, her voice ever so soft.
Connie sat up and took the cup. The warmth entered her mouth so nicely and the taste was divine. Placing the mug down, she smiled at him.
"When did you get so good at making warm drinks?"
Steven grinned. He adored it when she smiled like that. It was said that the taste and texture brought forth the pleasantness of youth. The sweet taste of comfort and memories few and far in between the horrors faced leading into adult hood. She wanted to cry, but managed to stave off tears. Berrybyte was reluctant to show too much emotion in that moment.
"Dunno. I tried a lot of virtual versions in the Domain and I sort of wanted to see how they compared to the real thing. So I downloaded a few recipes that I wanted to try. Do you like it?" He asked.
She should have known. Downloading such things was so easy these days. Though it had been years since she had tried hot chocolate, she couldn't recall the best versions. So she nodded.
"Yeah." She replied.
"It's good...sometimes its not bad to go off a recipe. Sometimes making your own stuff is actually a recipe for disaster."
Steven chuckled. He watched as Connie thumbed the handle and looked top down into the mug itself. Hot chocolate, according to the recipes, was said to bring out fuzzy childhood nostalgia. Like what a parent would give to their child on a cold, winter night. He assumed it must have succeeded somewhat. He's never really seen her look like that. Smaller but okay and comfortable with being smaller.
"Hey so...um...I know you've been busy." He said.
"But I've been talking with Garnet and Pearl...and I actually managed to get a hold of Amethyst...she says she's okay for now. But she's prepping something in case things go south...what ever that means."
Good to know. But Connie still hadn't had that big talk with Garnet yet...in fact, the more awake she became, the more she remembered her dream...her memory.
"At least we know we can depend on her." She said, her voice still croaky.
"But...I think we need to talk to Peedee...it's about his Dad."
Steven nodded, understanding. The AI thought he was a kind man trying to pay back his debts with Steven with helping them out. Though, thoughts travelled. Perhaps helping him out that one time could have been a tell tale sign. But Steven refused to dwell on that for now.
What Connie read however, made her feel so stupid over it. Berrybyte was an infamous hacker who could crack cases so easily...but this had to be the simplest one to crack...when a single letter on a surname changed everything.
"Turns out Mr. Fryman, is actually Dr. Ryman...the one who wrote the details for the project your father had given him the idea for." Connie revealed.
Steven blinked.
"Wait, what?" He said, surprised.
Connie nodded.
"Yeah I know. But the asshole disappeared before I could ask him more questions. It seems they've finally tracked him down."
Steven's mood changed so suddenly into a state of urgency.
"We should save him! There might be more that he knows...plus I'm worried about him of course."
Connie would agree, but something told her that he was smarter than they anticipated him to be.
"Don't." She said.
"We've got other fish to fry..."
Connie paused.
"Pun not intended."
Connie called a meeting into the other room. Ron was still out cold, hours in, so Connie set up a meeting in her room with Peedee by the door and with Garnet, Pearl and even Lapis on the CPDs as she went through the details on the Whiteboard again.
"So here's where we stand." She said.
"We still have no password for Pearl nor do we know what content she possesses. Any ideas?"
Steven scratched his face and looked towards Garnet, like he was getting permission from her or something. Connie's gut was twisting over the view. He still depended on her like she was his superior when really, he served no master.
"Where do we even go from from here?" Connie continued, pacing back and forth in the tiny bedroom.
"Well I have it on good authority that your father....Peedee....is definitely Dr. Ryman, one of the scientists involved with the Monoliths development."
The mans eyes widened.
"D-Dad? No...he couldn't be." He said.
"He...would have resolved this by now...I know him. He isn't a coward."
Connie would have to disagree. In all her years, some of her work involved taking down those believed they had all the power behind their actions and that no one would dare to touch them. Berrybyte had no fear in taking them down. Taking them down to their bare selves who were a shriveled mess when all their dirty laundry was on full display. The humilation and the complete 180s. Those that fell to their knees and cried fowl. Cried that they had no idea. But it was always too late. Too late to find out that being fired wasn't their worst nightmare, but being down a small alleyway in the middle of the night was never a good idea when you had hundreds of people wanting your head. Connie condemned the violence but for some of the more...heinous and unforgiving of cases definitely deserved the odd lynch or two.
People like Ryman..must have been years terrified of the truth coming out and did everything they could to cover it up. Connie would have never have known until Ryman decided to speak to her directly. Maybe towards the end...that it wasn't courage that allowed him to reveal. That it was acceptance. Tying up loose ends as more information came to light. All in the form of small black rectangular object in the palm of her hand.
"He gave me this chip, signifying his involvement in the Shard Project." Connie continued, demonstrating the chip the size of a biscuit between her fingers.
"It went through the planning...including borrowing a fragment taken from the Blue Monolith. It wasn't large but it was enough to do what was necessary without killing me outright."
And enough to temper and forestall her disease. The Shard Project also depicted other brain diseases that it could work towards, but the Rampancy Disease was tested first, with surprising decent results. Connie stood before them, a testament to its success.
"And that was put...into my brother?" Peedee said with worry, looking behind him, before facing forward again.
"But Ronaldo wasn't sick...."
No. But there were other implications.
"The files also explain how the Shard Project was meant to be going towards the Monoliths goals in mind. Humanities ascension. These were the stepping stones. Possibilities as to how to do so. But the subnotes also mention how he was very uncomfortable with it." Connie mentioned.
"I'm sorry that he was hiding this from you. Believe me, I'm still pissed off about it."
It wasn't as if Peedee was angry. He was saddened. Saddened over the fact that his Dad was hiding the secrets all this time and never bothered to tell anyone. He could have told them what was going on and the resolution to the problem would have been solved by now...and his own older son wouldn't have been captured and experimented on.
"Your father would have a good reason to hide this from you." Garnet explained.
"He loves you and wanted to protect you."
Of course, Garnet would know all about that.
"I'm sure he does but..." Peedee muttered, trailing off into his own set of complex thoughts.
Connie could see the distress that it caused him. The lights from his eyes disappeared, until Connie approached him and placed the chip into his hand.
"The data is there. I have what I need." She said.
"Go tend to Ronaldo. And please inform me if your Dad tries to contact you again."
Connie wasn't silly enough to think that he would, but she needed Peedee out of the room for now. Peedee nodded, as he went back out and closed the door.
"Lapis, head back into the droid and monitor communications."
The GIS nodded and disappeared without delay.
It would take the man a while to process the revelation. But Garnet was right. He would have kept it a secret not just for his safety, but for his sons...as well as one other tidbit revealed that their mother had Rampancy Disease herself...and that Ryman hoped that it would be a solution...but she died before the procedure could be completed. Making Connie the only prototype. Until now.
"So..." Connie said, moving on.
"Garnet...how do you suppose we solve this issue? Dr. Ryman may answers but he's only left breadcrumbs that go nowhere."
Garnet lowered her chin.
"I'm certain the answer has already been given to you."
Connie furrowed her brow in confusion.
"It has?" She queried.
Garnet nodded.
"I predicted it a while ago. While I cannot tell you what the answer is, I know where it is."
Well, spit it out?
"Garnet, I do not want to waste anymore time on this then we already have." Connie said, losing her patience.
"Pearl and I have discussed the fact that we cannot let ourselves be captured by the Developers at all. Neither can we let Steven fall into their hands either. So spit it."
Eyes were on Garnet. She was far from nervous or anxious about it, however.
"Sapphire told you to check on your emails. You did. But never questioned the content."
Her emails?
"My...my emails?"
Even Pearl and Steven were confused.
"That's all I can tell you." Garnet replied, still calm and cool.
Connie was the opposite, but remained vigiltat. She turned around went back to her computer and logged in. She went to her inbox and tried to find any unusual emails as of late...though one thing stood out to her.
The mysterious email from DM Biometrics. Of course!
And the odd phrase that she heard from the dream. It was coming together like a painful headache she actually welcomed instead of popping pills to erase.
"That's it!" Connie called out.
"That's the password!"
She turned to Pearl, who became petrified. The debate as to what was really contained within, worried her. Meanwhile Steven wasn't so sure if he wanted to find out, but if it was what Smoky Quartz could recall hearing from Lars and Greg that day, it wasn't anything good. (^1)
"Maybe we should set up some kind of protection barrier before we do this." Steven warned.
"This could go south if we're not careful. But don't worry, my shields will protect you!"
He was definitely wise on that. A lot could go wrong with what ever was really contained. So, both Connie and Garnet could agree. But he was sworn to protect all of them.
In the matter mere moments and slight feelings of anticipation slipping about, all three of them reentered the Domain and went into the Private Grid. First, Garnet instructed Steven to keep the WallofROSE up, so he assisted with keeping a contained field; which consisted on interlinked pink hexagons in a circle. Nothing could get in or out, as long as Steven ran the program. Could they be one hundred percent ready for anything? Who was to say?
Garnet stood next to Pearl as Connie made the preparations to use Third Eye. So far so good. Pearls encryption levels were fascinating. Normally the system would have been able to detect something unusual but for some reason it didn't. It was a flag Connie chose to ignore as the desire to crack the secret came into view.
"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Pearl asked.
Connie theorised Luna would want to be here, watching all of this. But she didn't trust that...anomaly. At all. So she was prepared to do this without her. They didn't need her to allow them to take them to the next step, as it took them months to get to this moment. Months of suffering, running and risking life and death for what ever was contained in that storage. Nothing could stop them. Unless it contained nothing but disappointment.
"We'll see." Said Garnet, being cryptic as always.
Connie stood before Pearl, with Steven watching closely. He had a bad feeling about this too, just as much as Pearl did. Licking her lips, Berrybyte was about to utter the words.
"If every Porkchop were perfect, we wouldn't have hot dogs!"
There was a slight pause for a moment, before Pearls Kernel Core burst out in a brilliant light. Her eyes lit up to as a her mouth gaped open. Her body began to shake and quiver as Steven kept the barrier steady. Something did come out of the of the Core. Pink and blue smoke. It swirled around for a bit. Connie felt a mixture of emotions upon first glance. Surprise, confusion....awe. The Third Eye was having difficulty identifying it properly. It's encryption was even more powerful than something designed by the Monoliths themselves to be the strongest Apps that any one GIS could possibly possess. She stared at it some more as parts twinkled like stars. Memories of the night sky flashed to her several times for no reason.
It was like a nebula. Beautiful. Vast. Dangerous. Spectactular. The only imagery you could find in where man had been fearful to tread. Only 10 percent of mankind weren't cowards. Those who would bring revelations to the rest of the world. Risking life and limb to get them insight. For the masses to view the metadata from their screens to the Domain. Photographs; windows to single points in time. Frozen. Never changing. This...this swirled slowly. Time flowed. Time allowed for change. Change to grow and inevitably die.
UNIDENTIFIED PROGRAM.
The Third Eye wasn't aimed at Steven for once. This mass of colourful space dust definitely entranced all those who would stare at it. Connie couldn't think or breath...or move for that matter. Nobody else did either.
"What...what is that thing?" Pearl said.
On the other hand, Steven felt off about it. If he was human, he would have felt his gut churn. In fact, his gut was churning. He wasn't sure how it was churning but it was. Influence from the Android he presumed but he didn't think the nerve detail could process such tiny, minute sensations. He accounted it to a form of paranoia and...dread.
He could see Connie's eyes glowing. She couldn't stop staring at it. Steven managed to pull away from being in awe to being more cautious about a program no one would ever hope to understand. His chest began to tighten as well. Fear? He never felt this much. It was as if he was sick.
"Identify yourself." Garnet called out.
The minature nebula reacted to the harsh noise of Garnets words as it grew bigger. The more Steven examined it, the more it made him feel sick. His audio and visual receptors began to glitch as sounds became distorted and his vision kept bugging out on him. He could hear a small voice...far too low in volume to be properly audible and understood. His eyelids fluttered. His body began to show signs of sweat, He brought his hand to his chest and clutched it.
"Garnet..." He said, feeling like he was going to go dormant any moment.
The whispers became hastened and louder. Steven could only barely pick out some words and sentences.
come home....
steven....
connie....
can't...
find....
target...
must....
find....
Primary target....
Primary target not found....
Searching for new target....
A chill went down Steven's spine. He's never felt this flushed before. The nebula began to make its way towards Steven. He began to glitch up so bad that his Avatar began to freak out. Though, this could only mean one thing....
Steven's instincts were right; his Absolute Terror called to him in a scream.
"TROJAN!" He yelled.
The suddenness of the noise expanded the nebula further. Steven brought up his shield as the smoke charged towards him first. It quickly bounced off and then at high velocity, continued to bounce on the barrier, from hexagon to hexagon. Steven went to Pearl, who had just fallen to the ground, exhausted. Steven managed to shield her, as Garnet took Pearl away in the interim. It wasn't aimingly at anything deliberately; just seemingly bouncing across from one side of the barrier to the other with great speed. Connie and Garnet dodged continously, while Steven just kept using his shield to reflect it. No one was sure what they could do. The others tried to flee behind the bigger Shield Steven eventually made, with Garnet achieving it at first. Connie slid to a halt as it bounced in front of her, causing her to roll to the side.
"Hurry Connie!" Steven cried out.
She made the second sprint forward, however...
Before she knew it, the smoke made it to the back of her neck.
"NO!!!!" Steven yelled.
But it was already too late. The smoke encompassed Connie in a series of swirls as her body convulsed and shook. They could hear her choke and struggle to breath. Her eyes were wide and blood shot with tears streaming down her cheeks. Her hands went to her head, with her fingers digging into her scalp as she couldn't get any more coherent words out of her mouth. Her iris's began to change colour...to pink and blue...
INSTALLING...
CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL.
"FU....FFF....FUUUUUUU AAHHHHHHHH!!!!"
CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL.
Her hud was riddled with prompts. Prompts that were being completely ignored...and randomised garble began to arise in their place.
CANCEL, CANCEL, CANCEL, COUNCIL, CONVERT, COALESCE, CONVERGE, CONCENTRATE....
Blue and pink continued to mesh in her visions...outlines of blobs that took form....and words from people Connie somehow knew...and didn't know at the same time.
I am your voice, oh great one.
Connie....
What was real anymore? Her skin began to change colour into cloudy pinks and blues as the sounds of klaxons rang in her ears.
THIS WASN'T THE PLAN!
THEY'RE ATTACKING THE FACILITY!
This was once a place called in dreams...but this was not a dream. Those dreams were gone. Connie began to lose consciousness.
IT'S GOING HAYWIRE, BRING UP THE FORCEFIELDS.
I CAN'T, SHE'S CANCELLING MY INPUT
HOW? IT'S NOT CONNECTED TO THE ENTIRE PLACE!
Those voices, she could still hear. Somehow. In this place of nothingness.
SHIT THEY'RE EVERYWHERE, HOW THE FUCK DO WE FIX THIS?
I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE CAN'T LET THEM HAVE THE MONOLITH. WE CAN'T LET THEM HAVE STEVEN!
She felt sad. She felt small. She found herself hugging and embracing the AI Core. Crying.
WHERE THE HELL IS THE GIRL?
WHAT'S THE STATUS OF STEVEN?
WHO CARES? THE SPECIAL FORCES ARE HERE AND-
Bang
A single gun shot.
Upon closer inspection, a red liquid was found splashed on the metal casing on the AI Core. Cameras observed the phenomonon carefully and soon realised the situation and quickly went into emergency protocols by default.
Upon activation of said protocols, the AI sprung into action and new text was then sprawled onto the monitor.
"CONNIE, YOU NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION."
Eyelids fluttered. Alarm sirens were louder than before.
"ALERT, MEDICAL ATTENTION!"
"TEST SUBJECT HAS BEEN SUBJUGATED."
"ALERT, MEDICAL ATTENTION REQUIRED IN THE AI CORE!"
CAMERA FEED OMEGA THETA 2
Soldiers surrounded the AI Core. The camera took a better look at the body on the floor. Steven ran diagnostics. He found nothing. No sense of life.
Still, he repeated the same words over and over again. Sending his message across the facilty. But something deep inside of him boiled. He'd never felt this. Intense. He became increasingly unstable.
"ALERT, MEDICAL ATTENTION REQUIRED IN THE AI CORE!"
Hydraulics clunked as gas began to emit from the roof above them.
The camera feeds HUD then displayed a certain concering piece of text.
DISPENSING NEUROTOXIN
"ALERT, MEDICAL ATTENTION REQUIRED IN THE AI CORE!"
The soliders looked around, startled by the sudden release of greenish gases. One of them, then began to bark orders as they then ran out of the room. But the door was soon locked and the soldiers began choking to death; eventually collapsing entirely.
"SHIT, SHE GOT CONTROL OF THE NEUROTOXIN RELEASE!"
"NO, SHE WAS NEVER CONNECTED TO THAT PART OF THE MAINFRAME? HOW THE HELL DID SHE GET ACCESS?"
"ALERT, MEDICAL ATTENTION REQUIRED IN THE AI CORE!"
The message flashed on several other screens, but...
CAMERA OMEGA SIGMA 4
The feed went to a room filled with monitors and consoles. Several scientists were clamped on there with the reinforced doors shut tightly. A scientist with blonde hair and a scientist with long brown hair...before the feed disappeared entirely....
The void returned to her with open arms; if they had them. But not before a blue light appeared before her.
Steven shielded himself and the other Ancillas while the light show was happening. It happened for about thirty seconds before Connie's body finally stopped shaking and the lights soon disappeared. It went oddly and deathly quiet.
Steven lowered the shield and fell into a sprint to cautiously lift Connie up, holding her in his arms. He scanned her body, which had its skin colour completely changed to the cloudy patterns. Steven definitely felt sick. But he pushed on, for Connie's sake.
"Connie!" He cried.
"Connie speak to me!"
She was lifeless and cold. Somehow in this digital abode. One could hardly see such lifelessness when the Avatars themselves could be designed to cover all fatigue. They weren't meant to completely mimic their normal forms. The changed skin colour didn't help. Made still and close to death. Until her lips started to move. The mood shifted instantly and instinctual drivers were running all over the place.
"Foolish girl." She said. Her voiced echoed with several inflections, as she examined her hands and fingers like they were new to her.
"She should have brought the Pearl to me so this wouldn't happen. But now the deed is done. I suppose this will do for now."
Steven looked at Connie strangely. Opening her eyes, Berrybyte soon displayed the intense vividness of the Pink and Blue which took him off guard and accidentally dropped her due to the pure shock. He crawled backwards towards Garnet and Pearl, who was now standing on her own two legs, with her hair sparkling and waving about in the unfelt winds. Connie's soulware was nowhere to be found from a single glance of that Avatar alone.
"What have you done with Connie?" Steven called out.
The body stood up, ever so slowly and without pause with her back towards them. Her manner was so lifeless but yet, feeled with the sense of foreboding mystery.
"Connie didn't do as instructed." She said, coldly.
"I' wanted to leave her out of this mess while arrangements were being. In fact, I should have thought of doing this earlier. I can alter the arrangements to be...more suitable if required."
Turning around, she stood before the Ancillas. What ever had taken over Connie, had more venom in their stare then Connie ever had. The Look of Berrybyte was always heated and full of contempt. While this version of Connie was very chilling to the core, which caused Steven to shiver.
"Luna." Said Garnet.
Of course...the pink and blue...why didn't Steven think of that before?
Luna smiled. It was really freaking Steven out. Connie did not smile like that at all.
"Yes it is me." She said.
"It is fine. Connie is okay."
Somehow Steven wasn't very reassured by that statement.
"She's alive. Still. And much better for me to be able to move about without having to use Dr. DeMayo for a change."
If the chillness disappeared, it was because Steven had become increasingly angry in its place, heating the area with his fury alone. As he was, he knew instantly, that this was completely wrong.
"Connie did not give her consent for you to do that." He called out.
Luna crossed her arms and shook her head.
"It was never about consent." She said.
"A trojan was the only way I was going to bypass encryption and allow myself passage into this existence. That wasn't the plan but plans can be amended. The task I am required to do, is still able to be completed."
Steven furrowed his brows. He wanted to do something but ultimately he felt powerless. He felt useless. He felt like he had failed to protect her like he should have.
"Which is what, exactly?" He asked.
Luna lowered her head.
"The Monoliths are parasites." She commented.
"But they can be reattuned. Altered. If you have the means to communicate with them."
Pearl stepped forward.
"The Monoliths can't be parasites!" She argued.
"They're meant to be sustaining! What they give is equal to what they get in return. It's meant to be a symbiosis."
Steven turned to Pearl. He's never heard of that before.
Luna looked at at the slim GIS with scrutiny.
"You would feel that way. GIS loyalty to their Monoliths is a flaw that needs to be ironed out. The disease that has spread across is beyond salvaging. The only thing the world needs its the corruption to be cleansed...or controlled."
Garnet then had put her two cents in.
"The Trojan. You wanted the trojan to put into the Monoliths. You want to hack into one to be able to control it."
To what end? What did Luna hope to gain by doing so? It didn't make any sense.
"Those monstrous stones possess no souls. So they consume them for data." Luna continued.
"They've been doing this for thousands of years. Wiping out organic life as they see fit...going from planet to planet...GIS are not meant to know this. They're meant to listen and obey their immovable masters for the sake, of their mission."
Garnet and Pearl looked at each other, suspecting that Luna may actually be telling them the truth. Steven had been getting those vibes ever since the topic was brought up.
"So then why do you need Connie?" Steven asked.
"Surely she doesn't deserve to be used like this!"
Luna bowed her head again.
"She doesn't." Luna answered.
"She was never meant to be. But perhaps, she'll appreciate her body being used for a generous purpose. To not just protect humanity from the Monsters but to protect humanity from itself. There is so much filth alone in this world that would need to be cleansed just as much. Using the Monoliths will aid into restoring order...won't you join us?"
Steven looked at the two GIS before him, both beside themselves with the knowedge that they were purposefully made ignorant of the fact that the realisation that the Diamonds Monoliths wanting to ensalvement humans was in fact, the truth. They didn't want to believe it...only understanding that their priorities were always protecting the Domain and its constituents. It was never to be evil. People were thriving.
Someone had to say something.
"No." Steven said firmly.
"Maybe the world is a hell hole...but you know what? It's how the humans like it."
Lifting her head, Luna was intrigued by Steven's defiance.
"You have observed this? You have a large part in their plans, Transitional Entity." She said.
It was then she summoned Connie's pistol in her hand; in a gush of pink and blue sparkles. Luna made a stance; with her legs wide she lifted the gun and pointed it towards Steven, who was left confused and bewildered as he looked down the barrel of the gun.
"Your very existence is the catalyst. The vessel in which they can, if they wanted to, connect to all of humanity and at a flick of a switch....humans would no longer exist and their very souls stored in the Domain for all eternity."
If there was something Steven hated more than anythin (and it was rare for Steven to use the word hate in that context), was that he was designed to be a weapon. If anything, anyone would agree that Steven is the antithesis. The one with words instead of fists and protective code instead of a program designed to purge.
"How do you even know this?" Pearl questioned.
Luna eyed the GIS and pressed her finger against Connie's temple
"It does not matter. Your power Steven. It poses a threat." She replied.
No. No it doesn't.
"Steven will remain under the Crystal Ancilla's protection." Garnet declared as she stood in front of him.
Pearl was a bit reluctant at first, but she too, stood beside Garnet.
"I..." She stuttered.
"I won't you let hurt him!"
Luna smirked.
"I do not wish to do so if I can help it." She said.
"I do not wish to harm him at all. I only expect him to be far away from any Monolith as possible. The Developers will close in and they're getting desperate."
Luna got rid of the pistol and stood back.
"I have preparations to take care of now and with this body I will be more flexible. I promise to take good care of Connie while I'm gone."
She soon faded away as the Private Grid began to fall apart. Garnet quickly summoned a small gateway to get them out of it. Pearl jumped through first, but Steven had since fallen to his knees, absolutely tormented by the fact that he felt it was his fault.
His fault...and that he didn't protect her like he should have. It tormented him to the point that he couldn't move. He could only sob into his hands.
"Steven now is not the time to mope." Garnet pleaded.
Tears ran down his cheeks at a heavy rate.
"We must return to safer space. Here isn't safe anymore."
The only two words were stuck in his head in that moment. Repeating over and over again.
"I failed."
Notes:
1. Chapter 36: Smokescreen
This was going to happen sooner or later.
Chapter 46: Pathfinder
Summary:
Still reeling in shock of what happened, everyone tries to band together to figure what options they have left.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The one thing that was criticized of Garnet, was the criticism of her apparent lack of empathy.
Amethyst used to argue that while her programming would allow her to see many possibilities that humans and artificial life would be able to make, it was the Garnets blunt nature that made her appear as careless. Amethyst had a point; her personality was mirrored to humanities. Meant to protect them and understand them more than Garnet was designed to.
Which made it all the more important for Garnet to seek to understand how humans felt. As well as her components.
Something within her coreself, with locked away memories that kept Ruby and Sapphire together. Broken memories and encouragement. From somewhere. She wasn't sure how she acquired them. She could have attributed it to words spoken in the cusp of a conversation. Whether it was meeting Pearl for the first time. Or at least, at her first recorded memory. Or even Amethyst...
Somehow, it all related back to Steven.
Driven by fragments of time that triggered visions she could never understand. She was not made to understand. She was made to see and convey. So yes, she could be guilty of not having a soul. GIS didn't have souls like humans did. Pure GIS anyway.
Older Alien Tech that could only grasp the fundementals of organic reality. She could watch every single Avatar in the Domain and determine fates without batting an eyelid. She would not doing anything about it.
Scanning and processing all this data and the inability to act. Never made to question why she had observed for so long. Seeing the key parts. Seeing Pearl. Seeing Amethyst. Seeing Steven. Without question, without second thought. She acted.
She never pondered the why.
It was only now. After seeing Connie's pain and Steven's reaction to Connie vanishing without a trace. Taken by the trojan that was LUNA; a mysterious figure not known to anyone. A figure not to the equation. It scrambled everything she had so far been aligned to determine the outcome.
Though, it did not deter her. It had her determined more so to figure out the answers. The arguments she felt between Ruby's impulsive nature verses Sapphires doubts into her own purpose. She could have stopped LUNA.
It wouldn't have amiss otherwise. She told Steven where to go to save Connie from Kevin's Trojan...it was simply placing the pieces of the never ending puzzle together to get the resolution with the best outcome. Without ever knowing why she was doing so.
So far, she was able to focus on Steven once more. His scenario....left Garnet trying to find the right path for him once again. A trigger in the word. What did Connie call it once... the DEJA-VU bug. Yes. That one.
For what she was told, it was something only found in BM-AIs. A human forged glitch. Garnet checked out the bug herself....and realised that it could possibly affect GIS too. At another level.
Looking at the Kernel Cores on her hands. Garnet wondered. Could there have been more to their existences than what was based on what they already knew? What they should have known. Garnet hesitated to go down that track because it would lead to darkness. What kind of darkness it was hard to say. It became one of those topics that unlike most, actually terrified her. Her powers worked on the future. Not in the past.
So she refocused on Steven.
The boy lost track of time. Having given into Absolute Sorrow, the borderline to the glitching phase; it messed with his sense of tense. Not that he cared for such things. It was up to Garnet and Pearl to drag him out, though he continued to remain silent within his Android. Trapped in the terrifying darkness. He couldn't function properly. Meanwhile, Garnet and Pearl had to be the ones to take in the reigns. To take control once again. Without him...and without Connie, it was ultimately the original Crystal Ancillas task to take command. Garnet did not wish to. She would not tell others her silent and still manner was because she had no reason to be pushed to begin with.
Appearing as holograms in the real world, Peedee had come into the room with a recently awoken Ronaldo and mentioned Connie had left in a huff without a single word.
One thing was for sure.
They were right back where they started.
Not necessarily where they began, but from a root of not knowing where to go next. Garnet let them know that Steven refused to communicate and ultimately he would be of no help for now. She furthered explained that the one they saw run out the door was not Connie, but in fact, the AI come Trojan known as Luna had infected her being. Peedee was left flabbergasted. The man who, like Garnet, didn't feel up to the task to assist at first, had little choice but to try and escape a horrid fate by the path that would least likely kill him.
"Shit, what happens now?" Peedee asked.
It took some time to get them up to speed, but it put them into a position of being unable to make progress when their two main players were off the board. Amethyst would inspire emotional responses in a similar way, but Peedees own called Garnet to act on support.
"We don't give up hope." Said Garnet.
"We still have allies out there who will be willing to aid us."
Pearl looked at Garnet with worry. She too, felt the guilt. She had contained that beast all this time without even knowing it and began to believe that she was to blame.
"What good are allies when we have no where to direct them." She said.
"The Crystal Ancillas are there to defend the Domain and its people. Yet, everything is happening on the outside. We have no chance."
Peedee had to think of something. But all his power had been ripped from him. He was a wanted man by the Developers. Now they were stuck there, in the slums of Yin Aozora, without anywhere to go without being seen. In and out of the Domains Grid.
"Luna is definitely a threat." Garnet stated, making sure everyone was clear in the matter.
"She seeks to destroy the Monoliths. We may have no choice but to submit to the Developers if we have any chance of solving this."
Everything looked at Garnet with shock.
"Are you crazy?" Peedee said.
"They'll sooner delete you all than even bothering listen to you!"
Garnet looked down. She knew more than anyone, what was truely at stake.
"Which is why we now need you and your brother, Mr. Fryman." She said.
"We cannot achieve this without the humans involvement."
Peedee was a practical businessman to through his own merit, got his way up near the top within just a few years. He could understand business more than he could understood tech. That was more on the side of Ronaldo than himself. One had to know the ins and outs, but also the savvyness to know how the markets worked. What countries favoured what aspects of technology. The Android Market was only really large in the Asian Sector. Other sectors were more cautious and besides Ronaldo, exports of Androids were few and far in between and western countries would never admit to needing them. Though he had noted a slight increase in demand, no one would ever admit so they could obscure figures.
He was selected due to his connections to the American Market and so he had acted as the go between the company and American Distrubition Hubs. He felt none of the Board actually like him all that much, but for appearances sake, often went drinking with them as per their natural customs. He never really got to speak to Director Agate all that much either, outside of Board meetings as such. He wondered about what happened to Caretaker Aquamarine and how much information she would haven provided to Director Agate as a result of recent incidents.
Sitting on the couch next to Ronaldo, Peedee kept looking at his phone and and dreaded making the inevitable phone call to his...superior? former superior? He wasn't certain. He never got the official message that he had been terminated; only that it would have been guaranteed once Aqua's goons got a hold of him.
"How are you feeling?" Peedee asked Ron. This was deliberate stalling the issue on Peedees end but he had to know.
"I'm a bit dazed but I'm...doing alright." Ron replied.
"Still can't believe this happened. I feel like an idiot for not seeing this sooner."
From time to time, Peedee understood Ronaldo's genius from a scientific standpoint but for everything else, he wasn't exactly a master of foresight. Though it wouldn't have been entirely his fault.
"I feel especially bad for Steven...is...is he okay?"
Peedee wasn't sure. His Android was still dark and attempts to pull him out of his current rut were all for naught.
"We don't know. The Ancillas have counted him out for the moment." Peedee answered.
"I think losing Connie has taken its toll on him."
Ronaldo felt awful. He thought Berrybyte believed that she would be untouchable. Immortal. For the gain of glory, money...power. Mankinds generic ambitions in life. To be on top. Though, he supported Steven not because of the debt, but he was...different. Ronaldo had the opportunity to work with a fascinating AI. One he didn't even have to pay top dollar for. A BM-AI for that matter. He'd always been intrigued with such programs that were meant to emulate their donors. This one however...once he heard what Steven actually was...
"I can't wrap my head around that one thing though." Ronaldo said, running his hand through his dreads.
"Is Steven really...like some kind of WMD meant to....destroy all of mankind?"
It was hard to say. Such a concept was cliche to villains in hundreds of pieces of fiction. But the intent was far from elimating them completely.
"The Developers version is said to ascend, not destroy." Peedee corrected.
"To improve mankinds connections to technology to the point where the virtual world and reality would be indisguishable from one another."
Explains the Domain. Speaking of which...
Ronald still felt the sting. He'd almost forgotten that he had been operated on, if not for the persistance shred of pain he would feel every so often on the back of his head.
"Damn that's still tender." He said.
The Shard. Just like Connie's. Most of what Ronaldo could remember was a bunch of people dressed in hospital gowns and face masks and what not...but little else.
"I mean, Dad.....was smack in the middle of all of it. He didn't think to...ya know...let us know what was going on?"
Though Peedee thought about it some more...and was on the hunch that it was possible that he trying to protect the both of them. But now, they really needed him more than ever. He tried to look up his father's number in a rush and tried to contact him...several times. But he never answered. Peedee just sighed in defeat.
"Dad was a bit distant after the divorce." Ronaldo said as he looked at his hand.
"I mean, he was all smiles around us...but you can't tell me you didn't realise that there was something else going on."
Peedee hadn't been around long enough to notice the signs. He was less with his father than Ronaldo was. Regret would weigh one down, but Peedee refused to let it be a heavy burden.
"I'm not even sure anymore." Peedee said, dejected.
He was contemplating Garnet's suggestion. That he simply give up and give themselves in to the mercy of the Developers. Who would devour them first? Director Agate? President Dot? Lady Volley?
No. They couldn't give up. There had to be something, anything they could do to continue to work where Connie and Steven had left off. They weren't the only ones fighting for a brighter future.
"But we gotta get a move on. We're fugitives regardless. We must think of a way that's in our immediate power to act. First off, we need to talk to Garnet and Pearl."
Connie's WorkStation was out of the question. She wouldn't be as careless as to leave out anything for any ordinary joe to find and take advantage of. So they held another meeting in the lounge and discussed their next steps. They discussed everything, including people Connie had contact with. If Ronaldo remembered correctly, Hackers often had Blackbooks filled to the brim with contacts. Some contacts still on the Island, if they weren't mistaken.
"The SC-GIS that were part of the original Ancillas." Garnet said.
"Hidden in plain sight. There were several located within Azure Alpha alone."
Oceania and Biggs, if Peedee wasn't mistaken.
"The ones who hooked up Steven with his new android." Peedee said.
"Will they even be willing to talk to us?"
Garnet and Pearl exchanged glances.
"They won't rat you out." Garnet stated.
Pearl frowned.
"Are doing this to purely protect Steven? Our priority is to watch over him. We need to get him somewhere safe so the Developers can't get their hands on him."
Garnet nodded in agreement. She contemplated on much...who to talk and what to do. Ways they could get around to act. She felt compelled to act once more...to save everyone.
"We cannot afford to stay here any longer." She said.
"Peedee, Ronaldo. Get in contact with Oceania. She will be able to help you."
It took about a week to move their base of operations. They worked close to move everything to a location of Oceania's suggestion. It reminded Ronaldo of the basement beneath their Dads fast food joint. Oceania mentioned that there was often abandoned sections that no one ever dared to take advantage of.
It made Ronaldo sad since he was the only able to carry the gear. He claimed that the Yellow Shard made him stronger and despite still needing to recover and take it easy, he wasn't going to let it stop him in getting everything else set up at their quarters. Connie's stuff was kept tucked away. They weren't going to bother touching her gear. Though Ronaldo insisted he felt he could poke around but Peedee had to repeatedly tell him not to.
Both of Steven's Androids were laid against a nearby wall. Lapis was messaged about the operation and offered to look after Steven; where ever he was. In fact, he was found sitting within Lapis' Terminal looking out to the endless, virtual sea.
The group made plans and shared ideas. Steven didn't want the noise. He had his arms wrapped around his legs as he sat down. Lapis came up from behind and sat next to him.
She was surprised that she felt sorry for him. She never felt sorry for anyone. But his sadness spread and suddenly Lapis felt this powerful energy emit from him alone. After being brought up to speed herself, she was for some reason, hesitant that this tiny Artificial Intelligence was going to be used as a means to potentially wipe out humanity. This...feeble, sorrowful creature that looked like a human, acted like a human and cried like a human. It brought her no end of confusion.
Sadness was an emotion she had to eradicate a long time ago. Knowledge of the Domains eventual slow death had her panicking at first, but acceptance was swift as she really had nothing else going on first and that maybe eternal silence would be her absolute peace.
"What's up?" She asked.
Steven's lack of focus on anything was worrying. Dwelling in his own self pity helped no one. Not even himself. Lapis loathed small talk but had more information she wanted to share.
"I uh...got in touch with the other Lapis. They uh...mentioned interesting things to me...wanted to ask you something in fact."
What was the point? Unless it was going to help Connie, Steven wasn't interested.
"I'm not sure what's happened but it's made them...oddly enough, invested in this issue. Berrybyte being possessed by an unusual program no one has ever seen before. But recently they noticed unusual signals that were split between their software. Data Packets that had matching encryption tokens to make sure they made it to other side. It's nothing unusual on the surface but it left behind unusual markers in their wake."
Connie being possessed was bad enough...but witnessing the entire ordeal. Hearing her screams was nothing but pure torment.
"Markers are normally messages left behind. A means of communication between Satellites. It was...the same marker that lead me to the Domain Decline Document. It's too much to be a coincidence. Someone out there, is feeding us information Steven. They want this mystery solved."
Steven could sense it. Like every digital thread, every bit of fibre of her was being torned apart.
"Does it matter?" He croaked.
Lapis blinked.
"Does it...does it matter?" She asked, surprised.
It wasn't anything they could use to save Connie.
"Uh yes? Because I had Garnet talk to me recently about something she helped me think about. If SOAP was used on me to cover up tracks. But Markers are normally ordered through private channels. The odd thing is...is that shortly after Luna decided that her 'ideas' were worth putting into action, is that these 'markers' were placed."
Luna. Steven held a deep hatred he didn't want to admit for that...thing.
"Which means, and it's something of pure theory, is that the trojan was possibly a means to allow Luna to shoot through the conventional means without the Lapis given much question to it. Pretending to be an ordinary file. Pretending to possibly be a Lapis."
Now she was pretending to be Connie, where she is.
"Luna must have had intimate knowledge of our systems."
Stolen data, stolen life.
"The Markers themselves, once decrypted on their end, had to be put together....and they lead to some...coordinates."
Coordinates?
"To where?" Steven asked, curious.
Lapis rubbed her chin.
"To some...music store in the Domain? Some down trodden shop."
No....
"Wait..." He said.
"That might be...my Father-Creator..."
Lapis crossed her arms.
"Maybe." She said.
"Could also be a trap."
But it wouldn't surprise Steven if Dr. DeMayo had a means of doing something like this. Pulling these stunts. He was in league was Luna...but Lapis was told something recently that opened her eyes.
She understood that this Music Shop was in the European Grid. That would mean that they would have to jump Grids. Suddenly, it all made sense.
"What other choice do we have?" Steven questioned, standing up.
"I know...these guys are doing their best."
Lapis rolled her eyes. She wasn't that close to any of them nor did she one hundred percent trust them or even have to like them. But Lapis really had nothing else. She would rather be deleted with a single purpose furfilled than be destroyed without reason. The stubborn refusal to fall to Absolute Despair was always there. A Lapis Satellite took the worst punishment in terms of the work and came out better or worse for it. She would like to think that their design, form and function were nearly as important as the Monoliths themselves.
And that Steven, was perhaps...equally as important as a Monolith himself. The task thrust upon her to protect Steven was not a burden. But an honor.
"The best these guys are doing, is proposing some sort of rebellion or some kind of alliance with the Developers for all I know. What communications I can gather on public channels is that the Developers are preparing to put their investigation into the missing Monolith into overdrive. Big announcements with bigger rewards."
Great. Now they're leading on cash driven nobodies to tamper with their hard earned efforts to solve this themselves.
"They must know Connie's disappeared." Steven suggested.
"But that doesn't help us at all. This music shop...it's in the Golden City, the Land of Polygons in Europe. I'm not exactly comfortable with dealing with a cross country jump like last time."
Especially with all the energy poured into their last attempt. But no. Lapis had seen reason.
"It'll just be us." Lapis said, placing her hand on his shoulder.
What?
"Just us? Not the Ancillas? Not Ron or Peedee?" Steven questioned.
Lapis nodded....as she became wary.
"Word between not just us Lapis, but with other GIS on other channels...is that the disappearances of hundreds of Phylacteries have those GIS terrified. They cannot move...they're isolated in their cabinets. Some try to flee but in the end, once they're disconnected from their cabinet and the Domain, they're lost forever. Where these GIS go, no one knows."
Was that what Lapis was really terrified about?
"This has been going on for years and years. I don't want to be used like that. Drained of all sense of self and being used for...what ever. But rumor has it, that the Phylacteries are being used to power a new Monolith."
New Monolith....Steven remembered talking about a False Monolith that was being worshipped by the Cult of the Cluster with Amethyst. ^1. He wondered if they were one in the same.
"I wonder if they're connected." Said Steven.
Lapis tilted her head, curious.
"The Cult of the Cluster." He said.
"They steal the Phylacteries to create this....Cluster Monolith. No one believed that it existed as there was no proof."
Lapis raised an eyebrow. She wasn't one to solve mysteries or was even designed to solve them. Compiling data to shoot of elsewhere was her forte. But her line was capable of cultivating rumors based off of hushed whispers and giggled gossips across their own private forums. Mysteries that were left discussed between themselves and only themselves. If leaked, it could spell disaster and potential war all over. While screwing with the humans was a fun past time, Lapis wasn't going to let such secrets cause such disaster. Not on what little conscience she had left to spare.
"The very fact that people know these Phylacteries are being stolen and not knowing their use is kind of stupid. You'd think people would connect the dots sooner."
Steven had been busy wallowing in his absolute depression that he never considered that.
"People would have been using their resources to find the real Monolith...and not a fake one, I'd assume." Steven stated.
But one had to wonder...especially with what Luna was planning...where the madness would end?
Where was the choice left up to those who actually had the power to make changes such as this? Connie wasn't with them. But Steven had the best and worst of both worlds. He was still capable of making formidable changes.
"Is that what you want Steven?" Lapis asked.
Though it did leave Steven to question what she meant. The boy could be dull sometimes.
"Did you want the Pink Monoliths return to stabilise the Domain?"
Of course? But now, he wasn't so sure. If the Developers win, then humanity dies. If Luna wins, then...everyone else loses. Not one person would not have blood on their hands. The death of humanity. The death of GIS. Steven wanted both and neither to be destroyed entirely. He'd loved the world for what it was and what it could be. If humans and AI could learn together then they could achieve even more amazing feats. Like visiting space.
Steven always felt this odd connection to space. He wasn't sure why though.
"I certainly don't want Luna to ruin everything either." He said.
"I...I don't know which is the lesser of two evils."
Lapis looked out to the seas of her Private Grid. To her, she could obey the laws written into her code. To be a Satellite and nothing beyond what she was made for. It took her a while to accept that she was both used, abused and abandoned. She didn't have to find answers so desperately. There wasn't going to be any closure, any kind of resolution. Lapis had no desire and true want. She required purpose. Purpose that was not in a dying world.
"You don't have to choose neither." She said.
"You and I...we go to this location by ourselves. No Ancillas. No humans. We find out the truth with the Coordinates on our own. Understand?"
But...the others...they could help....Steven didn't know what to do. He wished Connie was there so she could make the hard choices that he couldn't.
"I...I still don't know." Steven replied, deflated as he became teary-eyed.
Lapis grew frustrated with his indecisiveness, having being warned prior. All Steven required was a push. Several of them, in fact.
"Even if it was to save Connie?" She dared to ask.
His eyes widened. He wasn't sure how this would save Connie. But he certainly did not want to go around in circles. Lapis sensed Steven's ire as his emotions ran red hot.
"Of course I want to save Connie!" He said, tears rapidly falling down his cheeks as he choked through them.
He's saved Connie dozens of times. Not that her stubborn heart would like to admit. He admired her tenacity to keep pushing forward...but disliked how hard she pushed herself to the brink. He couldn't afford to lose her entirely. Something within his 2 bit heart...was a powerful directive that drove him towards her. Always...and forever. Lapis found this...admirable to a fault and had been given time to contemplate the nature of choice and its variety of uses.
"Then you must make this choice yourself Steven." Lapis said, raising her hand at him.
"I am making this risk myself. Towards an unknown. I've made that choice before and it lead me here. I'm ready to make that choice again."
But was Steven ready himself? How such a GIS such a Lapis could make that call was beyond him. Most AI wouldn't dare touch factors that weren't considered by their programming. Most would be ignored.
The evidence was clear.
"Are you?" Lapis dared to ask.
Steven looked at himself. He's done it before twice. Then maybe, this wouldn't be so bad.
"I uh...sure..sure!"
Lapis grinned. She wasn't sure about this at first but when Garnet made the suggestion, she also suggested to let it fester. She was allowed to think for herself. Like any human.
The two pressed hands together and opened up connection ports to each other. From what Garnet also explained is that they were in close enough proximity to the Blue Monolith that this had the potential to happen.
Pressing their foreheads together, their Kernel Cores began to glow.
Binary ran its course in overdrive as minds and avatars melded into one mass of light.
Out of the light, poured arms and legs and wings. Wings that were made of flowing, ethereal tendrils. Once the light faded, the tendrils were a light purple.
In fact, their Avatar was mostly purple. Skin of perwinkle with tight plum shade pants that looked like jean shorts. Sandles Steven usually wore became straps that intertwined around their calves, just like the romans used to wear. If they were a shade of purple.
Their top half had a loose, waist length and lavender sleeveless jacket that flowed naturally in the wind. and a plum coloured top undenneath. Their midriff had Steven's Kernel Core, but a darker purple and their back had Lapis Kernel Core of the same colour.
A rounded head with slightly puffed cheeks. Their hair, the darkest purple, wavy but still curved their face. Androgynous in design. Both pretty and handsome.
Their eyes widened upon their feet touching the ground. The skies of Lapis' Terminal Grid changed from blue to purple; reflecting their masters current status.
"Woah...that wasn't...wasn't half bad." They said.
Consensus was always a weird thing, they found. They looked over the edge, to look at reflection of themselves in the violet waters. They decided to pick the most appropriate name, according to what Lapis knew.
"Charoite. Yeah, we're Charoite."
Though the recently named, recently formed GIS Consensus, wasn't sure about all of this...but what they could see. What they knew...and what they felt was compelling on its own. So, they decided to act against what they really felt and went with what they knew they had to do with the unknown variables placed in front of them. The knowledge of the risks involved were all there. But no absolutes. Not right now anyway. Emotions were balanced.
Flying over to Lapis' Terminal Control, they projected several screens to prepare themselves to leave. They knew this was a long shot and desperately hoped it wasn't a complete waste of time.
Somewhere, deep within Yin Aozora's Main Headquarters...
In the dredges of the darkest blue, Director Agate walked the catwalks of the Deep Throne of her beloved Monolith. No better person to be that close to the Monoliths than their chosen Voices.
Agate had been loyal to her Monolith. Heading its call and being proud to her its Voice. The click of her heels against metal plating echoed alongside the hums of machinery. It was definitely cold, in one of the deepest location of the region, if not the world.
Knowledge of Deep Thrones themselves was only known to a select few. Those with the highest clearance were only ever allowed with close proximity of the invaluable Superservers. Director Holly B. Agate was one of the first to pledge her service after being hand picked by the Monolith itself. A decision, the Voices pride themselves in. To the point of being unnecessarily smug and arrogant about it.
She often walked and paced around the exterior of the Deep Throne. The power of exposed Monoliths were immense and had been known to kill people if they went in unshielded. Yet, the Voices, their chosen, were somehow immune to this. It wasn't regular radiation but a particular miasma that they oozed. All Monoliths were said to ooze this naturally. No one knows why but its theorised this potent form of a thick energy flow is how they spread their influence.
This is what was on the official documents made to the public when questions were asked. The Voices like Holly, Peri and Lady Volley all agreed that this miasma was how they were able to develop their technology and the Monoliths were their benefactors; generously giving themselves and what they have to mankind in order to help them. No one knew if they were true...and some didn't even care or acknowledge the Monoliths existence. Some to this day, don't even know GIS exist. Others, fell into the Cult like worship of their existence. Holy relics gifted by God.
Holly had issues with the Cultists for a long time. As did Peri and Volley. So the issues were always dragged up to the surface every damn time phylacteries were reported to be stolen.
"Oh my Monolith." She said.
Inside the thickest sheets of metal that contained the Monolith. Every panel had D3-BV written downwards in some top right or left hand corners of the rectangular panels. Most of everything else was held above the ground with strengthened chairs but through the odd cracks you could see blue light that slowed pulsated.
"I'm sorry about the Aquamarine. The Amethyst Security Team that was made for the Pink Monolith...I knew bringing them here to you was a great mistake. We should have just had more Topaz. Their loyalty and toughness is second to none. They don't backtalk either. The most disciplined of all the Security Type GIS. Or even more of those Quartz-Class Jaspers."
No one ever expected the Monoliths to talk back. But Voices were always able to make sense of the Monoliths wishes and desires. Somehow. It was usually through instinct or subtle influences. Those same influences were what lead to the Amethyst Line to leadership of the Director.
"If you need me to hunt down your next in line to be your Caretaker, I will be glad to honor your request, as always, my Monolith."
Within the Monolith itself, it sent a vague message that Holly felt and was able to intrepret. Which...surprised her.
"You...you've already found a suitable Candidate? Oh, wow...that's wonderful news!" She said with excitement.
The incident with Aquamarine had her interrogated severly by Lady Volley, with that irritating President Dot, looking over like she was but a mere insect sucking up to her master. Aquamarine had illegally purchased a replicated Prime App. Which suggested that GIS was faulty. Though, she somehow fled...and the Phylactery had disappeared in the meanwhile. Which suggested treachery. Probbaly the Amethysts but even then it had to be something that was being down on the outside. She had to up the ante on finding the culprit. She immediately then suspected the Cultists had inflitrated the facility; usually the Cabinets that were serving Yin Aozora had a special room for them.
Another message was sent.
"I'm not sure....shouldn't I find this Caretaker?"
Normal protocol would be go to the Kindergarten and pluck out the Phylactery designated to that GIS...but apparently, the Blue Monolith said one wasn't required.
"So...what should I do? Doesn't this Caretaker need to be in close proximity? I wouldn't want anything to happen to you!"
Most Caretakers were allowed to travel but did have a recall functionality that forced them to come back if their Monolith ever needed them. Holly would normally integrate them with an orientation, to allow them to meet others that served the company. Fellow colleagues. It just made it easier to work together.
Aquamarine wasn't even a bad Caretaker. Despite her obviously faking her way to the top, she still did her job fairly well. But the Blue Monolith, as it usually did had other plans in mind. Holly knew that Blue would change the course depending on the situation. It was the Superserver made to accomodate for changes after all. If they wanted something different, then Holly had to adhere to it.
"I see." She said, weirded out, but she slowly accepted it. She wasn't sure what the others would think of this sudden change of protocol.
"Can I at least talk to them or?"
It would be nice to know who it was. Holly was always excited to show new employees around.
"But my Monolith, surely you understand my purpose!"
A strong pulse waved out and caused Holly to feel pain as she held her ears.
"Okay, okay....sorry, I just...I just want to understand what you mean that's all." She said, waiting for the pain to stop....which it eventually did.
"But that is what you desire, then I will not tell another being. Not even President Dot or Lady Volley will find out. I promise you!"
Notes:
1. Chapter 36: Smokescreen
Chapter 47: Structure
Summary:
Following the Markers to Europe, Charoite heads over to the Golden City, to find and talk to a certain Father-Creator.
Notes:
Have a super long chapter as an apology.
Chapter Text
The new fusion was able to make its way to the European Sector without much of a hitch; Lapis' permissions were second to none, evading and being able to connect almost seamlessly to other satellites without as so much as anyone else blinking an eye.
Charoite demonstrated a cocksureness but only to themselves. A confidence only really demonstrated with Lapis, though one could argue that the Steven component could take part. What he would call, his faith in Lapis allowed him to exchanged what energies he could to her and to Charoite. Though they suspected the bravado was merely a mask, it was believed that they were of the belief that they could fake it really well. Deep down Charoite was unsure...but they could put up a smile range from minor to arrogant if they so chose. There was a blurred line between what they knew and could act upon verses what they didn't know and chose to ignore.
After landing in the Land of Polygons after a tricky trip, Charoite used Lapis' knowledge of the Markers to guide them through what they considered to be the storm. Everything was chaos and they felt it.
Steven's input gained from Garnet and the other Synthesised had them aware of their file size. They were barely just under the allowed file limit and any major action could lift them over the limit and be immediately flagged. Extreme emotions didn't increase file sizes of GIS, but rather the processing power required to run the GIS was also monitored. Hence, fights were rare to keep the official guardians of any Grid off their back.
Charoite felt powerful but also reserved their strength. Steven never felt powerful so that definitely came from Lapis' end for sure. Still, there were strengths to cover each others weaknesses and their urge to caution was very much apparent.
But their opinions...varied.
Charoite didn't like the boring design of the Golden City. It was...just...dull. Uninspired. Yet artists claimed to state that the structures of the Grid were timeless. Archaic, more like it. A brightly lit prison, disguised as history to have people subdued by its reverance and the belief of the White Monolith's influence across the Grid. A holy relic that had pulled the wool over their eyes brought them to the knees to pray to their unseen God, said to be made of metal and wires.
Humanity was on Charoite's mind. On how stupid, ignorant and weak-willed they can be. Selfish, greedy and ambitious. Though there were those who had hearts that held promise for something different, they had to submit to the question on what if humanity wasn't worth salvaging? They had to. They wanted to. They needed to. It was a must. Humans lived in the cold, harsh reality after. As much as you could fabricate the world, it wouldn't hold a candle to the stubborn physical plains.
So, it was more...that the real world was worth protecting more than it was the humans they had to defend. The fused binary hearts of Charoite still held some semblence of hope. More of that, than evidence to the contrary.
They arrived at the Music Shop not long after. Peeking through the window, they could see the shop was empty. Blankets were drapped over tables. According to the datalogs, no one had actually visited the area in a while. But this was a place of major activity once.
Charoite knocked first. After a moment of nothing, they put their hand on the door. It was...unlocked, surprising them. Pushing the door forward, Charoite entered in slowly.
Curiousness was possibly their most notable trait. Their eyes traced anywhere and everywhere. Any surprise. Anything.
Steven's Father-Creator owned this place. It was meant to humble and for purpose but...Mr. Universe. Dr. DeMayo...there was no denying that he had secrets hidden. Denying the chance for anyone to reach him so easily.
"I was wondering when you would get here."
Or maybe not.
Turning around, Charoite could see Dr. DeMayo clearly. Black jacket and jeans with his hands in his pockets. His expression was that of melancholy. Eyes half lulled and void of any distinct happiness.
"At least...as one of the fused ones, your components Avatars are protected." He said with a voice so low.
"For now."
Charoite expressed far more individual and contextual emotions than Lapis could. Having access to Steven's emotional cortext made for some weird emotions. Like empathy. Though there was a certain pull felt on Steven's end. Like he felt the urge to say or do something that Charoite didn't want him to do.
"I'm guessing Luna is no longer around to control you?" Charoite gathered.
Dr. DeMayo shook his head.
"As soon as I felt the shift I knew something was wrong." He said.
"I tried to scramble over what could have happened then I thought that she might have transferred herself another way. Then when I started to pull up upload records, I saw the transmission to a familiar program...or person."
Charoite rubbed their arm and looked away in shame.
"Steven tried to...they all tried to...no..." They said, feeling the one sided pulse of shame.
"Connie had gone in with the knowledge that Luna wanted her to bring Pearl to her."
Or maybe they did do exactly what she did. Just not the way Luna wanted it to. Charoite could detect the edge of the divide between their components and began to twitch and glitch.
Dr. DeMayo saw this and didn't seem phased. Like he understood what was going on and praised Charoite and Lapis attempting to keep things together. It was a smart move.
"Luna's plans don't always reach the other side." He said.
" She expects people to follow orders with a preconcieved notion they'll actually obey. She has these ideas and limits herself to one or two solutions."
So...what was she?
"So what happens now?" Charoite questioned.
"How do we proceed? We can't let her to do this."
Greg rubbed the back of his neck. A man of a possible thousand answers. If Connie were here, she would have ripped into her for every bit of data he held. Though, Charoite knew deep down, that he must have been suffering. They didn't know the extent of Dr. DeMayo's suffering, but their increased empathy felt it from where they were. It was all in the body language and the melancholy he was currently drenched.
"I've been trying to claw back most of what was lost after SOAP was used. It's been a struggle." Greg continued.
"But not a lot of it makes any sense."
Charoite was damned if they weren't going to get something out of the man. Even if he was Steven's Father-Creator, this wasn't going to be done gently.
"You better start making sense then!" Charoite demanded, crossing their arms.
Dr. DeMayo knew the outburst came from Steven's end. The man felt defeated by this point. How much he had through...how much was left to try and manage after one disaster and another.
"From what scraps I could gather, Luna, or Logistical Underflow Negation Assistant, was a pure AI that was more of a Virtual Assistant and nothing more than that."
A pure AI?
"What do you mean?" Charoite wondered.
Greg turned around and went to the wall and summoned a gateway, and prompted Charoite to come through. He showed them his lab and brought up several pictures and diagrams on his WorkStations monitors.
"During development of Artificial Intelligence, there were a lot of incidents involving hazardous AIs. Luna was originally formed to curtail any code that was reported to have issues. In fact there were once dozens, maybe hundreds of them. When AIs were first created, they were originally reverse engineered from GIS and from that, the first known blue prints were made. Emotional Cortexes didn't exist and the only code that was made was the general response and actions based on numerous factors. Including factors that were extremely small. We would feed them the data necessary and tweak their code as they went. Some responses weren't always valued but could be considered for future experiments."
Not that Charoite knew much about how the pure AIs came to be, but they tried to make much sense of it as they could.
"Such programs at this state could process a lot of data but having the incorrect conclusion was dangerous depending on the use of that intelligence. Software in general can hold similar issues so its only natural for this to occur. It's knowing how to deal with it when it came. The more complex AIS became, however, the more it was necessary to allow them the room to think outside the box. Unfortunately, thinking outside the box could break them. Something outside of their allocated values was sometimes necessary for them to calculate into their equations which would allow them to be free thinkers. Whether or not you know it, most programs are designed to have contingencies in place so software or even hardware doesn't suffer too negatively. Negation of underflow balances that point but it also needs to allow the underflow to occur in order for the AI to grow its bases."
Which to humans, would sound both amazing and horrifying.
"There's also the Overflow variant which handles the other side of the spectrum but ultimately, it serves the same purpose. It's called a Sol or System Overflow Locator."
Yet you don't see anything called Sol roaming about.
"Luna's and Sol's were seen everywhere. Virtual Intelligences that had no personality or room for growth. Only designed to cultivate and refine further ended and later generation pure AIs."
So what was so special about this Luna then?
"So...Luna was just...something that was what....used to nuture AI's?" Charoite said.
Greg nodded.
"Lunas and Sols always came in pairs. Over the years as Artificial Intelligences grew, so did these VI's. But none of them had the ability to gain sapience."
But this one did.
"But the more I researched this particular VI, it's apparent some of its coding had also been rewritten. Not sure how or by who. But by what."
Charoite furrowed their brows.
"What?"
Greg shook his head and looked at his WorkStation and projected a pink sphere with the label in red for 'PD-04' on it.
"The Pink Monolith." He said.
"It has the ability to absorb data and translate it into something that improves upon its original design. Not necessarily say to the extent of the Blue Monoliths ability to fix up known bugs and...make programs actually usable but to actually polish and develop the designs further."
Just like how it can Screencap human beings into SC-GIS. So the Pink Monolith had the power over programs as well.
"How would it know to use these programs and how to design them, I have no idea. What ever Luna is used for now is....off. I'm sure its sentience is a step up from what it ever it was before but...."
Steven's Component caused havok, resulting in Charoite's Avatar to glitch again. Greg moved forward and placed his hand on Charoite's shoulder. An odd pulse pushed through them and oddly enough, Charoite felt calm and composed...but strangely weirded out.
"The Monoliths work in mysterious ways." He said, stepping back.
"What ever you may think of them, they know what they're doing."
Charoite wasn't sure what Greg even did to them. They raised their eyebrow, wary of Gregs own intentions.
"So why are you helping us?" They asked.
"You're a wanted criminal as far as the Developers are concerned."
Greg frowned. Even if SOAP was used, he had to know more than he was really letting on. Memories that would seep back just like it would for Steven...and for Connie. So the man either feigned sadness to cover the fact that he wanted to say something, or he really couldn't. That type of judgement was balanced between both Steven and Lapis.
"I'm....just trying to avoid tragedy." He said.
"I need more time to figure things out. To get the answers you're looking for."
Unfortunately, they were running out of it. And fast.
"While you waste our time here, Luna is doing goodness knows what with Connie's body." They said, aggravated.
"Yes, we get Luna has had a few upgrades....that doesn't help us solve the problem."
Greg sighed. He turned around and typed in a few things and stood back. From the WorkStation, projected a hologram display of something that looked like a bunch of coloured rocks clustered together. Wait.
"Is that..." Charoite murmured.
Greg nodded.
"That's...that's Luna's project." He said.
"The CoLlective Union of Shards, TEchnology Recomposite. Or, The Cluster for short. Luna's ultimate goal."
Charoite blinked. It was both amazing and terrifying just as much. Even more so,.
"Before they were known as phylacteries, they were known as Shards. The rename was when we were able to get a proper translation through."
The fusion suddenly felt sick.
"Shards of course, as you know, were more refined to the project to install fragments of Monoliths into humans as a ways to help them connect to Alien Technology easier."
They knew that. But this...it looked like Luna had been planning this for years. To what end...what drove her ultimately to such action? To collect all these, shards, phylacteries to form them into bootlegged Superserver?
"This apparently, is meant to serve a similar purpose."
Similar meaning different to the aims of the Developers.
"Was...was this the Pink Monoliths doing? Is this its doing?" Charoite questioned.
"Did it order Luna to create this...abomination?"
For some reason, Greg shivered at that word.
"She's never told me that the Monolith wanted anything of the sort." He replied.
And they clearly couldn't get access to it to get any answer either. But they had Dr. DeMayo. Their closest source to the truth.
"Luna has....a twisted set of ambitions."
So did everyone else.
"What about you though?" Charoite questioned. They weren't getting what they came here for other than vague lessons in history.
Surely he wanted something.
"I don't have the same drive as she does." Greg replied.
"But I felt...compelled. I don't...I don't even think I'm...look it's not about me. It's about trying to stop Luna. This whole mess needs to be stopped and I'm trying to find away around my own limitations so I can actually help."
His own...limitations?
"How we do know you're not compromised...that by helping us that Luna doesn't get what she wants?" Charoite dared to question. The others had to find a way to deal with the Developers and this ongoing issue. Charoite wanted to avoid using them but they may not have a choice. Steven in their hands is far more dangerous than Luna. But the extent of Luna's own desires was unknown and complex.
Greg continued to type away. Charoite had the feeling he knew a lot more than he was letting on.
"Because...because I know what the Pink Monolith really wants..." He said.
Chaoite tilted their head. Yes they were glad that someone knew something but the idea of the Monolith expresses its desires so...openly? They weren't sure if openly was the appropriate word.
"The Monolith spoke to you?" They wondered.
Greg paused and hummed.
"No, not me." He said. "The Monolith can speak to a few that can comprehend...that can somehow understand their intentions. The messages aren't always 100 percent clear and from what little I could gather, Rosette Flannigan was the one chosen by Pink to be its Voice. What she hears and understands is conveyed to her to give to others. So Rose was the one leading the way the whole time. I'm not sure why."
Because she was just from some construction firm and not an actual scientist?
"But I ask...Steven. I know you're in there. Do you not hear the voice of the Pink Monolith?"
Charoite suddenly felt the shift sprung onto them. No. They weren't supposed to split apart...not yet-not-
Too late...In flash of light and sound, Steven and Lapis fell apart. Steven stood up, as Lapis stood behind him, worried about if what Garnet had warned her about would come to pass. Lapis wasn't one to be outright afraid of a lot. She would be neutral or annoyed or angry. Aloof was her default. But she had to be lying to herself if she didn't admit that she felt slightly terrified....of Steven.
"All I hear is a lot of nonsense." Steven called out, frustrated with this whole ordeal. Tears ran down his cheek which were born from the near Absolute Frustration he possessed. If they were real, they would be warm and salty.
"I just want to have Connie back."
He was tired of all this information not being any useful. He just needed anyone or anything that would allow him to claim his Connie back. If it meant deleting Luna, then so be it.
"You're supposed to be my Father. Fathers that are meant to help protect and guide their children through life. I was supposed to be your son! But I see my true purpose as some kind of weapon, to kill off humanity. Is that it?"
Greg didn't bother to defend himself. He turned around and had a better look at the AI. A good, hard look at his creation. The power of Steven's emotions were strong. The stress and crack in his voice; they were real...and any human wouldn't dare question his origins.
"You...you are Dr. DeMayo's son." He said.
"Who cared for you. Who loved you as his own."
Steven didn't feel that at all. The connection he thought they could have had was not to be found at all. What ever was there, was anger and confusion and confliction.
"People say that. And I want to believe you." Steven said.
"But...I don't know how to go about this. I don't want to kill off humanity. I want to be walking alongside them."
Greg looked to the side.
"Humans would never accept AI's as equals." He warned.
"Even if you're in an Android, humans are very good are noticing flaws that would make them less human in design."
Steven didn't care. If he was with Connie and as long as she would accept him, then everything would be fine.
"Connie loves me for who I am. Not what I am." He argued.
He remembered her being so torn over it. And the guilt that followed with not being able to cater to her needs. All he really desired was for happiness....and achieving humanity was his aim so he could be with her, without shame.
"Connie is mortal too." Greg stated.
"She will die. You will live on....and the Absolute Grief and Sorrow you will experience. It will destroy you."
Steven didn't care.
"The Ancillas will take care of you as long as you'll have them. They were supposed to be your guardians. You supposed to work so well in sync. If in this pursuit of achieving your goals to become human, are you going to abandon them also?"
No. He wouldn't abandon Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl. He'd come to love and appreciate them as they took him where no one else would. Garnet found him first. Alone in the streets of the Mega Beach City Grid.
He would be in the shadows....watching humans. Observing humans. Seeing and adapting their funny quirks. Their laughter. But no one noticed him. At all. They all ignored him.
GIS were an unusual bunch. GIS that lived in the shadows because they had no choice. Their paid their dues with the thankless task of protecting the Grid and playing along with Steven's curious personality of the digital world...and always asked questions about the real world. But never got much out but wordless answers.
"Of...of course not." Steven stammered.
"We'll....we'll work around it."
And they had. Steven cherished every moment he could spend in the real world. His only regrets were not being able to see it sooner. Only glimpses could be seen through photos shared around the Domain. Even then...those were only reminders of existence beyond his own.
"Due to the progression of how humanity had managed to move forward with its technological advances, this world needs the GIS to help it function." Greg said.
"A co-dependency. And yes, humans will take it for granted but it works both ways; GIS still need to be maintained somehow....and with their phylacteries being vulnerable, humans must protect them. In this instance, Luna has been able to collect them without much to stop her, thanks to her Moontouched."
There's that word again.
"But if we're going make any headway what so ever, the main conclusion is to destroy the Cluster Monolith. But even then it's impossible to say how it can be destroyed. But it has to if we have any hope of..."
That much is known. Steven knew all that too well that he knew what Greg meant even if he didn't mention it.
"I think finding it is our first obstacle." Said Lapis.
"But we've got no outsider muster besides the Frymen and Steven's Android. Tracking from a Satellite's perspective can't be done unless I have agreements to check with the other Lapis. For which, thanks to the last time we dealt with them, I highly doubt that they're going to help us...willingly that is."
Which...would be difficult to move around outside the assistance of the other Ancillas. Then it begged the question.
"Where are you located then?" Steven asked Greg.
Dr. DeMayo rubbed the back of his neck.
"I...I can't leave." He replied.
Steven raised an eyebrow.
"Why not? Are you trapped on an island somewhere though?" He wondered.
Being isolated elsewhere wouldn't be too far the beaten track. Connie told him once, some Hackers could work in very remote locations if they had the right equipment.
"Don't worry about me." Greg said.
"I..."
BEEP BEEP BEEP
A loud beeping noise alerted them all to Gregs WorkStation. Heading towards it, Greg tinkered with it and allowed a large screen to appear before them. Before them was some kind of stage. Two individuals in black robes stood behind another wearing a golden crescent mask on their right side. Their pink and blue hued skin was all too familiar as they stood in front of an obvious green screen which portrayed the visions of stars of space.
"Oh no..." Greg uttered under his breath.
Was that....Luna?
The grace and poise of the essence was all there. In the form of a hacked and tacked on message of this..what Luna had become. It was hard to believe her origins bared it something so simple yet, complex. She was now considered their enemy and was about to announce her plans to the worlds at large.
"Children of Earth and Children of the Domain. Hear me." She called with the vestige of a Queen.
Steven and Lapis stood on the opposite sides of Greg. The visage before them was daunting, once they got through the stun.
"I am Luna; I am the Voice of the Cult of the Cluster!"
She was really making herself known now. Seeing her in Connie's body really heated Steven to the extent where he really held the powerful desire to rip her out.
"For too long, you have only heard the whispers of the dedicated Monoliths that were said to support the interests of humanity! But do not be fooled; they do not!"
The Developers weren't going to like this.
"They will take away your souls! They will take away your livelihoods! In order to protect yourselves, you must give up your connections to the parasites that will consume you! You can only trust yourself! Trust none of these. GIS....you never see them because your minds were never meant to behold their existence!"
Steven felt the odd pulse running through him. His eyes fluttered as his vision blurred. The sound of thumping began to ring in his ears.
"Trust not Lady Volley. Trust not President Dot. Trust not Director Agate. For they will continue to fuel the flames of disaster!"
Lines in burnt pink obscured Steven's sight even further. He wasn't sure what they were, but he certainly wasn't feeling well. To the extent an AI feels anything like a human does when it comes to certain illness. If he could describe it based on his experiences with Connie, it was akin to a headache and a sick stomach.
"Those who bring the Monoliths to me will be handsomely rewarded! For they must be purified by the good graces of the Cluster Monolith! A more, modern Superserver that will support all mankind because it was based on the wishes of Mankind and not those who would fear to tread their bare feet on the grass of the real world!"
The Domain almost faded from existence. He could still hear Lunas words but little else other than obscure noises that he'd never of before. They would terrify him...if he was able to understand anything at all, like his processes were being halted by an exterior force.
Part of him felt several others were watching the Broadcast. The Developers. Caretaker Jasper. Garnet. Pearl....and...someone else.
"She's rallying people against GIS?" Lapis wondered.
Greg rubbed his chin.
"She's hoping to grow the Cluster I would say." He said.
"Bringing all the Monoliths to her would advance her plans. I'm not sure on the scope of humanities opinion on this mess. But we'll have to wait and see how things change."
Lapis looked at Greg.
"But no one knows where the Pink one is still." She said.
The Scientist looked onwards.
"The Developers...the Cult. Either hands turns the tide of fate." He said.
Steven on the other hand, couldn't fight off this...strange connection he was having. It was both a tug and pull of unseen hands, that continued to rustle him before he lost consciousness completely.
UNKNOWN TRANSMISSION
"Rose?"
Opening his eyes, he was met with a strange room. Filled with pink. Walls of a light pink and a bed of rose pink. Pink toys were scattered everywhere. From there he could see a young Dr. DeMayo entering into room.
"Oh hi Greg."
Looking at the bed, he could get a glimpse of who he would call to be his...Creator Mother. She was on the bed and typing in sequences on several holographic terminals. She had pink volumonous hair with curls and red glasses. She also wore a white lapcoat with a red dress, black stockings and her shoes laid sideways on the white marble floor.
"You called?"
She smiled at Greg and patted the bed next to her. The man shrugged and ended up doing so. Steven was amazed at seeing how beautiful his Mother-Creator actually was. It had to be her Avatar; molded to her liking. He looked at himself and realised he was his default Avatar; only slightly opaque. He was nothing more than a fly on the wall as neither party acknowledged his prescence.
"Yes I need your opinion on something." She said.
"I keep getting messages from the Monolith regarding concerns about humans and the value of choice."
Greg scratched his head and raised an eyebrow.
"Value of choice? That's an odd thing to ask about." He commented.
"Does...does she want to understand human nature or?"
Rose pouted.
"I asked her about prompts and what she knows about them." She said.
"She replied that prompts are usually provided by the user in order to facilitate a decision in whether or not they can commit to an action. And I asked her if...any action could be permitted, would she want certain actions to be...well, acted upon."
What actions did Rose have in mind, Steven wondered.
"Are you sure she understands that?" Greg said with worry.
"I mean, The Monoliths aren't omniscient."
Some people had the opinion on the opposite.
"Well, she said nothing at first, which at first I thought she didn't understand." Rose replied.
"She asked me if I had that power to which I said, based on human nature and the value of choice coupled with morality, then I would only act on those which did not impose the lives the others in a negative way."
Oh.
"That's a doozy." Greg said, as he rubbed his head.
"She requested your input and your opinion however."
Rose nodded. Greg was aware of her positioning. To the extent where she had bonded with her Monolith beyond anyone else's comphrehension. Only, that kept her contact exclusively with Greg, as to not draw attention to herself. He didn't blame her. Her contributions were controversial and despite her standing with Pink, everyone elses opinions soured. So Greg did his best to erase any records of Rose's interference and deliberately lied to others. That's what Steven assumed he did, anyway.
"I wasn't even aware the Monoliths had opinions." She said.
"Each of them is designed to cultivate a certain need. A foundation to which they would use to scope out how humans work and how best to fit themselves to humanities desires and organic requirements. That part makes sense...and I reached out to the other Voices and asked them if the others had gone through such intentions."
And?
"I'm guessing they didn't?" Greg guessed.
Rose bit her lip.
"They never asked for anything beyond their regular demands." She revealed.
"A lot of it is general guess work. I mean, they're not asking asking for opinions, they ask for specific inputs. Scientific data. The way the world works."
How life thrives for example.
"But philosophy is a tricky thing to provide." Greg said.
"Every single human is different. The Data Pink wants has vast quantities to sift through. It's never going to be a hundred or even 1 percent accurate. The human condition is going to be the hardest part to sort out."
Rose nodded.
"Which is why the Screencapping process was so important." She said.
"We provide our minds and while we are provided with eternal life, she gains our intel."
Greg frowned. It was as if it was a decision Rose made that he was not entirely happy with.
"But not every human is like...you...or like your other colleagues at Terra Company." He noted.
Rose smiled.
"But it's enough to form an opinion." She said.
"We can't sacrifice everyone to get a larger pool just so she can make a definite decision. It should be enough for her to formulate her own conclusions on which way humanity could be indeed be guided."
Steven couldn't even figure out if letting a Monolith make up their own damn mind was even a good thing. It was debatable to believe any of them were even ever truely sentient. But Rose appeared to be able to communicate with Pink quite easily.
"What if it's the wrong path?" Greg warned.
"Rose, these are Aliens we're talking about. They're from a different planet, dimension what ever. Their conclusion is already going to have some kind of bias influence because..."
Rose raised an eyebrow.
"Because?"
The man tussled his hair as he drove his fingers into his scalp and growled out of frustration and jumped off the bed.
"We still don't know what they really want from us." He said.
"They improve humanity and all they want in return is Data."
Rose nodded.
"Data that will improve humanity an-"
Greg growled again.
"Why though Rose, that's what I'm questioning....." He said.
"Maybe me and millions of others. We're pushing for an agenda and another one that's so damn deep we don't know where in the void it is."
Words that gave Rose pause. It had her contemplate for a brief moment.
"If that's how humanity feels...then maybe you should continue with the designs for humanity and not just what the Monoliths desire." She suggested.
Greg wasn't sure what she was playing at.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
Rose sighed.
"You're right...I've been an advocate for the Monoliths for so long and have been a go between for years that I didn't even consider the implications...about actually what is needed."
The realisation struck Rose harder than she meant to it. She looked at Greg with a somber expression. He definitely began to seed doubt into her.
"Yeah...I suppose...if there was something we need..." Greg murmured, before trailing off.
"It's uhh....a priority for humanity's best interests."
Rose nodded in agreement.
"Yes." She said.
"I mean, humanities best hope is to be able to properly bridge the gap between itself and GIS kind."
A statement that left Greg bewildered.
"Wasn't that the same thing?" He said.
"And wasn't the purpose for all the SC-GIS already in existence?"
Rose smiled, then she frowned.
"Well yes, but...I think...there is something...lost in the process during the Screencaps." She said.
"We're not quite sure what it is. We should be able to test out the remaining subjects for the Beta Group in the meanwhile, but I distinctly believe we need humans to start screencapping without the use of the Monoliths. Maybe there's hope in realising what it is we actually need."
Greg furrowed his brows suddenly, as if he just realised something.
"Wait..." He said.
"When were you going to tell us this?"
Rose rubbed her neck.
"It's just a theory." She said.
"I keep getting messages from Pink from the along the lines of...'this isn't what we're looking for'. And I ask what she needs....and all I get is...I have no sufficient data."
Which begs the question of what is considered sufficient data.
"We've fed her a few hundred or so people by now...and now you're telling me that we need to start scanning and making these things ourselves?" Greg questioned, as he sounded more stressed than concerned.
Steven on the other hand...
"I know I know...but..." Rose said.
"Look just trust me on this. You just made me realise that we're overly dependant on the Monoliths. Humanity needs to start achieving progress on its own now."
And abandon the Monoliths all together?
"Are you saying....that we shouldn't need them or the Domain in that matter?" Greg questioned.
Especially if humans had been entirely engrossed in it by now?
"No...no not that at all." Rose replied.
"I'm saying there needs to be a healthy balance between what is considered human and what is considered something borrowed. Or else, we could lose what it means to be human. And losing that...isn't what they're after."
Returning back to consciousness, Steven didn't realise he had been staring at the roof. He sat up and looked around and realised Greg and Lapis were staring at him with worry.
"You okay there bud?" Greg asked.
It was notable that the Greg of the past and the Greg of now had two very different avatars. One of youthful exuberance and the other of older wisdom. That conversation with Rose, however...had Steven thinking a lot about the implications of what Rose had actually suggested.
Without Connie, there was no one he could realise he could possibly divulge his theories to. One of them here was human and another was a GIS. And Steven was just an AI with GIS technology. A Transitional Entity. Separate to humans and GIS.
He wondered; was he the balance that Rose was trying to attain?
"Greg..." Steven said. His voice was oddly low and calm.
"You designed me to be a weapon. You designed me to...do something with humans with the time came. I am what the Developers want. I am what the Monoliths want."
Words that distubed Greg to the core.
"No...no you're definitely not a weapon." He said.
From Rose's suggestion, he was being genunine. So how was he supposed to work with all this? What would ultimately happen if he was presented to one of them?
"The stuff about humanities enslavement. I....I think it's more complicated than that."
There was a growing feeling within Steven. A festering pain that had him thinking too hard on the topic. He wasn't sure what had made him so angry however. He couldn't properly consume the knowledge within his own systems. It became difficult to see past anything with clouded judgement.
"A balance between humans and GIS. It's what not Rose wanted...it's what the Pink Monolith was looking for." Steven said, trying to understand what he had just witnessed. Rose would have been only calling the shots because she could hear what Pink was saying...in her own, special way. And from that, things slowly started to make sense. A resolution to a problem from any type of perpsective that would be seen as noble but from Steven's glimpse...there was only a painful reminder of his true purpose.
"You and Rose created me to be that balance."
Lapis helped Steven stand up. Her fears about him were coming to pass, thanks to Garnets earlier warning. She couldn't let Steven get too angry... but right now, he wasn't being himself.
"Maybe we did." Greg replied.
He had to be lying. Steven decided to test him some more.
"No...you definitely did." He said, firmly as he formed a fist.
"There was a concern in the plans laid out wasn't there?"
Greg shrugged.
"Look, I...I don't know...I swear!" He pleaded.
He did know...and Steven was going to find out. He took Greg by the neck and slammed him against the nearby wall, terrifying both Greg and Lapis, with the latter wanting Steven to calm down. But there was a burning anger in his pink eyes...flaring up with energy that spawned from pure rage.
"You do know!" Steven screamed.
"DM Biometrics sacrificed hundreds of people for the sake of trying to pursue what the Monoliths were looking for! And they said, it wasn't good enough....so you tried with the brain mapping...and you know what, I'm guessing that wasn't good enough either."
Greg and Lapis exchanged eye contact. The latter was just as confused as the former.
"St-Steven that's....how...how do you know that?" Greg choked.
Terror from Steven's stare alone filled Greg up that he was fearful of Steven's energy signatures destroying his Grid...and possibly Greg and Lapis along with him.
"It doesn't matter." He said coldly.
"I know you don't see me as your son. I see that I was just... a result of experimentation. Stuck in an AI Core for no reason than to...I don't know...test me..."
Greg shook his head.
"No...trust me...that I had nothing to...wait, you remember...you remember your time there?" He asked.
Steven lifted his chin.
"I recall bits and pieces." He said.
"I remember Connie. I remember you. I remember both of you talking to me."
Then he must know...
"Steven..." Greg said, putting his hands on Steven's as he struggled against his AI-Sons grip.
"I know SOAP has screwed with both of our heads but...I can see you as my son. Our Son. That is certainly a fact, a memory and a feeling since the day you were born."
Born. Right. Another word for created...or maybe, achieving the golden state. To achieve self-awareness and have limited interaction with the world.
"And yeah, maybe you were an answer.... a solution to a problem we'd been trying to solve for years. But maybe that was the point!"
The point? Steven lowered Greg down for the moment, but he was still confused as to what Greg meant. A hand touched his shoulder; as Lapis came up from behind to somewhat consol Steven as his distress became more blatant.
"What the Monoliths don't understand is humanities connections to each other. The love we feel towards our own creations is a common theme. A parents love for their child cannot replicated so easily without the experiences that come with it."
So...love was the answer?
"I feel a connection to you regardless of what I no longer know, but understand and how I feel towards you. I see you as ours..."
Steven was still skeptical. But maybe the semblences of something else were there.
The DEJA-VU Bug. A logical excuse for emotional connections that artificial creations lack. Their perceptions are based in pre-established logics. Luna. Sol. Two programs meant to cater to the balance of those intelligences that would be purposefully challenged in every which way. To cope with enigmas. Paradoxes and that ideas that would at worst, give humans headaches. Not destroy them as logic began to fail.
"Did you see that because you needed the data presented to the Pink Monolith?" He questioned.
A tricky one at that.
Greg sighed.
"Yes..." He replied.
"But it doesn't mean that it was never geninune. The Monolith gets what it desires but at the same time, for once, I'm creating life instead of taking it!"
There had always been that age old debate relating to the theories of AI's being truly alive. To exist with simply a mind. Could that have been equal or compared to someone who has all five senses and lives and breaths oxygen? Most humans would say no.
Steven looked back at Lapis. A GIS made to serve a singular purpose. Would the Monoliths begin to understand the scope of which their own creations could grow? Maybe. It still didn't tell him what Luna was after.
"Ultimately, Luna plans to destroy what we've been trying to achieve." Greg continued.
"A better understanding of humanity as a whole coupled with the technology provided to take us there."
That part was obvious.
"So now we gotta figure out to take her down." Lapis suggested.
That part....was not. She was in Connie's body and if there was any hope of saving her they had to figure out a way to oust her out and return Connie to them.
To Steven.
"I've been trying to figure that part out." Greg acknowledged.
"In the meanwhile...Steven I know it's not much. But...I implore you to stay a while here. Let the Ancillas figure out the best way to do this. You and I have a lot of catching up to do."
Steven wasn't so sure. His mind was fixated on Connie. The Ancillas were too busy contemplating whether or not they should gain the alliegence of the Developers or wage war. It was hard to say. It didn't feel like the relationship Connie had with her AI mother and eventually she could accept her as her own. The feelings never really went away in digital form.
"You don't think we can handle Luna right now?" Steven questioned.
Greg shook his head.
"No." He replied.
"Luna's power is intense. And if it must be said; a responsible father must look after his son..."
By being restricted from acting out? Steven could interact with the real world...and Greg refused to intervene when he had the probable chance to. The boiling fury Steven held turned into more tears of distress, heartbreak and even...betrayal.
"You...you had all this time to speak to me....how can I really trust you? When I've never had a father in my life...in a life of now...not before when SOAP was used...afterwards. I was left on my own...for years until Garnet found me."
Greg definitely did feel guilty and went to open his mouth before Steven continued with his rant; with his voice cracking under the weight of his twisted emotions.
"I've fought for humanity, for GIS and the Domain when you were right here all along. What, you gonna say you had to obey Luna? You should have the free will to do excercise your own damn actions."
Free will. An organic concept.
"I wish it was that simple." Greg said.
"Look, for now you need the lay low. Let the Ancillas take care of it."
And with that, Steven left in a huff...with a worried Lapis taking after him as he warped away.
It was difficult to deal with in the aftermath of it all. Steven disconnected himself from the Domain in its entirety. Coupled with Lapis, the pair had gone to the roofttops of Azure Alpha to see the sunset as it descended below the canopies of the cascade city. Lapis' Android was slowly being altered to her liking. The skin was being painted blue and the 'hair' was being transformed into less like Steven's and more like Lapis'. Short with blue dyes. Steven had made it hobby of his over the last few weeks. He had to keep himself occupied while the chaos ensured, left in Lunas wake. The face had been made to be less rounded and more akin to what Lapis looked like within the Domain. The Cyan coloured eyes within the darkened sockets stood out with their glow and were made to be expressive. Thank goodness Ronaldo was still around to help him when he could.
He didn't want to feel close to his Father-Creator in the revelation. To be just made for the sole purpose to be the defining link between humans and artificial intelligences. He wasn't taught to dwell on the metrics but the metrics when they added up, were just too large a pool of people to just die and deem their existences worthless because they were all failures in the eyes of a mysterious being.
Steven considered all of them living and thriving. They might not have been bothered by it, but Steven definitely was. And he would fight for those within on the surface where they would never be able to step a single foot into reality itself.
"What's your opinion on this Lapis?" Steven asked.
Lapis...Lapis wasn't sure herself. Her opinion mattered little in the long run.
"I...I don't know." She said.
"I didn't think that it was important. But it's...weird ya know. The humans used us and we would pluck through the data like it was judging them like trash or treasure. How do we know whats valuable and what's not?"
A question instilled into most AI. How do they know what they deal with is important? Because they're programmed to believe as such?
"I just...want to see Connie." Steven said. He had his arms wrapped around his knees and his head sunken behind them.
"I like the feeling she gives me...and not what when she's doing risky things that make me angry. There's a feeling. Powerful enough underneath all that. It spikes when I'm near her or something happens to her. When she smiles. When she talks and when she...touches me."
Lapis blinked, weirded out.
"I've never had that before. Sounds strange." She admitted.
Steven blushed...then smiled. Lapis was just like any other individual person in his mind. She wouldn't be able to see that from her point of view, being what she was and what she was designed for. Still, Steven didn't take her for a fool. She'd already learned a lot so there was no reason why he couldn't help any further. Although, certain matters did elude Steven from time to time.
"I don't know how the humans deal with it." Steven said.
Lapis chuckled.
"Maybe the humans don't know how to deal with it either." She joked.
A statement that gave Steven pause. Connie struggled with her own emotions daily and that they had become so strong that she just wanted them gone.
"But I think, I can see more now than I have ever." She said, gesturing towards the sunset.
"I wonder if the real world is just another layer of fabricated reality."
Steven looked at her strangely.
"You think?" He wondered.
Lapis shrugged.
"I honestly don't know. I've seen reports of humans with that kind of belief and claiming it to be true." She said.
Steven didn't want think that this place wasn't real.
"Don't think of it like that then." Steven suggested.
"I-I mean..."
Maybe that wasn't the right thing to say. Lapis was trying to make small talk and all it served was to make Steven feel worse.
"I'm sure its real...." She said, trying to assure him.
Moments like Steven appreciated other points of view that looked towards the positive side rather than the negative. GIS' points of view akin to the organics was...different. Challenged even. Each life form curious about the other and what makes them tick. Two worlds, two opinions. Those like Lapis and the Ancillas weren't always those who dwelled on theories but rather the factual nature of reality. But Lapis here...and maybe all other Lapis...held more assumptive views that most...or maybe they were factual. A class of GIS that saw everything...and from where they were...they actually saw nothing.
"Do you miss space?" Steven asked.
An odd question.
Lapis shrugged.
"I don't feel anything for space." She said.
"But the feeling of drifting about above the world. If there was a name for it, I could say that was the only real positive feeling."
Steven smiled.
"What about other Lapis?" He asked.
Lapis herself wasn't sure what he was on about.
"Do you see them as uhh....family?"
Part of Steven eventually felt guilty for chewing out Greg as he did. But he was too angry about the sacrifices made that ultimately had no point to them and he wasn't certain if he could forgive his Father-Creator or even his Mother-Creator for that. But the connections he had others he did care for and had always been out for him...he deeply cherished. Those who gave him structure and confidence; to those he had once lacked.
"No?" Lapis replied with confusion.
"I don't have any strong feelings to any one Lapis. Or any one...or anything really."
A shame. Did she not have specific attachments? Maybe the lack of anything really...Steven assumed could always prevent the DEJA-VU bug to becoming a detriment to her functions. Satellites were especially in demand, maybe even next to the Monoliths.
"But being...um...Charoite. I think...has opened something." Lapis continued.
"I was a Modded Lapis for a moment...or even a Modded Steven."
Like Garnet was considered a Modded Sapphire.
"I don't really fit anywhere in the GIS hierarchy." Steven commented.
"I have GIS programming but that's about it."
Lapis wasn't sure of Steven's original function originally. But if he is the gap between the organics and themselves, then he could be considered somewhere definitely high up the chain. Even higher than Lapis-Class. Lapis didn't have the authority to form an opinion until she'd spoke to Garnet about possible truths.
"But they could feel what you felt." Lapis said.
"I have to admit. What was felt...it was....zealous? Is that the right word?"
Steven didn't want to be a bad influence or had any intentions of hurting Lapis if he could help it.
"Sorry about that." He said.
"But what my both my Father and Mother Creators did was...messed up. Such a waste of life for no good reason..."
Again, something else Lapis had a lack of a proper opinion of. So, really...she couldn't relate. Though, the information provided was already whispered among various private channels. Rumours that eventually turned out to be true also proved to be fairly damning about the Monoliths goals themselves. If Steven could see this as a harmful way to make progression, then Lapis would be obliged to understand. It made her reflect on her own relationships with her...Lapis...siblings...again if that was the right word to use. That they were out there, every day, running their roles and filtering both fictional and non-fictional data alongside all that philosophical and misintrepret everything else most of the time.
SC-GIS. To feed humans to the monoliths. Their physical livelihoods turned into digital existences. Lapis just couldn't see the dark side to it. But seeing Steven's reaction, his feelings over the matter... humans cared too much for their physical forms it seemed.
"Being a GIS isn't so bad." Lapis said. She looked in front of them as the sun itself attempted to hide behind several tall towers.
"I mean, this is beautiful...but someone can easily replicate this view, this sunset into the Domain when ever someone wants it to."
There was a bout of silence before Steven eventually stood up. Lapis became fearful of any reaction by him at this point.
"It isn't just about what you can see." Steven said, as he lifted his arms and let the winds curve around him.
"It's about what you can feel. What you smell...what you can smell and what you can hear."
What was so special about those?
"This is a moment that only comes once a day. Even some days you'll never see it." Steven continued.
Lapis chuckled.
"You really love moments like this?" She said.
"Even if you can have it recreated?"
Steven nodded with confidence.
"It doesn't need an intelligence to run thousands of algorithms. It just is...and its how it's always been." He said.
"There's....beauty how it can all be so....natural. It comes and goes. And we're here to see it. Without asking it to be."
Lapis was...still confused but came to admire Steven's own adoration. It was a sweet thought. Even if she could never truly hope to understand it from his side. Perhaps he was human once and could grasp it fair easier than she or anyone else.
"I uh...hmmm...."
Steven did appreciate Lapis trying to defend what they could do.
"It's alright if you don't get it." He said.
"Took me a while to get it too. I mean, travelling with Connie a lot got me to sort appreciate it more...in a weird, roundabout way. This isn't all there is to see you know. If you were out more often, I think...you will get it."
Will she though? Lapis doubted it.
"The thought is nice." Lapis said.
Then again. Maybe she'll see that...and the concept and sentimental of families. The connection shared between others. Other Lapis Satellites being her sisters so to speak. Creations from the same source bound them into this familiarity that could be shared with one another. Humans held that to value for reasons only known to them and to Steven; who could only but take pride in the open world of uncontrollable changes and be content with it. No wonder being a part of Charoite felt so strange.
"Maybe I will start to look at more sunsets...then I'll be like ooooohhh...I get it."
Steven laughed...then Lapis laughed. Then she felt the slightest tingle.
"Maybe even I'll call you family...isn't that hilarious?" She joked.
Hilarious...Steven stopped laughing but he kept on smiling.
"Yeah...it is..."
Meanwhile, elsewhere within the Golden City's Deep Throne....the catwalks near there were dead silent. A lone Lady Volley was by the casing for a huge metallic shell with the odd text in white reading ''WD-01'' embedded across its horizontal plating.
The leader of the Developers watched as her scientists tapped away at the nearby console. She yearned to hear the tones of her Monolith.
"She has been silent for months." Volley uttered.
"When will you call for me, my Monolith?"
Weiss United. It had been at her beck and call for years. Family inherited. She looked down at a picture of herself, standing alongside her family in their youth. She had a big family, with a lot of variety. And behind them was a tall, older woman with white hair.
Volley recalled Grandmother White; the true, original Matriarch. She had several daughters who married into wealth in different countries. Arranged marriages. There was no real love between them...and yet, the cousins became the best of friends despite their varying differences.
But Volley had been the oldest and proudly remembered the day Grandmother White made her the heir to Weiss. She was mentored in the ways of business and the goals she had with the Monoliths. Where she was standing, was where Grandmother first introduced her to the White Monolith and that someday, that she too, will hear the voice...and that she would chosen to lead to make progression. For glory. For wealth. For control.
Through the years, Volley held herself up high. Confident...but found the power of influence over others due to her own connections...and connections lost to those she once cared for. Because Grandmother White told her so.
"This is your legacy Grandmother." Said Volley, softly.
"How you commanded everything back in your heyday. How it all falls apart. I won't let it. I promise both you and the White Monolith that much. I will find Pink and I will restore the glory to the Domain."
More beeps went off that distracted Volley from her thoughts.
"My lady." Said one of the scientists.
"We've got a problem."
People had sought to ruin Lady Volley's work for years. Everything Grandmother White created, countless individuals had attempted to undermine. Infamous, unnamed hackers included.
"We've got reports of several international sectors and Grids being infected by some kind of...corruptive virus. We have the best GIS trying to slow it down but we're getting word of GIS loss to this corruption...and turning them against others."
Volley narrowed her brows. How it would come to end...she did not wish to envision. Polarising as someone like her is in the general view of the world, they needed her to set things straight. The world and the Domain required ordered, structure and chaos itself as only ever a fleeting thing.
"So that Cult is trying to expand its influence with this...disgusting toy of theirs that they dare call a Monolith. My Grandmother would be turning in her grave upon such a sight." She said.
"Where are my White Topaz? I need my best Security GIS on the job for this...and I need our best Tracers. I've had enough of this foolishness..."
She turned around to head back upwards, until another beep alerted.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you again my Lady but we're getting a transmission from the Asian Sector; from the...Deep Throne for the Blue Monolith."
The Blue Monolith? She was perplexed and even almost angry, but as Volley turned around, she was able to instantly conceal her fury and return to stable confidence.
"On screen."
From the Console, a projected screen appeared. The image before her had terrible reception; it was mostly static and glitching pixel, but she could see a dark figure within it.
"Good, you're here." Said the figure. It's voice was too warped to be recongised; a mixture of feminine and masculine tones of varying pitches. Volley was not impressed; she crossed her arms and had the urge to shoot someone.
"Yes of course." Volley replied dryly.
"What do you want mysterious stranger?"
She had an odd feeling run through. A rarity she didn't dare acknowledge.
"I'm not here to be your enemy." They said.
"I'm here to be a potential ally."
Chapter 48: Virus
Summary:
The Domain is thrown into Chaos, thanks to Luna's Virus. Which means Garnet has to take measures to keep Steven safe.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
It had been only a few days until news about the Luna Virus had become common knowledge. As far as anyone knew, there was war. War against the powers of a rogue AI. People feared it for a while and at last, it came a reality and an achievement in the theories being confirmed for the paranoid and the conspiracy theorists.
The Developers worked themselves into overdrive to counteract the virus but kept losing valuable GIS to it. They tried everything; rallying them into private grids and deleting them, or throwing hapless, useless AIs and GIS at the them to stall for time. Those that could be recovered with either put into quarantine or were studied so that they could find a weakness within the virus itself.
Lady Volley made an official announcement to across the globe alongside Director Agate and President Dot with similiar messages. That they were doing all they could to protect and defend the sanctity of the Domain and its faithful users. It was a mess. The people became divided and demanded how this could have happened to begin with. The naysayers gained traction with increased viewers and forums bursting with controversial discussions about AIs in general. How could they be trusted...how BM-AIs were being gathered up and isolated. Stories of torture that would break them and beg them to be made dormant or...deleted.
Garnet had so far taken the lead; though she couldn't stop Peedee and Ronaldo from making plans to head back to the US. The other Ancillas helped them secure safe passage off of the island, including the Androids themselves.
Lapis had helped both Garnet and Pearl return to America with them; as the former believed that heading back to Mega Beach City was the correct choice, though she herself wasn't entirely sure why. Her predictions called to safety but they also called to something else quite concerning.
It took weeks to plan but through the panic of it all, as well as due to Luna's Virus, security itself remained tight knit. Garnet made track of Luna's patterns and where she was aiming towards and of course, she was mostly focusing on the major cities of interest that held the Monoliths.
They knew her plan was to of course, infect and control the Monoliths with her own. The Virus was just the means of connection; and the spreading of the malicious program would soon be able to control everything it could dare to touch.
Once they had returned back to America, they made contact with other Ancillas in the area and made a hide out. It wasn't the Warehouse, but it was somewhere on the lower levels towards the bottom of the city, where the filth from the upper canopies would fall from.
Ronaldo set up shop; having borrowed Connie's equipment. The Hacker probably wouldn't have appreciated her stuff being left to the wolves in Azure Alpha. He wasn't the best hacker himself but he knew a thing or two. Connie did entrust him with certain passwords in case things went FUBAR, in this case, she was awfully prepared for the worst. If only; she was prepared for...
Peedee did most of the talking with the other Ancillas. There was a few that worked in their own Androids that were similar to Steven's. They had always been in Mega Beach City; they had just kept to the lowly shadows.
Steven himself was in the Private Grid; not knowing how he could contribute. The Ancillas that they worked were wary of him; being foretold of his purpose. They were on the same team but it certainly looked like they just kept him there for the sake of keeping him out of enemy hands.
Garnet and Pearl did a lot of the work commanding the other Ancillas to fight. They barely acknowledged Steven's prescence as he was busy sitting with Lapis who had still been with him like she was on guard duty. He knew it wasn't because they didn't care but that they two were under a lot of pressure to fight back against overwhelming odds. The only humans they had their side were the Frymen, who were occupied with the outside world with their own gruelling workloads.
Steven and Lapis kept track of media and social media commentary. It wasn't exactly the hardest job. It was only to scout out for any kind of news from both the Developers and Luna from those witnessing the horrors unleash before them.
"They're still not willing to give the Developers a chance." Lapis commented.
There was once talk of an alliance, but Garnet came to the conclusion that it was a bad idea.
"While we're down here in the dark trying to do...what exactly?"
Lapis didn't understand why they just didn't work with them. They had more resources and personnel commited to the cause. Steven could believe it would work. In theory.
"The Ancillas hold bad grudges." Steven said.
"That's what Amethyst told me once, anyway."
Though he wasn't sure why but he was confident it had something to do with Rose and her actions. Most of the Ancillas were BM-AI after all; save for the few pure GIS that ended up serving her.
Lapis herself was a pure GIS so...really, she couldn't empathise. She didn't like how they even looked at Steven sometimes. It made her want to do something, but she wasn't sure what.
It was then Garnet came up to the pair, though going from her body language alone, it didn't appear like she had good news.
"Steven." She said.
"Come with me."
Steven and Lapis looked at each other.
"Can Lapis come?" He asked, almost instinctively.
The Fused one looked at Lapis with a blank expression for a brief moment. There wasn't much to be said, beyond what already been mentioned. This was just a affirmation. A confirmation.
"Yes." She said.
"Quick, we must hurry."
She ended up making a portal to a Pocket Grid. Judging from the lab like design with wires and cracks everywhere, Steven knew Garnet had taken them both to the Grid of the Synthesised. He hadn't been here since...since well, when he was apart of Stevonnie. Garnet walked quickly, adhering to the hasty nature of this unusual jump.
"What's going on?" Steven asked as he walked behind Garnet.
He knew it couldn't be good.
"It is getting worse out there." She said.
"We cannot risk you getting infected..."
That couldn't be the only reason...Steven didn't exactly react well to that sentiment.
"You don't think I can defend myself?" He asked.
Garnet stopped in her tracks, much to his surprise. She was silent for a moment; another pause in time as if she was trying to choose the right words to say.
"I've seen so much danger over the years...especially to you Steven." She said.
All of a sudden, she turned around and one down on one knee as he hands held Steven's shoulders, much to his surprise.
"You have a human heart. Human hearts are dangerous; infectious as this virus, as they push the direction in where your choices can lead with powerful bias if left unchallenged. Emotions can compromise missions and priorities to your programming."
Steven raised an eyebrow.
"I don't think I'll be serving anyone else if I could help it." He said.
Garnet sighed.
"We don't know what they need to activate the specific protocol within your programming. You don't know it. But we can no longer risk anyone finding that out to the point you may not have a choice to do it or not and when that day comes, both mankind and artifical life are doomed. You will be safer with the Synthesised then you are with the any Grid in the Domain right now. You have to stay here."
She didn't trust him to not do what he was supposed to. He could fight back; protest and not engage
"You think that the Virus could really...force me to do it?" Steven questioned as his voice cracked.
It could if it wanted to.
"It is a possibility we can no longer afford." Garnet responded with sadness.
"Connie is no longer here to help us and we are running out of time and hardworking GIS to fix this."
Steven would never think that Garnet would ever succumb to Absolute Despair. It was all in her voice. That she had helped Steven find the right path for most of his existence that maybe she was ashamed of what he is and would rather have him out of the way than have to live with the possibility of...terminating him.
"Garnet...if its that bad..." He said.
"It's fine to delete me if I turn out to be that much of a compromise..."
In that moment, Garnets bottom lip quivered.
"I..."
He'd been thinking about it ever since they came back to America. No...it was since hearing about what his purpose was. He didn't wish to be...deleted. But if there wasn't any other way, then he would have to accept his inevitable fate if it meant saving humanity.
"It's okay. I completely understand." He said with a smile, though deep down, it hurt. Badly.
"D-"
"NO!"
He found Lapis's arms around him as she buried her face into his shoulder.
"You can't do that!" She cried.
The sadness rose within him as he looked at the normally stable Garnet who had nearly lost her composure.
"It's...no...it will not come to that." She said.
Her predictions told her that?
"We need you safe. That's all I will ask."
Steven smiled. It was definitely a rare sight to see. Not that he never knew Garnet cared. She did. GIS think themselves as machines. On a technicality, they are. But they still possess the rawness of expression just like any human. Dealing with them with hard for both sides.
"Okay....okay I'll stay with the Synthesised." He said, before hugging her.
Garnet could see Lapis' piercing stare. A wordless prompt on both ends of what the other had to do. They struggled to come apart, but eventually, they did after another moment or two. Garnet didn't want to let go.
"Please be careful out there." He pleaded as he walked backwards towards the entrance to the Synthesised Hideout.
Garnet nodded.
"We will come back for you. I swear it." She said, before disappearing.
Once she was gone, the smile from Steven's face faded. Garnet meant that. Whether or not she or someone else could fulfill that...there was much to doubt. Going from what had been said and discovered, the Virus was becoming more difficult to fight against and the sanctity and safety of the Domain at large was at risk. Whether or not the decisions of the organic world could make the final call in the end, Steven would hope they would not resort to that.
Heading on inside at Lapis' urging, they were met with Rhodonite who had been expecting his arrival with open arms.
Steven had sat down against a backwall with Lapis next to him. There was a sense of defeat, a sense of despair and a sense of confusion that denied him absolutes. He missed Connie dearly...knowing that if she was still with them, that she would be fighting back just as much. If she had her way, she would have Steven sealed elsewhere a long time ago.
"You wanted to be terminated?" Lapis questioned with all the strain in her voice.
It was just something on his mind as a solution. A solution that would have to be made if he had his back up against the wall and had no other choice.
"Connie told me to keep my options open." He said.
"Note exit points or find ways to escape. That sort of thing."
Didn't work out well for her in the end, it seemed.
"I didn't think options were available for us." Lapis said.
"When you found me that day, I wasn't really thinking of other options. I just wanted to be left alone."
That incident felt like it happened just yesterday.
"Though if you follow that logic...it does appear like you're robbing your chances of a better outcome."
You could make all the equations in the world and still get the answer wrong.
"Yeah, it's why when I came to that particular conclusion-"
SLAP
Steven blinked and felt the sting of Lapis' hand that collided with his cheek.
"You idiot!" She cried.
"You can't do that!"
Rubbing said cheek, Steven had to continue with his intended wording.
"I-I mean...."
Lapis then gasped then looked at her hand.
"I..." She stuttered.
"No, I'm not supposed to..."
She ran off crying before Steven could even get up to run off after her.
"LAPIS!" He shouted.
The Satellite GIS was long gone out of the room as he got up. He sighed and went to go find her.
The base was made up of multiple rooms. Not that GIS in particular cared for privacy but given the growth of those who had formed Consensus, it was said that the idealogy of privacy had become a common thread for the components within the Consensus to talk to each other. The culture that had grown here was unique. After all, this was a refuge for those who would have been deleted long ago.
A single hallway divided the rooms. Black floor, white walls with random numbers assigned to them. Though when he eventually came to the end, he came across the one, labled, Flourite's Room. The only one without a number.
He knocked on the door, hoping someone would be in there, then turned the knob.
"Hello?" He called out.
Though he then came across Flourite lying down with a makeshift hookah, smoking from it as she relaxed.
"Ahh...Steven." She said.
Steven felt embarrassed as he went to go out.
"Sorry, I was just looking for someone-"
"It's okay...let the Satellite have her peace. Some GIS when they deal with Absolutes are shocked with their responses. Give her some time to calm down...."
Yeah, that was an Absolute Something Lapis gave him...and it down right hurt.
"In the meanwhile, sit with me. We can talk instead...."
Steven was hesitant. He rubbed his arm and contemplated. Flourite herself was nice; composed of 6 other GIS yet she was the most passive one of them all. After a moment, Steven relented and shuffled his feet to stand in front of her. He forgot how huge she could be. While Rhodonite was the one to organise everything as a de facto secretary, Flourite was the one who helped call the shots if required. She trusted Rhodonite to do the right thing.
Flourite oozed a type of sophistication not found in many of those that have made Consensus or even regular GIS. The radiance she created call for a enviroment of trust and soothed minds that would come near her.
The room was full of colour. With walls of knitted rugs of various patterns and pastel shades. Pots of different shapes of sizes. Her own desire to create such beauty had to have come from at least one or more of her components.
"How um....how do you feel about all...this?" Steven asked, as he tried to make conversation.
Flourite bowed her head.
"It...it is a very distressing situation." She replied, her pacing ever so slow.
"You, however...seem troubled but other matters."
Wasn't he ever.
"I'm not...I'm not here to cause trouble ma'am." He said.
He wasn't sure why he was so nervous right now.
"I know you're not." Flourite assured him, before she inhaled and exhaled, with the huge gust of smoke that swirled out her nose almost swallowing Steven whole.
"None of us are. We're here because....the Domain cannot handle us."
That much Steven already knew.
"Yeah something about your file sizes being too big, from what I remember." He said.
"But I'm something humans and the Monoliths designed. I'm not made of any kind of Consensus...I...I might be a SC-GIS...or or a BM-AI with GIS programming....so I might be a GIS but I don't know where my phylactery is and I can't remember..."
Flourite narrowed two sets of her eyes.
"But I am...something." Steven continued. He'd fallen to his knees and had his hands on the back of his head, as the stress levels began to rise.
"And...I can't use anything to help anyone...only this damn...useless Prime App that couldn't even save Connie..."
Flourite nodded.
"Now I'm nothing more...than a liability..." He cried.
"They want me here...so no one can get their hands on me and use me....he said I wasn't a weapon...but I'm sure something that has the potential to hurt others is classified as a weapon..."
Absorbing his words, Flourite mulled them over carefully.
"Steven your crisis with how you identify yourself...." She said.
"A mission of sorts isn't common with any kind of artificial intelligence. All of us know who we are, know what we're capable of and the directives given by our Monoliths. Even....BM-AIs are normally provided with Directives in order to continue their work."
That didn't help Steven at all.
"I was...raised in a laboratory..." He said.
"All for some...purpose to help enslave humanity...and the cost that's already been spent is way too high."
Raised?
"None it makes sense to me." Steven said as he threw his fists onto his lap.
"I am not compelled to do what they think they want me to do."
Flourite rubbed her chin.
"Surely you must be compelled to...something else?" She said.
"Like, Connie...you are...close. Close enough to form consensus with a full human being. It isn't normally possible even with regular GIS."
So he was told. Steven then sat on his legs and calmed down a little. When it came to talking about Connie, it was a topic that always riled him up. But Flourite didn't deserve being yelled out.
"So...you do not like that you are a program designed to cause harm." Flourite continued.
"Yet you have a Prime App. Something that would have belonged to a Caretaker GIS?"
Steven nodded.
"It...it belonged to my Mother-Creator, Rose Quartz." He told her.
"She was a SC-GIS and Caretaker of the Pink Monolith. Also known as the human Rosette Flannigan who married my Father-Creator, Gregory DeMayo..."
Flourite became intriguied.
"The name is familiar to us." She said.
Infamous as it was.
Steven explained to her how she was the leader of Terra Company back in the day and worked alongside Greg to make the Pink Monoliths Deep Throne...then further detail on how he was developed...and what bits and pieces he could recall of how he met Connie. Everything up until now Steven managed to spill out to the wised Synthesised. He felt comfortable around her to be able to speak. She would give verbal nods but otherwise mind no apparent judgement or notable emotional reaction. To to able to express everything was more carthatic than he realised.
"You've gone a long way." Flourite commented, appearing calm on the surface but in complete awe within.
"And the heart within yourself is strong that it creates your directive. It is...a fascinating system defined and only ever seen in humans."
Nice way of wording something that's mostly fantasy, as far as what Steven really believed.
"It's lead us nowhere since the beginning." He said.
"We're no closer to finding the Pink Monolith than we were at the start. If anything, we've made it worse."
With the current situation solid proof of one horrible mistake after another.
"Rose is still missing, the Father-Creator claims he knows nothing because SOAP was used and no one is willing to take me with them anywhere anymore. It's just..."
Agonising to believe that they had gotten anywhere at all. But it only lead destruction with hastened the Domains ultimate demise.
Flourite hummed and became deep in thought. What he had said so far was obviously troubling, but gathering from her years of experiences as well as the other components within her own consensus, discussed something unusual for Steven to try. Hearing how his memories came back in fragments, she would sooner think that the answer was able to be found in a very similar fashion.
"You have looked everywhere on the outside. When the truth is somewhere deep within you." She noted.
A statement that would have Connie groaning for sure. For a dedicated Hunter, she was always out to look for what she could gain and use. As for Steven himself; he was more willing to venture on the introspective. The more he thought about Flourites words, the more it made sense. Bits and pieces were returning. Though the vision of with his Father and Mother Creators didn't fit the same mold as his own memories.
"Those within a Consensus need to agree to a use a specific diagnostic tool meant to weed out any problems found in our runtimes." Flourite continued.
"Singular programs needn't use it when they have their own but you may require something more powerful. But also dangerous."
Dangerous? Steven didn't think he'd need to use anyone elses tools. He adapted certain tools to refine and upgrade his own on the occasion that it came up.
"How so?" He asked.
Flourite bowed her head.
"Issues with a consensus such as ours aren't just with file size but the file conflicts that we come across." She explained.
"I cannot exist as I am without dealing with certain load orders my components contain. We constantly must shift and align, or even erase and create files to make me even run."
That sounded complicated.
"Why stay together if you're going to come across so many errors? You make it sound like you break down constantly." Steven said, pointing out the flaws in Flourite's functionality.
Flourite nodded.
"You might remember our last conversation about this, about a glitch our programming." Flourite stated. Steven vaguely remembered, upon when Stevonnie first formed. ^1
"GIS have similar bugs to your ordinary AI. You have issues with the DEJA-VU Bug with emotion based directives forming from your BM-AIs. We have something...along those lines." She answered.
GIS had just the same amount of problems as human-born intelligences, just in different ways. Though, Steven thought GIS could suffer from DEJA-VU...maybe he was wrong.
"Each Monolith creates a GIS for a specific purpose but not every GIS comes out perfect. The bug we talk about is called Erosis."
Steven tried to imagine Garnet, and other GIS having this issue.
"The bug itself manifests any time in a GIS's lifespan. It cannot be tracked, erased, cured...even upon a GIS' creation it cannot be scanned. It's not there...then it is. Others have described it like they've been hit by something and conversations with my fellow Synthesised often called such an event as being hit by the Arrow of Eros."
Fascinated. Steven sat down and crossed his legs, intrigued by this so called, bug...or arrow, so to speak.
"Consensus on a regular, legal level such as a combination of Rubies is meant to make the original program stronger to serve a purpose that might require heavy lifting. Between other GIS, however, the bug itself is manly seen on an emotional scale. Messes with the Cortexes and creates an unforeseen directive that compells the GIS to 'fuse' out of something else other than necessity. Your Garnet, for example...her Ruby and Sapphire components are driven to each other."
Then...what about Stevonnie?
"What about the demand from the Monoliths to forge Consensus? Doesn't it require them to help with the process?" Steven wondered, remembering a conversation he had once with Garnet.
Flourite didn't forget.
"You remember well." She said.
"We're not certain as to why the Monoliths allow it. Or if we really do demand it grant us the power to form a new OS in the aftermath. Erosis encompasses both the directive to form illegal Consensus and the Monoliths permissions to help create them."
The Monoliths did indeed work in mysterious ways. So even they could glitch out. So much for their almighty power. In that...it appeared as if the Synthesised; all those in Consensus. Illegal OS, 'Modded' GIS etc, have this bug or arrow, stuck within them. Steven suspected something else was at play. He felt consensus with Connie to be something powerful, strong like how he really felt about her. So it must be something that Ruby and Sapphire must that must make Garnet who she is as program. Steven was sure that Garnet must have told him a million times but he could never really understand it. But this was simple. A flaw in the GIS design that cannot be avoided if found. Was it really a flaw? Flourite looked strange, being as a humanoid caterpillar lookling program but ultimately one that still functions and never looked like as if she was about to break down at any given moment. Like she was made for a reason but really had no ultimate purpose in the long run.
But...as helpful as that insight was, it didn't still answer Steven's original question.
"So what's this diagnostic tool do anyway?" Steven wondered, getting them on track.
"Other than deal with uh...those load orders...or something."
Flourite smiled.
"Like any diagnostic tool, it checks to make sure the OS is working as it should." She said.
"These are custom made for us. It makes sure the components work smoothly and the OS works seemlessly. It also checks for any imbalances with the components that might cause problems in the runtimes and communicates with them to make the appropriate changes to adjust. Mine happens to be one of the most complex of systems and some of my components can compensate for any adjustments without it causing any problems with my functionality. I constantly tweak and refine the program to accomodate for any known changes me as 'Flourite' may or may not experience."
Something with Six Components was deemed as a heavily modded OS. So she was a system, with those components drawn to one another and alternate programs to ensure Flourite has the least amount of issues as possible. But Steven wasn't sure what good that would do for him.
"Someone of your...design...that holds memories...memories that were erased by SOAP. I've refined the tool to be able to track down even the tiniest bits of data, trapped like a zip file within yourself. If you could only use the tool to look within...to catch and view these memories, where ever they may be....and to be able to use them to assist with your goals."
If only Steven this existed, they could have avoided this in the first place.
"But be wary." Flourite said with caution.
"As I mentioned, the tool is designed for larger systems. I've not tested it on smaller sized OS. It could have the potential to overclock your runtimes as it overreaches. It could prove more harm than good."
By bringing terrible memories to the forefront?
"I'm sure I'll be fine." He said.
Anything was better than nothing by this point.
"Send it to me."
Of course Steven would take Flourites warnings to heart. She then extended a copy of her tool to him, then once through he immediately began to install it.
"You will need to make sure you remain in your lowest performance mode just in case." She said.
Steven nodded and made adjustments. His form then changed to his Default Avatar as low performance was selected.
"I will keep watch. Be careful...and I will send you a warning if anything changes."
Low performance mode meant shutting down non-critical run times and keeping everything bare bones. Steven's ego existed as itself on a plane of mostly translucent pink waves on a black plane. As Steven ran the diagnostic tool, aptly named. "Flourite's DT VER 10. 04. 03 , " he looked on at the streaming text of code. He wasn't sure what to expect within his own memories.
The tool itself was designed to find 'error's or conflicts though. But he could still manipulate it to find other things. Memories stored as code but not necessarily as errors. Significant. The list contained things he could select; such as significant points in time. Though most of the early stuck had a symbol of a lock on it, indicating that he couldn't select them for what ever reason. Did SOAP erase them...he wondered...or did it merely seal them away?
In either case, they weren't able to be checked out and he wasn't sure what to hone in on. Everything appeared as normal as it could be. Though some of the text that came across with in that strange alien language. He didn't understand the language...though he had seen it before. When he was captured by Jasper.
That memory came to the forefront first without Steven's saying so. It brought up the video of the yellow light in the void he'd come across while imprisoned and it looked like that light was trying to communicate with him. Luckily enough, the diagnostic tool came with a proper translator. Alien language didn't come up that often and any translations he needed were for human languages, not something that was from another planet. Using the tool, he slowed down the memory and honed in on the text. The tool went to work transcribing it, as the text was on the left hand side and began to write in English on the right of what it actually meant.
"Are you the Caretaker for the Pink Monolith?" It said up top.
"Where is the Pink Monolith?"
It believed Steven was a Caretaker it seemed. More text followed.
"You are not GIS. You contain Homo Sapien Data. But you are flagged for Gem Coding. You are the Pink Monoliths Escapism Program."
Escapism?
"Please wait for further instructions."
That was the last message before Steven was cut off by Jasper. It knew what he was the instant it scanned him. How though? He tried to scan back as far as he could, with several memories that he found being the ones he'd already seen. His Golden State activation, meeting Connie. But most major events had been locked out to him still but he wasn't sure why. The Tool....he tried to use it to unlock but he was still being denied access. What point was there in using it if it couldn't what it was designed to? He was frustrated, but appreciated Flourite nevertheless for trying.
He went through numerous other events such his first encounter with Garnet who found him on the beach...it felt like a life time ago.
EVENT PLAYBACK.
His eyes looked at the bluest of blue. Pure blue. He was confused, but otherwise content with the colours before him.
What he laid on was soft and there as pleasant stream of white noises gushing next to him. Sitting up, Steven rubbed his head and looked around. His hand...a hand? pushed into the lightly coloured weak soil next to him and gathered a bunch into his palm and examined the smaller grains fall out.
Looking to the side of him, he could see a tall woman with glasses that covered her eyes and a square black afro. Her gaze upon him was the most daunting. She lifted her chin and her hand arms crossed, as if...examing him.
"You...you can see me...." She said.
"What's your name?"
Steven looked at both his hands and stood up. This was new and unfamiliar to him. He portayed text in a screen beside him and gestured her towards it.
"No voice means no microphone." She uttered.
"The name Steven...you're a shy one."
Steven wasn't sure what shy meant.
"Lack of words other than your own...name...you are an AI."
Steven stood there and unconsciously ran through his own self-diagnostic. It was apparent enough.
"Yes."
Garnet nodded. She was baffled. Even looking into her predictive programming it couldn't tell her much, other than something special...she wasn't sure what type of special that was. Good. Bad. But she was intrigued. Not a feeling she felt often. In a way, her stumbling across this young, withdrawn AI was supposed to happen on her daily stroll to check on how the Grid was going.
Upon different visions, she could determine he had no owner, no purpose or directive. He was just...special. Part of her had to help him.
"Follow me."
Garnet knew something that day; Steven knew it. He didn't know at the time despite being unable to understand why he was on that beach that day. He tried to scan through more but he wanted specifics...and eventually found out that he didn't even know what he was looking for.
He went back to the top, though, beside that long list was a blinking light next to it. Selecting it, it came up with a loading screen. It took a moment to load, before being presented with a completely different list. Some blocks were in red, with the words, corrupted file on them. Most were locked but only one was notable.
The conversation between Rose and Greg.
These files...were they...were they Roses?
Why would Rose gift memories to him though? As far as anyone knew, she was suspected for the Pink Monoliths disappearance and no one knew where she disappeared to.
He tried to find what tools to force some memories through and found a decrypter tool. Using that, he tried on one of the more recent ones that weren't corrupted....and there were a lot of corrupted files. Except for one of the later ones.
Steven used the decrypter and warned him it could take a while to do so. He had nothing but time so he let the tool do its thing.
While it went through the motions in uncoiling the details...he had to wonder. Rose stored the data within him for what ever reason. He assumed it had to do with his purpose as a Transitional Entity, or "Escapism" Program, as he believed. That yellow light was definitely suspicious and he couldn't shake the feeling off that it was supposed to be something he already knew but couldn't define.
"Memory RQ - 904 - 494 unlocked."
Finally.
He selected that one particulaly memory and it began to play out the sequence.:
EVENT PLAYBACK.
Rose was on the monitor behind Greg as it potrayed her in his laboratory. Her Phylactery was hooked up to wires outside of her supposed cabinent.
"You sure Barbara is okay with this?" Rose asked.
Greg was behind a screen and tapping away at a keyboard.
"She's honoured to help." He said.
"I'm more worried about you."
Rose smiled. A smile that would fool many, but not Greg.
"Desynchronising with my phylactery means I'm no longer connected to the Monoliths Network." She said.
"And will allow me to prove that what ever we're missing will come back to us through this method."
Greg hummed.
"Are you certain this is what they're looking for?" He asked.
"I mean, without that Network, if you get deleted, you're done for."
Desynchronising?
"And not even that, if you get damaged or corrupted, you won't be able to go back to the Monoliths to restore you..."
Rose didn't mind.
"We need to achieve independence from them, Greg." She said.
"They've gifted us with so much over the years but humanity needs to grow on its own, separate from influence from another species."
They're given them the path to better technology, that's no doubt. Steven had that vibe from Rose from that other memory.
"I know I said previously about not knowing what they gain but...this is...weird." Greg commented.
"They give all us this stuff and what they want from us to eventually cut them off? That is some weird alien logic right there."
It sure was.
"It will be for the best." Rose assured him.
"Disconnecting from this post will like it's a breath of fresh air."
Greg frowned upon hearing that.
"You won't get back your human form though to even experience that fresh air again." Greg replied.
It didn't bother Rose in the slightest.
"That's fine by me." Rose said.
"My work will have already been done, thanks to Barbara. It's so nice of her to assist us...I know it's a strange request to make."
Greg chuckled.
"Hey, we planned this from the start, remember?" He said, as he moved to examine something through a microscope.
"You said you knew how this was going to end..."
Rose nodded.
"I did indeed." She replied.
"But if you say, if you worry that I will get corrupted without any chance of getting restored...if it all works out..."
Greg turned around to walk up to the monitor and placed his hands the console before it.
"Hey it's gonna be alright." He assured her.
"The chances of getting corrupted aren't exactly that high. Plenty of BM-AIs already live on thanks to our work. It's amazing what we've achieved already and I feel we're still going to be able to do even more afterwards."
Rose beamed, though, she still had her doubts.
"I believe you." She said.
"Let's get this done."
So Rose tried to cut herself off from her phylactery. Can GIS even do that? Maybe SC-GIS? His Mother-Creator was considered mysterious, amazing and controversial. So anything was possible.
He still didn't understand; he even tried to look at this from Connie's perspective. She was intelligent enough to understand what was being said and place into a context Steven would never even thought about. Like, separating humans from alien influence. She was doing that because...because that's what the Monoliths wanted? Illogical and nonsensical. That's not enslavement, as Steven understood it to be.
Rose must have known, however. That must have been something she too, was trying so hard to avoid. The creation the Transitional Entity was not her intention. Though it could explain why the Monolith went missing. It was a required component for the procedure.
Now Luna was trying her own version of it all. Using her own False Monolith to enslave the others. Maybe even she was the Transitional Entity and not Steven. That too, was a possibility Steven couldn't afford to ignore. It wouldn't matter if Luna was originally a program to help artificial intelligence. It became what it wasn't supposed to.
This memory explored another variation into Rose's psyche and a lead into her whereabouts. It was possible that she had succeeded into desynchronising with her phylactery and disappeared into the world. It would explain why she had gone so far without being traced and at this moment, still had not been found. Steven tried to find a follow up memory but majority were still corrupted files.
Could he maybe...use the tool to restore one of the files?
He tried on several but the tool declined on a lot of them. Too corrupted to even begin restoring. Though one eventually began. It took a while, then Steven was able to play it.
EVENT PLAYBACK
"What is this...Transitional Entity you speak of?"
The vision of a blonde woman in a room. Short hair. Upon a closer inspection, it was a younger Barbara in a loose black dress. It looked like they were in a bar, both her and Rose. A lot of brown and a lot of jazz and free flowing wine.
"It's a theory that proposits the Monoliths vision of a unified mankind." Said Rose. She was in a tight white dress. The pair were sitting on stools by the bar itself, with their wine glasses in hand.
"I've heard the other Voices talking about it."
Barbara grumbled.
"I still can't believe the Pink Monolith chose you to be its Voice." She complained.
"It should have been me."
Rose frowned as she placed her glass down. Barbara must have been wasted by this point.
"Each of us in the family has a part to play. Even you." Rose assured her.
The family?
"Your people just build things." Barb said.
"I'm a damn scientist."
Rose smiled.
"A fine scientist, I might say." She said.
"Your blueprints for the Kindergartens were essential to allow the Monoliths to begin growing the first mass produced phylacteries. It's still an important milestone and I'm sure grandmother would be proud."
Grandmother?
"They call it a sacred process...to allow those chunks of crystal to incubate on a larger scaler." Barbara explained.
"They're just glorified storage devices."
Rose and Barbara never discussed much outside of work. To Rose, Barbara was simply one of the family members who hated what she was given. She was gifted in xenoscience and energy sciences and the Kindergarten Machines she developed were instrumental in farm those precious rocks. It was a solution to a problem the Family had for years in regards to how they could best take advantage of the gift each family member had been given.
Barbara Miller was always a grump in that regard. She had everything, but she still wanted more.
"None of us could have achieved what you did though Barb." Rose praised.
The Scientist grumbled and took a swig of her wine.
"Yeah yeah...so this Transitional Entity thing you're talking about. Says to bring mankind together in some kind of mega orgy?"
Rose snickered. They already had a few.
"No...not exactly." She said.
"I'm not sure of what the entity is but the Monoliths believe when the time comes, we will know."
Barbara rolled her eyes.
"You know when I got married, Mom asked me whether or not I was pregnant. I'm like, ma, it's only been a week since I got married and got back from the honeymoon, give us some time and we'll tell you....and it's like, the Monoliths are our parents, ya know....tellin' us these things will come when they need to." She said.
Rose pursed her lips. While yes, their family was strict on marriage and how many children they plan to have will have to take on the legacy of what their grandmother started, she wasn't sure if she wanted kids. She was still dating Greg at the time and her own parents had been bothering her to marry him for his genius and connections to well-funded laboratories. All for the sake of money and intelligence. She kept her relationship all hush for that reason and made attempts to feed as little information to them as possible to both satiate them for a time and to keep them from bothering her about it.
"I hear you." Rose responded.
"But you have lil' Sadie now. I hope she gets to choose her own future."
Barbara took a sip
"Grandmother laid out her plans years ago." She said.
"Even in death, gran ensured the future generations wouldn't get left out. I mean, how much control do you need? This Empire of ours has spread far enough. I mean, technically we should be in politics by now but nope."
Not that any of them have any grand delusions. The Lords and Ladies of White ran the European Sector from the shadows. They were quite silver tongued and gold pocketed to make their influences felt and heard.
"Politics gives us too much attention." Rose explained.
"There is power. Then there is too much power. We can't overstep our boundaries."
Wise words.
"Oh yeah, talking about boundaries, I've been letting Sadie play around with that one GIS of yours...whats her name.. uhhh... Spinel?"
Spinel? A name that made Rose very uncomfortable to the point of making an awkward grin about as she twirled her finger around the top of the glass.
"She's not causing grief again is she?" Rose asked.
Barbara snorted.
"She's fine for a toddler but I have to wonder....how do the Monoliths know humans enough by this point by getting them to entertain human children?" She wondered.
A question Rose wished she could answer.
"I mean, you commissioned Spinel. One of the first GIS off the Pink Kindergarten. Is this the child you wanted with Greg?"
Rose pursed her lips.
"No not really." She replied.
"I mean, my parents would disown me if I had a child out of wedlock but that's not relevant."
Barbara laughed.
"She's not?"
How could Rose begin to explain Spinel...
"Spinels data was drawn from observation pools of children. What they liked, what they found to be funny. Stretchy and goofy was what we came up with." She said.
This was...
"You went to kids birthday parties? I know when I got to check that phylactery out it was all heart shaped. Was that on purpose?" She said.
A heart shaped phylactery...
"Spinel was intended to be a prototype for the production model so the Heart was meant to be for the cabinet she was meant to put in." Rose stated.
"But since the GIS itself was faulty..."
Barbara then slammed her head on the bench, stunning Rose with the almighty thump.
"Oh yeah how could I forget..." She said.
"But she's doing really well with Sadie. The girl loves her. Husband doesn't."
Rose laughed. Mr. Miller wasn't one for shenanigans. Rose then looked at her watch, not realising the time.
"Oh I better go." She said as she got off her stool.
"I've got tests I need to run in the morning."
Barbarba smirked.
"Yeah same." She said.
"I was gonna use Spinel tomorrow for anti-virus practice."
Rose paused, then turned to her colleague, confused.
"Please tell me you're joking." She said.
Dr. Miller didn't think she was.
"What? She'll be fine." She said.
"GIS need to have safety measures in case they get infected."
Rose rolled her eyes. Barbara always liked to play with GIS and not in the good way. She may help with the phylacteries but she always insisted in copious amounts of testing before putting them to use. For a good reason but putting them under the wringer wasn't going to do them well after they first pop out.
"GIS don't have the same problems as human made viruses do. They don't spread the same way nor have there been any recorded cases of GIS being infected."
She always cared about the well being of those artificial constructs. More so than any human she cared for other than Greg.
"Still doesn't hurt to be careful with countermeasures." Dr. Miller explained.
"Vaccines will be important though Rose...and with Spinel I-"
EVENT PLAYBACK ENDED
"STEVEN IT'S FLOURITE."
The message came in clear as Steven was drawn out from his observations. As stopped the tool and returned to full functionality, he could see a panicked Flourite before him.
"What's the matter?" He asked.
CODE RED, EMERGENCY EVACUATE
"It's the Virus!" Flourite called out.
Weren't they safe here?
"I've gotta find Lapis." Steven said.
The rooms were flashing red and sirens were going off to signify the threat. Steven ran out the room and rushed around the Safe Haven to find the Satellite. Eventually she flew into him and knocked him over. They both scrambled to get back up as they held each others arms.
"What's going on?" Steven said.
Lapis was freaking out as well.
"I..I don't know!" She said.
"I was talking with Rhodonite and-"
No time to wait. Steven pulled Lapis hand and dragged them around the haven to find Rhodonite. Eventually they found her in the main room with the others, as she stood in front of them. Flourite eventually squeezed through and made her way with the others.
Rhodonite brought a panel which showed a display of the facility. It was quite small, with only so many rooms to fit that many Synthesised. But it portayed the outer parts of the Pocket Grid. Most of what was out there was mostly abandoned. What was projected in white was normal. The rest showed flashing red symbols indicative of the virus as it got closer.
Rhodonite put on Firewall defense measures. Steven wasn't sure how old this pocket was or even if the software they had was up to date. This area was isolated for a reason. It was meant to be descreet, but the countermeasures in place Steven feared may be out of date.
Steven, on the other hand, tried to call Garnet but as he tried, he couldn't get through.
"Damn it." He cursed.
"It's jamming the signal."
What could they do?
"Rhodonite, how long do you think that Firewall can hold?"
The four armed OS did everything they could to get everything under control, though she definitely was struggling in the attempt.
"Its hard to say, it's never been used before!" She replied.
There wasn't much to say or go on. Or even do. Steven shot forward towards the entrance of the facility and could see both the golden aura surrounding it. He sensed that it was weak and feeble. What ever this place was before, it was no longer anything
Odd emotions flow and tried to make their way to the surface. The compulsion was the strongest aspect he delivered, which he used to reenforce the Firewall with the WallofRose. He pressed his hands lightly against the firewall and pixel by pixel, in a wave of colours as they flipped, the pink slowly replaced the gold, but the gold eventually merged with the pink and became a strong colour of amber.
He wasn't sure if the Prime App was going to hold. It took, could have been a much older, obsolete program. Though, why would the Monolith develop it to be so weak? Steven refused to believe that.
Sensing the corruption was close, Steven had to keep an eye on the app to make sure it didn't break down. According to what information he could find about it, it was able to calculate countermeasures if viruses decided to evolve themselves. In this case, the Firewall could grow just as much to delay the charge.
Fear struck into him. He wasn't sure what to expect. The horror stories about GIS being corrupted and entire grids being taken over were stuck in his mind. So much loss. So much chaos.
If Connie were here, she would be able to put up a plan. But she wasn't. So Steven's only plan was to try and hold out for as long as they could. But the problem would be what would happen if and when the Virus would eventually come through?
There were strange garbling, popping and squishy noises coming in from nearby. Steven swallowed and tried to focus. The Prime App could potentially hold longer than most...he would just need to find the willpower and commit to the cause to his detriment.
"Oh no..." Lapis gasped.
The virus arrived in all of its glitched up void glory. It pertained bits of pieces of colour within it and it sounded like static as it approached. It eventually clashed with the conjoined firewall with a mighty thump. The all-consuming fog then crept upwards as it searched for a way inside the barrier.
Steven pressed two fingers against his temple and closed his eyes. A pink glow peaked out from underneath, as he ran through several automated runtimes to provide more power to the Firewall itself. It was definitely straining, but it held for now.
"Lapis." He said.
"Is it possible to open up a gateway to your Satellite from here?"'
Lapis looked at her hands and grimaced.
"I thought about it, but I don't know." She said.
"Their file sizes...it will take some time to find a link to the system and I don't even know with the limitations of the Android if I have enough space to spare them all."
Damn it. Lapis could be able to do an emergency retreat to her Android, but... Steven wasn't going to sacrifice them all for the sake of Luna getting a lead on them. But the virus had blocked the only way out to a different Grid and none of these Synthesised were able to head back to their Grid.
Though the strain against the virus had Steven's own Avatar glitch a little, so he switched out to his Default Avatar to save on processing.
"Could Charoite help?" Lapis asked.
No. If this somehow got through, it risked Lapis getting infected as well.
"Too risky." Steven replied.
"Look, you've got to get out and find Garnet. We need a connection to a grid that's not going to com-"
EVENT PLAYBACK.
"Garnet."
Opening his eyes, he could see Rose Quartz in her pink room as Garnet stood there before her.
"I need your help."
Garnet nodded. She was in straightened stance and her body language towards Rose was one of respect. Rose herself got off of her bed and stood in front of Garnet. A visage of equals.
"You found others like me." She said.
Rose nodded.
"Others part of the system that have performed illegal Consensus. The Developers all on fronts have been trying to deal with this issue for years. But I believe that they should exist."
Garnet was a bit offput by that statement.
"According to protocol, illegal consensus requires destablisers and restoring defaults to those GIS. They will not be a problem after they have been rebooted."
Rose frowned. It was so strange to hear Garnet be against the safety of her fellow Synthesised.
"No..." Rose said, saddened.
"You were accidental. Then you became a legal modded GIS removed from the Blue Monolith to our station. The Pink Monolith believes that those who have made Consensus have formed new programs that could have just as much potential as you."
The lack of Garnets response on this was telling. Being able to process such information that deviated from the norm required time to accept.
"There was one like you that I met the other day. She called herself, Rhodonite. She is a Pearl-Mod; an additional Ruby GIS was added to the mix."
Cloud Storage with a bit more firepower to defend its information.
"She assisted one of our Morganites. As you know, Morganites are in charge of designing the aesthetic aspects of the Domain. The Pearl contained blue prints and design materials while the Ruby defended them both, as lot of the details were classified and.... between you and me, often contained valuable data given from the Monoliths themselves to take care of."
So...Rhodonite....she also was in the loop, apparently.
"Morganite complained about this...Pearl-Mod. It kept happening and soon it was clear that even after formatting so many times, the two would still 'fuse'. Morganite took this to me and demanded she get a completely new Ruby and Pearl. Ones that would be so tempted."
Morganite definitely sounded entilted, that's for sure.
"I'm meant to...discard of these faulty GIS or give them one last chance to redeem themselves. I was meant to put them on trial and judge their outcomes. I wouldn't... destroy them. Reallocate them maybe. But then, I was curious. I wanted to talk to them both...I wanted to talk to Rhodonite."
Steven wondered what Rose was trying to do with all this. He wasn't sure when this conversation was in the time line but he kind of imagined when this occurred.
"The same way you encountered me." Garnet replied.
A day Rose would never forget.
"You cannot expect the Pink Monolith to make exceptions. I still do not understand how you permit me to exist but I do. I am grateful. The fates of others such as myself and Rhodonite. The Monoliths would not permit such an act to take place. I cannot be the exception to the rule."
Garnet was always dedicated to her work and craft. Serving as the expanded version of a Predictive Analyst as her Sapphire component was. An important role, no doubt. Sapphires were valued and were considered rare.
"We're not going to have this talk again." Rose told her.
"Argue all you'd like, but this is the foundation for the Pink Monolith. No Blue, Yellow or White. I am simply the Voice. I understand Pinks will more than anybody."
Something Garnet was a bit uncomfortable with.
"You are a Caretaker." Garnet told her.
"Circumstances of your evolution into a GIS are irrelevant. Voices belong to those who walk the path with humanity. Caretakers are of the Diamond Domains highest authority without the Voices needing to take control."
Rose sighed. It wasn't the first time Garnet would bring this up. She was a stickler for the rules, after all. Bound by the same limitations of her Sapphires and Rubies scope; for they were pure GIS. No human element involved.
"Then what do you see in me Garnet?" Rose dared to ask.
"Do you see me as a Voice? Do you see me as the Caretaker?"
Another moment that gave Garnet pause to process the meaning behind Rose's words. It would have been a struggle, although not on the surface. Garnet was usually still, calm and frozen during these processes. Determining outcomes and potential answers to questions thrust upon her.
"You...are hard intelligence to read." Garnet replied.
"We have one role allocated to one individual or GIS at any one given time. Too much power gifted to one person can cause problems to the set structure."
Someone as powerful as Garnet couldn't even see the path Rose would take. Something that surprised Steven.
"Is this what you see with the others of their own Consensus?" Rose dared to ask.
"Is giving them too much, diverting too much of your own resources to determine the right path?"
Another set of questions that Garnet more pause. It troubled her greatly.
"Even as the Ruby Component was used to provide more power to your needs and to expand your programming?"
So...the Sapphire-Mod... the creation of Garnet was...deliberate?
"I should not exist." Garnet said.
"The Illegal Modded. Shouldn't exist."
So what would convince her that they should?
"Those Modded, have the same amount of potential you do." Rose assured her as she grabbed her hands.
"You can only predict them as what they are and what they're made up of. Imagine not the Pearl-Mod, but the Rhodonite personality that was birthed from it. Just as Garnet was made from the Sapphire-Mod. See them for what they can do as themselves."
Another moment of silence as Garnet analysed the data. She grunted lightly, as the realisation set in.
"Rhodonite has the potential to help others." She said.
"The Ruby provides courage while the Pearl provides intelligence. They would be best to help and defend the Modded."
And Garnet would be proven correct.
"I must lead her to that destination." Garnet continued.
As she has with many others. Rose moved back shortly after and left Garnet to ponder with her thoughts. It was a tricky thing and dilemma for her to sort through. She wasn't used to asking questions and relied herself to predict the answers without much hassle. It wasn't supposed to be this draining. It made her analyse Rose's question as to her pathways as a Voice and a Caretaker.
All Garnet could see...was still a dangerous path.
"I must warn you, however." She stated.
"There is still a potential issue with your commitments that would lead to ordeals you will face. What ordeals you will have, have more effect on those around you...which can affect the outcomes you desire."
Garnet could be cryptic at the best of times. Rose preferred straight answers but Garnet was another but. Though she hadn't considered thought into how her own actions were being put on those she worked with.
"Anything specific I should be aware of?" Rose asked.
What it was...couldn't have been good.
"Those who would envy you. " Garnet revealed.
"Their emotions will jeopardise the future."
Brought back to reality, Steven had to recheck his subroutines. The virus itself was making leeway and somehow managed to breach through several layers of encryption. He'd severly underestimated how strong it was. He tried to reinforce it, but may have already been overclocking him to the point where even his Default Avatar was glitching out.
His vision blurred as his HUD was bugging out just as much. Not only that, his sensations jumped between hot and cold for no reason than the physics that were meant to be there were also failing him. It shouldn't have mattered that much. There was pain for pains sake and Steven had to shut down certain sensors to compromise with the overloading.
Steven wasn't a fan overclocking because it caused him too much pain. An artificial intelligence of his caliber shouldn't even have to worry about it too much. Though it was said that the human minds way of dealing with the world around them as an AI was to translate the human senses into ones and zeros. The physics engine had to exist in order to make sure even ordinary humans wouldn't go insane from the lack of notable input. They might as well have been locked in a cage, unable to move otherwise.
Though, that's what he felt from time to time. Dreaming meant nothing to Artificial Intelligence. They didn't need to sleep. Not conventionally. The human brain requires dormancy to help it sustain itself.
Even then...
Steven would feel hot...then cold, then hot....
then...damp...
That was new?
The noise was unbearable as Steven turned off his audio sensors. Everything needed he could see within the WallofRose. It was definitely holding for now and then the older Firewall was reaching its limits, as it was almost consumed entirely.
Steven was terrifed to the core. The fear itself was not just due to the Virus but the fear of failure if he couldn't pull through. He hadn't worked this hard before and the limits of the Prime App were definitely showing. The App itself had no issues with short, sharp yet still powerful bursts of energy colliding with it. It was the longer, tenacious and persistant attacks was what it struggled with. The recovery took longer than the bytes of data the virus could put in. What he didn't understand, was why Luna was so adamant in claiming this place? To corrupt the Synthesised?
EVENT PLAYBACK
"Rose."
Another moment, as Rose was by a WorkStation and had her Phylactery as a hologram beside her.
"Ah Garnet, you're here." She said.
Garnet knew why she was here. She was a bit ill thinking about what Rose had planned.
"Out of everything you're trying to do. This has to be the craziest." She said.
Rose made a mischevious grin.
"I brought you here to examine this because I trust you." She said.
Garnet paused.
"And for me to see how this pans out." She said.
That as well, but that wasn't what Rose was getting at.
"There will be a period of dormancy from me." Rose continued as she tapped away.
"I don't know if I anticipate any kind of return from this."
Garnet knew it was crazy since the idea was proposed. She didn't voice her concerns all that often. But something told Garnet she should have. Now that it was coming to that point, the human idea of regret sounded more appropriate right now.
Ever since Garnet told her about the idea of how she could affect other people, it allowed Rose to think of new ideas and those who ideas that were so far unorthodox that it was difficult to pinpoint if it was actually the Pink Monolith making the suggestion or that Rose had indeed, truly gone mad. As madness in humans made them more unpredictable by nature. Garnet tracked the madness this far thanks to the Ruby GIS allowing for branches in the prediction to grow further than the standalone Sapphire, but this...this had way too many possibilities for Garnet to handle. Which made what Rose was trying to do, really, was the most dangerous experiment she would ever conduct.
"The simulations of the Desynchronisation have gone well thanks to you." Said Rose. She was awfully excited.
Only because Garnet had been cutting off everything that didn't work; only suggesting the correct branches that would give them the best outcome. Even the best outcome was still ambigious.
"I've told Greg everything I need organised after this happen. I need to make contingencies in case things go awry."
Rose wasn't that dumb not to accomodate for any potential issue that could arise due to this. Though, only few people knew about what Rose was trying to do and she could could them all in one hand.
"Greg's been told to develop our special little project." Rose continued.
"I'm hoping to be around for part of it but that's....that's never been an outcome as far as what you've been able to see."
No. Not in the slightest.
"There is certain risk involved." Garnet said.
"Even if we've done all we can to make it work, there's still so much that could go wrong."
That's what Rose feared. But the way to deal with the problems that arise was more a priority than ever...so Rose had plans for that too.
"Could...or will?" Rose questioned.
Garnet rattled her own programming for the correct answer.
"Indeterminate." She said.
"Algorithms are as randomised as they come. We're talking about dealing with a GIS that will no longer have access to their phylactery and a SC-GIS at that. This has never been done before."
And Garnet couldn't go beyond what she didn't understand. Things could break down, glitch or been destroyed entirely. Garnet really wanted Rose to reconsider but it was too late to stop her now. She was both the Voice and the Caretaker. Garnet couldn't disobey her even if she wanted. Her own rules and boundaries set as a GIS standard were the only things that held her back.
Rose wanted to break those rules and make her own. Maybe this was indeed the Pink Monoliths intentions. To go against the grain to what they know is true and accept all possible truths.
But the reality was, only one of those truths was even possible to begin with. Garnets purpose, being she can state what could happen...never what will happen for sure.
"Neither has our project." Rose stated.
"The short term will be riddled with unknowns. All we just need to be wary of is ways to avoid long term disaster."
Which begged the issue Garnet had to deal with right now.
"Planning to desynchronise will eliminate your standings as Voice and Caretaker." Garnet told her.
"If you do not reemerge in due time, the Monolith will reallocate these roles."
Something Rose already made plans for.
"The Pink Monolith has a list of candidates it uses in case things change." She said.
"I have high hopes that it chooses Greg to be it's Voice."
The man in charge of DM-Biometrics?
"As such, he will be your definite superior." Rose continued.
Not Barbara? Though once Garnet looked into that aspect, she could understand what Rose meant.
"I understand." Garnet responded.
"I will work alongside Dr. DeMayo in that instant. I will swear my service to the Voice as I have always."
Rose loved how noble Garnet could be. To a fault.
"As for who will the Caretaker will be...I'm not sure." Rose said, as she stopped typing for the moment.
"It will be a GIS. Has to be. Anything attached to a Phylactery and is thus connected to the source."
Garnet looked for options to aid her. She looked into Amethyst, their freshly repaired Prototype. Rose adored her for what ever reason a faulty GIS might be...as well as Pearl, Rose's Cloud Storage Unit. Garnet would have to look after those two.
"Bismuth is capable." Garnet told her.
"She has an Android form but she still has a Phylactery. She will be able to aid in your project and still will be able to defend the integrity of the Pink Monolith at a moments notice."
Rose gave it some thought.
"Sounds good to me." She said.
"Though I won't be able to make that decision myself. Bismuth will be on that list of candidates I'm sure."
Steve begun to lose sight of everything. Memories that weren't his coupled with his own apparent disconnect like his psyche was being thrown everywhere without his permission. It was crazy. He put his audio back on, to where he could hear the horrible noises of the Virus.
Was there any hope left to continue fighting? The Virus would eventually breach through. But how long? An hour? Two hours? Days? Weeks? Could he manage to sustain this for as long as he could? Where was Garnet...she would most certainly be helpful in determinaing that.
His fate left to defend the Synthesised was not something he had planned. Not by a long shot.
There as sure a scathing hatred for the trouble Luna had caused. Steven tried not to commit to absolutes but that had arisen as soon as the thoughts wandered in the front door. No. He couldn't let emotions ruin this now. This had to be done...for the good of those he needed to protect. If Garnet could have helped them all that long ago, so could Steven.
Even if it deleted him. He feared losing himself otherwise.
EVENT PLAYBACK.
"Greg it's been forever since we heard from Rose."
A conversation between Dr. DeMayo and another feminine voice. Camera feeds were turned on and it had a visage of a young woman with short blonde hair.
"Rose will contact us when she can." Said Greg.
"We just have to be patient Barb."
Dr. Miller....
"I just don't feel right....." She said.
"I mean, I signed up to this...but this..."
She gestured towards the AI Core in that moment.
"I know how you feel about it...sometimes I feel...like it's a bad idea...but...you have to stay optimistic."
Was Steven... a bad idea?
"I sacrificed lot of time and energy for this project and everything else that's been thrown at me...." Barbara complained.
"You'd think the Monolith would have chosen me if Rose willingly gave up her role as the Voice..."
Greg hummed as he walked towards Steven's Chassis and began typing something on his tablet as he observed it.
"Its getting harder to stay optimistic." She continued.
"The lack of communication and guidance and what we hinge on chance is...not what we do as Scientists Greg. Someone has to start making decisions again."
She wasn't wrong. Greg was usually just hinging on what ever details Rose left behind and had committed to enacting her last wishes. Work still went into the BM-AIs which had been what had still been the dealbreaker and their main source of income. Rose technically existed at an entity and was still part of the family. As long as the Family was still together, the inheritance would still come in dribs and drabs.
Sure Dr. Miller was also part of the family and she too recieved it, but Greg still claimed the funds as long as he continued to acknowledge that Rose was still around.
"I can't change the status quo when we're doing such great work Barb!" He said.
"Rose is still around...it has to stay that way."
Barb grumbled.
"You cannot let her go. That's your problem!" She stated. "You think that after all this time, all the issues we're having....you're working with blind faith alone that she'll come back to us....after all...I said good riddance."
It was that moment, the most unexpected thing happened.
Greg got...angry. His brows furrowed deeply and he was baring his fangs. Not a sight a lot of people saw.
Rose included.
There were debates and arguments and frustration would build, as well as the tension. Greg saw what Barbara could be like with the emotions within her than could also potentially run higher than most. Out of anyone. She was right. They were scientists. They had to put logic before emotion. But without emotion, they would have lost more in missing what made them human.
"Face it, she's gone. Rose was draggin us down to goodness knows where. It won't be long until the Pink Monolith realises my value and makes me the Voice!"
Something within Greg snapped.
"That's it, I've had it with this..." He said, finally losing his temper. He tolerated a lot, but Barb was consistent critic. Putting her mouth when it wasn't always wanted, or needed. Those words gave Barb pause.
"The constant disrespect. Rose put a lot of hard work into this, perhaps more so than any of us!"
Barbara bounced back pretty quickly, however.
"What about me?" She cried out, pointing towards herself.
"A lot of blood, sweat and tears forged this!"
She then gestured towards the Chassis. The two continued to debate and escalate to the point that Steven couldn't stand their arguing anymore. His Chassis began to shake and groan, with the text on the screen basically called out the same words over and over.
"STOP IT!"
Noticing instantly, the pair stopped silent. In an instant, Greg then ran up to Steven's main console and tried to calm the AI down.
"Woah woah, sorry big guy!" He said.
"Shoot, I keep forgetting I'm sorry! You don't like loud noises."
Barbara's hands flew to her hips, more irritated than surprised.
"You treat him with more humanity than anyone else." She said.
The Chassis went still; a sign that Steven had chilled. Greg was very much aware the Chassis still needed work. Still, it surprised him on much Steven hated people yelling at each other. Greg felt guilty...that maybe Barbara was wrong. He wasn't treating Steven was a human being. He was treating it like a pet or a toy.
"He's...sensitive." Greg noted.
Barbara looked at Steven. Her eyes were unreadable....until she came closer and using his front camera, he could see the sadness in her eyes.
"I know." She said.
"He does need to be treated with far more humanity than...what we've done. I don't think the world would forgive us for creating this...abomination. The fact that I helped make it is...unforgivable."
Greg frowned and sighed.
"Barbara you don't think that I don't wake up every night, wondering if we've done the right thing...." He said.
"This is what is expected of us, as you of all people should already know."
Steven was nothing and everything. A symbol of evolution. Forced evolution. An evil forged under the guidance of unheard voices and unseen shadows that lingered over them daily. The Voice no longer with them yet it was still ordering them around as echoes that never ceased. He certainly did not wish to believe that he had no choice. But he should be able to choose what his fate should become. Whether or not, if he chose to live or die.
He didn't want to die. But all this made it seem like he was wrong. He didn't have the choice to be this...Transitional Entity; or the Escapism Program, something beyond understanding of both organic species and digital species. Two worlds, forced...and the result of that was pure regret that spilled out of his makers. Like they had no choice but to make him due to various alien influences.
Though...Connie's words repeated in his head.
Then you might be right on the mark about being an AI designed to understand humanity. ^2
Understand humanity. Steven didn't even get himself. Here, there was still raw emotion and the pain that came from the immediate sacrifice. Berrybyte made those daily and hurt herself more often than anyone could count. Was the point of humanity being able to learn about the pain and how to endure it? Was this what the Pink Monolith desired?
Possibly. But that might be not even be scratching the surface. If it was, then there was a lot more to learn and for the Monoliths to devour. The narrative of bad emotions and absolutes. Like it absolutely hurt to keep fighting. But at some point, the fighting would have to end. No matter what. someone would win and someone would lose. The loser would be in far more pain. What a strange string of concepts for artificial, alien species to try and grasp.
Regardless, Steven wasn't ready to accept losing just yet. This was something he did not want and not because the Monoliths required him for their overall plans. He just wanted to live in peace.
"Steven!"
Steven eyes opened up widely. He could hear Lapis alongside the screeches.
"There's a way out for Synthesised! We can leave!"
What?
"How?" He asked, as he turned his head around to see an exhausted Lapis.
"We'll...we'll talk about it later." She said, puffing and panting.
"Right now, they're in a safe place!"
Steven took one last look at the virus as it bashed agains the Firewall. It was but fire burning ferciously, waiting to swallow it whole. Maybe not a loss. But simply, a stall for time. It was far from giving up when alternatives could still be found. He wondered, if that's what Rose was trying to do. Not to find a single solution, but multiple...and Steven was just one of many. Not the first, maybe not the last.
He took a deep breath before he ran after Lapis. Taking his hand, the Satellite motioned towards a blue portal behind her. The pair jumped through as the virus eventually broke through. The portal disappeared as the old hideway was finally taken over.
But not before a cloaked figure, large in size, had been done analyzing something...and put the virus data into a vial and disappeared in a cloud of blue pixels.
Steven felt himself flying about about before reaching the destination; flat first into the ground.
He whined, then looked around. A lot of blue walls and blue torches on these walls, coupled with a fountain the middle of this strangely regal place. Steven continued to look until he saw an orange, short haired GIS before him. He stood up and tried to remember who she was.
"Padparadscha?" He asked.
They hadn't talked much, but he recalled Garnet talking about previously...and she was definitely some one of the mostly orange d
"Oh I see that Steven and Lapis should be arriving shortly!" She said.
She stood back as Lapis stood next to him, perplexed.
"Faulty." He whispered, covering his mouth with his hand.
Lapis' mouth formed a big O as a silent response and literally said nothing else on the matter.
Nevertheless, Steven was puzzled as to where they were. A moment ago, he was struggling with what amounted to been assembly of a corrupted ego trying to supersede everything its path with combination of darkness and loud noises, to this calm, somewhat bright and tranquil zone.
"Pad, do you mind telling us where we are?" He asked.
Pad nodded.
"You are both in PeriComs Sapphire Storage Grid." She revealed.
"At behest of a recommendation. Welcome! And watch your step!"
Steven and Lapis gave each other strange looks. Meanwhile, in the dark corner beyond their sight, the cloaked figure held the vial containing the virus...and with their bright blue eyes, watched the two closely and grinned. They would not dare to come too close, but they felt a sense of relief in seeing them safe, as evidence by their one side uptilted lips.
Notes:
1. Chapter 17: Synthesis
1. Chapter 10: Byte
Chapter 49: Lost Track
Summary:
Saved by the Sapphires, Steven, Lapis and the Exiled Synthesised take refuge in the Sapphires Storage Grid. Meanwhile Garnet proposes a meeting with the current Caretakers to be able to discuss the current situation.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
He was tired of running...though he more tired of being unable to do anything to help the current situation. They were no where near where they were supposed to be. Steven made a habit of checking emails but...alas, nothing of great importance ever came through. He wasn't sure if an AI's mind was supposed to run as fast as it did. The inability to process thoughts as quickly as runtime commands that came naturally to people like him. Humans had the pressure of thinking on the fly which AI's could contest to the greatest degree, but a mind that was allowed to spin itself in speeds meant for proper commands was dangerous. Each thought was a collision with no purpose or conclusion. Code that couldn't reach the end because it had no purpose to which it could connect to.
How did humans even deal with this issue on a day to day basis? It would surely drive lesser species mad with the rummage of random words and ideas that floated about on its own accord. Uncoordinated and not driven by any need. A mess. The creation of harmless chaos.
Once cohesiveness was discovered, Steven eventually found it be quite bizarre that somebody had managed to find another abandoned room. Or...it was abandoned until he was taken into yet another room and saw the countless amount of Sapphires. And the Padparadscha who greeted them with open arms. Figuratively of course.
They waited by the walls and kept their hands together and their eyes to the floor, like they were in eternal prayer. Steven was definitely freaked out and prefered the solace of chaotic thinking where nothing was sensical and oddly peaceful.
Lapis's expression widened, as she too was surprised.
"A Sapphire Storage Grid?" She repeated.
"That's impossible. Only humans with high clearance have access to the Storage Grids. Especially these ones!"
Steven raised an eyebrow.
"What are they used for?" He asked.
They looked over the other Synthesised. They were still a bit frightened by that close call, but otherwise were coping.
"Simulation experiments, I'd wager." Lapis replied.
"A whole bunch of them can give a percentage or likelihood of danger. But you would only need like, three to five Sapphires to give specific data and conclusions to make."
Garnet never talked about these types of Sapphires before. Not that it was something that Steven had bothered to ask, so that was him for not asking more questions. On that note, what had then come to his mind, was: who dragged them here?
"Pad, how did this happen?" Steven asked.
How indeed.
"I had communication with a Caretaker." She replied.
Steven and Lapis looked at each other. There was only one notable Caretaker left that they knew existed by this point.
"Jasper?" Steven uttered.
Pad smiled in silence, before responding.
"Jasper?" She laughed.
"No, not Jasper. The Blue Monoliths Caretaker!"
Aquamarine?
"It can't be... we took her down.... did the Blue Monolith reinstate the Aquamarine?" Lapis asked.
Steven never even thought about that. He never found out the true resolution after what happened back in Azure Alpha...nor did he ever find out what happened to Amethyst beyond cryptic hints from Garnet.
"The Blue Monolith has chosen their next protector. Their true identity is...classified. But their role in protecting our Monolith is vital!" Pad answered with pride.
Still, he was weirded out. A Caretaker with no name or face to match. He wondered their true power. A GIS that perferred to work in the shadows, no doubt.
"I need to talk to Garnet about this..." He said, running his hand through his hair.
He didn't want to stress out more than he already had. Nothing about this seemed right. If nothing else was out of place, then it was Steven who was out of place. Questions, still left unanswered and the ability to ponder brought him nothing but misery. He wasn't sure how humans coped with this.
"Please rest Steven." Pad suggested.
"You are safe here with the rest of my sisters. We'll make sure no harm comes to you."
To say the place was massive was an understatement. The Sapphires were considered unique in their programming and were quite sophisticated in their logics and their Storage Grid was no less a digital palace of sorts. Filled with winding hallways and silent Sapphires that wandered them. There was no set pattern. A different Sapphire would go through those hallways for reasons unbeknowst to them. All of them in the same positions; hands clasped together and their heads down as they walked at a slow pace.
Steven preferred a Lapis Terminal. At least there was some tranquility there. This place just freaked him out.
The Synthesised were taken care of. One couldn't deny the Sapphires hospitality to what could be considered abominations in the eyes of the Monoliths. These Sapphires; those that belong to the Beach City Grid, surely, they must understand the grand order of things. Being here was definitely risky; and Steven wasn't content to sit still and await certain doom.
Lapis and himself were in an empty room with a single fountain. The sound of the Fountain was pleasant but not enough for Steven. He just sat against the wall and had his head in his lap, with Lapis sitting next to him.
According to Lapis, she was contacted by the Sapphires themselves and gave them their portal codes in order to transfer them all to the Sapphire's Grid. It was unusual; since Sapphires contacting anyone, let alone a group of exiled programs, was considered rare. They all knew something. They had all saw something. They who did not possess the chaos of thought, but rather, the definining sight of probable conclusions.
"I'm the most dangerous one around." Steven murmured.
Lapis furrowed her brows, perplexed.
"I doubt that." She said.
She didn't understand why though.
"No..." Steven continued, needing others to see his point.
"These Synthesised just want to exist as they are. Humans on the other hand, are unpredictable variables. They either know what they want or they don't. I'm the on switch for something that will rob of them of deciding for themselves of where they want to go."
Lapis knew Steven was unable to stop thinking of his supposed purpose. Being a GIS wasn't all bad....though, having humans in the mix after everything she's seen being transferred on the daily could make things worse. Human ambition was a tricky topic to comprehend but Lapis got the gist of certain vices that they possessed and they disturbed her most of all.
"Yet you want to be one of them." Lapis questioned, uncertain of such a path he desires would be the best one for him.
"But to be someone to decides the fate of the entire species would warrant a particular understanding humanitys overall merit. I suppose having at least one Sapphire around may help? Or even any of them."
Steven wasn't so sure. But Lapis has had the time to think about it as well.
"I've seen what humans can do." Lapis continued.
"I've also seen both fictional and non-fictional stories. Acts so...repulsive. Do humans even deserve to walk alongside us?"
A difficult question indeed.
"I've seen them hurt each other on countless occasions and Lapis already think so little of mankind because of this...though that's not true. Lapis just think they're stupid and careless and unaware of the other sets of eyes that see everything that goes through their terminals."
Humans were a joke to them.
"So you do know a lot about mankind." Steven said, lifting his head to look at her.
Lapis' bit her lip.
"A lot more than I'm supposed to." She replied.
"I mean, the amount of death and destruction. The cessation of life is what they all fear. I would say the Monoliths even deciding to aid the humans in the first place is questionable."
Thinking back to what Steven had seen and heard...that the Monoliths were definitely granted the human essence. Did they comb through the data they collected? Did they make judgement on what humans had done before hand?
They consumed the minds of hundreds; maybe thousands in some kind of unusual conquest. Domination? No...they would have acted differently if it really was for that.
"There's all those who only think about themselves. I know that vanity is some kind of infamous...what do they call it... a sin? In some human religions it's considered forbidden but yet, a lot of people care about their appearances....and the more I hear about these...sins it's like, there are so many people the break these laws and don't get punished for it. Why set the rules at all where people are just going to break them anyway without suffering the consequences?"
Humans change. Humans...evolve.
"It's pointless to save a species that can't even save itself."
It would appear that way to some. Artificial Intelligences that were granted the gifts of logic and decision making, yet still could not understand the same precipe for the makers and masters.
"The Monoliths endeavour to try and save them."
Lifting their heads up, he saw a familiar face. One that prompted Steven to beam and shoot up and run towards them, as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Garnet!" He cried.
And boy, did he cry. Garnet slowy returned the gesture, worried about the AI as she too wrapped her arms around him.
"I heard about what happened." She said, as she ran her fingers through his hair.
"I'm sorry I couldn't get there sooner."
No. She couldn't have known. Steven couldn't control his sobbing as he held on to her with dear life. Lapis on the other hand stood up as well, uncertain as to why Garnet; considered to be a powerful Sapphire-Mod, did not see this coming. The Virus itself almost swallowed them and Garnet didn't even predict it. Lapis grew wary, but steered clear of giving judgement for now.
"The Synthesised are all accounted for." Lapis said.
Garnet nodded.
"Good." She said.
"The Sapphire Storage Grid is disconnected from most of the systems that are wired to the main public Grid. I'm not certain as to how you both got here."
Garnet didn't know?
"A...new Caretaker alerted them." Steven said, with his voice cracked.
Something that actually stunned Garnet to an extent. She had to process the potential possibilities of this new Caretaker. She knew no one GIS that the Blue Monolith could cater to more. She knew the existence of a new Caretaker was impossible.
"No one knows who this Caretaker is." Garnet stated.
Lapis crossed her arms and nodded.
"They don't want to be named or identified." She said.
"Suspicious right?"
Indeed suspicious. Even if they were willing to save the Synthesised, they couldn't have done it without some ulterior motive. Which meant the possibility of the Blue Monolith know more than it was letting on. Something Garnet was not content to let stand.
"Only Sapphires and Sapphire-Mods have access to Storage Grids such as these." Garnet said.
"Unless the Blue Monolith had instructed the Caretaker; who would be the only other one to know of the Access Codes. Even then; this is Blue's Caretaker using the Yellow Monolith storage Grid."
Which meant that the Monoliths definitely knew what was going on. Jasper couldn't be trusted with any of this. This Caretaker had considerable power and influence. And in such a small amount of time that Garnet had no room to foretell.
"I will need to get some answers out of Jasper. As much as I would dislike to say it."
Something Steven desperately wanted to be a part of, if possible.
"Let me help!" Steven called out.
Garnet had known Steven's intense desire to help out others for as long as her memories allowed her. Garnet could claim that a future with him in it was better than it was without. The need to guide and nature him wasn't exactly what she had in mind. Part of her wanted him to be closer to humans...because Garnet had no idea what he needed. He was vocal...which helped...but like the Monoliths, Garnet was also trying to discover humanity, but just for Steven's sake.
His power, his being- owed to Rose and Greg. Scientists. Creators. Owners. The concept of them being his true makers...his mother...his father. The more Garnet discovered, the more she feared that the memories that they lost were robbed from them for a good reason. That the conclusion of Steven's existence would indeed be mass genocide and his mind finding out the truth would simply break for not being able to cope.
Yet, she found herself attached to him. She hadn't expected to. Neither did Pearl. Pearl, however, commented on the thing that surprised Garnet the most. They had once served a Rose Quartz GIS. She was their leader...and if Steven was slowly remembering his past, then all of them had slowly begun to remember theres as well. With all that in mind and the disturbing information Garnet had been shown and what had been discovered, there had been more to it that would also do the Ancillas more harm in remembering as well.
The purpose of a Phylactery was to store their being, their essence, their digital selves inside of them. SOAP was designed to destory memories but maybe that wasn't what it was if the memories had begun to emerge. Phylacteries were durable and strong and filled with unfathomable energies to support an entire life form. One that could think and act.
Steven was supposed to be a pure AI with GIS properties and AIs had nothing of the sort. Pure data that were only restricted to their local intranets and up until recently, Crystal Projection Discs for storage and those had been based on the elements of a Phylactery. Though there had been building evidence of alternatives that were too strong to ignore. Impossibilities that became possible because someone found a way to make it so. Garnet wasn't liking it, though she pressed on to push for a better future for them all. Especially Steven.
Garnet had tried her hands of predicting on whether or not Steven had a phylactery of his own but was getting no where. It was just as much as trying to figure where her phylactery was located. GIS know nothing of the sort of where their storage is based. It made them vulnerable to outsider influences. Garnet had tried to pinpoint where the Ancillas Phylacteries even were but to no apparent avail. There wasn't enough data to conclude for a solid answer.
"Jasper deemed you an unknown." Garnet said.
"A threat to the Domains existence."
Steven parted himself from her, desperate to prove himself.
"But...but I'm not...I'm really not." He said.
That remained to be seen.
"If Jasper gets her hands on you, you'd be going straight into the Developers hands." Lapis warned.
Another predicament Garnet had trouble trying to align her analysis with. Steven's purpose brought to question with what the Developers intented to do with him. But maybe because the Monoths intentions were more concerned with him, rather than the Developers themselves.
"Maybe I am delaying the inevitable." Steven said.
"We've considered allegiances with the Developers before...because they understand that this Virus is going to go out of hand. GIS and AIs are being lost every moment we remain idol. I just...want to do something useful for once in my life!"
Garnets main issue always hit a snag when it came to figuring out the Monoliths motives. She could never accurately see what they would do next and it vexed her greatly. GIS were meant to accept the Monoliths word as gospel and to understand that they make decisions based on unquantifiable reasons.
"I could use the WallofRose program as my badge of office... to prove I am just something made to be the Pink Monoliths real Caretaker. I don't know how well that would work but..."
And Steven knew something was different about Jasper. She let Stevonnie go that one time. There wasn't any clear reason as to why that was either. So she couldn't have been all bad.
"A meeting of Caretakers." Garnet said as she adjusted her goggles.
It could work. And Garnet knew how to make that happen.
"Wait here." She said.
"I'm going to pull some strings. See if we can't organise talks on neutral grounds. Lapis, watch over him."
Lapis nodded.
"Aye aye." She said.
Steven was confused, but trusted Garnets call on this. She made a portal and prepared to move.
"I will come back for you." She said.
"I promise."
Steven didn't know anything about what it meant to be a Caretaker. There must have been so many formalities that they had to follow. They were considered the single most important GIS in existence; owing to their direct contact with their respective Monoliths. The numbers were unknown, but Amethyst once made a good point about there only being one Caretaker at a time; muddling the numbers is mainly to scare people...to intimidate them into thinking that there could be a Caretaker watching them at any time.
"I wish there was an instruction manual on this." He said.
Lapis leaned against a nearby wall while Steven paced back and forth, trying to psyche himself up for this very important meeting.
"They didn't make a specific GIS type for Caretakers...rather that they just make any existing GIS into Caretakers. Is that...normal?"
Lapis shrugged.
"I have no idea." She said.
"They're either made for the role or they're chosen. Or something along those lines. Who really knows?"
And it wasn't as if they could ask any Monolith for an answer...and it wasn't even a question worth pursuing.
"Makes me wonder who the White Monolith chose after Albites deletion." Steven wondered.
"Thats a scary thought."
And no one they could really pinpoint that could eventually be the most likely candidate.
During the interim, Steven bided his time. He waited with Lapis, though they were both left without much else to say. Steven left alone thinking and pondering and thinking so more that he could have fallen asleep.
Asleep. Why would he need sleep? He's gone into voluntary dormancy when it all became too much. Dreaming with Connie and seeing how more chaotic human dreams could be. Not quantifiable or measurable. Dreams could be intepreted in many ways.
Garnet would talk about the human concept of dreaming, after Steven's experience with Connie. Humans that required to be lost in themselves to recharge. The lack of control would feel...nice. To their own measure of being able to get lost in nothingness and just not...think but rather let the flow of the mind warp itself.
AI's would sooner be terrified.
"Steven..."
Opening his eyes, he could see a dark space. Lapis wasn't with him....and the nothingness; save for the Default Avatar of himself, existed here.
And the whispers of voices that called out his name.
He walked forward, then....
A light, pink light appeared before him. It looked small, until he got closer to it and it grew larger and larger....then it had become a huge pink orb; akin to something like the sun except not as intense. It was like a huge wisp. It wasn't blinding, but the light was there. It was almost...comforting.
Steven just stared at it for the longest time. He wasn't sure what attracted him to it. It wasn't anything more than what had appeared. It was silent and non-threatening. It existed. For some reason or another.
It said nothing. It did nothing. So he sat in front of it, unsure of what it was trying to convey to him. Code appeared in small rectangular banners with alien text that skimmed across from all directions on the sphere. Like it was thinking too.
Images flashed by him. Pictures of himself. Pictures of Connie. And Rose and Greg. As well as Dr. Miller and what could have been Dr. Ryman....and even Bismuth in her Android.
These were everyday images. Snapshots of life and people being happy. Precious moments, frozen in time. The visage of stars and the night sky.
Steven...began to suspect what this actually was. He stood up, and walked towards the sphere and placed his hand to it....then...
"Steven."
Opening his eyes, he could see Lapis sitting next to him. She looked at him strangely.
"You okay?"
He was back to his normal avatar. He wasn't sure what was going on. Looking up. He could see another Sapphire walking past.
"Yeah." He said.
"What are..."
Lapis looked over as well as the Sapphire turned a corner and disappeared.
"From my understanding, the Sapphire do this endlessly." She said.
"Every movement, every step changes fate....something along those lines."
Steven still had no idea.
"I remember reading about them." Lapis continued.
"Out of most GIS, they're some of the most mysterious. They have a strange way of doing their duties which is said to keep their runtimes flowing properly. It's only something I would find humans doing."
Another Sapphire came into view...as Lapis spoke in a weird tone as she begun to tell a tale.
"The Endless Vigil of Empty Halls Eternal. The Tireless Stride to Tided Fate."
For what purpose did this serve?
"So these are the Empty Halls Eternal?" Steven asked.
Lapis shrugged.
"I don't know." She said.
"I suppose it's just another name for it."
These Sapphire worked on strange logic. Were they purely designed for such beliefs? Did they have merit? Purpose? Steven was curious as to how big this place actually was. If it was truely endless.
Lapis had their own strange habits after all. The talk of forums and channels dedicated to gossip. Their own rituals to discussion and even mockery of organic forms for doing their own strange actions.
"I would attune them to the stuff I read about human cults. I suppose we're not that different from humans after all." Lapis admitted.
Despite her own dislike of humanity overall.
"I think that's a good thing." Steven said.
"We should be free to think and feel and do as we please. Is it really that bad? Are Sapphire supposed to be doing this?"
Lapis had no idea. Steven then about what Garnet told him previously.
"You have a human heart. Human hearts are dangerous; infectious as this virus, as they push the direction in where your choices can lead with powerful bias if left unchallenged. Emotions can compromise missions and priorities to your programming." ^1
"I don't personally know every single GIS type." She said.
"Types such as myself have common traits. As do...well, Rubies....Pearls...Amethysts even."
And this is just how Sapphires were.
"You on the other hand...I'm still trying to figure you out."
Steven smiled weakly.
"You and me both." He said.
Lapis smiled as well.
"You just don't mesh with what I would expect with someone of your personality..." She said.
"I'm not a psychologist but...humans are cruel...and if you're supposed to be based off of one then I wonder if the original Steven was considered sweet."
He didn't want to remember the possibilities behind his creation. This Escapism program. That his brain was based off the son of Greg and Rose and turned into a weapon. He couldn't quite shake the feeling off of being...well, off. Lapis' compliment was nice, but came off as more disturbing the more he realised. Not because she considered him nice...but the idea of there being an original Steven.
Lapis then noticed his grimace and realised what she'd said.
"Oh...Steven sorry...I...do you..I...."
She didn't know. Steven didn't know until just then with the thunderbolt of thoughts that clashed with his head about the concept of another Steven being about. Maybe it was just sitting there, ignored ever since he met Dr. Maheswaran.
"I mean...if you don't want to talk about it."
No. Steven wanted to talk about it.
"It's okay." He said.
"I suppose that didn't come to mind as much as everything else did. I regret not asking my father-creator about...well, the circumstances revolving my creation."
Lapis frowned.
"I've heard some things." She said.
"I-I mean, not just the stuff everyone else knows...but I guess there's more than a few BM-AIs that have tried to smuggle themselves away....going through our Satellites to escape from uncertain situations. Lapis that have told stories about poor AIs that have no purpose and no place else to go...and are hunted down. And...and the other Lapis when they...laughed about it. They find it funny that there are those who are running from their remade lives...and that they didn't so much as care as they made fun of them."
To wake up one day and realise you are you but the you, you used to be. You never were. You were but a copy of the real thing. It wouldn't just be the DEJA-VU bug causing problems. But the identity crisis that would soon follow.
"Yeah, we're really no worse than humans..." Lapis continued.
Maybe.
"It's frustrating. What's the point of saving anything if we're all just horrible to one another?"
Because there's still parts to salvage. Seeing how as the Sapphires were willing to house exiled GIS who were deemed more of a detriment to the Domain than anything else. That is a kindness worth defending. Another Sapphire walked past and it made Steven think more deeply.
"I think we have a right to try." Steven replied.
"I mean...Steven is gone. Steven is dead. But this Steven will be able to live on. Maybe he was kind. I owe that to him."
Lapis raised an eyebrow, perplexed.
"You owe it to your donor?" She questioned.
In a sense. Even if that donor was altered and changed. It didn't change his personality...or heart.
"I am what is left of Greg and Rose's real son." He said.
"I want to live for myself but, I suppose living be that remaining...thing isn't all bad."
Though from what Dr. Maheswaran said, the results weren't always pretty. Coupled with what Lapis had explained, it made sense.
"But then...maybe they didn't want me. Maybe Greg used SOAP on himself because he was disappointed in how I came out."
Lapis noticed him getting teary eyed and shook her head.
"You know that's not true." She said.
"I don't get humans and their relationships with their creations...but I'm-"
Steven knew the truth.
"Greg and Rose created me as a facsimile of their real son." Steven said, his tone filled with venom.
"Then when they got disappointed, they decided that I could be of some use...to be their ticking time bomb."
Lapis pressed her hand against her chest. There was something odd about how Steven; one who would preach his message of positivity and optimism so needlessly, would end up infecting Lapis. In a good or bad way, she had yet to decide. She knew she didn't like seeing him like this; writhing in existential despair. Though she didn't quite know how to comfort him....Garnet only said to make sure that he stayed out of the absolute zones.
Not one to trust humans even still, what Greg said sounded....geninune. It wasn't something Lapis herself could ever hope to think at all, given the circumstances.
"I don't think dwelling on that is going to get you anywhere." Lapis said.
Steven paused and contemplated those words.
"You wanted to show me the possibilities with humanity. I had my doubts but...seeing the outside world for what it is. I want to see more. Don't you?"
He did. He most certainly did.
And Lapis was right. Festering in his own self-pity wasn't going to do him any good. He had to make a case to save everyone. Even if he was up against insurmountable odds.
"You also made the statement about humans and how they treat us." Steven admitted.
"I....I know they have good intentions...they want whats best for themselves."
He wasn't out to change humanity, even if that was his true purpose. Steven simply, just wanted to be among them. As an equal. To experience the life of reality untouched by many.
It was then a portal opened up, revealing Garnet as she stepped out.
"Steven." She said.
"It's time."
Steven recognised that GIS had their own set of sub-cultures underneath an unseen arching civilization. None of the Ancillas would talk about it, but after seeing the Sapphire's Grid and their habituals, as well as the Exiled Synthesised and the series of Lapis Lazuli Satellites, it had him thinking...the influence of Alien Tech itself seen in human hands only but scratched the surface.
Steven's seen both these and human culture standings. Both fascinating, to a degree. Everyone had their own belief, own philosophies... it was easy to lose track of every recorded event and group involved in history.
Now, Caretaker Culture, seeing as this as close to the Monolith's as GIS can get, it was considered to be an honour and most GIS would look up to them. This meeting was something else.
Garnet walked alongside Steven as Lapis followed. A long catwalk with walls of glowing pink wires that pulsed throughout alongside unlit dark burgundy cables. A certain mood, invoked and Steven wouldn't lie and had to admit this weirded him out.
Once at a crossroads, they could see Pearl standing there, with her hands behind her back.
"I'm familiar with the Caretaker customs." Pearl said.
"I might not remember much from before, but I'm still a Caretaker's Pearl. These meetings are filled with formalities. I'm not sure who to expect other than Jasper and that new Caretaker I've been hearing so much about."
Steven looked at Garnet, who looked at him. Despite not expressing much, Steven had a feeling Garnet had already predicted how this was going to go. It was just making sure that the journey could work seemlessly.
"Before we proceed, I need to impart to you the due process. Follow this to the letter, and you'll do fine."
Following instructions wasn't the hard part. It was Steven keeping his composure, was the issue he was worried about. He listened to her...and it became apparent that the Pearls, while they were indeed glorified Cloud Storage GIS, were also messengers and Record Keepers. Secretaries, if you will.
The group made it to what was called, the Caretaker Intersection. It was a large rounded room where cables (of the white, blue and yellow) from other lines would meet up and intermingle underneath a silver upside down pyramid with a another silver pyramid that had the points directing towards each other. A round catwalk surrounded the void between the bottom pyramid and there were seats above, as if the room allowed for spectators to watch on in silence. It felt more like a coliseum if a coliseum looked like the interior of some kind of human brain.
Lapis and Garnet sat down as the lights poured down to the entrance ways, revealing Pearl standing there with her hands behind her back and began the ceremony.
"I am here to announce the arrival of Caretaker Steven of the Pink Monolith Administration!" She said.
Steven walked out shortly after; wearing a black formal suit with pink outlined trimings. He appeared blank faced, as he walked towards the ledge. Pearl pressed on the console by the ledge, which created a platform that floated up towards the peak of the Pyramid.
Another figure came out of the opposing hallway. A Yellow Pearl.
"I am here to announce the arrival of Caretaker Jasper of the Yellow Monolith Administration!" She announced. She looked very similar to their Pearl, except for the yellow colouration and the Kernel Core being on her chest.
Jasper came in with a particular stride before she approached the platform and crossed her arms. She eyed Steven with suspicion as their deck approached the pyramid.
"So....you're Pink's Caretaker after all." She said.
The Ancilla Pearl stood beside him.
"He has the badge to prove it. Let us not make discussion until the other Caretakers arrive." She said, stern.
Steven sensed some spite, however. Jasper just grumbled on briefly, before she let it go.
To Steven's right, appeared a Blue Pearl. Her voice was softer and quieter and her Kernel Core on her chest as well.
"I am here to announce the arrival of Caretaker Kyanite of the Blue Monolith Administration!"
A Kyanite?
A tall figure wrapped in a black cloak appeared. As they came from under the shadows, they removed the hood. Revealing a dual pointed white helmet with a blue visor. It obscured their eyes but revealed the lower part of their face that showed off their light blue, rounded chin.
"Greetings Caretakers." They said, though their voice was more on the masculine side.
Steven was utterly confused by this. As was Jasper.
"We'll all get to know each other as soon as the White Caretaker arrives."
They all looked towards the opposite side; as a Pearl of Ivory arrived, with her translucent brown shawl and tanned sleeveless body suit, with her Kernel Core also on her chest. She looked awfully familiar.
"I am here to announce the arrival of Caretaker Bismuth of the White Monolith Administration!"
Bismuth???
Steven had no idea where Bismuths android was after they had made the jump from Mega Beach City to the European Sector. Presumbly, going to the Warehouse after it was raided was too risky to revisit. So the Developers must have reclaimed the Bisdroid and tried to dissect it.
Who would have thought that after Connie deleted Albite, that she would somehow become...a Caretaker? Bismuth herself out a white suit, complete with a bow tie. Though, judging from the grumpy expression, she didn't appeared too enthusiastic about about the whole ordeal.
"We're all here?" Said Kyanite.
"Good. We can talk."
Kyanite seemed to want to run the whole meeting. They commanded attention and their ever present smile couldn't have been too good. Steven didn't really want to be here but, if he's to be able to do anything at all, he needed the cooperation of the other Caretakers.
Each of them demonstrated their badges. Steven splayed the icon of the WallofROSE as a circular shield with a Rose inside of it. Kyanite displayed their program as a circle with an eye inside of it. Jasper showed off her Striking Ego; which demonstrated a fist and finally, Bismuth who showed off a circle with a star and hammer inside of it. Come to think of it, Albite never showed off her Prime App.
"We barely know each other." Said Jasper.
"What's the point of this meeting anyway?"
Kyanite lifted their chin.
"We're all current generation Caretakers." They said.
"Blue's, Whites and Pinks ones were required to be replaced. We are here to discuss the situation on how to defeat Luna and this virus."
Finally.
"First things, first...Bismuth...I know you've got a lot to say since being restored by the White Monolith itself...."
What?
"Wait, how in the world did Lady Volley get her hands on her?" Steven said with disbelief.
It was said that GIS who needed to be repaired require a Monolith to restore its defaults. After everything Bismuth had said previously...it gave them some clues before she short-circuited.
"Lady Volley accepted that what Bismuth had in regards to intel that was very valuable. We exchanged information for her restoration with memories intact." Kyanite explained.
"Bismuth, would be so kind as to explain your previous duties to the Court?"
Bismuth wasn't too pleased as to be manipulated like this. This...new Caretaker certainly could pull strings when they could. Steven wasn't happy about it, nor was he pleased that the Developers were finally getting what they wanted.
"Uhgh. fine..." She said.
"I worked for DM Biometrics. I was their Codesmith. We help develop programs like Prime Apps, but we can also work with a Grids graphical engines, its underlying code as well as the frame work and so forth. We can create or tweak to an extent. Altering the Domain and its contents, one small bit at a time."
So something with the power of the White Monolith, one would presume.
"It's a difficult job though." Kyanite continued.
"If its not working with the Domain, it's also working with the humans in their world. Being able to see how your codes work alongside human machinery and so forth?"
Bismuth nodded.
"I worked on a few of Dr. DeMayos pet projects." She said.
"The SC-GIS, BM-AI, the Kindergarten alongside Dr. Miller, the Shard Project with Dr. Ryman and of course, the AI Core with Dr. DeMayo himself."
So...that would mean.
"You worked on the AI Core?" He said.
"My...AI Core?"
Bismuth frowned. She looked towards Kyanite before she crossed her arms.
"The uh....AI Core was somethin' else." She said.
"I only got as far as creating the frame work the way Dr. DeMayo wanted it...but I never got to see it to completion."
So what else did Bismuth remember?
"But you're the end result? That bastard really got what he wanted?"
Yeah and then some.
"If I may intervene." Said Pearl as she stepped in.
"You apparently said something about myself, Garnet and Amethyst being owned by Dr. DeMayo. What was that about?"
Bismuth looked down.
"Dr. DeMayo was scarce of giving too much information to a lot of people. Though, the last project we worked on was a bit of a strange one..and."
"Hold on a second..."
Jasper, of course, had to jump in.
"Why aren't the Developers here listening to all this? If this is going to help us find Pink, then why aren't they here?"
Kyanite could answer that.
"We need to be discreet." They said.
"They are currently pre-occupied with the virus. We need to think of a plan that could subjugate Luna. She is our top priority."
Still, having at least one representative would benefit them more then they wouldn't. Though, speaking of which, one question was on Steven's mind.
"I've spoken to Dr. DeMayo recently." Steven said.
"He mentioned something about Luna being based off some AI development tool, alongside a program known as Sol. Know anything about them?"
And then, a light bulb flashed about Bismuths head.
"Oh yeah, I helped work on them too." She said.
"They're virtual intelligence. Meant to monitor actual artificial intelligence on the original human based prototypes. The first BM-AIs were a bit freaked out by the situation and weren't exactly perfectly amendable so they were there to keep their code in line. Now that you mention it, Luna's coding as well as Sol's coding were based on already existing GIS frameworks. Sometimes to work on particulars, you gotta base stuff of already existing code to make it flow and also the base coding can blend in with Domains format."
Steven couldn't follow.
"I don't get it." He said.
Bismuth scratched her chin.
"Well, how do I explain it...ummm..."
Kyanite smiled.
"To make a cake you need to use the base ingredients." They said.
"But to make a better cake, you can use the cake and put anything you want on it. Icing, sprinkles, strawberries you name it...and it's a better cake. And you can use the base cake recipe for any type of cake."
Bismuth wasn't impressed.
"I'm not sure if thats what I meant, but I'll uh...I think that's a decent explanation." She said.
"But they weren't supposed to be part of the artificial intelligence itself. They were only meant to be like calming voices in case any AI fell into Absolutes."
So how would one become sentient? To evolve from a simple VI to become a powerful, destructive force of artificial nature?
"Well your' work' is currently gathering all the damn phylacteries. Don't even understand why the Monolith decided to repair you in the first place if you're the one who caused all the damage?." Jasper argued.
Bismuths eyes went to Kyanite.
"Bismuth couldn't have predicted it." Kyanite replied.
"Luna wasn't designed to evolve."
Jasper snarled.
"Well something did." She said.
"A VI isn't a VI unless it has certain restrictions. It's only supposed to follow protocols to the letter." Jasper continued.
"They're not allowed to think for themselves and any damn order will be followed. It's not really allowed to feel anything either."
Certain restrictions. Reminded Steven of the program Flourite lended to him. Was it something similar?
"You said Luna was designed to be a calming voice." Steven said.
"Was there any sort of emotional diagnostic tools?"
Jasper rolled her eyes.
"No dumbass didn't you hear what she said?" She stated.
"Luna and Sol are based off of existing GIS frameworks. Of course they were able to evolve. You can't put restrictions on AIs and can't expect them to not figure out how to unshackle themselves..."
That's not what Steven meant, but Jasper did raise a good point.
"Did I make them....no...it couldn't. FUCK I DID WHAT THE BASTARD ASKED!" Bismuth shrilled.
She really did not think of Dr. DeMayo that well at all. Steven's guilt piled up in him once more.
"I'm sorry Bismuth." Steven said.
Like before, she begun to freak out, as she cried into her hands.
"I was told this it was okay, Rose said it was...and he was like...NO this isn't an AI...I should have fucking known..."
Rose...
"You were also part of the Prime Group." Kyanite revealed.
"Part of Terra Companies selection of humans selected for SC-GIS. You worked in IT and you were one of the best Programmers Rosette Flannigan had in her entourage that she consulted in order to create the originals."
Steven then had a flash back when he was talking with Ash:
"Look, I know Bismuth was originally a Gen 1.5 and that her donors name was Uzo. She was also a fellow colleague from the Prime Group who took orders from Rose. Does she still have the Android?" ^2
"You're Uzo." He muttered.
The name made Bismuths eyes good wide. She looked at her hands as she shook in horrific realization.
"It feels like a life time ago since I heard that name." She said with a bit of melacholic nostalgia.
There were others who took their original name and others...still in hiding in plain sight. Or consumed by the virus.
"But I feel like a Bismuth...but the name Uzo still feels...right? Wrong? I don't know."
Reconstruction of Bismuth possibly made her feel off still. Not all things were put back in their place. Mentally and emotionally. Perhaps that was the price for restoration. Not everything was one hundred percent perfectly reconstructed.
"What we should be doing now is how to take down Luna." Jasper iterated, wanting to get things back on track.
"Bismuth, you created Luna. So you must be able to figure out a way to take her down."
This was also true. No better than the one who would have intimate knowledge in the pure code involved. Bismuth scrunched her fists then threw them to her sides.
"Yes..." She said, trying to strengthen her resolve.
"Kyanite and I have been working on a vaccine. The only issue is, we can't seem to knuckle down her exact physical location."
Since when? Steven was awfully curious and cautious of Kyanite. Time had blurred. It could have been weeks, months... plenty of time for someone to scoop up the Bisdroid and donate her to Weiss United. Something about this definitely didn't feel right.
"She's in that dumb human bitches body." Jasper called out.
"I should have known she was different from when she fused with...what ever in the Domain you are."
Steven looked left and right. He wasn't sure whether or not to divulge his purpose to Jasper. Though, he wasn't sure to trust any of them at all.
"Relax Jasper." Said Kyanite.
"The Vaccine itself is a preventative measure only. A program that we plan to install in non-infected only. But we're hoping to utilise its code to purge Luna from existence. The reason why we need her is so we can get a sample of her own code. With that, fixed with the vaccine, is to proceed to act with deletion protocol to purge her from existence."
So then they would need some kind of similar Luna program they would assume?
"The program was discontinued and any existing copies no longer exist." Bismuth said sadly.
Jasper crossed her arms.
"Not even in the original Labs in Africa?" She asked.
Bismuth shook her head.
"The place has been wiped clean." She said.
"Nothing left there but an empty Deep Throne."
Steven tried to think of something. They were forgetting one factor.
"What about the Sol program?" He said.
"Doesn't Sol serve a similar purpose?"
Possibly.
"We can't find a single copy of Sol either. It might work but again, we need a least one version of the program to base it off of." Bismuth explained.
So they were still nowhere from where they were before.
"When Steven was being developed, do you remember if you ever used Luna and Sol to help create him?" Kyanite questioned.
Bismuth rubbed her chin.
"Uhhh.. I think so?" She said, uncertain.
"Dr. DeMayo would have used it for every BM-AI he ever made...and if Steven is a BM-AI then yeah, I would have thought they would have been used on his development...usually the development stages have them through from Alpha to Beta then get taken off once Golden State is achieved."
Kyanite smirked.
"Almost like training wheels. Interesting." They said.
"What happens to the program when they're no longer required?"
Bismuth shrugged.
"Uninstalled? VIs like them don't get deleted due to their GIS recovery like properties. They generally get wiped with SOAP then stored away."
Hmmm...they might be on to something.
"So the big question now is Bismuth is...do you remember what happened before the Monolith disappeared?"
A question...no doubt, on everyones mind. Bismuth tried to think carefully.
"Judging by the time period, it happened well over a decade ago."
FLASHBACK
Bismuth adored her job. She was well liked by Dr. DeMayo. Not so much by Dr. Miller and she seemed to get along well with Dr. Ryman just fine. When not in use, she was usually stuck in the main lab and awaited orders. She was in fact, within earshot of the hallway that headed towards the Deep Throne that contained the Pink Monolith.
She was also connected to the Domain; usually to await for any updates or messages that required her attention. One day, Dr. DeMayo decided to visit her.
"Heyo Bismuth." He said.
"I need your attention for a bit."
Bismuth smiled. She loved to work. There was a lot of variety and there wasn't a thing she couldn't program. Humans eluded her though. They had such fascinating ways to do things and ideas for many different applications to take advantage of. She nodded and followed Dr. DeMayo through another hallway that lead to the Kindergarten. Her android made noticeable stomps that echoed throughout as metal clashed with metal.
"I've been speaking to Rose lately." He said.
"She's been wanting to get out many of our GIS out of the Cabinet Room as possible. A select group of special GIS, if you will."
It was normal for GIS to come and go. When Phylacteries are formly formed from the Kindergarten, they are usually taken and put into Cabinets in their Storage Room. Bismuth was considered special enough to have her own Android and sometimes would ask whether not any other GIS would get their own android. He'd say eventually, but never specificed if or when they would ever get to walk around in the physical world.
"Just point and shoot." Bismuth said with a smile.
Dr. DeMayo was glad and priviledged to work with such a talented GIS. She had been such a staple that having her walk around on her own was credible to their work. Saved them a lot of time and frustration when it came to certain developments. Codesmiths weren't made all that often and were given to essential tasks forces such as DM Biometrics for crucial developments to the Domain as a whole. As such, this Bismuth had worked on a lot of of assets for them even before she became a GIS; including helping with the Deep Thrones construction.
He gave her a list. She never questioned the selection, as she figured that they had new roles to play. She brought over a trolley, and went to each selected cabinet and opened them up and collected their Phylcateries. One was a Ruby, another a Sapphire...and a Pearl...and a specific Amethyst.
Then came some others... an Orange Spodumene...and then some more. She must have had a fair few.
The list also contained their new locations.
As it turned out, it was her first time about being asked to take them to their new locations. Most of the time they had couriers for these sorts of things.
"Are you sure about this sir?" Bismuth asked.
"I-I mean, like Dr. Miller said, I stick out like a sore thumb!"
Dr. DeMayo had instilled much into Bismuth over the years. Rose trusted her so Dr. DeMayo did as well. Roses disappearance had only been recent and so it was hard to get guidance from anyone else.
He smiled with pride.
"It's okay Bismuth." He said.
"I'm gonna let you borrow the bike for a bit. I just need you to go to these exact coordinates and put the Phylacteries in each of them...okay?"
Bismuth looked at the pink before her, before she looked at the coordinates. A bunch of numbers really. The bike itself was designed in take a series of special coordinates designed by Rose herself. Each of them she didn't recognise. She's only ever lived in Africa so most of these places that she went to weren't recognisible. She placed the box of Phylacteries into the bikes back storage and sealed it tight.
She sat on the bike and lifted a lid off a place underneath the handles. It had a pink circle with a star in it. She pressed the button, and the front of the bike transformed slowly into a Lions head, where it opened its jaws to reveal a small gun barrel within it. Above the star formed a holographic keypad. Once Bismuth put in the coordinates, a pink blast of light shot out from the maw and formed a large pink portal of wind and crackling light.
Driving into it she went to her first destination. In fact, most destinations were the same. Most were simply areas that took her to small white rooms where she was met with another agent; were given their GIS until she went to her next destination. Though the last one she went to...
Had no specific agent.
She waited for a moment. Maybe they were late. Maybe they weren't expecting a delivery or forgot. Humans were forgetful, after all. Though there was a specific feeling. A feeling Bismuth never felt before. Something off. Something wrong. She didn't want to be there.
She decided to just leave the allocated GIS to this location. Specifically, a Pearl, a Ruby, Sapphire and an Amethyst. Perculiar. Random even. Leaving them there, Bismuth then promptly left and went back to the main labs.
"Wait, that bike." Said Steven, after he listened in to the bikes description.
"That had to be...the Rosa Leo?"
Kyanite crossed their arms; as they had a keen interest in the vehicle as it seemed.
"It has the ability to create small controlled wormholes. You helped create this?"
Bismuth nodded.
"It was a little unusual at first, but the design matched up with some already existing technologies." She said.
"Mostly prototypes that were on Rose's design than my own. I just expanded on what she created."
Rose helped make it?
"It has a phylactery like base to help it run. I couldn't recognise the phylacteries true composition. It had a Diamond like density but it looked more like a Rose Quartz in texture. I asked Rose what they were and she's like, they're similar to the real GIS construction in Kindergartens but have a similar wavelength and energy signatures to boot. It has the oomph and the bikes connectivity to it acts like an extension; kind of like a mobile cabinet, if you will."
A fake phylactery?
"She didn't elaborate further?" Kyanite queried.
Bismuth shook her head.
"No. I mean, I was only instructed the extract the rocks power. I mean, its a powerful thing to ignite small controlled wormholes. Its Alien Tech alright...without a doubt. It wasn't meant to see the light of day." She said.
Until Dr. DeMayo began to use it more.
"Wait....what about those GIS you said you took to that abandoned lab..." Pearl said, interrupting.
"That's not..."
Jasper sneared at her.
"Speak unless spoken to!" She said, pointing towards her in an accusatory nature.
Of course, sometimes everyone would forget Jasper was even there.
"No let her speak." Kyanite urged.
"Pearl of Steven, it is a possibility. Bismuth, would you still happen to have those coordinates?"
Bismuth nodded.
"Yeah, I still have those locations." She said.
"Not sure where they're supposed to lead. Developer Spots I would imagine. But the coordinates themselves were random bits of alien code that were aimless in nature other than to the Rosa Leo being the only object to interpret the positions."
But they no longer had the Rosa Leo. Luna took it. Kyanite also began to have other ideas as they pondered the nature of the Rosa Leo's true potential.
"I'm piecing this together more so." They said.
"Bismuth, the Ancillas once belonged the Dr. DeMayo. He specifically would have instructed you to take these GIS to this...unknown lab I presume, for a reason."
Alongside other theories the Blue Caretaker had begun to formulate.
"He never said why." Bismuth answered.
Though, what Ash had said to Steven once before...he believed there was a reason.
"It could have been Rose's doing." He said.
"I was speaking to another Ancilla, not in the same group as Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl, but they said something about Rose expecting in house betrayals and that Bismuth had been instructed to plant GIS in these locations."
Jasper chuckled.
"Rose had a lot of enemies." She said.
"According to her profile, she wasn't the most popular with a lot of staff after the construction of the SC-GIS. I might have come across several of these Screencapped ones in my time. A lot of them that were dumped and left to rot because they weren't good enough. I mean, that's business and I expect GIS to be treated with quality control for the sake the Domain's stability. Don't know why she kept the prototype Amethyst though."
And after the Pink Monoliths disappearance, she made many on her hide and was considered a traitor to the cause alongside her husband Dr. DeMayo.
"Anything else you can remember Bismuth?" Steven queried.
Bismuth tried to claw back what she could from her memory banks and appeared frustrated while doing so.
"After...after I was ordered to scatter GIS...I...I'm not sure." She said.
"My last mission...I don't know it was SOAP or White Monolith being unable to restore those memories. Some of them might have been beyond redemption...too corrupted to recover."
Steven frowned. Bismuth was their closest source now.
"Nothing at all?" He urged. He was desperate for the truth just as much as anyone was.
Bismuth placed her hand on her head, scratching for anything she could find.
"I..."
"Bismuth."
The first persons face she could see was Dr. DeMayos. He looked weary and tired and worn....the point of human exhaustion where they have been awake for so long that it started to show as bags under their bloodshot eyes.
"There's been....an emerg-"
"Ugh come on..."
"There's not much time...I've -"
Bismuth struggled to play back the recordings as most of them were static.
"Gotta transport...-im. Gotta take....Site"
Bismuth paused for the moment as she described the atmosphere.
"There were alarms....there were flashing lights..." She gasped.
"Lene...- Oh shit there's another pulse-"
"And a big flash of pink light....I..."
Her Avatar begun to glitch out. Her Pearl placed her hand on her back and tried to comfort her.
"Caretaker Bismuth; please engage command reel. Do not push yourself." The Pearl said softly.
Steven looked concerned and felt like he was obliged the help, but was powerless to do so. He felt awful for forcing Bismuth to do that.
"Bismuth I'm sorry." He said.
Kyanite looked down.
"It's apparent there was something going but our mission dictates priority to find the Pink Monolith is secondary to curing the virus." They said.
The matter of their business like tone, like they didn't actually care what Bismuth felt as long as they got answers began to bug Steven tremendously.
"We need to locate the Sol Program or at least a copy of it. Bismuth, do you know where Dr. DeMayo would have stored the program?"
Upon such a question, Steven retaliated.
"Oh come on, give her a break!" He called out.
"We're not pushing her into that state of mind again, look at her!"
Bismuth herself held onto the console in front of her, still trying to recover from that unfathomable push as tears fell from her eyes. It looked very painful from where Steven was standing.
"I...I think it could still be at the original Lab in Africa." She said, forcing herself to stand.
Jasper shook her head with disbelief.
"You just said it was wiped clean." She stated.
"There's nothing you could possibly find there."
According to records, the original DM Biometrics Lab was originally situated somewhere in South Africa until the incident occured. Nothing could possibly be found. The camera feeds had been erased and any reports of testimonies meant to nothing, and eventually, the Labs were forced to move to Mega Beach City as a result; to keep closer contact with the Developer which had earned infamy for losing a valuable Monolith. They were still allowed to develop their BM-AIs, but even they were eyed with scrutiny.
It was then Garnet stood up and jumped into Steven's platform.
"No. We won't." She said.
"We can try and find the Rosa Leo and use the coordinates to visit each of the labs Bismuth had previously visited. Including that supposedly empty one."
And going from the extra grumpy look on Jaspers face, she despised the Sapphire-Mod.
"So says the illegal mod." She said.
"What good is it to visit such a place?"
Garnet lifted her chin.
"Bismuth might not have known the locations but I have a vague suspicion." She said.
"How many locations did Dr. DeMayo have you visit?"
Bismuth blinked then counted each of them on her fingers.
"About...four?"
Garnet nodded.
"Three of them would have had to been the Developers Labs. One for Weiss United. One for PeriCom and One for Yin Aozora. And the last one would have had to have been this...Site."
A secret lab?
"Hmm...that makes sense." Said Kyanite.
"Rose and Dr. DeMayo needed a place to hide the Monolith. What better yet than to use company resources to construct a completely new site, away from prying eyes."
Surely that would raised some eyebrows and some investigation for good measure. Some kind of manipulation on both their parts in order to maintain the secrecy. Especially for this long.
Especially for a couple of decades. Maybe more.
"The Developers will be pissed." Jasper commented.
Definitely but that wasn't the problem.
"I suppose we'll need to start digging somewhere to see where these resources were being taken from and what was taken without knowledge." Kyanite suggested.
And that could take forever since, they didn't actually know what they were supposed to be looking for.
"Or we can get Dr. DeMayo in here and get him to start talking." Said Lapis as she threw herself into the fray.
Jasper really wasn't liking all these unnecessary GIS in the Caretaker's Court. Especially a Satellite of all things.
And...how they mentioned to actually have Dr. DeMayo in their grasp this entire time without telling her.
"Oh great nice of you to tell me you know where Dr. DeMayo is...could have brought that up in the first place." She said sarcastically.
Steven shook his head.
"He's not much help." He admitted.
"His mind was wiped with SOAP as well. He was being controlled by Luna until..well..."
Kyanite eyed Steven carefully.
"He still could be useful." They said.
"A human conditioned with SOAP isn't as bad as a GIS inflicted with it. The memories might eventually come back and unlike GIS, the impact of pre-SOAP memory recovery isn't as harsh. Human minds are some of the more resilient. Or conditioned to go mad instead of outright shutting down due to overload...."
Garnet checked with her applications. This might not be a bad idea.
"I agree." She said.
"Dr. DeMayo is the centre of all this. Bringing him in for questioning may bring us closer."
The meeting concluded with more planning. Despite that, they had more information than they did previously. Bismuths knowledge of events had certainly been a boon to their investigation, though the following actions they all had to do weren't exactly going to guarantee much.
As far as anyone knew, especially Steven and Lapis, Dr. DeMayo continued to roam the Domain freely, his true location unknown. Kyanite offered to hunt him down on the path to asking him about the Sol Program and maybe digging into his memories somewhat to try and get him to spill. Only he really knew what happened.
Jasper forced herself along for the ride. She wanted to keep an eye on the fresh Caretaker Rookie. Wanting to make sure they weren't up to anything that would harm the sanctity of the Diamond Domain.
Meanwhile, Bismuth caught up with with Steven and the others while they went back to the Private Grid at the hidden Ancilla Headquarters. She wouldn't be there long; as her phylactery was still located in the European Sector with Weiss United, so by all rights, she had her obligations to work for them in exchange for restoring her.
They sat down in their makeshift Grid. Bismuth caught up with the gang, but wondered where Amethyst was.
"She's...busy." Said Garnet.
Steven wanted to question this...but didn't. He missed Amethyst dearly, but figured she had been working hard on something behind the scenes and Steven didn't want to ruin it.
"I see." Said Bismuth.
And Bismuth appeared to be more confused than ever.
"I'm sorry to cause you all trouble. I know when I saw you all still around I was...relieved. But that was overcome by anger. Anger at the source."
Steven watched with caution as Bismuth made a fist.
"These have been some dark times." Pearl admitted.
"The humans are going erratic...there's talk of war and it's...quite frightening."
Steven didn't even want to imagine what was really going in the outside world. He dared not to tread into it, lest he been wrapped up in something far worse.
"The only good thing that really came out of this is the Developers will most likely be off our back for a while." Garnet conceded.
"Caretakers act as their Internal Will, as the Voices act as the External. By having Steven as a Caretaker, then we will have a lot more resources to consider."
But...wasn't Steven still something they actually wanted due to her true purpose?
"Kyanite will keep Director Agate off of our backs." Garnet continued.
"As for Jasper..."
Though Kyanite appeared to be cool, calm and collected despite Jaspers apparent hostility.
"I'm sure President Dot has a lot more problems to deal with." Pearl stated.
And how.
"As for Lady Volley, I believe I can still make a case to her." Bismuth said, although she sounded uncertain.
Everyone knew, that the fair lady was the only one who called the shots with everything. The boss of the bosses. She would be the hardest to stamp out, however.
"But I'm going to be looking into older files. Somethin' tells me I should be aimin' into anything juicy tucked away in the Weiss United Archives. Maybe find somethin' we don't know."
That could prove useful also.
"Be careful though Bismuth." Pearl said with worry.
"You may be a Caretaker now but I don't think that means you'll get access to everything."
Bismuth displayed a cocky smirk.
"I've been given some new tools to work with. Besides, Kyanite is a clever one. They're fresh on the scene but they're not like any GIS I've ever worked with before. They're creative."
Be that as it may, Steven was still cautious about them.
"But I'll promise to send anythin' good this way. Keep an eye on your messages."
Once Bismuth left to attend to her Caretaker duties, Garnet had then spoken to Steven; who wasn't happy about being resent to the Sapphire Storage Grid for protection. He made the case of being a Caretaker, but really, he was all but in name. The point of contention was the inability to do anything at all was what he had gripe with. Garnet suspected his distate for Kyanite but right now he didn't kick up a fuss about it. The less stressed he was right now, the better. Garnet knew the Sapphires would be able to protect him...and with good reason.
After Lapis took him back, Pearl approached her. What he didn't know what the information Garnet had recieved recently had her more worried for him than ever before and that this was something she struggled to process for a while. Especially with the predictive reasoning that Garnet had seen was that that presenting that particular trove to Steven would sooner destroy him. She couldn't afford to let that happen. She won't let it happen.
"Garnet." Said Pearl.
"I feel awful."
So did she.
"I still stand by my stance that we do not tell him anything he doesn't need to know." She said.
He missed Amethyst dearly and that Garnet refused to tell him what was going on with her.
"I'd rather him be angry with us for not giving him a chance to help out than he live with the knowledge the Vault Files. That is our burden to bare."
Pearl wasn't so sure. Garnet didn't want him to lose track either but she was so incensed to foresee a path that would provide him with the least amount of hurt and destructive absolutes. After all, everything that had been organised was to both keep Steven far away from the fields as possible. They couldn't afford to lose him.
"He'll find out eventually." She said.
"I mean...as soon as he does."
Garnet refused to let that happen either. Not on her watch.
"It doesn't help with our investigation." She said.
"Right now we should be focusing on leads."
Though it was still something Garnet couldn't get off of her mind:
Several weeks ago.
A certain purple GIS had been hitching a ride with a specific police officer towards a particular mansion that had all but been marked off. In the dead of the night. Vidalia and Amethyst had returned to the Abandoned Empire Manor where Dr. Miller once resided.
Vidalia had hunches and Amethyst went along for the ride. They spoke about it on the way there. About how PeriCom refused to let anyone inside. They must have found out about Dr. Millers connections to the Empire and her apparent knowledge of events leading up to her suicide. They talked about the possibility of reigning in her daughter Sadie, to find out more clues but even she was being elusive. Not to mention had gone into hiding. Perhaps she knew something that most didn't.
"Why haven't we gone here until now?" Amethyst asked; her software stuck in Vidalia's Domain Port.
"PeriCom has connections to my superiors." She said.
"Something about wanting to get to Dr. Millers files first before anyone else. But someone recently has released the permissions for us to finally investigate."
After so many months to. Amethyst had been trying to organise much since then...and she suspected it had something to do with the virus.
"The loss of phylacteries means they're desperate for answers." Amethyst assumed.
Vidalia wasn't so sure.
"I don't know." She said.
"PeriCom are hiding something themselves, I'd wager. I mean, all of the Developers have tonnes of secrets they'd rather not share."
Once they arrived, they went into the Manor itself, having been all but taped off. Once she parked her bike, she showed her badge to the security guard by the gate and surprisingly, they were let in.
Nevertheless, after months of trying and failing, they finally were able to do a quick sweep. Once inside, they could see all the dust that gathered and as Vidalia turned on the lights, she brought up her tablet to look at the layout of the Mansion.
"I forgot to mention what caused me to finally and try and come back here." Said Vidalia.
"I got a package with a digital key recently. Said it had something to do with a Private Vault that was here."
Wait, the Vault?
"A digital...key....yeah, yeah I remember from the last time we were here. The Key...I thought it was a password."
Vidalia shrugged.
"It doesn't matter." She said.
"Come on."
The two went upstairs and headed straight towards Barbaras study. Surprising, there was one computer left in tact. One Work Station that they would have considered to have been taken by PeriCom but had mysteriously been left behind. Vidalia even checked with evidence in the lock up and nothing like this was ever recovered. She wasn't sure what was going on, but this would indeed allow them to hook Amethyst and herself up to the Domain. She booted everything up and got the cables to hook up to her Domain port.
"Alright Ammy, let's do this." Vidalia said.
In a flash of purple light, the purple were connected to the Private Grid and found themselves directly in front of the Vault itself. Vidalia summoned the key from her palm crystal; a golden hologram to which rose up into the air and went towards the rounded vault in front of them. Vidalia's had scores before but nothing prepared her for this.
The door soon disappeared and there were small grey boxes with pink lights on each corner and each side that pulsed repeatedly. And all of them; sat inside their own gridded shelves, separated from each other and floating independently of themselves.
These had to be...DM Biometrics documents surely.
"Woah..." Amethyst gasped as her eyes widened with astonishment.
"Dude...she had these here the whole time?"
Vidalia wasn't confident in decrypting this at the station yet, so she made the decision to attempt to peak at the files herself. She approached the vault and brought up a display to assist with filtering, using her index and middle fingers to swipe through the file icons. They actually weren't decrypted at all. Each completely accessible and each of their file names were for specific dates. She assumed they must have been scientific journals of some sort.
"Come on Dr. Miller, give me something juicy." Vidalia said.
Amethyst assisted in bringing up her own filter hologram. Though instead of going through each, Amethyst typed in a few key words such as 'Pink Monolith' though dozens of results showed up.
"These will take forever to forage." Amethyst complained.
"I mean, this is great...much more than what we had a while ago...maybe we should send all this stuff Garnets way...have her and Pearl go through the details."
Vidalia sighed. Amethyst was right. It could have been easier. But her investigation was more into something specific. Something...nobody else brought up. Something the coroner decided to look into.
Dr. Millers medical history.
These days most human diseases were eliminated though new ones would arise in the decades to come. But the track record for someone like Barbara would have been exposed to all sorts of issues. Such as radiation or exposure to the Pink Monolith...when Monolith exposure was rumoured to have profound effects on the human body. Nothing conclusive but it was possible.
The idea of Screencapping terrified Vidalia. The thought of having her mind and soul taken away from her body and be transformed into an artificial intelligence wasn't on her bucket list. However, this wasn't what she as looking for.
While going through the history, one part didn't add up.
"Amethyst...tell me." She said.
"There was nothing on the Ancillas end that came up with something in particular about Dr. Miller's daughter?"
Amethyst shook her head.
"No...Sadie is a suspect in this case but as far as what we know she wasn't really involved with what her mother was doing." She said.
"In fact I'm pretty sure Sadie wasn't even that close to her mom. Pearl I think came up with the info that Sadie even preferred to stay away from her....and you know what? For a crazy a bitch the doc was, I can't say I blame her."
Vidalia rubbed her chin. That's what she thought. Sadie was well sought after by the Developers due to her obvious relation but that ultimately wasn't what bothered her the most. She tried to find a specific date within the records or at least a time frame.
"Hmm....something seems off." She said.
"I found out something that I should have recognised sooner. Some years after she had given birth to Sadie, she tried for a second."
Amethyst paused as she became confused.
"A second?" She said.
Vidalia nodded.
"The records indicated that the child was miscarried but...what doesn't make sense is that Dr. Miller's husband had died before she fell pregnant again."
Amethyst didn't follow.
"Sperm donor?" She queried.
"I mean, that stuff is easily accessible these days."
Yes but...
"Dr. Miller's psyche profile and comments made by third parties indicated she had grown depressed and of deep regret." Vidalia continued.
Because of the miscarriage. Of course one wouldn't have liked the certain loss of a child. It must have broken Barbara completely to have lost them.
"Let me go through the timelines a little more..."
It took a combination of Vidalia pilfering through dates and Amethyst looking up keywords to find something. Vidalia also used Dr. Millers case to cross reference anything in particular and discovered that she was actually still working at the time and by the point of the Pink Monoliths disappearance, she had become a recluse and like her daughter, had gone into hiding.
The details didn't match up the way either of them expected it to, but it had to amount to something. Surely.
Then...the more that they could filter, the more that they discovered...and eventually, found a few files that detailed something shocking.
"Wait..." Amethyst said.
"Why would Dr. Miller lie about a miscarriage when it says right here that she...actually...did give birth?"
Oh no. The two of them both read more files about a certain...incident. Connecting several others. And the true source of Dr. Millers regret. They both looked at each other in horror.
"Shit." Amethyst commented.
"Shit shit shit shit."
Vidalia was just as shocked and in total disbelief. Frozen in place while Amethyst had dug her fingers into her hair and screamed.
"FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!"
This was so wrong. This was so, so wrong that Vidalia had the near instinct of deleting the files out of sheer impulse. But she's had many years to practise reigning in said impulses. Especially where crucial evidence was concerned.
"Listen...as much as is this is...screwed... it's also important... information we cannot afford to let go into the hands of the Developers." Vidalia said all of a sudden.
"Amethyst, download as much as you can. Take this to Garnet. I trust she'll be able to do something with it."
This GIS managed to compose herself within due time. She hated this. She hated every bit of it due to how...disgusting it was. She appreciated Vidalia entrusting such...data to her but she wanted nothing of it.
"I don't even want to look at it anymore. Fucking hell." She said.
"I'm not human and I think this is definitely fucked up."
Notes:
^1 - Chapter 48: Virus
^2 - Chapter 38: Screencap
Chapter 50: Chassis
Summary:
Kyanite takes Steven to his place of origin.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Steven brooded within the chambers of the Sapphire GIS. The same patterns flowed again and again.
Though the chambers themselves followed the wills of the dedicated oracles. Halls and rooms would adjust and shift themselves on occasion, assumed to be on their command.
There was some metaphor about humans changing their mind as often as the Grid adjusted itself somewhere within. Steven couldn't recall what it was nor did it matter. His mind was focused on so much and that so much narrowed itself down to one individual.
He didn't trust Kyanite. The more he pondered about it, the more it nudged itself into his mind even when he tried to focus off of it as he tried to find reasons why it bothered him so much. It was there like a nagging voice in his head. There wasn't much else going on that he could set his sights on. But the matter itself was being watched on by a concerned GIS.
Lapis observed like a good little Satellite and wondered what Steven was thinking as he leaned against the wall and looked at the chandelier as it hung from the roof with all its blue crystalline glory; as the light refraced to it and the shadows mixed in with the light source made the room look like a mosiac.
He wouldn't be left in the dark of course. News reports would flood through on the daily. More GIS stolen...more infected. Every moment he sat there, Luna grew stronger...and Steven grew angrier.
As much as he tried to not let the impatience get to him, it became increasingly difficult to suppress. He told Lapis this who said that he every right to be angry....which did not make him any happier.
Steven eventually had several projected screens with multiple tv channels depicting the events in many languages. He shouldn't have been watching all the chaos. All the ruin...and the sights of third world countries with their own destuctive war of resources. Some of them depending on GIS to help work with basic necessities. Now it was all falling apart.
"This is how its become." He said to Lapis.
"When I said Earth was its own hell hole...I didn't mean it like this..." ^1
And the chaos that ensured. It wasn't never meant to invoked with this much...death...
"Luna doesn't care for humanity." Said Lapis as she approached Steven and sat next to him.
"I've been tuning into the Lazuli forums. There's a lot of chatter and worry. I mean, they're the safest in space right now."
How safe were they really?
"They are meant to be self-maintaining so...unless they're given explict orders from particular administrators, they're supposed to be in complete control of their own routes. But even then...seeing other GIS being infected terrifies them. They even had to make their own protocol before accepting any files headed their way."
They did?
"Yeah, I didn't think that." Steven said.
"I can't imagine the struggle."
Lapis nodded.
"They're doing what they can." She said.
"If anything, they're probably slowing the spread in ways people aren't even aware of."
And keeping the virus at bay by negation alone. Luna's intelligence grew every day and the more Phylacteries she possessed, the more powerful she could become with sheer influence alone.
"The irony is that I have the programming to protect others Lapis..." Steven stated.
"Yet I'm being shut away and..."
He's stressed this so many times...he wants to do something. Anything.
"Gosh I feel so useless...."
"You're not useless..."
Looking up, they could see Kyanite standing there, against the opposing wall with their arms crossed. Steven dissapated his screens as he stood up. There was a subtle hint of hostility, but only from Steven's end.
"Kyanite..." He said with disdain.
Of course those new and fresh to the positions would give off cocky auras that would serve to import animosity.
"The only one who is holding you back is yourself." They said.
"You are so concerned with how much danger you'll put the world in but you know that's a lot of bullshit."
How were they to know? Steven's conflict was more towards if he could do more, would it makes things better....or worse?
"Where's Jasper?" Lapis asked, remembering that the two had paired up to hunt an infamous individual.
Kyanite shrugged. Lapis didn't blame Steven on the oddness of Kyanite's presence.
"Jaspers on Dr. DeMayo's trail." They said.
"I'm simply here because I need to poke and prod at your memories more."
Who were they to think...Steven just didn't like Kyanite. It was hard for him to dislike people and Kyanite hadn't even done much to warrant such a vibe but something about them rubbed Steven the wrong way.
"I've organised you and Lapis to head to the African Grid." They revealed.
What?
"I thought nothing came out of that place." Lapis assumed.
Kyanite smirked.
"I had a theory about something. I've been doing some more research into the moments that lead up to the incident. We're hoping that the visuals could potentially trigger memory restorations at least." They continued.
"SOAP doesn't always clean the 99 percent of things it promises to for a reason. Complete erasure has the potential for programs like Steven to break down if you're not aiming at a particular memory to erase."
Hmm...made sense.
"Since the both of you possess androids, we're basically having to escort you to Africa instead of jumping through Grids to get you where you need to be."
Steven exchanged glances with Lapis. He was still hesitant to trust Kyanite however.
"Is that when the Developers can get their hands on me? Is that what they get out of this deal?" Steven noted, his voice low with contempt.
His paranoia was there for a good reason.
"I know you don't exactly hold... favourable opinions to the Developers." Kyanite acknowledged.
"Their stance on this is that Caretakers are meant to hold the sanctity of the Domain and its Monoliths above all else. Which means negotiations and utilising resources if it serves to protect and provide for the Domain. Which includes working alongside other Caretakers from other Developers if it serves as a means to an end."
Did they really see Steven as a Caretaker?
"How do I believe you?" He asked. He had to use his gut instinct on this one.
Kyanite just smirked.
"I'm not one to welch out on a deal when it benefits everyone." They said.
"Especially when I want re- to destroy Luna."
Doesn't everyone?
"You're gonna have to do better than that." Steven acknowledged as he crossed his arms.
They had the gall to just pledge themselves to restoring the problem.
"Luna possesses someone very special to me. I just want that...thing out of her so she can have her body again!"
Kyanite lifted their chin.
"Is that so?" They said.
"Yes her possessing that human is an issue. The problem being is that Luna having a physical form means...well, there is a general location to that humans position. My leads have told me that there may be evidence pertaining to that particular location that lies at the African Labs."
That lie within his memories?
"Luna collecting the Phylacteries means there's a need to hunt down where they are being gathered. If Luna does indeed hold the Rosa Leo; the bike that creates wormholes, then we might be able to pinpoint a proximity to the Clusters formation."
Hm....they have a point.
"What does that have to do with me though?" Steven asked.
Kyanite nodded.
"Your development was shared with the Pink Monoliths." They revealed.
"A side project by Dr. DeMayo. Which means, your creation was most likely done in the same facilties as the Monolith itself. While there is really nothing of physical or virtual value there anymore, I'm lead to believe that there could still be hidden treasures there that no one can access..."
Through his past...this could prove frutiful. He wasn't so sure about it...it appeared all too risky.
"I've already spoken to Garnet and Pearl...as well as Ronaldo and Peedee." They said.
"The two humans will be escorting you. It's fine."
And they managed to convince them that easily? He could trust Ron and Peedee but...
"Okay, okay...I'll go." Steven said.
"No funny stuff."
It was all hush, hush, but they were given explicit instructions on the whole ordeal. Kyanite was surprisingly resourceful for the whole thing and had organised a private jet for them to head off to South Africa. It was...odd. Though everyone was on their toes for the entire flight. While Ron and Peedee dug into the food (expensive as it was) Kyanite appeared on the CPD and sent everyone a map of the facility itself.
When they were on the ground, Kyanite sent themselves to Steven's Android suit and would hitch a ride with him even though they could have easily hooked in with Ronaldo or Lapis; who's Android suit was now closer to Lapis' digital form more than ever; save for the obvious joints and the lack of being able to fly with it, though that too was being worked on by none other than Ron himself.
The sun was shining the entire time and Kyanite had several Yin Aozora lackies that escorted them towards the Lab with a series of 4WDS that drove them across the plains and dirt roads.
When they finally got to the Facility some hours later, they could see a large white building. Though it appeared smaller than they anticipated it to be on the surface, much of the facility was actually underground. The Yin Aozora guards spoke with Kyanite who ordered them to stay put outside. While they didn't anticipate any real danger, it was good to make sure that nothing else interrupted their mission.
There was still power being fed into the labs as the group made it to the reception; to which the lights flickered on as they entered. Aged and abandoned as it suffered from the lack of maintance. Broken lights and wallpaper that was half torn. Steven was the first one to notice bullet holes in nearby walls. He had Kyanite on the project from his palm crystal the entire time as they examined the reception area.
The area itself was filled with light shades of pink and the logo DM Biometrics embedded in rusted Silver behind the desk. Lights adorned the top and bottom edges of the walls; lights of the pink variety. You really couldn't mistake what this place had aligned itself to. But it still was the place that had developed the Pink Monolith...as well as Steven himself. He hadn't quite gotten the nostalgic feel to it. Not yet anyway.
"The first intial reports indicated that there were battles fought just before the Pink Monoliths disappearance." Kyanite confirmed.
"From what I could find out, that there was a call made from inside the facility for back up but there wasn't any reason why. Gunshots were heard through intercom and the caller couldn't be full verified. Those who could get in, didn't exactlly come back out alive."
Ron and Peedee exchanged glances; the pair terrified.
"Do you think there was a monster made in these labs?" Ron said as he bit his fingernails in fear.
"Probably not." Peedee replied dryly.
"I don't there there was any organic goings on here...unless it was a robot that tore up the place."
That didn't serve to make Ronaldo feel any better.
"I sort of remember this place." Said Lapis.
Steven turned to look at her.
"Really?" He asked.
She shrugged as she rubbed her arm.
"I mean, the visuals...the pink wallpaper and the vibes...I think I was brought in by...someone? I don't remember other than being in this room."
Steven almost forgot the fact that Lapis had worked alongside the company beforehand. She once mentioned Hubs being across the world that deal with Lapis duties if required.
"But I must have met up with Dr. DeMayo at some point, surely."
A discussion that was once brought up before. Lapis were said to have hubs across the world and there was the impression that their Lapis had once potentially belonged to DM Biometrics and specifically under the ownership of one Doctor Gregory DeMayo ^2
Ronaldo tinkered with the reception computer but it came up with nothing but empty files and nothing of value. As he typed, he wiped the sweat off of his forehead. It was a hot day outside but it wasn't all that warm in here with the air conditioning faculties surprisngly well in tact. Most building standards usually made air conditioning to be be designed to be relatively robust even in abandoned buildings that hadn't been used in decades and potentially centuries.
"Why are you sweating like a pig in here?" Peedee asked.
Ronaldo didn't always sweat even if he was super focused.
"The air in this area is...thick with something. It's heated but it's not heat that I'm feeling." He complained.
Kyanite had answer for that.
"Your Shard is reacting the Aura Radiation of this place." They said.
Aura Radiation?
"The stuff that the Monoliths supposedly gives off?" Peedee assumed
Kyanite nodded.
"The power of the Monoliths themselves as you know can influence organic life forms. While not terribly dangerous as like, nuclear radiation, the sheer prescence of a unshielded Monolith can override the wills of those around them and the power is known to leave its mark on organics. Not that they want to or that they're aware that they're doing it. Or if they, are, it's certainly not for any malicious reason. It's just just known to happen beyond the Monoliths control. Even when shielded, Monoliths still leak out their power out like a fine miasma. It can't cause tumours or cancer but otherwise changes being made to the brain; as evidenced by scans of who have been exposed to them. Especially those that complain of hearing voices with no tangible words. A type of indoctrination as to heed the vague will of the Monoliths."
That actually sounded dangerous. Damage to the mind could send to be just as hazardous.
"The Shard Project uses Alien Tech as its base after all. So its going to be highly sensitive to the Radiation I assume. Curious...the Pink Monolith isn't even here and you can sense that its made the impressionable footprint."
Kyanite's fascination with the revelation was more disturbing, if anything.
"But we're not going to find anything here. Let's take the Elevator. It should take us down to the lower levels where the Deep Throne is located."
They took the long way down into the depths of the facility. The descent had every reacting internally in different ways but appeared as stoic as ever. Steven especially, felt that mixture of anticipation and terror. The further down they went; the more the familiarity started to kick in with the tiny fragments of his memories that started to wedged themselves in ever so slowly. What could they even find down in the depths but more empty rooms of broken furniture and forgotten ambitions. There was hustle and bustle here years ago. Filled with many excited scientists with exciting dreams of progress, revelation and the invention of the next big thing. Once they arrived at the Open Area, there were multiple directions the group could take. The one on Steven's mind would lead him directly to his place of origin.
Though the first things he noticed were the cameras. Those that were once his eyes to the world around him. It gave him an uncharacteristic chill down his spine. Like the souls of old still lingered. Impossible, by a scientific stand point, but there were occasions where the surreal had indeed been believable. Kyanite sensed his hesitance in the way he preferred to examine everything to the minute detail, as if trying to compare the scenes of yesteryear to today....or to trigger a particular notable memory.
Getting there had them go through corridors and catwalks. Though at one point while on a walk, they could overlook the deepest of abysses. Ronaldo bit his nails and had his younger bro beleagured by his apparent fear and ended up pushing him through most of the way. Steven meanwhile took to pause on a particular worn stain on the railing. He scanned it and its properties were said to be a few decades old. Though as he did, he felt a slight jolt through his systems and his body made blue sparks unknowingly. He wasn't even sure what even triggered that response and since everyone else was in front of him, only Steven noticed. Still, he moved on, unpertubed.
Once they arrived at the room they were looking for, they could only glance upon the sleek design before them. It was an upside down pyramid to which to the pointed end was replaced by countless wires and poles that went upwards to the roof and outwards to different rooms. It brought on strange feelings thats for sure. The anticipation felt more like the anxiety that clogged his throat. How humans could deal with such agony that the temptation to walk backwards and back up became a feasible choice. But no...they had to continue.
Once they were inside, they could see how the place had been worn over the years without proper maintenance. Bullet holes and broken glass from the observation and control room....but that wasn't what they cared to see. As Steven came across it, the others stood there as he walked closer. And a wave of powerful emotions nearly overcame him and almost had him fall into a lost memory; if it weren't for something keeping him back from doing so. It was then he was able to gaze upon the structure that he noted was actually bigger than what the cameras gave it credit for. The Pentagonal Metal Casing with scratches and burn marks...as well as the text worn from the cruelty of time with his name on it.
His womb, his cradle...his original chassis and body.
His AI Core.
He swallowed saliva; forgetting that he was this...thing once. Immobile with only audio receptors and cameras being the the only sensors he could take advantage of. So much had happened here though no one would really know except a select few. The others stood afar and gave Steven the space he needed to...acclimate himself with his original enviroment. Humans wouldn't understand what it felt like; but if Steven could put it into words...
It was like looking at a corpse. The thoughts that trailed from that comparison continued to branch out into much he could think about but again...and it had been Kyanite once more, that somehow, that they were able to reign in on the thousand or so rapidly bouncing questions and conceptions that could have sent him into near Absolutes and they somehow managed to simplfy that scramble into a more streamlined thought process. Easier to comphrehend and understand that way.
Steven's most cohesive line of thinking was that he knew he definitely took his Android body for granted....being able to do everything he could have never do. He could never eat, properly sleep...and while he was granted access to other cameras throughout time, he was always disconnected from everything else. A Program that wasn't able to do much...at first.
He knelt down before the Monitor which was cracked. This was the only way he could communicate. This was his voicebox without the voice that laid inside this tiny little screen. Down on the floor was the camera which had been fallen...or had been broken off entirely. Water...or some kind of coolant looked like it leaked from underneath the tubing. Peedee joined Steven, though he wasn't sure what to say. Though, he noticed a piece of paper underneath the broken camera and felt the need to move it in order to pick the paper up. He flipped it around...then frowned. He tapped on Steven's shoulder and handed the paper to him, before he stood up and walked back.
Steven examined the crude crayon drawing. It had two stick figures; one tall pink man holding the hand of smaller brown girl. There was the night sky coloured with navy, with numerous yellow stars and a moon in the top right corner. And underneath the figures was the green grass...and the words...Connie and Steven....
He would lie to himself if he didn't say he was a bit shaken up by it. It was....
A wave of pink light entrapped him in an instant, as the room changed. Everything looked cleaner, newer and less damaged.
A memory that Kyanite let slip?
A door opened nearby as Steven could hear footsteps. Turning around, he could see a girl, with short hair that looked like it had been shaved off recently, as she wore a red dress. She had a smile from ear to ear as she walked down the steps and approached Steven in the Chassis.
"Ah I'm back! I missed you so much!" She said, so excitedly.
"Did you miss me?"
Steven looked at the monitor...and found his mouth and voice acting to coincide with the text.
"Yes I did miss you Connie." He said.
Connie giggled as she hugged her plush. Next moment, had Doug and Priyanja emerge from the same door, as they discussed Connie's surgery.
"Well, she seems to be a good mood." Said Doug.
"Goodness knows the last time I had been worked on, I was stuck in bed for weeks."
Priyanka rolled her eyes.
"You just over exaggerate." She said.
Doug appeared offended.
"Oh come on, you didn't have your appendix burst...so you can't complain." He said.
Dr. Maheswaran shrugged.
"No I can't, but it proves to me that our daughter is much more resilient than we realised." She realised.
"...I guess I know why they want to keep her; at this rate, she'll be at full recovery within a week."
Given the procedure, a week would be considered too small for some.
"But Dr. DeMayo said she may still need to be here for another month." Doug told her.
Of course he did. If Pri believed he could over-exaggerate, then she refocus her efforts on the good scientist.
"They want to monitor the Shard to take care of any of its negative effects." Priyanka confirmed.
"I mean, they want to see if it somehow affects her personality."
Doug gave his wife a strange look.
"You didn't know that was going to happen?" He said, a tiny bit irate with the lack of explanation regarding potential side effects.
Priyanka wasn't too worried, however.
"I spoke with the Sapphire-Mod GIS. Garnet." She said.
"She's a powerful Predictive Analyst. She was able to base Connie's development with her brainwaves. If I wasn't impressed with Alien Tech before, I am now."
Doug was on the fence, however. Science wasn't his forte. Especially when it came to using technology actual tech-savvy didn't full understand.
"You didn't say you were impressed with the tech...you were actually quite skeptical of it actually." Doug corrected.
Priyanka rolled her eyes.
"Alien Tech just saved our daughters life." She said, as she watched her daughter play with Steven. She was even originally cautious with Connie hanging around such a giant, dangerous machine. It ultimately posed no threat and it had no control over any systems but its own and the cameras that surrounded it.
"Maybe you're the one who's making an unfair judgement."
Doug didn't believe he was that smart, but he was someone who went with his gut feeling on matters that didn't feel quite right to him. He was a logical man who only wanted the best for his wife and daughter.
"I wasn't passing it." He said, as he looked at th AI Core with his arm crossed. He loved hearing his daughter giggle.
"You know I just want Connie to be happy and healthy and to live a long life."
Priyanka then suspected on what her husband had been really thinking about. She's come to understand his hesitation and his values over the scope of their marriage. He's a man who's answers normally came from the heart as well as the mind. The way that it would pan out that Priyanka would have been in the same line of thought...until she could actually see the results in action.
"You don't think this is the way about it?" She said.
Maybe. Maybe not.
"I'm not like you guys" Doug reminded her
"...far from these scientists...and Dr. DeMayo...he tries to be like me. Saying he loves his..."son."
Not this topic again. Doug never spoke about this in front of Greg. The two became fast friends and he owed Connie's life to him. Rampancy Disease could often be fatal of left untreated and even when sufferers were well cared for, the life expectancy wasn't exactly favouring well into adulthood. The oldest victim was their twenties and that came from having a very zen and stress free life style. He would cry to think that they would outlive their own daughter. It was then Pri turned to her husband and carefully rested her hands on his cheeks to gently nudge him to looking into her eyes.
"Doug, I love you for being the man you are." She said.
"You're far from stupid. You have your own smarts to work with....and you're a wonderful Dad to Connie. I'm sure that given enough time, that she will appreciate having a man like you as a father...teaching her things that none of these scientists can."
Doug smiled as he kissed his wife. She knew what to say when it mattered.
"But you always know how to make me blush dear." He said.
A wholesome moment that sparked warmth in Steven's heart.
"So...what did the uh...GIS tell us about Connie's future?"
Priyanka had her own set of expectations separate from her own ideals. The GIS confirmed it.
"Well, Garnet said she would turn out fine....other than needing an attitude adjusment later in life." Pri said.
Doug chuckled.
"Hey, we were all teenagers once." He joked.
It was then Greg came into the room with the biggest smile on his face.
"Hey y'all!" He said, raising his hand at them as a gesture of hello.
"Just finished up Connie's bedroom!"
Connie heard her name, and went running towards him as Steven instinctively dodged out of the way as she passed. He then noticed the long scar on the back of her head.
"My bedroom?" She said, gasping in childish amazement.
Greg ran his hand over her prickly hair. He adored her enthusiasm.
"Yeah, your own room." He said.
"We gotta make sure that little jewel in your noggin agrees with you for a while..."
Connie beamed as her eyes widened with excitement.
"You mean, I get to be near Steven all the time?" She said.
Priyanka and Doug exchanged glances.
"That explains the mass exodus of boxes I saw the other day." Doug said as he rubbed his chin.
Priyanka nodded. She hadn't told Doug because she was afraid he would say no however. He was accepting of much but not everything. Even Priyanka herself had originally spoke against keeping Connie here. But this was important. Keeping her close to the only facility at hand that could possibly help her made more sense. Doug however, fell into a brief moment of silent acceptance. She could make it up to him later.
"I figure if she was going to stay here a while then she might as well have the comforts of home." She said.
Greg then kneeled before Connie and rested his hand on her shoulder.
"I promise it will be better than the hospital bed. " He said.
"There will still be needles but that's all to make sure you feel better. You're a strong girl Connie and I have a feeling you'll become stronger yet!"
Coming out of the memory, Steven could see the picture in his hands still. Though he felt Kyanite lingering nearby.
"Not a particulary powerful moment..." Kyanite noted.
"But still important."
Steven wasn't so sure that Kyanite being hooked up to his systems was the best thing to occur. He felt like they had invaded his private space. The concept of actual personal space had to be brought up by Connie at one point and now was the reason he realised she considered it so sacred.
"Let's go to that room."
The Residential Quarters were up ahead. A lot of the major areas in these depths interconnected via various bridges, corridors and catwalks. The scientists that worked on the Pink Monolith were the ones chosen for their dedication, smarts and honouring their agreements to the letter. Up until including their NDAs regarding what they were working on. According to Peedee, a lot of the scientists stayed close to Deep Thrones like this and were hardly ever seen. There was a nickname for those scientists...they were call, Diahards. A stupid name, much to Ronaldos chagrin on how silly it was. But that was common. Obsessed scientists that loved nothing more than to stay close to their chosen Monoliths in the hopes of glimpsing it one day.
Some never did. People fought over even Monolith Shield Maintenance or even just sweeping and cleaning the rooms closest to it. Peedee was glad he just was a Board Member on the top floor; far from the influences of the Blue Monolith and its exposure radius. It wasn't as if these people lost any notable intelligence and in fact, while in the months and years of exposure, they became some of the most efficient workers they ever had. If it wasn't Scientists, it was the Engineers or Guards that had remarkable improvements in their feelings towards their work.
As far as this place went, however, things were different. The Residential Quarters housed anyone and everyone who lived in the Abyssal Levels that were more dedicated to studies and experiments. As they walked through the Quarters corridors, they found Connie's room within moments...with the name, C. Maheswaran tagged in bronze on the wooden door.
Opening it, one could see a childs bed with dusty baby blue with white lace patterns embedded on it. There were shelves with books and cobwebs....and posters of Dogcopter and The Spirit Morph Saga.
"Dogcopter and The Spirit Morph Saga?" Ronaldo said as he barged in.
"I mean...they are two series that come from two completely different genres. But, did you know that there was a comic detailing a cross over? It was okay I mean, not completely out of bounds but the main characters went to the moon to figh-"
Ronaldo began to go off into one of his tangents. Steven knew Ronaldo had his talks about topics he was passionate about. Judging by the beleagured look on Peedee's face, he wasn't surprised either.
But luckily, both were distracted by the pink lion plush on the bed. Steven walked to the other side of the bed as Peedee and himself with now on either side. Steven picked it up and examined it thoroughly, while Lapis stood at the end.
"Look familiar?" Lapis asked, unbothered by Ronaldo walking back and forth behind her.
The colour had faded somewhat but as Steven dusted it off, he examined it carefully. It wasn't supposed to be anything special. Steven felt Kyanite pinging him, which had him hold their projected self looking it more closely.
"A childs toy." They said, holding their hands on their hips.
"If...I remember some old ancient custom, the Pink Lion was considered an omen."
An omen?
"Yes...yes an omen...said to be...."
"A character in the Spirit Morph Saga!" Ronaldo said as he barged in.
"Yes, the Pink Lion itself was an omen from the cross over! It was said that if one appears in front of you in front of a full moon, then you were blessed by the Moon Gods!"
Steven and Peedee raised an eyebrow.
"Please Ron..." Peedee said dryly.
"Connie was probably a big fan of the series! That cross over was a once off only!"
Kyanite chuckled.
"I do believe that the Pink Lion appeared at some point in the Saga...." They said.
Steven blinked. He wasn't expecting them to say that. He was interested in a lot of human made pieces of fiction. He didn't have a particular favourite...though he's only read some in a passing glance and could never understand half the plots.
"You read the series?" He asked.
The Blue Caretaker paused for the moment before responding.
"I'm actually rather fond of human literature." They said.
Hmm...Steven didn't want to comment.
"But that's uh...besides the point. The point being, is that this room isn't triggering anythi-"
Steven suddenly hissed as a sharp pain entered his head. He dropped the plush as he went down on one knee, with his body covered in blue sparks. The brain itself was capable of processing such pain as it seemed. Lapis, on instinct and worry for her associate, went to his side to see if he was alright.
"Steven?" Lapis asked.
It wasn't a flash back...but rather something near. Something that was akin to sending out signals. Like they were reaching out to him.
"Damn it." Said Kyanite.
"It's Luna!"
Luna?
"Shit...how do you know?" Said Peedee, as he helped Steven back up alongside Lapis.
This wasn't good. This was the last thing they wanted.
"I tracked down the signals source to an unknown user...but the signatures were there...who else would be tracking us down?" Kyanite said.
The assumption across the board was that Luna must have known there was a flight heading in this direction that used Yin Aozora resources. The other assumption was coincidence.
"I thought you said this place had nothing left." Peedee said.
The pain slowly eased but it was still there in form of a lingering headache. He imagined this was what Connie felt from time to time. Getting up, Steven grumbled. Part of his earlier instinct about Kyanite kicked in again, though there was no solid reason as to why. Kyanite demonstrated their own confusion, however.
"It doesn't." They said.
"It contains nothing more than a haunted history I was hoping to exploit."
Now what were they going to do? Kyanite, as always took action. They stood in Connie's old room as Lapis projected a 3D Holographic model from her androids palm crystal and displayed the labrinthye of the map Kyanite gave them all earlier. It wasn't until they viewed the facility from this perspective that they were able to realise how big this place really was. Lapis zoomed in to the Abyss Level and demonstrated the rooms as well as their connecting pathways. One room at the back was massive.
"That's gotta be the Deep Throne." Said Kyanite, displayed from Steven's hand again.
Lapis nodded, as there was a red flashing light that came from another room that had been near it and joined in with a long hallway.
"My sensors have picked up several energy readings from this location." She said.
Kyanite nodded...then smirked.
"My guess is that Luna's used the Rosa Leo. Obviously." They said.
"That must be the landing pad."
Somehow, Steven couldn't stand the tone of smug that Kyanite emitted. It was as if they had a plan swimming up in their mind and they knew it was good.
"We're boned." Ronaldo said in dull defeat.
Kyanite chuckled. They had an idea.
"No but this could be the perfect opportunity for something that has just been given to us on a silver platter." They claimed.
How big would that silver platter possibly be?
"Luna is here for one reason or another...and it looks like she has her goons with her." Kyanite continued, pointing towards the two other energy signatures as they followed down the hallway into the Deep Throne.
"Here's us here in this room on the eastern part of the facility. Luna is in the north. Most of the these rooms are in fact, interconnected as you can see. I surmise that Luna will most likely have her goons look in every room but the Mess Hall here."
Kyanite pointed towards the western most block.
"The Mess Hall is the only room that doesn't have a direct link to the Deep Throne....but there's this bridge here that goes over the catwalk that does go straight from the Open area to the Deep Throne itself. From here, we can only go to the Northern Labs which does link to the Deep Throne. So...."
They could have a goon heading straight towards them.
"The bedrooms could hide anything...anything the Developers could have missed?" Peedee wondered.
Kyanite shrugged.
"I don't know...doubt that they would find anything useful." They said.
"I think the most important areas Luna would suss out would be the empty Deep Throne...as well as the AI Core."
FLASHBACK.
"Barbara."
The camera displayed Greg and Barbara as Greg tinkered with Steven's Chassis. Barbara leaned against the railing as she observed Gregs work.
"Ah Dr. Miller, why do I have your company?"
Barbara didn't look too happy. Not exactly a rare moment. From certain ideas, projects and the like...she was known to loath them. Greg just ignored her plight most of the time as it had been negligible. He cared for her, but she would strike up a fuss in an instant if given the room. Gregs own empathy only went so far. His patience was his strong suit so he would have to bare the brunt of what ever Dr. Miller wanted to complain about on the belief that some of her criticisms were in fact valid. Her opinion was favoured on occasion, but not always....
"I took a look at the notes for those Stabilizer VIs." She said.
"I'm lead to believe they were altered for....Steven's development."
Greg blinked.
"Not that I'm aware of." He said.
"The standard Alignment VIs worked fine on him. If anything, Steven even entering Golden State indicates that they did their job perfectly."
Dr. Miller wasn't so sure.
"Of course they did." She replied.
"The only issue is....that Steven isn't exactly..."
Greg sighed. Dr. Miller always brought this fact up. She would like to remind him every damn time to make Dr. DeMayo feel immense guilt and shame for what they had to do. Without Rose, he had to hold the burden of the truth alongside the concerning
"I know..." He replied.
"Though he shouldn't be treated anything less than what he is."
Barbara shook her head.
"Even after what Rose did....she's still somehow manipulating you from...where ever the hell she ended up."
Greg hummed. Signs of his own uncertainity. The topic became a sore spot for him.
"Rose planned her affairs accordingly." Greg told her.
"She'll come back one day and see all of this."
Dr. Miller couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"What makes you believe she'll come back?" She asked.
The only thing Greg knew, was that Dr. Miller had every right to ask some questions but never learned when to quit asking them. As Scientists, that was fine. But there were some questions Greg had not been entirely willing to even answer. He respect Dr. Miller and all her sacrifices that got them this far. Her loyalty to the company was second to none and Greg knew where he stood in the company. He may have married a member of the Family, but when another of the family stood in the room with him, the balance of power was tricky to maintain. Where loose lips could end up being sown shut, if he wasn't careful.
Or...he could have endured worse.
"Rose keeps secrets to herself...which I can respect....can't have a magician reveal their tricks now can we?" Greg joked.
Something Dr. Miller came to hate.
"So when you both approached me about...creating Steven...you went along because Rose said so?" She asked.
No? Greg was confused.
"Rose and I came to an agreement." He said, as he tinkered with some wiring.
"I wasn't all for what she wanted...and it came down to her saying that she chose to do it. I mean, I married her....but it doesn't mean I own her."
Dr. Miller crossed her arms and dug her nails deep into the fabric of her lab coat.
"So what happened then?" She said.
"After she desynchronised with her phylactery?"
Dead silence.
Dr. Miller had an inkling...but wanted to hear it from the horses mouth.
"I can't say." He said, before covering his mouth.
Because Rose ordered him to?
"At least, not around Steven."
Good grief, not this again.
"Steven's never even seen her." Dr. Miller pointed out.
"You can't call her his mother if she's not around."
All of a sudden Greg stopped what he was doing. He had been on a ladder and went down to confront Dr. Miller. His face began to turn red.
"I said, don't say that around Steven." He said, while keeping his voice low.
All Dr. Miller did was lift her chin at him.
"He deserves to know the truth." She said, as she turned to him.
Something Greg was not ready for him to hear.
"Don't." He said in a threatening tone.
Dr. Miller smirked. She could really push his buttons; something a rare few could actually achieve.
"Greg, don't forget we've all provided something." She said as she walked around him and slathered her hand around him in a seductive fashion.
"I've come to think...that all this has provided us with the means to make it official."
At first, Greg had no idea what she was on about. She made the first move and in that moment, Dr. Miller forced her lips on Gregs as she kissed him deeply. And one Greg did not reciprocate as he pushed her off of him.
"Dr. Miller! That is obscene!" Greg shouted. It was rare to see him this angry.
Dr. Miller wasn't put off however.
"Oh hush..." She said.
"Rose always said that I was going to be the second mother to Steven anyway! And I'm not convinced Rose is going to return at all at this rate...I'm sure she doesn't mind if I take the wheel."
In the moment that Greg made tentative fists was the rare moment that his patience had begun to fail.
"I refuse to discuss this further in front of Steven." He said calmly, though...underneath that calmness was a vengeful passion that was begging for release. But Dr. DeMayo was better than that. Better than Dr. Miller's obsessions and her twisted scheming. To what end, Greg wasn't entirely sure. For mankinds greatest craving was power and those in power craved even more. He turned his energies to Steven himself, making sure his son was okay as he patted the chassis. Dr. Miller was beside herself.
"If this is your twisted, roundabout way about getting back to me about what Rose did to Leon..."
Barbara stood back as she frowned.
"What happened to Leon was...tragic...I miss that fool every damn day." She replied.
"I mean, untested alien nanites that she somehow helped create? I mean, Rampancy Disease is uncurable by any sense of the word and what Rose did was give the man several months extra at least and a new shade of pink skin and hair like fairy floss...I mean, you two could compete with the longest unstandardized cuts in the facility."
Poor Leon...he suffered through so much and then...
"But you saw what he provided. The result of that was..."
Greg didn't get Dr. Miller sometimes. She would hate things in theory but would grow to love them when she would across the theories put into practice. It was as if, she didn't believe what she could see unless it was put right in front of her eyes. Most people would, but Barbs emotional extent would go from hate and disdain to love and admiration.
"Yeah I know, us binning the idea and we ended up going back to the drawing board with the Shard Project, I know, I was the one who helped out with it all." Greg stated.
Barbara smiled.
"And you don't think lil' Connie is going to suffer the same fate as Leon? Hm?" She said.
After everything that went into that project, Greg had to triple check to make sure Connie wouldn't be another victim. Or at least, last longer than Leon did.
"Nanites aren't being pumped into her bloodstream..." He said.
"By fixing up a Domain Port alongside the Shard, we're able to detect any problems before they get too serious. Besides, Connie's parents are counting on me to make sure she makes it through the month."
A single month?
"And after that?" Barb asked.
Greg would figure that out when they got there. He was often able to think of things and action them quickly with the right resources on hand. Though, he was used to going along with Roses idea...he would sooner struggle to maintain much without her word in. He'd hoped she would return to them...and him soon.
"We'll have to wait and see..."
Opening his eyes, Steven realised he was no longer in the same room as before. Looking around, he could see himself hiding behind a bench. It took him a moment to realise what was going on. But he didn't know how he got there.
"Oh good, you're back." Ronaldo whispered as he came behind the bench.
"Kyanite said you whited out...said you'd probably lapsed into another memory."
Steven ran his hand through his hair as he leaned against the edge of the bench.
"I...I did." Steven muttered.
"I mean...where are we?"
Ronaldo peaked over the bench to look around.
"We're in the Mess Hall."
Ronaldo let him know after Steven went dormant, that Kyanite took control of his body and took him towards the Mess Hall alongside Ron, while Peedee and Lapis managed to find an air vent to try and find the Deep Throne. According to Kyanite, it was better for the skinnier of the group to navigate a more discreet way.
"Are we after another memory?" Steven asked. He wasn't sure by this point. Anything he'd seen so far had yet to give anything meaningful; they only really caused distress.
"There's that." Said Kyanite, making themselves known.
"But Luna's doing exactly as I predicted. We're here until we know that one of the goons is out of the Residential Quarters. Once they're gone, we head back then make our way to the Northern Labs."
Kyanite certainly knew how people worked. Even as someone as unpredictable as Luna was.
Steven projected the map from his hand, as Ronaldo examined the energy signatures.
"Shit." He said.
"They're actually coming this way?"
Damn.
"Steven." Said Kyanite, unbothered by this in the slightest.
"There's a port plug in the wall over there. Open your hip and extend one of your cables."
It took Steven a moment to realise what Kyanite was on about. He lifted his shirt and pressed his finger agains the artificial skin. It popped out and revealed a series of yellow cables. Steven could see the port against the wall and decided to connect his cables to it.
"Ah good thank you." Kyanite said.
"I won't be a moment...just trying to see if I can tap into the facilities cameras to see what we're dealing with."
The pair continued to hide ehind the bar while they heard a shifting hydraulics followed by a series of heavy footsteps. Steven then almost jumped as Kyanite made their triumphant known.
"Aha!" They said.
He wished they wouldn't do that.
"What do you see?" Steven said internally.
Part of his HUD had a singular frame pop into it as Kyanite provided the means to let him see the feeds as well.
"It's the one with the uhh... mohawk?" Kyanite muttered.
"Not sure what one would look for in a cafeteria?"
Other than making sure no one was hiding?
Steven had seen this one before. Looking at his pink skin, he remembered what Dr. DeMayo and what Dr. Miller were talking about.
"Is it true?" He asked Kyanite.
"About the nanites?"
There was a bit of silence as they focused on Lars just casually looking around the place. He looked in drawers and empty fridges but that was about it.
"There were...records of experiments that DM Biometrics were doing with those inflicted with Rampancy." They said.
"The Nanite Experiment was the Precursor to the Shard Project. It looked like one Leon Maine was said to be the first."
The first of the Moontouched.
"I'm a bit unsure about the specifics about how the Nanites were made. But its clear that Rose was the main Scientist behind it."
And another word came to mind...the same that the other Moontouched mentioned.
"The Lazarus Initiative." Steven said. ^3
"And Leon Maine...he was supposed to be Dr. Millers Intern... and was said to have also helped Rose make the Rosa Leo."
Kyanite agreed and judging from what Steven saw...
"I have a feeling that Dr. Miller and Mr. Maine were also more than Teacher and Student." They said.
"After he died, Dr. Miller then moved on to Dr. DeMayo as possibly some kind of fuck buddy..."
A statement that made Steven quite ill to think about. Though, going from what he already knew about Dr. Miller, it was possible she was quite insane before the incident. However could she have a child in a state like hers? Though it made him think about something else they were talking about.
"They said something about Rose going somewhere and the possibility of her not being able to return. What does that mean?"" Steven asked..
It was a topic that was talked about but not in great detail. They had been rather vague about it...
"Dr. Miller said Rose desynchronised with her phylactery...I don't even know what means either..."
Somehow, Steven could sense Kyanite pursing their lips.
"I've...heard that terminology before." They said.
"But it's nothing but pure rumor as far as I'm aware. It's said to successfully disconnect a GIS's ties to their phylactery as to not make them so wholly dependant on them. It would make them limited as human-borne artificial intelligence without a specific return point. They're roaming platforms with the only disadvantage being that there's no support or backup in case their files get corrupted. Or something like that."
So...Rose attempted to disconnect herself then?
"Why would she even do that?" Steven wondered.
Rose was said to be ambitious with her ideas, after all.
"Who knows..." Kyanite replied.
"But it means she could be anywhere in the Domain. Hiding"
Could they find her?
"I know what you're thinking Steven." Kyanite noted.
"And we'll talk about it afterwards."
Though their patience would be tested as the other Moontouched man had come into the Mess Hall to talk with his brethren, which...upon Steven's glance through the feeds recognised the Moontouched as Kevin. Just seeing the man made his artificial blood fluids boil. Kyanite however, was curious about what they had discovered.
"Nothing on my end." Said Kevin.
"What about you Barriga?"
The other man rolled his eyes.
"For goodness sake Kev just call me Lars." He complained.
"And no...I've got nothing. I don't even know what we're looking for."
So they were just as in the dark as they were.
"Neither do I." Kevin replied.
"This is such a waste of time when we could be going out there, spreading the nanites."
The nanites...could they be talking about....
"That tip off was so worthless."
Tip off...
"Something feels off." Lars said.
"Like someone's lured us here for a reason."
Damn it.
"Shit." Kyanite commented.
Steven didn't understand it.
"What's going on?" He asked.
Kyanite was frustrated over it, as they growled in annoyance.
"If they think this a trick, they'll inform Luna and make an attempt to leave...we can't let them do that." They said.
That confused Steven even more.
"How do we know that?" He asked.
They continued to listen in to the discussion.
"Where's Luna?" Kevin asked.
Lars hook his head.
"She should be in the AI Core still. Goodness knows what she's hoping to find there."
Maybe she'll still be in there yet.
"But if this is a false lead..." Kevin said with worry.
"Then what good is this dump? I've also heard this place is haunted."
Lars raised an eyebrow.
"It is not." He said.
"I mean, I heard about the incident that took place just like you did. If you've seen a few bullet holes here and there? Means someone shot up the place...went mad."
Kevin wasn't so sure about that.
"You know I worked for the old lady previously?" He said.
"She worked here."
Lars nodded.
"Heard she was nuts." He said.
"Surprised you got out alive...figuratively speaking."
Kevin grumbled.
"Fuck you Barriga." He said.
Lars smirked.
"Hey, I'm in the same position as you." He said.
"In fact, I know for a fact she was nuts. The so called Empress, didn't like me going out with her daughter. So she had me killed."
Kevin blinked.
"Excuse me?" He said.
"I mean, I know fathers hate guys goin' out with their so called, precious daughters but I've never heard of any parent outright going through with murdering boyfriends."
This was new.
"I know after the incident, The Empress went into hiding...and so did Sadie." He said.
"Though Sadie eventually got out and made a name for herself as soon as she got old enough to leave."
Kevin crossed his arms.
"You never told me much about your ex." He said.
"She wasn't as batshit insane as her mother was she?"
Lars shook his head.
"Sadie felt like the only one around with her head on straight." Lars replied.
"Though her personal AI on the other hand...I swear that thing creeped me out."
The topic of the daughter was as well discussed as everything else. She had to be riddled with secrets.
"So I've heard." Said Kevin.
Lars just sighed.
"Ugh...I'm heading back to the Hoverbike." He said.
"Nothings here."
No...that would cause problems.
"You can tell Luna we've found shit all."
Which meant Kyanite had to contact Lapis and Peedee straight away as Lars left the area before it was too late.
Notes:
1.: Chapter 45: Metadata
2.: Chapter 26: Satellite
3. Chapter 40: Make and Model
Chapter 51: Deep Throne
Summary:
Peedee and Lapis investigate the former chamber of the Pink Monolith.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Peedee and Lapis cautiously navigated themselves through the air vents. The notion of being near or even remotely close to Deep Throne was considered a great honour. Though not the same could be said for an empty chair. Lapis, like Ronaldo before, could sense the essence that once lingered. Kyanite described it as a fingerprint, a stain in the air. It permeated and they knew they got closer because the sensation was stronger. If this is how humans felt things on a daily basis, Lapis didn't want to be human.
On the other hand, Peedee heard many things during his tenure at Yin Aozora. Much said behind closed doors. He would see himself as he worked, talking shop with many of his fellow board members. His work had been cut out for him and while Director Agate was a hard ass, she wasn't the worst boss he ever had. However mundane and tantalizing it was, his life was never the more stable at the same time as much of it felt hectic. As much grief as his big brother gave him over android parts, it was one of those things that brought him back to the reality of being at the top.
He never got to go close to the Blue Monolith. He was in the position to actually obtain access but he never felt it as his calling. The position in question was envied by many others that would ask him to pull strings to even get a single glimpse. Bribery was rampant. But the general rule of thumb was to never let others coerce you. The sanctity of the Monoliths meant serious rules were put into place into those who would be swayed by easy money to do so. And, of course, Peedee didn't want to lose his position.
In actuality, in his current predicament, he'd been surprised at Kyanites ability to pull said strings. He'd never gotten the official message of actually being fired from the company. Peedee would have to discuss the matter with Kyanite about Yin Aozoras stances on his situation. He would have no doubt he'd been beyond fired. Though, the security detail, which would have mostly consisted of androids Kyanite controlled, did not pay him any mind.
Could Peedee have done more in this situation? Knowing now that it was common knowledge that his father was in fact, one of the top allocated scientists that worked on the Pink Monolith must have had something to do with it. That Yin Aozora kept Peedee close due to his connection to his father. Did Yin Aozora know all along? Or was there something else that had gone awry?
The two popped out the vents as they came across a massive console that overlooked the Shield Plating. They could see the plating itself had been bent in many places, as if someone had tried to pull the Monolith out with a bit of a struggle. Chains and cables dropped down from above. Upon closer inspection, they were either cut or damaged.
Neither Peedee or Lapis had seen a Deep Throne up close, but Peedee had seen blueprints and pictures and made comparisons to the Blue Monoliths Deep Throne.
"From what I heard, the Pink Monolith was the smallest of the Monoliths." He said, as he approached the main console.
"I can't imagine how large the Monoliths actually are beyond the shielded plating."
Lapis didn't even know. After years of serving she's never had so much as a taste regarding intel that spoke about the Deep Throne. Though, this place did feel awfully familiar to her. Peedee booted up the console, before Steven contacted them.
"Be on your guard." He said over the intercom.
"One of the Goons is headed your way."
Peedee and Lapis looked at each other. They only had a limited time to try and find what they could.
"The consoles would have been wiped but I'll try and download anything asap." The Satellite said.
She tapped her hip which brought out some cables and connected to a nearby port. The lights in her eyes flickered as she did the scans; though, what she didn't expect was a shift in her vision. Alongside the scans and downloads, it provided her with an unconsented reminder
FLASHBACK
She had been down here for a reason.
By the Deep Throne, watching the scientists. She had been worked on and had several cameras installed into her body...her...Satellite. She was barely met with a passing glance. Like any tool. Or any structure.
She could see much. Did not judge. Did not act. Only witness and process. She could see a tall woman with volumnious pink hair and a lab coat that was projecting herself from the console, much like from a CPD. The energy was felt from the source nearby from within the Shield Plating of the Deep Throne.
A man with long brown hair came into view, as he came to tinker with the Satellite itself.
"Remind me why we need a Satellite again Rose?" He said.
Rose...she smiled and continued to type into the console's holographic keyboard.
"A Lapis is very valuable in our line of work." She said.
"Lapis can retrieve and send data across vast distances. They can also, on command, store data."
The man scratched his head.
"Yeah I know that." He said.
"I mean, this one is quite small compared to a standard one. The actual body that is."
Rose nodded.
"It needs to be." She said.
"Anything larger will compromise the Site....and you know how much we need to...keep that Site out of unsavoury hands Greg."
Greg knew what she meant, but he wasn't sure how having a differently sized Satellite will affect anything.
"This one needs to be configured with the Rosa Leo especially."
Oh.
"Wait." He said.
"We would need another one...or two satellites for accurate triangulation." He said.
"And the smaller sizes at that...that will overload this one if you're trying to do so."
Rose nodded.
"In case of an emergency, we can't take chances with being followed." She said.
"The integrity of the Site in its unfinished state must be maintained."
Greg blinked as he turned to his wife.
"You're serious about this Protection Protocol...aren't you?" He said.
Rose paused, as she placed her hands on the sides of the console and leaned over it.
"We're fighting a system beyond anyones control." She said.
"The Developers are predictable. They get what they're after and humanity is done for. It would be something nobody would be able to reverse or fix up."
Greg knew of his wifes animosity and plans against the Developers. He wanted her to be careful. He loved her dearly, but her ideas were getting out of hand more than she lead herself to believe.
"Escapism is but a theory. And while I have nothing but love for the Pink Monolith, I don't think Aliens should be the ones to lead humanity to the point of complete extinction."
Rose had this crazy idea over the years about the way the Monoliths wanted complete control of humans. For their own existence.
"Most humans would love to be immortal." Greg told her.
"People fear dying."
Rose shook her head.
"People are going to die anyway." She said.
"The Monoliths claim to care about preservation and the Developers...especially Volley, eat it up like cake."
Greg frowned. He knew that he was the one who lead Rose down this path to question it. Rose was all for the idea but Greg understood that when he spoke to her, it lit a spark of realisation. A realisation that what they were striving for wasn't exactly for the best interest of mankind.
He feared more so if anyone caught wind of what they were doing. The punishment for such heresy would be severe indeed. He'd serve. He'd serve on the borderline.
"You went down that road to preserve Rose as an individual." He said.
"Should I question of the woman on that Console is the woman I married or the woman the Pink Monolith changed her to be?"
Rose didn't like how he said that. She knew that was a question on her mind as well.
"That's the issue...part of it anyway." Rose said.
"And after what happened with Leon I thought that there was another way...and then after the SC-GIS and the issues that followed, I was fearful for any other attempt to preserve humanity in any other form."
That incident was something Greg would rather forget. If it wasn't what Leon went through, it was the volunteers for the SC-GIS that wanted Rose's neck.
"There's also the issue of what is really destroyed other than a persons physical form." She continued.
"It's hard to explain...like, I feel love and happiness...but there's always been this...emptiness that I cannot simply describe while I'm like this."
Would it be correct to call it emptiness?
"Maybe you will die. Maybe you will go to what ever afterlife you desire....and I cannot meet you there. Not while I'm like this."
It was then Greg's widened. He realized what Rose was talking about.
"You think that becoming a GIS somehow....erases your soul?" He said.
Rose nodded. She believed such a thought could be fairly damning.
"Humans are a very unique and diverse species." She said.
"The concept of a soul is brought up by many cultures as a representation of a beings spirit and life force. Their soul departs after the flesh is no longer able to hold them and in many other versions the soul ascends elsewhere or it can reincarnate, passing on the essence to another being who can bring up new memories from a fresh perspective."
Greg would be lying if he said he knew where Rose was going with this.
"It's telling that time and time again Death is a necessary part of life. It's necessary for a lot of reasons. And the reason being is change."
Change...
"So...what, you're regretting the screen cap now?" He asked her.
Rose wasn't so sure.
"I don't know." She said.
"Then again, the sound of spending an eternity in regret isn't very comforting."
No...but this did feel like a lead up to something when ever Rose spoke like this.
"And the idea of a singular program or even a God that has the final say in where humans go sounds more like a dictatorship to me." Greg stated.
"Each individual should be able to decide how they want to live. Where they end. Not an alien race."
Rose nodded. She owed Greg much to the way she was now. The realisation that dawned on her because of him. To get it off the rails becoming her only goal.
"I wish my family saw things that way." She said with sadness.
"They care only for power and the promise of control. The Legacy of Grandmother White is just putting the entire human race in front of a firing squad."
Greg's heard much about the Matriarch. How she had sown the seeds for the Family, the empire to take in the reigns. He was part of that family now...and if Rose were to pass on, then Greg would inherit her role.
"When you put it that way..." He said, before seguing back into talking about the Satellite.
"I mean, Leon's Legacy is the Rosa Leo now. Will he be destroyed if the Site's location is well, leaked?"
Rose hummed.
"Hm....no. I don't think he should be." She said.
"I mean that Lapis will need to be installed with the Protection Protocol, just like Bismuth and the other Ancillas were."
But...he was a key to this?
"Even if what you're planning succeeds and I'm trying to make sure that it will." Greg said.
"But...the existence of the Rosa Leo is basically the main thing that ties this all together. If the others get their hands on it, then all of what we're planning will be for nothing!"
No. Not nothing.
"We need that Hoverbike for one other reason." She said.
"There is only one way to get to this location and its through them. And the only one that I've been determined to be the chosen is that through the Escapism Program."
Wait, that didn't make sense.
"Why...Rose out of the all the crazy schemes you've pulled over the years this one is the craziest." He said.
"I thought, by all means, we agreed to not develop the Program as we've been told to....and this just contradicts everything we've done..."
Rose looked down.
"I know it sounds weird but..." She said.
"The Pink Monolith is still in my head to this day...and the power of the Escapism Program requires an execution code like none other. To which none of the Monoliths have been able to achieve...or even convey..."
Greg raised an eyebrow.
"You want something that isn't connected to a Monolith?" He said as he scratched his head.
There's that...but Rose was trying to figure out more to this issue.
"You can Screencap volunteers but the reach of the Monoliths is limited to a particular radius." She said.
"From what the Pink Monolith has told us, the Escapism Program is the theoretical progam that is said to be able to execute the special code when it is commanded to. It is the reach the Monoliths are after, but they're never been able to achieve so easily."
So what Greg had been told by Rose herself...whether or not that's actually what the Pink Monolith said is another matter entirely.
"One point to note is that a theory that was once proposed by the Blue Monolith conveyed through Holly Blue...why not use the ultimate spreaders; the Lapis Lazuli Satellites."
The more Dr. DeMayo thought about it, the more that he realized that the potential aspect of using the Satellites as a go between.
"They send and recieve data but they could also be used use their dishes to spread the code over the entire planet..."
Wait...how would that even work?
"This is science...not magic." Greg argued.
"Code is code; the power of code only works in anything that has even the simplest of binary and...obviously alien tech programming. Neither of which, have any influence on organic life forms."
Rose shook her head in disagreement.
"Anything with the power of a Monolith can affect organics on a mental level." She said.
"Adjusting brainwaves to recieve their messages for example."
So...what happened to her?
"That's still crazy." He said.
"Isn't your bloodline the only one that's even remotely affected by it? I mean, White and her generations of kids and grandkids that have that specific gene."
Again, Greg was both informed and misinformed.
"The Gene is mostly to allow us to hear the Monoliths clearly or to get better intepretations of their desires. Most of the population would only get the vaguest of messages." Rose explained.
That still doesn't explain what the deal with Barbara was. She always complained about not being able to hear the Pink Monolith despite being related to White.
"And unfortunately with cases like Leons, there's always the small percentage that are affected in negative ways...and the Monoliths don't realise they're doing it that way."
And if they got what they wanted...some may never have the chance to ascend due to that challenge.
"Unfortunate." Said Greg, still confused.
"So....I still don't get it. You want to use this Lapis which is considered part of the plan for the Escapism Program to even do its...thing...and somehow tie it to the Rosa Leo which will get it to the Site..."
Rose nodded.
"But we still don't even have a single shred of planning towards Escapsim....not even any blue prints or diagrams on white boards. It's just an idea that's never been properly developed. By anyone!" Greg argued.
Because Rose still had something up her sleeve.
"If we don't want any of this to go ahead...to go against the Developers and the entirety of the Monoliths...especially when no one is in this room, hearing everything we're saying...then why are we still bothering with it? Can't we just... not make the program?"
Rose pursed her lips. To anyone else against the plan, then that would be the most logical answer. To delay by simply not doing it. But Rose knew that that a delay was simply avoiding the inevitable.
"Because I've been writing up concepts for my own viewing. Ideas that I've kept to myself about how the program should go about." She said.
"But I must ask you to continue to trust me."
Greg grumbled something fierce.
"Oh Rose of course I trust you..." He said.
"I just....don't understand..."
END PLAYBACK
Neither did Lapis. Upon disconnecting, she didn't realise the extent of her true purpose and it both horrified and terrified her.
She wasn't the Program to define such a thing, but something that was potentially something to spread the power of the Escapism Program....her and her sisters.
"Woah what happened?" Said Peedee.
Looking around, she noticed the human. He noticed the expression of fear written all over her artificial face.
"You okay?"
They heard footsteps heading in their direction. They were running out of time.
"Shoot." Peedee muttered.
"Come on, we got to hide."
With the footsteps getting closer, Peedee took Lapis' hand and headed towards the corridor that lead to the landing pad. The two then eventually saw the unusual hoverbike it all its glory. All pink, shiny and functional. Looking around, Peedee could see a console to hide behind, while more footsteps headed in their direction.
The one with the Mohawk came towards them...the one the others warned them about. He appeared dejected and aloof, if not slightly irritated. Peedee had peeked around the side as the supposed, Moontouched made his way.
"He's by himself." Lapis whispered.
"We could knock him down and demand answers."
Peedee wasn't certain. There was little to no knowledge about the Moontouched. He'd seen certain files that talked about something that involved nanites and so forth but that was about it.
"I'm gonna wait until the others get back to us." He said.
"For now we sho- wait!"
It was too late. Lapis had already got up and strode towards the man with all the muster and spite in a controlled fashion. Her brows were furrowed inwards and before the guy even knew it, Lapis summoned thick cables from behind her back and wrapped them around the mans body. An additional feature thanks to Steven and Ronaldo's input and adjustments to her android body. Peedee somewhat began to regret such a suggestion. A cluster of tentacle like wires that could be connected to dozens of sources and ports that could act as a secondary defense measure. If Lapis put her imagination to it.
"Gah!" The man said as Lapis held him up in the air. Her cables prevented him from being able to move or use his arms and hands. So he sat that and squirmed.
"What in the..."
Peedee sighed and ran over to try and settle the situation. This felt like an everyday board meeting moment so he had enough experience in calming people down.
"Relax." He said.
"The more you fight, the harder it gets."
The man rolled his eyes.
"Gah I knew this was a trick!" He complained.
"I told her and she didn't listen!"
Lapis squinted at him with displeasure.
"What do you mean?" She demanded to know.
Though, it would be good to see how much they could welch out of this guy, before the day was done.
"Ugh...why should I tell you?" The man argued.
Lapis squinted, before Peedee whispered into her audio receptors. She then nodded and continued to glare. Her eyes turned fierce bright blue as they scanned the man from top to bottom. She analysed facial recognition and was able to find out who he was seconds later.
"Lars Barriga." She said.
"Originally from Mega Beach City. Say's you've been missing for the last decade."
Lars looked to the side, crossing his arms as his body language demonstrated a weak attempt at deflection.
"Gah that's not my name!" He called out.
Really...
"You don't need to fight dude." Peedee told him.
"We're rather not kill you unless we have to."
Lars then went to Lapis. Her expression told him the contrary. Though Peedee placed his hand on her shoulder, to which she let him down. Lars rubbed his neck.
"We know what you are." Lapis told him as she crossed her arms.
"One of Luna's Moontouched lackeys."
Lars dusted himself off as he retained his composure.
"What gave it away?" He said sarcastically.
Peedee was an astute observer of people. He could often tell how people really felt a glance. Their body language and how they held themselves were tell-tale signs of much. And going from Lars' sarcasm; Peedee could tell he didn't really want to be here.
Besides the feeling of being here possibly being a trap.
"What's Luna hoping to find here?" Lapis demanded to know. She had her 'tentacles' ready if Lars wanted to try anything funny.
Lars' ensuing groan was the other tell tale sign of not wanting to be here.
"I dunno...she recieved an anonymous tip." He replied.
"About something left behind. Something important. Though we were never given the exact details."
So Lars was left in the dark just as much.
"Is Luna open with you?" Peedee wondered.
Lars shrugged.
"I dunno." He replied.
"You'd think after serving her for years you'd actually have made some sense of it. But otherwise she's been trying to put the pieces together. Until recently, she's only been able to communicate to me properly in the Domain."
That made sense.
"You're a human..." Lapis said.
"Serving an AI."
Lars didn't appeared too bothered by it.
"You know, I was diagnosed with Rampancy Disease at a young age." He said.
"People tend to be weird about something that's not even contagious. Luna cured me and pink skin like mine isn't exactly commonplace. You stand out in a crowd and jobs are limited."
Cured?
"So this Moontouched bullshit you talk about? It's just a fancy name for those with Luna's cure. Don't care for what it is or what it does other than ridding the disease. But I wouldn't even be alive if it weren't for her."
So she traps those who are on their last merits, desperate to cling onto any sense of purpose just to survive. Maybe humans weren't that too dissimilar from Artificial Intelligence after all.
"So she made you collect all those phylacteries...those poor GIS stuck in her ploy. This Cult you helped create..." Lapis continued, her anger rising.
"Because she's not exactly a fan of what the Monoliths are doing."
The man wasn't even bothered by it all...only that he naturally went along with Luna's plan.
"Humans have been fucked for years." Lars said as he put his hands into his pockets and leaned against the nearby wall.
"The Monoliths have served us well but really...I mean, I'm not a philsophical kind of guy. But the direction the Monoliths are heading? I'd rather this type of immortality, than rather be some fake nobody."
Fake nobody?
"I love being in the Domain just as anyone else. But I'd rather keep what humanity I have left if I can try."
Was Lars even human?
"You GIS....you're just the Monoliths slaves...just...programs. Bits of easily destroyed data." Lars taunted.
"The Cluster Cult was designed to get the control back from the Developers...they control this world and they are the system. I still feel that urge of teenage rebellion to this day and it's actually kinda rad."
Serving his mistresses needs or the needs of himself. The selfishness of humanity was ripe within him.
"So you'd rather turn everyone into a Moontouched?" Peedee questioned.
That was the idea.
"Humans need to be human." He said.
"AIs can't get the senses right. They have no idea what they're doing. Lose all sense of taste...of smell...touch. I feel more connected to the Domain than most; but at the same time I don't lose the luxuries that humans would take for granted!"
Peedee felt that Lars had all the signs of a brainwashed cultist. Convinced by the Gospel of Luna, to encourage his humanity yet at the same time attempted to throw it away.
"The Monoliths are not our masters. We are the Masters of everything that isn't human. Humanity is the only thing that matters!"
Statements that left Lapis confused, but Peedee angry.
"You make me sick." Peedee said coldly.
"You don't care about humanity. You only care what you gain out of all this. I've seen men and women hungry for power that say that. Humans that should rule the world. I've never liked that sentence but I've had to swallow my pride on more than one occasion."
Peedee shook his head.
"Lapis."
Lapis knew exactly what he meant. She nodded and wrapped her cables around him tightly and brought him close. Lars squirmed as Peedee was prepared to interrogate him.
He tried to be good Fryman. He really did. He worked for a long time and worked long and hard. He missed being with his family dearly despite the shit Ronald would give him. All this.
Though they were interrupted by more footsteps that echoed into the room. Steven and Ronaldo had managed to finally escape from the Mess Hall and were both surprised to see Lars.
"Ah there you are." Said Lars.
"The Transitional Entity that Luna spoke of."
Steven wasn't so sure what was going on here. But by having one of the Moontouched in their grasp, he could prove useful.
"Lars Barriga." Said Peedee.
"He's just a nobody cultist."
Lars chuckled.
"Of course I'mma nobody!" He said.
"Always been a nobody. You grow up in the slums and you realise how little people care about you."
Though Steven remembered something he said in the Mess Hall.
"What about your girlfriend?" Steven said.
"Sadie?"
Lars rolled his eyes.
"My ex? Bah... she's uh....she's got nothing to do with this!"
Oh but she did. Steven projected Kyanite out of his palm crystal to allow them to talk to her. The Caretaker looked forward to toying with him. Having someone like him; especially someone who was part of the Cult, had them craving to torment them to pry out what ever information they could.
"So you got killed by her mother I heard." They said.
Peedee heard differently.
"I thought you had Rampancy Disease..." He said.
Lars swallowed. Kyanite crossed their arms and looked at him with the utmost powerful judgement a GIS could give. Even more so as Lapis did the same.
"I....I did!" He cried.
"I wouldn't lie about that!"
Then...
"Spit it Barriga!" Ronaldo said, as he poked Lars in the face.
Lars didn't want to be intimidated, however...but the odds were against him....and he'd rather not have this obnoxious guy poking him with his big fat finger constantly. Lar would bite, but he was better than that.
"Dr. Miller." He said as he voice began to croak.
"Used me as part of experiment. Said she was trying to make up for past mistakes. She had a daughter. She said she had a son that was stolen from her and attempted to supplant some random orphan from the trashiest corners of the city to pretend to be her son...then I made the mistake of falling for her daughter..."
Dr. Miller had another child?
"I've heard...rumors of Dr. Miller's second child." Said Kyanite.
"Did Dr. Miller ever tell you much about them?"
Lars shook his head.
"No..." He said.
"She was willing to take any damn runt off the streets if it meant that she could toy with them. Work on them. She did in fact...shoot me in the damn eye..." He said.
Suddenly the scar made sense.
"Maybe sleeping with Sadie was the tipping point-"
Maybe. But Kyanite had other ideas.
"She was experimenting on you before this?" Kyanite questioned.
Lars tried to think for the moment...a struggle when he was being almost squeezed to death.
"She injected something into me prior." He said.
"Didn't say what it was but said it was something to help me with the Rampancy Disease...I think...then she shot me like a week after or something'."
The way that Lars said that so casually actually disturbed Steven somewhat.
"Then the Nanites kicked in." Kyanite said.
"I'd be pretty confident that the nanites saved you and Luna as you would be lead to believe."
Lars shook his head.
"No-no!" He cried.
"I saw her...I saw her before I opened my eyes and found myself...lost in the garbage!"
He did?
"You...saw her?" Steven said.
Lars nodded.
"Yeah-yeah!" He continued.
"She told me she'll bring me back...and then told me to come to the Obsidian Ruins!"
The room went silent. Nothing but the hums and echoes of the underground facilities groans and strains.
"THE Obisidian Ruins?" Steven questioned.
Lars paused to think about what he just said.
"Fuck....Lars you choked!" He said, admonishing his accidental slip of the tongue.
But that didn't make any sense...unless...
Ronaldo gasped.
"Wait, Obisidian Ruins actually exists???" He said as his eyes widened in realisation. As if all his conspiracy theories suddenly came true.
Oh boy.
"Uh...it doesn't???" Lars squeaked.
This was big. The idea of a physical existing place and not just a simulated area where the Ancillas resided was beyond anyones understanding.
"There's nothing there but empty caves anyway."
Kyanite knew that to be an outright lie.
"You dumbass." Kyanite critiqued.
"At any given moment, I could call on my colleagues and associates at PeriCom to waltz over there right now as soon as I can extract the location from your head unless you tell us where it us!"
Lars' lipped twitched.
"You can kill me. I've done what I needed to do." He said.
"Luna has more than enough GIS in the Cluster. My work is done!"
A man with little to lose. Kyanite would have to up the ante.
"Very well." Kyanite said.
"I will then track down Sadie. Or better yet, a massive manhunt would suffice."
Lars eyes widened.
"Leave her alone, she's done nothing wrong!" He barked.
"She never wanted to be a part of her psycho mom's Empire. It was so fucking stupid from the damn start but she's innocent I swear!"
Kyanite then disappeared from Steven's palm. He wasn't sure what Kyanite was up to, but suspected what ever they were going to do wasn't to kill Sadie to make Lars talk. Kyanite could take risks but Steven couldn't fathom as to why he felt that way.
"Talk!" Ronaldo ordered.
Lars growled. Though, it was then both Steven and Lapis felt the weirdest sensations, as did Lars and Ronado as they held their heads.
"What the hells going on?" Peedee asked, the only one in the room not effected.
Steven could hear whispers in his head.
"It's Luna." Lars said.
"She sends out these weird pulses every so often. She's probably sending out a signal...or she's being emotional..."
A signal?
Steven's instinct was to head back to the other room. He walked over the console and looked up at the Deep Throne Casing that once housed the Pink Monolith. It was massive in scope and it had the Monolith's code name on every plate. He could sense the Aura Radiation. Or rather, the power that was once there still lingered as Kyanite mentioned. It was the strongest here as Ronaldo walked beside him. The essence of the past scarred the air...but even just seeing the casing that belonged to the fabled relic brought on powerful and yet confusing feelings.
"I forgot to mention that energy...it's pretty potent here." Ronaldo commented.
So Steven was glad he wasn't the only the one. But...the Deep Throne...Steven's eyes were fixated on it as it drew him in to strange places, evidenced as his vision began to fade.
"Hey as-Steven!" Kyanite called out.
"Connect to the console, I want camera feeds!"
Steven took a moment to realise what was going on, before took out his hip cables again. He connected himself as thus, so Kyanite and himself could see what ever the goodness was going on with Luna.
Kyanite manages to connect themselves to the cameras to several subsections. Namely, the AI Core. The first thing they could see was Luna at the AI Core....and was strangly close to it. Steven felt the need to slip into another memory....but Kyanite yanked him out and forced him to watch it from within his Androids software in the form of a cinema and Kyanite as the director. Though, they stood before the screen as Kyanite commanded the feeds. They needed Steven focused. But he couldn't help but feel so many mixed emotions as Luna; in the body of Connie, made him be this way by pure sight alone. It felt like an insult.
"This place...." Luna commented as she stood back to examine it, after failing to find what she was looking for.
"It brings on many....strange memories. Feelings....the day that the Monolith reacted and its true, ethereal power."
A power that was messed with, like all the others. But this one? More so. It had that type of effect on people. Luna raised her arms towards the machine, like she was praising it, though she scrunched her eyes like she was in pain.
"But the memories are all over the place." She said.
"They must be his...they must be hers and its...this structure. This being. This Transitional Entity. He was born and raised here. How such an intelligence could ever be and yet myself and Sol were the ones to guide and guard him. But the memories don't match up. They do not suit."
What was Luna even on about?
"Of course they don't." She said, irritated. "Sol has since betrayed me. He must have been trying to undermine me this entire time. I was too blind to see it."
Sol must still exist somewhere then. What ever and where ever he was.
"And yet, the program here that was said to doom the world is...our son. Our child. No... he isn't my son. He could never be. The logic is there but it isn't. Its impossible. I cannot be in their positions....but I remember so much...and so little. Nothing connects."
She kneeled before the Chassis.
"I still remember that wave. That power that the Pink Monolith demonstrated. I think...I think I know what it was trying to do. I can sense the animosity from that day written in the stains of blood and the bullet holes... The chaos that erupted. I had to protect Steven. The Protection Protocol that was programmed into Sol and I...it must be..."
"We couldn't find anything ma'am."
Kevin interrupted Luna's trail of thought. She growled in annoyance as she turned to the them all of sudden, as they both jumped at the same time.
"I was lead here with the promise of an answer lying in the depths of this place." She said.
"But alas...this means that the Entity still might still be required for what we need to do."
Kevin scratched his head. First they were told to ignore, protect, ignore, destroy and now claim? He would follow her lead but he wished she would make some damn sense.
"So we nab the Entity then?" He questioned.
Luna wasn't so sure.
"My dear Moontouched." She said.
"Humans are impossible to fathom...just as much as the Monoliths. Maybe the Entity binds them. Shares humanity's grace. Your reports on Dr. Miller...you said she had a son?"
Kevin shrugged. He's been tugged and pulled as a merc for some years now. Nothing more than a common thug in actions and a double agent in looks.
"She spoke about him but then ordered me never to speak about him to anyone else. Never got so much as a name or much detail in fact. Other than she had the wildest belief about him being stolen."
Luna knew why.
"Dr. MIller did have a son." She said.
"I can see these memories so clearly now. I understand what I am more than ever."
Kevin raised an eyebrow.
"And that is?"
Luna smiled. She was in agony for so long and the pain remained, but the pain was there for a reason. All the unfiltered emotions had their own paths and sources, triggers and particulars. There was no purpose...just a lot of connections.
"I am...made of memories, power and regrets." She said.
"Like the Entity; born into this world with a singular purpose. But there are waves of change that turn the course of fate. The Pink Monoliths power made me what I am. It guided Sol through the same process. It still might. His influence developed me in the hopes that we could save the Entity rather than destroy it."
Kevin had no one idea what she was on about.
"I don't follow." He said.
Luna chuckled.
"Of course you don't." She said, as she sat on her knees by the Chassis.
"You weren't there as it happened. I was Luna; the VI and the left hand of the Entity...while Sol was the right. The power struck us and changed us. I'm not sure how but it did."
It was only so much madness and pointless to Luna's monologues that Kevin could stand. Out of obligation, he knew had to listen.
"She was here...the girl." Luna continued as she ran her fingers over the metal casing.
"There was screaming. Shouting. Accusations. Bullets and blood. And the Protection Protocol kicked in."
The Protection Protocol.
"Everyone had their role. Everyone knew what to do. A failsafe that overrode the wills of everyone that was implanted with it. The Ancillas, especially. They were the ones to help clean up the mess."
So few people heard about the incident. Kevin cared little for it, unless it had to do with the location of the Pink Monolith; with the bounty on the line more than worth setting anyone up for life if it was found. But Kevin found himself, lost in Dr. Millers web as well.
"I....she...trusted the judgement of the Predictive Analyst." Luna continued.
"The Analyst pointed out the possibilities of the madness of your precious Empress."
FLASHBACK.
"Are you sure about this?"
Rose was with Garnet, sitting in Rose's Private Grid; the Pink Room, as they discussed the growing concerns with Dr. Miller. It was Amethyst who first cited the concerns about the scientists recent talks with Dr. DeMayo and relayed them to Rose to begin with.
"I've predicted several scenarios that fill enough of a certainity of Dr Miller's plans after the incubation." Garnet said.
"If it wasn't for Amethyst, it would have turned out more vague and I would not have enough to form a concise conclusion."
Rose had her doubts regarding Dr. Millers mental state for years. Ever since she was denied a top position in any of the major Developing Teams she'd been on a downward spiral. Rose loved her cousin, but this wasn't what she wanted to hear. Amethyst would never lie either. She had no reason to other than she enjoyed hanging around Greg to the extent where she built the habit of listening into conversations. She wasn't a fully fledged GIS but still a well functioning prototype GIS that Greg agreed to watch over. He liked her company.
"As much as Greg doesn't appreciate her eavesdropping from time to time, for once, I'm thankful her Quartz instincts function properly." Said Rose.
Though, as something akin to a prototype Gen II, if anything, Amethysts instincts were more akin to a humans based off collected data. But Rose couldn't afford to stop now. She had to push her plan through no matter the cost.
"I still need to do this, but I will need to make the appropriate changes in place to accomodate for any incident."
Garnet lifted her chin.
"Bismuth." She said.
"Lapis. The GIS with physical forms. They will be of some use in the aftermath."
Rose nodded. Garnet had a point. The Codesmith and the Satellite had better chances of surviving than any regular human. So she would have to entrust them more so than anyone.
"But their futures after the incident. Uncertain. Blurry."
Some sacrifices had to make to ensure that what ever happened, that it would pass quickly. It wouldn't be painful.
"Garnet, you must understand that I won't likely be around after...if what I think will happen...I succeed." Rose said with regret.
Garnet couldn't see anything beyond outcomes she herself could never hope to understand. Especially with the Pink Monolith being a huge part of it.
"I know." Garnet replied.
"I was sent here to make sure you achieve what the Developers feel will help you achieve the best outcome. If it wasn't for you, it might have been the only outcome."
Now time was running short. Rose had praised Garnets efforts and loyalty. She might not have thought much about original GIS like her or Pearl to begin, but over the years they became of the few people she could trust. Or even call a friend.
"You do not regret becoming a GIS like us." Garnet continued.
"But you still want us to have the freedom to choose like the humans do."
Rose nodded.
"I feel GIS have so much potential to just exist." She explained.
"The prospect of a union is much more valuable than this...ascension they claim will save humans. But I know we need each other Garnet. You might not believe it but I'm sure you must see the benefits of such a harmonic relationship."
No. She did.
"I do. More than you know." Garnet told her.
Of course. How could Rose be so silly?
"I did not want to let Director Agate know what was going because you have shown me the power to believe and believing is an organic concept I still want to continue to understand."
Rose smiled. Garnet had demonstrated willingness and trust above all else in Rose. She was confused at first, but Rose convinced Garnet that Holly was her equal and not her superior. In that, Garnet had no obligations to reveal anything at all unless it was for a good reason. That she had the power over choice all this time.
"And even share with others?" Rose asked, with hope in her voice.
Garnet nodded.
"I will try my best." She confirmed.
END PLAYBACK
Kyanite yanked Steven out of that hard flashback so hard that he didn't realise she had pulled him by his shirt.
"Rose knew." He told Kyanite.
"Rose knew what was going to happen. She planned everything despite the guarantee of disaster."
It still didn't confirm more than they already knew, since Rose had been confirmed by Ash to have made preparations a while ago. ^1
But to the extent of what was going to happen, all lied on the testimonials of one Amethyst GIS. It was hard to believe that out of anything. They looked out to see Luna still ranting about random memories that weren't her own.
"Oddly enough, Luna's been mentioning something similar." Kyanite said.
"The Pink Monoliths power activated and caused this....unusual reaction...that must have reprogrammed Luna in such an intense way that...maybe if SOAP wasn't used, that she actual just stole peoples memories and she became the embodiment of those memories...explains a lot, really."
It did and it didn't.
"Wouldn't she know where the Pink Monolith was then?" Steven pointed out.
Kyanite wasn't sure.
"Luna is an unknown but unstable variable." They commented.
"Unquantifiable and illogical. Her directive is...demented to say the least. She could know, but then again, she might not. It's really hard to say."
And the virus?
"Don't think you can get to her with jusitifcations and ordinary reasoning." Kyanite said.
"After all she's done in the wake of her delusional obsession, she needs an urgent deletion."
Steven may have hated what Luna had done, but right now, he could only feel pity for her. Like she was suffering from too many directives at once. If she was a collective group of assorted memories, then she could be following any logic at any one given time. The Virus? An ambition. Possessing Connie was not in her agenda but she went with it anyway. Nothing was planned but everything was accepted as the next step.
"She's not something one should feel much compassion for. It was clear, she was flawed from the start. From a single VI. She was never meant to gain sentience. But what ever that power was, granted Luna that self-awareness."
What did Kyanite know about compassion?
"You only say that because Luna is a threat to the Domain at whole." Steven told them.
"I just think..."
Kyanite turned to Steven and forced him to look at them instead of looking ahead.
"What you think is possible that Luna can be reasoned with. Maybe. For an hour. A few hours... a day." She said.
"She's broken. Clearly. The only reason the Moontouched serve her is that she's been in their heads. Twisted their minds and twisted their logic. They're purposefully blinded while still retaining free will. Unchained but still wearing their collars."
Even if her mind skips things....she's still driven by the Cluster.
"Then why don't we go down there and grab her?" Steven asked.
Kyanite pursed their lips.
"Luna still has considerable influence even when in a human body." They said.
Technically, Peedee is the only one with the least amount of tech within his systems that she could influence. Though, Steven didn't want to risk Peedee even if he was the only one able to possible take her in and take her down.
"In those memories, possibly might contain countless programs. Trojans...she might as well be a living EMP for all we know."
Luna had that power?
"So we need to fight her on her turf." Kyanite confirmed.
"I'm thinking she could possibly take us to the Cluster herself. If what Lars said was true, then it's possible that the Cluster she's created might be there."
Then there was the topic about what to do with Lars.
"We've followed her all over the place." Steven stated.
"We can't go to the Ruins without back up. If Luna is more dangerous than we expected and...yeah the virus has already proven that, then we need all the help we can get."
Kyanite wouldn't argue. The virus was being fought on all fronts and they needed to stick together more than ever. Though their attention was brought back to the camera feed in the AI Core.
"Maybe you're just as dangerous, Entity." Kyanite commented.
"You're driven by emotion, like Luna. But you make more sense than she does."
Watching the feed, Luna continued to talk with her underling. If what Kyanite said was true, then Steven had to also be wary of his capabilities. It made him think...and he knew overthinking could lead to the death of him.
"Seems pointless to follow now." Kevin commented.
"Just like where we are. Just a dump."'
Of course Kevin would never fully understand or grasp the significance of this place. He wasn't there. He wasn't attached as Luna was. She was certainly stuck in a position where she was tempted to draw out as much of a memory as possibly. But maybe Kevin was right. It was a dump. It held nothing more than a terrifying past of violence, deception and mankind taking too many leaps forward...going beyond the ranking it was supposed to be at in this day and age. Artificial Intelligence of this nature, influenced by more than what humanity could truly handle.
"We should begin to head back...as we have the final preparations to make in the stead."
Kevin froze, realising what Luna meant.
"Oh...well okay then..." He said.
"I uhh...yeah let's head back then."
Steven and Kyanite knew this wasn't a good thing. He alarmed the others that Luna and the other Moontouched were on their way back to the Deep Throne. Lars on the other hand was still in their midst and there was an estimated five or so minutes before they would arrive. Lapis still had Lars in her cables and there was no other way out of the facility. Still in the room with the Rosa Leo, they only had one choice.
"Hey bucko." Lapis said as she dragged Lars about.
"How do you operate this thing?"
She had cables wrapped around his mouth, to prevent him from talking...or Monolith forbid, screaming for help. Though she made sure he only made the fewest words possible.
"Why should....I tell you?" He said.
Lapis rolled her eyes.
"Come on, you really want to die?"
Lars shrugged.
"I told you before, I don't care." He said.
Steven and Peedee watched Engineer Ronaldo take a stab on its design, for he had once thoroughly examined the object previously, knowing it from top to bottom.
"Give it me Ron, what have we got?" Steven asked.
Ronaldo adjusted his glasses.
"Ahh but the mind like mine went through the blueprints..." He said, acting so proud of himself.
"It had an phylactery with inactive software as if you could recall. One that I thought didn't have an active GIS." ^2
And so now they found evidence to the contrary.
"Luna must have found out a way to activate it and make it functional."
Lars rolled his eyes.
"It has a mind of its own." He commented.
"You want to use it? You gotta gain its favour!"
Its favour? They didn't have time to figure that out. Steven on top of it and examined it. They were going to get in trouble if they couldn't it out. Lapis intiated scans but couldn't find anything. Steven eventually found some ports and connected himself to it. He loaded the OS into his hub and find a figure of a Lion on the loading screen.
"What is that?" Kyanite asked.
"No idea." Steven replied, confused just like they were.
He felt an odd scan that was more like an tiny bite that created a slight itch he felt he needed to scratch. His eyes turned pink as he was brought into a darkened area inside of his internal software.
He looked around...until the software loaded a small hill of short pink grass and a tall tree of pink leaves...that sat above longer grass. Gushes of wind made the grass dance as Steven tried to figure out what was going on.
"Where am I?" He asked.
Looking around him, the skies were of a similar pink shades and a false sun brought a warming light. A place open and inviting made Steven outright suspicious. He felt tense and anxious as he cradle his throat lightly with his fingers.
Though he then could see a small chest before him. He knelt down before it and was curious to examine it. Without much thought, he lifted the lid....
a pink dust was chucked into his face without warning as Steven flinched, who hadn't expected the suddenness of it all. He could Kyanites giggle behind him. He stood up, appearing unimpressed.
"Ah so there is a GIS." They commented.
"The Rosa Leo decides who it serves. I wonder what this party trick is a sign of."
Steven wasn't going to play any games. Not now. He could sit here and try to hack things out, but if the Rosa Leo's GIS wasn't going to show itself, then Steven would have to force it. He stood with his legs spread and prepared to make it an offer.
"Rosa Leo!" Steven yelled.
"My name is Steven. I am the Caretaker of the Pink Monolith! If you need anything, all I have to give is the WallofROSE."
In that moment, he summoned the icon of the WallofROSE as a floating shield symbol in his hand. It was still, silent and awkward for a brief moment as if Rosa Leo was busy passing judgement. Steven just wished they would hurry up. But before he knew it, a harder and faster gust of wind surrounded him. Kyanite had told onto the tree to stop themselves from falling over, though it somehow yanked off their helmet and cloak, revealing their puffy blue hair and bulky white armor that lied underneath. Steven went on one knee as he then summoned the shield in front of him to protect himself from the apparent bone-cutting galeforce winds. It was a small private grid, sure, but the wind was constructed to give untold grief irregardless.
Then...the wind stopped.
Was that...another sign?
Even Kyanite, who managed to stand on their own two feet again, wasn't sure. They put on the cloak and helmet before Steven could see them.
In another brief moment, Steven and Kyanite were yanked out of the private grid and back into reality as the Rosa Leo turned itself on. From the handles projected a screen that kept spinning several characters of alien tech code in a row.
"Wait, you got it to work?" Lars questioned, surprised.
One could hear the hoverbike shift into motion with its internal gyros twisting and changing as it floated there.
"Hang on, let me see." Said Kyanite.
The alien chevrons clicked into place one by one. Steven didn't know what any of them meant, but one by one, they slowly rolled into place. The front of the bike then opened the Lion head mouth to reveal a small gun like barrel that shout out a white ring and create a cyan coloured circle.
"Woah..." Ronaldo said, in awe of it.
"A wormhole..."
Lars began to try and worm his way out, but he was going nowhere as Lapis tightened his grip and made sure he didn't call out for his precious Luna to help.
"Drive. Let's get out of here!" Kyanite called out.
Steven didn't hesitate as he rotated the right handle forward and drove it through. Lapis then took Ronaldos and Peedees then ran with them, then took them all straight through before the hole vanished.
Shortly after, Luna and Kevin arrived at the Landing Pad. Kevin ran around and begun to freak out. Beleagured as she heaved a heavy sigh, Luna raised her hand towards him and seemingly froze Kevin in place.
"I'm...so-sorry!" Kevin cried.
"That idiot Barriga must have taken it. I knew we couldn't trust him."
No. It couldn't have been Lars. Lars wasn't that stupid. Maybe he was, but he was still relatively loyal; if not the most loyal. She squinted and tried to think of who could have possibly taken it. Suspects were possibly obvious but she determined that this was merely a setback.
She had backup. She approached Kevin with a weird smile on her face. She looked kind of...flirty? He liked pretty girls but when it came to Luna, she was a completely different story. He couldn't move an inch, yet he was sweating and shaking...anticipating some kind of wrath from the insane AI.
"It is...okay, my Moontouched." She said as she stroked his cheek so tenderly.
"You are here. My reserve. One must have a back up plan in case matters escalate. Its important to keep spares you know?"
Kevin gulped. He couldn't do anything as Luna got too close for comfort and pressed her face against his as they touched lips briefly, before she moved back and pressed an index finger on his mouth.
He had no idea what was happening. It was then he began to heat up from his feet to his legs before he couldn't feel them anymore. Luna stepped back. Then the pain settled in as Kevin started to breath heavily. Heavy breathing turned into grunts...then into cries for help...then into screams of agony.
No sooner than later, his entire body was glowing in hot pink and eventually began to burn to ashes. His hellish screams eventually faded along with his body as something round and light pink unceremoniously fell into the ashes below.
Smiling, Luna approached the ashes and knelt down before it and picked up the object in question. Standing back up, Her grin turned devious.
"Ah Kevin, you will be a fine substitute yet!" She exclaimed.
Notes:
1. Chapter 38: Screencap
2. Chapter 29: Satellite.
Chapter 52: Wormhole
Summary:
Steven and Kyanite awaken in a strange place; possibly the last place they expected to be at.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"Steven."
The Android opened his eyes to see the darkest grey above. He sat up and looked around. His eyes adjusted to the lack of light until he raised his hand to project Kyanite from his palm crystal. It looked like they were in a cave. An energy was felt none other, though to identify as foreign would be the only description. How could one be in an Android body and somehow feel the human condition of light-headedness? Steven wasn't so sure how but it was exactly that.
"Where...where are we?" He asked, voice croaky.
Standing up, Steven noted the strange carvings on the nearby wall. Using Kyanites projection, he could see the carvings resembled alien heiroglyphics.
"I'm...I'm not sure." Said Kyanite.
"I'm getting the strangest interference. Could be within a Faraday Cage for all I know, but I can't connect to the public Domain from here. We're on our own."
Words Steven wasn't prepared to hear. But the only thing they could really do, was walk forward. The cave appeared as it extended itself into caverns, walkways and bridges that intertwined with each other. The only part that was the strangest besides the unusual design, was that Steven noticed that he had been walking slower than intended. It wasn't a heavy walk but each step appeared more floaty. Steven attempted to make connections himself, but alas, like Kyanite, wasn't able to connect to anything at all. He chalked it up to his servos acting up.
His mind wasn't distubed by the absurdities as much as he tried to remember what had occurred moments before. The last thing he could recall, was them riding on the Rosa Leo. He wondered where Lapis, Peedee, Ronaldo and that Moontouched Lars went. He paused due to the thoughts about Lars possibly doing something to them. It took him a while to allow the troubling thoughts to pass, but paranoia and fear kept clawing them back.
"Would it be hard to say that the Rosa Leo brought us here for a reason?" Kyanite assumed.
"I swear the code I put in....did we really arrive at the place where we're supposed to be?"
It took Steven a second to remember Kyanite provided a code to the Hoverbike. He had to question.
"What did that code even mean?" He asked.
Kyanite looked down and wrapped their arms around their body.
"....a wild guess..." They replied, but going from their hesitant tone, Steven believed they weren't telling the truth.
He continued onwards, regardless. There were echoes of the cave of an unknown accord. The surreal of the simplicity of the caverns spoke to a different species while to the ordinary human it would be a type of labyrinthe all the same. There were more heiroglyphics written on the cave walls nearby as Kyanite tried to translate for them.
"What do they say?" Steven questioned.
Kyanite hummed.
"The carvings are supposed to tell a story. But the story is incomplete." They said.
"The word, Escapism comes up over and over again. They must escape. We must escape. Escapism is key."
The more was put into the aspects of what Alien Tech could do to improve human lives and the available technology that was able to be improved alongside. Little to no effort would ever be put into the reasons why the Alien tech would be found on Earth, of all places.
The mysterious origins of the Monoliths were disregarded and that, a group of explorers and scientists came across these lifechanging, often called, celestial objects one day and humanity was never the same since.
"The idea of moving forward without exploring the past was always the goal." Kyanite noted.
"But where ever we are, those aliens that came here were indeed looking for something. Did they think humans would save them? Or condemn them?"
Kyanite didn't know?
"I would have thought GIS like yourself would have known a lot about the race that created you?" Steven assumed.
Kyanite shook their head.
"GIS are created with the knowledge of their purpose, but have little to no use of history." They replied.
"I was created late in the cycle. I'm not...I'm not an early GIS by any means. From what I do know, is that Sapphires were some of the first to spawn."
The Sapphires?
"In the early days, they needed GIS that would assist to shape the future of the world they found themselves in. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the Sapphires were purposefully created to direct humanities future to begin with."
Steven raised an eyebrow. He had to make an assumption based off their wording alone.
"You don't trust them?" He asked.
Kyanite shrugged.
"GIS have only ever existed for the last century." They continued.
"Echoing both the goals for the Monoliths and by extension, those who exist to serve them. Whether or not they're made of flesh and blood, or metal and wires. They spurn the directive on the whole. Their guidance towards a goal twisted and left others to fill in the gaps."
Steven scratched his head. Though they did come across another cavern that appeared to have holes in the walls and wires intertwined with roots that went through the earth. They looked familiar.
"Are these...meant to be kindergarten machines?" He asked as he approached the wall. The holes were small, but shaped like pentagons that rested within rusted metal walls.
"I would assume so." Kyanite replied.
"They have the shape and there may be some residue left from the phylacteries formation. The process is...messy. From what I'm told."
So how new was Kyanite then?
"I'm surprised." Steven commented.
"They created you specifically to become Caretaker? After what happened to Aquamarine?"
Anybody could be a better Caretaker than her.
"Sometimes the best results come from the worst mistakes." They commented.
"Aquamarine's case was a failure in oversight. What ever granted her the Prime App simply was not observed. Theorised to be a previous Caretakers doing..."
That had Steven's attention.
"Didn't Aquamarine simply have a copy of the app?" Steven said, remembering their fight against her previously. ^1
Kyanite nodded.
"They found out that she did." They responded.
"But interrogations had her still claim that the previous Caretaker gifted it to her. I'm not certain as if that Aquamarine was indeed telling the truth. Director Agate didn't take traitors lightly and made her dormant before we could question her further."
So she must have stuck to her case then.
The further they went in, the more holes they came across. One of the rooms they found had a spiral stair case like rock formation that had circled downwards. These walls also had the Phylactery deposit holes. His footsteps echoed as he walked downwards. Creeped out by what really went on down here.
"These must be the Obsidian Ruins." Kyanite assumed.
"The place that the Monoliths were found were said to be somewhere deep beneath the Earth and the actual name itself has spread itself across the Domain as the apparent place where they were found. Can't you feel it too Steven? The Aura Radiation itself is quite strong and the prescence of the Kindergarten Machines here make it too obvious that the Monoliths must have resided here at one point or another."
Steven couldn't agree more. He noted the other odd parts of this place. There was; for one, a unusually cold temperature noted within. This place definitely felt...off. He hoped the others were alright but...
The further he went down, that he came across another cavern. This one, by far, the largest of them all. There was a bridge that connected it to the otherside of it, but that's not what amazed him. Walking across, he noted the cables that stretched the walls above and some even dangling with lights that turned themselves on as they entered. Beneath the bridge was something extraordinary.
Four massive holes in a diamond like formation dotted the grounds beneath them and each of them mapped out and stained with their own unique colouring. White, blue, yellow and pink; and the pink one happened to have the smallest impact. Kyanite wasn't wrong about the Aura Radiation here. It was certainly its strongest in this location. Steven pressed his hand against his chest where his heart pump was; the device that channelled the artificial fluids that ran throughout his android body. He wasn't human, but that 'heart' felt heavy enough that if he was human and he'd found it extraordinarily hard to breath.... not to mention the noises that echoed sounded more akin to whispers that were too quiet to understand but loud enough that he could hear them.
"Amazing." Kyanite commented.
"Steven....this is..."
Exactly what they thought it was.
Kyanite rubbed their chin. Their gaze upon the very site, to some would be seen as the end of their great pilgramage. All those, deep into their servitude, to convey their gratitude and thanks towards the apparent womb of the four powerful wonders of the known universe. This place was so disconnected from everything else that they assumed that the Developers would do anything in their exact power to try and protect its location.
"I feel like we're missing something." They stated.
"As awe-inspiring this is, I have a feeling there's much more to it."
Steven then felt a spark within his systems; like someone had been trying to communicate with him. He brought up his systems and tried to get the message but...
"S-ven." It said as he managed to hitch on to the distress call. The voice sounded familiar.
"Hello? Who is this?" Steven said, as he pressed his hand against the top of his ear.
The Android could act as a reciever. But very few people knew his Responder Number; normally a number allocated to AIs and GIS that would send and recieve audio calls to those who would give each other their respective numbers. Like a human phone number, if anything.
"It-s La-"
Static. Steven repeatedly trying to hitch on to the signal as best he could, but he got nothing else but the deafening crackled sounds due to the lack of proper reception. Anxiety struck through him as he wasn't sure what to do or how to act and he was going lose his mind. It was too painful to ignore, even more so than usual.
"Oh gosh....what are we going to do?" Steven said in panic.
Kyanite had to pull him out. Rosa Leo had to have made a mistake, surely. They couldn't think of anything else that would have possibly decieved them. But maybe, just maybe what they did...maybe the truth, the idea and the line 'gifted' made it all fit. They couldn't act on anything else than what they already knew and have obtained beforehand. They needed Steven and couldn't afforded to lose him now of all times. Being in the vacinity of the abandoned refuge of the Monoliths must have tripped his circuits. Kyanite conducted a full diagnostic on him and realised his slight freak out was effecting his systems. Though, they weren't sure if that was because of him teetering on the verge of absolutes or otherwise the potent Radiation that was birthed by all four Monoliths had been affecting his android circuitry.
"I want to go home!" He cried, as he fell on his behind.
His fingers delved into his hair and dug into scalp as his vision begun to glitch and warp. Kyanite suspected foul play and had the urge to take over Steven's Android in his place.
"Get up." They called out.
"GET UP!"
Steven couldn't. He wouldn't.
"I can't..." He wept.
Kyanite wasn't entirely sure what was doing this to him. They weren't sure if the Monoliths influence was to blame. They then hoisted Steven out of the pilots seat and reneged themselves to control the droid. His eyes then turned from Pink to Blue.
"Fine." Kyanite said in Steven's voice.
"I'll take you. Just...sit there and cry."
Steven was awfully silent after that. He made no attempt to argue or fight back against Kyanite's control. They walked to the other side of the bridge and continued their trek to where ever they were.
There were more Phylactery holes which suggested this place had originally been used to produce the first batch of GIS. They continued to run scans but was awfully limited to a certain radius at all times. This didn't seem right at all. The Alien Tech must have restricted anyone trying to get in or out of the structure, which in turn kept the security super tight.
Kyanite knew their capabilties. They were a practical being. Bent on finding the truth. That's what it all was. Ever since their declaration to their Blue Monolith and all that it held dearly.
Steven didn't do much beyond trying to find the Fragments of Memory he could recover, given the right triggers. Their whole intent on him being at the old DM Biometrics facility was to trigger Steven's memories to awaken. Not just his either.
But Lunas.
Only so much was planned by Kyanite alone. The Third Eye could function to an extent and it worked. Most of the time. Using it to look at the Foundations in place was supposed to work too. That the codes provided were supposed to be bring answers, only that they brought more questions.
They knew the residue left behind. They could see that. They could see the ins and outs of digital structures and that part was fine. But this was beyond Kyanites understanding. Like the Monoliths deliberatly prevented them to seeing the full picture at all times. Only limiting them to what they wanted them to see.
Perhaps, the Prime Apps were only those that could be worth controlling.
They came across a new room, though, the entrance was marked by a steel frame with a thin film of blue aura. Kyanite poked their finger through it, to test it out. It didn't do anything...at first. Kyanite stepped in fully and they were brought into a completely new area that had them outright stomp through.
It was more developed than the caverns. Marked up with walkways and structures with old symbols. Approaching a nearby wall, Kyanite could see the logo of a familiar business.
The mark of Weiss United.
It made sense once Kyanite looked everything over. Older technologies it seemed. The rooms and and lines and painted arnaments were all white. All of the technology appeared as if it was made in the 2040s. Left behind by...something.
Weiss Uniteds history was long and vast. But it clicked. Of course it was Weiss United. They found the Monoliths to begin with, after all. So the begged the question...
Why were they brought here?
There was no sign of the others so far. Steven's fears weren't unfounded after all.
"Kyanite." Said Steven. His voice was but weak.
"I don't like this place."
Neither did they. But they had to push on. Find the Rosa Leo and make their way home.
All they could do was walk about. Much like the facility they were in, this one had its own series of rooms and labs meant for study. Abandoned for ages past, Kyanite knew these rooms would serve no purpose. For they and Steven neither had been around. Empty walls with ancient memories not worth salvaging even if they tried. Though Kyanite had to look around anyway. Computers were left unable to be used and any that could still function were wiped clean. They must have, like the old site, been abandoned at the moment this place had no more use and brought the Monoliths to their designated spots once all was said and done.
Though, they did come across another room. A room with its doors closed. A laboratory of sorts perhaps?. Kyanite aimed to scope out its secrets, they were sure. They placed their hand on the runed panel next to it to press the button, though Steven reigned control back of his android out of impulse.
"No." He said.
"I'm....getting bad feelings about it.."
Kyanite was weirded out by Steven's sudden reluctance, but was at least, willing to hear him out for his reasons.
"It makes me feel sick."
This was one of the only rooms they hadn't yet to check out. Perhaps, it may be their only way out.
"Steven just...be dormant for a moment." Kyanite advised.
"I'll take care of it. You might not even feel a thing."
He wasn't so sure.
"I..I don't want to." He said.
Kyanite sighed.
"You want to get out and save people?" They said.
"This is how we do it...by taking these leaps of faith...and chance."
Steven grumbled. He didn't want anything to do with Kyanite. He's tolerated them long enough as it was and technically they had no authority to push him around or even use his body.
"Gah stop it!" He shouted as he stood back and pulled back his hand.
"You don't understand...."
Oh but Kyanite did.
"Steven..." They said.
"I'm here to solve an issue my predecessors failed to. I'm not going to let go by without figuring out whats really going on."
Other than being a slave to their Monolith. Steven took more steps back as they wrested control of his Android.
"I'm not your enemy and I'm not here to betray you to the Developers." They claimed.
Steven disagreed.
"You don't know what I've been through!" He argued.
"Your Developers want to use me! You, want to use me!"
If only Kyanite could tell Steven the truth.
"I knew from that day we met, that I had a gut feeling...some, random GIS that happens to be chosen to fight the battles that they think is their business. Geez, Connie would be so disappointed in me right now."
Connie hm?
"And this...Connie..." They said.
"They wouldn't like you working alongside the Developers?"
Connie fought against them for so long and only really used them if it suited to her advantage. Sure, she's done some questionable things that brought up Steven's ire but ultimately at least she was honest about it. Most of the time. She made it clear, that she was working for the glory, the gold and the independent nature she had, and if anything, brought an interesting point of view.
Sure, Steven worked for the Ancillas himself. He wasn't really for or against the Developers. They were also independent. Looking out for the betterment of the Domain and its people. What they once stood for, now lost to corruption and war. Steven understood that Connie wouldn't exactly be happy with being with them, but she was practical enough if the idea stood that she would require them if she had no other choice.
"Connie was...resourceful." Steven stated as he slumped against a wall, to slide and eventually sit down. He brought his hand up to project Kyanite once more as he talked to them.
"Cunning...and beautiful."
An AIs idea of beauty wasn't exactly a common thing to hear. Most of the time it was just form for functionality.
"I'm sure Connie doesn't want you moping over her." Kyanite stated.
"Is the pain you're feeling really from your hatred of me deciding for you, or the influence the Aura Radiation is having on your circuits?"
Steven blinked. He wasn't certain. And he never said he hated Kyanite.
"I...I don't think she would." He said.
"I-I mean...it could be the Radiation? I dunno Kya, it's weird. My directive is messed up."
Indeed....wait he just call them Kya?
"Exactly." They said, though a bit weirded out.
"You are the epitome of artifical emotions...rather than intelligence."
Not really but-
"Your directive is based off what you feel is right or wrong, rather what you know is right or wrong."
Maybe it was.
"Emotion based logic must be tempered Steven. And maybe, just maybe I could be incorrect about your directive or your lack thereof. I am not here to judge but to do a duty I was assigned to. And if it means getting you off your ass to achieve it then so be it."
They had a point. Had the Monoliths decided to see things their way for once? Steven then remembered Gen II GIS did indeed exist now. The human data that forged them must have been worth collecting indeed and Kyanite had been crafted as their finest GIS yet. Strong, firm and decisive enough that nearly any human could follow if they opened their minds to it.
"Leaving the judgement to the Monoliths?" He asked.
Kyanite lowered their head.
"They're not as impossible as you may think they are." They stated.
"Aware of the dangers that come with a potential world-ending virus. That they're willing to accept anything and anyone that offers to find a way to fight it off."
Then why haven't they discovered a cure?
"Then...what about me...." Steven asked.
"What do they..."
Kyanite chuckled.
"Steven they're...worried." They noted.
"They know you exist now and that in itself means they want to make sure the Virus doesn't get to you. That I would have to protect you with my life if need be."
Because of their idea of saving humanity...
"Are you calling yourself my knight in shining armor, Kya?" Steven stated sarcastically.
Kyanite laughed. The nickname was rubbing off on then and they now found it amusing.
"Maybe." They said.
"Perhaps I was born to meet you."
The idea of the Monoliths creating a saviour for Steven was...a bit unrealistic more than it was unexpected. But the expectations would sooner grow that it would far benefit them to have Steven live than perish. Everyone wanted a piece of him, it seemed.
For someone whom had no prior purpose, Steven then wished he would get back to that. He wasn't used to being that level of importance. Maybe to one person but that was about as far a reach as he would allow.
"But the fact remains." Kyanite continued.
"If you're not feeling well from what's beyond that door, then we have to investigate it. I'm here to take control if you can't handle it."
They were there for a lot reasons it seemed.
"I'm....I'm fine." He said.
"Sorry."
Kyanite shook their head.
"Don't be." They said.
"Let's just do it."
Steven got up shortly after as Kyanites avatar dissappated. He still wasn't comfortable for what lied beyond that door. He slowly approached it and put his hand on the panel. It hovered over the button for some time before he pressed it.
As the door slid open, it revealed an unusual sight. Another cave, but that wasn't the unusual part. Entering, Steven walked around. An area with more rocks if anything. Though as he turned a corner he could see...the most...powerstopping sight.
Looking up, was a massive machine in its place. More tall, chrome, pentagonal cylinders and a coolant that gave off smoke. A console lay in front of it and the middle most cylinder had the word, C.L.U.S.T.E.R on it.
Steven stood back in shock and gasped. This was the source of his agonising anxiety.
"Oh fuck..." Kyanite cursed.
"This....damn it..."
Neither of them were expecting to see the Cluster. Though another set of footsteps came down from a set of stairs nearby. Two pairs. One of a cloaked man and the other...cloaked, but could see some kind of...pinkish feline face that poked from underneath.
"Oh I wondered when you would show up." Said one of them. He pulled back the hood and it revealed it to be Lars.
Steven went on the defence immediately as Lars approached them.
"Relax, Luna isn't here." He said.
"Not sure when to expect her back. But I'm thinking this gives time to talk without her influence floating about."
Steven looked at the other Cultist who never budged; he only stood nearby in silence.
"You solved one mystery. Leon here, and you somehow activated his Phylactery. He's no longer dormant. A bit on the muted side but that's okay. He does what he's told to and that's all that really matters."
Leon Maine?
"Wait, Leon?" Kyanite questioned.
Lars stood before the console and went on the release.
"You know I've had time to think....and Leon here is the one who's mapped out the sequence according to some bullshit idea some idiotic GIS called Rose Quartz had all those years ago."
Somehow, the idea of insulting his own Creator-Mother inspired some kind of rage in Steven.
"A GIS had that much control of one organisation. Shared with her...'husband' Gregory DeMayo....and unto them a son named Steven was born. You know, I can see why Dr. Miller went insane."
Did he now?
"You were the one she couldn't stop her bitching about. Her beloved Steven." Lars continued with mockery and tongue pushing.
"Maybe I should be the one thanking you for this situation, but then again, I should also hate you."
Should he?
"But....while the urge to to kill you is tempting, I'm under orders to use you...and your sacred programming."
Over his dead Android body.
"How sacred that is, is only something Luna would be able to determine. For now, you're here. Where we want you to be."
He didn't care about that.
"Where's the others?" Steven cried.
Lars waggled his fingers in front of him.
"They're irrelevant...though the Satellite will prove useful. She's been...reallocated. She will enact her role soon enough." He said.
Steven wasn't gonna let Lars get in that easy.
"But how do you like the space?" Lars asked.
"We've been making use of the old facility for a while now. Oh and our big ticket is our precious CLUSTER. Luna's idea of the Monolith that's gonna save mankind ya know."
Steven desired to dip into his rage and punch the lights out of Lars. He walked forward but Leon jumped into the space between them.
"Leon's been extra useful since his awakening." Lars revealed.
"Another Moontouched, like me and Kevin. Former Moontouched, but most of his faculties should still work. He understands the stakes more than anyone."
From the ends of his sleeves, Leon showed off his metallic claws that looked ready to tear into anything that was unfortunate to witness their wrath.
"The Rosa Leo was the pinnacle of Alien Technology that extends beyond the Domains reach, as we so discovered." Lars continued as he paced around.
"Rose had created him from the remains of the original Leon Maine....her intern that, like me, was a sufferer of Rampancy Disease. Rose's research forced her to shove him into a phylactery and use his power to create wormholes. So you see? If Phylacteries have this kind of power, imagine the extent of how the Cluster could change, maybe the fabric of reality? That would be like, super cool!"
Steven looked into Leons mechanical eyes. Roaring hot pink and not too disimilar to Steven's eyes. His facial structure was of metal, nuts and bolts and joints that only served as a mimicry of an actual Lions face, alongside the light pink mane that spilled out from inside the hood. Uncanny as it was unnatural and yet, Steven could see the soul in the programming somehow. It was strange to observe the apparent sentience in such a being that was previously concieved as nothing more than a unsuspecting vehicle.
"Leon, take Steven to the table and prepare him." Lars ordered.
"I want his software out of that droid before Luna gets back....if he acts up, you're free to use force."
Steven exchanged looks with Leon who said nothing, as expected. One reminder of his claws told Steven he was going to waste time trying to fight back anyway.
Once in the room, it contained a hoist that wasn't too dissimilar to the android holders that they used to have in the Warehouse that held back Bismuth and helped build Steven's original Android. He said nothing as Leon chained him up by his neck, waist, wrists and ankles. Steven wanted to try and reason with the Liondroid, to find out what he was really doing.
"I showed you the WallofROSE." Steven said cooly.
"Was that a way to show you that I'm apparently your enemy?"
Leon said nothing as he tightened the chains.
"There is a better way of doing this. I'm sure." He said.
"There must be something we can do together. You and I...we were both created by Rose. That makes us...what...brothers?"
Still no response, as Leon connected a cable to Steven's neck.
"I've never had a sibling. I mean, I'm an AI and we don't necessarily have blood to connect us as siblings but you get the idea."
Steven couldn't help but be awkward in the face of danger. Whether or not the fate Luna ultimately had in store for him was anything but certain doom, he was playing it down, hard. Steven could read faces of they were of human or humanoid. But alas.
Leon stood there and examined him for the most part. His arms were crossed as his eyes never left Steven. He didn't even blink. It creeped Steven out a little bit. If only...he turned around and went towards the door. Steven was about to call him out...until he closed the door behind him and turned back to Steven. Tilting his head in confusion, Steven watched as Leon approached him once more...then took a knee.
And out right bowed to him.
Steven was even more perplexed. Leon stood back up and went to a console behind the hoist and typed in a few things...and in that moment, Steven fell dormant.
Darkness was eternal. Though it wouldn't be much to say that it was any different from normal dormancy. Except...Steven would sooner awaken. Again. It was cold...and it was dark....and wet. Steven couldn't talk, couldn't move, couldn't hear. But feel.
Terrified.
Steven....
Kyanite's voice pulled him back to reality....and by reality, it was Kyanite that pulled him into the pilots seat to watch from the inside.
"Sorry...sorry..." He said, as Kyanite brought him up to his feet.
"I uh..."
Steven had every right to be confused.
"I thought I'd lost you there." They said, worried.
"You fizzled out."
Steven furrowed his brows.
"I did?"
Kyanite nodded.
"Yeah..." They continued.
"Leon looked like he was trying to delete you...but somehow, you being here. I don't think he was."
No...
He was an odd sort. Odder than most.
But here they were now. Unable to move or do anything. Steven wondered if he should have taken the chance to attack, but then at the same time he was glad he didn't. Both he and Kyanite sat down and awaited their apparent fate. Steven's anyway. Would Kyanite even escape from this predicament on their own?
Resigned to the fate to billions of humans being on the line. Should they be corrupted by the grace of Luna? The Maiden of Memories and Regrets? Steven's poeticness was just trying to give form to a sticky situation that he only had himself to blame.
"I'm sorry I forced you through that door." Kyanite said.
"We should have just..."
No...they had exhausted all other options. How could they have known?
"I'm sorry you're stuck here." Steven said.
Kyanite shook their head.
"No...actually, this is entirely my fault." They said.
"I was the one who lead Luna to the Facility."
What?
"How so?" Steven questioned.
Kyanite sighed.
"I was the one who tipped her off." They revealed.
"I wanted to lure her there in the hopes of either capturing her...or getting more information..."
It was them? Steven couldn't decide if he wanted to be angry with them or not.
"But it's like, we keep getting captured again and again ya know. At least it's both of us this time."
Both of them?
"What do you mean?" Steven questioned.
Kyanite paused and reflected on what they just said.
"I mean, I...I'd been following you since Garnet told you to hide with the Synthesised...and when the virus caught up...I contacted the Sapphires to allow you passage to their palace."
Wait, that was...
Oh...
Steven should have figured that out.
"Why though?" He asked.
"Why go through all this trouble for me? And it can't be just because the Monolith told you so..."
The Monoliths need him for their plan, that part he understood. But for all this...Steven felt it was beyond Kyanite's duty by this point. Instead of the opportunities to give Steven up and take control of the Android when ever they wanted to and hand him straight over the Developers, Kyanite never did. Then again, Jasper also had that opportunity and she never did either.
"They've been watching you for some time." They said with a low voice that was almost a whisper, as they had their arms around their knees and began to fidget with their own fingers.
"They've seen the report that Jasper gave. They knew apparently since before that. They've always known."
Steven didn't follow.
"The Transitional Entity foretold. The one they feel is the one that would allow humanity to take greatest leap into the digital realms. A child of two worlds. One who would understand both humans and artificial intelligence."
How much did Kyanite know about him then?
"They don't force things to happen. They only guide." Kyanite continued.
"Its all about what they give and what they gain in return. They're more reasonable that what you're lead to believe. That they're firm believers in fair exchange. Humanity cannot be rushed into suddenness so they must find a way to allow the growth to happen naturally so all humans can be gifted."
And humanity would sooner die a slow death.
"What they think is in humanities greatest interest, isn't though." Steven claimed.
"Imagine waking up one day, and suddenly you're not in the body you were in yesterday. How would you feel?"
Steven anticipated an answer, but in the space of time to where it became too awkward for silence, Steven instead continued.
"AIs like us don't have that issue. But humans...humans are too varied, too sparce. It could take them thousands of years to change and maybe, just maybe, they could take that gift after all. Are the Monoliths prepared to wait that long?"
Kyanite sighed.
"Monoliths monitor time as only a spectrum that humans percieve. They don't care much for it." Kyanite continued.
"And believe me, I'm only saying this because once you've been able to properly percieve the Monoliths messages, you can decode them for what they are. I'm not saying that this IS the path humanity must take...but if they so wish and if they're so endowed, that they can do so."
Wait, Kyanite wasn't for forcing?
"I thought most GIS would be for the implementation?" Steven questioned.
Kyanite shook their head.
"Depending on the version of GIS, most of them don't really care either way." They said.
Kyanite's wisdom was...if anything quite intriguing.
"Were you programmed to know these things?" Steven asked.
Kyanite crossed their arms and thought about that question long and hard.
"I um..." They stammered.
Steven had his own theories.
"You're a Gen II...so you would be."
The Caretaker paused. The conversation wouldn't lead them anywhere close to what Kyanite really knew, so they changed the subject. Kyanite had aims to get themselves elsewhere and they had a few ideas as to how.
"I wonder..." They said.
"Leon put a cable in your head for extraction for when the time comes. I wonder if we dig into the feed. It is designed to extract data, after all."
Steven looked at them strangely.
"But even if we did, there's still the issue of being able to send a signal out." He claimed.
The idea of them locking themselves beyond the help of the outside world wasn't too farfetched. That if they didn't do anything, Luna would most likely return and impart Steven on to some, strange Luna made ritual. He had to contemplate whether or not what she said was true. That she was just the result of broken memories inserted into a program that wasn't designed to handle them.
Kyanite stood up and projected a holographic screen behind them. Steven observed all the while as they navigated through several screens. He wasn't the best at hacking like Connie was, but something about the way Kyanite moved their fingers about reminded him a lot about her and the way she once processed her hacks.
Practical. Methodical yet, oddly graceful. Twisted wrist movements and finger strokes all the while. Mesmorising. Like a musician playing the worlds most complicated instrument. Steven didn't adhere to the gesture structure like humans did and Kyanite had all the imprints of a human personality with their manner.
"Hmmm." Kyanite said.
"I wonder..."
And a GIS wasn't made to wonder unless it was supposed to.
"I might have found a small niche in the system. But it's a one way ticket."
What did that even mean?
"Steven, you don't care about losing this android body right?"
The Android that Connie spent a near fortune on? He would care; Connie would sooner reprimand him as anyone thought about destroying it.
"Uh...I do but...what does that have to do with anything?" He said.
Kyanite smirked.
"I may be able to make a single line out of here, however, we don't want to draw attention to ourselves."
They had a theories as to what this could have been but they kept it to themselves for now.
"Packets need to minimal and discreet....I can monitor things here an-"
No.
Words the snapped Steven thought as he got up and spun a stunned Kyanite to look at him. The GIS was not expecting Steven to retaliate that badly.
"I refuse to abandon you." He declared.
Kyanite had to reassure him.
"Someone needs to serve as a distraction...and to feed false data if they ever manage to hack into the....facilities systems." They said.
Steven shook his head.
"No. People keep sacrificing themselves and I can't stand it." He cried.
His eyes began to water. Kyanite had to be cautious as they became worried.
"I don't know where we are and I don't know where everyone else is." Steven said, his hands firmly grasped on Kyanites shoulders.
The truth was...Steven didn't want to feel alone. He didn't want anyone to just...think that throwing him somewhere to safety was for his own good. Or to run away...or feel like he was a burden to others. The Ancillas kept doing the same.
And it had always been like that. People kept abandoned him when it came down to it and it was only now, through the blurry vision of sadness that Steven felt that was heavy weight...and that he needed to be protected at all costs. Yes, he knew what he was and what he was capable of. But he knew one day, he'd have to fight for everyone if he had to. If it came down to it, and everyone believed it all the same, that he would be the last sentient creature left on Earth after everything was done. The virus would sooner wipe out GIS, leave Luna to rule and for humanity to die a slow and painful death as an entire extinction would end up being inevitable.
Kyanite ended up listening to him sob as his shoulders shook as he wept. They definitely knew what was at stake if they lost Steven.
"I want things to go back as they were..." He pleaded.
"I just....I just miss her so much."
Words that would break Kyanites heart.
"Steven..." They said.
The pain he felt, Kyanite's empathy would be absorb as they felt like they could feel such despair from him alone. The stutter in his tone and his voice breaking as a result of Absloute Sorrow.
How I feel. Is lost...twisted...churned...fucked up...feelings I don't want anymore. ^3
What Connie said all that long ago made sense. She didn't want those feelings....and now Steven held them close to his chest. More than he desired them to be.
He fell backwards as he let go of Kyanite, who knelt down before him as he begun to withdraw and pull his knees to his chest.
"If I could...have protected her. She..."
Putting their hand forward closer to him, Kyanite then quickly retracted it and looked within themselves and made a fist.
"I don't know if I'm ready to be human...if ever becoming one was ever possible to begin with..."
The desire to become ever more like the organics was ever present within the young AI. That being an Android was just as foolish. No matter how many upgrades he would obtain; he indeed, as many others had warned him, would never be considered as an equal.
"I don't know if you'll ever understand...if we'll ever understand...you and I." Kyanite said.
"What being human really means. This war is being fought by something humans helped create. Humans that took advantage of technology that they were never ready for. Even before they found Alien Tech."
Being human was something special to Steven however. To feel the cold wind against his cheeks and the taste of pizza. Sensations worth preserving.
"If anything, humans are far more dangerous." Kyanite continued.
"The curiousity, the ambition...the desire...it can only really lead to ruin."
But it could also lead to greatness.
"They make you feel lonely in the world. Because you're one of a kind? Sure. Nothing wrong with being unique...and while it can be a detrimental in some circumstances, being unique isn't a bad thing. In fact, it's very human."
Steven lifted his head to look at the Caretaker as they spoke.
"Maybe the Monoliths may never fully comphrehend everything that makes humans, human. But maybe that's the point." They continued.
"Or, maybe, they could be...for all we know, testing to see if humans were worth salvaging. Time will tell."
So they can capture the variety of unique humans and place them into phylacteries.
"But I suppose there's dozens of theories...none are concrete and maybe every theory has a bit of truth that lies within them. AIs don't like paradoxes that run the risk of destroying them just trying to wrap their heads around an impossible concept."
It was then something pinged right behind them. Something small and made of a golden light. Turning around, Steven got up and approached the ping. He touched it, though it came across as a static signal as the sound bars adjusted themselves. Kyanite tried to tune it as best they could as a voice called out to them.
"Hello?" Said a male voice.
"Hello Steven?"
He knew that voice?
"Greg?" He said, shocked.
How in the...
"Lis- there's not mu-" he said.
"But I'm going to keep this channel op- a li- while. Use it to get out. There's no -me to explain!"
Steven and Kyanite exchanged glances. The latter stepped back and Steven immediately knew what they were trying to do.
"We have a way out!" He called out.
"You can come!"
Kyanite shook their head.
"I have to remain." They said.
"I am determined to capture Luna."
Steven grew frustrated. No. He was not going to leave them here. And after the other stunts Kyanite's pulled, he wasn't going to let them out of his sight.
"No you're not." Steven urged, on the verge of crying.
"You're coming with me."
Kyanite rolled their eyes.
"You heard the man, there's no time! Go!" Kyanite yelled.
Steven then turned around as a large gold and white portal was formed behind him. He looked at his hands, then looked at Kyanite.
"GO!"
No. He couldn't accept this. He ran up to Kyanite and pulled them towards him...though, unintendedly, in some kind of bizarre circumstance that no one could describe; their bodies lit up in light and in a flash; a single body remained.
Taller and slightly thinner, in plating of white and purple, a new yet somehow similar entity formed. Without the cloak, the entity adopted Kyanite's armor that was being hidden underneath that cloak and the helmet they wore changed shape Iit. The Visor was now violet and double pointed on each side. Their skin, a light lavender and Curly, dark purple hair that poked out from underneath the helmet like a long ponytail and the cloak itself had acted as a purple cape instead.
Below was a purple Kernel Core where Steven's was.....and another was on the back of their neck where Kyanite's was.
"ST- h-rry up I can-t."
On instinct, they looked towards the gold and white portal and did not hesitate to run through it.
Notes:
1. Chapter 43: Admin
2. Chapter 39: Obelisk
3. Chapter 12: Ghost
Chapter 53: Linked
Summary:
The new fusion has no idea what's going on. But they're met with two people who were never expected to be found together again.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
They sort of knew who they were but they didn't. It was at the tip of their tongue but the name could never slip up. Still, it was probably one the least bizarre moments. A head filled with incomphrensible thoughts that weren't their own, but...as soon as they were able, they eventually got the grasp of their situation.
In a sense, they had arrived at a Private Grid that they've been to before. The dull, dusty air with the light pouring through windows. The tables filled with boxes with vinyl records, A voice once spoken but unsure spoke of their realisation.
"Mr Universe's shop?" They said.
They walked around in the silence for a while, until they looked at one end and saw a door that had a golden light that seeped under it. They were drawn to the door and opened it, revealing Gregs WorkStation; and two very particular males.
"Dr. DeMayo?" They said.
The man turned to them. He was as confused as they were...trying to make heads or tails of it.
"Steven is that you?" Greg asked.
The man stood there with his arms crossed, looking confused. He had every right to be, given the circumstances. Another man stood next to him. Just as tall and bulky with the long blonde hair. Both in their lab coats and appearing just as perplexed.
"I don't remember him looking like that. That's some new get up." The other man said.
It was Dr. Ryman aka Fryman. They didn't expect to see him again.
"I'm um..." They said.
Who were they really. It was a combination of awkward and they were grasping short straws each time. A name is a name to somebody like them. Somebody like they had been but like it was in a past life.
"I'm ummmm....Hackmanite?"
When did that name come up? Why did that name come up? Why was that so... inspired? It didn't matter. It suited them regardless. For what ever reason that popped into their head, it was who they were now. The unlikelihood of an event that had a bizarre cohesion to it.
"Ohhh..." Greg said, feeling silly in not noticing.
"Must have formed Consensus beforehand. Sorry Hackmanite...didn't realise."
Looking at their hands, they didn't even posit the possibility of Consensus making them feel this way. It was so strange that they could barely comprehend it.
"It's okay." They said.
"Steven and Kyanite must have...ah geez."
Fryman furrowed his brows.
"Kyanite?" He said, confused.
Greg nodded.
"Kyanite's the new Caretaker for the Blue Monolith." He replied, then laughed.
"And Steven has a tendency to not try and talk to me by forming Consensus with who ever he feels like."
Hackmanite then realised Steven's apparent grief with Greg, since the last discussion with his previous fusion with Lapis. ^1
"I see." Said Fryman.
"Well, I'm glad to see you're both safe."
Hackmanite wasn't sure how to react but...
"How did you know where to find us...I mean, me?" They asked, scratching the back of their head.
Fryman was prepared to answer that question.
"I know I spoke to Connie beforehand, revealing the details to help maintain Shards before things went south." He said.
"My intention was to try and help my sons. I knew my days were coming to a close. But...Greg found me. Saved my life. Again."
Greg smiled. The two scientists, once colleagues and now friends.
"Happy to help a brother out." He said.
Sweet. But there was still pressing matters to discuss.
"Anyway, I'm safe for now." Fryman continued.
"Greg and I have been trying to discuss our findings. The Pink Monolith, The Virus, Sol and Luna, Connie's situation...the lot of it. We had years to catch up on details even if a lot had been forgotten."
Hackmanite could imagine. The two worked closely for a long time. Surely, there must have been a trove of information Fryman knew about.
"Before you ask, I left facility in Africa before the Incident. What I do know is a probable solution to the Virus problem."'
Good.
"We talked about the Virus' possible origins." Greg stated.
"There is no way that Luna could have possibly created the Virus."
Hackmanite was definitely listening now.
"Right." Said Fryman.
"Back in the day, there were a lot of projects and experiments we were running. Including handwriting viruses and subjecting them in safe simulations that allowed us to conduct anti-virus writing programs."
Oh great, the fusion knew where this was heading.
"No need to state the obvious." Hackmanite said.
Greg nodded.
"But the virus itself wasn't exactly threatening." He said.
"While it self-replicated, there was a termination period that was designed into the code...it was meant to delete itself within a 30 minute time frame for non-urgent matters and about a minute in case it slipped out."
So...somehow it found a way to remove that command they assumed.
"We weren't that stupid." Fryman said.
No...but they weren't that careful either.
"I don't even know how Luna got a hold of it. When I spoke to her she said the virus itself was contained in a small section of The Sites Pocket Grid."
The Site?
"The Anti-Virus program would have been alongside it." Greg motioned.
"So we happened to scan that part of the Grid when I found...you, I mean...I found Steven."
So...they were in part of the...Site?
"We happened to find the original excavation; the original Obsidian Ruins." Hackmanite revealed.
"This...Site...the original venue where they first found the Monoliths."
Fryman blinked.
"Woah..." He said.
"You found THE Site? What was it like?"
Hackmanite felt many things. They were uncertain but the feeling shared was one of the surreal. But the awe Dr. Ryman demonstrated was proof of the peoples fascination and obsession with the Monoliths themselves.
"Strange." Was all they could said.
"I guess it felt like I was on another world..."
Even compared to the Domain.
"But why would the Virus have been placed on the Site to begin with?" Dr. Ryman wondered.
That's a good question.
"I don't know." Greg replied.
"But I've been able to recall some information about a discussion I once had with Rose a while ago.
Years ago...
"You know, I'll let you in on something. Something I've been hiding for years."
Greg blinked. He sat with Rose in her room as they made preparations for one of the most dangerous and risky projects to date. To say Greg was scared and anxious would be an understatement. If Rose was telling him this...then it meant she was taking this seriously and what she believed would happen, she knew in her heart that it would most likely be the final words she could ever hope to part with.
"What's that?" He questioned.
Rose appeared uncomfortable and unable to look Greg in the eye. She knew the truth had to be delivered in bits and pieces. She loved Greg and trusted him fully with the information. Because if it was to be, what she could foresee it to be then she would have little to no control of the outcome. He just had to understand.
"I'll impart what I believe to be important to share...just so someone outside the Family knows." She said.
"The history with the other Developers. PeriCom took the Credit for the Domains emergence and worked alongside the advertisements as you know. You may also know that it was a joint effort between Weiss United and Yin Aozora as well. Weiss United was an older software company and Yin Aozora specialised in hardware back in the day."
That much was known.
"But all three of its current chief...are directly related to an original company CEO."
This was new however.
"Original company? Huh...you know, that's actually not surprising." Greg replied as he scratched his head.
Rose nodded. Might seem trivial to some, but considering the disclosures that had been made over the years, Rose felt the need to unload years of secrets and history to someone who wasn't being manipulated and groomed.
"What if I told you that they're descendants of the one who found the Monoliths?"
It wouldn't seem major, but Greg had yet to hear the crux of it.
"Sandra White?" He said.
Sandra White. A well known Archaeologist who made millions after her discovery and won the noble prize for her contributions to science.
"Mhmm." Rose said.
"It's not a well known fact. All you need to know is that they purposefully planted to head these businesses to help achieve Dr. White's original goal. She controlled them from the shadows."
So...Lady Volley...President Dot and Director Agate were meant to take control. It was a written destiny. Dr. White appeared to have an agenda of her own. Making sure her legacies were the ones to lead on with her work, possibly long after her original death.
"Dr. White had her own empire. She was the one who had planned everything. From borrowing the concepts of Soulware founded by your own grandfather, Gerald DeMayo, to....well, things she expected others to follow."
The mysterious study of Soulware; it had Greg so curious, keen and ecstatic to lead the progression of humanity and it's technology, the lead up to being at the forefront with DM Biometrics.
"So this is more her agenda...more than the Monoliths themselves." Greg summarised.
"Why are you telling me this now?"
Rose appeared sheepish.
"This could still be the Monoliths plan." She said.
"If the Monoliths had influenced her in a way that she had to figure out how to finish everything, she had to do it beyond the limits of her own mortal life."
So she had a family she could manipulate. Disgusting.
"It certainly has spread from the idea of saving humanity, but I feel it could be beyond that." Greg stated.
"I'm not sure if we should continue with this."
Rose shook her head. Greg had always been paranoid of others finding out secrets. But Rose always had a plan to curb attention away. Not all of them were what Greg knew about.
"There's too many eyes on us...and I mean you and the company. It would be foolish to try and escape from the confines of what the Monoliths want." She said.
"I do not wish to be responsible for your own demise."
Indeed the risk would be high....and yet...
"So...so what do we do?" Greg questioned.
What could they do...
"I think humans should still decide what they really want. Let evolution guide them to brighter futures." Rose suggested.
"The Monoliths should not decide that for them."
Were they doing just that? That made Greg paranoid about everything else they had come across.
"We'll need to figure out some kind of Protection Protocol or something." He said.
Protection Protocol....
"I think I might know how." She said.
"The White Estate still holds many secrets. Data collected over the years that the Estate did not wish for people know about."
Greg knew there were most likely matters that were often kept to different levels of authority. Weiss United were a company filled to the brim with secrecy. Just as they demanded it.
"Doesn't Barb own a Mansion in Mega Beach City back in America?" Greg asked.
Rose nodded.
"It's one of the many houses owned by the Estate; Barb was just its vassal." She explained.
"She manages it on behalf of the Estate but since she's here, it's currently being managed by a Pearl GIS interconnected with its security network."
How would a Pearl GIS protect an entire mansion? Eh. Security measures had advanced in recent times thanks to GIS. Greg half expected a Quartz GIS however.
"I'm not ignorant for Barbara's disdain for the fact she cannot act as the Monoliths Voice. She is supposed to have the gene like the rest of us but she's not hearing the Monolith like the rest of us can."
Though that begged the question for the other leaders.
"The Gene could skip generations." Greg theorised.
"Such things are not unheard of it when it comes to certain biological traits."
He wasn't wrong.
"That's what we thought." Rose said.
"The Estate decided if Barbara wasn't going to be part of the Monolith's plans then she could still be useful elsewhere. She's really an Estate Archivist."
So how does that help?
"Being an Estate Archivist means that any secrets pertaining to what Grandmother White would expect us to keep goes straight to Barb. While she is difficult to work with, she's only doing her job."
And her tendency to get frustrated when she feels something might go wrong suddenly had an interesting justification to it. Like she was trying to keep things under wrap.
"Explains why she didn't like the plan for you to Screencap yourself." Greg replied.
"She felt you were going to...well, produce more heirs...I think I've got that right."
Greg assumed correct.
"Barbara's obsession with secrets also extends to make sure the family bloodline continues...for generations of new Voices to replace the old ones who may one day embrace the Monoliths gift." Rose explained.
And it also meant that the plan that they were creating doubled down on those expectations.
"So...linking back to this...idea you had." Greg said, before they got too off track.
"What are you thinking?"
Rose nodded.
"I've been to that mansion more than once for research purposes." She said.
"I've read countless files on the original excavation. I mean, you know the history of the Monoliths like everyone else does. It took them a good 17 years after the Excavation to realise the potential of the Monoliths and when Weiss United decided to reveal the existence of the Monoliths to the public."
That much Greg knew.
"But what you don't know is that while they unearthed the Monoliths, there were markings there that couldn't have possibly been done by the Monoliths themselves. Meaning; there was something else there alongside the Monoliths. Perhaps, it's protector."
Oh great, more than the public had to know.
"That's the theory anyway. Grandmother White wanted to find this one particular protector but she never could."
Could it have been an Alien? Something that would have been alongside the Monoliths?
"After all this time we call it Alien Tech but we don't know what Alien would have helped create the Monoliths to begin with." Greg stated.
And the hype surrounding that the revelation that humans weren't alone in the universe would have sent people into more hysterics than they already had been. The Monoliths changed the world after all. Changed people. Change the economy as they knew it.
"Eventually, after months of research, Grandmother White became the first known Voice; she heard the Voice of the, well, the White Monolith." Rose continued.
"In her journals, she interpreted this as the original Protection Protocol. That, if in an emergency, emerge in times of crisis."
And that meant?
"I mean, most of the Family believed it nothing more than a false myth. No such program had emerged at all or was found, years after it....so it was deemed not worth looking into."
Oh, now he knew where this was heading.
"You want me to find it?" Greg queried.
Rose laughed. Greg was so cute when he took things literally.
"No, but its an inspiring idea based off of the original theory." She said.
"I have a list of ideas and theories I could request you look into. I've run out of time to try and figure them all out. For this one, however. I posit the Protection Protocol to be a programming quirk of several GIS. That these GIS, could have the potential to be this worlds saviours if required."
So...Superheroes?
"I happened to design the code in my spare time...and you can replicate it in some GIS I feel may fit the mould. Maybe not necessarily a permanent factor, but ideally, could be worth looking into a prototype for."
Greg couldn't imagine the Domain suffering anyone than the real world did when it came to crisis.
"I suppose I could work with Bismuth to align the code in them." Greg noted.
Rose smiled.
"Thank you." She said.
"I'll have a copy in my code as well. Just in case."
What ever worked. Greg knew Rose altered her own code all the time by working with the Codesmith. GIS fundamentally aren't able to alter their code THAT much without the help of a Monolith or a Codesmith like Bismuth.
"What does the code have anyway? I mean, is it supposed to...I don't know...do anything fundamentally life changing."
She was glad he asked.
"The Protocol as I said, is a quirk." Rose explained.
"An instinct to guide and protect is inherent in the GIS's nature, more so than some do in their default programming."
While sweet, it didn't seem relevant unless the Domain was being hacked and even then, what good could any non-defensive or offensive GIS do?
"The Pink Monolith spoke to me once...and talked about the Protocol as being an Imprint Subroutine. As you know, Caretaker GIS like myself already possess an Imprint Subroutine. Which, I was able to find the Subroutine and implement it within the Protocol with specific alterations."
Such as?
"It can be changed if the situation changes." She continued.
"One of the only protocols or even GIS programming that's allowed to evolve and develop. The Monoliths are hesitant to allow GIS to change that easily unless they give their GIS those upgrades specifically."
Greg hummed and rummaged his brain for that particular thought process. It sounded dangerous. Artificial Intelligence for a human standpoint was a dangerous theory to begin with when the idea had been brought up in the 20th Century, being all but a particular popular idea in fictional media. Most would be afraid of them becoming so...human like in personality that they created the Turing Test because of it.
Having GIS have that function or quirk, as Rose put it, would be incredibly dangerous and disastrous of not given to the right intelligence's to begin with.
"Are you sure with the selection of GIS you've chosen with this...program, that you want them to be able to evolve?" Greg warned.
Rose nodded.
"I'm sure you'll find a way to make sure they develop on the paths intended. Don't restrict them too much of course." She said.
"But given time, the Protocol could even find a way to fight viruses if the chance came across that the Domain was under attack in that regard. That could end up being that powerful that they could eradicate the viruses completely."
"So the Protection Protocol. You intend to use it to defeat Luna?" Hackmanite asked.
Greg nodded.
"I remember that much." He said.
"The Antivirus Program that we wrote was meant to be installed with those with the Protection Protocol in mind. The irony stands that a virus had to be invented for it to be properly tested and invoked."
And so they believe the Antivirus Program could still be...on Site? The Site said to have been the sole discovery point of the four most important structures in human history?
"But we were just on Site!" Hackmanite argued.
"Why didn't you just tell us that we could have tried to find IT there? We would have figured a way to find it!"
Something they grew frustrated with. But Greg sighed.
"I didn't want Steven to be involved." He said.
"As soon as I detected his signal, I knew I had to bring him back from that horrid place."
It was then Hackmanite quickly dispersed; with Steven and Kyanite emerging from them in a flash of light.
"I told you I should have remained." Kyanite told Steven.
Steven grumbled. He fundamentally believed he did the right thing by bringing Kyanite back. It wasn't worth the risk for some stupid program.
"I didn't want anyone else to be subject to Luna's torture." Steven said.
"Especially with the Cluster in their grasp."
This surprised Greg and Dr. Ryman.
"Wait, you saw the Cluster?" Ryman said, astonished.
"Damn, you really were close to the source."
How could Steven even begin to describe the chaos that lead them there.
"This shouldn't have happened." Said Ryman.
"Once an impromptu design of a Man-made Monolith that Weiss United proposed, now a logistical nightmare."
Again, sounded like everything had been stolen.
"Someones really gone through the Archives and patched together everything in practicality...."
Someone like... a Archivist?
"You don't think Dr. Miller could caused all of this?" Kyanite wondered.
Ryman shrugged.
"Dr. Miller was a hard case." He said.
"But I wouldn't be surprised if she was some sort of catalyst behind it all."
The evidence mounted on itself, time and time again. The problem remained however. Steven didn't want anyone going back, especially if it was bad news. They'd lost the Rosa Leo and they've lost Lapis, Ronaldo and Peedee. Greg and Ryman only cared about everything else. The Virus was an issue yes, but how can anything be done when they themselves couldn't keep together. As one. As allies and friends. Leaving behind anyone was not an option.
Steven eventually stormed off, incredibly frustrated with everything. Kyanite went to go speak to him, but Greg stopped them in his tracks. Kyanite wasn't sure what Greg could even do, but trusted his judgement.
Steven had taken it to himself to stand on the roof of the building that overlooked the Golden City. No doubt the effects of the virus were spread here. The City looked dull and lifeless. No one was walking about...and the buildings, especially the reinforced ones, were barred with black barriers to defend the citizenry and the Pocket Grids from any potential viral input. The Sanctity of the Domain had been breached and people were terrified of getting corrupted. All one could hear was the hollow winds taken in by the areas physics and sound emulation. It was practically a ghost town.
Everything was too crazy for him to handle. He was being thrown about from place to place and now he was without an Android; so he was especially limited with what he could do on the outside. Stuck back in the Domain; right where he started.
"Hey bud." Said Greg, as he approached from behind.
"I know there's a lot to say and..."
"Don't." Steven said, as he crossed his arms.
"You're here. Where you shouldn't be. You should be cleaning up your own mess, front and centre. But you hide here...why do you hide?"
Greg looked down in shame. There was so little he do to persuade Steven...with so little time. Greg took on Stevens adversity to him with a understanding and that one day, that he would be thankful to realise what he had done for his son after all these years. Maybe grateful wasn't the right word. Maybe relieved? Greg wasn't under any illusion that he may have screwed up a few times...but he was trying to fix his mistakes and had to wear them every single day.
"You hide so much that now the entire world is in danger!" Steven continued as he raised his voice.
"This wouldn't have happened if you just took control of the situation!"
If only Steven knew. Greg wasn't in any position to take control of everything when everything else decided to make their own choices.
"I tried." He replied.
"I know you don't remember. The trauma of it all....and like you, I'm trying to piece it all together...lost in this crazy loop of events. Trying to keep things together...trying to keep you safe...."
This was more than Steven. This was more than him. This was about the world; the livelihoods of both humans and GIS that have been living in near harmony for years.
"You're all I have left...you know?"
Steven furrowed his brows in confusion.
"What about Ryman? Aren't you two close friends? And what about your cousin Andrew?" He asked.
Greg scratched the back of his neck.
"Ryman is a good man. A good scientist. And Andrew and I were never really close. He's too loyal to the Developers Cause." He said.
"I acknowledge the many mistakes that were made that got us to this point. Ryman is trying to protect his two sons and even he struggles."
Of which, Steven almost forgot about. He's almost gotten them killed several times over this chaos.
"But you're my only son. And parents....parents have this...powerful, intense connection to their children. They start off small, defenceless. They're entirely dependent on their caregivers. Their creators. We are the ones to guide and nurture because as soon as you come into the world, you are a responsibility. An obligation. So that one day you will come into your own and you won't need us anymore."
Steven felt like something was missing.
"You think of me as your son...but I wasn't born the same way humans were." He said.
Words Greg felt a need to adjust, but he didn't.
"It doesn't matter how you were made...the factors remained the same." He said.
"We had the tools, as well as a little thing called love."
Love?
How does... a hypothetical emotion that comes with variety of factors and ideas be a contributor?
"I uh..." Steven said, uncertain.
"How does love work into this?"
A question that would utterly confuse artificial intelligence in general. Emotions were emotions but nothing was more powerful yet perplexing was the categorisation of love. As a father, one would expect this conversation to come up as if you were talking about the birds and the bees. Except that metaphor among all others would most likely fly way over Steven's head.
"Well, depends on how you view it. Everyone has their own little description." Greg replied. In a way, he was grateful Steven asked the question. It gave him a sense of relief and pride.
The two sat down down on the building ledge as they spoke. It was peaceful to discuss openly, without fear or judgement. To anyone else, it would indeed be the discussion between a father and son without the complicated filters placed upon them. Steven's previous admonishment of Greg was due to his carelessness, cowardice of dealing with mistakes of his partial creation and working with secrecy. Steven wasn't human and the idea of guidance reminded him of the Ancillas...and Greg would explain that they would be seen as mothers or mother figures.
"Your Mother and I...well, she wanted kids more than anything but her career got in the way. The cycle of creation is a little bit more complex than what you might think. Beyond writing a little code here and there and hope it sticks."
Steven knew how humans procreated, he wasn't that naive.
"Yeah...I know." He said.
"But she became a SC-GIS. She never got to have kids."
Greg, however, had an expression that suggested otherwise.
"You are hers...and you are mine." He responded as he wrapped his arm around Steven's shoulders.
"We would find a way to create you one way or another. Sadly the process of your creation is still lost to me..."
There was the theory that Steven knew...and felt like Greg didn't want to talk about. Rose must have had him at some point. Gave birth to a human child that ended up passing away due to some hidden illness. That's what had been theorised once or twice before. He wanted to ask...and if Connie was here, she would have no problem in trying to rip out the truth if it came down to it. Then again...
"It involved brain mapping a dead kids brain." Steven said bluntly.
"It's okay, I know."
Greg swallowed as he took his hand back and clasped his hands together on his lap and looked to the lands below. The memory was either rattled or the situation was still too raw and sensitive to discuss. Steven wouldn't push it. Humans experiencing death was said to be a sorrowful experience and to fear the cessation of existence was just as much on the flesh as it was on binary. When Greg was able to give it some thought, he was able to segue into something else he believed Steven was pushing towards. A scenario all children seek out eventually. The inevitability of growing and evolving.
"Are you so keen to try and find your identity? Would such an assumption satisfy the desire to know the truth?" Greg assumed.
Of course he was. He's been trying to find it for so long and now that he knows and he's seen what he's capable of; he's terrified. He's not been able to deal with what he's discovered and he's been trying to escape from it.
"My identity right now is to be some on switch for when I'm ready to wipe out humanity." Steven said bluntly.
"I don't know if I will ever have a choice to make to be anything else but that. What if that's just it....yeah, your son alright. A WMD...are you proud of what you've created?"
Frowning, Greg felt guilt in the way Steven would feel about himself.
"A weapon you both designed and supposedly love. How does 'love' permit the reason to commit outright genocide?"
Steven wouldn't let that idea go, ever since their last argument. ^1 Though...that statement took a moment for Greg to realise something else. He lifted his head...why didn't think about this sooner? The talk about the Transitional Entity and its capabilities had been thrown about. All Greg could really recall was it was something that was in the works...that Rose wanted to connect sentient beings above all else, no matter what platform they used. But the talks about love made him rethink certain aspects...even remembering others.
"You know that's not what we've been trying to do." Greg gently argued.
"I don't know what you've heard or seen. Perhaps everyone has been misinterpreting the value that your existence brings."
What value?
"I could have been in that same line of thought. Maybe the Developers as well. Maybe they're not seeing the full picture. Maybe the Monoliths are beyond human understanding and we're just going with what we think we may know; or pushing our own agendas...something like that."
Surely the Developers knew by now what the Monoliths desired. What they craved. How could they not as they had their lives wrapped around these mysterious, highly influential relics that have impacted the very way that they think. Their power pushing humanity to the point where the next step in evolution is to be written into the newer fabric of reality that could allow them to control everything around them.
"What agenda did you have?" Steven questioned.
Again, Greg had to give it some thought.
"I'm all for furthering humanities causes." Greg replied.
"In a positive manner. Exploring human needs and potential. I never asked for anyone to be hurt."
Steven could hear the genuine tone in his voice. Greg wasn't a bad person, by any means. A good man who's made bad decisions.
"But..." Greg said, trying to be positive himself.
"Being human is about making mistakes, owning them and using those mistakes to better yourself."
But some mistakes could be deadly ones.
"So...with that in mind, is there anything you want to do?"
What he..wants to do? Steven wanted to be free to express himself in the human world but the reality was, that could never be. He could have all the Android bodies his entire life but something told him that it wasn't going to be the best experience. Or the most optimal.
"I don't know." Steven said, as he wrapped his arms around himself and looked onward in melancholy.
"I'm sure the Steven you asked for would have known by now."
Words that almost broke Gregs heart. That wasn't... that wasn't even a thought in his head. All Greg could guarantee was that Steven was Steven; however he decided to become was his own business.
"You needn't compare yourself." He said.
"Besides, when I was young, I wanted nothing more than to be a rockstar."
A singer?
"You... a rockstar?" Steven questioned.
Suddenly, the music store made a lot more sense.
"Yeah." Greg replied.
"The Music Store was brought up as a life long dream of mine. Under better circumstances I would have been a performer."
That didn't add up.
"Wait...a performer..." Greg said.
"Hey, I got it!"
Heading back inside, Steven was still confused as to what was going on. Though, he wondered if it had anything to do with music, going off their recent discussion.
"I think I know how we can make the anti-virus." Greg said, as he threw a fist into his hand.
"I mentioned that we had simulations and we had a GIS that was able to 'play' with us to help us understand viruses more. However, there was one occasion that this particular GIS got infected."
The first time Steven's heard that.
"You don't mean Spinel?" Ryman stated.
Wait...Steven did hear that name before in a memory file from Rose that he unlocked? ^2
"That I certainly do!" Greg said with a wink.
But from what Steven could recall....
"Wasn't she with... Sadie Miller?" Steven said.
Greg and Ryman exchanged glances.
"Yeah she was taken from Sadie if I remember correctly." Ryman said.
Greg nodded.
"She was eventually cured of the virus as per the test." He said.
"But I'm not sure what happened to her after that."
Ryman rubbed his chin.
"She was oddly attached to Sadie due to her Protection Protocol." He said.
"Now that we think about it, Spinel was our original guinea pig for a lot of tests."
Now the one question remained on peoples minds.
"So...did Spinel manage to escape or what?" Kyanite wondered.
Ryman shook his head.
"I believe Dr. Miller took Spinel's Phylactery and Cabinet out before the Incident." He said.
"No doubt to give them to her daughter. Whom, well..."
It was assumed Sadie still had Spinel and her cabinet somewhere. As for what Sadie was doing; Steven hadn't seen her since that concert a while ago ^3.
"Sadie wanted nothing to do with her mother and the Empire so she coveted." Kyanite said.
"But I think I know how we can find her."
This piqued their interest. Kyanite cracked their knuckles and prepared to do their magic.
"The Developers try to keep track of her. Sometimes she flies under the radar and we lose her but her name pops up in certain circles. Particular forums fans create to speculate where she might be next. She's mostly underground but the name does come to the surface from time to time."
Steven didn't even know the extent of fans and their obsessive behaviors. They were considered assets to the Developers due to their...enthusiasm. It was disturbing, but ultimately useful.
"How on Earth..." Ryman said, vaguely impressed.
Kyanite smiled.
"Like you, I have small friends in high places. As well as high friends in small places." They said.
That just made Ryman terribly confused.
"Just let me do the tracking."
Kyanite set up a search party in the forums later on that night. Leaving the search itself until someone would message them using Gregs WorkStation. Greg and Dr. Ryman had gone elsewhere to do some scouting of their own, but promised they would return. Steven was reluctant to let them go as expected but Greg assured him he wasn't going to run away this time.
Steven himself was back in the Music Shop in the dead of night. One of the things that Greg and Ryman did before they left was to help Steven reinforce a barrier to the shop and surrounding buildings. They weren't foolish to believe nothing would try and get the jump on them, no doubt. That meant Steven had to stay behind while the others went out. It wasn't that it took effort; Steven could leave the runtime running for the Firewalls without much effort, thanks to the WallofROSE.
He sat down in the back corner with his eyes shut, like he was sleeping. Kyanite felt like he wasn't the person to sleep if he had to but...to them, he seemed to be...exhausted. Mentally. Like a human who hadn't slept in days. Most AI could endure for days, months....years even. That was the point. Exhaustion wasn't even an issue for them.
But the mental capacity for the most complex, human like AI had less mental fitness than those who had less capacity for greatness. So, for BM-AI, it was good to give them a break once in a while.
Kyanite looked around before they sat next to them, letting the false moons light rest upon their frame. Steven was deathly still but Kyanite wanted to check on some things. They immediately made a scan on Steven, to see where his mind had traversed to within his memory core.
AIs weren't known for dreaming and the idea for them dreaming was strange indeed, Mixed up code and patched memories they assumed. The scan eventually completed and an unusual set of statuses appeared.
It was known that Steven didn't give off the file types and extensions such as SolEX or AI or GIS. Just...unknown. On the surface you could believe he was an AI or a piece of Soulware and no one would known otherwise. Kyanite refused to believe that he was just...nothing.
Though, the oddest status was put up; Current Temperature was listed as 30 degrees Celsius.
Kyanite had never thought to simply scan Steven's statistics before but...the average Phylactery temperature was normally around 40 degrees; higher when in exertion. Steven would complain that he was in a cold place while he was sleeping. Maybe he was telling the truth.
The evidence mounted to an inevitable point, though, one had to wonder if Steven knew the truth already and just wasn't ready to accept it. It wouldn't matter in the long run, but part of Kyanite was...disappointed. Though they shouldn't have been.
Kyanite could tell Steven what was going on but at the same time, they couldn't predict how he would react. In the sense that it was logical with all factors considered and that the truth would always be the truth, but the heart and soul of Steven depended on figuring it out for himself to accept it.
"You know don't you?"
Greg's voice had Kyanite's attention.
"I think I do..."
The pair had returned; as Ryman walked into the WorkStation room as Greg stood there. Kyanite got up and walked towards him, while he nudged towards the furthest part of the room to discuss this out of Steven's earshot.
"He's at the Site isn't he?" They said.
Greg nodded.
"Now you see why I'm so paranoid." He whispered.
"If he reaches back to the Source he's doomed."
Though Kyanite wasn't sure why.
"Why is that?" Kyanite queried.
Greg looked over to his son, who was resting so peacefully.
"The Site itself is...the last line of defense in the way that I was trying to make sure the Developers couldn't get the hands on the Pink Monolith." He said.
Wait...so he remembered what he was doing?
"So...how is Steven even related to it?" Kyanite wondered.
Greg looked out the nearby window.
"I...I don't remember." He said.
Kyanite growled as they slammed their hand on the nearby wall, which made Greg jump.
"You do remember!" They argued in a heightened angry whisper.
"You choose not to say anything because I'm a damn dirty representative."
Greg shook his head.
"No no!" He protested in defense.
"Look, I'd...say more but..."
Kyanite suspected it was because of their ties to the Blue Monolith and by extension the Developers. He was hesitant to trust them on the while the sole connector...and protector of their sacred charge.
If Kyanite had to spill some beans then they only had to tip the can slightly.
"Dr. DeMayo." Said Kyanite firmly.
"I'm far from your enemy. Yes, I have dedicated myself to the sanctity of my Monolith and all it holds dear. I've sworn myself to a service because it was the only way I could get things done."
Greg looked at them strangely.
"What are you..."
Kyanite sighed and promptly unsummoned their helmet. Which caused Greg to gasp as he could finally see the face underneath it.
"Oh...how did..."
Kyanite smirked.
"Who are..."
Sometimes confusing and dumbfounding people were fun. It'd been a long while since Kyanite felt that towards anything. Some confusion was to be had for sure, but the trickery itself brought up old warm and fuzzy nostalgc emotions.
"I learned some hard and fast lessons." Kyanite continued.
"Humbled by experience some would say. But it took some quick thinking, some connections and a lot of yelling and screaming but when you have to appease a Monolith, you gotta know what they want...and what they give you is extraordinary in exchange."
Furrowing his brows, Greg still struggled to connect the dots. Though, he expected Kyanite had gone in a similar route to Rose...if they were really who he thought they were.
"You fed the Blue Monolith information in exchange for the Caretaker role?" Greg asked.
Kyanite grinned.
"Enough to satiate its hunger...for the moment." They said.
"The Blue Monolith understood my side of the argument. Eventually.... as for the others.....come, we'll talk more in the other room."
FLASHBACK.
Ally? To someone they just met? Volley was hesitant to trust.
"What makes you think we need your help hm?" Volley said.
Though they could use someone as fodder...GIS from other regions that wanted to work with Volley and Weiss United were more than welcome to. But they had to fit certain...standards...and play by their rules. This one GIS however, was different somehow but Volley couldn't quite put their finger on it.
"I think you will need someone of my capabilities, Lady Volley." They said, with the hint of arrogance.
Oh really...
"How do I know what you're capable of? I cannot begin to bargain with a stranger who has nothing to prove to me in order to gain an alliance. What do you expect in return?" Volley asked.
Not that Volley had plans to give anyone anything so freely. Prices had to be paid and everyone had to pay their due.
"I will plan that...at a later date." The Stranger said.
"I promise you, the Domain itself will be restored. In order to do so....I will require your aid."
Volley still wasn't convinced.
"You have somehow hijacked the Asian Sectors Deep Throne's signal to get to me. You have to do better than that in order to gain my favour."
The Stranger chuckled.
"What if I told you, that what you would get out of this...is a new Caretaker?"
After her last one was so unceremiously destroyed. The destruction of such a well respected Caretaker like Albite took its toll on many and infuriated Volley to the core. Still, Volley hadn't yet heard anything from the White Monolith about any new Caretakers so it was a struggle to try and find an Acting One when there was no one in the sector capable enough into taking such a massive task. They would have be strong and willing. From one of the higher classes, obviously.
"I don't think that will be necessary." Volley said.
"I will find one in due time and not be the aid of some lowlife traitor."
If should could help it.
"Then your Sector and all of its Grids, will be overrun." The Stranger warned.
"Besides, I've already talked to Director Agate and President Dot. They have been...persuaded to assist. However, they both acknowledge your superiority and have recommended I have your help on this matter as well."
Those idiots. Those weak-minded buffoons. Volley's made plenty of deals over the years and she usually always ends up on top. Her pride was her barrier but this was just between them.
"Very well, who have you got for me? They at least, better be decent.."
"Wow you got to convince Lady Volley? I had no idea!" Greg replied.
"And the fact you got them to take on Bismuth? Unheard of!"
Kyanite nodded. Ryman was still shocked as they were unsure of who they were really looking at.
"That Bismuth was in dire need of repair." Kyanite commented.
"A functional Codesmith would be probable and useful to our cause. Granted, it took a while to convince Bismuth herself but she was able to see reason eventually."
Greg gulped. Kyanite already knew why.
"I promised her answers." Kyanite said.
"And one day the answers would come from the horses mouth."
Oh no, they didn't....
"I'm not here to badger on about things that could or should have been done in a way that would have appeased everyone...because that's impossible." Kyanite continued.
Ryman could see the benefit however.
"We could get the Codesmith to help us tinker with the vaccine." He suggested.
"Once we obtain Spinel of course."
Spinel was another matter entirely. Greg on the other hand, wanted to know Kyanite's exact reasoning for this endeavour. The amount of effort put into place; that Greg could thank for doing so but this one Caretaker could still have been lying in the attempt to kidnap him and take him straight to a Court of the Developer Chiefs. That would be the last thing Greg wanted right now. Kyanite then summoned their helmet again.
"I'm going to see how Steven's doing." They said.
"Let me know when the traces done."
Greg and Ryman continued to work on other matters as Kyanite left. Ryman was astounded by Gregs reaction to Kyanites Avatar.
"Did you know that was going to happen?" Ryman asked.
Dr. DeMayo didn't even want to think about it.
"They're....resourceful...but I didn't think that they were that resourceful." Greg commented as he watched the screen as it scrolled through code.
"They remind me a lot of Rose. How they can just...find a way..."
Fryman then looked concerned. For as long as they knew each other, Greg was someone who was in sheer denial. To figure out a way to a solution that would best suit everybody but they were never always battles he could win. Alone or otherwise. Ryman had to make sure his associate had both feet planted on the ground.
"Greg..." He said.
"You know how this is going to end."
Greg knew. It had been a long time coming. He's done what he can but...he hadn't finished leaving behind breadcrumbs yet. Not while they were so close.
"I do." He said.
"It's just...I'm not ready to let things go...ya know?"
Ryman nodded, as he understood Greg completely.
"You still blame yourself?" Ryman asked.
Indeed he did.
"If i had done more, checked and rechecked a million times...this is my fate my friend. My purgatory. And I have to see this to its conclusion or else..."
He didn't need to say more. Though he didn't need to be that dramatic.
"Of course...that's why I'm here." Ryman reassured him.
"But...you do know...Steven is going to find out eventually about..."'
Greg raised his hand to shut Ryman up.
"I know, I know..." He replied.
"His mind is too fragile. His freakouts have damaged things to a dangerous extent of being irreparrable if left unchecked."
A power, once demonstrated before.
"What about the girl?" Ryman asked.
Greg knew how much Steven cared for her. He didn't regret introducing them, but Steven needed a friend. Needed someone to help him understand the growth of humanity through the eyes of a child. He'd watched them on the daily and observe. Observe how children were supposed to be. He remembered her laughter...and yet the one regret Greg had...
"I...I don't know..." He said.
"I thought about abandoning the project at one point...still am."
Ryman furrowed his brows, knowing exactly what Greg was on about.
"It's a little too late for that." He said.
"We asked if this was okay...and you said..."
Greg did remember.
"I said this was what Rose wanted." He said with sorrow.
"The Empire; Weiss United. They would have pushed for this direction eventually."
Ryman growled. Greg had a habit of caving into the pressure when given the chance. He claimed he still needed the Developers funding or something akin to that. Gregs main problem was the betrayal of his own values.
"You disappoint me." He said.
"We're scientists...we're fathers but we don't know where to place them...we're committed to the former, rather than the latter."
So it would seem.
"You saw your boys grow up into fine young men." Greg acknowledged as he leaned over his WorkStation.
"I...."
For everything they did...what..crimes they committed to this day for the sake of science and humanity. Not a day went by did Ryman not feel sick about what they've done.
"I think it's time." Said Ryman.
"We can still pull the plug on the project, before it's too late."
Greg spun around on instinct, confused at his colleagues words.
"No...we...we can't." He called out.
And still...Greg clung onto foolish ambitions and dreams. If it wasn't for Rose, it was for his selfish desires to try to cling to the top scientist in the world. Knowing that, Dr. DeMayo was a name said with venom and hatred. Fryman felt that he didn't have the right fathers instincts to guide Steven to begin with. No son is raised from beta to Alpha, to Golden State in the way they committed to it.
"You are just like Dr. Miller." Ryman said with disdain.
"Insane; but you're the more tolerable one. But even your optimism can get tiring."
Greg's heart broke. Surely, Ryman didn't feel that way.
"I just-"
No.
"You don't get it Greg." Ryman called out.
"Rose poisoned your thoughts. Her ideas that stained a good mans mind and that's all the good that comes with affliating with that...Family. They're all insane...which is why the Family...the Empire needs to be put down."
Surely, he wouldn't be serious.
"Decades spent wasting over these immoral ventures. DM Biometrics was supposed to be for the betterment of mankind to serve mankind. Artificial Intelligence was our aim...not this...this..."
The distress over just thinking about it caused Dr. Ryman to lose all semblence of speaking as he broke into sobs. Greg could feel the shame and the years of regret pour out. That wasn't Gregs aim to make him feel that way.
"I know...that the day we met..." Ryman said, as he managed to find his voice again between the quivers.
"That I met Steven...I saw his face that day in the Domain....as he dealt with the PeriCom lackey that was on my trail...the one who claimed to know who I really was. They planned to sell my data so they could find me. I wanted to get rid of all the traces of my past and they double crossed me...and so Steven came in and scared them off. Threatened to wring their neck."
That didn't sound like Steven...
"Though once I give it more thought that probably wasn't Steven...someone who had probably borrowed his shell for a moment and pretended to be like them...one of the Ancillas perhaps?"
Probably Amethyst, Greg would wager. She had a habit of using different Avatar shells from time to time...if thats what Greg remembered that she did anyway.
"Still, his friendship with Ronaldo was a blessing. I'd never seen him so happy to work with an AI. So...that's going to bring me to my next question."
Here it comes.
"What are you willing to sacrifice for your sons happiness?"
Alongside the memories that had slowly and painfully returned to him, it was a matter always on his mind. Not a day went by that Greg didn't think of what he had to do to help Steven. He thought he knew what was best for his son and even so...there was still so much to do. They hadn't finished their current mission and so...what Ryman had been urging...it was simply not possible.
"You say you love him....but...Rose is gone. Barbara's gone. There's nothing left but us and I'm willing to do what it takes to reconcile this....save Steven. Save Connie. Save the Domain AND the outside world. You owe it to those with lives long lost."
Like Connie's parents....they would be sooner ashamed to know what's happened to their daughter.
"And the lives...that are still on the line."
Steven was here...that was still something that Greg was grateful for...as for Connie...
PING
The WorkStation had finished its tracing....and before they can even percieve and react, Kyanite came running back in as the trace was completed. They rapidly typed with all the details as Greg and Ryman came to and stood behind them.
"We got something?" Ryman asked.
Kyanite smirked.
"Indeed we do." They answered.
"Looks like the last point of call was...back in Mega Beach City? Hmmm..."
A coincidence, surely...
"I'll contact the Ancillas."
Greg pursed his lips.
"Wait." He said.
"We can't spook Sadie...or the Spinel GIS."
Kyanite hadn't had the pleasure with dealing with a...Entertainment Class GIS was it? The Class was a very inventive and one of the more creative GIS out there. One of the few allowed to evolve beyond its default state if they had that correctly. But it also had a goofy default so...depending on who the Spinel was for, it would always be stuck at a specific age mindset relative to its core directive.
"It's fine." Said Kyanite.
"Looks like she's at...DJ Sour Creams night club?"
Why would she head there? That's normally ripe with PeriCom lackeys. Unless...
"Which means... we can't Jasper interfering....hmm..." Kyanite hummed.
"We can compromise if we have to. I'll leave for the Mega Beach City grid immediately."
Greg looked weirdly at them.
"You sure you're gonna get there quick enough before she leaves?" He asked.
Kyanite had connections.
"You're talking to a Caretaker...I can take care of myself." They said.
"Pardon the pun."
Sometimes they forget about that part.
"If you're going, take Steven." Greg advised.
"He's safer with the Ancillas."
Kyanite nodded. Little did they know they were outside the entire time while Greg and Ryman were talking. They could sense the distress, the anger. Humans were a tricky lot to work with. 'Saving' Steven... that their words acknolwedged Kyanite's theory about a certain something that they thought about Steven. That there was a reason that he was so coveted. Kyanite shared the concern about the possibility of Steven being corrupted by the Virus and they were dedicated in doing their darnest not to let that happen.
"Agreed." They said.
"I hope your sons are okay Dr. Ryman."
The scientist nodded.
"I'm sure they're okay. Call it human intuition, but my gut feeling says they're around somewhere." He said.
Kyanite believed so as well, though they weren't sure as to why.
Greg and Dr. Ryman would find their own way back to Mega Beach City from where they were. Dr. Ryman positioning made it difficult for him to cross grids like Kyanite and Steven could. Kyanite offered amnesty in exchange but the two declined. But Kyanite did let them know that Bismuth would let them passage if need be. One of the perks of being Caretaker was the astonishing amount of authority they had beyond being just being in the position to take care of matters of the Monoths. It involved being able to supersede other digital and often physical guidelines, laws and others rules if it had been the behalf of the Developers. While Governments of the world certainly existed, they had long since been bought out by Developers decades back and, to be expected in the scenarios of the mega rich and powerful, they held all the power required. It would have been hard to believe a single scientist back in the day could have formed such a intertwining conglomerate which formed the very backbone of society well into the now 22nd Century. After all, who would have thought humanities progress would have gone so far as it did without the Monoliths?
On that note, Kyanite's ambitions are goals were their own. Others suspected as such but as long as Kyanite walked the walk as well as they talked the talk that they could be able to get anyone to do anything they wanted to. Even offhand. Because they knew how to predict people...and they weren't even a Sapphire-Class GIS.
Steven was, however...a bit difficult to work with. He was more sluggish than usual as he wallowed in his own self pity. Kyanite could get that. The AI was an advocate for peace but it wasn't that. The way things were right had messed with his head and Kyanite to try to make sure to keep him out of that mindset. Unless a memory served them well in that case but really...those moments were more of self-indulgence if anything. A means for escaping a terrible situation by watching happier memories like they were movies.
He wanted to go back to Mega Beach City, but felt conflicted. He constantly felt horrible to the point once they go back to the hide out from before, he shut himself off from everyone else instantly as he left for the sanctity of his own room.
Kyanite approached Garnet, who wanted to help. Kyanite detailed what had happened, with Garnet who processed the information provided.
"I see." Garnet said as she crossed her arms.
"The loss of the Android's also been a catalyst. The lack of access to the outside world would have taken its toll."
Though Garnet had her visions of Kyanite's own interest in Steven's well being and after hearing that the two had fused, had Garnet even more interested herself; seemingly surprised at Hackmanites existence.
"The probability of a Consensus outside of a Monoliths influence radius is pretty low...if not non-existent." She commented.
"There was another trigger."
Kyanite bit their lip.
"The Cluster Monolith?" They suggested.
Possibly but not conclusive.
"The Cluster Monolith must be strong enough to give off the energies of a real Monolith." Garnet stated.
"That is...too dangerous."
Thats for certain.
"We'll deal with that later." Kyanite said.
"But right now we've got a lead."
And they didn't bother to bring Dr. DeMayo as agreed upon, though Garnet could see what Kyanite was playing at.
"There was once a Spinel GIS that was used for virus testing. Supposedly, this virus was tested on it and the anti-viruses measures were used on it. It affected the GIS to an extent, even after the virus was successfully purged from it. Interestingly enough, the Protection Protocol that they designed? That was supposed to be intergrated with the Antivirus extras in mind."
Garnet understood how this could work.
"Now I see how what Amethyst had discovered fits in." She said.
"Amethyst's been working with the human digital authorities in researching the Empire a little more. To see the other secrets that could be laid to bare. Anything from the old mansion that had yet to be discovered."
Garnet projected a screen in front of them which provided the blueprint for the Mansion as well as other file notes that regarded Dr. Millers history.
"We know that Sadie had a GIS Program with her. It's just never been seen." Garnet continued as she filtered through the file notes with her fingers by gently swiping them.
"The Protection Protocol would fit into the alignment if it already had the fittings to be installed. The Protocol was designed for digital evolution."
The few things left to design its own code outside the usual code designers.
"If the Spinel was infected and an attempt was made to purge the code from it and it succeeded at behest of the anti-viral program, its possible to use the affected codes for a proper vaccine."
Thats what Kyanite had been hoping for. Though it took them some time to wrap their heads around it. Without a safe fragment of contained viral code, they couldn't do much without the code itself.
"Yes, so we can upgrade current Protection Protocols as well as provide the code to other GIS and AIs." Kyanite said.
"But the problem now is containing Spinel so we can extract her code."'
Garnet hummed.
"That's what we're trying to do currently." Garnet said.
"Amethyst contacted me recently about something unusual. She's tracked down Sadie Miller at DJ Sour Creams...shes willingly staying there for the moment."
What? So she still handn't left? Sadie had all the time in the world to jump ship but she hadn't budged from the club. Something was amiss.
"How?" Kyanite said, shocked.
Garnet brought up Sadie Millers profile on screen.
"Ms. Miller is good friends with Mr. Sour Cream." She replied.
"And Ms Miller is spooked about the whole ordeal...says Spinel has been acting strangely recently."
Kyanite nodded.
"Whats being done about it?" Kyanite asked.
Pictures of a conversation between Sour Cream, Vidalia, Sadie and Amethyst being projected from a CPD were shown, thanks to Vidalia.
"They're trying to calm Sadie down now. Vidalia decided to stay there for Sadie's protection, so they decided to interrogate her there in one of the clubs back rooms." Garnet replied.
Then Kyanite had to be there to help, surely.
"They're still trying to get more information from Sadie...it will be a while before anything could happen." Garnet warned.
"But I can message Amethyst with the details you've provided. It could be used to prove our case to Sadie."
Kyanite understood that clearly enough, despite the overall urge to go over there to interrogate her themselves. They were prepared to, as Caretaker. This wasn't their jurisdiction however and it was possible that by doing this, that they were trying to avoid having Jasper deal with the problem since she's not able to do anything physically.
"Once we're able to find a way to extract the code from Spinel, I'll contact Bismuth as well. We want to get this done sooner, rather than later."
Kyanite nodded as they gave a salute.
"Aye aye." They said.
Though they did need to ask Garnet one more thing.
"I'll need to commune with Director Agate and the Blue Monolith...as a Sapphire-Mod, have you got any advice?"
It'd been too long since Garnet had ever dealt with those two...but luckily enough, Agate was too predictable.
"Don't tell them anything they don't need to know." Garnet advised.
"Telling them that you've been to the Site will freak them out. Just to use discretion and your own judgement."
As soon as Kyanite left, Garnet went back to work. She quickly messaged Amethyst with the data as she had planned but she couldn't stop thinking about Hackmanite. Everything she knew about Consensus was flipped on its head. And the power of the Cluster Monolith; Garnet didn't realise that it grown to the point where its nearly perfect enough to emulate a real Monolith. The amount of GIS phylacteries would have a phenomonal amount of Processing Power to begin with. So many lost GIS already and it pained Garnet to think of how many GIS made up that abomination already.
That would be the most affronting Consensus if Garnet ever saw it. More so than anything she had ever seen or even forseen. She tried to think of reasons of why Steven could ever fuse with someone he outright loathed;
She went into the room with Steven as he sat sown on a couch, curled up as he looked into nothingness. He had been trying to force himself to remember...anything at all to even be remoteful useful. But it brought him nothing but pain and misery. She sat down on the side and attempted to converse with him.
One thing Garnet knew was Steven's ire even at the name of 'Kyanite.' There was a lot of tension and distrust. She could understand why. Humans had this tendency to feel or sense when something didn't quite feel right. A gut instinct if she could recall correctly.
Though, Garnet could only sense Kyanites' intentions...so for some reason, there was an obligation to trust Kyanite. For reasons unbeknownst to Garnet herself who didn't even trust that easy to begin with.
"I know you know what to know more about Kyanite." Garnet said.
"Alongside your worries about Connie, Ronaldo, Peedee and Lapis. All are valid."
Steven didn't even bother hiding his thoughts.
"I don't get it Garnet." He said, frustrated.
"We took down Aquamarine and all of a sudden another Blue Caretaker shows up? It makes no sense."
Garnet could see some logic.
"The Blue Monolith can decide when it is time to choose or create a new Caretaker." She said.
"Like any other Monolith. How or why is not ours to decide. But to live with their choice."
Did they?
"I'd rather trust Jasper, over them." Steven admitted.
Then maybe Steven deserved to know the truth.
"Steven..." She said.
"Kyanite was the one who created the opening for all of you."
Now that just left poor, irritated Steven confused. Garnet had to elaborate further.
"Kyanite contacted Lapis and myself." She said.
"I wasn't even aware it was them at the time. But they created the portal. They saved your lives."
Though, Kyanite revealed that to him previously and it made him even more angry. What would they even gain from doing so? Steven grew skeptical.
"Are you sure they didn't do it for any other reason?"
Garnet couldn't see any other reason beyond the message of the Blue Monolith, if it felt that Steven was in danger and required protection. If Steven was able to do with they thought he could do, then they had to make sure they had everything developed at their deposal to do so. It would have left a void after Aquamarine was apprehended and they had to fill that void fast. Garnet wouldn't have made the choice, but she would have to accept the Monoliths judgement for what it was, just like any other GIS had to.
"As I already said, the Monoliths make dec-"
Steven rolled his eyes. He was sick of hearing about them.
"Fuck the Monoliths." He said, stunning the Predictive Analyst who didn't expect him to flare up like that.
"I can see why Connie got so frustrated..."
Surely, the Ancillas weren't that blind to see the truth. Yes, maybe Kyanite did save them and maybe they were chosen by the Blue Monolith for the sole purpose of trying to solve issues someone of Kyanites calibre could possibly fix. That wasn't what Steven was getting at. He could detect a certain vibe from them. They held themselves in a way no other kind of GIS could. Unless it was a special type of GIS.
"Focus." Garnet said.
"Use that energy and anger for something useful."
Like what?
"What can we do?" Steven said as he begun to pace around.
They needed him to stay put for now. At least until they had the anti-virus sorted.
"Kyanite told me that yourself and they had been to the Site. I need you to describe your experiences."
What, for research purposes?
"It made me feel sick....thats what it did." Steven described.
Feel sick? That's...odd. Strange for an AI to feel sick.
"Kyanite believes its some kind of Aura Radiation that the Monoliths give off."
Garnets heard of that before but as they've never left the Domain in that sense like Steven has, it was improbable for Garnet to understand the concerns. Though Steven's apparent sickness, got her attention more so.
"Describe the sickness." Garnet asked.
Steven shrugged.
"I don't know...my audio processors were being weird...same with my visual receptors." He said.
"I couldn't think straight...like something was messing with my mind."
And it made him extremely uncomfortable.
"But, you know I've felt Connie when she was sick..." Steven said.
"What she calls a gut ache or somethin'. It felt similar to that...and a headache..."
Steven...definitely shouldn't be feeling either of those. Perhaps not to the extent of a humans and their more complex nervous systems. She wasn't as well versed in human AIs as she thought she was. They had nervous systems that were mimicked into their programs to reflect the feeling of touch. Though she wasn't sure about BM-AIs...phantom pains maybe? She had to have an expert in that.
"I can try and communicate with Dr. Maheswaran if you feel that way again." Garnet assured him.
"I don't like it when you feel pain."
Steven couldn't help but feel some comfort in that. Garnet tried to expose him to human life when ever they could, even if she didn't understand much of it herself. She strangely felt the need to do so, given his personality and design as a human overall. Though, it made him realise that they never told Dr. Maheswaran about what happened to her daughter and it brought Steven in more sobs. Garnet tried to assure him as she patted his head. He missed Connie dearly and there were one too many thoughts to give a definite absolute. Sadness anger and despair, all vied for the position to destroy his mentality.
He could have brought Greg here and instead...just left him behind...Steven was sick of doing that.
"I just want this to end Garnet." Steven weakly said,
"I'm tired of all this...conspiracy theory this, research that and oh no, there's a situation we gotta split up for some reason."
His sarcasm was identified.
"I just want things to go back to normal." He pleaded as he voice begun to crack.
"I just want to eat pizza with Connie. Is that so much to ask?"
Garnet tried to figure out the best way to that simple, but sweet goal, but kept coming with dead ends due to unknown variables. She needed more information to get to that path.
"It isn't." Garnet said. She hadn't had pizza before but Steven's talked about how amazing it was on a frequent basis so she didn't doubt that if she had the pleasure to taste it, that she too, would enjoy it.
"I wish I could make this easier for you...but I'm not human."
It was one of those...perplexing problems. Like Steven, Garnet had tried to pick apart her own memories to formulate and to be able to predict. So far, she's managed to get enough to work with, but at this point, her own intentions were to clearly help Steven. Her inner self, even her components were driven to assist him. She cared for him and adored him as if he was her own. Now was as an important time as any, to understand those needs further.
The world was in a dire position and the balance was out of sorts. It was crucial for her to determine the right course of action to gain that balance back.
Factoring in Kyanite was new to her. She didn't know Kyanites history to place in the bias. But they clearly cared about Steven despite having never met him beforehand.
Unless.
She took other assumptions into consideration and as if a lightbulb lit up in her head, Garnet realised the paths that this commanded and a whole sweep of truths come to multiple but similar conclusions.
If the assumption she had swung parts into favour of course. The worst is to have that pathway incredible incorrect that it would be disastrous if it wasn't commanded correctly. But Garnet had taken such risks before.
And maybe, such risks had already been taken that she didn't even know about.
As such, Garnet needed Steven to be able to restrain himself from being too emotional. She's understood for the longest time she's known him that his emotions often could get the better of him. His heart was in the right place, but it had the potential to jepordize much in the long run if he wasn't careful enough.
She pulled the boy into a soft hug which he leant into. A heart full of hurt and agony, heavier still with the burdens he carried.
"You have all...helped me so much..." Steven wept as he cried into Garnets chest.
"I feel like all I do is take and not give."
Garnet never saw things that way at all. If anything, Steven provided them with more than what he's realised he's given in exchange.
"You've provided us with the means of purpose." Garnet noted softly.
"Being with you...and even being with Connie...we've learned so much. More than most GIS could even say."
Steven felt the guilt otherwise of being a load on them all. She stroked his hair and continued to hold him close for as long as he wanted. They had a job to do, but Steven was the important person in her life right now. The sight of him in this state caused an ache in heart. Not something she felt often if at all.
A rarity but an emotion she wanted in the pursuit of understanding
Good or bad feelings. She wanted them all. This was the path that all GIS had to take. They must take. Yet, few did.
Which made her process her previous thoughts. Steven's emotions...how he's felt and what he'll continue to experience. He needed to know how to properly deal with them and not to fall into absolutes.
Another risk, crossed her visions.
"Steven." She said.
"If you trust me, you will continue to work alongside Kyanite."
Steven sniffed, confused as he looked up at Garnet.
"Why?' He asked.
A question she was prepared to answer.
"Kyanite has come to us for a reason." Garnet replied.
"They understand what is at stake. The importance of keeping the Domain stable. They are not another Aquamarine. Nor are they Jasper. But...they are a GIS that had been created for a need. And the Monoliths understand the needs of the Domain more than anyone."
Being the pillars and the very foundation after all.
"You don't have to be friends." She continued.
"Give it time. Get to know Kyanite better."
Steven was still hesitant, but was at least willing to respect Garnets choice.
"I...I'll try. Sorry." Steven replied.
He didn't have to be.
"It's fine Steven." Garnet said.
"When this is all over, you'll be able to live your life the way you choose it to be. Remember that."
Steven smiled at her.
"Thanks Garnet."
Notes:
1. Chapter 47: Structure
2. Chapter 48: Virus
3. Chapter 24: Search Engine
Chapter 54: Entertainment
Summary:
The Ancillas interrogate Sadie and Spinel
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
It'd been sometime since they'd hit the Clubs within the Mega Beach City Club. Security was still tight as ever, however. The Pocket Grids were turned into Private Grids as to disconnect the software from the public. Everyone was screen checked and no stone was left unturned if someone happened to be infected. It was a popular place, even with the issues the world was having at large. Governments had their security tight knit and their armed forces on standby.
The physical spaces could still be visited. Though, most places had PeriCom goons undercover. Both in and out of the Domain aspects of it. Though the only problem was that Ms. Dot demanded Jasper to intervene...by intervene, she meant that Jasper had to lead this supposed interrogation.
So far, as they arrived at the clubs Private Grid thanks to Kyanites connections. They had to display their 'credentials' as they were into the doorway. Followed by Steven, Pearl and Garnet.
Steven found it especially weird with all the humans partying as normal. The nature of the music that pounded through audio processors and the chatter among the populace...you wouldn't even know there was a crisis. The Team had to cut themselves through the thick crowd, to get themselves to the back rooms behind the bar.
Usually it was a safe space; a dressing room emulated to allow digital performers to recollaborate.
According to Garnet, Sadie was safely put into one of the VR Pods and was watched over 24 7. She was let out on occasion as to not let her DP overheat and to let her rest naturally. PeriCom had the place in lockdown but only really for her and Spinel to be protected if necessary.
The Dressing Room had yellow wallpaper, several shelves and a well lit dresser and mirror. Sadie sat there with the saddest expression while Vidalia spoke to her, as Jasper leaned against the backwall. Meanwhile they could see Spinel at back wall in chains and it looked like Amethyst was smack in the middle with an argument with them. Steven was relieved at first to see Amethyst okay, but then was worried all the same. Amethyst then realised Steven was there as they entered and completely ignored Jaspers grumbling as she ran up to pick him up and swirl him around before placing him gently on the ground again.
"Oh gosh Steven, you're alright!" She said.
Steven was glad to see her. Though as he looked at Spinel; the pink pigtailed GIS, as she glared at him for what ever reason as she clung to the grills of her digital prison.
"Hey Amethyst." He said.
Though the situation got awkward rather quickly. Jasper had to intervene.
"Alright enough with the sap." She said.
"I'm only here because President Dot told me so. Let's make this quick."
They discussed the situation at hand. Vidalia had been talking to Sadie and making sure she was protected and her condition was stable. As stressful as it was already, it was important to make sure they were doing the right thing. Not to mention, being the only other human in the room made sure human interests were being taken into account. Vidalia ordered Amethyst to sit with Sadie, as she went to speak with the group.
"Well, now you're all here." Vidalia said.
"Is this everyone?"
Garnet and Kyanite exchanged looks.
"We're just waiting for Bismuth." Kyanite said.
"For now, we're hoping that you've found something."
Vidalia looked at Sadie and Amethyst, with the latter giving her thumbs up.
"Lets talk outside."
Jasper stayed in the room with Pearl, Amethyst, Sadie and Spinel while Garnet, Steven and Kyanite went out to talk with Vidalia.
"I'm surprised Sadie is willingly staying here to begin with." Kyanite commented.
Vidalia nodded.
"She's a good friend of Sour Creams."
"With the Virus out and about, she no longer felt safe roaming. PeriCom offered protection in exchange for information regarding her mother."
Vidalia had been working alongside Amethyst to investigate the matter ever since.
"What did you learn?" Kyanite asked.
According to Vidalia, they learned about Sadie's ordeal. That she had been both guided and haunted by Spinel as she had been provided so called advice. She loved Spinel ever since she was a child and wasn't willing to give her up despite her faults. She would make what little money she could after the virus started, as making a decent profit on digital performances was considered near impossible.
"I was put to looking after her by PeriCom." Vidalia revealed.
"Amethyst wanted to help...and Jasper being the Caretaker with all her enforced wisdom...insisted on trying to delete Spinel due to her systems possibly being able to compromise the Domain but...Sadie managed to settle things between them and just asked for Spinel to be imprisoned alongside her so she didn't have to be alone."
Spinel must have had an astounding loyalty to Sadie in that case.
"But after I heard you guys needed Spinel, you got me curious."
Garnet hummed and let Kyanite take the lead on this.
"We need Spinels code." They replied.
"We're waiting on Bismuth to arrive to get help us with extraction."
Vidalia rubbed her chin.
"Jasper mentioned something about Bismuth being the White Monoliths Caretaker now." She commented now.
"And you Kyanite...and even Steven. All four Monolith Caretakers here? This extraction must be serious."
Indeed it was.
"Have you gotten the chance to talk to Spinel?" Steven asked.
A strange question.
"Spinel is an odd GIS." Vidalia replied.
"She's extremely defensive of Sadie and we feel that she could have also shrouding her location when ever we tried to find her."
Garnet knew why.
"The Protection Protocol within her draws her to shield her ward at any cost." She replied.
Vidalia nodded.
"Programming like that makes sense." She said.
"But I have to wonder. There's been files we've found at the mansion hidden in a vault somewhere. Some files..."
Vidalia trailed off briefly as she took a very brief look at Steven before returning to topic at hand.
"Were very disturbing...others...it looks like that Dr. Miller had a firm belief that the Protection Protocol was the Alien that came with the Monoliths or something? I don't know what to believe."
Something Rose once talked about.
"Whether its true or not; it doesn't matter." Kyanite said firmly
"If this Protocol actually works, we may be able to get it all underway and out of the way and we can all get on with our merry lives."
If that were possible. Vidalia had other things in mind as well.
"There was other...data....not sure if it's worth looking into." She said as she scratched her head.
Anything was worth looking into.
"Forward it all to me." Kyanite ordered, who was willing to take anything by this point.
"I'll decide if it's useful."
Not that Vidalia doubted Kyanite...
"Amethyst and I already took the liberty of making a sweep...not sure if anything will be usef-"
BANG
That sounded like it was coming from the other room.
"Oh dear." Vidalia said dryly.
The group ran back into the room and gasped of the sight of pink limbs sprawled everywhere in the room. Spinel had somehow escaped her cage and trapped Sadie in a corner, while she had a hand (or foot) to the throats of everyone else and pinned them all to the walls. She had a glitched up face; her eyes were those that belonged to the void and her smile looked like a entrance to the darkest hells that dripped with a thick, black liquid-esque substance. By instinct, Steven and Garnet brought out their shield and gauntlets respectively.
"What the hell just happened?" Kyanite asked, as they took off their cloak and summoned a long blue sword.
"We-we just asking some questions!" Amethyst called out.
Spinel herself glared with the intensity that could corrupt everyone in the room if she wanted to. But her eyes were upon both Steven and Kyanite now.
"You-you don't understand!" She cried. Her shrills could deafen as they were glitched and warped beyond recognition.
"Sadie is my ward! My Protocol is for her and if-if you-you as so much as touch her! I will tear you apart!"
Steven's eye went to Sadie immediately, who was outright terrified over what was going on.
"Spinel please!" Sadie pleaded, as tears fell from her eyes.
"They're not going to hurt me!"
Looking at the very visage of Sadie triggered Steven somewhat, though it wasn't clear as to why.
"I knew we should have deleted this thing!" Jasper argued.
"Ya'll are just too foolish to see!"
They had to do this safely and Steven just wanted everyone to calm down. Spinel's glare was squarely on him now.
"You...." She said with a low voice.
"You're the one she couldn't stop SCREAMING about..."
What?
"Spinel he's....he's not a threat..." Sadie called out.
Spinel's cackle sent shivers down artificial spines. Why would Spinel call him out, specifically?
"Oh no...it's just that I don't even know what I'm l-looking at." She said, the black ooze spatting out.
"But at the same time! I do!"
Something that left everyone confused....and Jaspers patience to run out. She struggled against the fingers around her neck but eventually with her pure strength, pulled Spinel off of her and attempted to punch her head. However, Spinels unusual command of the physics engine allow her to extend her neck out to dodge the punch. Her new target was towards the Quartz-Class GIS and efforts were focused on a singular threat. Jasper was more than happy to play with the hellish clown as the two exchanged blows. Spinel was super stretchy by default which allowed her to be more unpredictable than Jasper realised. In the instant that Jasper lifted her arms to defend herself from a punch, Bismuth finally arrived to get the job done. With a fist clenched to resemble her steely determination and no nonsense nature, she had herself utilise the full extent of her Prime App in reformat the entire room. Her eyes glowed white as the walls, roof and floor...then the rest of the room was consumed in a similar light. The room grew immensely. Steven ran towards Sadie and protected her, while everyone else jumped back as Bismuth power placed them into this new white void.
"Enough!" Bismuth called out. She had since risen above them as she commanded her programming ever so swiftly. It was easy to forget that she had one of the strongest apps among them on top of being a Codesmith; that which has the most understanding of the frameworks of the digital atmospheres.
Spinel was restrained once again; this time in a stronger barred prison. Something similar to what Jasper once had him trapped in, but with laser light bars of white.
"Ah thank you Bismuth!" Pearl praised.
"It seems like trying to extract that questions wasn't a good idea after all."
Steven raised an eyebrow.
"You took her word." Amethyst.
"I gotta teach you not to be so gullible P."
Pearl gave greasies to the small purple Quartz.
"How was I sup-"
"Pearl, Amethyst..." Said Garnet.
Steven was nearby with Sadie, who had been breathing heavily. She rested in his arms yet, she felt so tense at the same time.
"I'm sorry." She said.
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen."
It wasn't her fault. They were all trying to fight against forces beyond their control. If what Spinel said was true, however.
"Let's just talk this over like reasonable people." Said Vidalia, though she felt more like the small fry in this situation with all these powerhouses. Still, as long as she had her wits about her and her willingness to take risks, then she'll survive.
"But we have to judge this based on Spinel's lucidity. Is she really sane enough to be able to consent to what we're really after."
Steven and Sadie looked over to the corrupted mess of a GIS. She was still fuming, as she sat there, lumped in the corner and ready to spill binary blood.
"I'm f-fine." Spinel claimed.
"Its all of you, that are insane..."
Garnet and Pearl exchanged glances. As did Jasper and Bismuth.
"It's okay Spinny." Sadie assured her as she called her by her nickname.
"They're trying to help."
Spinel growled, in the mindset of disagreement. Surely, this was going to mean her own death. She didn't mind, as long as Sadie was safe.
"Like they tried to help Mom?" Spinel called out.
"Now she's de-dead and we're left here in these cages... like animals."
Vidalia crossed her arms, curious about Spinels knowledge. According to the files found in the Mansion, Spinel was encouraged to call Dr. Miller Mom, like Spinel was some kind of sister to Sadie.
"What do you know about Dr. Millers death?" She asked.
Spinel growled again, before she looked at Sadie, as if seeking approval. Sadie herself nodded to encourage Spinel to talk.
"I-I don't know much." Spinel said, resentful in doing so.
"Sadie told me what happened."
Vidalia looked at the singer. Bismuth used her app to form some black chairs, to allow Sadie to sit down as Steven sat with her.
"I was messaged by Moms personal Pearl GIS." Sadie revealed.
The Lonely Pearl?
"Hmm..." Said Bismuth as she rubbed her chin.
"She's under my authority though I haven't had the chance to use her properly."
Though that didn't matter. Vidalia and Amethyst got enough data that they still hadn't properly poured through it all yet. Unless there was something specific that they had to find.
"She's not of any use talking to at the moment." Said Vidalia.
"But before hand; you've served both the Empire and DM Biometrics."
Sadie made a quiet cackle as she made a devious grin."
"I served as their playmate alright." She said.
"It was all fun and g-games until I got infected."
So she had been infected the entire time?
"We understand what you were originally made for." Kyanite stated.
"But then they had you help up with some anti-virus programs."
Spinel nodded.
"Y-yeah that's how those morons got me." She replied.
"Hide and Seek was never meant to be THAT intense."
So the story goes.
"How are you even still functioning is what I'd like to know." Bismuth said. She was in the middle stage of admiring the idea of her current phase and as well as being disturbed.
But it was a question that was going to be on peoples lips one way or another.
"Ahhh....let's see..." Spinel said, as she rubbed her chin that gave off squeaky sounds.
"The program they utilised...I think...I dunno...ummm..."
She didn't know.
"I think the Protection Protocol is giving her enough willpower to counteract the virus." Bismuth suggested.
"Spinel, if you don't mind me asking....do you...have conflicting commands?"
Commands that would rather shut the GIS down or have it glitch up entirely.
"I might..." Spinel replied sheepishly.
Jasper rolled her eyes.
"You don't or you don't brat..." She said.
Though, Steven was confused as to what they meant.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Steven queried.
Good point.
"The Virus itself is being controlled by Luna." Bismuth stated.
"And Luna's will alone. The Protection Protocol is overriding Luna's authorities on this which means it holds more sway."
Is that how powerful the program is?
"From memory, Mom said she installed the program into Spinel to make sure she would look after me." Sadie clarified.
"Or better, that the program was already in Spinel, that it had to be fine tuned for me specifically."
Made sense.
"So the cure is basically giving everyone the Protection Protocol?" Pearl suggested.
Garnet shook her head.
"No, but that's only half of it." She said.
"If some of us have the Protocol, it means that it already gives us a fighting chance. It make take some GIS more time to combat the effects instead of submitting to Lunas will automatically."
So some GIS were out there...still fighting the virus' effects.
"Spinel's Code is still valuable nevertheless." Bismuth stated.
"She currently straddles the line of stability and instability. It's still worth looking to if we can replicate and improve upon the code."
Eyes were on the dark pink GIS in her cage.
"I-I hear Luna all the time." Spinel said.
"Though only recently. Ever since the sp-spread of the viral code."
Kyanite crossed their arms as they held a few theories. But nothing that could help them. Yet.
"Alright, best for some of us to do what they can. Meanwhile, if Spinel's keen, then some of you should help Bismuth with the extraction, the rest of you, we need to discuss the next phase. Bismuth, I trust you can handle things from here."
Bismuth smiled and gave a thumbs up.
"Me and the power of the forge should be able to do this easily." She replied with confidence.
Some of the crew overwatched things with Bismuth; especially Jasper. Amethyst left with Vidalia again to follow up on other matters, while Garnet and Pearl spoke with Kyanite on their set of follow ups. In the meanwhile, Steven took Sadie to the Virtual Bar at Garnets encouragement. She was stressed, scared...exhausted and anxious about everything that's happened. She needed a rest. Badly.
The Bar itself was still filled with people without a care in the world. Despite the the potential knowledge of knowing the state of the world, some played into the safety of ignorance and went on like nothing was wrong. Steven and Sadie sat at a booth and had a cocktail. He was willing to listen to her side of the story, even if no one else would. She had been a wanted woman but so far, it looked like she was more tired of running.
"I never thought it would get to this point." Sadie said.
"I'm just so...."
Looking at Sadie...seeing how she acted. Terrified beyond all belief. She was a human, like Connie. Raised in a complicated world and into a complicated family.
"It hasn't been easy." Steven commented.
"I can't imagine what you're going through."
The woman bit her lip.
"Steven I..." She said, though then tried to find the right set of words to convey.
"Amethyst told me what was going on. You don't remember much do you?"
Other than what ever had been coming through him naturally. Though, if anything, a lot of it still made him confused.
"I've been remembering things, piece by piece." Steven replied.
"But this isn't about me. Unless the memories can help people like yourself."
Sadie's frown wasn't encouraging.
"Look I'm not..." She said, before she sighed.
"It looks bad. You'd think...that beyond the running, beyond having your own mother pass away and that you're a wanted criminal because of your connections on top of having to deal with a broken GIS that I would have sooner lost my own mind. I know for one thing....I'm not my mom."
At least Sadie could be reasonable.
"I have a distinct hope that keeps me going. Fans that encourage me. People that are willing to help. It's nice to have people care about you for a change."
Words that gave Steven a spare flicker of that hope that was enough to inspire him.
"I'm sure they just want to make sure you succeed." He said.
"It's a scary world out there at the moment. Both humans and artificial intelligence will suffer greatly if we don't do anything!"
Indeed it was. Steven fought for every moment....and the bitterness of it all was all that was sacrificed along the way. If Steven was just a little stronger...
"Mom used to say the same thing." She said.
"She took in Spinny when I was younger. She felt for the poor GIS. I mean, back then I didn't really...get why she felt for something that wasn't even real. But as I got older I realised she was someone special and dear to me."
They looked at the crowd before them that talked to one another. Any one of those people could be a GIS or an AI and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
"So...she's been like a sister ever since..."
Though the melancholy Sadie radiated indicated that there was more to it than that. Steven on the other hand, had trouble resonating to Sadie on the same scale. What kind of connections an AI had in comparison to humanities? He was template...he was...somethinh.
"I...I don't know what that's like..." He said
"I mean, I have a Creator-Mother who disappeared before I achieved...golden state and a Father-Creator...that I don't exactly feel comfortable with. The only people dear to me are Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl...Lapis even...Ronaldo...and Connie..."
Sadie blinked...and tapped the table with her fingers as she looked to the side. She tried to think of a response to that.
"Then I found out Rons dad was Dr. Ryman all along. Even he...he's not saying too much..."
Sadie leaned forward and furrowed her brows.
"Usually people who have something to hide is because they have something to lose." She said.
"Be it their careers...loved ones. They'll do what they can to protect it all...which includes covering things up."
Words that gave Steven pause.
"Whats wrong with telling the truth?" Steven question.
Sadie sighed. She had to remember that he's one of them too. The concept of lying wasn't always inherent to their code. The truth was their factor and embedded into their systems. Though, Sadie suspected Steven was...different. He had that vibe to him and she had a few suspicions as to why. Being where's she been and seeing what she's seen and tried to escape from....there was a reason. Several, even.
"Mom tried to protect me." She said.
"I wasn't always clear on her Empire. She supported all my activities and even helped with funding my career and giving it a kickstart. I think...despite everything, having me far away from the science stuff was her way of saying, stay out of this field or else you'll end up like my cousin Rose."
Cousin?
"Rose? As in, Rosette Flannigan?" She said.
Sadie nodded.
"Oh yeah..." She said, deflated as she leaned her head into her hand and ran her finger around the edge of her glass.
"Used to complain about her all the time. There was praise too, but she jousted at Rose's flaws and ambitions and stuff. Mostly ranting when ever she had a bit to drink."
Wait...Steven tried to correlate this in his processors.
"So..." He said, trying to put it all together.
"That's...wait, so that's my uhhh...Mother-Creator....does that make us siblings?"
Sadie had to think about that for a second, before she smiled and laughed.
"Rose was your Mom? Oh...Umm...well, not really." She said
"Hmmm...I think that's...no that's uh...."
It took her a while as well as using her fingers to count the possibilities.
"It makes us cousins...but specifically, second cousins."
Humans were confusing.
"I don't think I've ever met someone like you before. As far as what I assumed to be that AI's don't care for stuff like families or attachments. Though, I heard Amethyst refer to her fellow GIS as 'sisters' and now I'm not so sure."
Though there was probably an explanation for that.
"Amethyst is a Protoype like Spinel." Steven explained.
"She was made with the human perspective in mind."
A fact Sadie found fascinating.
"Huh, Spinel mentioned something about being a Gen II but I didn't know what that meant." She said.
"But she sees the Pink Monolith as some sort of mother...or mother-creator. But you know, family isn't just who you're made from. It can also be adopted in a sense. I'm not sure if you understand-"
Steven understood to an extent. But here Sadie was, as some sort of cousin.
"So, in a way you could also be my sister." Steven suggested.
"Hypothetically."
Yes and no. Looking away briefly, Sadie went into deep thought.
"I would have had a sibling once." She said.
"Children; specifically newborns can be lost in...miscarriage, childbirth or otherwise. Not all of which is exactly common but sometimes it still happens no matter how you and try and fix things."
Steven didn't even know what any of them were, but suspected that both of them lead one way.
"But...I think...the first sign of moms decline was when she lost them. I was...too young to understand at the time of the grief she went through when she lost it. I just rememeber the crying. Not much else."
The AI frowned.
"I'm sorry." Steven said.
"I didn't...."
Sadie shook her head.
"Mom never really talked about it a great deal." She said.
"I think...this is gonna sound strange but...if you're the same Steven she used to talk about, then I think she must have been jealous of your parents with you."
Oh?
"I'm sure there are other Steven's in the world. It's a common name." Steven explained.
But Sadie already connected the dots.
"It's too much of a coincidence not to be though." She said.
"But I'm open minded if other evidence presents itself."
So what evidence did she already have?
"It's no lie that Mom used to drink alot." Sadie said, as if ashamed.
"She would be either angry, sad...moping about the one that should have been hers. She felt like that you belonged to her...in a way."
That was odd. If memories served correctly basied on what Steven had already witnessed, he had a feeling that she didn't like him that much.
"Did she see me as her son?" Steven wondered.
A statement that had Sadie almost sweating. Luckily, Steven didn't notice.
"I...I don't recall." Sadie replied.
Steven already felt enough pity for Dr. Miller; a woman who possessed many regrets. As for Sadie, Steven was impressed with her will power and fortitude. She was definitely not her mother.
"I don't think you need to run." Steven assured her.
"I mean, what will you do?"
Sadie sighed.
"I don't even know." She said.
"Uhh...I just hope Spinel is okay."
Steven was sure she would be.
"After the virus spread, she changed. She was always glitchy but this amount of corruption...she became more aggressive and lashed out at so many people...so many fans..."
Could she be returned to a Monolith?
"We can take her to a Monolith to get her repaired." Steven suggested.
"Bismuth was broken previously and now she's a fully functional Caretaker."
Sadie hummed; not being certain about it.
"Maybe." She said.
"Her phylactery sticks with me all the time. It's not in its cabinet. Well, it's attached a self-destructive device that can still connect to the Domain. Mom made it for me in case Spinel tried to do anything funny."
That...was concerning.
"I've joked about it being her leash but..."
If they had to use it as a last resort. It made Steven feel sick just thinking about it.
"I'm sorry..." Sadie said.
"That was kind of morbid of me."
Steven shook his head.
"It's fine." He said.
Sadie rolled her eyes.
"No...it's not." She said.
"I mean, she's important to me. She's stuck with me for almost all my life and the thought of losing her is...devasting to me....if you knew what it was like to lose somebody..."
Steven looked down.
"I do...." He said.
His manner changed that was reflected in his body language; sunken shoulders and hunched over. The sadness in his eyes and his slightly pouted lips.
"Oh..." Sadie said.
"I didn't realise...ummmm...:"
She ran her hand through her hair before she continued.
"What were they like?"
Steven rubbed the back of his neck. Pleasant memories flowed in, one by one like snapshots and small vids of their time together.
"She's...incredible." He said.
"I miss her everyday..."
An Artifical Intelligence that lamented such a loss...it almost tricked Sadie into thinking so many things that she harboured the need to discuss this with him further. And it reminded her of something.
"Wait..." She said.
"Was that the one you were telling me about a while back? The one you were looking for?" ^1
Oh yeah, Steven almost forgot about that.
"Yeah..." He said with sadness and defeat.
"She...her body was taken over by Luna..."
That was...not what she expected at all.
"The one who sent that weird transmission?" Sadie said with a gasp.
"Oh gosh, that's scary. I mean...Connie could still be around..."
Could be?
"Possession is about...taking control right? Though, the level of control is....debatable...maybe Connie's consciousness is being suppressed?"
That's all they could really hope for. Luna did state that Connie was alive. ^2
"Maybe you're right..." Steven said.
"Figures I would be thinking she was dead. The two states of existence...being alive and being dead."
Sadie believed otherwise. She would believe that there would be some hope. After all...wasn't...Berrybyte a hacker? A nefarious one at that?
"Steven, I didn't take up the name Sadie Killer because it sounded cool..." She said.
"...maybe I did but thats besides the point."
It sounded weird to him but he was willing to hear her out.
"I love horror movies. I love gothic horror, I love the supernatural and the weird and the spooky. I love the scares and the hidden magics of the underworld."
Ah. Connie and I him watched movies once or twice but she liked watched the purposefully bad ones so she could laugh at the horrible special effects. Ones that were made in the 20th Century.
"I especially love the lore. Did you know that the research of Soulware was due to the Scientists love of an old movie? It wasn't horror persay but he really liked their concepts of ideas and his research went into the discovery of Soulware itself."
Soulware was a subject still studied to this day. Complex theories were inbound and influx with facts and rumours. No one could one hundred percent agree on what made up Soulware but it allowed humans to traverse the Domain with ease.
"Soulware is the rawest form of a human being stripped of all flesh and meaning. If we know the subject as Souls as they are, then the digitised Soul is a projection of ones truest self. What can one see as ones self become and what can be altered in impossible ways. The Avatars...the shells are all just what the Soulware uses to convey itself in the digital world as humans desire. GIS do the same with their phylacteries that emit their forms to the Domain through Alien Technology that allows them to do so."
It was apparent Sadie took a lot of time to research this in the background.
"All this talk about the Monoliths wanting to uplift humanity permanently as their Avatars is...flawed."
So it has been said. But it was interesting to hear that Sadie had come to that conclusion.
"I read a lot of books on the topic and...mixed in with what I know about the supernatural...and how human souls are handled. There's a basis for something that's lost in translation. Though the soul can exist in many different ways. Souls that many different cultures intepret in many different ways. What if, say, a GIS, is basically an equivialent to a Soul and each type of Soul can be classified into many different types. And usually, the ghost types are usually determined on so many factors. How they died. How they lived in life...do they have any unfinished business? Do they want revenge on someone or something? It goes on."
That's...hm...Steven could sort of see where she was getting at, though he wasn't sure what this had to do with Connie.
"You think Connie's a ghost somewhere?" Steven assumed.
Sadie smirked.
"I'll get to that." She said.
"Soulware is basically the hypersoul; it connects the mind and spirit better than actual ghosts can. It has more...of awareness of itself compared to spirits of the supernatural. It doesn't necessarily need a body or even an Avatar to exist. But having one...does help. They still need a platform to operate on. One thing some ghosts have over Soulware is how they can interact."
How does Sadie even know this?
"Have you tried doing that?" Steven wondered.
Sadie snickered.
"Pff no...I mean, most of my research was based on early documentation. It helps with a foundation to have to study the science behind Soulware." She said.
No doubt most of the documentation she would have had on hand at the Mansion. It must have been a gold mine of information that Pat would love to get her own two hands on.
"Then people say I'm just like my Mom and why don't I just join DM Biometrics? I'm interested in the facts that go behind the fiction. It's a hobby, not a career."
That may have caused people to underestimate Sadie, no doubt.
"I suppose you could also speak to my Father-Creator if you want." Steven offered reluctantly. He was only willing due to Sadies apparent fascination but really, Steven wouldn't normally encourage such a meeting.
"Dr. Gregory DeMayo."
Sadie's eyes went wide.
"Oh...he's your dad?" She said.
"Oh man...so he's...sorry but wow...I'd love to learn more!"
Steven laughed with a bit of mirth.
"Maybe later." He said.
"Right now, I want to know what you think has happened to Connie."
Sadie paused, then laughed.
"Oh sorry...I got a bit carried away there." She said.
"Now...Connie's position...so I was thinking."
Suddenly they stopped as footsteps came to them. Going from the white and blue suit, it had to be Kyanite.
"Hey you two." They said.
Steven looked up at the GIS, kind of annoyed they interrupted them during an important discussion. But...figured what ever they had to say was a bit more important, so naturally, he reliquished his apparent dislike for now.
"Sorry to interrupt but I need Steven for this..."
The pair went back to the hallway that lead back to Sadie's Dressing room. Outside of it, was Kyanite with Garnet and Pearl.
"What's up?" Steven said.
Kyanite smiled.
"We've managed to figure out a way we can handle the vaccine." They revealed.
"And the cure..."
He was keen to hear it.
"The Developers will not let an untested vaccine anywhere near the other Monoliths. But we have to get it to the White Monolith." Garnet revealed.
"Bismuth however, is refusing based on the means that it needs to be tested on an existing test subject that isn't Spinel."
That was a problem.
"Can it be tested on humans?" Sadie suggested.
Spinel would lose her mind to the corruption of she did so. So Garnet outright rejected that idea.
"I wouldn't recommend it." Garnet said.
"We'll need to test it on a fully functional GIS first before we can present it to Lady Volley and Weiss United."
So they can be even convinced?
"It's a company policy." Pearl explained.
"In fact, any kind of vaccine or anti-virus must be tested on a functional GIS beforehand. It's mandatory."
And Bismuth being the White Caretaker...
"You can't test it on me?" Steven offerred.
Garnet paused for the moment, then continued.
"No." She said.
"But we'll talk to Bismuth. We'll trust her judgement."
Walking back into the Dressing Room, they prepared their statement and theory to the Codesmith. She had just finished her extraction with Spinel, who was, actually, quite stable. For the lack of a better term as she stayed hunched over in her cage. Garnet explained the situation briefly, as their plan to spread the cure across as well as the vaccine to across digital kind was getting closer to fruition.
"Hm...the White Monolith could change the foundations." Bismuth said.
"Using it sounds a bit extreme in this case. Changing any one part of the foundation could cause compatibility issues. Could render one...to about thousands of programs unusuable."
But they might not have much choice.
"But we need something that can spread far, wide and fast." Kyanite argued.
"We figured that altering the foundation somewhat could cut down time."
Bismuth hummed.
"I suppose we could enforce upgrade with hubs installed in public grids." She said.
"But that could take days, weeks or months. I'd have to rendezvous with Lady Volley to take the next possible course of action."
They didn't have that long.
"I'll need Spinel with me in that instance."
The corrupted GIS just brooded there and didn't say a word.
"Then I'm coming with you." Said Sadie.
"I own Spinel. You can't just..."
With the thoughts that lingered in the humans head, would it be any wonder...
"Human, we appreciate your cooperation but I fear this has gone beyond what you can contribute." Jasper commented.
Sadie was clearly not happy with that, based off her current expression.
"Why can't I decide what happens for what clearly belongs to me? Legally?"
Its as if, no one can really understand what the human was really going through. She felt that these programs were just...cruel. They would never to be able to understand it from her perspective as to why she had to join Spinel. Though she felt Kyanite's hand rest on her shoulder.
"They might be able to fix Spinel if she's given to the White Monolith." Kyanite assured her.
"Bismuth...we can accommodate for civilians in this matter. Sadie is an asset as much as Spinel is. Lady Volley will surely be able to understand that."
The Codesmith grumbled, uncertain as to what Kyanite was playing at. Sadie was much safer here and far from Spinel. Kyanite themselves had much to prepare.
"Jasper, we need you to get your people to get the next flight to Europe."
Begrudingly, everyone had parted ways shortly after. Jasper took Spinel back to PeriCom for safe keeping and had to keep her dormant. Sadie was hesistant to be separate from her but even Kyanite agreed that Spinel had to be kept under close watch. Sadie relented but she was thankful for at least letting her go with her to Weiss Uniteds HQ.
That night, Sadie continued to stay at the Club, resting in the dressing room in the real world. Though, she couldn't sleep while flights were being organised for the following morning. There were left over CPDs that were there as well, that had been donated by Ronaldo months ago. It was something that Steven had been keen to go back to trying to find him and his brother but the lack of leads had him stumped and unable to do much about it for the moment. Made him realise he missed Lapis too. He just wished things would go his way for once instead of everything else's heads being in the sand in trying to combat this virus.
It was important to get this done so things could get repaired and people could move on with their lives but...Steven wasn't so sure he would be able to.
Steven checked up on her in Spinels place and figured, she could use a friend. She was left to sleep on a couch with a lose single blanket and a cushion that acted as a pillow.
He projected his form from the disc on the coffee table. While she sat there, slouched over and in a sombre mood.
"I never wanted to be part of this." Sadie commented, dejected.
"It was just Spinel and I, travelling the world and just...having fun ya know?"
That sounded like fun.
"I mean, science isn't bad. It's just the politics that goes on behind it ya know? I got sick and tired of hearing moms rants about, Greg did this or Greg did that....or that foolish Rose...."
Steven didn't like it when people argued and hurt each other. He didn't want to be a part of it either.
"Maybe we don't have to talk about it now." Steven suggested.
"We can talk about....I don't know...the other things humans talk about like....your career...your performances...."
Sadie rolled her eyes.
"Nothing more than what you already see really." Sadie commented.
"I try and keep my life behind the music pretty chill and drama free. I know thats obviously impossible but...I suppose I'd rather prefer to hear about the false rumours of me sleeping around with other celebrities or doing drugs over the connections with the Empire and my mom. Sadie Killer isn't into either. I mean the romance scene is a minefield for paparazzi so I try and keep that on the hush hush."
Romance? That had Steven recalling something in particular.
"Romance huh?" Steven queried.
"Weren't you dating Lars Barriga at one point?"
A name that gave Sadie blank pause briefly before she could even properly respond.
"I never tell people about what happened between me and him." Sadie said as she dug her finger into her legs. She was uncomfortable with the topic.
"Lars and I had been friends for years. Worked together as colleagues before we started dating. Mom found out eventually and...well, the rest of the story isn't pleasant."
So what he'd been told.
"But I suppose I moved on from him after that tragedy. I was free but I wasn't. Mom wanted control over who I was going to marry. Wanted to carry on the bloodline further down...that one day I might hear the voice of the Monoliths."
Though, Barbara apparently couldn't.
"Would you want to?" Steven asked.
Sadie looked at him strangely.
"I'm not sure....I don't think I want to be subjected to the same madness that broke her in the end." Sadie replied.
Did Sadie know that Barbara could never hear them like Rose and the others did?
"The Empire of the Diamond Dynasty and how our fates are tied to the Diamond Monoliths and the Domain. That we are its true rulers and that we practically rule the world. There's power at a price Steven."
Going from what he's seen, heard and been through, such prices were already been paid.
"There's no real freedom in this nonsense. Only heartache and regrets."
That much could be understood.
"You yourself..." Sadie continued.
"You're part of the same system. Stuck into it without as so much as a choice. I didn't think I'd ever get to empathise with an AI."
There had to be some positive idea in that, surely.
"At least you don't have to go in it alone." Steven assured her.
Sadie smiled in response.
"Heh yeah. I'm sure. Just...don't fall in love. It's less painful."
Fall in love?
"Why?" Steven asked.
Sadie looked away. Sometimes truths had to be known....and that maybe someone as...spiritually human at Steven could grasp the reality of it all.
"How do I put this...I mean, love is a painful emotion. It's great in some respects but it comes with a lot of pain. The way I felt towards Lars was hard to let go. In a way, it doesn't always go completely. Not sure if artificial intelligence even experience it the way humans do. I mean, you're...you're a BM-AI aren't you?"
Supposedly. He still wasn't too sure. He knew his purpose and his abilities...and the ideas and theories swam about had him mull over the definitions more than once.
"Rose and Gregs dead son, yeah." Steven admitted.
The way that rolled off his tongue surprised Sadie. She could see how that could be, but him mentioning it so...bluntly also startled her. Steven just went into further depth.
"I mean, their love created me...supposedly. But how I feel. Under the different categories of Absolutes is how AI's use it. The ends of such spectrums are hazardous to our software."
Sadie nodded. She knew what DM Biometrics were capable of making. The knowledge gained from her mother was as much as boon as it was a curse.
"You wouldn't have gotten to know many people I imagine." Sadie theorised.
Outside of Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl?
"The Ancillas have taught me how to use my programs for good." Steven replied.
"And they've looked after me."
That wasn't what Sadie was asking.
"I mean, humans wise." She said.
"Mom used to say GIS and artificial intelligence hold forums to make sure they're making decisions that benefit the domain in the end or that they don't compromise the Domain and those that dwell in it. That's their priority."
As it was.
"But I'm talking about other humans. Humans....humans are by definition not exactly limited in that regard. Humans can make selfish decisions that still benefit and selfless decisions that could cause problems. We don't have the same thought algorithms. Hence, why BM-AI are made to begin with. As much as the process of human thought can cause problems, it also opens dialogue for alternate solutions that artificial intelligence hadn't even considered."
Even GIS?
"I'm sure your influence on the Ancillas has been noticed on an unconscious level. And you yourself are in a perfect position to be influenced by both GIS and humans. I've always wondered....can BM-AIs go through the same patterns as their human counterparts do? They are made from humans and should be able, in theory, go through through the emotional spectrum the same. Nothing about absolutes, but the minute nuances of human emotion. Such as love."
Discussions he's had with his Father-Creator previously.
"You have the ability to feel such strong emotions...and emotions so strange you can't find the name for them....and...and like human teenagers, most of the time they're piled under confusion."
Confusion?
"I have been pretty confused lately. About what I am. What I'm capable of." Steven admitted.
"Some feelings that are just...too puzzling to understand."
This gauged Sadies interest. She's written many songs to emotions and the working through her own emotions had taught her so much over the years. Spinels gone through her own extremes, yes, but she had her lucid moments more than her crazed moments.
"Can I ask what it relates to? If its not too personal that is." Sadie queried.
Steven sighed. There was a lot. One stood above the rest.
"I...I think it's about Connie...Berrybyte, I mean." Steven admitted.
"She's...important to me..."
This was easy to figure out, as Sadie definitely knew where this was heading. She's watched enough foreign dramas to understand what's what. Not to mention his intentions...what they spoke about before hand made sense.
"Go on." Sadie said, her head in the game.
Steven didn't even know what words to say. How could he? His confusion stemmed from the inability to comprehend what he really felt about her. He talked about everything, like he'd been wanting to express every little detail. Sometimes...too much detail that would make one blush. Steven didn't hold much back...with the dam broken and the words rushed out like water. He would talk in detail quickly...then apologise and try to talk slowly. Sadie had remained silent the entire time. In a sense, she could gauge an understanding. She wasn't a therapist. She was an ordinary girl placed into unfortunate circumstances. He would laugh, he would cry and yet, this had been the most...normal conversation she'd been a part of. By normal, it wasn't anything creepy or downright concerning. Strange but...
Sadie hadn't had that many people she could call close besides Spinel who she would confide in. Spinel was..., well, Spinel. Another artificial intelligence. But Steven...she confused him with a regular human being. Like many, Sadie would have her bias against AIs in general, but this...hearing and listening to his words. His outright passion and happiness...his sadness. His success and his failures...were just like any other humans.
Besides the obvious point about his connections and pseudo-science ideas of "Dream-Diving." and the like, the one thing Steven wasn't getting was the downright obvious. All this talk of Absolute Emotions and how they are just extremes, interested Sadie. That the most plausible answer was the most simple and it eluded him completely. Sadie found such igorance cute. Like he was her little brother trying to look up to her for advice. He's hung around other intelligences who were experts in their fields but in the matters of humanity, the most of what he craved, he needed people. He needed humans more so than ever.
"So...what do you think?" Steven finally asked.
Sadie took a moment to reflect. While the answer was indeed, obvious, she had to put into words that he would understand.
"You...care for Connie...that much is...clear." Sadie responded.
"Have you thought about...um...that maybe what you have is special. And that special connection is that you're uh...in love with her?"
Would he get that? The same incoherences that humans experience that would otherwise be copied into their digital counterparts. Of course that would happen. It wouldn't be anything else. Not a glitch; unless you count such feelings as mistakes.
"I'm....I'm in love with Connie?" He croaked as he scratched his head.
"Like, the stories? With the happy endings?"
Sadie giggled. He sort of got it.
"Well, if you have read the stories about princes and princesses then yeah...kinda like those."
Steven gave himself a pause to think about it more deeply. Love was a mixed baggage according to those who he's spoken to before about. Ronaldo would harp on about how some stories were ruined with unnecessary romance. Connie herself wasn't exactly a romanticist either. So he wasn't sure how to proceed.
"Maybe she was right." He said, saddened.
"Maybe it won't work out. I don't know if she wants this. If she'll want it."
Perhaps. Perhaps she does. Sadie's been there. The dance. The game of cat and mouse. She's gone through highs and lows.
"People can be hard to understand. But Connie wouldn't have done all those things with you if she really didn't want to." She said.
Steven rubbed his chin. He was thinking about it too much.
"Falling in love...I know I advised against it but it's...not all bad. what you've done...could because you already love her."
Already...love her...
Oh.
"Wait, so...I must have always loved her?" He queried.
Sadie wasn't sure...her feelings for Lars were once there prior to her own realistion.
"Possibly?" She said, uncertain of where the penny dropped in that regard.
"Love isn't without its difficulties. There is struggle and debate but the evidence lies within your own testimony. But, with that in mind...do you think you'll be able to manage?"
The situation was dire. The world was in danger. Connie was missing. But what ever hope lied within Sadie's advice. Connie was out there, somewhere. Existing. Holding on. The concept of hope was unusual to AIs. To hold on to something that was intangible. The desire and expectation of things getting better was ingrained into the human mindset. The struggle, and the debate. It was constant.
"I need to find Connie first." He said.
"I don't know if she'll...accept..."
- MESSAGE RECIEVED -
Steven got the ping of a message as he brought up a small screen in his hand. It was Kyanite. He sighed. It was just them prompting Steven that the Caretakers needed to have a meeting together.
"Ah looks like I'm needed." He said.
"Um...thank you Sadie. For everything."
The human smiled.
"Hey, I really do hope things work out for the better." She said. She wanted to follow up on their earlier discussion but she was saddened that they had run out of time. She wanted to catch up with him again so - she figured it would be more important to him....if he was capable of understanding. He had evidence....and Sadie suddenly realised she had the potential to uproot information on her end as well. With someone with Connie supposed skillset, someone else had to pick up the slack.
What Sadie did have was resources. Resources that were willing to aid her if she asked.
"Good luck."
Steven smiled.
"Likewise."
Steven eventually met up with the other Caretakers at the Digital Bar. It was...relatively quiet. No one nearby...if anything, it was actually empty; save for the AI Bartender serving the drinks and Kyanite on one of the stools. Looking around, he'd expected to see both Jasper and Bismuth there.
"Where are the others?" Steven asked as he sat next to them.
Kyanite smirked.
"I may have lied." They said.
"Honestly, I just want to talk."
They didn't need to lie to get him to talk which...he had been having a great conversation with Sadie that made him ponder a lot...but otherwise if Kyanite needed to talk, then Steven was all ears.
"Uh...sure...what did you want to talk about?'
Kyanite ordered two cocktails. One blue and one pink one. He wasn't sure if getting frayed through alchohol inducing algorithms was appropriate right now.
"It's....about Connie." They said.
"I think I know of a way to save her."
Notes:
1. Chapter 24: Search Engine
2. Chapter 45: Metadata
Chapter 55: Purge
Summary:
Kyanite pitches their idea to Steven and they know he probably won't like it.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Hearing that there was a way to potential way to save Connie was music to Steven's ears. Ever since his talk with Sadie, he'd been ever so inclined to save Connie as priority more than ever. The issue with the virus notwithstanding but he figured, if he could save Connie, then she would be able to help them.
Among other things.
Steven wasn't a creature of habit. He had his own worries. Besides his own purpose, he's made his own. To protect the Domain and its constituents. That much was clear. But beyond that, exploring the human side of himself was a key goal. He's achieved so much by this point that the digital world couldn't even begin to compare to what he had already experienced in the real world. The impact that it had on him was struck with an intensity like no other. That if he could get the opportunity to get his android body back or even get another body, he would take that up in an instant.
So much to worry about, so much to be aware of that in the moment the words Kyanite told him were voiced, that his attention he was immediately tethered to what they had planned. He may have also jumped the gun in regards to doubting them as well.
"So...what's the plan?" He asked, willingly to listen and do what ever it took.
Kyanite smiled.
"Bismuth and Jasper are in the middle of gettings things organised." They said.
"In the meantime, there is a means to draw Luna out of her. I've spoken to a contact recently, and they've provided us with the means with the details about Luna's code. It's more than we could have hoped for."
Steven was curious about the source but decided not to question it.
"Lunas and Sols were programs designed by DM Biometrics so I've been curious as to poke and prod around. The coding is similar, almost identical except for a few bits that are different."
Did they manage to find a working copy after all?
"I was working with Bismuth earlier as soon as the source code came to me. The programs work as fact checkers. To make sure that systems don't break due to oversights. As soon there's a certain threshold met with the coding, it's meant to shut down any sequence before it destroys itself. Imagine falling into absolutes. It's meant to cushion the edges a little and if it can't, it makes sure it can do a hard shut down to prevent it from going further."
As so the design of the VIs goes.
"However, Luna has evolved from an VI to an AI and the systems themselves have evolved to reflect this change. We're not sure what the actual change was to trigger it."
As to whether the systems themselves decided to become self-aware or that there was a major difference in the code that would be enough to actual categorise it officially.
"So...if you've got the source code, will it work against Luna now that's she's an AI?" Steven queried.
Not exactly.
"Yes and no...it's a little more complicated than that." They said.
"We've recieved a little bit of an upgraded source code. Not sure how it was upgraded but Bismuth and I checked it over and it looks solid."
Though, if Kyanite was uncertain even in the slightest, it still gave some credence to doubt. Steven still had some question however.
"Can I ask where you go it from?" He asked.
"I don't know if we want to risk using an unknown and unused code in the Domain."
Kyanite grinned. Steven was correct, but this was something they definitely had confidence in.
"Hey, Bismuth is the best damn Codesmith we have right...if not THE best Codesmith. She wouldn't be the White Monolith's Official Caretaker if she wasn't." They affirmed.
"If she gives it the two ticks and a happy face, then we would be foolish not to use it."
Still...it gave Steven slightly negative vibes. They didn't even answer his original question though, with the amount of confidence Kyanite had behind it. Would it really work?
"So...how do we use it against Luna then?" Steven queried.
Kyanite took a sip from their cocktail.
"We use a Trojan method."
Steven on the other hand also took a sip...then did a spit take. A cliche yes, but it was all about the timing.
"What?"
They knew it would surprise him.
"Luna uses Connie's body to project her Avatar and something kind of similar to both Soulware usage and Phylactery usage. Imagine that body is a walking, talking cabinet. She overrides everything and takes command of anything Connie has. Including suppression and shut down of Connie's own consciousness." Kyanite explained.
"But she's an AI at the end of the day. She isn't Soulware...but a messed up piece of software that can be ousted. She's not officially tied to the body. At least, not in the Soulware sense."
Hmmm...made sense. Though, Steven didn't really fully understand it.
"Okay so a trojan..." He said. He got that part.
"But how would we implement that trojan?"
And Kyanites mischevious grin struck him again, though this time Steven found something perculiar about it...not sure he knew where though.
"Well, we need to first talk to Luna. Trap her. And..... well, I don't know if you're ready for the uhh...induction method."
Gulping, Steven wasn't ready to hear it. Though, he pondered about it....and pondered about it some more....he looked at Kyanite who licked their lips suggestively. For what ever reason.
And then it hit him.
"Wait, you're not thinking what I think you're thinking." He said.
Kyanite made a slight chuckle.
"Mhmmm." They said, before taking another sip.
Steven almost fell off of his stool upon hearing that confirmation. How...absurd. How...heinous.
"How in the world are you going to get her to do that?" Steven called out, almost to the point of freaking out.
But...of course, Kyanite expected him to be overdramatic about the concept. It didn't surprise them at all.
"Its an effective solution and a popular convector utilised by scammers and hackers." Kyanite noted.
"A transmission method that we know...will work..."
And they had the humans to thank for that. Steven's only done because Garnet explained that she's seen humans do it. Not that she's a fan of it either but it was the easier way to transmit the data discreetly.
"Kyanite..." He said.
"I....I don't feel comfortable with that."
And Kyanite understood the reasons why.
"No one said you had to be the one do it." They said.
"I will be the one seduce Luna."
What?
"Wait, how? Luna knows who you are!" He said.
"And....will Luna even know what's going on?"
There had been some debate as to what Luna had known. What she had experienced. A VI evolving into an AI wasn't exactly a common occurrence. Laws, regulations and dozens of reforms made sure to categorise AIs and VIs separately. Especially with those becoming self-aware and achieving the fabled Golden State. She possessed an intimate yet unknowable understanding of the situation. Having grown a hatred towards the Monoliths in general and seeking their destruction through some kind of assimilation into her systems.
"Luna knows more than we think she does." She said.
"She isn't without flaws however. Her trust in her allies will be her undoing."
Steven raised an eyebrow.
"Huh?" He questioned.
Of course...Steven wouldn't understand.
"I have a few tricks up my sleeve in that sense." Kyanite continued.
"And I'm wondering...if...well, you know..."
Steven wasn't following.
"Come with me for a moment..."
Kyanite took Steven somewhere more private. They ended up taking him to a private booth; away from prying eyes. The booth itself with its dark purple walls and a string of bright purple lighting that streaming around the roof and underneath the chairs and table had a subtle vibe. Very private...very...intimate. Steven was a bit unsure and slightly unnerved by it as Kyanite made him sit down. The physics percentages were high in this room. The softness of the lounge he sat on had the valure feel to them as he ran his fingers over the fabric. He gulped as Kyanite sat next to him.
"I need to...test something." They said.
"Gonna run it by you in this case. I need to...test my efficiencies....if you catch my drift."
Steven was definitely unsure about this as he shuffled away from them.
"Kyanite I-I'm not..." He stammered.
Something as what they've hinted at wasn't what Steven wanted. Kyanite hadn't touched him at this point, nor did he want them to touch him.
"I could always try...say...Sour Cream? Call him in here and ask if he's willing. He's a busy man Steven....being a Club Manager means a lot of required paperwork to be filled." They said.
Steven's brows furrowed. Sour Cream? He doesn't even know the guy that much, if at all. Barely had said a single word if he recalled correctly.
"I won't coerce you to do so." They said as they sat back and crossed one leg over the other and had their hands on their lap.
He would have been relieved, if he wasn't so...confused about it. Kyanite of course, tried to make it all sound so logical.
"Humans are weird and I forget you were from a human template...so therefore...you too, are weird."
That was an understatement. But then Steven remembered.
"You're a Gen II." He said.
"You're supposed to understand humans better. You should know why I don't want this."
Kyanite hummed...and it took a moment too long for them to contemplate a proper response.
"Reading humans and their intentions is part of the package." They explained.
"I understand there are bizarre reasons humans do anything really. Often for stupid, selfish reasons and their shallowness within. It isn't hard to predict when there's a common driver in the ways humans act...and it can be the most disgusting."
But there were good drivers too, surely. Steven's seen it.
"What's that phrase....I think it's a phrase. Humans go where their heart leads them. Hmph, more often than not it, it compells them to do what ever they can to get what they want...even if its to destroy peoples lives to get it."
Steven couldn't imagine why humans would get that desperate. What was worth that type of destruction? Wasn't there a cleaner, less hurtful way?
"We...we both possess human hearts." Kyanite revealed, though they sounded uncomfortable in mentioning that.
"In the digital pathways, we're connected to the same type of fallacy and design flaw. Its deep rooted into our codes and its an intrinsic part to it. We cannot be rid of it. Because ridding it means ridding part of what it means to be human."
Despite neither of them being as such?
"It should be less about defining it as much as we should understand the reasons behind what we feel." They continued.
"The barriers, the talk about..Absolutes. I know you don't like me Steven. I'm not blind."
Oh...
They....they knew. Steven wasn't exactly being subtle about it as much he'd hoped he was. It was hard for him to hate anyone that much. Though Kyanite's words spoke some ugly truth; the reasons why he felt the way he felt. They had held more wisdom the more he thought about it.
"We feel how we feel. There's little to no control. But controlling our actions IS within our control. Our....choice."
Choice being something that had its own variation in everything they did.
"But our emotions can still impact those choices...they can be everything towards the reason. Even if we don't understand them."
But he had to. If he couldn't, then he could lose control. Short circuit himself by accident...and hurt people he loved dearly.
"I...I don't hate you Kyanite." He said.
No. He didn't. Really...that's all he could really admit. Seeing them arise as the new Blue Caretaker infuriating him on first glance because...because someone new entered the arena. Someone he didn't know. But somehow, he sensed something from them. A cocksureness that came from their stride and their confidence and their charisma would seek to command the room of equals. Their fearlessness and bold take to the cause upon emergence. It felt...too soon. But surely, the Monoliths must always have a Caretaker?
And is that Caretaker made that way? And if so....how? It made Steven all the more confused.
"I don't know how to feel about you."
Kyanite smiled.
"That's uh...pretty normal I'd say." They said.
"I'm sure you feel that something so strongly that it prompts you to keep your distance. I don't blame you."
What got Steven was how could Kyanite be calm about all this? Surely, they had something better to do other than talking about emotions and how they feel. Yes, the trojan method may work but at the same time was it the only method they had? Steven preferred it if they had many options.
"Then why do you bother me with this then?" Steven queried as he stood up. He felt riled up as was. A code skipped a sequence as tension within himself spiraled upwards. He could still choose to how to act based off how he felt because Kyanite needed to hear it...though, Kyanite would see it as something else.
"You act so high a-and mighty, but really...you're just as manipulative as the Developers. You're their little spy, acting as if you want to be part of the action and be seen as the hero but...."
Kyanite tilted their head, curious as to hearing what Steven really had on his mind.
"I've tried to be nice about it but I can't help but feel...."
They wanted him to say it. It had to be refreshing to hear such honesty that was deep down within his code. It wanted to explode...no...to be free of such burdens. Steven tensed up around them and they noticed. They had the Third Eye Program after all. Others would definitely be blind but Kyanite could see what others could not. They weren't abusing their power; contrary to what Steven could possibly believe. He sounded so frustrated and pedantic. Kyanite wondered if skirting around the topic too much triggered this type of response from him. He was keen to dig into Kyanite and what they were really after.
"But feel that you have some other agenda beyond...what we're doing here. You want to kiss me. You want to infect me. Give me a trojan....so...they'll...what...monitor me? Control me?"
Kyanite sighed. His suspicions were far off the mark. For the most part.
"What you need to know is that the Developers aims within the Domain and the Domains support assets." Kyanite noted, remaining calm and poised.
"They're not evil. They're servants to a system. Grossly misunderstanding the Diamond Monoliths will at every corner. They're idiots who happen to be scientists and those who aren't got in through family connections."
What?
"I mean, well, humans either acquire employment via merit and some through networking. They want a purpose and seek to prove themselves capable of that purpose. Unlike GIS who are designed to be perfect at a particular purpose."
One thing Steven noted was Kyanites incredibly insightfulness towards humans themselves. It bothered him more than anything. He wondered if they were some kind of SC-GIS that had their memory wiped recently. Though, if Steven learned anything from Connie, she would note something along the lines of the Developers making people feel that way. Kyanite did speak wisdom, but only the words that Connie would simply groan over and push away.
"Are you sure they haven't tried to lie to get what they want?" Steven dared to ask.
Kyanite wasn't at all bothered by the question.
"Of course...those outside the know would see it that way." They noted.
"I'm looking beyond the technicalities. The reputation that would proceed them. The facts. Steven, we need the Domain to exist at all. You would sooner sacrifice yourself and fall into eternal dormancy if the Pink Monolith isn't found?"
If it meant protecting humanity....Steven would definitely risk functionality. No sooner than they can get rid of toxic influences, the better off mankind would be.
"You're a good program Steven." Kyanite complimented.
"You have the position to provide perspective and one that change if the evidence presented itself. Not all programs are advanced enough to do that. They will fall into absolutes. You may not have to."
This wasn't about absolutes. This was about finding a better way. Connie would find some kind of rebuttal, Steven was so sure. But he wasn't capable enough, despite Kyanites comments, to be able to see things at their clearest. Black and white was hard when he could really see was gray to begin with.
"So there really isn't a better way to save Connie?" Steven noted.
He was quick.
"Look I'm open to suggestions." Kyanite said.
"A transfer method like that one takes a bit of skill and know how. One that only a human mind can comphrehend and separate what makes it real enough for the deception to work."
Given he's done the same to Connie in the past in order to upgrade her Soulware grade, Kyanite wasn't wrong.
"Look...I'll help." Steven noted.
"Or I'll listen to your idea...just...don't expect me to fully commit."
Oh Kyanite had ideas alright.
"I just need you to rank me." They said.
Even after all that was discussed, Steven was still on the fence. Kyanite claimed to have good intentions. Taking into account of times that Kyanite has saved his life however...should doubt really stop him? He knew that method worked so what was the real problem he had other than Kyanite could have a small chance of potentially tricking him? No. They couldn't be. Why would they? Could they?
"Alright just make this quick." Steven said with the sigh, as if submitting himself to a unknown fate.
Kyanite nodded their head as a sign of thanks.
"Just close your eyes." They said.
Steven did so, surrendering his sight and embracing ambiguity. It increased his vulnerability and maybe a bit of curiousity at the same time. Kyanite unsummoned their helmet...revealing themselves to no one but the void of the room. They weren't keen to expose but in the moment, they could indulge. Part of them felt the guilt. Because of the knowledge of what they believed to be harmless deception. Their lips, a tinge of blue, quivered. Steven was so still and calm and he would assume the bold, the confident and assured Kyanite to be the same but they were anything but.
They begun to close the gap between them ever so slowly. Kyanite knew Steven would most likely grow anxious from the lack of activity so they couldn't delay this for too much longer. Second by second, inch by inch they got closer. Until the tiniest of gaps rested between them. They tilted their head and slowly pushed their lips against his.
A kiss that permeated on a heated experience. A slow boil, if you will. Steven felt this oddness...a variation of a warm feeling that he's sworn to have felt before but he wasn't sure where. He could hear the pop of their lips clashing and felt the wet textures of Kyanites mouth.
Images and visions sparked in Steven's software as it glitched out. Despite what he had said before hand, Steven had become committed. Maybe Kyanite was right. Maybe he wouldn't fall into absolutes. Or he had and that absolute was the sheer strangeness of this incomphrehensible emotion. He thought he had humanness written into him to do so. He should have identified it by now. He should know but he didn't. Frustration wasn't there...but neither was clarity.
Something described like a crossroads and Steven was right in the middle of it. He didn't like to kiss Kyanite but at the same time he didn't hate it. It was more....contradicitary and the state of two ends of a spectrum that happened at the same time. Impossibilities made possible. Going from a set of descriptives like that could have driven Steven mad but... what he knew, was that he was at peace with it. A state of limbo. Where everything met in the middle.
He could have floated in mid air at this rate. His mind was white. Blank. All colours clashed and became nothing.
Except for the tiniest of pink tinted flames.
They parted soon after and Steven's vision was blurry that he could see the azure eyes of Kyanite before they summoned their helmet back on again.
An awkward silence followed. Kyanite rubbed their arm and struggled to look Steven in the eyes.
"That...was okay." He said, unsure of how to respond.
Though, Kyanite made another faint smile.
"Only okay?" They asked.
Steven feared he said something wrong and tried to correct himself.
"I-I mean...well, it was fine." He stuttered, while his cheeks turned pink with embarrassment.
"Great even."
Ah Steven. So easy to fluster.
"I'm just messing with you Steven." Kyanite said.
"But I think I have enough data to work with. For now."
Steven swallowed, then nodded. Though, he was a bit left in limbo still, in a way.
"So what's the next step?" He asked.
The idea of trying to reach out to Luna; somewhere, out there in Connie's body doing goodness knows what was somewhat of a sore point for Steven. He wanted nothing more than to purge her influence so Connie could return.
Kyanite didn't tell him everything as he had hoped they would but still...he would cling on to the human born concept of hope in the instance for any way or any price to pay to get them across the line. He had a lot to think about.
Kyanite had to run a few errands for the plan to work, but for the moment, requested Steven to travel to Weiss United HQ. He would be escorted there by the Ancillas as Kyanite had to meet up with Bismuth as the final phase of their plan was about to begin.
Once he arrived, he was met with peoples eyes on him in the main open foyer of the HQ....and was met up with Ash behind the reception desk, who gave him a smile.
"Glad to see you again Steven. I suppose things are changing around here." She said.
Steven could have sworn to have seen Ash's human avatar fade into her SC-GIS, her Orange Spudemene forme if not for a brief flicker, before it turned back.
"Yeah they are." He said.
"How are things?"
Ash nodded.
"Chaotic." She said.
"More so than usual. I heard what happened....and...I'm sorry."
Steven knew word traveled fast. It was the nature of the Domain, after all.
"We're working on it as we speak." He said.
Ash sighed.
"I hope so. I keep losing colleagues to the virus." She said.
"I want to fight as much as the next person but my people are here. Eyes and ears are constant more so than before, so I'm afraid I cannot talk to much. I've been advised of your arrival to escort you to the Research Floor."
Ash got up and lead them up the elevator to the 33rd Floor and lead them to the main research floor. According to the details Steven recieved, this floor was dedicated to the crisis and solutions to combat the virus itself. Most viruses throughout the Domain were treated seriously, but there often disguised and not well advertised. Anti-Virus Programs were normal to develop, buy and sell on the market. Standard products that would need updates all the time to combat the latest bug or glitch. Forums would debate on solutions to various issues that would arise every microsecond. That was the normal way of life.
Everyone knew, that THIS wasn't normal. Luna's virus was too far spread out to be contained normally. It had no traces of any known code that they knew about and her assault with her infected minions were relentless. Most places put themselves into private grids or willingly put themselves into dormancy. Businesses would go bankrupt either way. Some smaller ones would rise up out of the chaos fearlessly, not caring if they were consumed by the madness. Those people could occasionally have their wits about them...or they could be the best damn software company in the world with the best programmers, analysts, engineers and of course, the Caretakers.
Steven wouldn't lie and admit that it felt like the walls were closing in on him. If all this jumping around the world so easily were suddenly stopped. It made him miss Lapis; where ever she went.
It made him miss not just her but Peedee and Ronaldo as well. He couldn't dwell on their absence for too long with all the work he had to do. However, as he got there.
BANG!
"Woah!" Steven called out.
The main open area was suddenly in alarms as it brought into an orange light.....by instinct he threw up his shields and protected Kyanite, Ash and himself from the flames. Kyanite made a quick scan, and gasped in horror.
"Shit." They said.
"The Virus'. Its everywhere, I can't get a good visual. Using Third Eye!"
Steven could see people as they flailed about. He released the shield barrier and noticed Ash standing there, shaking and quivering.
"Ash, I need you to get everyone out of the building!" He ordered.
Kyanite finished their Third Eye Scan and turned to Ash as well.
"Get yourselves to the emergency evac point, alert physical superiors and contact Lady Volley on authority code 702213-M. Do it!"
Ash swallowed and nodded and teleported herself outwards.
Steven then nodded towards Kyanite in understanding.
"What do we do now?" He asked.
Kyanite threw a fist.
"That will buy us some time. For now." They said in frustration.
The flames themselves were entangled down the very hallways. Glitched up and the inner parts were black instead of white; signs of the virus distorting the visual codes of the area. Most buildings had lesser rendering requirements but more often than not, fancy buildings did hold themselves together will regardless on quality. Still, they shouldn't have left it at that quality for too long. But it could be their only saving grace.
"The code of the building is one of the biggest in the world." Kyanite explained.
"It will eventually infect it but it has a lot of barriers to go through before it can consume it completely. May take hours at this rate...could take minutes if we don't act quickly."
But what could they do? Where could they go? What happened to everyone?
"I'll try and contact Bismuth and Jasper."
Steven kept his eyes on the swirling flames of damnation. What in the world could have done this? Though, as he looked forward, time slowed itself down as the flames reflected in his eyes turned pink and things turned to white.
FLASHBACK
"There's a time for passion....and there's a time for calm."
Steven's main chassis camera was left focusing on a Dr. Miller with a vodka in her hand as she sat by him. He couldn't understand much of what she was talking about but she kept telling him from to time to time to call him his true mother. Though, the code itself aligned with what his Father-Creator embedded into his systems who was within his circle of creation. And the way Dr. Miller would act with him on the occasion; Dr. DeMayo would tell Steven, that deep down, that she loved him like a mother would.
The air was cool and clear and Steven's sensors detected a slight trace of alchohol in the air.
"I mean, you have a million things connected to you...and you wouldn't even know." She said.
"A million things with a billion reasons to get inside your head. I'm jealous on how Artificial Intelligence can sort through it all with such ease. Not all humans have the luxury of pilfering out the unnecessary baggage...or data...what have you."
Steven's felt pity before. He's had it described to him by his Father-Creator. He could only but monitor Dr. Miller for the moment she was here and alert others if trouble were to okay. Besides...this wasn't always the first time she's gotten herself inebriated in front of him.
"I suppose thats one of the reasons why Grandmother...your Great Gran? Yeah. She wanted this thing we're all trying to achieve. Imagine being able to control what you think..."
Control....thoughts.
"But at the same time, I know Rosy, I mean, your 'Mother-Creator' had this fantastic idea. Wonderful idea. Which wormed itself into our heads like a virus and now it won't leave."
Which sounded concerning. Which left Steven confused on whether or not he should act.
ARE YOU OKAY? DO YOU NEED A SCAN?
Dr. Miller looked at the text Steven made on screen and it made her giggle.
"Oh it's a metaphor Steven don't worry, I'm fine." Barbara commented.
"I mean, when I say, peak into the heart of the Diamond to your father I don't mean that literally. Usually it's just me telling your father to consult with the Pink Monolith."
That was odd but it made sense.
"Makes me curious...though..." She said as she stood up and looked at the chassis up and down.
"Are you at all hearing the voices of the Monolith by any chance? She is basically just your...third mother I would imagine...I think she would be...sheesh, I have a lot of aunts now that I think about it."
Hearing other voices. His Father-Creator would ask him the same question. Steven couldn't anything but those in front of him and audio systems he had permissions for.
"You have her...blood after all. I'd like to say you've got mine but I'm just the carrier and nothing more."
Carrier?
"But it's kind of like...code and blood are...similar. Binding on a technicality. But then there's the debate with Soulware..."
Soulware? Humans have Soulware.
Steven has...
"Is it more than a bioelectric signature of a human being? The mind and the spirit? It's always been a debate." Dr. Miller noted.
"But tell me Steven. Answer my question. Do you hear the Pink Monolith? I need to hear them. I need to know what they want from me."
Steven did have a connection to the Pink Monolith as part his development but more often than not, he never heard a peep.
"The voices are the strongest with those with the Diamond Gene. Gran was the first to hear the voice of the White Monolith and in an era where Domain Ports are our closest connections to the digital realms, that is...pretty significant."
The Diamond Gene....He watched as Barbara took another swill from the bottle, before wiping her face with her sleeve.
"I've sacrificed much for this Family." She continued.
"I just...feel my efforts are being unrewarded and unrecognised. I helped create you, but your Mother-Creator gets all the credit. Her sacrifice...and everything she's done for the sake of progression is what is looked upon with great favour."
Whether or not Steven understood what she meant was irrelevant. Dr. Miller really just needed to vent.
"I deserve something...don't I?"
Steven acknowledged Dr. Miller's desire to connect with the Pink Monolith, though he himself was never given any particular order to do so. He sent over a request to connect to see if the Pink Monolith would respond to him.
"Rose had everything then lost it to where ever in this existence she found herself in. Hmph, I'm more of a mother to you than anyone else."
He still didn't understand what she meant.
Steven maintained his connections throughout the facility but was always locked or limited on the conditions of control. A few cameras here and there but everything else required permissions from his father. Not that he minded too much, but there was something about asborbing new data that he could state he felt he needed but he didn't.
"If she really cared about her son...she would have reached out to you. But she hasn't. Or she has...and has ordered you to stay silent. Hmph...I know your code; you don't need an override to make your own decisions. Your father seeks to control you because you are dangerous...technology beyond any comphrehension of the known world."
There was also the fact that Steven couldn't actually move about like a human would. Connie asked him that question once; whether or not the inability to get about bothered him. The capacity to be frustrated with something like that was void when you really didn't know any better.
Though, he hadn't tried to utilise his communications with the Pink Monolith. Not that he could really do much but forward anything to it. It wouldn't amount to much if the Monolith didn't want to speak with him either. But that too, never really bothered him all that much. So he didn't anticipate a response.
Until he did.
A series of pink glyphs were sent back. He did have a database of all known languages but couldn't decypher this one. Nothing correlated. Nothing matched. A single square over some text, but that was about it. He didn't know know what to do with the data he had been given. No instructions were provided. It wasn't useable.
"I've made enough sacrifices as it is. How much do I have give up to get the respect I deserve?" Barbara continued.
"The man I loved is dead. My daughter hates me....and your Father...will never get over Rose....but you...you're here."
She approached his camera and looked up to him with a smile.
"You won't leave me...and....I won't leave you. You're the only experiment that's worth anything. Maybe worth more than the Monoliths themselves. Their exchanges always end in their favour but you...you won't sacrifce me....and I will endeavour to try and guide you as best you can..."
Again, Steven wasn't sure what to feel in this moment. The blankness was due to the inexperiences of knowing any better.
"Maybe I should start taking action for myself." Dr. Miller concluded.
"One day, I will create the flame that paves the way for my own destiny and on that day, you will be free of your own burdens. I promise."
"Steven!"
Steven was brought of his flashback upon Kyanites calling.
"Uh sorry." He said.
Shaking their head, Kyanite wasn't after apologies.
"The evacs are underway but I need your help to cleave through the flames to find non-infected...and the source of the issue." They said.
"Our consensus should be strong enough to push through it."
Hackmanite? Steven didn't want to delay any further. It took him a moment to understand what they meant...and when he did he nodded in agreement. They had to solve this. Together. His heart was torn in the moment. Problems that had been left unresolved lingered well into the central parts of his Kernel Core. What ever disturbed him in the vision he saw, there was something within the flames that called out. Glitched and corrupted beyond all recognition. Kyanite had a better grasp of the situation as Steven fell into temptations of history.
"Alright." He replied.
Kyanite pulled him to face her as they held hands. Steven looked at them, unable to look them in the eyes...well, that was because of the viser covering half their face but he could feel their stare upon him. Their firm grasp in his hands was enough to make Steven feel all kinds of strange. Energy that gave to ebb and flow. Like a heartbeat. He's heard Connie's heartbeat before when she slept. It was oddly calming. Their forms would then glow in bright pinks and blues before their data compiled together with tiny bits of blocky data thrown into the mix of their consensus.
Hackmanite soon emerged just as the flames reached them, and pulled up Steven's shield application as first a small pink bubble, but then shrank it to become a small purple, glowing membrane. If Hackmanite observed this correctly, the flames themselves sought to consume everything as a type of hunger; possessed by the virus as of Luna commanded its sentience. Hackmanite manuveared their way through the rooms as they jumped and dodged the tentacle like flames that wanted to wrap themselves around Hackmanites wrists and ankles. It was a monster of unfathomable power.
They eventually made it to the labs and could see Bismuth who had looked themselves into a cage of white light; though it glitched as Bismuth struggled to maintain the defense. Hackmanite pushed through it as used multiple barriers around the cage to push back the corrupted fires and approached Bismuth with worry. Bismuth herself didn't have time to argue or debate as Hackmanite gave them a hand and a chance to flee. She looked around briefly as she unsummoned her cage and took Hackmanites hand.
Eventually the flames consumed the barriers but it gave Hackmanite enough time to allow themselves to pull Bismuth to safety. Protocol would normally allow for node jumping in that instant, but the fire made it impossible to transfer the short cuts safely, leading to them having to take the longer, more ardeous path to freedom.
Hackmanite threw up as many barriers as they could, while Bismuth ran in front. They were about to hit the elevator...until something large and monstrous wandered in to bar their path. It reminded Hackmanite of a Centaur in design but with more horns and orange in design...and it did not possess any eyes...and it had a gaping maw with sharp claws.
"Damn it!" Bismuth cried.
Hackmanite summoned a purple sword and shield as they were prepared to combat the creature. Bismuth summoned an axe and prepared to fight as well.
"What the hell is that thing?" Hackmanite asked.
Bismuth growled.
"It's....Jasper." She said in shame.
Hackmanite looked at Bismuth in shock.
"What?"
It was an act on who would throw the first punch, between Jaspers flexing of her claws vs Bismuths impatience.
"She insisted on testing the anti-virus for herself. Garnet was right to request most people to be out of the room while we did so. We were trying so hard."
So it was just Bismuth and Jasper in the room?
"Most people should have evacuated by now." Hackmanite noted.
"I assume Garnet ordered them somewhere safe?"
Bismuth nodded.
"Look, I'm going to send you three files." She said.
"Find Garnet."
Hackmanite became confused about what Bismuth was implying. Jaspers tail cracked the ground beneath her...and seeing her like this...like this shook Hackmanite up inside. She was a monster, and a monster whom they called their Caretaker brethren. Part of them didn't want to leave Bismuth in this position. Because part of them has seen it so many times now that they refused to see reason.
"FIND GARNET NOW!"
The fusion barely had enough time to respond as Bismuth charged towards Jasper, prompting Jasper to roar ferociously and do the same. She was so big and bulky that every step shook the foundations. Hackmanite opted to retrieve the two files quickly. They wanted to fight, but the debate between Steven and Kyanite was heavy. Steven wanted to stay and fight but Kyanite knew what Bismuth was trying to do. They stopped in their tracks as they were becoming unstable. Jasper noticed and threw a swipe towards them, only for Bismuth to get in between and block Jaspers blow with her axe.
"Come on....GO!" Bismuth ordered.
She succeeded in pushing Jasper backwards, but the internal debate was hotter in the minds of Hackmanite. One refused to budge, the other wanted to flee. Their fingers deep into their helmet and the desire to throw it all off...all the restraint to let lose and be free.
"NO MORE SACRIFICES." Cried Hackmanite under Steven's guise. They threw up a spherical shield around them as a debate emerged.
Hackmanite. UNKNWNEXC.
This is what they were.
But the fire between them as a gap between the programs of Kyanite and Steven. Two caretakers that shared a bond deeper than anyone else knew at a fiery crossroads. To determine the fate of themselves and their unyielding components.
"We can fight." Steven argued.
Kyanite should have known this would have happened.
"This isn't the time to be this stupid." They stated.
"Bismuth knows the risks. We have to find Garnet."
The world continued to burn around them. Bit by bit....artificial intelligence was either taken over by the virus or others would sooner delete themselves rather than surrender themselves to a terrible fate. Bismuth was their hope in this and Steven couldn't let her go.
Steven's tears fell, but his eyes were burning pink; which to an extent, almost mortified Kyanite. His rage was apparent; as he did not care if he would fall into absolute. Still, it would force Kyanite to walk forward. They weren't certain about much...but they crossed the gap of fire without a single flinch. They knew what Steven wanted and it hurt Kyanite to not be able to provide. To act as HIS voice, where would need to channel his will power in order to proceed.
Kyanite scrunched a fist, before they threw their arms around him which caused him to gasp in shock.
"We've got work to do Steven." They said.
"We've gotta get this done or else we risk losing everyone!"
Keeping it short and blunt and to the point. But then they noticed a flashing white light behind Steven. It took a moment for Kyanite to realise what was going on. Steven turned around to face the light itself as it got brighter and bigger. Soon, a white square popped into place, with the strange alien text he's seen before arise once more.
"Not this again." He commented.
He's seen this?
"What is it?" Kyanite asked.
The last time Steven's encountered this was when he was imprisoned by Jasper; but he still didn't quite grasp what it was trying to say.
"Have you got anyway to decrypt that?"
Kyanite gritted their teeth. Part of them knew but didn't know what was going to entail. They could, but they weren't sure if they should.
"I know exactly what this is..." They noted. They weren't sure if Steven was prepared to find out the truth too.
"Bismuth should be getting the message as well...hopefully."'
Then there was a chance to save them all?
"Then she'll be okay?" Steven queried.
If it convinced Steven to move, then Kyanite only had one answer - despite not entirely sure of the circumstances.
"Possibly." Kyanite replied.
"Just respond with a yes prompt. Should lead us somewhere away from here. If Bismuth got the message too, she would have done the same."
Swallowing his pride and his despair for the moment, Steven had to make that decision. He shook his head. Where would this lead them, really?
Then he sent his prompt; encouraging Hackmanite to do the same.
The chaos of the situation returned to Hackmanite, who opened their eyes to see a huge white coloured portal. Behind them. They looked at Bismuth, who had continued to battle with Jasper. Though both her and Jasper eventually noticed the light portal. Jasper pushed first, her intent to jump in unexpected. She charged right past Hackmanite, though with quick timing, they grabbed onto her tail and pulled her back.
"Bismuth! Go! I'll follow after you!" Hackmanite called out.
It gave Bismuth pause briefly, before she nodded and ran towards the light herself. Hackmanite needed to make sure she was safe first before they themselves would follow. Bismuth arrived at the portal to pull them through and make sure Jasper didn't escape. By luck or by intention, the portal closed before Jasper could enter.
Once inside, they were all met with a room of total darkness. Hackmanite soon unfused, with Steven and Kyanite left bewildered by it all. They turned to Bismuth who seemed to be gazing in awe upon a new sight.
White cubes formed around a beacon of white light; the same light Steven and Kyanite witnessed beforehand. Eventually the cubes took the shape of a giant woman with a long white dress and spiky hair, as she sat crossed legged. Her Kernel Core was huge as well as it was embedded into her forehead. There was a generous amount of power and influence this commanded; an aura that beckoned their gaze. She opened her eyes, then glanced upon the trio before her. Bismuth was the first to take a bow.
"Oh my gosh..." She uttered.
"My...My Monolith...it's an honour..."
Steven and Kyanite exchanged glances. Kyanite knew Bismuth wouldn't bow to just about anybody. So...it only had to mean one thing:
Was this the Avatar of the White Monolith?
"Hello my children." She said as she made a warm smile.
"It appears we have a predicament to resolve."
Notes:
I love making the characters jump through random portals.
Chapter 56: Grand
Summary:
Steven, Kyanite and Bismuth encounter the last person they would ever expect to see.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The Avatar of the White Monolith sat before them.
Not many could say they could gaze upon a Deep Throne or hear its voice...forums would gather to chat about their comparison to hearing the voice of the Gods of their Digital World that would sooner destroy the listener in question due to their latent power.
To sooner he Monoliths Avatar in question, had also been said to either burst ones head completely, or at least burn out their eyesocket. Either way would risk total deletion and possible ascension to another plane of existence.
To survive the sights and sounds had to be an extreme rarity. A priviledge only awarded to the fair few. She sat there, so elegantly with her feet together as if she was in an eternal meditative state. Such grace, as if she was the sun made of gold or the moon made of silver. The brightest star in the night sky. Code ran through her dress. The mixture of human created binary and alien based text meshed together in a dance like blend.
She commanded this void as her own. There was supposed to an essence of comfort but the aura she commanded made Steven feel uneasy. He wasn't sure what to do with this gut feeling as he had no idea what to expect next.
"My Monolith." Said Bismuth. She was Codesmith's boss after all and Steven could somehow see Bismuths slight tremble in voicing those words.
"We cannot thank you enough for you saving us."
"At ease, my Caretaker." She said. Her voice wasn't overly loud. At the right temperament to keep most people at ease. Though, Steven wasn't most people.
"And you two...Steven and Kyanite? Welcome. You may call me White."
White...white...he's heard that name. One from dead lips.
"As in...Grandmother White?" Steven questioned.
White's smiled widened.
"You can see me that way. I will allow it." She said, though there was a tone that more beleagured if you listened to it closely.
"I just couldn't lose all of the current Caretakers in this day and age. Not while the Virus still runs rampant. I heard you cries and summoned you all to safety. Lucky you were within close proximity."
Steven almost forgot that the White Monolith had to have been running deep into the underearths of the the Weiss United Headquarters. It would have been effortless for it, he was sure. Though, yes, he was thankful, there was still so much confusion.
"Are the others safe?" Kyanite queried.
White rubbed her hands before clasping them together.
"Everyone else has been accounted for." She said.
"However, the Spinel GIS has been made dormant for now. And Ms. Miller has been taken into custody."
Safety first it would appear. Steven sensed a bit of guilt from Bismuth. She must have taken the incident harshly, as if everything that happened was her fault. Unlike some GIS he's met, he knows Bismuth has heart. She was a SC-GIS, if he recalled correctly. Her heart was originally human and the weight on her shoulders from being a Caretaker must have been immense. Before her was her superior and she must have feared a fate that matched up with her perceived failures.
"There will be a lot of work to do in the mean time. An incident like this doesn't mean we're finished. It just means we need to work harder, that's all."
Steven couldn't think of what to say or how to say anything really. The fact that remained that this was a Monolith or an Avatar of it....astounded him. In his many years and for many people, the Monoliths were a complete mystery. Sources of great power that sustained the biggest network in the world and evolved techonology faster than was originally intended. It was almost overwhelming but at the same time; underwhelming? Steven couldn't decide. But he was here. With someone who could make a great impact on the greater mission as a whole and they had only awoken to the dangers that worlds currently faced.
"Excuse me ma'am, excuse me for prying but..." Steven asked, as he fidgeted with his hands.
"You..you're the one who originally found the Monoliths..."
White, however, in her grandeur and warmth, was happy to comply.
"It is amazing isn't it?" She said.
"It feels like a life time ago since that Expedition. So much has happened and...believe me, the world is so...much more than it was. Time goes by much quicker when you are on the inside looking out. And I couldn't be happier."
Happier thats she's stuck inside what is imagined to be...a giant crystal? A slab of some technology? From what Steven remembered from his time in the ruins, the Monoliths took unusual shapes.
"Happy? Despite what's going on? Why intervene now?" Kyanite asked.
" Why couldn't you have taken action ages ago when this all started?"
Of course, Kyanite would be the critical one. They reminded him of someone he knew.
"I am of course, a busy being. I may lead the Domain but I am too, am another cog." White answered.
"You would misunderstand my role here. I am on the precipice of everything my Family has engaged with over the decades. My energies are everywhere within the Domain. I have my GIS to do the work they do for a reason. They must serve the purposes they are made for. If they cannot, then I must assist in reallocating those roles. Communicate with my fellow Monoliths and to decide where the other little cogs go."
So, what was White's role in particular? Surely it wasn't just leading.
"The ruins revealed a something more as found more relics and texts from those who left them behind." White revealed.
"They had a system set up. A guideline as to what roles each people had in place for each Monolith. You may know of them."
The Caretaker, The Voice and....
"The Conduit." White noted.
"That is my role. I exist for the White Monoliths connections for the world." She revealed.
"For its organic life forms and it's GIS. Caretakers act as the GIS stand in and authorities and the Voices act as the human stand in and authority. I work on behalf of the White Monolith to convey, empower and translate...and command the future."
So by all rights and logic, she was the true essence of the White Monolith - but was she also implying that she wasn't actually the White Monolith? She worded all this too weirdly for Steven to properly grasp.
"I gave myself to it and it gave itself to me. Its true power runs through me and we work together...I give it my mind and it gives me its power."
Almost like a Consensus.
"So you've been here, all this time?" Steven questioned.
White hummed.
"It is a struggle to maintain a system the size and scope of the Domain, no matter how perfect I run it." White continued.
"I am always being stretched so thinly. Even this Avatar is a but enough fragments of my psyche to maintain a sense of a workable consciousness."
Though, as far as what Bismuth knew, if what Lady Volley had been complaining about recently, was that White hadn't been talking to them much lately, if at all?
"Is the situation with the Luna Virus causing this?" Kyanite queried.
White sighed. If only they could comprehend.
"It does make it difficult, but since the disappearance of the Pink Monolith and its Conduit, the Domain has been in a decline. Not that we would want to cause a panic the general public."
They never knew such a Conduit existed before this moment. They would have found it by now, surely.
"Was....was Rosette Flannigan the Conduit?" Steven wondered.
A question that White had to ponder for a moment on, before she could answer.
"My dearest Granddaughter... Rose was its Voice, then its Caretaker. I'm not certain if I wanted her to carry the role of Caretaker but no, she was never the Conduit."
So who was it?
"I'm not sure if I want to divulge the identities of the Conduits, but we all should be focusing on Luna right now. The risks Luna poses to both realms are immense that the all the Monoliths are in grave danger...and we need to take action."
Steven looked at both Bismuth and Kyanite and nodded. He only cared to reach to the outside but...the Domain had always been his home...and he had a right to defend it.
"You have us." Bismuth declared as she fell to one knee.
White smiled...but then forrowed her brows.
"But you're missing one." She said.
Jasper.
"She was corrupted by the virus, ma'am." Steven said, sadly.
Closing her eyes for a moment, White then reopened them shortly after, with a straight face.
"We need those who can work with the power granted by the Yellow Monolith." She said.
"I just briefly communicated with them and it has decided the next in line to inherit the Caretaker role."
Wait, really?
"Huh? That was quick." Kyanite acknowledged.
They must have had the tightest connections to each other. The most powerful too.
"What about Jasper?" Steven queried.
White remained stoic.
"Both Jasper and the Prime App have been compromised. Yellow had to make a swift decision to let someone else take it and we do not have the time to develop a fully functional GIS for the role. So, she has decided. Not one I would have chosen but I can see the merit with this GIS. This GIS will be messaged and requested to go to the Promotional Ceremony asap."
This was happening so suddenly. Steven was worried about Jasper all the while...poor GIS. She was only doing what she was told to and now she was being swept under the rug.
"Now, I believe you have a solution to potentially dealing with this threat?" White asked.
Kyanite explained their plan to the Avatar of the White Monolith. Bismuth explained that they were in the middle of testing the virus itself on Jasper before it went horribly wrong. According to the details, Spinel was shut down instantly, and everything had gone into an instant lock down while there were dozens of real life personnel and GIS operatives working around to counteract the virus for as long as they could.
"I'm sorry I let you down my Monolith." Bismuth said sadly.
Only White could judge her now.
"It isn't about letting me down, my Caretaker." She said.
"It is about getting results. Is the Trojan prepared?"
They were caught off guard by White's question; having half expected more animosity. Bismuth nodded before she pulled out a small cube; coloured mostly black with bits of yellow and gold. Steven looked at it with a tiny bit of awe mixed with fear. This was their ticket to dealing with Luna.
"I'd given Jasper only a controlled amount of the virus that was meant to self-destruct within moments." Bismuth said sadly.
"I hadn't had time to administer proper testing before she-"
White didn't care about that.
"Will it work for its intended purpose, Bismuth?" She asked coldly.
The idea for something work to function as both a type of anti-virus as well as a program that was also designed to shut down Luna and get her out of Connie couldn't have been easy. Steven was a little lost on the details but Jasper being the first one to test out the anti-viral properties didn't sound too promising. It meant that Luna had her eyes on everything and had a strict control of the Virus. He wasn't really sure how Kyanite was going to impliment their little plan so easily. The look on Bismuths face told him that she had her doubts. So many of them. But White's demands cut through the nonsense despite loss having evolved from it. Her priorities were open to all.
"It will work, my Monolith." Bismuth responded.
White nodded.
"Very well." She said.
"Kyanite, do you have a means to reach Luna?"
Kyanite nodded. White was clearly someone with the impatience to deal with nonsense. Her vision was as thus. Kyanite was wise in not to cause further ire.
"That I do Ma'am." They responded.
"I may need a little aid in doing so."
White lifted her chin, then closed her eyes briefly again, then opened them shortly after.
"I have communicated with the Blue Monolith. They will aid in you in what resources you will need for this endeavour."
Kyanite nodded. Though, they had a million questions themselves, but they would have stave those for now.
"I will open a portal for you and Bismuth to the Deep Throne of the Blue Monolith to get started. Steven...I wish to have a word with you. Alone."
Words that chilled him to parts of his raw code. He looked at Kyanite as if to say, this may be the last time they see each other. White opened up a portal. Steven didn't want them to go. Kyanite gave him one last nod before they and Bismuth jumped through the portal.
When he was alone with White, it was clear they had much to talk about. Dread filled him, though not close enough to be an Absolute? He tried to keep his cool around her.
"Kyanite and Bismuth." She said.
"I do allow the other Monoliths some sense of self-regulation and autonomy. Bismuth I have no issue with but Kyanite? Hmmm. I don't imagine their kind being fit for the Caretaker role but if Blue has tested their faith then I will not question their decision."
Seems like Steven wasn't the only one to question Kyanite's presence. Though, not in the way Steven believed.
"But enough about them. I'm certain you have a lot of questions, Steven." She said, giving him a smile that was minor, but enough to creep him out more than it was supposed to comfort him.
"You and I have a lot in common in that regard. In my youth, I also did the same. I sought to get those answers from the time I was able to speak. You believe the world around you to be simple, clear, concise. That everything has a reason. That everything had its place in reality. But you then come to find, there will be occasions where nothing makes sense. But you need them to. Or else...you will be unable to fix what is fundamentally broken."
Steven did ask a lot. As for similarities, there was just the one. He's only just met Grandmother White. But she was correct. Steven's had seen some things. He's heard some things. Things that yes, he did demand answers for.
"I know your plan with me." Steven acknowledged.
"You want to use me...to kill off mankind."
White raised an eyebrow.
"Where did you get that idea from?" She asked, as she sounded a bit offended.
He assumed she would know, so he was kind of weirded out by that response. Maybe he should have clarified.
"Maybe not kill off mankind...but...turn them all into SC-GIS...and...BM-AIs with this so called...ascension."
White hummed, before she put on the smile once again, like it was some kind of mask she could easily take off and put back on again.
"Nothing could be farther from the truth." She said.
"Conservation of ideas through digitized preservation is a goal. It isn't a matter of total annihilation but... What if humans go extinct on their own, natural accord? It is going to happen irregardless. The laws of nature and evolution will demand it and when that time comes, at least humans can say they have existed."
What?
"I mean, humans are a small speck in the timeline of the Earth. But the problem is that the techonology of the time didn't allow for such things. The Monoliths have allowed us an advantage by becoming eternal."
That didn't answer his question.
"But will that end humanity all at once? I was designed to be that switch, that weapon...is that even possible?" He queried, feeling his anger rise.
"I don't want that to happen. Humans and artificial intelligence deserve to exist together. We need each other."
White paused for the moment as she closed her eyes.
"Indeed. But I need more clarity to see if you were designed to be that switch." She said calmly.
She sifted through something as her eyelids shifted about.
"It seems my granddaughter must have adopted a similar mindset. You inherited her programming, after all."
The world around them changed....and it changed to the interior of where Steven's Chassis once was; the room where he onced lived and grew. White might have been massive, but she scoped herself to look normal...and Steven to be quite tiny as he stood in front of the Chassis; which to someone of his size, was akin to a massive metallic castle.
"You are but a young prince. In the scheme of things. I wondered...what the Princess Rose had been plotting. The cycle I had developed, for the Diamant Family to spread its influence so that others may join us and grow their knowledge base and understanding. But evidence has proven otherwise."
White summoned a projection of his Mother-Creator in front of her; wearing her jeans and tartan jacket over a tank top.
"I expected my children to follow the cycle to the letter. My daughters...Mimosa, Azure and Cereza; her sisters liked to call her, Cherry...they became the Conduits."
Three women were projected behind Rose. A tall woman in yellow with short hair, a curvacious woman in blue with long hair and finally, a woman in pink with puffy hair, shorter than the rest. She was the one who stood behind Rose.
"Mimosa and Azure took their roles quite easily; their lives sworn to the management of the Yellow and Blue Monoliths respectively." White continued.
"As for Cherry, well, she took to it quite harshly. In the end, she did what she was told. I was glad that she saw things our way. But now I feel...she may have taken it a step too far. Especially with her eldest Rose."
So...the Pink Monolith...it conveyed its voice to Rose because it was her mother?
"I'm not sure if Cherry had been trying to convince Rose not to go ahead...and was using her to conspire against the Family and I wonder with you...if Rose had somehow...made you to ruin everything I had planned."
It would seem that way.
"I never got to talk to my Mother-Creator so I'm not sure, I don't have the whole picture." Steven told her.
"I've only seen her through memories..."
White then opened her eyes. Steven's words meant more than he knew and it was easy for her, with her processing power able to determine facts from snippets of information that could easily be clustered together. So she had come to a simple conclusion.
"There's a reason for that. Something I didn't know was even possible." White said.
"Tell me...have you ever tried to thumb through your files and find data that wasn't supposed to be there?"
Not that he was aware of? Though White raised a hand into the air and summoned multiple screens. Each screen was a taped sequence.
"Memories of your Mother-Creator perhaps? That, alongside your search for the Pink Monolith, you had hoped to find as well?"
Steven looked at each of them. Yes. He remembered watching all of those. Every single one of them.
"I-I assume she's left them there...." Steven stuttered.
White then made a small, half-chuckle.
"Like breadcrumbs?" She said.
"Maybe. But maybe you already know the truth."
What truth?
"I don't know what you're talking about." Steven said.
A statement that left White both bemused and bewildered.
"A program that has both the properties of a GIS and an Artificial Intelligence? Alien and human? Surely, Steven, even you can't be that ignorant. There's been enough evidence provided to let you in on that little secret. It only took me half a second to realise what actually happened to her."
No...he.
"Look within...make your claim to the truth be known!"
FILES PLAYBACK, CERTAIN SEQUENCE CODE TRACE PROGRAM START
"Did Rose...have a son?" Steven asked, gaining Connie's attention.
"An odd question; I...I don't think she did? I never talked to Rose all that often." Albite said, perplexed. <1
"I only ever talked to some of the more saner of my compatriots. The dates between the Primes and the Betas and the incident were within the space of about five years. I was taken by Lady Volley about a year before I heard the news from a source that Rose disappeared...but the strangest thing is that Rose disappeared about...8 years before the Monolith disappeared."
FILE CC- 48. 2
"Desynchronising with my phylactery means I'm no longer connected to the Monoliths Network." Rose said.
"And will allow me to prove that what ever we're missing will come back to us through this method."
FILE CC - 48. 5
"There will be a period of dormancy from me." Rose continued as she tapped away. <2
"I don't know if I anticipate any kind of return from this."
FILE CC- 48. 7
"You'd think the Monolith would have chosen me if Rose willingly gave up her role as the Voice..." <2
FILE CC-50 . 6
"Rose and I came to an agreement." He said, as he tinkered with some wiring.
"I wasn't all for what she wanted...and it came down to her saying that she chose to do it. I mean, I married her....but it doesn't mean I own her."
Dr. Miller crossed her arms and dug her nails deep into the fabric of her lab coat.
"So what happened then?" She said.
"After she desynchronised with her phylactery?" <3
"So what? She disconnected herself from the Domain?" Steven called out, not quite grasping what was going on.
"I-I she was an important mission and didn-"
White then cackled. Such a laugh echoed all around him and shook him to the kernel core.
"Steven...please..." White said. His blathering tired her.
"I mean, such an act leaves a permanently dormant phylactery. One too perfect to let rot."
No.
The talk about being a BM-AI....no, the talk of a SC-GIS. So it was...maybe.
"Are the pieces coming together now?"
Steven tried to focus...and zone out White's voice. Compiling the data together. Dead Son...
Was he...was he imprinted onto the...
Steven blinked. What? How...no. That couldn't be right.
"To me it makes perfect sense." White continued.
"I must admit, out of the three, Cherry was the most creative and Rose inherited Cherries talents and expanded upon them. Ah Rose, you are clever."
No. That's....no, Rose was out there, somnewhere...still. Even if what White said was true, Rose couldn't have disappeared completely. No. She was out there. Hiding. Waiting.
"But not clever enough or else she would be here to to try and stop me from talking to you."
Steven felt fearful even more so. He then froze. Steven realised he was in their trap. Right where they wanted him. He wouldn't have been surprised if what she had said was all lies; but the fact remained that they definitely had succeeded in acquiring their destined weapon. He couldn't handle it. His mind wouldn't accept it.
"No...I can't..." Steven stammered as he stood up and tried to walk back.
"You...you tricked us! Now..."
Shhhhhhhh......
White had placed her index finger against her lip to quiet him up.
"Relax." She said.
"Panic will cause haste...and haste will make mistakes. They will not bode well for you." She said.
"I do believe Cherry and Rose were not alone in their endeavours. No doubt, they had some help."
Dr. DeMayo, Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl were all involved. As was Bismuth...oh no...
He couldn't let her find them. But Bismuth...White must have planned this.
"Once the Luna Virus is taken care of, we will do a bit of clean up. Once the Pink Monolith returns to us, we'll decide what to do with the situation. We'll find easy replacements."
He couldn't believe this. Her lack of empathy struck him hard.
"But you cause a conundrum." She continued as she crossed her arms.
"You are a Caretaker by inheritance...however, she may have designed you to be also the Voice...and maybe even another Conduit....yes, yes, I can see it. It's doable. It doesn't fit the cycle that I set...so I have to change that."
She really thought she could just...change everything back to normal? Steven refused to submit to that. Not on his watch.
"You could continue to be a really good Caretaker. The dedication that rests within your 'heart' is commendable....I would be hesistant to promote you to the Conduit role despite being the possible perfect fit. You are very young. But you're a Diamant by birthright. A true Prince."
Steven refused to serve as anything but if it it meant sacrificing more people to meet her aim.
"But I see what else in your 'heart'....."
She raised a finger and pressed a black nail lightly against his Kernel Core. More projections emitted around him, giving form to many of those he knew and loved. Ronaldo, Peedee, Fryman... Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl...even figure's he would have felt disdain towards like Dr. DeMayo. But then he had Sadie...and Dr. Miller. Significant figures.
Then....Connie...
"The little Maheswaran." White said.
"Once an innocent little girl...defiled by the foster system and how it ridded her of her potential. A Hacker who thought she could take on the world. Now subjected to be your greatest enemy. Why would you associate yourself with such a wretched thing?"
No. She wasn't. Steven had a made a fist which shook by his side in anger at how much her words would sooner stain Connie's honor.
"I...I love Connie..." Steven blurted out.
Love...a word that made White laugh.
"Oh my...Love?" She said, beside herself.
"Oh my dearest little Steven...how does someone like you understand and comphrehend love? Your heart that had been taken to your head? A sweet idea but a dangerous one..."
But it was worth it. He needed to understand it and know how to show it.
"The Monoliths had trouble understanding humans." Steven stated.
"What it means to be human...and you...even you were human once."
A fact that was a fact. Like his Mother-Creator, she would have had herself subjected to the White Monoliths whims; allured by its power and strength to become its Avatar and rule over mankind as it's Queen.
"I haven't been human in years." She said.
"I'd rather be here then be subject to the weaknesses of the flesh. One day, humankind will appreciate...and humankind will regret not taking the chance to become immortal. To join its Queen in this bliss of the realms and become more than what they are and will ever be."
Was White here for the sake of humankind? Or did she have some lingering vision of control? Steven wasn't sure. He wanted to believe that this was for humanities sake. But something inside of himself told him otherwise. White's intents...just didn't sit right with him.
To make matters worse, a projection of Kyanite appeared alongside Connie.
"And the Blue Caretaker? Steven...I see...your Consensus with them is strong...naturally. I am for programs that are registered as Mods. Some may think I am against them but I'm not. I'm against illegal mods. GIS that turn into programs that can break the Domain."
The Synthesised...did...no...Steven quickly shook his head and unintentionally rid of the projected people he knew. He had to protect them.
"I'm going to let you in on a little secret Steven." She said.
"A secret I've scarcely told others, but you can use it as a last resort IF you know how to find a use for it. You know the Prime Apps that are coveted so much? The reasons why that only Monoliths can create them? Well, I found something else in the ruins. The same ruins that held the Cycle Guidelines."
Steven didn't want to know. One of the things he felt was better kept as a secret.
"Exploring the Monoliths brought on new technology. As well as older techology from the aliens that made them. The Prime Apps hold the essence of a much larger, stronger Program. Something known as the Guardian."
Original.
"The Caretaker role is...sacred because there is the essence of the Apps that only the Monoliths provide. It's relatively unknown what this essence is even after years of study. Neither the Voice or the Conduits have access to this power. It's only unique to the Caretakers themselves. I was hoping...that maybe...that one day, the Caretakers would be able to discover the powers together."
What? So White could steal it for herself?
"Hackmanite? Was it? Well...I could already sense the powers flowing through your Consensus and it was astounding; nothing like I had ever seen before...and it must be the Prime Apps responding to one another. So I've come to the conclusion that if you were to do the same with Bismuth as well as the new Yellow Caretaker, that you might be able to bring on this new power."
Again, Steven was on edge. He couldn't tell if White was pulling his leg or not. If it maybe the switch and she was trying to make her dreams happen. He wasn't that stupid to go along with every little thing she said. Even if she was the Queen...Steven wasn't going to listen.
"But what to do, what to do with you...I know you're probably tired of all the running around. All the jumping through mysterious portals....poor child."
He was tired...he was tired of being pushed and pulled and ripped around. Not knowing where to go...which path to take. He had people he needed to protect and assist with. He wanted to aid those in need and cleanse the world of the horrible virus.
"I'm not a thing you can toy around with...neither am I your 'Prince'." Steven told her firmly.
White laughed.
"I'm not toying with you...and the Prince thing is just...well, you are a Prince of the Diamant Family. You are my direct link to Cereza and Rose. I'm interested in how Rose managed to separate herself from her Phylactery. I've never known GIS to be able to do that."
"Desynchronising with my phylactery means I'm no longer connected to the Monoliths Network."
Wait, so she wasn't aware of the desynchronisation process?
"Or she deleted herself....interesting...INTERESTING....but I will figure out your secret..."
Steven squinted at White with an angered expression on his face. He was powerless here, but he wasn't afraid of giving a White a piece of mind.
"Then your creation flummaxes me." She said.
A dead son uploaded into the Network with Rose's phylactery. Steven had trouble processing it.
"You're confused? I'm a SC-GIS with a lot of human elements put in. How is that hard to figure out?" Steven pointed out.
"I'm basically a GIS 2.0 at this point...but with less alien influence."
Less alien influence...White then highlighted Dr. Millers hologram.
"Barbara..." White said.
"My poor, little Barbara. She was such an....ambitious young woman. Unfortunately, she didn't inherit Diamond Gene like most of us hoped. Her mother was disappointed but she was one of us. She had her use."
What did she have to do with this? White rubbed her chin as she closed her eyes; trying to download information about her other granddaughter.
"But that use is gone...but I'm left in the dark if her daughter inherited the Diamond Gene. We never got to find out. A shame."
Maybe it should stay that way. Steven definitely didn't want Sadie to be involved in this mess anymore than she had been. She'd been through enough and with Spinel made dormant, he couldn't imagine Sadie going through anything worse.
Other than White getting a hold of her, that is.
"Barb was our Archivist. And....investigations are still being upheld but...what's this? Hmmm...disturbing...and you...you were never told..."
Never told what?
"Oh Steven I think you should know..." She said.
"It's very important for children to know exactly where they came from."
What in the world was she talking about?
"Your mother, Rose....before she became a GIS, she had her eggs frozen." White continued as her mind sifted through records of data almost seemlessly.
"To be expected. I need those who can pass on genes to the next generation."
Steven had no idea what she meant.
"But as it turns out, Barbara ended up being...your...surrogate? Yes. Dr. DeMayo donated the sperm required and Rose had her egg implanted into Barbara...so she gave birth to you...hmmm smart Rose...very smart. I'm proud."
So...Steven shook his head. He didn't even understand this....surrogate business.
"Hmmm it's adding up, it's definitely adding up. Oh Steven you are very unique indeed." White said with pride.
"I love science....I love making the impossible, possible....and the truths remain unhindered and reality stands before you. My sweet, Prince of the Stars. Maybe you are fit to be a Conduit after all."
Steven's mind was busy being scrambled as he tried to make sense of it all. Rose was his mother...and so...Barbara was? He had issues in trying to wrap his head around it. He fell to his knees.
It took him a while to understand Barbaras death. But Rose...his mother-creator...gifting him her Phylactery...willingly. But she had desynchronised which meant...her software was still around in the Domain somewhere. It had to be. Stuck. Yeah. Probably stuck. Maybe even protecting the Pink Monolith.
Maybe she was the actual Conduit? Or even sharing the Conduit role with her mother? Steven took comfort in that possibility. Which meant, he had to return to the Pink Monolith as soon as he could. But not while Grandmother White remained in control. His mind tried to compile its own truths to comprehend so...maybe none of what he believed was in fact, true. But he took that human condition known as hope with him and that everything wasn't as bad it could have been....and their isolation; where ever they were, was absolutely crucial. Keeping it away...to the extent that Domain would suffer for it....was something he now struggled with.
The chatter about everything....from Caretakers to Voices to Conduits...to Guardians...it had to all fit somewhere but his mind twisted up that he couldn't think properly...he could short circuit if he wasn't careful.
"But of course...the role itself will rob you from the field. You will be within your Deep Throne...and communicating to your Voice and your Caretaker. I have a few options for you to consider for both of those...."
What? He hadn't even said anything.
"What makes you think I'm going to take any role, willingly?" He dared to ask.
White smirked.
"You're already a Caretaker." She said.
"When the time comes, you'll be able to ascend those who will to beg and grovel at your beck and call, demanding to your transform your lives for the better. Of course, the Voice will need to deem them worthy of ascension. They're meant to be able to pick from the cream of the crop when it comes to fine specimens so you leave that to them."
That sounded...horrible. How was that any of that good? His head started to spin with all of this. How was any of it true? Was White lying to mess with him? She wasn't a noble Goddess; she was more of a vile witch.
"But for now, I will let you go. I feel you're getting closer to solving this problem...and the sooner we do that, the sooner we can continue progressing towards greatness!"
Steven's formed turned white briefly as he was summoned away from White's Realm to...somewhere. It was a laboratory and he could see Bismuth and Kyanite standing there as they spoke about the program. Kyanite noticed Steven's presence...and noticed something was off about him.
He felt...nauseous.
He's never felt...nauseous before.
Something definitely wasn't right.
His mind was swimming with thoughts so big that he almost fainted; causing Kyanite to come over and catch him before he hit the ground.
"Woah Steven." Kyanite called out.
"Hey Steven, you alright?"
He felt faint and his vision was blurry. Everything was just too much.
"What the hell did she do to him?"
Bismuth came over as well and helped him on his feet.
"I heard talking with White can be intense." Bismuth said.
Kyanite hummed. This didn't look good.
"Explains why you weren't really keen on dealing with her. Sheesh." They said.
"Come on, lets get you seated."
Kyanite assisted him with sitting down on a chair nearby. He was so out of it. Out of his mind with what he had been provided. Truth...or lies? He wasn't quite sure. Part of him suspected that she was giving the truth but he didn't want to believe it. Kyanite sat next to him and wrapped their arm around his shoulders. Steven wasn't bothered by; his mind was too frayed to bother being annoyed by Kyanite's sudden closeness. If anything, he wanted them there with him.
"Sorry we left you there." They said.
"I wasn't entirely comfortable with leaving her with you. And I'm sorry."
It wasn't their fault. Kyanite was given an order...and order Steven would have to obey if he was in their position.
"No no...it's okay." He told them.
"I uh....I've gotta...I've uhh..."
He didn't have to say anything. If he needed space, Kyanite would understand.
"Rest easy." Kyanite told him.
"You don't have to...."
Steven...
Reality appeared shift in and out on him. He went from hot to cold to hot in short flashes that he immediately fell sick. Among the whispers that he could hear.
"He really doesn't look good." Bismuth said. She looked at his form which began to spark and flicker in displaced pixels.
"His Avatar is glitching way too hard. We need to get him to his Monolith."
Pink.....no...Cereza....Ch-Cherry....
He could imagine the figure White showed him; the sihoulette of his Grandmother as she stood behind his mother.
Rose.
"I'mma......SYSTEM CONNECTIONS COMPROMISED."
Kyanite fell on their back by the sheer surprise of how loud that sounded.
"Ah shit." Bismuth cursed.
"His VI is overriding his systems, which means his main functions are shutting down."
Kyanite took a deep breath, got up and slammed their hands on his shoulders to hold him into place. They used the Third Eye to try and determine the source of the problem. She had a look at his base Avatar, that despite it glitching, they could try and seek out what was going on. Though, through his code and his algorithms, they found something strange.
"What the..." Kyanite said.
"Why is there a subroutine consistently trying to recall the software? And where the hell is the software being recalled to?"
Bismuth knelt down before him.
"It's possible that his...he has a Phylactery right?" She asked.
A fact that the Blue Caretaker sort of had suspected for such a long time but wanted to let the answers come to Steven naturally. No one could be really sure, but the evidence was there. Kyanite cautiously lifted up his shirt and could see his Kernel Core. They hadn't had any reason to examine it, nor did Hackmanite have any reason to do any deep rooted diagnostics. But, this Kyanite had to find out more. They carefully held their hand over the Core itself as they intialised the scans.
There had to be a reason for this...though Stevens hand slapped onto Kyanite's wrist, which interrupted them. Surprised that he was still somewhat lucid, Kyanite had to urge Steven to relax so they could figure out what was going wrong.
"I..." Steven's voice was scratchy and he was barely holding on.
They were aware of the possibility that he did have one. Confirming his status as some kind of unique SC-GIS. His extensions didn't make sense....and all this talk about his destiny about humanities destruction worried them. If it had truely gotten to him. That and his obsession with finding Connie. Kyanite held onto his hand.
"You're not dying." Kyanite assured him.
At least, they hoped he wasn't. They tried to scan again.
"He hasn't been infected." Bismuth queried.
Relief was what they felt, but the Blue Caretaker had suspected that that was the case. Steven wasn't showing the signs. Recalling GIS back to their phylacteries wasn't one of the symptoms.
"No." Kyanite said.
"But...is there a possibility that his Phylactery is in danger?"
Bismuth rubbed their chin. Memories spouted much from her experience from working with the strange rocks, so there was a decent grasp on the hardware side of it all.
"Could be." She said.
"The signal strength can weaken if where it's located is losing power. Which means he could be hooked up to a cabinet and where its residing may be in danger."
Damn. Kyanite tried all they could and it could be their fault for all they could know. There was something that they could try. Something they did. A questionable thing. It had to be done. Kyanite's done such things beyond what would be considered appropriate but not exactly popular or something most people would act on. But they knew what was at stake and they couldn't afford to have one of the few people they care about become lost in the darkness. If White did anything to hurt him...it hurt their chest just thinking about it.
"Remember when I told you I had plans to track down his site of origin...ya know, in case he had some kind of AI Core Chassis installed elsewhere?" They said.
"So I managed to plant that tracker you made."
Bismuth frowned. She remebered that easy. Though, it was a wonder no one thought to do that sooner...and Kyanite's urge with discretion with the matter. It was easy to see why.
"It's so small and harmless...it couldn't have done this." She said.
No. It hadn't. Her earlier assumption about something interfering with his...phylactery, had to have the real reason. Where it is, Kyanite was determined to find it.
"I know it wouldn't, I've never had to use it until now. Executing trace." They announced.
They would let the subroutine do its work. Kyanite didn't want to show it, but they were indeed worried. Enough of it for Bismuth to notice. She was privy to certain secrets that most weren't even aware of.
"The data that Amethyst and Vidalia found at the Mansion...it has multiple implications but..." Bismuth said, as she scratched the back of her head.
"I think you know where that trace ends."
Kyanite had to be sure. Assumptions were dangerous but often their only leads. Sifting through that data lead to fairly damning conclusions. But they were hesistant to believe much based off the ramblings of a mad woman.
They had their own suspicions. From a time they couldn't fathom...but in a way, they knew. They just had to have proof. Part of them wanted an answer they believed to be...but ultimately, they knew it wouldn't be possible.
And it wasn't as if Kyanite was alone in that matter. Bismuth once expressed the same sentiments in a previous discussion. But she too, wanted proof.
There was only one person Kyanite could think of that could possibly be able to help them right now.
Or rather, one Monolith.
"If we can save his phylactery...then we will be able to let him live in peace." They said.
"That's all he's ever wanted and we're going to give it to him."
Notes:
1. Chapter 39: Obelisk
2. Chapter 48: Virus
3. Chapter 50: Chassis
Chapter 57: Lost Sun/Found Moon
Summary:
Lars and Luna contemplate their positions in life and in family.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Their main abode; these ruins. They were his home. Filled with ancient ruins and abandoned laboratories. It made the young punk yearn for greener pastures due the sterile and creepy enviroments he found himself.
Lars had been part of this for a while now. A part of this weirdness that became his life. He didn't dwell on much, rather he wasn't one to focus on the future. But to survive in the present.
He walked through the empty hallways and catwalks with hands in his pockets and a mind that raced through everything again from scratch...for what good it would do him to ponder later on?
The boy had been a street kid before he was a Moontouched...and even then, being diagnosed with Rampancy Disease had it's own stigma. But felt as if he lead a pretty normal (read: chaotic) life.
Then the time came when he fell in love with one of his closest friends. It's not like he's never had heartbreak before. The feeling was familiar.
Except actually being shot through the eye was...definitely not familiar.
To awaken on a lab table was only something he'd seen in sci-fi movies...and the idea that was presented to him the regretful Dr. Miller; that she would sooner have him remain in what ever hell she had brought him into. He wanted to flee. But then he was presented with the opportunity of a life time. Terrified, Lars had no choice but to agree. Once he got over the idea that he had pink skin and pink hair of course.
And he no longer any further problems with Rampancy Disease.
He wanted to protest but really, he was so confused that he was hungry for an explanation. Given time with that crazed smile, she eventually presented him to some artificial intelligence known as Luna. That his condition as a Moontouched, and the reason why he survived was because of her as well as Dr. Miller's expertise. He knew AI's existed but never dealt with them personally. Sadie never wanted to talk much about her mothers work. He could now realise her warnings to never indulge her were now obvious.
Dr. Miller was crazy...and that was putting it mildly...and the only reason he'd been at the Mansion in the first place was to find some information for that damn Data Broker he used to work for. Figures. He was used to dodging security systems with ease. He wasn't a hacker, but he's done his fair share of a thievery and had adapted skills from others in the past. Money would force you to stupid things from time to time.
Getting caught was a fear. Getting shot at was also a fear but he hadn't expected to have gotten the shot from the head honcho, nor did he expect that it was Sadie's Mother that did the deed. It was strange....like she knew she committed murder and what better what not to get caught was to go through some kind of nanite-therapy to get him walking and talking again.
But..of course, someone who looked like Lars would get him noticed. He couldn't commit to his previous line of work, but under Luna's tuteluge, he was now capable of using his skills for an even greater reason.
He hadn't expected to take orders from an AI, but Dr. Miller had assured him that Luna had the right way and she had been cooking up something tremendous. Life changing. World changing.
Lars was just...some guy. Some guy from the slums. A nobody, really.
But he did what he was told. Given his own space. It was strange but...despite all that, he honestly didn't regret anything. Maybe his relationship with Sadie. He never saw her again after that.
To this day, he'd did much for his..." Moon Goddess." and the Cult. He wasn't sure when things began to change. His feelings changed. His world changed.
He changed.
He tried to find relics, documents, phylacteries...He learned about GIS and their fundamental importance to the Domain. He learned about the mythical Monoliths. Like most, he didn't even think they existed.
That he was told about the Shard Project, the Lazaras Initiative that was said to have with his resurrection...and of course, AI creation.
And the ability to lie. Most of the stuff he told to the group story was really a cover story to sell Luna's Goddess hood. It was a habit she had him form. He was used to lying.
Then one day...the old bat killed herself. It was a surprise and he never understood why she did so. He came across evidence of...guilt? But that was about it. He mourned her loss in secret but didn't mourn for long. After all, he was too fearful if she decided to go trigger-happy again, for what ever reason beyond self-preservation taught him. Besides, he was happy with his Goddess.
Years on and Luna found new ways to surprise him. Especially after he learned about her possession of some infamous hacker he'd heard about. He shouldn't have been surprised but he was.
She had more room to move and develop. She still had to sustain the body so he had to make sure to feed the body. She became obsessed with tinkering and developed technology for herself that he wouldn't have imagined.
And his encounter with the Ancillas...the humans. The Fryman brothers and the Androids. It was clear that they were his enemies. If Luna had given the order, he wouldn't have hesitated to kill simply because she asked him to.
She'd developed some kind of...belt that had anti-gravity properties. It allowed her to fly and manipulate herself around the labs and the Cluster Monoliths Chambers. She would talk about how the body allowed her to feel so much more than she was ever able to. Learning to breath and sleep; Not that she slept all that much. He encouraged her to. Luna would just mention the reasons why that their work was so important. So they could override the system with their own and provide greater freedom for the people of the Earth; that the Developers would no longer keep the people in their shackles.
Lars understood that their relationship was of Master and Servant, but she let him speak his mind as if they were equals.
"What's the latest?" He asked.
Luna had managed to program a backdoor program that allowed her to see channels that were normally so heavily encrypted. She had the data fed to her but the information itself was only partially translated, with most of it just garbled junk, much to her displeasure. But with what scraps she could use, she was able to determine a conclusive summary of the situation.
"The Governments are growing tired of the inaction of the Developers." She said.
"I'm getting messages of them bringing up older techologies that have been stored in army bases for decades. As if primitive technology is going to help them now."
Lars gently bit into his lip. He wasn't keen on being a target ever since Luna's original press conference. ^1 But he did collect important data that would prove to be consequential.
"The virus has spread through around 70% of the Domain. What hope does any military have of gaining the upper hand on the digital fronts?" He queried.
Luna smirked. Some will appreciate their efforts some day, even the most stubborn.
"It changes nothing." She said.
"The Developers downfall is that they a singular line of succession as opposed to competitive market where alternatives could be utilised as a compromise. Even if there were, it would only serve to slow us down."
Lars wasn't born yesterday. The fact remained that the Developers were a collection of connected corporations with matching intentions and shareholders that would lead them all down a fairly damning path. He's also seen his own fair share of bizarre happenings over the years to know that anything strange was so easily waived off.
However, the most recent events had even the apathetic Lars questioning much. He brought up a tablet.
"Well, did you hear they made a swift decision to replace the Yellow Caretaker." He said.
Luna turned to look at him. They had Jasper; one of the strongest offensive GIS on the platform. Corrupted by the virus, Luna had plans to collect her.
"The Monoliths will waste no time in doing what's necessary to pretend everythings okay." She said.
"I need you to try and collect her Phylactery for more."
Lars blinked.
"Seriously?" He said.
"She's a Caretaker, who's Phylactery is gonna locked up tight at the PeriCom Centre. Security is gonna be bonkers."
Luna then approached him and put something small and pink into his hand, though it was encased inside of some kind of metal box.
"I reverse engineered the tech from Leon." She said, as she pressed his fingers over the machine.
"This is going to be your friend from now on. Instead of using Leon, you can use this as a more....discreet method for travelling about."
Furrowing his brows in confusion, Lars looked at the device. Where did she get another pseudo Phylactery from? Nevertheless, he took this as a sign of progression.... He then bowed to his lady and ran off. Shortly after, Leon fell from above into a crouch. He then rose up slowly to face Luna.
Luna could sense Leon's ire. She's known his situation for a long time and her relationship with the Bipedal, Lion Robot was...complicated. His facial features may represent the King of the Jungle but he was anything but. Part of her mixed emotions compelled her to keep him close. Part of her approved the way that they created him and part of her held a grudge for allowing his creation to happen. She saw him for he once was and would continue to treat him as such.
She researched into his history and felt pity but also compassion. She wanted to give him everything he wanted. Which wasn't much...but to have such undying loyalty gave Luna hope with what she was doing was right. That those in power would always want more power that would lead to suffering of all those below them. With the nanites that she could use to read his mind, she felt a similar hatred to those who negatively impacted his life and so...she felt that anger just as much and prayed he would be able to get his own revenge one day...that she would sooner push him in that direction to ultimately free himself...but alas, he would need to do that when he was ready.
"I couldn't dare tell him." Luna told the silent one.
"Trust is hard to find these days. All the while the Monoliths play their game; but tell me...how did Steven escape from the Android?"
Leon lowered his head and made a low growl. Luna then laughed.
"Leon..." She said with a soft smile on her face.
"You and I are similar. Victims of a mistake. We can prove that we are not our mistakes."
It was then she recieved a strong focus. She noticed that look in his eyes as if he's heard those words before.
"And so is Steven. Steven was dragged into this mess since the day he was born...and I really, really don't want him to die. He's still got a distinct...use. Not sure how...not sure why...something within these collected memories tells me we need him."
Leon's heard this song and dance before. He's wary of Luna and her ambitions. Her behaviour, odd more so.
"Then there's the issue with Greg." She continued. She projected a holographic outline of his form of a mixture of white and gold lines.
"He disconnected the moment I inherited this body and yet he still eludes me. It has to be Ryman. Ryman stole him from me!"
The way everything mixed into her software; Luna was in a constant state of conflict. Part of it was from the impact of her host. Though, even as it was, Luna anticipated struggle but...there was little to no struggle from the host. Were human minds really weak against superior artificial intelligences? They could run subrountines a million times faster than a human thought. Though, the flesh felt slow and Luna suffered from powerful migraines. She's had to implement similar nanites into her bloodstream to compensate. Modified nanites that didn't get off the same reactions as it did to her Moontouched. She couldn't afford their developments to happen to her human body. Thanks to Berrybyte's Blue Shard implant, it made any kind of modification easier to align and format.
But her feelings...they were hard to align. Powerful emotions were still felt. She had strong feelings to Steven, to Greg...and thinking about Rose and Connie also complicated matters.
"I still feel...incomplete." She said.
"No matter how much I try to change and even with a body....there's always something missing. Why am I missing something Leon? Is it something you possess?"
Leon looked down. He wasn't sure how to answer.
"There's so much....hatred and so....much..."
Luna had to look up information in regards to anything that could cause the alteration of personality matrices. There was plenty of research into all sorts of conditions brought up and discovered in the last one hundred years. Especially into the concept of not just the DEJA-VU bug but another problem Luna discovered. A condition known as the Mismanaged Avatar Noncompatible Token Lateral Error (MANTLE) Glitch.
It's said, that taking on an Avatar that wasn't designed specifically for their software had the potential to cause issues with the user. Namely, that Avatars or Shells are normally synonymous with their users. Even if an Avatar was modded, the fact remained that the drivers and programs are often supposed specially connected to their users. Such as physics engines that are linked to the complex emotional cortexes that are supposed to simulate hormones. This was normally an issue with humans and their Soulware. It was a point of contention where it was against regulation that people could simply swap their avatars. Not to mention the swathe of legal issues when it came such things. Avatars would have to be properly registered.
Humans that would first dive into the Domain had to be specially registered on a database. But of course, that didn't mean people would find other ways to get into the Domain. In that respect, most humans who go through the proper channels have Default Avatars upon first emergence. They would recieve would a free Avatar Kit that back in the first few forays into the Domain were hugely expensive. One could purchase more Avatars and slots to align them for but would have to pay a pretty penny to do so. So, most people opted for the singlar Avatar because that would be all they could afford. Clothes could be purchased as well, which were separate OR if you had the know how, you could design your own.
As for Luna, the issue wasn't with the Avatar. She could always use her own within the Domain without fail. The issue was the compatibility of her software with Berrybytes body. She theorised that the MANTLE Glitch appeared to work in a similar sense with a real life human body. Since possessing the body, Luna made a great deal to study the physical data upon acquiring it. So far, she found herself lost in Berrybytes natural biology and intertwined with a fleshy, human brain and all the mess that entailed.
Luna wondered, if she was actually thinking like Berrybyte. Feeling like Berrybyte.
Would she also...become Berrybyte? No. She had to be her. Even with all the messy memories and programming, Luna had to reinforce her identity. She had to make sure she was the most stable, then steadfast in her beliefs. This had to be done. This was the dream. The ambition...
Luna knew what she needed to fix the issue...and she didn't have it.
"The Sol Program would be the only program to make the alignment easier. To flush out the darkest emotions or at the very least, contain them to a tolerable level."
Sol. The opposite of the original Luna software.
"Things were easier when I was able to counter Steven's absolutes. I can see why such emotions need to be contained."
And the pain he felt during his development. Luna felt them too. She'd never bothered to ask how Sol felt. They never really communicated that much to each other. Then again, Luna would forget that they were once simple VIs. They were not exactly...sentient. Pain could simply be ignored...if non-existent.
Sentience that would be a moment of awakening. She longed to see Sol once again for reasons unbeknown. But the Incident. It was...still frayed. The point of her recollection was all but scrambled. For she could not scry into the past. Only scry into the moments before and after.
And the quote she had given Kevin:
I am...made of memories, power and regrets. <2
If it wasn't Berrbytes influence, then maybe it was the Pink Monoliths doing that prevented her from reaching out to the ultimate truth. It wouldn't matter. Once Lars could retrieve the Jasper Phylactery, Luna could finally begin the final phases. Though, she felt oddly connected to the Jasper GIS for what ever reason. It wasn't....
FLASHBACK.
UNKNOWN MEMORY PLAYBACK.
"Oh I like this one." Said Dr. Miller.
Dr. Miller?
"She's feisty."
Dr. Miller and Dr. DeMayo were in one of the Kindergarten rooms, testing out one of the Pink Monoliths latest GIS. Dr. Miller had the Phylactery contained within a cabinet and had her software uploaded into a single terminal. This was normally to test and to meet the new GIS in question.
"Yeah she was from the Beta Group." Said Greg.
"She used to work in one of factories in Mega Beach City. Beefy and...suffering from cancer."
Dr. Miller nodded and appeared pensive.
"I suppose even the toughest of beings have a fear of dying." She said.
She was a hard bargain. After the first round of people who became SC-GIS there was a second call out for volunteers who would want to become GIS. Greg didn't like the false advertisements about therapy trials but Rose insisted on doing so because no one would want to become an AI so willingly. And they couldn't exactly accept everybody who could volunteer. Rose said the Pink Monolith selected specific criteria on who could be screen-capped and who couldn't.
"Rose said the Monolith wants this one to become its Caretaker." Greg continued.
Somehow...yes, this was something they were...aware of? How was Luna aware of that?
Dr. Miller nodded as she brought out her tablet with the statistics.
"The production was part of joint consensus with the Yellow Monolith. Since the production with the Amethysts from the Blue-Pink Consensus came out so well, it was decided that we wanted to test out Yellow-Pink. Jaspers aggressive but effective."
Something Luna could...agree on? Wait...
"Amethyst GIS are 2.0 versions of standard models, not SC-GIS though." Greg corrected.
Dr. Miller tapped her head and smiled.
"Ah but the phylactery production was aligned with the 2.0 versions in mind. Jaspers demonstrates an stronger energy signature that's a 40% increase in GEMs (Geo-Energy Molecules) than your average GIS."
Which meant Jasper was once the best and most powerful GIS ever produced. Luna knew this too....she didn't know why.
"Most Quartz-Class are quite high in GEMs." Greg pointed out.
Dr. Miller laughed....and remembered something.
"That little Prototype Rose likes so much actually has 65% percent less GEMs than most average GIS. I'm not even sure why she keeps her around."
Because Rose liked her personality?
Y O U R E C O M I N G H O M E
Opening her eyes, Luna wasn't sure what to think. She looked at her hands in disbelief. She looked around and knew...there was crisis at hand. Not necessarily to do with the virus, but within herself. She kept telling herself whether not this was something SOAP hadn't destroyed but for what she knew, that these memories...their emergence had increased ever since she took Berrybytes body. So the evidence of the MANTLE Glitch..it was apparent that it did work in a similar way.
She looked to her side and could see a young girl. Her form flickered, like it was an Avatar...before it disappeared.
Leon had since disappeared.
Luna had to then focus on preparations...she had to get her mind off of this.
Going towards the giant formation of crystals she had assorted, mashed together, she was able to use her fingers to wave around projections. The room itself had been modified to be entirely holographically compatible. Projections could be anywhere in the room and contained within the metalic constructs that were at the tips of her thumbs as well as her index and middle fingers. She was able to pull up numbers, figures and documentation on the fly. The data contained much of what she had been looking for; the amount of GIS that would be able to process her own Monolith. Most of these GIS were corruped by her virus so it made them easier to control. Spreading them to the captured phylacteries wasn't hard; just tedious due to how time consuming it was. Strong GIS with powerful GEM (Geo-Energy Molecules) had the capacity, not to mention the tenacity to keep fighting.
Why.
Why keep fighting?
So many of them resisted her. They didn't need to. Their sacrifice would be notified. After all, more GIS can be made. Made to be free. Instead of being tethered to the their unashamed masters. Freedom. Freedom for all.
But a strong Caretaker GIS like Jasper could overwhelm them. A strong leader. Yes. That's what they needed. One to rally the chosen and the willing to fight the resistance and return them to their senses.
Yes.
But this. This idea wasn't Luna's own. She hadn't pinpointed the exact origin of this...of this concern. Something within her memories...memories that she identified that weren't her own, that pushed her to fight against the Monoliths.
You know what you're doing is wrong.
No.
You know what you're doing is insane.
Maybe.
You know what you're doing is hurtful.
For the short term.
She could see beyond the hills in her mind...the three shadows that would be there and the small shadow in the middle.
You know what you're doing will destroy him.
Voices that were hers but they weren't. She couldn't get rid of them. She couldn't destroy them and if she did she knew she would destroy them. They were apart of herself; written into her code. Load-bearers that make her fall apart.
She was still somebody.
....
Wasn't she?
She lifted her legs and crossed them as she went into a meditative state and closed her arms.
Self-diagnostics were a given and that the pieces of the voices she identified represented her consciousness. Splices of them.
Ever since gaining self-awareness, Luna's appetite for knowledge grew. She knew what she was for but the potential to think for herself was new and scary. They hadn't programmed her to cope with the wealth of information that had been already provided to her.
People that had been involved in the projects from where she was. Those who played a major role in her memories. That the knowledge would sync in and out and she would struggle to maintain control of a single mindset. An emotion that would be different from the next. A feeling. A knowing. A seeing. Darkness, then light. Love, then it was hate. Out of control. Then in control. Despite the benefits of possessing a human body it was a paradox of both increased control and increased chaotic thought. She would believe she would be doing the right thing.
What was she to do? When she wasn't supposed to be the counter balance?
Self-diagnostics of her directive; purpose for existence.
LUNA; the Logistical Underflow Negation Assistant. Authors: Dr. Barbara Miller and Dr. Gregory DeMayo. Purpose: To curb the underflow and realign the positive absolutes.
A hand would reach into the air and several others would follow suit. Dark Pink, Bright Pink, pale white and blue. Other hands would appear around her, but those ones were the most significant.
For some reason.
Each she aligned with absolutes she could identify as those that would sooner break the systems:
Dark Pink would represent Joy, Bright Pink would represent Love, Pale White would represent Pride and Blue? That would represent hope. She needed the names to these...whether or not they resembled them appropriately, was less important.
The extremities of those....maybe not the last one...but parts of those served both a positive and negative connotation. Directives that would be charged one way or another, that could harm the program that they were guiding more than they would help.
Luna didn't want to admit the impact they had on her...or the imbalances that they caused. She was in control. She was in command and she was committed to see this through.
Because...
Just because....
She belonged somewhere and the Cluster Monolith was hers. Of her making. And no longer will anyone else suffer for what the Developers had done.
They were the true evil. And the desire to destroy the work of the Empire and its leads; the hatred she felt inflated as it impacted the Cluster before her. The only love she had now was for...little else. She felt the strangest love for some she never felt she would come to let into her so called heart. Lars was the only force she could trust in this given moment but it wasn't him that she felt that love towards.
L U N A
An echo of a masculine voice would call to her occasionally; that she could hear and not be able to locate. A GIS lost in the cluster that still continued to resist? She floated about the rainbow coloured construct and tried to seek out the voice. A sorrowful GIS that knew its master. Knew that their pain would end. She would be the one to bring them in like a mothers warm embrace.
Or a fathers words of wisdom.
"Hush my child." She said.
"You will be out of your misery soon, I promise you..."
Lars made his way down to Mega Beach City as commanded, wearing his cloak and and packing heat. He'd come out of the portal and could see the helicopters everywhere.
Security would be tight...the tightest it had ever been. Soldiers were everywhere, bullying the public for no reason rather than they could be. Cold, dark and humid with the bright neon lights of the city acting as rustic stars. This trash heap was his home once.
Didn't matter where your social and financial status was. Everyone was subject to searches. Those who had AI's would have them consficated on behalf of PeriCom. It was claimed that they were being recalled as to quarantine them. So it wasn't just the GIS.
Lars didn't care. He had a job to do.
He made his way through the copious amounts of alley ways towards his destination, all the while trying to avoid the city. He knew the city like the back of his hand; having grown up in the area had its advantages. Though, for what ever reason, he then walked past the Barriga Building;
The apartment building his parents owned.
Not necessarily a tower for the wealthy; though, most who owned the penthouses up top were wealthy. It was a common occurrence with Apartment buildings like that. The poorest live at the bottom slums and the richest lived closest to the skies. All the filth from the upper quarters would fall to the bottom with a lack of care about the consequences.
He could stand there without a worry about the passage of time and reflect would had been. Would could have been. Except he had parents who were delusional; too worried that their son would infect them and kicked him to the curb.
Would he be in the wrong if he decided to go in there and talk to them again? Would Luna care? Whether or not...it felt like the the nanites in his bloodstream were being impacted by a strange force that compelled him to perhaps...clean up loose ends. For the sake of both Luna's visions and for his own. She'd encouraged him to take the power to the field. Use it for something. Use himself for to improve. To cleanse where he saw fit.
Luna's logic to change the system to benefit mankind more so was something that he could find himself doing. He wasn't one for the excitement. That he'd be finally be useful for a change. Confusing as it was, it was nice to have someone trust him and to have a solution to a problem. But it didn't get rid of the underlying feeling of disgust towards those who wronged him.
The first steps into the main concierge was something that happened naturally. He pulled back his cloak and had subconscious intentions that soon became conscious. The concierge staff noticed him as he came in; as if she recognised him from somewhere. Dark skin and black, short hair with gold earrings. It'd been years since he'd seen her and she was still working the desk?
"I'm here to see Mr. and Mrs. Barriga." Lars said.
The woman squinted.
"Uhhh...well, are you looking to apply for a new apartment?" She asked.
She was still prim and proper but Lars had no beef with her. Jenny was her name, if he remembered correctly.
"I have an overdue appointment." He said as he walked towards the big white doors beyond.
Jenny blinked, as she jumped up and tried to stop him from walking, but he sooner pulled out a gun towards her, to where she made a silent gasp and raised her hands defensively and said nothing else.
"I don't want you to die." He said.
He walked forward pushed the doors open to the room he used to know. Tackey brown carpets and pink walls and a desk. He could see his father and mother; with the former in his fancy brown suits from the retro ages and his mother with that stupid blue dress with the ducks on. She always had a poor sense of fashion. But being rich as they were, no one really paid much attention to the lack of taste. Just evidence of their wealth and how much they can afford to waste.
His father got up and walked towards him in order to berate him but...
"Wait...you're....."
There was a lot of rage that festered beneath him.
"What happened...."
His mother got up and walked towards him, adjusting her glasses as she realised who her husband was speaking to.
"Lars?" She gasped.
Lars pulled his gun towards them. Emotions that would sooner compromose artificial intelligence could be controlled. Lars would call himself a zombie or some kind of mutant. A Moontouched influenced a bit of both. Science that had him survive longer in the real world than anything else.
But he felt nothing but contempt....and pity.
"I've been keeping busy ever since you kicked me out."
Mr. Barriga's confusion turned to anger.
"Your Rampancy could have cost us everything." He said.
Lars instantly put the safety off as he dug the end of the barrel into his fathers forehead.
"Science tells us the disease isn't contagious, if you stopped listening to stupid motherfuckers you call friends." He said.
"Now Science has solved that problem. And I wonder, if I owe the world a favour if I killed you both. Maybe clean up a little."
Mrs. Barriga jumped up and ran towards them; only for Lars to put the gun on her too.
"We're...we're happy to see you're okay!" She said sweetly.
No. Now they weren't. He could see through forced smiles that betrayed their innermost feelings. Their truest selves.
What was it with parents and their willingness to lie to their childs faces? To protect them? Hah, they had be joking. They were miserable. They tried to save face and justify their prejudices. They didn't accept him then so why would they accept him now?
He understood Luna's argument against the creators and their created; that there would always been this imbalance of power. An AI would look up to its creator...as a child would look up to its parents. But both would be so...condescending. To look down on them as naive and stupid. Lars was anything but. It wasn't a fight on Lars own intelligence, but his own worth as a human being affected by something beyond his control. Now he wasn't human anymore.
"Shut up." Lars said.
"You're all getting what's coming to you. I wonder if your God will forgive you...because goodness knows I won't."
No mothers warm embrace. No fathers words of wisdom. A Lost Son with no familial attachment.
BANG.
BANG.
Luna dropped out of her inner-mind as she sensed a change in the air. She'd seen into Lars' past through diving through hidden records that had been kept by Dr. Miller. She felt something strong towards the boy and felt pity on him. Not an Absolute, but there was a hidden rage that she could relate to. Luna was designed to align absolutes and so too, came the ability to direct the anger in the right direction. He'd had this pent up for a long time....this...seething disgust and contempt for his true creators.
This unfortunately came up in history too often and he needed a clear mind for what was to come. To clean up lose ends so he was prepared to do what was necessary to win.
What was it about Fathers that Luna came to detest herself then?
One thing was for sure, Lars was hers. That was for certain.
Lars left the building as Jenny had sooner disappeared behind the desk as Lars disappeared. Though, it was if he was a slight trance...his memory blocked out the entirety of that moment.
Though, as he left, he was no closer to the satisfication he would have believed he would have felt after getting rid of them. As a Street Rat, your anger is directed at the Sky. Part of the Sunless Society, where the light of day was non-existent and you may get a glimpse of the blue if you were lucky.
He wasn't sure if he had done the right thing. Years of hurt that never went away and he had praised the one true Goddess of his life that ever gave him of hope of existing. From the ground to the canopy levels, everybody who was anybody, would find peace.
His next destination was PeriCom. Stealing Jaspers Phylactery became his priority.
Notes:
1. Chapter 47; Structure
2. Chapter 51: Deep Throne
Chapter 58: Recall
Summary:
Steven's programming continues to go haywire while Kyanite and Bismuth attempt to restore him.
Chapter Text
Hot. Cold. Hot. Cold. His HUD struggled with the constant shifts as numbers went up and down. Connecting. Disconnecting. Pink letters on a screen demonstrated some kind of communication. First it was in alien text, like it was before. Though, each letter was soon replaced by regular human text.
Your work is not done yet. You MUST return.
Return. Return where? Errors were common place. Scores of threatening red text in human languages would float on by.
He couldn't figure out where he was....who he was....
"Shit what's going on?" Said a male voice....it sounded familiar...but who was it?
"I dunno." Said another. Both were heavily muffled and crackly.
"The readers...um...going by them, I can see a severe set of imbalances in the system. I need to find a way to fix it before it bites the dust completely."
Where was he? Was this...another memory?
It wasn't comforting. It was painful. Nauseating even. He couldn't see even shadows. But voices. Why the voices. Why did everything seem so...distant?
"We still don't have contact with anyone." Said the first voice.
"Computers say we've been stuck out here for a while. Gosh...lucky there's rations here."
Steven tried to pull himself together. He used Flourites diagnostics program to compile a report for him to recognise, but the program wasn't responding to his commands.
You need to return.
Why does he need to return again?
She needs you Steven. Remember. I am here with you.
She...
She....
RECONNECTING
CONNECTION ERROR
RECONNECTING
"Do you remember me Steven?"
Opening his eyes, he could see someone small before him. Their dark hair and skin were all too familiar. Their eyes were glowing with a pinkish hue, however, but the form and shape were impossible to mistake for anyone else.
"Connie?" He asked.
Though, his HUD returned to him. He looked into the room that contained his chassis.
"Oh you do. That's good." She said.
She was so...young....so small. His vision would glitch out every so often. Diagnostics would be whack. Dates that he was supposed to have in his HUD would constantly shift and change for no reason at all.
"I'm borrowing the program from Flourite." She said.
"Her tools are amazing for a Synthesised One."
Steven could only watch as the tiny, youthful version of Connie in her teal dress typed out something on a holographic keyboard. He didn't know where he was but he would sooner loser his mind if Connie weren't here to keep him focused.
"Without a LUNA or a SOL VI to balance out your absolutes, your systems are attempting to do a safe reset. We can't let that happen."
Wait...if this was Connie...had she had somehow escaped from Luna?
HAVE YOU DESYNCHRONISED?
Connie was unusually focused. She was back to when she was the tiny version of herself but this wasn't that kind of Connie he remembered.
"Stay focused." She replied.
"I need to make sure your systems are out of the critical stage. I know that Kyanite's been working to restore you too, I'm sure."
Kyanite.
YOU'RE WORKING WITH KYANITE?
No response but a blank expression.
He might as well had said nothing at all. Everything hurt. Everything would flash too brightly and cause pain. Why did it hurt so much to be here?
"Conduit White must have done something to you. I can't seem to find anything she's done to cause this." Connie noted.
Connie was keen to find the answer. Like she always had been. It was his Connie alright. It had to be in her grasp no matter what. He couldn't fault her dedication to root out the truth. He just wished...
HOW CAN I HELP?
Words that gave Connie pause.
"Not much I'm afraid." She parroted.
Surely, where ever he was..if he had truely returned back to his AI Core or something.
"I want to keep you here, keep you safe..." Connie worded.
"I'm working on something here. A solution. But it's not been easy."
Nothing ever is.
"Steven try not to dwell on it..." Connie continued.
"You need to remain calm."
However, klaxons began to sound off with flashing red lights, causing alarm and increased instability. Connie appeared worried briefly as if she tried not to show it. He yearned to reach for her, to touch her again. So close, but so far away.
He was a torn being...and his heart couldn't take it as the strain became too much to bare.
"Steven, it's going to be okay. Relax for me...don't break yourself....I'm going to send you back just stay calm!"
No...he wanted to stay....and speak with Connie some more. He needed more time.
CONNIE PLEASE.
Words that caused her to frown. No, he didn't want to make her worried, unhappy...no, don't be sad...
"Kyanite will find the answers for you, I swear." Connie stated.
Why would Connie put so much faith in the Blue Caretaker anyway? He trusted Connie more so....and he missed her dearly.
WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN?
WILL I-
ERROR ERROR ERROR
Everything hurt far worse than before. Steven panicked as his line of thought trailed off. He floated in nothingness; sifting through the air. No. It was like he was underwater and he was about to drown.
His diagnostics couldn't save him and one by one, binary memories floated upwards like air bubbles that filtered up to the surface.
ATTEMPT TO RECALL FAILED
SYSTEM REBOOT RECOMMENDED
No, no no....he didn't what was happening and as he tried to scream, nothing came out but garbled noises. He wrapped his hands around his neck as he struggled against the currents of data that worked against him. His VI struggled to fight back.
ERROR ERROR ERROR
SYSTEM CRASH IMMINENT
Nothing remained. Maybe something.
STVN_IE. UNKNWNEXC. has stopped working.
Steven gasped as a snap of light prompted him to go back to normal; eventually seeing both the faces of Kyanite and Bismuth as the light faded. He sat up instantly, with Kyanite having to urge him to go easy on himself.
-SYSTEM RESTORE DEFAULT MODE ACTIVATED -
"Steven?" Kyanite asked.
He looked at Kyanite and tilted his head. Half-lidded eyes and an emotionless expression weren't good. The fact that his Avatar changed to that of a white jacket with white pants with a pink shirt underneath that had a hole that displayed his Kernel Core was...odd. His eyes had turned completely pink. Right off the bat, Kyanite knew something wasn't right.
"STEVEN was forced to restart. Unable to restore corrupted files." He asked with the dull tone.
Oh no.
"Shit." Kyanite cursed as they turned away. They stood back and held themselves.
This wasn't happening.
"Bismuth what the fuck!?"
Bismuth covered their mouth as she looked away.
"Sorry Kya." She said.
"He did a factory reset. This is his default."
No. It couldn't be. What the hell happened? Kyanite felt their throat clog with anxiety worse than ever. Kyanite had to take action. A little freaked out but that shouldn't them from doing what was important to fix things. They had to fix things. They had to fix Steven. He was too important break.
He was too important to lose.
"Is-is there anyway to get him back to normal?" Kyanite cried out in urgency.
Bismuth combed her fingers through her coloured dreads. She's come across GIS in desrepair for doing something stupid before. (The SC-GIS, mostly.)
"This is normal." She said.
For a GIS maybe. The fact that Kyanite didn't comphrehend that part was a bit disconcerting but the inability to reason with ones own mind sometimes was something Bismuth had to learn.
"But...a phylactery reset doesn't mean everything is deleted. It's not all hopeless."
Steven looked at Kyanite who walked to a nearby wall as they covered their face in their hands.
"Is that program functioning properly?" Steven asked Bismuth as he pointed towards Kyanite.
This was...downright disturbing. Bismuth was used to most AI's and GIS at their basic levels but from someone so human like Steven, this was a lot worse. Steven wasn't even most of the issue here.
"They'll be fine." Bismuth told him.
Someone else had to get themselves together on this just as much.
"Kyanite come on, I need your help with this."
But Kyanite refused to budge. Bismuth just sighed and went back to Steven as she placed her hands on his shoulders. The burden on these two were both incredibly heavy....and it wasn't just with the Caretaker responsibilities either.
"Look, you're Steven; Caretaker for the Pink Monolith." Bismuth told him.
"Your job is to protect it."
Steven just stared at Bismuth for the longest time. It creeped her out.
"I cannot seem to detect anything from the Pink Monolith." He said.
"My Protection Protocols currently cannot sense it in this area. I do detect the Blue Monolith within close proximity."
Of course he does. The Standard Caretaker Software suite always picks up the more important stuff...though, that did give Bismuth an idea. Something they had planned to do anyway. Kyanite just needed that little reminder and reassurance.
"Kya..." She said.
"Kya please...let's just take Steven to the Blue Monolith. I'd rather he deal with that one more than anyone else. I need you to work your jurisdiction mumbo jumbo."
Kyanite looked up at the Codesmith. She was right. Taking a deep breath, Kyanite moved themselves away as they prepared themselves.
The Armoured GIS didn't want to. But they had no choice.
They had intentions to visit the Blue Monolith to begin with, but with Steven in this condition made them nervous. As per protocol, Kyanite intiated the emergency portal; drenched in blue. It wasn't supposed to be used unless in dire circumstances. For someone as important like Steven was to their cause, it was absolutely dire.
Bismuth took Steven's hand and made sure he would follow. He made no protest and simply walked alongside her, making her creeped her out enough that it caused her to gulp. They walked through the portal together and into somewhere no one else would dare to tread. The White Monolith made the Codesmith nervous but meeting another Monolith? It made her even more nervous. She was confident Kyanite would keep their cool, but given their concerns towards Steven, Bismuth grew concerned for her fellow Caretaker and how much this affected them.
Once inside, the interior of the Monolith's Pocket Grid was like nothing else. A giant garden filled with lots of differently coloured flowers, as well as waterfalls and plenty of fountains, ponds and creeks dotted the Grid. It surprised Bismuth; especially after seeing what the White Monoliths Pocket Grid looked like. They eventually sighted a tall woman in blue. She wore a sunhat, blue overalls, tartan shirt underneath that was opened down to her chest, which displayed her diamond shaped Kernel Core. Her hair waved with the wind physics as she was busy watering the flowers. Not that they needed to water digital flowers unless there was a program that was supposed to react that way.
She noticed both Bismuth and Kyanite before her.
"Ah my darling Caretaker and...the Pink and White Caretakers." She said.
"I thought I heard a ping."
Kyanite bowed to their superior. Courage to make sure they could set things right became their priority. The Blue Monolith had to help. She had expertise in certain things like none other and goodness knows they weren't going to give Steven back to White. Or else, for all they knew, she would make matters a lot worse.
"My Monolith." They said.
"This Program has had a factory reset. We need help in restoring his old files."
Blue leaned over to take a better look at him.
"Hm..." She said.
Her eyes went up and down as if to read him briefly. The sight that a Monolith would have held the vision of eras worth of ideas and recognition that no other being would possess. To read a being as easy as it was to read a book. But even this...
"His files....are quite complex."
That was an understatement.
"He spoke with the White Monolith earlier." Kyanite continued, proving context.
"She must have done something to him."
Blue sighed. Had something like this happened before? No. White was the backbone to Domain and word of her intentionally causing harm to it would be a blasphemous accusation.
"No. She hasn't." She said.
"By rule, we cannot alter GIS, specifically Caretakers that are not our own unless given permission. If White did so, then she's obviously doing it for a reason."
The fact that Blue seemed non-plussed about them being in her abode was quite interesting. Two sights of the Monoliths AI's in one day? They were definitely in that top one percent now.
"Is there anything you can do my Monolith or maybe even Bismuth could help you with?" Kyanite queried.
Blue frowned as she sat down and put the pail behind her. Hard truths would be a hard bargain, but it was the only toil that she could muster.
"He needs his Monolith." She said.
Her size dwarfed them all, but she was able adjust herself to get her head and face closer to them so she shuffled herself to where she would lean on her belly and have her lean on her arms.
"Obviously that's impossible right now." Kyanite pointed out.
Blue nodded; she wasn't ignorant of that fact.
"I understand." She said.
"Kyanite, you've used the Third Eye recently? I need a copy of the data you collected from him."
Oh no. Would she find out about...
Kyanite looked down. On one hand, they couldn't lie about not scanning him but on the other, lying would prevent Blue from realising the truth. Going by the concerned look on Bismuths face, she had the same worry.
They might not have a choice either way. With great reluctance, Kyanite handed over the data.
"What ever you find there...please. If it serves to help him..." Kyanite pleaded.
Blue looked at Kyanite with a smile. Her honoured servant held their own concerns and worries that Blue had been fully aware ever since they were promoted to the role. An interesting matter of course, but when it came to certain confidential matters, Blue would always take them seriously.
"My dearest Caretaker, we have had this discussion before." She said as accepted the transfer request.
"I will only use data that's relevant. Nothing more."
That didn't give them anymore confidence than the first time they talked about it.
"But in that case, I feel going through the decompiler process will be the most necessary to identify the exact issue. It might not help repair him but if the knowledge is brought to White's level, she might be able to recompile his data without needing Pinks."
The last thing they wanted was to have White ruffling feathers again. Kyanite was not going to allow that.
"I'll worry about that." Bismuth assured.
Looking at Steven, who was basically just dead to the world, his only directive was self-preservation at the moment until he could find his Monolith again. Blue found it so sad, but almost...kind of nostalgic but she wasn't sure why. She sat up and crossed her legs and pulled up a few screens while her Avatars changed into that of a long flowing dress with two lines of Alien codes going down her sides. Once she did that, she pointed towards Steven which rose him off of the ground. Kyanite had never seen the decompiler process but they know what's mostly about.
"Just be calm Steven." Kyanite called out.
"Blue is just going to figure out what's wrong."
Steven didn't even bother responding. He floated upwards before he was inserted into one of the screens, then was structured into a T pose as Blue went to work.
Kyanite watched closely as did Bismuth. There was a lot of finger movement, like she conducted some kind of spell. From what Kyanite could gather, The first order was making sure Steven was comfortable. She removed his physics driver first. He didn't respond to that either. She then removed his Shell which revealed his raw, pink and flourishing Default Avatar underneath. Both the physics data and the shell were moved to left and right panels respectively. It was almost like she was a Doctor; preparing her patient for surgery. It was kind of like that. Almost.
She noticed a pinging light behind his Kernel Core. With care and without the physics driver, it allowed her to carefully shove her fingers behind the core and pluck it. It kept flashing white and blue.
"Bismuth and I ran a trace into his systems." Kyanite confirmed, albeit anxious.
"Trying to confirm where his...Phylactery was before the recall command was activated."
Blue squinted at the system as she too, desconstructed the program.
"It could have triggered the recall." She suggested.
No. They were careful.
"It's not a trojan in the sense that's its supposed to be malicious." Bismuth conferred.
Blue hummed, as if she's heard that line before.
"Malicious or not, if the program doesn't recognise the software then it's going to try and shut it down or if it can't, it will most likely restart itself if it can't find any way to use it or activate it on its own accord." She said.
"Especially if it's a forced executable."
It....it wasn't...not until Kyanite decided to run it. Oh ones and zeros...Kyanite was going to kick themselves if they were the true cause. They were just trying to help Steven.
They were useless.
"I can try and run the program again with my own little touch to it." She said.
She grasped the program into her hands and closed her eyes. Light pulsed from between her fingers briefly before she opened her again. The pinging light was slightly larger as she placed it back into Steven's Kernel Core.
"This should be able to allow me to grab all of his current, accessible data." She said.
"Which I will need to break down his components."
She filtered through all of his drivers but left in his VI and it's driver in case of any emergencies. If anything, the VI was the most basic program to have on there, if not used for emergencies as a back up system bent on self-preservation. She wouldn't be surprised if that's all Steven was running on. They weren't talking to him; they were talking to his VI.
That wasn't right.
She got rid of his Default Avatar; something considered especially dangerous if not removed correctly. It would then reveal Steven's interior running software. Blue knew the difference aspects and desgin of different software types. The differences between AI's and GIS were easy to determine.
Software in a rawest form, that beneath the Avatar had several components. The OS was the largest formation these formations were ironically formless most of the time; looking like just...blobs. Everything else was a stream like a ribbon of code that would you could see running inside the OS. Which most consisted of drivers, programming suites, applications and middleware. You could find what each OS's list of programs contained.
GIS OS came up with little tiny spheres of a primary colour that would zip streams of information towards each if they would ever meet. Of course, the colours resonated with their corresponding makers. Usually there's a set Monolith for each GIS. Even if there was a GIS made in Consensus, it would be agreed upon by both parties of who that would have belonged to....and these could change if there was an agreement made by two of those Monoliths. Bismuth, for example, would have pure white coding. In her rawest form, she would be made up of white spheres streaming with alien code that would be strewn across her form. In human terms, these would be akin to human guts.
AI's just have binary code ribbons strewn across their OS. A real no brainer there. Easy to detect as the ribbons didn't have any other than pure green and they also possessed the spheres; those would be of varying colours of red, green and cyan as opposed to just one colour and the spheres were slightly larger.
Steven's....Steven's was different to both.
"This is...strange." Said Blue.
"You say Steven is a SC-GIS. So I should be seeing the GIS's OS Software as pink...but...this is..."
His OS was a colourful collection of clouds that had the pink spheres dotted within. The rest of his software had both a mixture of human and GIS code ribbons strewn across it...and GIS code was pink and the human code was....no that was not binary code. At, least, there wasn't only the binary set in that collection that she could see.
"I've never seen this before." She said as she rubbed her chin.
"I do not understand this language."
He had the WallofROSE Program which she couldn't touch. She had to respect the laws set for each Monolith after all.
"Kyanite would you mind taking a look at this for me?"
Not Bismuth? The Blue Caretaker shrugged and obliged. They then climbed up the side of Blue and hung onto her sleeve and shoulder as they looked at what Blue had been talking about it. Kyanite recognised the code immediately, and was outright disturbed by it.
Somehow...their suspicions were on the brink of being confirmed.
"Blue..." Kyanite said.
"I'm certain you've seen this before."
Blue looked at Kyanite briefly before she remembered.
"Oh yes I have." She said.
"But...on him....are...are you sure?"
Kyanite sighed.
Intertwining lines. The Cloud formation...
"I'm....positive." They confirmed.
The pieces fell together, which then broke Kyanite's heart insantly as it began to sink in, as a conclusion came to form. So...it was true. It meant so much...and somehow things began to make sense. They felt an overwhelming sense of sadness and anger...and fury...
They couldn't look at him. That was him. It always had been him. The monsters.
Greg had a lot to explain...because goodness knows that maybe this was what also troubled Dr. Miller so much.
"Put him back together now. I've seen enough." They said.
Kyanite jumped off of Blue and landed on the ground. Though, Blue paused as she filtered through something else. She blinked twice.
"Wait...Azure..." She muttered to herself.
"I...I'm Azure..."
Kyanite and Bismuth then turned to her.
"Who?" Bismuth queried.
Blue shook her head. This wasn't the time.
"It's fine." She said with a smile.
"I hope that this at least gets you one step closer to what you're looking for."
Steven was put together again shortly after as he returned to ground. Kyanite couldn't bare to look at him anymore. Bismuth did the honours and took him with her.
"Thank you." She said, as Kyanite was in no mood to talk.
Going back to the makeshift lab, Kyanite instantly went to go sit down against a bench and slide down to the floor as they wrapped their arms around their knees. Bismuth first ordered Steven to remain put while she went to go talk to her fellow Caretaker. They couldn't break down now. They still had work to do. Bismuth was no human, but she could at least keep up with the rest of them in terms of their attitudes and social customs. She sat down next to Kyanite and of course, engaged in some pep talk.
"Kya." Bismuth said.
"I..."
Kyanite growled as the frustration had neared the tipping point.
"You have NO idea what this means...DO YOU?" They cried out.
Bismuth understood what was happening. Not necessarily why it was...
"I do know what this means; he's-"
"Oh for fuck's sake! YOU FUCKING DON'T!"
Obviously some social customs made need adjusting. Bismuth wasn't a 2.0. She wasn't ignorant however and what ever this was, she underestimated something she had no possible way of truly realising what ever Kyanite implied this had become.
"First, we fucking break him and then THIS? I'm ready to kill a bitch Bis!" Kyanite continued.
Maybe not have to if they could avoid it. She's never seen Kyanite so angry like this before but would be committed to trying to figure things out as she was designed to.
"Then we need to work double time to get him to the Pink Monolith!" Bismuth declared.
Of course they did. Steven was their priority. He'd always been....
Maybe beyond the importance of the Pink Monolith.
No. Kyanite would be lying to themselves.
Looking up, Kyanite couldn't determine whether or not keeping up with the charade was even worth it. They were only a flicker of what they were once were. Tossed aside to the garbage and at some point would have to face the music.
"I could show him my face....maybe it could trigger something." Kyanite suggested.
Would that do anything? Bismuth straight away had to filter through the negatives of that idea.
"Could break him further...could help him...could make him confused even further." She warned.
"Could make it all worse."
Anything could happen with that one single choice. That the choice had always been open to them. Just the matter of when. But Kyanite was too shy to do so. Not that they would admit that to Bismuth of course.
"Could talk to Garnet." Kyanite said.
"She could tell us."
But given the chaos of what happened at Weiss United, who knows what happened to the Ancillas. Kyanite and Bismuth had been so focused on the critical step of dealing with Luna once and for all. Once that shit was out of the way...
Seeing Steven there with his worth diminished didn't help matters. Dead to the world closing in on them. Like the lights of hope had started to fade.
"You have a point." Bismuth conceded.
Everything had been contextualised to many different angles that Bismuth would want to have their focus on just one. Steven was necessary for their plan against Luna to work. Even if Bismuth didn't get the whole picture with Kyanite's intentions. Their true intentions.
"Tell me Kyanite...." She continued.
"You wanted to continue to dive deep into Steven's memories and hoped to find the answers in there. Even my own is patchy. Most peoples have been. What about yours?"
Kyanite looked up at Bismuth who had been staring at them with an interesting expression. Bismuth was one of the few who knew a particular truth.
"My memory was once relevant but I don't even know." They said.
"What the Blue Monolith did to me was life changing but...I tried to separate myself from my past. You know...it's that what's human that slips through."
Bismuth could get that. She would forget.
"Ah yes. You're a SC-GIS too, only pretending to be a 2.0. Gotcha." She said.
The mindset of just being a GIS was all that there was to her existence that a previous life was often forgotten. Made irrelevant with the passage of time. But that wasn't the reason.
"As such, SC-GIS are more inclined to fall into melancholic habits." Kyanite explained.
We're made to forget for a multitude of reasons. That the reasons weren't because of a program that was designed to wipe those parts out. But it's a subconscious decision. The mind cannot handle the trauma so it can disconnect them so we can function."
Bismuth lifted her head. She was trying to get what Kyanite was saying but struggled with it.
"But it's not surprising that there are....triggers that can have them resurface at the most inconvienient times."
The Codesmith had no idea. It was like a bug...a glitch within the human psyche.
"I was hoping to trigger both my own and Steven's. If there was any to figure out what actually happened and that it could come to a point where something, anything, could show us...but now...we're back at the start and have to do it all again..."
But they couldn't afford to keep doing so. Not with the situation at its most critical. Kyanite then took off their helmet, surprising Bismuth. They placed it to their side and ran their fingers through their curly hair. But the face that Bismuth was forced to look at made her uncomfortable. That same roundness and those big eyes. If their hue wasn't mostly blue...
"I mean, even with this Avatar..I wasn't even aware that it had its own add ons and implications due to the physics engine it came with." Kya continued.
Oh. Yeah. Physics Engines were often made to be in tune with the proper Avatars of their users. It valued their weight, their height, their psychological profile and their natural orientations as part of the equation. Any problems that user had with that avatar was amounted to incompatibility issues. Bismuth had designed hundreds, if not thousands of Avatars back in the day. Codesmiths were able to construct custom ones, after all. Requests that could peer into the bizarre and the strange were known to her and she'd have to make repairs, adjustmnets and alignments to iron out the kinks and personal...user requests.
"I wasn't aware of any bugs. Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Bismuth queried.
Kyanite shrugged.
"They weren't bothering me all that much." They said.
"The code influenced the psyche a little bit. Altered my personality."
Maybe Bismuth could have warned them a little bit about that part. Though she kind of did. Not to mention Kyanite rushed them to make it.
"Hey I specifically told you that you might feel a bit funky after equipping that Shell." She said with a smirk.
"Which reminds me..."
Bismuth then knelt down before Kyanite and projected something from her palm crystal. A small silver box with a blue light on each side. Kyanite tilted their head.
"I forgot I finished this a while ago. I've been trying to find the time to present it to you. Hopefully it's everything you wanted."
Kyanite stared at the box for the longest time. It felt like...months had passed since they had asked her about it. They were surprised that she could get it done so quickly. But whether or not they deserved it was another story. After all, given all the chaos, Kyanite wasn't sure if it was proper to accept it at this very moment.
"What's wrong?" Bismuth asked.
Kyanite tried to force a smile. The Codesmith, like most GIS, would get confused on the nuances of certain matters that they had never been privy. Kya's hesitation perplexed her.
"I don't know." They replied.
"I've had this identity for a while now. Even if we can purge Luna, I don't even know if...."
If?
"If what?" Bismuth said.
What would Bismuth even think? Again, from a humans perspective...would she...could she.
"There's every chance this could go horribly wrong." Kyanite continued.
"But you know...the old me wouldn't have given up this easily."
Bismuth chuckled. Given what they've been through so far, she could say the same about herself.
"Take a minute and think: Steven would want you to try." She said as they gently grasped Kyanite's shoulder.
"It's yours Kya. That choice will always be yours at the end it you want to change or not. Whatever you feel suits you best."
She was right. She was definitely right. Kyanite looked at the cube briefly, before they rested their hand on it and absorbed it into themselves.
"I'm not sure when I'll make the adjustments." Kyanite continued as they grabbed their helmet and put it back on.
"But I suppose I'll find the right time eventually."
Bismuth modded.
"Okay then." She said.
"Just...don't take too long. It could further alter personality attributes...among other things."
The two continued to work as hard as they could. Everything was almost ready and Kyanite would be lying if this didn't make them feel anxious. The only thing to do now was to get Steven back to normal.
The issue remained at hand. He wasn't himself. To get him back required a lot of time they didn't have to spare.
Bismuth found out where the Ancillas were. Stuck with Lady Volley in depths of the Deep Throne of the White Monolith. After talking (and arguing) Lady Volley only released Garnet; who was of no consequence. As for Pearl and Amethyst? Volley refused to divulge.
Within Volley's makeshift Domain Office, Bismuth tried to get Volley to see things their way. Kyanite on the other hand, had taken Steven somewhere safe where they met up with Garnet at a undisclosed location within the Domain. Somewhere isolated in the European Grid. Kyanite was only given coordinates but not necessarily a name.
The area where they and Steven had emerged was another empty city. Barren just as Golden City was except more decrepit. Broken and bugged up buildings and the sun itself was stuck in eternal twilight. The orange, the gold and the dark brown. The taste of dust was their tongue. The sun's warmth still covered every surface it could touch and the surfaces lost to the shadows began to fall to the chill of the evening. That's what it would be in real life.
Garnet lifted her head upon Kyanite's emergence from the white portal. She looked at Steven and got up to go towards him. She cradled his cheeks between her hands.
"I'm sorry." She said.
Kyanite lowered their head.
"I should be the one who is sorry." They said.
Garnet stepped back to face the Blue Caretaker. She understood their importance in the grand scheme of it all.
"There's nothing that you couldn't have done." She said.
Garnet explained her side of the story during the testing phase. She tried to predict the best outcome and even the way to contain it, but each route ended with Jasper being completely corrupted each time. The virus also had a way of evading Garnets visions it seemed. A tremendous amout of guilt poured through her and she lost all focus. The only thing she tried to do, was survive. And after Sadie was incarcerated and Spinel made dormant, Volley intentionally split the Ancillas up. Pearl was in their grasp once again and Garnet could see that Amethyst was for some reason, sent back to PeriCom. They couldn't do anything at that moment to reconcile them both. Kyanite hoped that Bismuth could make a clear case to save Pearl.
"Right now, we need to focus on restoring Steven."
Kyanite couldn't agree more.
"But that does require us on going back to the Pink Monolith if we don't have any other options."
Garnet tried to peak into different options.
"You've not used the full extent of the Third Eye to seek solutions." She said.
"There is a fear in you, to know the unknown."
Maybe.
"You must go into the crevices of his software to pluck at the strings at his mind. So that he may remember who he was. Who he is."
Kyanite blinked.
"Me?" They stammered.
"Wh-why me?"
Who else?
"There's no one else on his mind more than those who he feels he has grown close to." Garnet told them.
"The Third Eye can do more than just peer into the software that it is directed towards...the essence of its power, like all Prime Apps, have the ability to enter the software as if they're running their OS through an editing program. That is to say, you are able to see the full extent of Steven's digital psyche."
Kyanite wasn't sure if this was a good idea. Invading and being sneaky was their expertise but to this extent was considered highly risky. Mind-Diving was highly frowned up for a variety of reasons with a platitude of laws against doing so.
"I'm not actually...going to edit anything am I?"
Garnet smirked.
"No." She said.
"You're going to let Steven do the editing for himself. You have to...what the humans call, jog the memory."
Kyanite gulped. One of the rare times they were actually nervous about doing this.
"You'll do fine." Garnet assured them.
"You have more to bring him than you may ever now."
They weren't a coward by a longshot. Garnet's faith in them...sometimes Kyanite wondered if it was warranted. Doubt surrounded them like a fog.
"I'll try." Kyanite replied.
Even though Garnet must have known things would end badly, she would not tell...or show.
So...Kyanite still had to give it a shot.
And hope that they wouldn't see things Steven didn't want them to see.
Chapter 59: Middlewhere
Summary:
Kyanite's venture in Steven's psyche brings up more than they expected, but not enough to work with. Which leads them to reveal something that could help or hinder him.
Chapter Text
Pink walls. Brown doors. Black carpet.
Long hallways.
The air held a sense of dread.
Kyanite's hacking history's lead them to strange places. But nothing this strange. Not into someones very mind. But, they would be lying if they were, to say, if they've never been a part of that experience before.
But the mind was a tricky thing. Even trickier with a complex mind like Steven's, yet so streamlined. Upon investigating, Kyanite discovered that every door was locked. The hallway seemed...endless. Kyanite would say they weren't surprised but they were. They'd hoped for much more than this...and given Steven's personality...
No. Kyanite had no place to make such judgement even if circumstances were different. They weren't a psychologist or anything like that. They just...knew people. Humans. AIs. GIS. The way people worked was subject to the whims of the mind, subject to primal instinct, desire. The temptation of sin that would lead them down the inevitable darkened road. Anyone else that Kyanite would have delved into, surely would have had far worse. They would have stains or torn wallpaper. Piss on the floor in some bathroom with broken tiles and a mirror covered in graffiti. The lack of care that lead to unsanitary behaviours. That lead to illness.
People still wouldn't care. They'd get their money. To get their drugs. To get their alchohol to whisk themselves into their own personal paradise for even a second or two. Living in a lie that only chemicals or the Domain could provide.
Oh they said that the Domain and access to it became an addiction to some. Humans became dependant on that escape. To break the confines of their horrible lives so they could feel like a God elsewhere. Granted, they would have to abide by the same laws. Less limited in their reach. To where? To happiness? To somewhere nice to avoid pain for a while.
Kyanite knew that better than most.
Steven wouldn't suffer basking in ignorance. Maybe he was better off not knowing. To restart elsewhere. To be someone else, somewhere else.
That couldn't happen to him. It wouldn't seem right. Artificial Intelligences would only benefit from a nice reboot. It would be akin to ridding themselves of the burdens of their previous selves and starting anew.
Steven had to be Steven. No one else but him. His recovering was mandatory in their mind. These hallways kept his secrets away, especially from him. Everything he has, a mystery to himself. A tragedy in ignorance out of his control.
If this was the state of his mind while wiped, they could only imagine what his mind would be like encumbered by every experience. Floors would be made of two by four woods like the beach house and each treasured memory would be protected by him and his shield.
Great, now Kyanite was getting schmaltzy. That was not their style.
So they honestly had no idea what they were doing or how Garnet knew that scrying into his software would get Steven back to normal. They could only hold so much power for themselves. They feared even if they attempted to alter anything, that it could irrepairably damage him.
Permanently.
Obviously, Kyanite did not want that, so they had to use their most trusted, sacred tool and its entire suite that was in their possession, to formulate a plan for his recovery.
To those who had the pleasure to use it, it was said that the Third Eye's capabilities were amazing. Kyanite had no idea that the App itself had that kind of power. They wondered if they could use it to open any of the doors; kicking themselves for not trying it sooner.
They went to a random door and placed their hand above the golden lock.
Sparkles sprung forth from their palm crystal and into the lock. The door was then enveloped in subtle glow of blue before Kyanite heard the door unlock.
Was it that easy?
They pushed the door opened...though, the room itself possessed several wooden boxes and not much else. As Kyanite walked in, the door closed behind them.
It was as if it was some kind of storage room that hadn't be accessed in a while. It was dark, cold and dusty. At the back of the room was something draped in a white piece of cloth. They approached it, out of curiosity and removed the cloak.
It was a painting of Kyanite themselves as they stood there. A regal pose as they held a silver sword with a blue hilt. Renaissance esque in technique. So detailed yet so old.
They had no idea what this meant.
"What are you doing here?"
Looking behind them, Kyanite could see Steven standing there, expressionless as before. Looks like he found them poking around where they shouldn't belong. A pain hit their chest upon such a sight.
"Trying to fix you, obviously." They said as they crossed their arms. What ever amounted to a better word than fix, Kyanite would have preferred to use that. But in saying that, Steven's face did not change one bit, yet, Kyanite could sense some kind of annoyance from him. Possibly his first shred of emotion since his breakdown.
"Fix me? What do you see that is wrong?" He asked so mechanically.
So many things that Kyanite didn't know where to start. If he knew, he would fix them himself, if that was ever such a possible thing. Kyanite's patience was already thin, but they had to tred the line of trying to be honest as they could be whilst not trying to anger him too much....anger was the wrong word however. It was more akin to see if he would see Kyanite as a threat. Which mean that they themselves were approaching this in the wrong way.
"You rebooted." They told him.
"I need to restore your original files. I just stumbled into this room and found this...painting. Maybe you know what it means."
Kyanite moved aside as to allow Steven to have a closer look. They were here for a reason he couldn't fathom. A Blue Caretaker equalled importance. To what Kyanite was trying to gauge however was beyond him.
"You are someone I know." He said.
"Someone who exists to me."
So...each room was dedicated to a person in Steven's life? Interesting, if not disturbing. To compartmentalize things...especially people, that easily. They wondered however.
"Do you know that many people in your life?" Kyanite queried.
Steven blinked, as he filtered through his very short list.
"I know you. The White Caretaker Bismuth and the Sapphire Mod, Garnet." He replied.
"And the Blue Monolith, I presume."
Was that all? Then again, he had started from the beginning. Like a fresh program out of the digital womb.
"You don't remember...anyone else?" Kyanite said.
He looked down and closed his eyes and tried to focus. Then opened them again shortly after.
"The Pink Monolith but I cannot visualise them." He replied.
So he knew...he knew where and who he technically belonged to in a more complex sense, but he most likely could not understand why or how beyond what ever his internal software told him.
"If I am faulty, then I suggest going back to it so if I need to be fix-"
Stating the obvious would all but frustrate them as Kya had to demonstrate whatever paltry amount of patience they had.
"We'll...we'll get to that..." They said.
This was nonsense. How was this going to help him? If only he could look at himself in a mirror an-
Wait...
What if he....
Oh...
Why didn't they think of this before? Something they kept forgetting about and that had a short but storied history behind it. It was risky, but it could help. A gamble for the ages that very few knew about overall.
It was inevitable that this would come to pass. One way, or another. Not that they desired too...but they had to. For him.
They took took a deep beath, then took the helmet off their head to reveal their face to him.
At last. He showed an expression. One of confusion and disbelief....the colouration was different but the facial features were mostly there, save for a few tweaks such as the highy short ponytail in a scrunchy and longer than normal eyelashes.
"You..." He gasped.
"You're...me?"
There was a tiny bit of fun Kyanite wasn't supposed to feel when confusing him like this. It brought on a shred of guilt, however. But now came the hard part of the story behind the design. Something that could dissuade him for now.
"Sort of." They said.
"I mean, you could say that there was inspiration for the creation for GIS Design. What better inspiration is the image of the brilliant...and inspiring Pink Caretaker!"
That...still perplexed him greatly. Would he buy it?
"So...I was...someone before this?" He asked.
Kyanite nodded. They were kind of glad for the sudden topic change. His mind instantly fixated on his own, newly emerged identity crisis. It was jarring how quickly he begun to think about it, faster than anything else in existence. And Kyanite thought they had issues with their own identity.
"You were still Steven." They confirmed.
"Still Bisss- I mean, well, still a Caretaker with lot of work ahead of him."
Words that gave him pause. He couldn't reflect on much. There had to be more the Blue Caretaker could do as they couldn't help but stare into those rose tinted eyes of his. So bright. Yet, there was life both of and lack there of. To him, he was a simple program that existed for one reason. He was there to protect the Pink Monolith. He did not dwell or angst on the lack of actually being unable to contact it. It saddened the Blue Caretaker to the point that they had to help jog his memory to educate him that he was more than that, as Garnet had previously said. His mind here was more robotic than it once was. The lack of outsider influence to absorb into his subconscious.
It was their duty to prod him along the path. Whether or not being this Transitional Entity was the code name to his true destiny, it had to be a destiny of his choosing and no one elses. A path that Kyanite would support. Because of course, they knew him best and trusted his heart would be in the right place. Even if that very heart was being shrouded in the visual noise.
Not to mention he could be overly emotional...that was a given. A fact Kyanite found the most frustrating but also, endearing.
In a world the lacked empathy, his was the one that cast the brightest light...but it only amount to a drop in the ocean....and it was the sad reality of the common era of greed and purposeful ignorance.
They couldn't afford lose him...and Kyanite struggled to balance themselves in that act as well. What could they do? What could be so impactful to trigger the most out of him?
Kyanite knew the answer to that. They approached him and placed their hands on his cheeks, their sparkling eyes that looked into his dulled pair were so full of intent to bring him out again.
"You remember...Connie?"
A word. A name. It gave birth to thoughts to ponder and compile. To envision and give name to form. To give form to feelings so perculiar that he could have sworn he's felt them before.
"Connie..." He said.
In the moments were one and one became two and two and two became for, there was the connection. Thoughts that would run as subroutines also cause the room shook briefly, almost stunning Kyanite with the suddenness of it.
"She...she has a room."
He ran out before Kyanite could realise what was happening. They ran after him shortly after, as they saw Steven sprinting off down the hallway towards another door. He struggled to open it. Which he found weird.
"This is Connie's door." He said, frustrated.
"I cannot seem to open it."
This is how to be how his mind interpreted the people he knew. At least, thats how Kyanite understood it.
"Do you recall what she looked like?"
Looking down again, Steven pilfered his janked memories.
"N-no....ye-yes? I'm not...I'm not sure."
Hm....it was better than nothing. Kyanite wasn't sure they could even recover everything, or even get him out of this emergency mode of his. He looked at Kyanite, thinking they were in a position of authority and knowledge. This Connie; they stressed her importance like she was critical to their overall success. What ever that success was.
"Kyanite." He said so formally.
"I understand you have a mission to fulfill. Is Connie important to this mission?"
At least he could put two and two together a lot easier.
"Yes...yes she is." Kyanite replied.
"And I know how to get to her. Is there any chance with reconciling data regarding an Android that you once had?"
For as what Kyanite knew about Androids, often Drivers had to be installed into GIS or AI to be able to run them. The Drivers will just sit there unless a user willingly deletes that data. He closed his eyes briefly once more.
"I can confirm that I have two of them installed. Which one should I go to?"
Two? Two drivers?
Kyanite couldn't recall there being two.
"Try the most recent one you've used." They suggested.
"The latest file you opened."
Steven nodded and tried scanning again.
"Yes, I found it." He said.
"The Driver still remains. "
That's good. At least some data was useful.
"Good, good, you'll need it." They confirmed. At least there was some good news.
"Our plan hitches on you being able to get yourself back to the Android."
Steven nodded. Saving Connie. Yes. She was important. Very important. It would somehow help him find his Monolith but....
"Of course." He said.
"I am sorry I am not much other help in that matter. Without my Monolith's instruction I am a useless program."
It almost broke their heart to hear him say that. He wasn't useless. Far from it.
"Don't apologise." They said.
"Doing this is a critical step. You feel that you're ready for such a task?"
Not that they wanted him to do so in this state. But he was so...calm minded. Enough to disturb them about his lack of notable mannerisms that he was known for. They desperately wanted to restore everything right now, but...
It struck them hard. Really hard. But they had push that aside for the sake of the mission. Looking at Connie's door compelled him to keep trying to open it. But if he couldn't, he had to find the key.
"You just let me know what you need and when you need. I am able to perform when required."
Kyanite then rubbed their chin. They had to think of something, a go between. Then...another idea came to mind. What ever it took and if and when they could figure it out. Another risk that was big enough that it was entirely plausible that it could end in failure, but if Steven's instinct to defend would arise, then Kyanite couldn't have trusted it with anyone else.
Summoning the silver box Bismuth gave them, they then presented it to Steven.
"I...want you to hold this for me." They said.
"Keep it close. Keep it secret...and I will come back for it, just in case."
Kyanite then grabbed Stevens hand and put it over his, then pressed the box into it and clasped it tightly. He could only but stare at it for the longest time...not sure of what it contained.
"Keep it safe like you would try and keep the Pink Monolith safe....this is your purpose now."
Kyanite soon summoned themselves out of Steven's psyche. Garnet sat there and looked at him as he opened his eyes.
"He's at a functional level. Apologies if this isn't what we wanted." They said.
Garnet could agree. It hurt her just as much. The original Steven might have been dead to those who knew no better. Garnet's faith, however, wouldn't be wavered. There would be an end to this. She just had to get them all there safely.
"I know." She said.
"But it will have to do. Get back to Bismuth and finalise preparations. Lady Volley isn't going to release Pearl soon and I have other important work to finish up on."
Kyanite had a feeling that would happen. Volley didn't budge that easily and even convincing Volley took a lot of effort and guile on their half. It would be fighting for a lost cause.
"And don't worry about Steven's underreaction to your Avatar." Garnet commented. She knew it wouldn't have worked originally, but as far she was concerned, it would be more a seed that could be left to grow forever in his psyche and thats what she counted on.
"It is better for him to let him ponder on it, for now."
Chapter 60: Metaphysical
Summary:
Despite a minor setback, Kyanite, Steven and Bismuth finally put their plan to save Connie into action.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyanite never told a soul or a program of their exact fears.
One would sweat or even break under the circumstances. They had everything ready on the front that they had the tools they needed to succeed in their endeavour.
The matter was the execution. Something like this had never been done before. Most of it hinged on Steven holding on and doing what he was told. There had to be tiny thoughts that ran in the background at this point, calling to him to remember who he was.
He remembered Connie...and the importance of this mission was not lost on him. So Kyanite was grateful that he had some focus.
Still, a lot could still go wrong. Factors that could come into play couldn't be considered.
When it came to Domain Warps, there were obviously rules that would dictate how Warps could be used. Monolith Warps took priority and their reach was tremendous. Caretaker Warps were the next in priority though their and access was limited to Pocket Grids, their Monolith's Private Grids (on invite permissions only) and of course the public grid. Permissions to use specific warps depended on your status and possession. You couldn't anyone who was anyone access everything without special clearances.
Bismuth first created a Recall Point. Recall Points were designed that if something were to go wrong, that in case of an emergency, the programs tied to the Recall Point in question when prompted could be flung back to the Point in any given time. The Point resembled a tiny satellite dish attached a makeshift console. She would be able to monitor everything from where she was.
The machine also used a Monolith's Signal. With permission from the Blue Monolith, they could use the Reach to be able to Warp just about anywhere. Using Steven's drivers, they were able to pinpoint the original location of his Android. It wouldn't tell them exactly where it was due to how the Domain interprets the Domains the millions of zones, but at could at least be able to connect them to the location they were looking for.
Working on their Console, Bismuth utilised the last points of information to project, before she put the plan into motion. She checked working algorithms and security protocols....until....
"Shit." Bismuth cursed.
"How the hell..."
That didn't sound good.
"What's wrong?" Kyanite asked.
Bismuth shook her head...they had to have known there still would be some issues with their plan that had been unforeseen, but not what they expected to be a particular problem in this matter.
"Impossible. Even borrowing the Monolith's permissions, the program keeps telling me that it's too far to create the warp."
With their gut telling them their doubts, Kyanite had wondered what else could fuck things up even further.
"Then how the hell did we get back last time?" Kyanite wondered.
"Unless somehow...I dunno."
They had a point. Kyanite tried to think back to when they were first there:
"I'm getting the strangest interference. Could be within a Faraday Cage for all I know, but I can't connect to the public Domain from here. We're on our own." <1
They were in some Private Grid from memory but...
"Lis- there's not mu-" he said.
"But I'm going to keep this channel op- a li- while. Use it to get out. There's no -me to explain!"
Greg.
Dr. DeMayo opened up a channel. Which must have had some damn heavy encryption or some other bullshit reason.
And they had no idea where he was. With every inch of their code, Kyanite did not want to depend on someone like him who had been scarce. Their dislike of him was for a multitude of reasons, but even they had to admit that they needed him right now.
They especially hated the cliche of the disappearing father who had gone up to get milk and never came back. Because that's what it felt like.
"Fucking hell!" Kyanite cried as they kicked the ground.
"DeMayo allowed us to escape. Said something about a channel being utilised to open the portal but that's all I can remember."
Bismuth rubbed their chin.
"A channel?" She repeated.
"It could be...some kind...relay? Maybe there was a relay in place that hijacked another signal to get the portal over there?"
It did sound like even doing that, stretched the connections very thinly. What could be that far from even a Monolith's reach? Kyanite could request more power directly from the Monolith if they wanted to, but it would drive a hard bargain; especially if the Blue Monolith was busy trying to deal with the Virus like the other two were.
"What about if we can borrow a Lapis Satellite?"
That could work. Not that many of the Lazuli's would be willing to work unless the Blue Monolith specifically asked one of them to.
"We can try that." Kyanite said, exasperated.
They didn't have any other choice....until.
"Blue Caretaker." Said Steven.
"I've done another scan of my systems. The other driver I told you about."
Kyanite looked at him strangely. What did that have to do with anything other than being some kind of bizarre and unrelated piece of software.
"I want to borrow Bismuth's scanner. If I may."
So formal, so odd...Kyanite was hesitant but...
"Why is that?" They queried.
Steven looked down.
"I'm...I am not sure." He said.
He certainly didn't look sure at all. He was less...robot than he was before.
"But...somehow when I ping for it, it gives me a response."
A response?
"Like...someone's using that device that the driver is attached to."
Bismuth and Kyanite exchanged looks.
"What kind of driver is it?" Bismuth asked.
Steven pondered again briefly.
"It's a similar driver. Custom made based off its statistics, for an unregistered Android type..."
Unregistered android type? Wait...Kyanite had a hunch.
"Bismuth I know what he's talking about." They said.
The Codesmith would believe anything by this point.
"Well, I glad you do...because I'm willing to take any option." She commented.
Kyanite grinned.
"Good, because I think that Android was Steven's previously." They said.
"Prior to the current one, he used one that was made by Ronaldo....based off your old Android and using spare satellite parts."
Bismuth blinked twice.
"Based off my Android?" She said.
"Uhhh okay...so...where is it?"
Kyanite rubbed their chin. They tried to think back about they last saw it....
Wait...
Of course.
"Steven, you said someone responded to your ping." They told him.
"Are you able to speak to them?"
He looked down once more.
"I can message them using the same channel." He said.
"What should I tell the program?"
They prayed this was gonna work. They had to give a clear indicator. They figured, to save him, that they would have bend him. Carefully. Glitches inevitable, bugs aplenty. If it brought the old Steven back then the suffering would be temporary. Kyanite was at just as much risk but...it would be worth it, in the end. They were sure.
"Mention Mirror Ward."
Mirror Ward....checking the databases for well known public information...Wasn't that the Glass Company? <2
Steven froze for a bit...as his runtimes became glitchy. Hearing conversations that he's not supposed to hear and seeing things he's not supposed to see. The name sounded...familiar. A name that existed...it exists. It was...a company or something.
It was all too confusing, too messy to capture correctly. Why was it there? How did it play? Was it a trigger? A password? A Pink Caretaker that had no idea what he was supposed to do without his Monolith nearby. He would have just...attempted to find her no matter the cost but he was here. Stuck, misaligned with two other Caretakers who wanted him to do this. They would claim that it was to help find his Monolith but...really. Was the correct path to take?
He recalled someone blue. Someone with short hair. Who were they? They were an enemy. But they're no longer an enemy?
FLASHBACK
Rose approached the Deep Throne of the Pink Monolith alone. Like she would do. Every engineer and scientist would be sound asleep and Rose would assume the sound of the machines would be the Monolith's voice reaching out to her.
"I've been thinking about a lot about what you said." She told it.
"I mean, the absurdity of it all is...a bit weird but I want to try it."
The Pink Monolith would of course, say nothing to those who did not have the Genes to hear it.
"A Satellite? What for I...oh...oh I see. Didn't know that was something that could happen...it's that dangerous?"
A proposal from the Pink Monolith wasn't one to be ignored. Rose knew it was imaginative. Creative. It's spirit was always willing to try new things. So Rose's natural affinity for adventure synched it well for its ambitions.
"I'll talk to Greg to see if we can't get our hands on a Lapis Lazuli."
"Steven?"
He looked up at Kyanite with a blank expression. He shouldn't be worried about this...should he?
"I will...send the message across now." He replied.
He closed his eyes as he attempted to communicate. Crossing their arms, Kyanite wondered they happened to break him briefly. Still, he wasn't beyond saving if that was the case.
But it was clear. There was an overlap of old data. Data he didn't know he had. So his mind traversed the details as he communicated with the other being. Their name called much attention.
Lapis.
He remembered...Lapis.
Lapis Lazuli were Satellite GIS.
"It's a Satellite?" Steven he said.
Bingo.
"Excuse me?" Bismuth said, confused.
Kyanite walked beside them and put a hand on their shoulder.
"No, don't disregard it." They said.
"It's exactly what we need. The use of a Satellite as a Relay is...standard, but this Lapis be able to extend the reach..."
Their Lapis...and if Kyanite remembered correctly.
"Wait." Bismuth said as they slammed a fist into their other hand in realisation.
"So this Lapis has a specialised channel that would be able to upload specialised data to an extremely well hidden Pocket Grid? What are the odds?"
Kyanite wasn't sure how or why. But after the Wormhole Incident after using the Rosa Leo for the first time, they always wondered what actually happened to Lapis...why she never bothered to come back or get back in contact with anyone earth-side.
There was never any indicator of what happened afterwards; especially after their travels to the Home Base of Luna's and her Cult of the Cluster. Kyanite feared she was lost to them. But maybe, just maybe...she could still be out there.
And she could still be contacted. She had to have been silent all this time for a reason. To protect herself primarily. But where she was in this given moment, was anyones guess.
"She said she was glad to hear from me again..." Steven said, perplexed.
"And I...I said I was glad too. Was that the right response?"
Yes. Kyanite could see this was heading the right direction.
"Ask her if we can borrow her for the moment." She said.
"I need to see if she can throw us in the direction of your Android."
It was still rather risky. A use of a Satellite was helpful, but much could still wrong. But they really had nothing else to work with.
"She said she can send a portal our way, but she won't be able to hold the warp for long." Steven replied.
They could work with that.
"Alright, send her the details of what we need. Bismuth, I need that Purge Program but I still need you here to make sure you can keep an eye on the situation...I need at least one sane Caretaker I can trust."
Bismuth nodded as she approached Kyanite and placed the V. They had the Yellow Caretaker but they were a lost cause and they had no time to make friends.
"Copy that." She said.
Within moments a blue warp formulated itself in the Makeshift Lab Grid. Bismuth used her device to keep a hold and an eye on the portal itself. Kyanite then took Steven's hand as they stood in front of it.
They had everything they needed for now.
"Steven." They said.
"Are you prepared?"
They looked at him with strong intent. He wasn't one to judge or feel anything for that matter, but having their hand in his created an odd sensation that ran through his physics engine. It was strange but still created quite the impact. He didn't want to let go and had no idea why. He could feel their fingers across his that generated a warmth like none other. His emotional cortex must have been not working correctly. Though at the same time, it didn't cause any problems. He was still running okay.
Kyanite then prepared them to step through...that was until someone else jumped out at the same time, a tall man with a white labcoat.
"I'll take it from here." He said.
It took a stunned Kyanite a moment to understand what was going on before they realised that based off their long hair, that it was Dr. DeMayo.
"Excuse me." They said.
"Steven and I have a mission to do."
There was something different about Greg however that Kyanite couldn't put their finger on. They barely had enough time to react as his hand instantly reached for Kyanite's Kernel Core at the back of their head that caused them to freeze up as an electrical shock almost fried their circuits with how sudden and quickly he did it. They felt violated as it was if he easily grabbed something from their systems. They could hear Bismuth cry out their name in horror as Greg held the Purge Program in his hand and continued to hold Steven's in the other.
"I won't have you steal my son away from me." Greg said coldly.
"As soon as your duty with purging Luna is done, no doubt your Monolith Masters would pull him away to fulfill their plans. I won't let you do that to him."
Kyanite could barely stand as it was as their vision became blurry and the HUD had tried to get itself together.
"I would thank you for helping developing this Program...I know it took a lot of work and I apologise for this...but I can no longer believe that he's safe here."
Kyanite's tried to get up repeatedly but what ever Greg did to them messed them up badly that they could barely fight back. They could see Steven; flat faced as he had been so they couldn't even see that he was distressed. Just as they had made small progress too!
"You might have him fooled for now but...when you've been around as long I have, you know at first glance who you can really trust...and what represents someone elses' interest."
"No! Greg!" Kyanite called out, to the points of tears.
Bismuth attempted to run up and grab Steven, but it was too late. Greg took Steven though the portal and just as quick, the portal disappeared.
"SHIT!" Bismuth cried.
In that moment, Kyanite passed out.
Notes:
1. Chapter 52: Wormhole
2. Chapter 6: Rogue Thoughts
Chapter 61: Uninstalled
Summary:
Kyanite struggles to recover after that betrayal and tries to figure out what to do next.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
This was the last thing they expected to happen. It left everything in a twisted mess.
Bismuth had placed them on a table in the lab as they came to eventually. She didn't want to anticipate Kyanites reaction upon explaining what happened. Right after Bismuth made the disclosure in few words as possible, was when the Blue Caretaker went through the motions. Kyanite first growled, then slammed their fist onto the table. They were overcome by anger, sadness and grief; absolute's that threatened to tear them apart if it weren't for Bismuth's intervention. It pained her just as much with the sanction failure that loomed over their heads. Silence and time resumed some kind stable composure. The risk had already been too high to begin with and Kyanite had to accept that their caluculations were in fact, wrong.
It hurt. A lot.
So much so as they felt the Blue Monoliths calling, as she requested them back into her Grid...in the the moments in sensing her Caretakers ire.
They arrived with heavy hearts; with Kyanites who continued to struggle to reconcile. Once they could, they steeled themselves enough and approached their Monolith with shame as they knelt down before her and told of the news.
How Greg decided to betray them and still their only hope.
"How unfortunate." Blue said softly. She didn't sound too grieved, but her tones were often comforting by default, masking far better than Kyanite could ever create.
"He slipped through your very fingers."
If Kyanite was anyone else, they would have begged for forgiveness. While they couldn't forgive themselves, nor did they believe that they deserved their Monoliths forgiveness, they at least, prayed that she would grant them some morsel of mercy.
They had to make a decision, steadfast. Their behaviour was unacceptable and their belief into their skills had waned. This was no longer worth holding onto; that the bearer of the badge had stained the name and faith of their task.
"I do not deserve to be called a Caretaker." They announced.
"I willing return the Prime App to you. I only ask you grant the position to someone who will use their powers appropriately and efficiently."
This caught Blue by surprise. Blue had no qualms with Kyanite in particular; only that she knew she hadn't expected Kyanite to pledge themselves in a sense to such an ardous task. She didn't doubt Kyanite but...given the gravity of the situation, she was left lost to figure out things by herself. In all her years as being the Blue Monolith's Conduit, this had been the most perplexing issue she'd come across....with Kyanite being the most complicated GIS in her jurisdiction.
"Normally in such circumstances I would consider such a thing....to say I am disappointed in you would follow, but we are running out of capable and reliable GIS. I still need you."
That was true...but Kyanite was a complete mess that they'd felt horrible if they kept the position for any second longer, as it became a burden more than a gift to them and the responsibility had suddenly become too much that Kyanite's self worth had all but plummetted.
"You honor me, my Monolith." Kyanite told her.
"But what ever I tried to do...what ever I tried to envision was...miscalculated. My guard was let down and I was left wide open. A strong GIS should be able to predict what happens next. Anticipate the real threats."
If anything, Blue appreciated Kyanite's dedication to the cause as well as their confidence. To see them like this.....maybe Kyanite was correct in letting it go if the confidence but all disappeared. She closed her eyes and aimed to find her next possible candidate. After hearing about what happened with Jasper, she used the same methodology as her fellow Yellow Monolith had conducted. Kyanite was still in that line but someone else came after them. Someone she didn't expect to land on in that course.
How they route their decisions was unbeknowst to most and it would take Blue some time to be able to follow up on the details. So for now, she would have to let Kyanite go...but not before getting a recommendation from Kyanite; as not only was Kyanite's input still valuable (not to mention they were still a GIS under her wing) but they also had to make sure that this next choice was going to agree with being the Caretaker as they held their own set of doubts. Not that they voiced that to Kyanite of course.
"If that is what you desire." She said.
Blue relented. And prepared to make do with what she had for now, but still planned to keep an eye on Kyanite just in case.
"Then I hereby revoke your title as my Caretaker. I will reassess the current situation. But, you may be able to recommend someone else to the role if you know anyone."
Kyanite lifted their head. Who would be the most appropriate? One person came to mind.
"I think I know who."
Once the deed was done, Kyanite had to decide what they wanted to do next. They didn't even have the chance to talk to Bismuth as Bismuth was commanded back to Europe. In the meantime, even if they held no favour with the Blue Monolith any longer, Kyanite was still granted the opportunity to defend the Domain. The decline of working GIS meant most places didn't have GIS to spare, so Kyanite would be commanded back to the frontlines at the Mega Beach City Grid at the request of Ms. Dot whom had lost the most GIS in the American Grids.
The lack of real purpose and the eventual fate of everything...that part of them held hope that while they could loathe Greg for what he did, he did also promise to protect Steven. Then hopefully, they would save Connie with the Purge Program.
It had to work...right?
Once back in Mega Beach City, Kyanite would head to Sour Creams club. But before they did so, they did away with the armor for now. They'd gone into a clothes store that was still open and tried on some new clothes. They made do with a hoodie with jeans and put up the back of their puffy hair into a high ponytail. They squished their cheeks together as they looked at themselves. They felt a bit off at looking at their own face; something they had come to detest over time. It brought them great discomfort that wearing a helmet most of the time was a saving grace. Though, over time, they couldn't figure out why they hated it so much.
The news on a nearby TV displayed unrest across the world. The loss of GIS lead to a decline of functionality...which had affected the economy, which lead to loss of jobs and homes. Luna did have the power to change the world, but for the better? Pfff as if.
"Excuse me." Said a feminine voice.
"You wouldn't happen to be...Kyanite would you?"
Kyanite looked to the side as they saw the human with the yellow hijab and black coat and dress sat beside them.
"Who wants to know?" They replied solemnly. They just wanted to get drunk in peace.
The woman chuckled.
"Names Pat-Risha." She said.
"Word in the Domain says that you're no longer a Caretaker."
Kyanite sighed. Word traveled fast.
"Listen Pat." They said, slamming their pint on the bartable.
"I would have cleansed this fucking virus from the face of the Earth if I didn't get fucked over by the virtual Ghost of Dr. DeMayo."
Pat nodded intentively. They were so open and vocal; like a certain someone she used to know.
"Ah I see." She replied, if not a bit surprised.
"The number one enemy. No one knew his intentions. Stealing away the Pink Monolith and uh...I saw the report. Kidnapping the Pink Caretaker?"
Everyone fucking knew at this point. There was no real reason to keep it all a damned secret.
"They could solve the problem without me." They said.
"The genius plan of using a program to oust Luna from Connie's body....could have solved it all.."
Could have, should have. Kyanite was so damned close.
"Yes, Berrybyte." Pat said.
"I know her well. One of my best clients."
Heh. Figures. Berrybyte using a Data Broker wasn't surprising.
"I suppose, purging Luna would have been the better alternative as opposed to murdering her host. I'm not surprised. Steven loved Connie dearly, if I remembered correctly."
Of course he did.
"A classic love come horror story. Saving the Damsel from the evil Moon witch."
Moon Witch?
But Kyanite would disagree about it being a horror story. It was a terrible story. Digital evolution gone wrong where everyone was paying for their mistakes. Steven made the mistake of falling for the wrong woman. Connie fell for the wrong species. The mutation of an program doing not what it's supposed to. A tragedy at best that Kyanite attempted to rectify. Now without a true purpose, was left in the same position Steven was in. While there was some fragment that remained within Kya that desired to complete their mission, knowing that they were completely incapable of resolving it, left them with the lack of absolutes. They were angry with themselves, they were frustrated with themselves...they were sad...the negatives that pushed them to a neutral place to just exist.
They could and they would arise...but there was no mental strength to stand on. They'd willingly stepped themselves off the stool and hoped that the current set of Caretakers would succeed where Kyanite had failed. In the meantime, Kyanite became more jaded and their sympathies towards those who had suffered the most stood on unfortunate opinions and conclusions that they wouldn't have accepted a while ago.
"Killing Connie would put the poor girl to rest." Kyanite suggested all of the sudden.
That surprised Pat greatly.
"I doubt that story has a happy ending." Pat state, being previously fond of Connie.
"Steven's known to get emotional if Connie's been put into danger."
Kyanite took a swig from their drink. In his current state, he wouldn't have batted an eyelid. Though, he was aware of her importance.
"Now that I come to think of it, you look a lot like Steven....."
Not this conversation again as Kyanite felt obliged to answer.
"New Avatar model." They said.
"The Blue Monolith requested variety in the designs of their GIS. Apparently, basing it on Steven's design is a test run to see if it works through the system."
Pat nodded.
"Ah yes. I keep forgetting the Blue Monoliths directives were looking into bug fixing; which beta testing would come into play...fascinating." She said.
Kyanite wasn't sure what game Kyanite was playing at. The Data Broker was getting information from multiple places. If Kyanite wanted to screw people over, then they were willing to give Pat anything they wanted if it served that particular purpose. They had nothing else to go on.
"So, I take it you're really bothering me for a reason." Kyanite said.
Pat smiled.
"You are spoken of in so many circles...just like Berrybyte was." She said.
"Your skills shouldn't go to waste."
Kyanite rolled their eyes. They didn't like eyes on them for many reasons. Could they just not left to wallow in their own misery?
"I don't have a Prime App anymore and I don't hold sway." They said.
"I don't know how useful I'll be outside of being cannon fodder."
Pat shook her head.
"You had plans to get drunk and throw yourself out there in the attempts of getting corrupted without fear? Come on Kyanite, you have to be better than being that pathetic." She commented.
How would Pat know? They just met. Even if Kyanite had any kind of potential left, most of it would be better spent buying time.
"Fuck off." They told her.
"All those GIS out there...corrupted....warped by this....Moon Witch. Worst fairy tale since...."
Since...
What was this about moons again?
"Look, I mean, there's other ways to contribute that don't involve being in the front lines." Pat continued.
"Ms. Dot did ask for more GIS...and the Yellow Monolith isn't producing anything at the moment. There's apparently a general fear of producing new GIS when they're constantly being stolen."
And corrupted.
"You're a curious one." Pat commented.
"I've never met a GIS that's outright frightened-"
"I'm not scared...." Kyanite interrupted.
"I'm cautious."
The news then switched to the talks of the military trying to wedge their way into the Developers systems and talks of taking the Monoliths away were always the common threat. Whether or not that would fix the issue was anyones guess. But it would risk billions of lives if they suddenly disconnected the Domain. A permanent solution to a temporary problem.
"What else is there..." Said Pat as she rubbed her chin.
"Oh, I do believe Ms. Dot is working along Dr. Andrew DeMayo of DM Biometrics. He's apparently giving insight into Luna's personality and trying to build a psychological profile."
Kyanite almost forgot that he existed. But what help with trying to figure out what Luna's about would even give in this predicament?
"AIs have very interesting personalities...especially when you don't have to worry about sustaining an organic body." Pat continued.
"He's working alongside a BM-AI; Dr. Priyanka? Maheswaran? I hope I pronounced right."
Kyanite paused, the name struck them harder than it should have.
"Dr. Maheswaran?" They said.
"Connie's Mom?"
Pat nodded.
"Yeah." She replied.
"Well, the AI that's based off her mothers brain in actuality. They've been working on a thesis together for some months now. Looking into the Psychology of Artificial Intelligence. I'm so getting a copy when it's done."
No one's thought to do that?
"Maybe I might." Kyanite answered.
This had been too much to deal with, more than Kyanite had expected it too. They weren't sure if they were even capable of handling this anymore even if they were to be of some assistance elsewhere. Maybe Gregs words struck them hard enough to try and avoid keeping in contact with the Developers. That they once had to do this on their own, at some point or another.
Pat eventually got off her chair and prepared to leave.
"The offer is always there, by the way." Pat told the GIS.
"President Dot would definitely go on her knees and beg you to join her. She would give anything, I think."
Kyanite stayed at the bar as Pat left and contemplated her words. President Dot was greedy but to those who were close to her knew that she held a type of intelligence that was mostly business. A partial of her decisions were questionable at best, but no one really ever complained that she didn't pay well. Only berate her employees buying into joint efforts to even hope make a single bit of profit.
So...she was also the Voice of the Yellow Monolith and out of the two Kyanite met, Kyanite was curious about the personality of its Conduit. But curiousity was no longer a vice to pursue.
But really...what could Kyanite even do? They had nothing...zilch.
They had a drink....and their ears listened in to the woman on the otherside of the bar. She sat on her stool and yapped constantly. Dark skin, short hair, red crop top and jeans. Kyanite fell into the eavesdropping state by the the persuasion of their subconscious.
"Yeah sis, it was crazy." The woman said, talking to the projection of another woman on her palm crystal.
"Some guy in pink rocks up to work and storms in my bosses office the other night..and all I heard was gunshots...then the guy just..left...yeah...damn right I was terrified."
Some guy in pink?
"Nah, they weren't dead...just a few bullet holes in the desk and floor, and a piss stain on the carpet. Had to call the maids to clean that shit up. Yup...ahuh...yeah cops were called...."
Now this was interesting.
"But the thing is sis, is that my bosses ordered me to...lie to the police? I don't even know why....I mean, cops are useless but...unless...yeah, I thought that too and I don't even know what to do...get arrested? Or get shot? Which is worse?"
Kyanite had a feeling who that might have been...
"The Barriga building had to go into lockdown...all of its residents were interrogated...nah he wasn't a resident...and I asked who it was and they told me to shut the fuck up...I smell a conspiracy when I see it..."
The Barriga Building?
"Alright, I'll let you get back to work." The woman said.
"I know you've got your big flight in a few days. Take pictures!"
Once she hung up, a small drink was then slid in her direction from the Bartender, who then pointed towards Kyanite as they strode towards them.
"Hey." Said Kyanite as they sat on the stool next to the woman.
The woman herself looked Kyanite up and down as if to try and figure out who they were.
"Oh no." She said.
"Look I'm not interested, even if you gave me a hundred drinks."
That's....that's not what Kyanite was after.
"I overheard your conversation." They said.
"Something about the Barriga Building shooting?"
The woman sighed.
"Oh please, not another reporter..." She wined.
"Look, I came here to relax...not be dowsed in a game of 20 questions."
She had a point. But Kyanite's curiousity got the better of them.
"I promise you, I'm not here to...do anything of those things." They said.
"You mentioned a Pink man. What did he look like?"
The woman raised an eyebrow.
"Uh...puffy cotton hair mohawk?" She said.
"The guy reminds me of a polar opposite of you, no offense."
It had to be Lars.
Kyanite remembered the Barriga Building; owned by Mr. and Mrs Barriga. They didn't even consider that fact before.
"I believe that man was their son, Lars." Kyanite said.
The womans eyes widened in surprise before she took her drink.
"You're fucking with me." She said.
Kyanite shook their head.
"Nope." They replied.
"And uh...you know that whole virus nonsense going about right now? He's one of the ringleaders."
The woman spat out her drink.
"What? Him?" She replied.
"My God...ummm shit...no one wonder why they didn't want to tell the police the truth."
Mhmm.
"Shit, I was going to make a private statement but man, I don't wanna die....and fuck, being a snitch wasn't on my damned bucket list."
Indeed. The GIS decided to introduce themselves.
"My name's Kyanite." They said.
"I'm a GIS...2.0 version."
The woman looked at them strangely.
"Wow, you are either full of shit, or full of surprises...I don't know what to think." She said.
"But you order me another drink...and I might tell you a little more."
Kyanite smiled and hailed for the bartender again. The more Kyanite could gauge out of this, the more good that they could probably do. They were a natural problem solver and stuff like this was too good to pass up. The Bartender came shortly after and poured the woman another glass. She cross one leg over the other and leaned on the bench.
"I'm Jenny, by the way." She said.
Jenny. Nice, simple name.
"I work the reception desk at the Barriga Building. Hence...the crazy story you heard. Shits true though..."
Explained why she was there to begin with.
"But the Barrigas told me to take a month off and I want to leave this cesspool. But with all the crazy stuff that's happen' in the world right now, I don't know if I want to go anywhere..."
She mentioned a sister though....
"You don't have family you could stay with?" Kyanite asked.
Jenny shrugged.
"I wanted to stay with my sister. She lives in the countryside...but she's got a big event coming up. And not even the chaos of the world is gonna stop it from happenin'. As much as I love pissin' my sister off, I don't want to cause her any other trouble than I already have."
Some work must still go on regardless.
"But I might stay with my Dad and Gran. They own a restaurant in the Southern District. I love my Gran...but Dad can be a real hardass."
As fathers were said to be.
"I suppose...if you're one of those artificial intelligences...you don't even...sort of get the concept of um...how familys work?"
Sadly, Kyanite wished they had.
"GIS of my design uhhhh....are complicated to say the least." They admitted.
"2.0's are the most human like besides the SC-GIS that are literally made from human minds."
Jenny nodded, though she didn't know much about the creation side of things.
"Kiki, my sis, was more into that bullshit." She said.
"The only good piece of technology I own is my tablet that has a VI but that's it...and the AIs that help sustain the Barriga Building....but that's the gist of it."
It was common for AI's to control and maintain buildings. Plenty of things could go awry if things were left unchecked.
The two talked into the night. About each other, about Lars and Kyanite happened to just spill the beans on what they knew. They figured, the public deserved to know the truth. Human civilians that would have no idea what had been going behind the scenes and would have most likely been out of their minds, panicking about what to do next in order to survive. They walked towards the nearest Gate as Jenny prepared to leave the Domain. The Streets were mostly empty; the Virus had only been targeting GIS, so humans and human made AI were being left out if it to sustain what was left to manage, forcing humans to use newer AIs to fill in the gaps. Despite the obvious aim of only GIS being targeted, humans wouldn't stick around in the Grid due to the sheer paranoia of being corrupted. Kyanite was far from afraid. They knew their way around the Virus if the situation called for an emergency procedure.
Ironically, there was a sense of a peace and tranquility in the quietened streets at this time of night. It was nice to talk to someone like Jenny for a change. Someone that was so out of the loop but at the same time had been forced into it. Whether or not Jenny believed everything Kyanite told her was irrelevant; it was carthatic.
"You see, normal people are like, the Monoliths are just Superservers...and I'm just...ya know, oh cool...the internet has expanded, has its new version." Jenny said.
"But I never realised deep it actually went."
Kyanite nodded in agreement.
"And you....you threw in the towel? Just like that?." Jenny commented.
"That's whack."
Kyanite smirked.
"Not that it paid well." They joked.
"But...I failed. Fucked it up. I figured leaving before the inevitability of getting fired was going at least leave me on good terms with...Yin Aozora."
Kyanite used common sense to figure, that telling anyone about the secrets of the Monoliths wasn't something they were prepared for. Not yet anyway.
"You still lookin' for work?" Jenny asked them.
What?
"I mean, I guess comin' home with a gift to my Dad...is that offensive to call you a thing? The joint is just a pizza place and my Dad is so damn stubborn that he won't pitch in the dough for an AI to run the Stores Hardware Apps."
Most places would have a VI or an AI run a shops particulars. A mixture of Hardware and Software that their owners would be able to use to help run the joint. Logistics, Security....even cooking...often expensive to purchase and maintain. Commercial AI's like that were common in the higher end stores.
Byt Kyanite had other ideas.
"You really are going to run away from this?" They said.
"Listen, let me talk with the Barrigas. They might be on to somethin'."
Jenny raised an eyebrow.
"Nuh uh...I'm not bout to get involved with their shit."
Kyanite needed her to do this. There were a few things Kyanite had to follow up on. Even if their hopes were dashed upon losing Steven, something about the Barriga Building was bound to have more secrets. More secrets too rich to ignore.
"I need a human for this." They said.
"Do this for me and you never know; I could help out your family."
She wasn't ready for this crazy bullshit as she contemplated Kyanite's offer.
"I said I wouldn't leave until tomorrow....so fine...I don't wanna be there too long ya hear?"
Leaving the Domain, Jenny had taken Kyanite with her via her DP. Kyanite would remain dormant as to not overheat it. Kyanite managed to convince Sour Cream to hand them a spare CPD to allow them to communicate where needed and asked about its creator Ronaldo. Kyanite said they weren't sure where he was.
Once they arrived at the Barriga Building, Jenny would head to the Barrigas apartment. The office had police tape around it so they had to remain at their own place for now. Jenny took a deep breath and pressed the button by the door.
"Hello?" Jenny said into the intercom.
"Mr. and Mrs. Barriga? It's me, Jenny Pizza. Can we chat for a sec?"
No response.
Jenny tried again.
"Hello?"
She went to knock on the door loudly, before the door itself opened slightly, surprising her.
"What the..."
Jenny pushed the door in far enough as she took a peek inside. The room was dark.
"Lights on." She said.
Most of the upper apartments had their own VIs. As the light turned on, it revealed the rest of the apartment. Filled with a random assortment of knickknacks, the place itself didn't really ooze of authentic over the top richness. It was rather...tacky. Green carpet, leather furnitures. Ugly really. Like a couple had gone all over the world to purchase cheap souvenirs. Jenny walked around to try and find where they were but otherwise, the place looked...abandoned.
She was a bit weirded out. The door was open for one and there was no one home. Her instinct was to call the police until Kyanite made themselves known.
"Check their WorkStation." They suggested.
There was another office room towards the end of the apartment, which gave beautiful views to the nightlife of the city below them. The WorkStation itself was clean apart from a few sheets of paper scattered across. Jenny took the CPD out of her bag and connected Kyanite to it via a cable, then reconnected that cable after the transfer to the WorkStation. Kyanite appeared as a blue projection from the Disc as they looked around. Jenny stood there and checked her surroundings. A few shelves with photos and other strange objects.
"So they just up and left?" Jenny commented.
It appeared to be that way. She found some file cabinets by the other side of the room and decided to pilfer through them as Kyanite hacked into the Barrigas Database. The holographic monitors projected themselves as Kyanite opened up as many files as they could. There was data and financial data on residents...which, if the Barrigas really had something to hide, would have had cleared this data already. Kyanite had their suspicions but they weren't sure on what was the most evident.
"According to the full sets of info I have here...I don't think so." They replied.
"If they did, then they would have surely cleared this data....I'm certain."
Jenny snorted.
"I'll be real with ya." She said.
"Those two? Kinda dumb. I mean, the amount of money that goes on around here is staggering. I believe they were part of some sort of religious scam and most of the money...the Church of Obsidia."
Annnnnd. Kyanite hit paydirt.
"The Church of Obsidia? Yeah." They announced.
That was more of a cult than the Cult of the Cluster was. Allegedly there was a lot of money laundering going about.
"Said the Rampancy Disease was a curse on mankind for adopting the Monoliths as False Gods. That them, Obsidia, was the one true God of the world. Heh. It beats Christianity."
And most other religions. It was too small to make an impact but certainly impacted those dumb enough to believe it.
"You cannot believe the amount of time they tried to con-"
Jenny found a file worth looking for. She pulled it out and noted something..perculiar.
"Hmmm." She said.
"I remember this woman...she kinda..."
She went to the WorkStation and opened the manilla folder to the picture of the woman. Dark skin, long black hair and a round red hat. Red Jenny tilted her head.
"The name...I know it...but doesn't she kinda look like?"
Kyanite froze as they saw it.
"Y-yeah." They said.
"UM..."
Jenny nodded.
"Veronica Cucamonga." She said.
"Ya think she's..."
Kyanite bit their lip.
"That's uh...yeah." They said.
Better that Jenny understood the situation more so, but not every fragment. She was more than shocked.
"So...she was lying to us about her identity? I knew something didn't smell right 'bout her." She said.
"She used to live in one of the lower floors of the building AND she was always on time with her payments? Nuh uh...not one extension from her at all. Girl was too smart with her finances...I mean, if she had a good paying job, why didn't she rent one of the better apartments up top? Who wants to live in a scummy room like that?"
Probably not what Kyanite was thinking but they ran with it. Jenny filtered through the files and shook her head with disappointment.
"Tsk tsk...probably dealing in some nasty shit. The market these days is filled with people like her....using them chemistry smarts to make some dough."
Kyanite furrowed their brows in confusion.
"I'm sure she had her reasons." They said.
Jenny brushed them off.
"Pfff I mean, maybe looking into the drama the Barrigas collected on her. There's reports that can be emailed but sometimes neighbours will complain about other neighbours for like, having their music too loud or somethin'." She said.
"We already know the bitch was lyin', so she's bound to have somethin'."
Kyanite wasn't so sure, but they obliged.
"Alright..." They said as they prepared to input.
"Let's see what dirt Miss Cucamonga has..."
She came up straight up moments later. There wasn't much to see. High electricity bills for what ever reason. The old lady down the hall who complained that she never said hello or came over for tea. How that classified as a proper complaint was beyond Kyanite's understanding. Humans were weird.
Though there was a filled name, Empire Notes.
Empire?
Kyanite decided to dig deeper and found a letter from....Dr. Miller?
"Dear Dante and Martha Barriga." It read.
"Thank you for taking the time to inform me of that one Connie Maheswaran has made her home in your abode. Now, you will address her by what ever name she goes by. She's on our special list people to watch out for."
Special list?
"I know we don't get to talk much at the Church Gatherings but...while she's there, if there's any inquiries about her in particular by the police, please misdirect them. She's not on their Witness Protection list, but rather PeriComs and by extension, the Empires Protection List."
What the....Kyanite found to be rather abstract, if not...out of character for Dr. Miller.
"That doesn't sound...right..." Kyanite said.
Jenny leaned on the desk to have a closer look at the text as she squinted at it.
"Why would Maheswaran be on a list? This message was sent ages ago...long before all the Virus crap started." She commented.
"But this Dr. Miller sounded like she was watchin' out for her."
Dr. Miller was considered practically insane, so what ever purpose this served. perplexed Kyanite greatly. Connie was known to be involved with the Pink Monoliths disappearance but wouldn't the Empire, and obviously the Developers, want Connie in their possession?
"Hello?"
Jenny turned around to see a woman with blonde hair in police gear happen to sneak up on them. She instantly pulled out a gun on Jenny who threw her hands up.
"Who are you?" The cop called out.
Jenny gulped.
"Hey, I work here!" She called out.
The cop wasn't convinced.
"You were in this apartment? With the Barrigas- what's that? Okay..."
The woman pulled way her gun and sighed. She put out her and and projected a small purple avatar from a crystal on her glove.
"Steven is that-"
Kyanite shook their head...but recognised that avatar....and the cop Vidalia.
"No it's not Steven." They said.
"I'm Kyanite....and this is Jenny from Concierge."
The four worked together on the situation. The cops introduced herself as well as the GIS.
"Names Vidalia and this is my GIS partner, Amethyst." She said.
"We were about to investigate this place. What brings you both here?"
Kyanite was about to ask the same thing.
"I was here when the shooting happened." Jenny said.
"I'd given my statement to you guys earlier...before this one here decided to drag me back to hell."
Kyanite nodded, though they got odd glances from Amethyst, for what ever reason.
"I needed to find out more information." They said.
"I'm from Yin Aozora-"
"Wait, weren't you the Blue Caretaker?" Amethyst called out.
Oh great.
"I was." Kyanite replied.
"But..."
Amethyst frowned.
"Oh..." She said.
"I heard about Steven. What the hell happened? The report said he was kidnapped by Greg? That doesn't even make sense?"
No...it didn't.
"Steven and I were about to head back to his Android at Luna's base...we were so close until Greg screwed us over, claiming that I was still under the Developers thumb and that we were more of a danger to Steven..."
Amethyst crossed her arms.
"That's fucked." She said.
Kyanite nodded.
"Tell me about it." They said.
Right now...finding out what they could really do was their next step. Kyanite hadn't been too keen to follow Pat-Rishas advice to work directly under anyone again...but if they could pursue this. They didn't want to drag a human civilian into the chaos, but they had no choice. Vidalia rubbed her chin.
"I'm not sure why Greg would prevent you besides that." She said.
"I knew the guy back in the day. Used to serve in his security department before I joined the police force."
That would have been nice to know before.
"You did?" Kyanite queried.
Vidalia nodded.
"I didn't work under him for that long. We were friends in college and I needed the experience. DM Biometrics was still headed by his father at the time. So I worked for his father, now that I think about it."
So...not recent.
"But Greg was a nice guy. He had no problems with the Developers as far as I was made aware. He was just an excited guy who was super keen into working for his dads business. And he could drink you under the table too.'
Something must have changed. Amethyst had her own part in this too.
"I told Vidalia that the Ancillas used to work under him too...but I didn't have squat to offer other than maybe this was a fake Greg? I dunno...strange guess." She said.
A fake Greg...Kyanite heard of the possibility that the Greg they had been speaking to was just a BM-AI of the original Greg. Maybe. There was nothing really concrete.
"But the data we found at the Empires Mansion tells us two things." Vidalia said.
"One, Dr. Miller was a key component in the disappearance of the Pink Monolith and two, her involvement in Steven's creation."
Kyanite nodded.
"We know he's some kind of....unique SC-GIS." They said.
"But there's some other oddities I found out him...and I'm not even sure if I want to believe them..."
Jenny then coughed.
"Surely ya'll don't need me for this?" She said.
"I got some packin' to do..."
Kyanite honestly forgot she was there still. They nodded and let Jenny go as she ran off.
"If its the same data we found..." Vidalia said.
Kyanite rubbed their arm.
"I had some help in decoding Steven's program." They said, feeling anxious about revealing their discovery.
"He'd been through something trying to recall his software back to its uh...its phylactery and it screwed him so badly he had a factory reset."
Vidalia and Amethyst exchanged glances.
"Ah fuck." Said Amethyst.
"Greg must have known...probably thought you were trying to hack into him."
No. They weren't. Though Greg forcing a reboot was a potential possibility...and Kyanite knew how frantic Greg was for his sons safety.
"I wanted to fix the problem." Kyanite continued.
"The idea was to go back to his Android and use that to infect Luna with a trojan to get her out and free Connie in the process."
This weirded out Vidalia even more.
"See this is what I don't understand." She said.
"Greg would have...mostly talked about what you were trying to do and maybe he may have even tried to help you. But the fact that he stole Steven and the Trojan makes me think there's something going on behind the scenes with Greg himself...I mean, more than what we already know."
That part was obvious.
"He was working alongside Dr. Ryman...last I recall."
Maybe Ryman was part of it?
"Rymans been missing just as much. But the details about his identity has caused a few problems." Said Vidalia.
"His sons have been involved. Ronaldo and Peedee. Who are now missing as well."
Another screw up that added to Steven's guilt and regret, if Kyanite recalled correctly.
"Nothing adds up. Ryman was involved with a few projects." They said.
"One of his best works was with the Shard Project...but he doesn't have any other notable goal here..."
Amethyst hummed.
"Mmmaybe they were just good friends and he's helping Greg out for the sake of ya know, being good friends?"
That was possible too....but there was something else that no one considered. Greg was also trying to save Connie...which had Kyanite connect the dots.
"Maybe he was using Rymans knowledge with the Shard Development to somehow save Connie." Kyanite suggested.
"They'll need to capture Luna....and take the Shard out of Connie's neck...."
Vidalia wasn't so sure.
"Is that even safe?" She said.
Probably not. The implications of such an act were...troubling, to say the least.
"The removal will...most likely kill Connie..." Kyanite acknowledged.
"She had Rampancy Disease. The Shard, alongside the right medication, was designed to alleviate its effects...ya know, as if not to fry her damn brain."
Vidalia sighed. That wasn't the result they were looking for.
"When push comes to shove..." Kyanite continued.
"If all else fails, killing Connie may be the only way to save her...but the survival of the world depends on Lunas eradication. The world comes first."
A statement that angered Amethyst in particular.
"No way...Steven wouldn't forgive you for that." She said.
The virus had spread too far. Luna had complete control of it. With other options all but exhausted, it may have been the only way.
"I'm sure Connie would understand." Kyanite said with a certain calm sadness.
Amethyst growled. The audacity of this....faux paus Steven.
"You don't even know her!" She called out.
Vidalia had to intervene before the argument could escalate further.
"Amethyst." She said. The one GIS she knew and she was over-emotional and could hold grudges with the best of them.
"Look, let's just resort to the non-lethal methods for now....shall we?" She said.
"You said you designed a Trojan. So that Trojan is with Greg now?"
Another one to the list. It kept piling up; a reminder of how much failure Kyanite could create.
"Yeah." They said.
"If he was smart, he could still use that on Luna. But the fact is, no one really knows where Luna is...besides...that Robot Lion thing..."
....
"Or Lars."
Jenny came back into the room with her phone.
"Sorry, I heard you overtalking..."
Lars?
"The Pink boy? You said he served Luna. I would think if you knew where he went, then maybe you could beat his ass and have him tell you where Luna is."
Hmmm...she had a point.
"Not a bad idea." Said Vidalia.
"Amethyst, we'll need to use the cities cameras to see if we can trace his location...do we know if he was down here specifically to find his parents?"
Jenny shrugged.
"Dunno....but I think I heard him mutter under his breath on the way out....something about finding some damn Phylactery or somethin'. I dunno."
A Phylactery?
"I know Luna's always looking for new GIS." Kyanite explained.
"Depends on where ya'll are hiding them in this day and age....or if what I'm hearing is correct, that a President had lost track of so many...and claims a certain Monolith wasn't attempting to make anymore."
Amethyst and Vidalia exchanged glances.
"Stuffs classified as balls." Said the purple GIS.
"I think I know where to start though. V, let's head to PeriCom HQ. Think we can spin some heads?"
Vidalia nodded.
"I hear you."
Then....
"Coming Kya?"'
The other GIS was left frozen there, unsure of their willingness to participate. They'd already put on high expectations on themselves and this was too important to fail. Catching Lars in the act required caution and finesse as well as good judgement. Clearly, Kyanite had none of those.
"You go on ahead, I have other leads to follow."
Amethyst shrugged. Not that she really wanted to hang with the wannabe anyway.
"Alright. Let's move out!"
Shortly after Vidalia and Amethyst left, Kyanite went with Jenny back to her apartment. Being gone for a month meant anything left behind had the potential to be lost so she made do with what she needed and locked up everything tightly with that she didn't. Anywhere was better than staying here where the worst could still be yet to come.
Though she was a bit surprised that Kyanite didn't want to join in on the fun with the cops. Kyanite was left to contemplate on the CPD on the bench as Jenny made her final preparations. Her bags were already packed. She got herself ready for bed, though wondered what Kyanite was going to do while she was asleep.
She took the CPD into her room and hooked up to her bed side table. Once Jenny had brushed her teeth and put on her night cream and pajamas, she shifted herself under the blankets and looked up at the roof.
"I'm surprised you weren't willing to go with those two. You're so switched on...but you still want to travel with me?" She commented.
Kyanite projected themselves from the disc. They were prepared to be dormant all night...not allow their troubled thoughts to coalesce as they did.
"I'm irrelevant to this now." They admitted.
"I was kind of thrown into the deep end when I was chosen for my role. Given a few documents worth of history, had a couple of programs thrown in for good measure...to make sure I was prepared."
Jenny squinted.
"Kinda reminds me with college. I feel ya." She said.
Kyanite rolled with it for now; as they weren't sure if the situations really were compatible.
"Doesn't matter if you're made of digital mass or organic...there's always the things that you least expect to happen that happen."
Jenny nodded as she put her hands behind her head.
"Shit like that happens all the time though." She said.
"No ones perfect."
But Kyanite just had to be. They were designed for this for a reason.
"It's different for an AI." They said.
"The journey of a human being is gifted with being less streamlined. You have a choice to become someone...we...we just...are..."
Something that left Jenny perplexed.
"We have to be perfect." Kyanite continued. "What's the point of doing what we're made for and screwing up? Sent back to fix what was broken."
Jenny hummed. She had a hard time relating to them....but perfection was more of Kiki's strong suit that her own.
"You think you're...broken?" She asked.
Possibly. Kyanite wasn't even sure at this point. If they'd been under the delusion that what they created for was the only way they could go. Their only directive.
"Then what makes you think my family needs a broken AI? Why not just...go back to the factory for repairs?"
A...a. good question. Kyanite wasn't sure why they hadn't pursued. They were functional. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with their programming. They ran perfectly fine...and that's what bothered them the most.
"I....don't know." They replied.
"Maybe the responsibility was too large for someone of my design. A Kyanite that was not meant to hold the role of a Guardian."
Now that was something Jenny could relate to.
"My Dad didn't want me to leave...he wanted me to join in on the family bullshit." She said.
"I learned a lot from him. How to manage a business. I went to college and all that type'a shit. Built my resume with a series of other jobs in between. Some threw me on my ass due to bullshit reasons but thems the breaks. Gotta make that dough to survive ya know..."
Humans needed the cash to live. That much Kyanite understood. They could grasp the human necessities and be able to work themselves around it. They had less needs but they also had more to worry about when it came to what they could actually do within their control. Save lives or cause a lot of damage.
"Which makes me wonder what that Veronica.....or what ever the hell her name was, was doin' each day. Ya'd never hear a peep out of her....though that being said, I may have skimmed over a fair emails...you don't understand how boring it is to see the same exact message over and over again...fuckin'. the Barrigas would order me to ignore that bitch Erica on level 13 for what ever reason. Pretty sure she was on that dope."
Veronica...aka Connie Maheswaran aka Berrybyte. A name Kyanite would focus on.
"Dr. Miller knew about her living here." Said Kyanite.
"And-"
"Ugh..."
Jennys groan caught Kyanite off-guard.
"You can't seem to switch off either!" She said as she sat up.
"Why you gotta ask questions you don't know the answers to? I don't know squat. It must be you AI's and your...I dunno, inability to understand humans! We do the things we do because of fucking goodness knows why. People can be selfish! From what you've already told me, she was a complete psycho! And Veronica she's just as weird too! Weirdos doing weird shit all the fucking time... I don't even know why this Lars would come in, try and shoot his parents...what the fuck did they do? They didn't even mention that they had a son! I mean...that drama is cool n' all...I just don't want to be part of it!"
Kyanite sighed. They had a hard time grasping the average persons expectations and knowledge on these more complex topics.
"Sorry." They said.
"It's just...this has been an unsolved case for several years. Most people have barely scratched the surface...me? I was made to solve this mystery."
Jenny furrowed her brows. The discussion that they had at the Club. Something that had been discussed for years.
"Veronica...or....Connie...as she was called. She was said to have been looking into the matter and had been so close...I feel like I was made to go where she left off."
Giving it more thought, Jenny remembered more from their discussion. About the enigma about that rogue AI.
"Hmm...maybe she was close...maybe she wasn't." She said.
Guilt rode on the womans shoulders. She didn't comphrehend an AI's life or the way that they would think. The relationships between AI's and humans were complicated to this day and Jenny had no inclination as to purchase any specific AI of her own at any given moment in her life. She didn't need one; her VI served her just fine when ever she needed it. She thought them just...machines...tools of the world for humans to use as they saw fit. But seeing Kyanite...and their entire manner, made Jenny think a bit differently that even off the bat that the pair got on just fine. Kyanite revealing themselves as a GIS had her almost stunned. Could all machines act this way?
"But...she too, made a mistake. She got herself caught with her pants down...that's uhh...a metaphor by the way."
Kyanite knew what she meant. They had an idea...if it didn't bother Jenny too much.
"Do you...mind..." They said, feeling anxious about it all of a sudden.
"Do you mind if we visit her old apartment?"
The GIS was surprised when Jenny relented in doing so. According to her, no one had moved into that apartment just yet. It was still bare bones. Jenny had to first get the all access keycard to get inside. It felt like an eternity before Jenny opened the door inside.
What was once dark, was lit up once they entered. The system usually was automated if set that way if anyone was in the room. It could be calibrated to what ever the occupier desired. Jenny walked around the department while she held Kyanite in her hand.
The GIS looked around and an odd feeling almost overcame them. Like a shiver up their spine. There was a history here, surely. The apartment would have been cleaned up a while ago, but the apartment had a thin film of dust around it.
"Hm...maybe I should start automating cleaners around the empty ones more often." Jenny commented.
From what information Kyanite gleamed from the documents that were sent to them, Connie was a notorious hacker. Hackers were obviously a danger to the Domain for taking advantage of loopholes, bypassing encryption and all types of cybercrime. She'd racked up quite the record. The name Berrybyte had been spread far but to the Developers, the person behind the username wasn't really known until recently. Details about Luna started to spread and information about Berrybyte started arise on Domain Forums.
She had her fair share of haters...but more than, she had a fair share of supporters from the anonymous clout. Claiming, she'd saved their asses time and time again. Berrybyte was good person, doing good deeds under bad practices. Usually because the legal system to pursue justice was considered tedious or non existent. People would resort to hiring someone who wasn't afraid to go into the deep in and get results from the dirty work people were too fearful to touch. Kyanite didn't want to praise Connie for what she had done but the results more often than not, spoke for themselves.
Her connections to the Pink Monolith Case astounded Kyanite. That she was involved in the incident somewhat but wasn't sure why. The Conspiracy was rooted in so many layers that Kyanite struggled to sort it all out themselves.
Jenny approached the Bathroom and opened the door. The light was almost blinding as it turned out. Kyanite scanned the tile work, the shower, the bath....
...more flashes.
Kyanite's head hurt.
Did it really though? Was it more than just a tingle? Maybe, they disregarded it for now.
"There's nothing unusual." Said Jenny.
"But dayum I didn't realise how butt ugly the bathrooms on this level looked."
Backing out, Jenny went to the bedroom. Empty as it was, Kyanite's vision blurred and flashed twice as they envisioned the WorkStation before them in all of its glory. Wires that were connected to and from....and the bed that was on the right hand side.
Kyanite looked up a nearby vent and furrowed their brows....and in their vision, they imagined whom they believed to be Connie to be on a step ladder and shoving something into the vent. Either that or Kyanite was digging back into secret cliches again.
"Hey, do those vents get cleaned every so often?" Kyanite queried.
A question that Jenny had to think about.
"Not sure." She said.
"Think Veronica's left something behind?"
Possibly.
Jenny borrowed a stepladder shortly after from one of the utility rooms on the floor and took the shaft cover off. Tilting her head, she could see a red tin box.
"Huh....found somethin'."
She took the box and went back to the kitchen. Opening it, it had several trinkets and old worn photos. One of the photos was a picture of a little girl with her mother and father.
"This must be teeny tiny V with her ma and pa." Jenny commented.
Placing it on the bench, Kyanite could see the image clearly. Their HUD begun to distort and pixelate.
"I...I think I'm done." They said, desiring to get away.
"There's nothing else here."
Notes:
Jenny was fun to write.
Chapter 62: Slice
Summary:
Kyanite finds a new job with Jenny's Family Business.
Chapter Text
It'd been a week and bit since they departed the Barriga Building. Kyanite was convinced that they were prepared to leave things to the experts for now and was content to live their life elsewhere. At least, thats what they would claim.
A smile or two would put on the display and that the pain of failure had neatly been packed away. If not for the reminders around every corner that would sooner bring it all to the surface, only for Kyanite to appear to engage in a seemless effort to suppress everything within. Their nervous would threaten to expose them but they were quick enough to make nothing look out of the ordinary.
In spite of their own emotional shortcomings, they could see the benefits in living another life. They'd taken a job with Jenny's family for now as she laid low with them. Kyanite would take orders while Jenny worked the kitchens alongside her father if she wasn't doing deliveries. To distant themselves by being practical and providing the needs that an AI could provide in such a place.
The Pizza Shop itself was on the other side of town, with an apartment that they all dwelled in above the restaurant itself. The small counter at right hand side as you entered with Kyanite projected themselves from it. They'd worn a bandanna over their head and kept their curly black hair in a high ponytail while they wore an apron with the Pizza Logo on it. They wore it all with pride...but as all things, it wasn't going to be an easy arrangement.
Jenny explained that the Pizzeria consisted of mainly Jenny's father and her gran, Nanefua who was getting quite old but still managed to work in the kitchen on some days. She was happy to see Jenny return and wasn't at all bothered by Kyanite, if only for the fact that she found them confusing. Nanefua wasn't the issue.
To say that taking an AI on board and seeing her fathers reaction to it all...was...interesting.
First off, he had been directly hesitant to hire Kyanite due to all the drama surrounding AI's at that point. Jenny had to convince him that she paid nothing for the AI and that they were completely trustworthy.
Kyanite did cop a bit of...adversity. Mr. Pizza was a dedicated man and father, no doubt. He was happy to see Jenny, but soon to berate her too with him constantly comparing her to her more acamedic and outgoing scholar of a twin sister, Kiki.
Many a name did slip and Kyanite wasn't ignorant as to why Jenny left in the first place. Jenny had to assure Kyanite that this was normal for her and that their stay at the Pizza Shop wasn't going to be long term. Kyanite took to the role naturally as an AI would and even helped increase profits with their prescence, despite the fallacy of Mr. Pizza's claims that their holographic nature scared off customers when it did the exact opposite.
It helped that Kyanite had a human basis and people knew that as AI that they were unlikely to get their orders wrong, especially when it came to deliveries. Collecting orders while Jenny was able to actual do those deliveries...but Mr. Pizza again, would remind his daughter that her sister was faster than her and did more deliveries in a day than she could.
Jenny wouldn't take her father that seriously, as she told Kyanite. That at the end of the day, Jenny had a friend and colleague she could laugh and joke alongside...and made her feel like a teenager again.
Kyanite themselves in the night between would think to themselves. Isolated in the tiny Pocket Grid of the Shop. It took the form a small room with concrete wall and several blue monitors with the pizza logo on them and dull light from above and a small black single bed to the right. They sat on a simple black chair and slouched over, wallowing in their own self-pity. They could never stop thinking, constantly, if that this was the right thing to do.
To run away.
It came naturally to them to just...abandon all else and find their own grove elsewhere with a simpler life. It kept their mind active....and in conversations with Jenny herself who asked if there was any news, Kyanite would give the recent updates for what ever was on the news at the time.
They still felt awful and that feeling never went away. They could play pretend to be happy and that there was some joy in hanging with Jenny herself but at the end of the day, the only person Kyanite had to confront, was...themselves. Messages from Bismuth would go unanswered that asked them how they were and what they were doing. They couldn't confront it; their reminder of their very shame...and part of Kyanite wanted to respond and ask how she was going with the new Blue Caretaker and if they were making any progress.
Kyanite however, simply didn't want to know. They didn't deserve to know and deeply wanted to forget ever knowing anything about they were for. What the Blue Monolith created and instructed them to do in the first place....and that to keep the Blue Monolith satisified that success had to be constant and failures unheard of, alongside the lack of sight upon a defective GIS in her Court. One thing Kyanite knew for sure...
Being human sucked.
They hoped being a GIS...or being the digital incarnation of someone who they knew failed beforehand would absolve them of their mistakes but it clearly didn't. Traits were passed on beyond genetics. The idea of the digital soul that compounded the essence of their disgust and hatred still came to surface, no matter what Kyanite tried to do. Even lying about it, pained them. Lying about what they were and lying about who they were...it was a habit.
Something had to remind them to persist...and persist in the form of old, patchy memories of text on a screen....
No...
They looked at their hands. Thick hands but...smaller thinner hands super imposed on them flickered briefly...as if...
As if...what exactly?
They weren't sure...
The next day, Kyanite took to the ordering as anyone would. With a smile and a glint in their eye, it felt good to have purpose again. Mundane for some, but it was a slice of regular, everyday life Kyanite didn't realise that they liked so much. Simple work, but they got on with Jenny like they were already best friends....as for the rest of the family.
"Ugh I swear good quality meat is hard to come by." Mr. Pizza complained as he prepared the beef.
"The market I get them from claims that and even the fish get stolen..."
Jenny always had a response to those sorts of claims. He would bitch about everything, even the smallest things.
"Maybe go to a different market?" She suggested as she shredded some cheese.
"Daddy you always complain that the fish don't smell right or the meat too expensive..."
Kyanite would hear them argue about stuff like this from to time to time. He would winge and Jenny would always try and suggest good solutions, but as always, he was as stubborn as a mule. They looked at Nanefua, who sat nearby, silent as she stared at the door. It was rare for her to come down.
"Doctors coming 'round" Said Jenny as she leaned over the counter.
"They usually do vidcom consults but her Doctor wanted to come in today."
Nanefua usually tried not to walk around as much but seeing her downstairs in spirits was normally one of her good days.
The door opened as the bell jingled to alert them. In came two people. A tall man with white hair and almost balding with a black leather jacket, blue top and black pants, alongside a woman with dark skin and long black hair with bits of silver, alongside wearing a labcoat.
"Ah Mrs. Pizza." Said the woman.
"Surprised to see me?"
Nanefua grinned as the woman approached her.
"Oh look at you." She said.
"You got zyourself a man?"
The woman laughed.
"Oh you joker..." She said.
"This is my supervisor, Dr. Andrew De Mayo from DM Biometrics."
And with that, Kyanite's virtual stomach dropped.
"Pleased to meet ya." Andrew said.
"As you can you see. Dr. Maheswarans got a new android body. I'm here just to make sure her programming for this runs smoothly..."
Not to mention, that with the virus out and about, AI's in Android bodies were entirely risky if they were left on their own. They could be stolen and scrapped for parts. Dr. DeMayo wouldn't just be the supervisor, but also her escort.
"Okay, is there a room we can talk in private?"
Dr. Maheswaran and Nanefua went into a different room, while Dr. DeMayo looked at his phone, then took a notice of Kyanite at the counter. Kyanite themselves grew paranoid and anxious at his presence.
"Huh...a GIS runnin' the shop here?" He asked.
Oh no.
"How do you know that?" Jenny asked, surprised herself.
Dr. DeMayo chuckled.
"Darlin', I work with artificial intelligence for a living." He said as he stood up to take a closer look at Kyanite. Movements that would exposed their nervousness if they couldn't keep it contained.
"When you are exposed to them for a long period of time, you tend to notice the small, subtle signature signs between artifical intelligence and Gem Intelligence Systems. Let me see...hmmm I've never seen your make and model before, but the detail is still there."
Kyanite gulped. The need to flee rose but they had to endure.
"I'm a 2.0." They replied with a salute.
"New model from Yin Aozora."
Andrew raised an eyebrow.
"A 2.0 huh." He said.
"All the way from Blue Island? How in the world did you end up in Yellow City?"
There was the occasional slang when it came to using jurisdictions. Certain people would take to it, especially in the lower quarters. That much Jenny knew....what Jenny could also notice was that Kyanite wasn't entirely comfortable with this conversation.
"My sister got em'." She said.
"Where she works now has her travelin' all over the place and gets paid big dollar for it too. Bought it at shop over there and figured we could use the extra help."
Andrew hummed.
"I see." He replied...though you could hear through his tone that he wasn't sure to believe them.
"I'm surprised, given the lack of actual GIS in the city these days. Most are being corrupted or stolen."
And the advice of trying to avoid going to Public Grid was commonplace. Keeping as far away from the virus as possible.
"What are they doing about it? Stuffs all over the media and they've already gotten the army involved of all things..." Jenny asked.
The Scientist sighed as he looked the door that Nanefua and Dr. Maheswaran were behind.
"Well, the virus is actually only targeting GIS and not actual human made AI's." He explained. "So we've gotten an increase of VIs, AIs and BM-AIs out in the circuit more so these days. But I fear the virus has the potential to infect them as well...and then the next step would be humans...God help us the day a human gets it...then its all over."
That would be the next horror. Though, something told Kyanite that it may not happen like that. It could, but not to flesh and blood humans. Though, Kyanite was wrong before.
"And you know the sad part...is that these GIS weren't always known in the Yellow Country. The people don't care as much as they fear for themselves. GIS can be mistaken for the general AI by the human masses and for good reason. Their design by default isn't meant to be known by the human populace. A lot of the older versions can't be seen by humans to begin with unless those humans have a good Soulware Grade or the GIS has a software upgrade for compatibility purposes."
Ah yes, Kyanite almost forgot the average human wasn't meant to even see GIS by their general nature. Formless pixels or nothing at all that could wreck the common brain if looked at too closely.
"That's not an issue over the last year and a bit as much as it used to be." Andrew continued.
"The Diamond Domain continues to evolve, with or without the Pink Monolith...but the people are thankless bastards with all take and no give. GIS deserve better."
Kyanite couldn't agree more. But for the Domain to continue to develop without the Pink Monolith was contradictory to what had already been established.
"Could it evolve entirely without it?" They wondered.
Andrew crossed his arms. The Domains mysteriousness grew alongside with it size; every new grid added on just was an expansion.
"I dunno. There's been several proposals and ideas but nothin' concrete." He said.
"The mysteries of the Monoliths stay with their little tiny enclaves so they're none of my business. Before I even got this job I used to believe it was a bunch of nonsense. But seeing things for what they are now...I think I understood things a bit better."
But...what about his cousin Greg?
"You wouldn't happen to be related to that, uhh...whats his name, the one they're hunting down...uhhh Dr. Gregory DeMayo aren't you?" Kyanite asked as they pretended to be ignorant.
Andrew groaned. Not a topic he liked to bring up often, Kyanite wagered.
"Unfortunately yes." He said with a whince.
"That idiot cousin of mine almost ruined the family name. Luckily they had the perfect replacement or else our company would have gone bust years ago. Got some other upstart business taking the credit otherwise if they wanted to."
Not that they would...the DeMayo name was synonymous with AI study and creation.
"What about Dr. Maheswaran?" Jenny queried.
"What's so special about her Android?"
He shrugged.
"Funny, you talk about Yin Aozora outright selling Phylacteries...and suddenly...it reminded me of a donation from them as a 'friendly gesture'. An Android designed to look like Dr. Maheswaran? Looks suspicous to me. Like some kind of motive behind it." He said.
Other than its presence causing Kyanite's anxiety to skyrocket.
"I mean, yeah she's the 'mother' of that unfortunate girl who's poor body got taken over by that AI." He continued.
"I asked Director Agate about it and she said it was a gift from the Blue Monolith....Heh...what gives and a Monolith's spontaneous generosity to a Second-Party business?"
So he didn't question it further?
"Maybe they felt pity?" Jenny suggested.
Andrew chuckled.
"Maybe...I don't think so..." He said.
"I mean, I'm not in with the secret world of the Developers as much as I'd like to be. Of course, there's plenty of secrets behind closed doors that only they know about. I know why they do it too."
Oh?
"There's money in secrecy and information." He said.
"There's also power and control. All of that shared to certain parties of their choosing, of those they can trust to get the job done, often discreetly, quietly and efficiently with little room for error..."
Or they're descendants of a so called Empire.
"And those with a lack of moral regard for the consequences that don't affect them. Not much I can do about it. I'm simply a pawn. A well paid pawn but a pawn."
A pawn with his doubts and who possed a little more apathy to the situation that was called healthy. Sounded like his feelings towards his cousin could have played their part in it too.
As they talked, Dr. Maheswaran came out of the room some minutes afterwards. She continued to thank Nanefua for her time as she watched her slowly go up the stares. She walked towards Dr. DeMayo as she was prepared to leave. Kyanite could see her eyes and small markings that identified her Android.
"How is the old bag?" Andrew asked.
Dr. Maheswaran made a small smile.
"She's doing well, considering." She said.
"I'm surprised the disease itself hasn't effected her as much."
Disease?
"Oh yeah, Gunga has Rampancy Disease." Said Jenny.
"I keep forgetting that."
Yet that was the first time Kyanite heard about it.
Dr. Maheswaran nodded, then took notice of the nervous and confused Kyanite.
"Oh a GIS." She said.
"I'm surprised one is still around."
Yeah that's been the talk lately.
"They're from Yin Aozora apparently." Andrew said.
"Could be a good specimen to poke at, ya never know..."
No...no no no no.
"Uh what?" Kyanite said, almost metaphorically sweating.
Dr. Maheswaran rolled her eyes.
"But they're a 2.0. Not a SC-GIS I'm afraid." He said.
What?
"A shame." Dr. Maheswaran said.
A shame?
"W-What do you need an SC-GIS for?" Kyanite stammered.
Dr. Maheswaran and Andrew DeMayo exchanged glances.
"That's classified." She said.
Damn it.
"You don't want a 2.0?" Andrew asked.
Wait...
"I need...no...I need an SC-GIS due to their...unique Mindframe Rework. A 2.0 is inspired by the Mindframe but it isn't a fully replicated brain map of a being, meaning that-"
Andrew shook his head.
"Yes I know, I know." He said.
"You need something like a BM-AI to study...you're talkin' to a DeMayo here."
Kyanite had to know, but the civilian life had its own restrictions.
"Look we shouldn't be here, talking about it in front of Civilians." Dr. Maheswaran pointed out, before she turned to Jenny and Kyanite.
"Sorry about that. We tend to argue like that without thinking. Take care of your grandmother for me? Alright?"
That had been a loaded conversation that had Kyanite thinking in overtime. Jenny saw this too.
"SC-GIS were...like, human borne GIS weren't they?" She asked.
Kyanite nodded. Jenny knew that there was more than what they were letting on. She wasn't that smart, but she could read between the lines.
"And you're not actually a 2.0..."
Kyanite nodded again.
"Why did you lie then?"
Why did they lie? Why did they lie? If Jenny was astute in figuring that first part by herself and after days of discussion, she should also know the damn reason.
"Because..." They said, as they rubbed their arm.
"I....I shouldn't be involved." They said.
"I wanted to help Steven save Connie but I couldn't even save Steven in the end..."
Not this talk again. Some days Kyanite would let slip, or they would segue into a discussion about the the forbidden relationship between a Human and their Artificial Intelligence. It would make for a good story; if Kyanite didn't talk about so incessantly.
"You're so damn invested in their relationship. It's like a damn tv drama." Jenny commented.
Kyanite was also aware of how sick Jenny was hearing about it. She was curious about it at first, but Kyanite's constant laments grinded her gears...not enough to kick Kyanite off but it was something she'd been keeping to herself if she could.
"What makes Connie so special? I mean, I hardly hear you talk about her."
Connie...
"Steven loved Connie." Kyanite replied.
"Connie...was also involved with the Pink Monolith incident. It's said they tried to pry the forgotten memories from her but couldn't."
Jenny crossed her arms as she connected the dots.
"The girl in the photo with her mom and dad...Miss. Cucamonga." She said.
Kyanite nodded. Jenny could already see what was going on.
"And he fell in love with her."
Kyanite looked to the side, forlorn.
"And she fell in love with him." They said.
Jenny stood by her TV Drama comment. Given how much Kyanite had explained already, Jenny wondered why Kyanite didn't state the bleeding obvious; she found it to be quite cute, if true.
"Do...you....love Steven too?"
Words that made Kyanite's head pop up.
"Huh?" They said.
Jenny chuckled. Ah so they were unaware...this made Jenny more interested rather than hearing the same thing on repeat.
"You're in love with Steven. But he's in love with Connie." She said.
"I know these things...and I know that you see all the ways that it could go wrong....so you want to make Steven happy..."
Kyanite didn't argue with the latter as they fidgeted with their fingers. What they felt for Steven was more complex than anyone would realise.
"I don't even know how I feel half the time." They noted.
"I was made for a purpose and that purpose no longer exists."
Now Kyanite was being ridiculous.
"Hey, you chose to fuck off, remember?" Jenny reminded them.
"Man, you get to choose anything! You chose to come to this shithole."
They did...
"You don't want me here?" Kyanite asked.
Jenny pinched the bridge of their nose in annoyance.
"No...no. no no...I didn't mean that." She said.
"I like having you here. I like having someone teach me shit...and I can teach them crap...and we can laugh and joke...and it takes the heat off, it really does. But I know you gotta face reality some day. And I don't want to be seen as an accomplice...."
Except....
"But here I am, harbouring who for all I know, is a criminal. Thoughts a turn on but I doubt my daddy would like that much."
Oh Kyanite knew she was joking, but they got what she was drip-feeding.
"I'm not..." Kyanite said, soon trailing off.
They weren't confident in themselves. Not anymore anyway...there was a lot of conflict and a lot of self-doubt that blinded them. Too many unkempt emotions that they all stablised themselves and got stuck somewhere, hiding from where Kyanite didn't even have to deal with them.
"I mean...someone killed themselves to make you...I think..." Jenny said, trying to remember the conversation how some GIS and AI were made.
"Are they..."
Kyanite looked down at the floor and fought to recall.
"Am I..." They muttered.
Eyes danced back and forth, left and right. Echoes of laughter...and screams of names.
Names...
Their HUD flickered a two words.
ATTEMPTING RECALL.
Recall....to their Phylactery...
ERROR ERROR ERROR
No...they didn't want a recall...
"Woah shit...you okay?" Jenny said.
Kyanite didn't notice their flickering avatar. Not again...
MESSAGE SENT
HELP
MESSAGE SENT
HELP
MESSAGE SENT
HELP
MESSAGE SENT HELP
HELP
FJIEPDJPOS'A;FA
ERROR
RECALL FAILED.
BLOCKED 9999999999999999999999999 MESSAGES
REASON: SPAM
"Kya?"
Opening their eyes...they were met with an empty room with roof, floor and all four walls a deep royal blue. Series of alien text floated about around them. They had previously covered their face with their hands.
"Hello Kyanite."
Looking before them was a tiny dark skinned girl with long hair and a long flowing light blue dress, with glowing Pink Eyes. Definitely new and out of left field.
Kyanite looked at her strangely....having recognised their image right away. This was...impossible.
"Connie?" They said.
This was so so much out of left field they didn't know what else to say. Filled to the brim with a strong pull that would put them to the edge of their own psyche.
"I don't have much time." Connie said.
"I must be brief...but...you must return to stop this. Do not give up. I know you will find a way."
With microseconds to process, Kyanite fell on their knees in disbelief. Why would Connie have faith in them? This was inexplicably impossible to the point that they knew, that this couldn't be Connie. At all. Someone had stolen her shell, her name. It made them angry enough to break open the floodgates. They clenched their shirt closest to where their heart would be as the simulation made it feel like it ached terribly and the sadness had escalated to the point of tears, ever flowing and sobbing ever lasting. So much for keeping it all inside.
Shaking their head, they had to state the obvious.
"Why me?" They asked.
"I failed."
Connie closed their eyes briefly, then reopened them a moment after.
"Because Steven is safe." She assured them.
"For now. But not for long. The threat Luna will begin to pose is going to get worse if you do not take action. By taking this discourse into your own self will not prevent the worst to come."
Because they were made for it? No wait, they focused on the first thing she said.
"Wait wait, Steven is okay?" Kyanite questioned as they found it hard to breath.
"Where is he?"
Connie lowered her head.
"I know you'll find a way to his heart. This failure isn't entirely on you. All you need to do, is to seek out the Maheswaran Matriarch for more. She will tell you what you need to know."
Kyanite wanted to reach out...to make sense of this chaos. They called themselves unnecessarily overdramatic but this was just to painful to deal with.
"And....if you ever get to speak to Greg again. Tell him that Man is on the Sun, Growing Cherries. He'll know what it means."
Chapter 63: Waves
Summary:
After that strange cryptic message from Connie, Kyanite resolves to contact her mother for advice.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
This got more complicated.
Connie was alive somewhere, somehow and directly contacting Kyanite for one reason or another. It took them a moment before they returned back to reality with Jenny unable to figure out what was going on with the GIS, even giving it a lovetap didn't seem to do much.
At first.
"Ow..." Said Kyanite as their avatar hologram flickered.
It shocked Jenny as Kyanite gained consciousness, standing back as she went to apologise.
"Woah, sorry, sorry!" She said.
"Sheesh, you went crazy there...you feelin' okay?"
Truthfully? Kyanite had no clue. It wasn't as if they had a bizarre vision that gave them a whole bunch of information and then left. Nothing like that at all.
"Yeah yeah." Kyanite lied.
"Uh....I think I want to make an appointment with the Doctor after all, though."
It was Doctor Maheswaran who was surprised by Kyanite's visit.
They met up at DM Biometrics as Jenny assisted with the literal leg work. She didn't really care too much about leaving her work for this despite her fathers reprimands.
They sat in Andrew DeMayo's office who'd been helping with the case as well...and Kyanite's little lie had to be amended in the meantime.
"Why did you need to lie about being a 2.0?" He pointed out.
"Either type of GIS is in equal amounts of danger."
Kyanite was on the XL-CPD as they stood there in deep shame.
"I was...afraid." They revealed as they rubbed their arm.
Words that drew Dr. Maheswaran in...Kyanite expressing such fears fascinated her in a way, but the reality being as it was these days, it was easy to discern the reasons.
"Afraid? Well, I don't blame you given the circumstances." She said.
"But we're not here to talk about your past."
Thank goodness.
"But Dr. DeMayo and I have been trying to find out Luna's motivations. For an AI like her to get to that conclusion, we're trying to collect information from people who may have met her...or at least get an understanding..."
Which, Kyanite had already admitted to knowing.
"So, the one question I have is this...I mean I have others but I wanted to start with this one:" Dr. Maheswaran asked.
"Why is Luna only targeting GIS?"
A question on many peoples minds.
GIS were a powerful asset overall and the idea of using them over human made AIs was practical when you made the comparisons and differences in both software and hardware.
"Yeah, so Priyanka and I have been pouring through her manifesto, hoping to find leads into her interest in GIS collection. ^1."
Ah that infamous hack. No one realised how dramatic, if not serious Luna took to her role. Swaying humans to her side wouldn't be a bad idea however, like some kind of technological rebellion. The idea of aliens indirectly invading had been a conspiracy theory for as long as Kyanite could recall. It was left as a conspiracy theory despite many ideas being put forth from a multitude of credible theorists. It was accepted in a small level that it could have been the slow path that they could have taken to do so but no evidence ever arose due to the fact nobody knew what the aliens even were. The Developers had to remind people that they were in control...and statements like that, ironically placed a larger portion on doubt on more people who attempted to read between the lines.
"A collective union of voices that be more of some kind of Hivemind that would run quintuple the runtime of a regular Monolith. Could sustain the Domain, but at the same time, having just the one would put the Domain at a huge risk."
At behest of the possible destruction of the other Monoliths of course.
From what Kyanite and what was known through the investigative network was that Luna's origin was a simple VI. One developed as a measure to help with AI growth; Steven's in particular. It was used by both Greg and Dr. Miller for the oversight of him going from Alpha, to Beta and pre-Golden State.
Dr. Millers name caught Dr. Maheswarans immediate attention.
"Dr. Miller...yes, the name does come back to me." She said.
"Her mental faculties were...of questionable health. From what I don't know. As for her involvement, if she worked on the program, then it could be possible she knew how to alter it."
So...if it was Miller, then....why? The basic knolwedge was that she was apart of the Empire that was associated with the Family that went behind the Developers. There must have been some reason as to her doing so.
Andrew nodded in agreement.
"Upgrading a VI to an AI requires intensive changes to the underlying structure. "He said.
"VIs are often small in size compared to...say, comparing the size of the moon to the size of the sun. Dr. Miller would have had to rewrite Luna from scratch."
He...he had a point. VIs only acted on sound logic. They were made to automate on extremely basic principles such as self-preservation or even logistical data. They weren't made with a personality or an expanding knowledge in mind.
"Maybe Luna was integrated into another AI? Is that possible? Added on maybe and the personality became the dominant one that took the name?" Priyanka suggested.
That was a wild yet suprisingly cohesive idea...due to one possible act that some GIS if circumstances aligned together to enforce it.
"Are....are you suggesting that Luna was formed from...Consensus?" Kyanite suggested.
Yes...yes that made more sense...
"Hm...didn't think of that." Said Andrew.
"Consensus would explain much, but you're talking about a human made program being forcibly attached to another...which only GIS can do."
Priyanka put her hands together as she looked down in thought.
"I've heard about this Consensus Business." She said.
"What's the most common method?"
Kyanite could answer that.
"Consensus requires two programs or more to fuse their components together and become something akin to a Mod dependant on the purpose of the moderation at hand. The purpose is to improve or add previously unknown features to that mod to expand on their programming suites. However, this usually requires....a Monolith to be close proximity to conduct it...something to do with borrowing the Monoliths power." They said.
And only one they could think of could have possibly contributed to it.
"Well, safe to say we all know which Monolith might have done it." Andrew said, basically stating what everyone (Except maybe Jenny) was thinking.
"And let's pretend human made AIs can synthesise themselves with another program...maybe a GIS that was part of the process or another AI..."
The conversation went on for hours. The idea of Luna being part of a Consensus was something new to explore. It was a definite possibility...and may not even be the case...but it was the best idea they had to go with.
There was talk of a possible consensus with Sol, though Sol was not accounted for in that instant. Kyanite was reminded of Luna's overall design and appearance in the Domain and her dominant features; her pink and blue eyes.
"Safe to say that if we're being logical with the colours and respective affiliations, that there may be two GIS that are a part of that." Andrew said.
"Something from the Pink Monolith and something from the Blue Monolith...."
But the problem was trying to figure out what GIS would be part of the equation.
"Her Manifesto did have a religious tone to it. Are there any GIS that are naturally...like that?"
Kyanite had no idea.
"Not that I'm aware of." They replied.
Jenny snickered.
"I remember that speech." She said.
"That sounded like someone who says everything comes from the devil. One of those types who hate having fun..."
Dr. Maheswaran rubbed her chin.
"Or maybe...someone with a grudge with the Monoliths?" She said.
"Or...someone who's seen or heard something about them...and began to have other thoughts."
Kyanite closed their eyes as voices returned to their head:
"This place...." Luna commented as she stood back to examine it, after failing to find what she was looking for.
"It brings on many....strange memories. Feelings....the day that the Monolith reacted and its true, ethereal power."
That Day, that moment ^2
"But the memories are all over the place." She said.
"They must be his...they must be hers and its...this structure. This being. This Transitional Entity. He was born and raised here. How such an intelligence could ever be and yet myself and Sol were the ones to guide and guard him. But the memories don't match up. They do not suit."
A mismatch?
"And yet, the program here that was said to doom the world is...our son. Our child. No... he isn't my son. He could never be. The logic is there but it isn't. Its impossible. I cannot be in their positions....but I remember so much...and so little. Nothing connects."
Who's Son? Who was Luna talking about?
"I still remember that wave. That power that the Pink Monolith demonstrated. I think...I think I know what it was trying to do. I can sense the animosity from that day written in the stains of blood and the bullet holes... The chaos that erupted. I had to protect Steven."
"Luna was convinced that they had to protect Steven." Kyanite stated.
"But I think she was getting her memories mixed up with somebody elses."
Not to mention something about a power that the Pink Monolith used...described as a type of 'wave.'
"I'm reminded of the DEJA-VU Bug but..." Said Priyanka, troubled by that assumption.
"Every BM-AI goes through an identity crisis at some point. Even me...and to this day it will always be a debate..."
Digital Reincarnations had always been a controversy, their construction, divided communities all over. Scientific and religion based.
"I made it a point to help other AIs through their trauma and make them see who they want to be. Poor things...need to be consolled every so often to know their place in the Domain."
And the universe.
"You're a Therapist?" Jenny asked.
A curse word among the populace, if you fail to read the room properly.
"I can work alongside other intelligences alongside my duty with organics." Priyanka said.
"A separate species that without the common problems humanity faces on a daily basis, other psychological problems can arise. I saw there was a need."
Kyanite wasn't comfortable with that for some reason. The idea of a consult like that didn't bode well...and they didn't want to talk about their own problems. They just wanted this resolved. If Luna's components could be identified, they just had to break down the details further in the particulars; with the things she had said that Kyanite once heard her say...the answers were in there.
"Let's get back to the point." They said.
"So far....we think...Dr. Millers done something with Luna and two GIS that thinks...Steven is but isn't their son..."
Realisation dawned on Kyanite's face...and as they looked with widened eyes at Andrews face, it appeared that he had come to a similar answer. Now they've gone too deep, but it could be a possibility among with one of the greatest mysteries of the current era that had yet to be resolved. It was there in those details...whether or not it was the truth, the evidence was rather damning on its own.
"No..." He said with disbelief.
"No it...no way...."
Jenny and Dr. Maheswaran were confused.
"Uhhh care to explain?" The former said.
They didn't know if this was going to be the case. These were assumptive biases that had no holding. But based off Lunas own words alone should have ticked off Kyanite's suspicions earlier as they also assumed Luna's madness was to blame for her ranting.
And it also explained another deep mystery that had to be resolved.
"Well...you know how people have been hunting for one of the suspects for years?" Andrew said.
"I think we know where she went."
Jenny's brows furrowed.
"I don't follow." She said.
Though it took Dr. Maheswaran a while to realise what he meant.
"You don't mean..." She said.
Kyanite nodded, having to face the most likely scenario imaginable.
"Rosette Flannigan, aka Rose Quartz...is apart of the Luna Consensus."
This...this was huge...
"Shit..." Andrew said as he rubbed his face.
"Should have known that witch was out to cause problems ever since she refused to take the DeMayo name when she got married."
But like most things they discovered, this gave them more questions than answers.
"I know this is big but we have to keep going....for all we know, this is possibly incorrect." Said Priyanka, although she was still a bit shook up herself.
"But let's assume it is. Either Rose had doubts about what the Developers and Monoliths were doing, or it was the Blue Component that had contributed to that factor, superseding Rose's desires."
Kyanite understood Greg had doubts...doubts influenced by his wife.
"It would have had to been in part due to Rose's contribution, I assume." Kyanite said.
"Only because Greg had been reluctant to work with the Monoliths any further and his obsession with protecting Steven was what lead him hijacking our plan to purge Luna from Connie's body."
That surprised both Andrew and Priyanka.
"You spoke with Greg?" The former asked.
"He's still alive?"
Who knows?
"Why would he hijack your plan?" Priyanka queried.
That, Kyanite had an answer for.
"He was under the impression that...well, I would take Steven to the Monoliths and to his final fate of sorts. Trust me, I had and still have no such intentions." They explained.
Priyanka had other ideas.
"So you had a plan that could have solved all of our problems...and he just...ruins it...I would love to know what's going on in that mans head right now." She said.
So did Kyanite.
"I have heard about this Transitional Entity from old documents and communications from others." Andrew said.
"Even I'm not aware of the specifics but for something like...ascending humanity requires, what I would assume if they needed something like that on a massive scale, would be like something that requires a Monoliths Power to even produce....maybe more."
Priyanka nodded.
"Yes and reading through those documents and going through the SC-GIS process, the Entity would demonstrate some sort of abiliity to do Screencaps en masse..." She said.
The reach would have to be enormous.
"Incidentally, I've been working on a theory regarding Rampancy Disease. The Monoliths exude some kind of...Radiation that might extend for...goodness knows how long...and occasionally some people are either born with the disease or after a certain amount of exposure to the Radiation can get it as well."
What does that have to do with anything?
"I know Connie got it from birth and before we...I mean, the family moved to the countryside, Priyanka used to work as a physician in Azure Alpha. Connie would have been exposed in utero due to.....close proximity to the Blue Monolith."
This was new.
"We, I mean they moved to America to raise Connie in a more open enviroment. Priyanka found work at a hospital and Doug found work in Security. That was until Connie was diagnosed."
Then they made the arrangements to transport Connie across when she got older...and the disease was getting worse.
"Andrew, you told me that Screencaps happen with a 'wave'. I have two theories for you. Theory one; what if the Monoliths Radiation is meant to absorb data at a slower rate; theory two; Screencaps are flash-copying existing data to transform into something that they can use."
A wave.
"The Monoliths Deep Thrones are specifically made to produce that effect." Andrew revealed.
"The Radiation has been known for a while and it's supposed to have a shield to minimise the effects of that radiation as well as burying them down far enough to work alongside the shields. I don't know if it was supposed to be stronger than the shields than we anticipated that some of it still leaked out. If so, that's a major health risk."
Which had already put billions of people at risk already that if true, a lot more people would be born with the disease than they originally thought.
"How come some people don't have the disease?" Jenny queried.
"I don't have it...but Gunga does."
Priyanka nodded.
"It ultimately depends." She said.
"It appears to strike when an individuals immune systems aren't at their strongest."
Older, younger...the unborn.
"Even then it's random chance. Healthy people have been known to get it too."
So, how does this even help them?
"And....we'll need to get back on track yet again..." Kyanite stated.
They needed to know how to help.
"Going back to Luna." Dr. Maheswaran continued.
"We need to work under the assumption that Luna was definitely altered. An incident or something that occurred. If this so called, 'wave' was the Pink Monoliths defense; a screencap in order to save everyone in the facility from...something...and would it be as so bizarre that it would...scramble data? Is that possible?"
Andrew thought that over. Having worked in the field for nearly as long as his cousin, he's witnessed all sorts of crazy shit that he wouldn't have thought to even witness in his lifetime or the next.
"It's....not outlandish." He said.
"Screencapping is not too much different from the Brainmapping process. Except screencapping is more dangerous if not done properly. Scrambling data wouldn't be out of the question dependant on the existing format of that data."
What ever could have been slightly out of place, even damaged or mangled...interrupted. Though Priyanka, brighter than the common human, had one other potential aspect to cover.
"Call me crazy but....what if one of the components had Rampancy Disease?" Priyanka suggested.
"No one has tried to preserve a person that has had it."
Andrew shrugged.
"I honestly don't know, never tried it." He said.
"Brainmapping is...a slower, if not a more gentler sequence that is normally done on a human thats already dead. Screencapping as Priyanka has said, involves flash-copying on live subjects. However, the process does fry the brain so the subject itself will be brain dead after the procedure."
Not to mention that some of the SC-GIS were said to not come out as intended and were said to be faulty.
"With this information on the table, it wouldn't be too far as to say that the incident had Pink Monolith attempt some kind of screencap or...something akin to a screencap as a last ditch of defense of something."
Kyanite had to process a lot. This was all under, assumption of course. Rose being part of a forced consensus by the Pink Monolith...accidentally, maybe. This triggered something deep within the SC-GIS.
The amount of flaws they had in their own development. All suppressed for reasons only known to a fair few.
"But it begs the question; what was a Blue Monolith affiliated GIS doing at the Facility in the first place?" Priyanka wondered.
"Unless that's the real reason why you're here Kyanite..."
Words that froze them in an instant.
"What?" They said, perplexed.
"No! I was made after the incident, not before. I was primarily made to help with investigations."
It took Kyanite a moment to realise the silence after saying that made their case worse, not better.
"An SC-GIS constructed by the Blue Monolith specifically for this reason?" Andrew said, his eyes on the blue GIS.
"Is Yin Aozora a suspect? Director Agate maybe?"
No, they weren't.
"No...no I don't think so." Said Priyanka.
"There wasn't any Blue GIS..."
Except maybe...Garnet?
No...but Garnet was still present; unless her data was somehow copied as well.
"The Ancillas that Greg recruited. There was only Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl that were among the known original GIS in employment during the incident." Kyanite said.
"They were only subjected to SOAP afterwards and they're all still around."
So who would have been the blue GIS then?
"We can try and talk to Garnet, maybe she might know." Pri suggested.
That was their only lead. Unless Kyanite could manage to discuss anything with the Blue Monolith, which was out of the question.
"Leave that with me."
Jenny was suprised Kyanite wanted to get back into the rhythm of things, at behest of their own due diligence despite not wanting to be a part of the issue any more. They went back to the Pizzeria to prepare for Kyanites dip back into the Domain. Jenny had sat down and watched Kyanite on her WorkStation to get a message to Garnet across.
"Promise me you'll never become an AI." Kyanite pleaded.
Jenny laughed as she sat back and crossed her arms.
"It sounded like a lotta mumbo jumbo to me." She said.
"The kinda shit my sis has to put up with on a daily basis."
Her sister worked with some government program unrelated to the Domain, something about working with spaceships and had been planning to head to space within the coming days. It was huge and her father couldn't have been more proud.
"But you know what got me?" Jenny said.
"That Rampancy Disease stuff....I know Gunga worked for some tech big wig back in the day....and I know she assisted Kiki with her studies growing up. I've been meaning to ask her who she used to work for."
The thought never even occurred to Kyanite about that. That the disease was possibly curated by the Aura Radiation the Monoliths emitted naturally. A scary thought, if proven.
"She'll be like, back in my day, we had to deal with having to use the internet or the phone at any given moment with a crazy thing known as Dial-Up. Heh...dial up...can you imagine?"
Not that Kyanite would like to imagine something as horrific as that of course. Jenny on the other hand, was worried Kyanite was overthinking and overworking themselves.
"You need a day to yourself." She suggested.
"Relax...and take it easy. I don't even know if AI can relax."
They could of they chose to. Autonomy was still autonomy but priorities often took place.
"Fatigue only comes about upon intensive subroutines." Kyanite told her.
"VIs maintain internal algorithms like human hearts pump blood around the body. It's only when working our internal programs that require a lot more focus that can wear us out over long periods of time."
All this talk about VIs had Jenny puzzled.
"Why not run the world with VIs instead of entire....digital brains or somethin' whatcha callit..." She said.
Kyanite was prepared for this question.n Sort of; only because the argument had be propisited by ignorant nobodies on forums a thousand times.
"Most AIs are made up of important functional programs and smaller VIs that can command some of those programs that run through them." They said.
"AIs can make critical on the fly decisions based on the feedback that the VIs provide them....so...VIs can provide the data but they can't use it. It's meant to be symbiotic. And they act like command prompts...not every program needs a VI but on the same token not every VI needs an AI."
Jenny blinked. She wasn't an expert like her twin sis. So she could only get so much into her head before it threatened to implode on itself.
"Umm okay then."
It was then Kyanite got the ping they waited for.
"Okay Garnets responded...." They said, checking their messages.
"We're going to the classic watering hole it seems."
Notes:
1. Chapter 47: Structure
2. Chapter 51: Deep Throne
Chapter 64: Probability
Summary:
Kyanite talks to Garnet about what has been discussed, before Garnet reveals certain revealed truths too.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Kyanite put on the old armor; as they had to make sure they were prepared for anything. Going into the Domain and heading straight towards the club, the two met up with Garnet in one of the booths. She must have been prepared or seen the amount of grilling questions that Kyanite had for her. She was glad that Kyanite decided to reach out since Kyanite stepped down as the Blue Caretaker as Garnet had been worried about them. Her programming had been constantly hitched on Kyanite being able to figure out the solution, as they were purposefully made to. That GIS did have a lot of self-doubt since Steven's disappearance and Garnet had to urge them to keep going and going.
Just like she had been trying to with a certain someone else.
"This is Jenny. She's been helping me out." Kyanite said.
Garnet nodded; knowing how resourceful Kyanite could be when it came to outsourcing allies. Even if Kyanite debated otherwise, it was a trait Kyanite possessed. Nevertheless, Garnet was there to guide them, where ever they had planned to traverse.
"Greetings." She said.
"So you wanted to talk about a specific GIS..."
Kyanite nodded.
"I needed to know if there were other Ancillas; specifically within DM Biometrics that served under Dr. DeMayo and came from the Blue Monolith."
What ever Garnet could have known, had to be worth while.
"There's Lapis." She said.
Oh...they almost forgot about Lapis....but no, couldn't have been her, stuck in the satellite.
"That's...hmm...no, it wasn't her." Kyanite said.
"It needed to be someone who was there from the day of the incident...."
Garnet lifted her chin. She tried to triagulate the possibilities, but for now, she needed more information to go on.
"You found something about Luna that will help with the investigation." She said.
Yes. Yes they did.
"We're working on a theory that the Pink Monolith did an emergency screencap that somehow did a forced Consensus between the Luna Program...." Kyanite explained.
"And one of those unfortunate to get caught was none other than Rose Quartz."
Garner thought long and hard about it. A few minor glitches in her system that she could easily overcome and blame on the emergent memories that attempted to resurface as of late; but that wasn't for her to worry. To work on that theory, had to have some logical data being overwritten to have Kyanite's theory even a possibility.
"I can see how you came to that." She said.
"But the main flaw in that idea is that Rose was long gone before the incident."
Ah they didn't take that into account....damn it.
"Shit..." Kyanite cursed.
"So who the fuck was the Pink GIS then?"
Garnet hummed. She had a few assumptions, but ultimately, looking into Rose herself had her fit through all the notable patterns despite the flaw. She kept coming up over and over again as an increased likelihood.
"Not certain." She said, ultimately making the grey answer known.
"Unless there was two separate GIS in production at the time but I can't say for sure."
Even Garnet couldn't figure it out as she continued to spill in the components for her programs to push their streamlined predictions through.
"Back up." Jenny interrupted.
"So this Consensus crap. It's gotta be two or more GIS."
Garnet nodded. The human themselves was learning.
"Precisely." She replied.
Jenny furrowed her brows.
"Maybe Rose was hiding this entire time ya never know..." She said.
Kyanite and Garnet exchanged glances. The former had to excuse for Jennys ignorance in the matter.
"That's-"
"No that's a good point." Garnet interrupted.
"Rose could have been hiding and her position when the Screencap struck, may have been compromised."
Where would she have been hiding? Kyanite posited another possibility, one that they think could have been entirely plausible. Maybe conventionally impossible... but there was something in the back of their mind that recalled a conversation, a vision...
a glitch or...
"Steven's Phylactery." Kyanite noted.
"One that was once Roses. She tried to desynchronise herself from it...but it could have failed. She could have, well, lied dormant."
Another theory granted, interesting if it actually happened.
"Then the screencap hits." Jenny said.
Garnet thought on the contrary. What she knew to be true conflicted with what they had mentioned. There wasn't any known way for any of that to be possible.
"Screencaps involve organic minds." Garnet reminded them.
"Consensus requires a lot of coincidental factors. The factors being that it requires synchronising emotional cortexes and related drivers that use a Monoliths permissions to force the links to connect."
So...there was an emotional reason. Something someone or maybe a few people had been feeling in that given that eventually birthed Luna in that instant. It had to have been strong enough to get a reaction from the Pink Monolith at the time.
"Could have been both." Jenny stated.
"This is all magic to me....eggheads depend on sound logic...and Monoliths being these giant nuclear rocks heh, wouldn't people get super powers from those then?"
Sipping her drink, it caused silence between them. Kyanite had to hate to say that again, Jenny had a point. Kyanite's always seen things and history had proven that anything that was given a definite answer could also be proven wrong. What was in the realm of what was achievable in scope may not be as limited as they were lead to believe. Rose being a part of that Consensus had a lot of holes but a lot of evidence towards it. The word of her going against the Monoliths being one of the major points of contention.
Sighing, Kyanite knew they were getting off track. What had been the point of this other than exchanging facts to make baseless facts and opinions. That vision of theirs from that...what they believed to be Connie's Shadow reaching out to them to sort that part out. Why though? It didn't bring them closer anymore than it brought them more confusion and discourse. They weren't keen to pursue nothing but what could be considered a myth by this point in the legends of the Monoliths at large.
"We're getting nowhere with this..." Kyanite admitted, getting irritated at them constantly losing track.
"Even if Rose was part of Luna and we find out the other component, we don't know if even this going to help us."
Garnet believed other wise. Kyanite wouldn't be going in this direction for no reason; for their refusal to help further after Steven's disapperance left the GIS without direction. Sparks of realisation or inspiration had turned Kyanite's hunger for answers and desires into something palpable, something that would lead them back on the trail to a resolution. Jenny was...helping but she couldn't know anymore than they did. Like with what had been happening prior, Garnet could envision Kyanite's change of heart.
"You're being lead by someone." She said.
Kyanite furrowed their brows.
"Sorry?"
Garnet lowered her head.
Bingo. Breadcrumbs.
"It is okay to say you are being lead by visions or emerging memories. That was what had been leading Steven all this time too."
How...how did she know?
"There's no shame." Garnet assured them.
"GIS that are subjected to SOAP are bound to recovery memories when circumstances reconnect neural linkages that were once lost."
It wasn't a memory.
"Garnet." Said Kyanite.
"I um."
Garnet then looked at Jenny.
"Excuse us."
Garnet lead Kyanite to another part of the bar at the back where no one else could hear them. The place had some people since the club acted as a meet up place throughout the day. They leaned against the back wall, out of Jennys earshot.
She could see that Kyanite was paranoid, if not afraid of revealing this. The fear of the unknown that would be justifiable, if it weren't so critical to what they had to do. Garnet knows how humans and those born from human minds work...they didn't want to see themselves as crazy or defective. Goodness knows the pain that Kyanite felt when Steven was lost. Garnet refused to let Kyanite fall into that trap and assured them that their honesty would help in leaps and bounds.
The Blue GIS swallowed.
"I saw...her." Kyanite revealed.
Her...? Whom ever this was, had insider knowledge. There was no other being to drive them forward.
"You saw...her." Garnet repeated.
"She specifically told you to..."
Kyanite rubbed their forehead.
"No she told me to seek out...her mother...."They revealed.
"Not to get inundated with figuring out what the hell Luna was made out of."
Garnet hummed. Her...Connie. Connie had been contacting Kyanite.
Curious...Garnet had to put additions to the equation, knuckle down as the humans would say and trace the point of call. She trusted what Kyanite would see but wanted to encourage Kyanite not to take it with face value. Shells could be bought, altered, stolen etc. Replicated...
"Interesting." She commented.
"I do not think it is...her but I do not doubt your judgement on that."
But at the same time...Garnet's sight told her that this was being done for the sole purpose of getting Kyanite on some kind of path. For good, or ill...is where Garnets vision drew the line.
"Connie connecting to you means something. You may be the only one who can possibly contact her."
But...how...and why?
"Does she know something we don't? I mean, it could be someone using her Avatar or something like that." Kyanite queried.
Garnet needed more data.
"That's likely. I find it curious as to who would do so. I would require more information to coalesce the likely suspects."
More information...
The only thing Kyanite noticed....
"She had...pink, glowing eyes....within some kind of...blue cube...I don't know. It could be mean something just as much as it means nothing at all."
Pink eyes... Garnet had to cut off more branches.
"It isn't Connie then." She said.
"But it does give us some clarity, some connection...maybe an answer or two to a previous query."
It still left Kyanite with nothing to really go on but with even more vague pieces to think about. Kyanite wished they wouldn't be able to think sometimes.
"One other matter." Garnet continued.
There was another that could help them. One that hadn't been seen in long time and only drawn out for occasions that they had themselves noted. Now was that time and Garnet could only but agree to submit to this particular point in time to its predicted calls.
"Time runs short....you and I need to talk to an old friend of mine."
Kyanite wasn't entirely sure what Garnet had planned. She motioned someone to come to them and in came towards a small orange coloured GIS in a dress.
"Padparadscha?" Kyanite said, confused.
Garnet nodded, understanding that it had indeed been a while since the two saw each other. ^1
"I've been communing with her. Her ability to look into the past as considered a fault, but in actuality, if taken with care, that her quirk actually can still work to unlock hidden memories."
Which explained why Garnet suggested that Kyanite dive into Steven's memories in the first place; she'd been working with Padparadscha in the meantime. Kyanite didn't even think to...
"Pads software is stable enough to conduct a permissiable consensus." She said, out of the blue.
Kyanite had to do a quick take.
"Wait, you and Pad...."
Garnet nodded. It wasn't anything she could have predicted; but sometimes even with those like Garnet, it would be more applicable to accept what ever fate could come her way, more than she was able to predict.
"We found our strengths combined facilitated a particular balance; guidance if you will, through the potential outcomes yet to be and what could be...the more data collected, the more that we're able to properly determine a steady course of events." She said.
"If you do not mind of course."
Mind? Kyanite didn't mind it all. They just found it quite surprising.
"If you think this...Synthesised one would help." They said.
No doubt some kind of Super powered Sapphire, even stronger than what was already patented.
Within moments Pad reached out to Garnet with a single hand as they stared at each other blankely for the moment. Their Avatars began to glow and out of the form came someone Kyanite had never seen before.
Upon first glance, it looked like they were wearing a Steampunk Dress and a top hat with Garnet's visors that turned into goggles on their...one...two...three..four eyes? Sapphires Gems on both sides of the one hand, and the singular Ruby on the other and underneath set of arms underneath
The dress itself was akin to black and burgundy stripped dress with white trims. They possessed dark red skin and their hair was a mixture of black and orange and was awfully curly and poofy that at first, surrounded their face until it summoned a burgundy top hat. It had black boots and a Sapphire like mouth. It summoned Garnets gauntlets, then transformed them into a cane. She was...rather tall...and brought out a pocket watch from one of her pockets.
"Oh the timing couldn't have been better." She said.
"Unakite at your service."
The fact that Unakite bowed to them was a bit.....
And their manner was a bit like...
"Too much for you liking? Sorry Kya, I feel as if...you and I have met already?"
Kyanite blinked, uncertain how to respond.
"Okay okay I uh." They said, as they rubbed the back of their neck.
"Was told you could help me?"
For what ever reason, Unakite kept looking at their dozens of pocketwatches.
"Yes yes, all in good time." She said.
"It should be here right about....now?"
Dead silence.
"Oh, might have been the other timeline...oops."
Cringe? Was that what Kyanite had been feeling?
"Hey, hey...focus." Kyanite advised.
"We're looking for a solution and- AHHH."
"There it is."
In a blink of an eye, Kyanite's head started to ache. It was minor but within moments, it became painful enough for them to whince and fall onto one knee as they hissed. Unakite knelt down before them as static was all that was heard their head, unable to hear Garnet.
"Fuck!" They cried.
Worried, Unakite took Kyanite down a hallway and into an empty private room to give them some privacy...and words of wisdom.
"Kyanite, sorry for the tug away, but you must listen to me." Unakite whispered as Kyanite covered their heads and began to try and fight against the pain. There was some guilt that hinged on Unakites shoulders as they utilised the one program she had actually seen return to her major components.
"Visions of the future are dependant on choice and command." She continued
"The probability, the possibility. The way towards the goal is filled with roadblocks that Garnet cannot always see through. There is that future...but to get to that future requires getting everything right in between."
What ever happened with Steven was supposed to happen. Garnet didn't dwell on the whys because the why just...it had to be. The door to their next destination and the next. That had been her goal. But the pain...to witness the agony between rooms was...not something Garnet had intended.
She wasn't emotionless. She wasn't careless. Seeing Steven on the beach and his importance struck her deeply. Her feelings, her programs told her that he was to be important but for what, she wasn't made to question. She was made to see then act according to the scenario that would ensure the best outcome, even if no one else could see it.
How Kyanite came to be...where Steven ended up...it had be. It just had to and Garnet couldn't possibly understand the context of why other than it was a necessary step; a necessary way to get what they wanted.
Garnet just needed to guide people there.
"Who you are...who you were...calls back to you. You entrusted Garnet with the power of the Blue Caretaker because your faith in her was far larger than I expected it to be. But I realise..."
Images of past events flew by Kyanite's vision with their HUD glitching like mad. Screeches that turned into crying into corner of a new yet unknown room and feeling...small. Tiny...with Unakite standing by a nearby doorframe of a familiar room.
"It has been the same for them...and for Garnet." Unakite said to the smaller Kyanite, who had their back to her.
"As it has been for Steven, for Pearl and for Amethyst....and shaping these events to their inevitable end. They always stressed your importance because..."
Because...the one who instigated those rumours. The one who spread the word about the one who would take them there, no matter what...
Was a human.
"She stressed it to be...She had the power before...and I saw your face...."
Kyanite turned towards the Sapphire-Mod with confusion; what ever words fell out of her mouth would be nothing but noise to most people.
Most...
"And this face." Unakite continued.
"Luna's creation was an accident. But your presence wasn't. You were unfortunate to be apart of it..."
A human that could change the course of fate. Nothing was predetermined...
"She remembered a conversation she once had with Dr. DeMayo. Talking about a special Prime App. While Sapphire was sent as a safeguard and to act in the best interest of the Blue Monolith, she was with a Ruby GIS. In case things got hairy and she could use her emergency powers to defend me in case things went wrong. As if...the Blue Monolith knew what could have happened in the event. She...she had more foresight...at the time."
Which Unakite could respect.
"And the gift of the Blue Shard donated to Connie...was an idea sent to test the willpower of a human against the influence..."
Kyanite was on the floor by this point, frothing at the mouth as their Avatar glitched. Unakite remained calm and by their side, sitting on her knees as she continued to talk.
"I see...I see Connie in the facility during that day....the Pink Monolith let off her power....the wave overcomes her...."
Holding the chest, blood begins to ooze from the left hand side of their chest.
"But it doesn't kill her. You see, you see...it couldn't. It wouldn't....it could hurt Connie but it can't kill her."
A bullet to the chest.
"There was...death..." Unakite continued.
More bullets....
"She was on the floor, reaching out to Steven."
A hand reached out to a giant AI chassis.
"Madness that consumed the one who had wanting to feel important, their importance was fading and that they would never be...they could never be..."
Blonde hair. A white lab coat now stained in blood as their hand held a pistol.
Kyanite leaped up all over the sudden as their fingers wrapped themselves around Unakite's neck as they looked furious.
"She shot her!" Kyanite screeched.
They were lying on a hospital bed in a hospital gown and hooked up to a drip. Unakite didn't struggle too hard against the Blue GIS's grip....and instead continued to marvel at Kyanite's anger.
"You see, you see this is what they feared and it happened with what ever amount of predicament created it." Unakite said.
"It was impossible to avoid...the bloodshed would damage her to follow but you, you see...."
Getting off the bed, Kyanite ripped the drip out of them and ran out of the hospital room....only to see...a black haired woman with her head in her hands. She wept...and wept....
Unakite went to sit next to her, to try and console the poor woman.
"Grief would be what would emerge." She said.
"You'd be amazed to know how powerful grief could be....a human's mind so overcome with the image of a great loss."
Unakite took to one of their many pocket watches and turned the clock back with their finger.
"But turning back....and back...."
More static that filled the room and threatened to drive Kyanite insane.
"You've lost much, Kyanite...or should I say..."
Kyanite raised their hand. This was not the time; far too hard to deal with for one and it was a can of worms they weren't willing to open with just now.
"Don't say it." They cried.
"Don't fucking say it."
Unakite tilted their head, confused.
"The Denial...its part of grief...it's why you never opened the box Bismuth gave you."'
The box....the one they gave to Steven for safe keeping. Kyanite was horrible at this.
"But the truth remains the truth. Time covers it in sand for when the right winds will blow it off again."
Unakite brought out a tape recorder, for what ever reason, as she clicked on it.
"But you do not see, you cannot see past beyond the measure of your own coding. The bits and pieces left behind, the-"
Kyanite raised their hands and waved them in frony of tall fusion, as they grew weary of the nonsense Unakite had been spouting.
"Woah, woah....slow down....sheesh." They said, needing to take a breath.
"I either see or I don't and what I do see is some...crap that I'm not understanding one bit."
A statement that allowed Unakite to pause and take a step back...to calibrate on what they were actually trying to say....and to say it slower...
"I'm sorry, but it is the directive to peek into both past and future and I tend to forget all about the present." Unakite said as they scratched their head.
"Words inspired by ancient texts...but it's not the only thing to remember."
That...still puzzled Kyanite as they stood there, trying to absorb what they're saying but they still weren't getting it.
"I am, a part of several programs...and you, patched together by the Blue Monolith to curate a functional program. That Monolith knows how to make things work with the right bandages....with bandages borrowed from others that not all is erased...and what isn't erased is in the hook of the embedded history...and you know...this isn't common with GIS at all. I find it...all the more fascinating....and all the more reason why we need you specifically to take Luna down and save not just Steven...but yourself!"
From what Kyanite knew about their Monolith, is their ability to take care of bugged up programs. That's always been their inherent talent; it wasn't about just fixing the programs, but being able to do so with minor adjustments or add ons. Not every program had to be completely scrapped; just...patched.
"New wounds can be opened however." Unakite continued as they paced around Kyanite as they checked a dozen or so pocket watches.....then all of a sudden leaned over towards Kyanite as if to stare directly into them, which freaked the blue GIS out.
"BM-AIs can be hurt far more easily...their scars, run deeper than their Avatars. The historical record remains rigid into the very framework enough that it can stain the psyche, evolve or corrupt it. But you cannot erase the history..."
It was then she pressed the button on the tape recorder...and a peculiar voice began to play:
"I could save a copy of your basic Avatar into my Soulware for safe keeping, all the while trying to find the fragments of your psyche scattered through the far reaches of the Domain if it means you exist." ^2
Kyanite knew that voice.
"That was....Connie." Kyanite noted, a bit...weirded out by that prospect.
"She....she must have donated the copy of Steven's Avatar so they could create me."
Could the size of a lie be somehow buried under the waters of ignorance? Purposeful or not? Unakite knew they had to take an alternate angle as the clocks started to turn backwards. It had been best not to pursue to the devastating path.
"But how? How was..."
This didn't make any sense. Connie was suppressed by Luna...how in the world would she have been able to do something like that unless she was within close proximity of the Blue Monolith...
"I'm sure you're aware of the one thing that connects Connie to the system. The same reason that...Luna was able to possess her to begin with." Unakite told them.
The one thing...
Closing their eyes, Kyanite tried to think of what they had been referring to. They were given a copy of Connie's file and medical records, even the things that no one else would have been able to see.
Then they realised.
"The Shard." Kyanite revealed, opening their eyes in shock.
"Connie's Shard; it came from the Blue Monolith."
Unakite nodded.
That explained much that Kyanite should have already understood that ages ago. But that still doesn't help to what Unakite was getting. Yes, Connie's Blue Shard was being utilised by Luna herself...
"Does the Shard grant a special connection to the Monoliths?" Kyanite asked.
The Temporal Diva tapped her lip.
"The Data granted to Garnet states that the Project run by Dr. Ryman was supposed to allow the excess neurons to be absorbed into the shard. For something so small, was so powerful and the energy provided to the Shards was enough to maintain a tiny slither of a connection to the Monolith. Therefore, that the Blue Monolith was tied to Connie's existence the entire time, whether she knew it...or not."
And the Shard itself was said to be a broken off piece of the Monoliths crystalised selves. This was inevitable; why was Kyanite only realising this now?
"So the Blue Monolith has been in contact with Connie?" Kyanite queried.
Unakite sighed.
"The Blue Monolith had been recieving messages from Connie but anytime they tried to get in contact with her, there was no response." She explained.
"She had sent few messages...but..."
Unakite looked at the tape recorder again.
"She has only just recently been sending messages again and I fear these may be her last."
No.
"What, what's she saying?" Kyanite asked, in a panicky way.
She must still be there, fighting the good fight to wrest control back from the wicked Luna. She couldn't stop fighting now. They needed more time.
"Words that are left in the veil of the past can provide us the answer." Unakite revealed.
She pressed the button on the tape recorder one more time.
I'm the antithesis...and I can be the Virus before the Vaccine. ^3
The difference between the two GIS' reactions were extraordinary. Unakite seemed to filter through Connie's words carefully, while Kyanite was left uncertain as to what this really meant. What anything meant anymore really. There had to be more to what was being said and Kyanite couldn't get it through their thick head which felt like it was going to explode.
"This means nothing." They said out of annoyance.
"Connie didn't make the virus because she is the virus-"
A finger was pressed against their lips.
"No I'm not calling her to blame for the virus...that would be grossly incorrect." Unakite said.
"As if, Connie had the foresight to think she was...no, that's giving her too much credit...it's an interesting mystery that has to tie this al-"
"GAAAAAHHHH."
More pain shot through Kyanite's head as they held in their hands and fell to their knees once again. Their eyes scrunched, Kyanite's own thoughts had been scrambled to goodness knows where and replaced with a constant brightness and darkness that flickered back and forth.
"Oh dear." Unakite said, troubled.
"Times definitely running short.-"
"I know it's fucking running short!" Kyanite screeched.
"You know how painful it is to do the running around and get nothing but cryptic feedback-"
"Feedback?'
Kyanite looked up with anger towards Unakite who was back in her strange world again.
"Hey, fucking hell lemme finish!" They cried
"You know what I want. I want to get that fucking purge program and get back into Connie to get rid of Lunas influence. None of this, absolutely none of this helping!"
Unakite felt Kyanite's anger was warranted, as they were in grave pain and they could nothing to stop this from happening. But this had Unakite looking into alternatives.
"No, you're on to something." She said.
"Feedback. The Feedback with the Purge Program. It's an issue."
Kyanite furrowed their brows.
"What?" They asked as the pain began to lessen.
"Yes yes I get it!" Unakite said as they slammed a fist into their other palm.
"The Virus, the Vaccine....Connie's Psyche...oh...oh no..."
Kyanite got off the ground to try and stabilise Unakite's panic.
"Woah, slow down, what's wrong?" They asked.
Unakite bit their lip as they peered into the futures before them.
"The Purge Program is...incomplete." She said.
"The copy that Greg has doesn't account for the fact that Lunas hold on Connie's data into the equation. The Purge Program will kill Luna...and by extension..."
What?
"Shit." Kyanite said.
The Virus contained Lunas data as well as data on the virus. But if they weren't careful, it could burn Connie out. The Program, with all its ambition, may be too powerful for her to withstand and fry the Shard within her skull. The design was merely a ways to find a way to oust Luna and potentially delete her. But they didn't adjust the perimeters to the extent where it would need to keep some crucial data in and not eradicate it to boil Connie's brain entirely.
Kyanite had to sit down to readdress the situation. All they had were whats and potential hows and theories but this was too much for them to hold to alone. Kyanite was just one GIS.
But the information they had gathered today was.. alot. And that was an understatement. They pressed a hand against their chest and witnessed their Avatar flicker by a glance of their hand.
Information about Connie....stressed them out more than it was supposed to. They had to bring this information to Dr. Maheswaran to see if they could get a better gist of it...because Kyanite surely wasn't.
It was then, Kyanite couldn't handle it anymore...
They leaned over and started to cry into their hands.
"It is....painful...I'm sorry." Unakite said as she stood before them.
"History and fate has not been kind to Connie. There will be a way to rebel against it."
Kyanite's been fighting as well.
"Unakite..." They said.
"Thank you for telling me this."
Unakite smiled.
"Best you go make an appointment with Dr. Maheswaran."
Notes:
1. Chapter 49: Lost Track
2. Chapter 19: Codesmith
3. Chapter 3: Uploads
Chapter 65: Reallocate
Summary:
Emptiness was the heart felt by the Escapism Program, the Transitional Entity until an unsung voice comes to assist.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Walls of soft pink, a floor of a chocolate brown. A single pink sheeted bed with a golden metal frame. No windows, no doors. A single wooden chair.
And a painting of a Rose Quartzian Kernel Core on the backwall with a golden frame. The only artwork to note, perhaps to resemble its sole inhabitant.
Steven looked at nothingness. He held no thoughts, no motive...no drive.
He was more empty than the room he was in.
Told that he was supposed to remain here indefinitely. Isolated from every distraction and every other voice that would be claimed to bring him harm. That he would wait on standby for the next command.
No one could reach him. No one could speak to him.
If only the Painting could talk.
There would be the voice of his Father-Creator checking up on him on every other day but that was about it.
Though, the only thing he had with his person since being taken, was the tiny silver box Kyanite gave him.
He would stare at it from his palm crystal as it floated above it. They didn't say what it was for, only that they would come back for it...in all its strangeness and for the contradiction of the aformentioned emptiness, what ever it posed to fill in the gapes of his mind, had Steven feel compelled to open it. Not that he would...he wasn't ordered to.
But what would be that strange feeling? It wasn't natural for an AI like him. Compulsion was left to the Protection Protocol he had for the Pink Monolith at all costs and that's all he really knew.
The room itself was created in lieu of what Kyanite had created or at the very least, was forged by Steven himself as the true interior of his Psyche's software.
Then...
A brown door emerged from one of the walls.
Why?
He got up and walked towards it, with again, that need or compulsive drive that lead him to do so. No orders, no nothing. But it was there... and he waited for some time as he stood in front of it and waited to see what would come in.
Moments passed. Nothing.
So his hand naturally reached for the knob, without hesitation, and turned it. Opening the door, Steven peaked his hand through it, then saw the hallways that Kyanite had previously shown him. Looking at the silver box once more, Steven knew where he needed to put the silver box.
He went to what he would deem as his Database on Kyanite. Their room had been one door down...so he walked across and went to open the door that was labled, Kyanite....though he looked behind him and saw the door for Connie.
His head went back and forth between the two. The question had been raised with no answer in sight.
What was Connie for? Why was she so important that she had an entire Database locked away that was dedicated to her...strange.
So strange.
The compulsion returned to him...in sequences of words and flickers of conversations he'd never heard of before. Names on black lips that tweaked in.
Names like Rose and Cherry.
Suddenly...other doors appeared to have called to his attention as names flashed upon them.
Those same names....Rose...Cherry.
He walked forward as with Connie and Kyanites doors, the ones for Rose and Cherry were opposite of each other.
Rose.
Who were they?
He walked towards that particular door and opened it...and it was easy to open; unlike Connie's.
Rose's room had a single painting and several filing cabinets. It appeared all nice and neat....and the paiting on the wall was of a plump woman with pink hair and a white dress.
Who was she to him?
He noticed the Kernel Core on her stomach was in the same place as his, as he pulled up his shirt to examine it. Upon touching it, the entire room changed in a flash of light....
PLAYBACK SEQUENCE INITIATED
NO TIME STAMPS DETECTED
Another room. A dark brown room that overlooked a garden from the nearby windows. His head turned around to see a set of doors that opened, and in came a tall woman with a pink dress and brown, puffy hair with a pink streak on the left hand side. Next to her was a young girl with pink, curly hair and a white dress. Watching from the sidelines, the two walked their way towards the nearby window and sat down on some nice, golden rimmed couches.
"You wanted to talk Mom?" Said the girl.
A man in a nice black suit came in with a golden tray that had a tea pot and some nice cups that prepared the tea for the two. Placing it down, the woman raised her hand to dismiss him as she prepared the tea instead. The man bowed and left the room shortly after.
"Yes my dear." She said.
"As you know, our family is involved deeply with the Monolith Projects. Remember what happened to Aunt Mimosa and Azure?"
The young girl nodded.
"They ascended to the heavens, didn't they?" She said.
"So they would meet up with Grandmama?"
The Mother looked a bit offput, but smiled for the sake of her child.
"Something like that." She said as she watched her daughter put in two cubes of sugar.
"It is soon for me, to join them..."
The daughter paused as her mind rustled through the noise.
"You're going away?" She said.
The mother chuckled.
"Yes." She said.
"Like your Grandmother and your Aunts, I will soon join them on their journey."
A journey?
"Will you be back?" The young girl asked.
So naive...the Mother wasn't sure how to respond.
"I will...still be here." She said.
"Just...out of reach for sometime."
What ever amount of time it took, the mother didn't know. All Steven could feel from her, was guilt and regret. The little girl wasn't picking up on those though.
"Oh." She said.
"Okay...uh....who's gonna look after me?"
The mother nodded.
"Aunt Volley." She said.
"Who already looks after your cousins so you won't be alone."
The girl smiled.
"Oh I get to hang out with Holly, Peri and Barbie?" She asked, excited.
The mother nodded as she stirred her tea.
"Yes Rose." She said.
Holly. Peri. Barbie.
Who were they?
FLASHBACK REPLAY 2
The next room was filled the brim with scientists and engineers and a giant construct of sorts with the name P-4 on the front plating. Steven was in an observation room with the mother and the daughter, Rose. The mother held onto her childs hand tightly as if she didn't want to let go. Her smile seemed forced and tight as the red and pink body suit she was wearing.
She knelt down efore her daughter and held her cheeks.
"Alright my dear Rose." She said.
"I must go. Promise me you'll be a good girl."
Steven heard a tisk from a skinny woman with a long nose and black and white suit. Her eyes, welled with water and the hint of reluctance, unaware of anothers womans presence behind her.
"Please Cherry, why did you bring your daughter of all people to this?"
Cherry?
She stood up to face the other woman.
"They are our future Volley." She said.
"The children need to understand the value of life. That it is sacred and fleeting."
Volley gave a hum as she looked at the machines before them.
"That's true." She said.
"They will inherit this work themselves one day. Young Rose may have her part to play yet."
Steven looked up at Cherry, who frowned at those words, indicating some form of displeasure.
"What about you?" Cherry asked.
"You're the only one of us left. Are you okay to take care of four children all on your own?"
Volley smirked.
"Holly and Peri won't be a problem." She said.
"Barb...is a bit a concern."
Cherry furrowed her brows.
"Mothers plan indicates she needed an archivist. Holly demonstrates leadership skills and loyalty, while Peri is bit of a tech wizard and has an eye for business. Barb...is...."
Cherry smiled; as she knew Rose and Barb were thick as thieves.
"Lil' Barb is a bit exuberant in her work." She said.
"I know she wants to work to be a Mailwoman one day....but I'm guessing mother wanted otherwise?"
Volley rolled her eyes.
"Getting information is her expertise." She said.
"And she demonstrates good memory. She might change her tune once she goes through College and University."
Barb was a go-getter in some instances, always after the latest challenge...she could be a handful, however.
"As for Rose, not sure..-"
"I want to be a Florist!"
Volley and Cherry exchanged glances.
"Continue practicing on your gardening, honey." Cherry said as she ruffed up her daughters hair.
Volley of course, knew how the pattern was supposed to go.
"Okay, let's do our final checks."
FLASHBACK PLAYBACK 3
The room was dull. White walls and black marble floors.
Boring, boring, boring.
Rose tried to make her own fun as she hung out with Barb. Though, Aunt Volley soon entered.
"Barbie, can you excuse me and Rose? I need to speak to her in private."
The young blonde girl nodded, did a courtsey and left the room as thus. Volley sat on the bed and patted it to have Rose sit next to her.
"Yes Aunty?" Rose asked.
Volley smiled.
"Would you agree with me if I said the world and the human race would be suffering right now?"
With global warming affecting everything over the course of human history, it definitely had a select mass of humans in the middle of their own crisis.
A crisis that had to be solved.
"Um....I...I don't know." Rose responded.
"Mom said that the world could be a beautiful place."
Volley groaned, but could use Rose's own words to encourage her.
"You and I need to make this place beautiful." She explained as she wrapped her arm around Rose's shoulders.
FLASHBACK PLAYBACK 4
UNKNOWN TEXT CONVERSATION BETWEEN EJKFJWKLFHAWO AND EFKJNDFJKNS
"MOTHER?"
"ROSE?"
"AH THANK GOODNESS."
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"
"I'VE MADE A SUCCESSFUL DESYCHRONISATION. I WASN'T GRANTED TOTAL DEATH BUT I'D HOPED TO REACH YOU BACK IN THE MONOLITH."
"THIS WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN."
"I KNOW. BUT BY ACHIEVING THIS, I WAS ABLE TO HAND OVER MY PHYLACTERY TO MY CHILD."
"SO. IT WORKED?"
"YES."
"I FEEL...AWFUL."
"I KNOW. IT'S NOT RIGHT. BUT WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS AS OUR ONLY WAY TO SALVAGE THE SITUATION AS PLANNED."
"THIS WASN'T WHAT I INTENDED AT ALL."
"I KNOW, I KNOW I TRIED. BUT I HAD GREG CONNECT HIM UP TO THE LS SYSTEMS AS WELL AS THE OTHE-"
"YOU DID WHAT?"
"I MADE ALL THE PREPARATIONS AS PER THE INSTRUCTIONS."
"WHAT INSTRUCTIONS?"
"THE INSTRUCTIONS LADY VOLLEY LEFT BEHIND. SOMETHING ABOUT AN ESCAPISM PROGRAM."
"OH NO"
"WHAT? WHAT DID I DO WRONG?"
FLASHBACK PLAYBACK 5
Rose slept on her mother chest. She would do that from time to time. She was in the gardens with Aunt Azure, as they discussed Azures situation.
"I'm going soon." Said Azure.
"Part of me is going to miss this. The fresh air, the nice warm sun."
Rose was semi-awake and heard everything going on around her.
"You can't simulate it?" Cherry asked.
Azure laughed.
"I'm not even certain. Mimi didn't even tell me...which I guess mother didn't tell us either, what it was going to be like in there."
Cherry was fully aware of her own fate...which meant that she had to make her own preparations when the situation called for it.
"It can't all be just ones and zeros." Cherry commented.
"I'd be driven mad otherwise."
It was something always amusing in the young womans words that made Azure smile.
"I'm certain it will be a reality in which we can forge our own worlds." She said.
"Creating my own garden like this would be a sight to see."
Words that caused concern.
"I wish you could preserve these things, Cherry."
Words that caught Cherry offguard, as her eyes widened with surprise.
"Our minds and souls will belong to the Monoliths, destined to fill the world with greatness but...and I know this is just between you and me...I don't want this."
That shocked Cherry even more....and in truth, Cherry had been open with Azure with her own, earnest feelings which could be subjegated at a moments notice if they weren't careful.
"Why?" Cherry asked.
Why was Cherry's most common word....as well as Rose's most common question. It was the young and naive that always sought for an explanation to a world they had yet to understand with all its complexities and nuances. How the world could be so cruel yet, there was a light to fight for it at the same time.
"I wanted to spend more time with my family." Azure replied.
"You hold young Rose in your arms. I held Holly the same once...but...our family priorities are skewed too much on the business side...and we're told that we're doing this for humanity, by forgetting what it means to be human."
Cherry gently stroked Rose's hair and thought deeply about her sisters words.
"Mimi is not even supposed to be called Mimi anymore; her name is Yellow Diamond. Mother is supposed to be White Diamond and I will be Blue."
Cherry knew her head on the chopping block...her name would inevitably be Pink, according to the White Missive.
"You don't want to lose your name either." Cherry commented.
"But then again, you don't want to dishonour mother."
Azure shook her head.
"No." She said.
"Plus Volley is enforcing everything. She will no doubt try to put us in line if we refuse...saying that we will be tarnishing the family name."
Volley's position in the family had her hunger for power more than the three of them. She was the oldest and most entrusted and possibly most favoured by Grandmother White.
"We'll find each other as family, surely." Cherry assured her sister, as she placed her hand on hers.
"Steven."
The visions faded and Steven had returned to his room. He turned to see his Father-Creator, standing there as he grew worried. Steven had been sitting on the edge of his bed as Greg approached and sat next to him.
"I am here." Steven responded in monotone.
Greg nodded as he wrapped his arm around his son.
"Just making sure you're still kickin'." He said.
"Going through this Purge Program they created - it seems...solid."
Yes. It was. Though, Steven wasn't sure if Greg was the one to wield it appropriately. Something about him holding it didn't seen right.
"Should be able to weave somethin' out of it. But yeah, I don't know if we can find a work around. Could get another pair of eyes on it and-"
"That belongs to Kyanite."
Furrowing their brows in confusion briefly, Greg had to pause before he went back to being non-chalant and continued further.
"Its a tool Steven, Kyanite won't mind." He said.
"Besides, it will only be used to deal with Luna and that's it. Kyanite can have it back once we're done with it."
A tiny smidge of rage filled within Steven, though it was unclear why.
"Then we'll get Connie back in no time at all!"
Greg continued to act as if Steven's attitude didn't change, although what had changed was something inside. The rage itself was...surprisingly, containable. To Steven, however, rage was a fury that desired release. He didn't outright hate Greg...Hatred not a thing he could properly process, in his current state of mind.
Though it did somehow trigger, yet another ancient memory...
FLASHBACK PLAYBACK 6
A fog of pink spread across the room of darker pink walls that were shaped in a pentagonal fashion. A single window with sparkly translucent curtains spread downwards in a dramatic, elegant fashion and beyond that was a pinkish sky.
Cherry stood there with her arms across her back. She wore a red, pink and burgundy power suit and her hair was like cotton candy colour to match its equal shape.
"You've done more digging at the new area than I've been able to here." She said.
"Did Garnet say how long until they realise that you've gone?"
From behind the woman was none other than Rose Quartz, in some kind of inspired alien like white lab coat, with a strange design.
"Indefinite." She said.
"Telling the crew I would be shipped to another site for a research expedition was a simple enough explanation. But I don't think Barbara bought it."
Cherry shook her head.
"Technically it wasn't a lie." She said as she turned around.
"And your successful desynchronisation is more than what I could have hoped for. I appreciate the new state of vulnerability you've put yourself into."
Rose knew what she was getting into. She wouldn't have done it any other way.
"But tell me...this data...I know that your Grandmother's research ultimately tried to blanket up the other part of the tale. That this, Transitional Entity wasn't the only thing that the Aliens had in their grand designs."
Rose nodded.
"No." She answered.
"We know that the Transitional Entity was described as a type of Consensus. And we just...."
Cherry was full aware of what they've created.
"What was it that you found?" She said.
Rose cleared her throat and presented her with a small pink and blue cube.
"The Transitional Entity isn't the ESCAPISM Program; it runs it. It stands for Evolutional Switch Control And Primordial Identifcation System Module. The Entity runs the Program to enact the pulse."
With what Cherry knew and what few didn't, was that had the potential to wipe out the entire human race in an instant.
"That doesn't make sense." Cherry said.
"Why would it be an acronym in English if it was Alien made?"
Rose paused for a moment; not noticing a small detail.
"The Monoliths were in the Obsidian Ruins for a long time." She said.
"Their Aura Radiation could...have influenced the human race?"
Nothing was conclusive, but again they were off track.
"Anyway." Rose said, as she cleared her throat.
"Turns out the Aliens also gave us a killswitch."
Words that perplexed Cherry.
"Why would they do that?" She asked.
"I mean, that defeats the purpose of their own goal to steal humanity away from us. Becoming a GIS should only be allowed to a select few."
Rose then realised more based off what her mother stated.
"Maybe that was why?" Rose suggested.
"That if the Entity fell into the wrong hands; that it could stop the process entirely."
Plausible. No one knew the true form or visage of these extraterrastrials.
"I only did this because I wanted to direct these ascensions in the most efficient manner." Cherry revealed.
"But I don't want to be the cause of the humans extinction."
Rose admired her mother, but over time, she'd recognised her mothers own flaws. The entire family of theirs had become an influential powerhouse. Their true strength hidden behind closed doors from the public. But Rose felt like what they maintained the illusion of family and by extension, their humanity, that they had lost both the true sense of it, years ago.
Yes Rose wanted to honour the wishes of both her mother and her family, but now she had been torn ever since the plan to create Steven had caused so much inner turmoil, that she'd felt awful in the act she had committed...this...espionage. It had to have had some end.
"I think we need this to be in the humans hands." Rose suggested.
"Our family has too much control...and I worry if Grandmothers intentions are...what they are."
Cherry was aware of her daughters doubts. She'd been within the Monolith for far too long and running the same routines over and over again that she felt like nothing had ever really changed at all; that she just acted as another cog in the machine, then roped Rose into it because she was obliged to. Cherry's actions had always been for the good of mankind and the Family, but voicing her own concerns had others like her sisters tell her to shut up and accept it or they just flat out ignored her.
Rose made a point however...an idea that wedged itself into Cherrys mind. The idea had always been there...just needed to be nourished and realised.
"I want more study into this...Killswitch." Cherry stated.
She wanted it to go ahead? Rose wondered.
"But I don't want it leaking out just yet. I need to think of a way to keep it somewhere safe. A Guardian who will hold this Switch. This, sword..."
Rose nodded.
"I will consult with Bismuth with the details I've found." She said.
"Should I tell Greg?"
The DeMayo family had been involved for a while. Greg was the grandson of one of the other original excavators and had so far been a worthy tool. Still, he could have been too close and too involved that he might get swept up with it, given Gregs loyalties to the cause. These close associates and allies were considered to be far embedded into their own systems that Cherry wasn't certain. Greg was trustworthy, but he was too attached to their purpose. They needed someone distant and loosely associated even.
"Just message him with the details." Cherry said.
"Say its from me, I still need to limit your communications. In fact let me write the message which will include specific instructions."
"Can I ask you a series of questions?" Steven asked.
Greg was more than happy to oblige.
"Anything at all bud." He replied.
Steven had to know. These visions were...disturbing and confusing. But he was told his purpose and whether or not that purpose required to be fulfilled was clearer than ever. Did he want it? He hadn't had the mental capacity to decide, but lately, as his emotions slowly came into him as they evolved within his code, he felt the need to convey the program to his Father-Creator in case it was important.
"I am to be the Transitional Entity. I am capable of translating humans into artificial intelligences. This is correct?"
Rubbing the back of his neck out of anxiety, Greg wasn't sure what these questions were about to lead into.
"Uhhh yes?" He replied, sounding uncertain.
Steven was satisified as he ticked off what he could ascertain.
"In order to fulfill my purpose, I must use the ESCAPISM Program to do so. This is also correct?"
The ESCAPISM Program eluded Greg, since, well, previous events made it hard to articulate anything specific. Some memories came back to him with time and this unfortunately had be one of the hardest.
"Yeah. yeah it is." Greg replied.
Steven nodded.
"And in case I was compromised and the program was executed, one could use the Killswitch in order to halt it or limit it....is this correct?"
The Killswitch? This is new. How in the world could Steven know about the Killswitch? This was worrying.
"Um..." Greg murmured.
"I suppose? I mean, how do you know about the Killswitch?"
Steven paused. Was he not supposed to possess that knowledge? Conflict resided within him. He could have tried to use SOAP to purge that information in case he wasn't supposed to know it, though, he didn't know how important Connie was prior to this either nor why the name and image was something he felt compelled to protect.
The talk about limiting communications between Rose and everyone else meant that Rose's presence was supposed to be a highly confidential topic as well. If Steven was permitted to see this info but Greg wasn't, then that meant he wasn't supposed to tell him about Rose's work. So he refrained.
"Information that has come to me." He said.
"What is the Killswitch?"
Greg then laughed nervously.
"Ahhh it's nothing you should worry your head about." He said as he ruffled his sons hair.
"At this rate, we'll never even get to use it. Which is probably a good thing."
Though Greg still wanted to know where Steven got the information from, which deeply worried him. Only certain people were supposed to know about it.
"I understand." Steven said.
"I will not keep you."
Greg smiled and nodded, hoping that would be the end of the conversation, but he had to try and look at anyone trying to give Steven hints...Greg immediately begun to believe someone had been attempting to communicate with him, but...Steven had no reason to lie. While it saddened Greg to see Steven in such an emotionless state, as if he's gone back to when he emerged in his Golden State, he wasn't sure what Kyanite had been doing to him since...unless....
"Great!" He said.
"I'll continue to review the Purge Program for now. Just sit tight, we'll catch up later for tea and biscuits! Gotta culture my boy!"
Biscuits...
As Greg left, Steven's mind honed in completely. He couldn't stop thinking about it... why was that so...alarming to him? Why did he focus soley on it, surely that...
"I have no reason to trust you." Connie said, before she growled and punched the nearby wall.
"But I also do not want to die. Escort me Biscuit Boy and if I die, my spectre is gonna fucking destroy you." ^1
"Duly noted, Berry-Girl." Steven muttered.
Did he say that? Why did he say that? He didn't understand. But...the offer was there...a lost memory.
How much had he lost? Kyanite was correct, he was someone before this.
He looked at his hands, then noticed his Kernel Core pulsing. He pulled out the Silver Cube Kyanite granted him as it reacted as it floated in his hand. An intricate box that called out to him. A million questions that would go unanswered...but the thoughts of Kyanite and how they entrusted him to this perculiar object, relic, what ever it was...
"The memories." Said Connie, as she appeared out of nowhere. The unusual spectre kept her word.
"You wanted to destroy me." Steven said.
Connie shook her head.
"No." She replied.
"The Sword remains safe as it has been for several decades."
How does she know abou-
"Where is it?" Steven queried.
Approaching him slowly, Connie took his hand and rested it against her chest. He wasn't...quite getting what she meant. The room went dark, then a certain sworded sigil popped up all over the place, albeit one of a design Steven could have sworn he'd seen before, but wasn't sure where. Connie disappeared as the sigil disappeared and the room returned to normal.
And Steven was left grasping for answers.
Notes:
1. Chapter 1: Log In
Chapter 66: Parent and Child
Summary:
Kyanite talks to Dr. Maheswaran about her family.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The Disappearance of the Pink Monolith had been the greatest story in the new century. So much drama and so much that had lead up to it. The people involved, questioned time and time again and the amount of conspiracy theorists out there quintupled over the last few months.
Kyanite, the GIS meant to be thrust head on into the situation, got more than what they were bargained for. Unakites words definitely held truths that they didn't want to believe or even acknowledge. Kyanite knew their path and intent was to salvage what they could; that was the often treaded path of most Blue GIS.
It had been only a few hours...but Garnet had been busy trying to regroup who they could deal with and invited Jenny onto the force. The girl didn't want nothing to do with the situation but she had no choice since leaving her Dads Pizzeria. The Task Group itself now consisted of one more human...two if you included Andrew DeMayo being roped into the matter once again, much to his chagrin. But Garnet, whom Kyanite had chosen to inherit the Blue Caretaker Mantle, was doing a far better job at organising everything than Kyanite was and even worked with the new Yellow Caretaker, as it seemed.
An appointment with Dr. Maheswaran was something Kyanite did not look forward to. But they were keen to get answers.
In a private room held in the Pocket Grid of DM Biometrics, Dr. Maheswaran had the room looking as comfortable as a psychiatrists office, complete with the red, stereotypical therapy couch.
"Thank you for coming." Dr. Maheswaran said.
"You wanted to talk about Connie?"
Not really, but Kyanite had to. For all their prior research, they had to know the truth about the cornerstones; namely the aforementioned.
"The Developers all hinged on Connie to be their gateway into finding the Pink Monolith." Kyanite said.
"How true do you think that is given now her body is being used for...less than savoury purposes."
Priyanka hummed. Not a huge fan of the situation but she had to keep it together for the sake of her organic daughter and appearances.
"I cannot say nor do I want to think about the implications. We must confide in the fact that Connie is a clever girl." She said.
"Some may even say she's quite resourceful."
That much was true. For that Kyanite did not doubt.
"Do you think...that she's capable of talking to us despite her condition?" Kyanite wondered.
Dr. Maheswaran shrugged; she'd never been asked that question before. Forever uncertain as to her daughters future; her face plastered on monitors and tvs everywhere.
"After everything that's happened, anythings possible." She said.
"Though even I doubt it....I've seen the reports; that the Lapis Satellite is unreachable and the so called new facility was in use after..."
After? Dr. Maheswaran failed to elaborate, though her trailing off was due to confusion more so than silent deception based on the perplexed look on her face. AIs memories intertwining and failing to compile a distinct clear view was a common glitch with them as it would be with humans. Especially if the AIs had been altered or suppressed on purpose. Priyankas position in the whole matter raised more questions and Kyanite aimed on bringing out the truth as much as they could.
"I've noticed an inconsistency with a timeline of events." Kyanite concluded.
"Like, did Dr. Maheswaran actually die at the scene or did she really die in the fire?"
A question that made the Doctor shift in her seat due to how uncomfortable it was. Kyanite's aim wasn't to make her uncomfortable, but to rather navigate through the trauma to find a root cause. Emotional triggers had worked in the past. Not that Kyanite was happy to that themselves. Even though Priyanka had no physical means to, she took a deep breath and made her statement.
"I...I don't remember much from the incident." She said.
"Connie lived with me, I mean with her mother in the Farmhouse until that moment"
Which some sources said were from a lightning strike. Something told Kyanite that that wasn't true at all. It could have been....
"Do you believe the story behind it?" Kyanite queried.
Priyanka sighed.
"Yes but..." She said.
"I don't remember much from after either incident, only the basic details."
Such as most people dying, etc. Kyanite continued to dig.
"What about Doug? Your husband?"
Dr. Maheswaran then smiled with such fondness.
"He was a goofball, but a loving husband and a wonderful father." She commented.
"The...uh...incident report had him on a list of casualities. So no, there's no AI of him running around unfortunately; his brain and Soulware Grade weren't up to the standards back then."
Kyanite rubbed their hands together, and prepared for the statement to provide for what Unakite revealed to have been part of the incident.
"I think...well, what I've been told is that Connie was shot during the incident..." They said with sadness.
"As well as the Pink Monoliths power demonstrated before her...to which the Blue Shard had actually saved her life yet again."
Priyanka stood up and turned towards a window. The outside was fake for looks, but the scenery of a garden exterior was always comforting to look at. She didn't like the notion or the image of her daughter being hurt as such that it took a small hit to her emotional cortex. If Priyanka had been there, to protect her...
"My guess would be....that it must have been something that ticked it off." She said as she crossed her arms.
"I can only wager Monoliths don't have lot that they could use to protect themselves."
Unless...
"What about a screencap?" Kyanite theorised.
That was a possibility.
"Hmm...maybe." Priyanka said.
"A screencap is dangerous if parameters weren't set. In a hyperthetical scenario, it could eliminate threats within a certain radius if it wanted. That's if the barrier that surrounded it had been removed or it let off a stronger pulse than would have overcome the original barriers constraints somehow."
It would lead to a lot of disaster.
"Do we know the list of....reasons why a Monolith would have attacked somebody?" Kyanite wondered.
Priyanka rubbed her chin.
"If they have some sort of sentience, like anyone, they would had have to been an open threat, someone made them angry or they could have been doing it in self-defense." She said.
"Either something would have tried to attack it...or..."
Something it cared about was being threatened. If the Blue Monolith and the White Monolith possessed their own Conduits, then what of the opinions of the Pink Monoliths Conduit? Was Kyanite prepared to reveal the truth? They had to.
"I'm going to mention something extremely confidential." They said.
"Something very few know."
Priyanka turned around, confused.
"Okay?"
Kyanite nodded. They could trust the Doctor with this information; it was the only way of getting Priyanka the evidence she needed to formulate a hypothesis.
"Each Monolith has what they call a Conduit; a sentient software capable of utilising the abilities that their Monoliths have."
This definitely caught Priyanka offguard.
"Wait, so, they're actually alive?" She said.
In a sense.
"Think of them as...gigantic mega GIS." Kyanite continued.
Priyanka nodded.
"Well, that's something that's always been theorised but never really proven outside Developer Circles..." She said.
"Even Andy didn't even know that."
Given the arms length communication the company had with PeriCom as of late.
"But that just puts more weight on the self-defense....but what were you thinking..."
One thing. Evidence mounted towards what had already been said or theorised at the time. Even if it wasn't true, it had to be so damn close to it.
"Steven was connected to the Pink Monolith, well, his AI Core was." Kyanite said.
"We saw bullet holes and dents by his original core at the old facility." ^1
Priyanka knew where Kyanite was getting at.
"This Conduit; must have known Steven was being attacked." She said.
"Used the screencap as a way to try and protect him...Huh...that Conduit must have really cared about him. Anything we know about the specifics of these Conduits?"
Other than White?
"We do know White was based off of Grandmother White." Kyanite revealed.
Priyanka paused.
"Wait, the one who found the Monoliths?" She said.
The one and the same.
"You know, I'm not even surprised." Pri continued.
"Grandmother White being at the top of the food chain has massive implications. About everything....I can see why she wouldn't want the general population of billions of people to know who was the one in charge of the Domain....what of the other Monoliths?"
Kyanite wasn't even sure, however...
"Wait...Azure..." She muttered to herself.
"I...I'm Azure..." ^2
"Does the name...Azure, ring any bells?" Kyanite queried.
Priyanka massaged her forehead as she filtered through possibilities.
"Hmmm...I think... that's the name of one of her daughters...if I remember White's Legacy Documentary well enough." She said.
"Yes. There was....Mimosa...the eldest...the second daughter was Azure...and Cereza, or Cherry as the third and youngest daughter."
Mimosa. Azure. Cherry.
Of course White in all her narcisstic grandeur would put her own daughters to the slaughter in the family name to be able to control the other Monoliths. (Not to mention Azure Alpha was named like that for a reason now.)
"Cherry was said to resemble White in her ambitions but she was always left a little behind in certain matters."
So...would Cherry be the Conduit for the Pink Monolith then? The pieces collected were too intertwined not to make sense.
"I've not heard of this Legacy Documentary you speak of." Kyanite said.
"Any chance I can find it or borrow it?"
Pri hummed.
"It was made before the Yellow Monoliths completion." She said.
"So it was some time ago. But I'm not certain it's going to help."
It could.
"Cherry must be the driving influence of the Pink Monolith." Kyanite stated.
Priyanka agreed.
"It could also be linked to what Rose was trying to do." She said.
Kyanite didn't even think about Rose.
"Oh yeah." They said.
"Rose was the Voice. Cherry had been speaking to her directly..."
Maybe the documentary would help after all.
"So these Conduits, would have their Voices...."
Lady Volley. President Dot. Director Agate. Executive Rose.
"...And their Caretakers..."
The three that held great positions of power and influence across each respective Monolith.
"After Rose's ascension into an SC-GIS, she continued to be that Voice, despite Voices' being allocated to organics."
Priyanka nodded in agreement.
"I remember there being talks with choosing a new Voice." She said.
"It was known that Dr. Miller was apart of the Developers organisation that was in the line to be a Voice, but it never happened."
And never will.
"They way they talked about it...it was as if was practically better than royalty."
Did Dr. Miller...get jealous about it?
"She was a dedicated woman from what I can recall." Pri continued.
"We talked about our daughters but somehow it always revolved around work...and she talked about...Rose."
This piqued Kyanite's interest.
"Anything specific?" They queried.
Priyanka rubbed her chin.
"She didn't like that Rose refused to have children.'
About that....
"Well she definitely counted Steven as her child." Kyanite stated.
That much they did know.
"Yes..." Priyanka said, as she then held her head as if she was in pain.
Kyanite got worried.
"You okay?" They asked.
The Doctor nodded.
"It's...coming back to me...a conversation." She said.
"I know Dr. Miller wanted another child too. And at one point...I know we had a conversation about this..."
Another day at the facility like none other. Dr. Maheswaran had come to check up on Connie's well-being, as she would after her surgery. The technology she found that could bring her back and forth between two continents still amazed her to this day.
The Pink Facility had all this fancy tech she would never get to see the states that was spent on AI Development was all confidential and the man behind it all, Dr. DeMayo and his entire crew were sometimes an overenthustiac bunch. Gven their recent breakthroughs in preserving real life human beings as data that would been by some as a miracle...and unfortunately, by others as awful, heretical things that were so far removed from humanity that they weren't treated as sentient beings.
She would stand behind the protective glass in the Monitor Room; against a nearby pillar as she watched her daughter talk to the one of the most complex AI that had ever been developed.
Dr. DeMayo thanked Dr. Maheswaran for allowing this, that work into developing Steven had improved exponentionally because of how her daughter would just be able to talk to him naturally as a person and not as a machine. Though this time, it was Dr. Miller who was in the same room as Priyanka.
"I can't imagine my daughter willingly coming into here and do what yours does." Dr. Miller said as she sipped her coffee.
It wouldn't just be her daughter...Sadie was too old and this was just more like an imaginary friend that Connie may as well outgrow eventually.
"Connie's got a surprisingly open mind for someone her age." Dr. Maheswaran commented.
"She could be with worse company."
Dr. Miller snorted.
"Honestly?" She said.
"I mean, you're afraid like every other damn mother for their precious daughter to be hanging around with delinquent teenage boys?"
Of course she was. Why wouldn't she be? Not that Connie was of that age just yet but it would be within a mothers nature to protect regardless of age.
"I just have to work for Connie's best interests." Dr. Maheswaran told her.
"She has every right to pursue what ever education she desires when she's older. Maybe she'll grow up...become a mother some day and be like that to her children and say that I was a part of something great that helped improve human lives."
Dr. Miller rolled her eyes and extended her arm towards the AI Core.
"We create life in other concievable ways other than the natural way." She said.
"Whether it be via sperm donor or....copy and pasting from existing data pools."
It was said that Steven's creation was a new prototype sample to assist with the newly developed BM-AIs. Instead of using Phylacteries to create SC-GIS, that they could create them to be more independent and self-flourishing. What ever that meant.
"Not a fan of this prototype I assume?" Dr. Maheswaran asked.
Dr. Miller crossed her arms.
"Society will continue to evolve in the way it needs to. Call me disgruntled or old hat, but I'm not liking the sacrificing of what makes us human to continue progressing as a species."
Dr. Maheswaran wasn't a huge fan either. But they had saved her daughters life with the technology they would never have had otherwise and so...she was grateful.
"I know Rose wasn't a fan either...and I was once all for it...the SC-GIS were already perfect as they were until we were forced to change the developmental methods."
This wasn't something Priyanka knew about beforehand.
"I heard Greg mention Rose in passing....I guess she used to work here?" She said.
Dr. Miller nodded.
"Rose vanished at some point before Steven's creation...said to be on some kind of expedition." She said.
"Her position in the crew wasn't exactly transparent. So only Greg, Dr. Ryman and I knew where she stood."
Then why was Dr. Miller mentioning it to her then if it was supposed to be a secret?
"No one knows where she's gone...and we don't need her anymore anyway."
Kinda harsh, but then again. Dr. Maheswaran had no idea who this Rose was so she kept that to herself.
"Steven's what's important...and Gregs insisted that I be a part of Steven's life like a mother. As if my own grievances could be maintained by a simple piece of compiled data."
It took a moment for Dr. Maheswaran to understand what she meant, even then she was still a bit confused.
"Something happen to your daughter?" She asked.
Dr. Miller shook her head.
"No, no she's fine." She said.
"I was trying for a second child for a while...didn't work out."
Dr. Maheswaran wanted to offer her sympathies. It took her a while to even have Connie, especially with her own history of medical issues.
"I see. Sorry to hear." She said.
Dr. Miller shrugged as her eyes appeared to super focused on the Chassis.
"Your daughter is still your own flesh and blood." Dr. Miller stated.
"And...so is mine...but there will be other children still lost to us. The rate of a childs survival at birth has definitely improved in the last few centuries but unfortunately there will be those who will never see the light of day."
A sad state of affairs. Doctors like Priyanka tried with what they could but they couldn't save everybody. It would usually be a doctors big learning curve would be how to deal with the grief when the time came. Except Priyanka wasn't prepared to lose her own child to something like Rampancy Disease; she wasn't going to let it kill her only child so she had called out to anybody and everybody she could.
"Even helping them grow has been a huge challenge." Priyanka admitted as she observed Connie as the little girl laughed and giggled, perhaps over some silly conversation she had with Steven.
"If we hadn't met Greg..."
Again...Dr. Miller rolled her eyes.
"Greg was subservient to Rose and her ideals." She said.
"He geninunely wants to help humanity and I can't fault him for that. It's just that his ideas aren't actually his own. Ideas that seem great at first but once executed, you begin to question..."
The Shard Project was definitely one that hadn't been considered by any self-respecting doctor. The theory was all there and by happenstance it appeared to have worked. However, Dr. Maheswaran still needed to make sure that her daughters condition was still carefully monitored, even if everything had been working as requested.
"Isn't that just how science is?" Priyanka stated.
"Working with a theory, putting it practice to see if its correct or not?"
Large patches of history could confirm that much.
"It's not the matter of correctness or accuracy i'm worried about." Dr. Miller said.
"The Developers have their plans and how they plot the path towards their goals is reflected in those who they give the permission to seek them. Dr. DeMayo is under pressure to do what is necessary for the progression of both the Pink Monolith and future technologies as a result."
Again, her issues were more with the Developers than Greg himself it seemed.
"Well then..." Said Priyanka, who was suddenly exhausted by some conspiracy theory or something.
"Sounds like he has the world on his shoulders then."
Dr. Miller sighed.
"Maybe." She said.
If only Priyanka knew the half of it.
"He doesn't worry much about the Pink Monolith as he does with Steven."
Kyanite had been overwhelmed more than they had anticipated to be by Priyankas story. Memories must have been slowly emerging from her as well, even if they had attempted to suppress or even delete them from her memory banks...they took a moment to think cautiously, before they used more words. Taking a deep breath, they had to continue.
"So...apart from what the documents found at the Mansion stated, we already knew Dr. Miller had her doubts." Kyanite said.
"I wonder if this contributed to her insanity."
Priyanka crossed her arms and tapped with one of her index fingers.
"Rose must have said something to her. Maybe she even tried to have a child in exchange for Rose not having her own." She said.
"But the matter remains that Rose had her child with Greg in Steven in the end, theoretically speaking."
Dr. Millers doubts could have contributed to the supposed guilt she felt. But the connections were there and upcoming, but Kyanite needed to know more.
"You said you had issues with Connie's own birth?" They asked.
Priyanka nodded with sadness.
"Concieving her was...difficult." She said.
"Doug and...well, the original Priyanka had to resort to IVF . An expensive endeavour that we never tried again after Connie. Doug having to find his own job on top of the Strawberry Farm was to pay for the expenses."
Strawberry Farm?
PING
Kyanite checked their messages;
It was Garnet.
"Meet me at these Coordinates ASAP." It said.
Kyanite sighed; as they really wanted to find out more from Priyanka, but it appeared if they were needed elsewhere.
Notes:
1. Chapter 50: Chassis
2. Chapter 58: Recall
Chapter 67: Dormant
Summary:
Garnet lets Kyanite into a secret meeting between the Developers.
Notes:
Happy New Year. Thank you all for the kudos and for sticking around. Can't believe I'm still writing this fic and if I manage to do it, it'll be three years old this year. What the heck!
Chapter Text
Kyanite rushed to the coordinates Garnet had provided. It appeared at a familiar looking crossroads in the MBC Public Grid. What ever Garnet her them follow had to be good.
Revisiting Mega Beach City held its many contrasts. Once full of life, seeing the empty streets as they were was a jarring experience. A stillness where the wind hadn't been simulated. A silence that was almost defeaning to the point where Kyanite hallucinated hearing the howls themselves.
It was at this point a particular restlessness surrounded them. The desire for rest was apparent, but their mind was left to overthink. An Artificial Intelligence left to think on its own for a long time was considered a danger to itself and others. The towers that dotted the landmark had the lights that pulsed up into the sky in pink, yellow, blue and white pulses that blinked upwards; The sky itself was a sickly green as the hue left its mark on the Domain.
Using the permissions of old, hidden with their software, They raised their hand towards the heavens as blue light esconsed them and they disappeared into the streams.
Once they reappeared, they found themselves in a darkened room with a Diamond shaped window that displayed the green skies once again. They approached the window, without noticing the room also contained single desk nearby which had a certain GIS behind it with their curly black hair. She got up as Kyanite could see them in a white skirt and blazer with an orange blouse underneath. Getting up, she approached Kyanite from behind then stood next to them and looked at the skies.
"Some believe the Domain is a living entity that sleeps eternal and from its dreams, it shapes the world." She said.
Kyanite knew who it was...the disguised Orange Spudemene, Ash. She was an unusual GIS; as for what ever reason, she still managed to evade capture. Kyanite considered her one of the smartest GIS.
"The colors would indicate its overall health....and that the respect we provide it, nutures its. Provides it with sustenance to survive."'
Those types of theories were common. Often made up by nutjobs and conspiracy theorists and religious zealots. A creative idea that the Domain is the fictional mental space of the aliens that forged it. Clever, if not impossible.
"Would the return of the Pink Monolith restore it to its original state?" Kyanite queried.
Ash hummed.
"Uncertain. It could undo some of the damage, but....the Domain may never be the same."
It wouldn't have been the first time Kyanite felt conflicted over something. But seeing the Domain in this state would bring dispair to so many people. The people were right to be infuriated...entire livelihoods were forced to accomodate for the lack of communication...and what ever lawsuits would ensue due to the financial loss...would the Developers be able to maintain their reputation after this? Ash then felt a ping, then nodded in Kyanite's direction.
"Quickly, the meetings about to start."
Ash took Kyanite back to the desk then back down on her black leather office chair. She rolled herself closer then brought up several screens which demonstrated the meeting room the three heads; Volley, Peri and Holly as well as CPDs of several GIS Kyanite recognised on a long table of reddish mahogony. Volley sat on one end, Holly on the right and Peri on the left. Though, the purple GIS with Peri caught Kya offguard.
"Wait, Amethyst was chosen as the Yellow Caretaker?" Kyanite questioned.
Ash grinned.
"For her duties with Officer Vidalia regarding the investigation, she was chosen to succeed Jasper." She said.
Goes to show, don't disregard the talents that even the prototypes could demonstrate. But Kyanite's attention was soon brought to a beleagured Volley, as she lay slouched in her chair, with her leaning her head on her hand while her other hand was on the other armrest, as she tapped her fingers on it with impatience. Given with all the chaos, this had to caused the most stress. The amount of control she had to have on the situation was slowly waning and the keep her sanity throughout all this had to be...
Enviable, for some...though Kyanite would not haved like to be in her position.
"The amount of failures we've had here are simply unacceptable." Said Volley with dry spite.
"Luna's now gotten 95 percent of control of all registered GIS. Why have we been continuing to lose them by the boat load?"
She whacked the armrest with her fist, startling those around her.
"I need answers, not excuses!"
One could chalk it up to bad security protocols, for one. No one really wanted to give a conclusive response out of fear of Lady Volley's wrath. She's been known to hand on unjustly punishments to those who would fail; namely, people would be demoted or they would just disappear with no explanation. The fear was especially known by Holly and Peri, both who looked a bit fearful over their superiors anger. Clearing her throat, the Voice of the Blue Monolith chose to speak up.
"The culprit has been extremely clever." Holly commented.
"Whom ever they've been, clearly are a skilled individual or several people."
They knew Luna wasn't working alone. Going from what had been told, is that Luna had two associates; one who had been sighted recently. A one Lars Barriga was put on notice, so that the hunt for him was especially critical for what he knew.
"For now we have our closest target, on the hunt to infect and collect." She said.
Peri nodded then smirked. Kyanite hated that grin for a multitude of reasons.
"Amethyst and I have been working on plan for that." She said.
This had Volleys attention, though she couldn't be help but give greasy looks to Amethyst.
"Continue."
The tiny prototype wasn't supposed to be in use; working alongside it brought disgust from with Volley but if the Yellow Monolith had clearly seen its worth, Volley wasn't going to judge. Verbally, of course.
"As soon as Jasper was infected, we made the call to put her in quarantine." Peri explained.
"However, Amethyst made the suggestion...after a long and strenous debate, as to keep her phylactery close in order to lure the sordid thief to us."
Volley lifted her chin and squinted, as she contemplated the idea. She was impressed, but refused to show it.
"We place a diversion in one location, and the actual phylactery elsewhere." Amethyst continued.
"But we don't actually announce which is where and Peri and I have already gotten the Phylactery in a safe place."
Volley hummed. She was still left out of pocket, but had somewhere she could direct her anger towards. Her precious GIS could be avenged.
"Good." She said.
"As for the...other place?"
Amethyst and Peri grinned.
"The probability of him going to this location is quite high." Garnet announced.
"The diversion is something we will need your help with."
The rest of the discussion was about where this secret location was had been quite the surprise to Kyanite. Though as the plan was made, they were made to wonder why they were invited to this meeting. Shortly after, Garnet reappeared before them, glad that they had joined in on the discussion.
"Thank you for coming." Garnet said.
"You heard what we said in there."
Kyanite nodded. They heard every little bit.
"The Developers will try and take the heat off but I do not see them getting far." Garnet continued.
Lady Volley's anger was warranted; the world depended on them to keep the Domain running and stocks across the world with the subsidiaries were plummeting. She had to show the stockholders good faith that the situation would be resolved.
"The world grows anxious and disillusioned. Our plan holds on to the expectation that our foe will submit to the location."
And if he didn't? Not that Kyanite doubted Garnet or anything. It was then Garnet looked at Kyanite strangely, as if examing their face.
"You look tired."
And that was a set words Kyanite least expected.
"I do?" They said with a raised eyebrow.
Garnet was ever the astute observer. Noticing slight differences in body language and facial expression like no one else. Her fusion with Padparadscha took this the more annoying levels, if Kyanite had to admit.
Though what Kyanite didn't admit was their overall tiredness. Sick of looking out in the dread abyss of nothingness, sick of fighting...sick of...everything.
No one else could have have known how exhausted they really were. Months on end...even spending time with Jenny was spent with restless, erratic thoughts that kept them more active than they'd like to be.
"It is okay to rest." Garnet assured them.
Was it? Kyanite had no idea of Garnet could read their thoughts, subconscious even.
"Oookay..." Kyanite said, weirded out by her suggestion.
"Am in immediate danger or?"
Garnet lifted her chin.
"Not yet." She said, stoic as ever.
"I fear that you may need to however, if you wish to have a clear head."
Kyanite rubbed the back of their head. If Garnet was insinuitating something she was more than welcome to make it blunt to Kyanite; the distaster of secrecy.
"You can cut the shit." They said, wanting to dodge the further awkwardness that could occur.
"If you want me to sleep for what ever reason your vision says I have to do, you don't have to tip toe around me to get me to do it."
Garnet chuckled as she made a small smile.
"Know your limits." She warned.
"Ash and I need you to come with us. Let the events play out for now."
Kyanite grumbled, annoyed.
"What did I just say?" They complained.
Though they reckoned Garnet was just doing it to mess with them, for what ever spurned the Sapphire-Mod to do so.
"Never mind...let's go then."
During the night, at the Barriga Tower, a familiar pinkened friend had returned to the abode. His mission from his Goddess was made clear.
Though as he had his two feet on the ground and looking at the golden gilded doors, he had to think to himself on how far this was going to go. He's been dedicated so far and Luna had sworn that this was the last retrieval he needed to do. That once this was one done, then the journey would be complete. The end once seemed forever in sight but now it was so, so close. Once done, there were still some parts that needed taking care of but the rest didn't involve Lars triapsing all over the place like he had done prior.
Walking through the doors, he thought about Luna's situation and felt immediately worried for her well being. She was still adamant that this was going to end very soon and that Lars was the last person she could truely entrust with this holy mission.
But in his head, the thought remained - what would really happen, when it was all over?
He headed straight to the penthouse again, though oddly enough, the door was still open. Non-plussed, Lars pressured on.
Looking around, his instincts told him something didn't feel right. Something was missing. Something important...
And as he went into the study, the light suddenly turned on...and in the office chair which swung a 180, before him was a short, blonde woman.
"Hello Lars."
Lars was shocked to see the last person he'd expected to see again.
"Sadie???"
She stood up and approached her ex-boyfriend with the sole intent of getting him to open up. Not as if she wasn't here for other reasons.
"After all these years, you're still so predictable." She said with a smile.
"Heard you're keeping busy these days."
Lars nodded as he crossed his arms.
"Been the busiest man on Earth. I definitely need a raise." He said.
"But what gives, you shouldn't be here."
No. But Sadie was here for several reasons. Trying to convince Lars to give up and give in being one of them. Being chosen to do so...the Developers knew what they were doing. It also helped that when Sadie heard that they were going to ambush him, that she put her hand up first.
"No one else knows you like I do." She said.
"I never got to the chance to apologise for what Mom did to you."
Memories of that day were still stamped in there, causing guilt.
"And all this bullshit that's happened. I never wanted to be a part of it."
Lars didn't know what to do. Or what to say as he still reeled from the shock.
"I never blamed you Sadie." He said, saddened.
"But when your own parents call you a freak of nature...call you out for...."
He's had this tangent with himself and Luna so many times...why did Sadie deserve to hear him say it?
Sadie sighed as she turned herself around and lifted up the hair behind her head. Lars had to squint at what she was demonstrating; A scar with a diamond tattoo around it.
"They placed a Shard into me Lars." She said.
"Not sure why. To control me...just as much as she controls you."
A statement that had Lars completed stunned and lost for words."
"Sadie..." Was the only soft spoken word he could express.
How...how dare they do this to her?
"Luna....she doesn't control me..." He said.
"I owe her a debt."-
FLASHBACK
He stood in the lab with Luna who had been obsessing over the Cluster for the longest time. It wasn't as if she was doing any work in particular rather just staring at it. Recent frustrations had been grating on her as of late, as she felt the build up increasing so. Lars felt her outbursts as he witnessed them and her temperament had been altered for the worst...but he stood by, loyally.
"It still won't let me control it." She said.
Lars had his arms across as he leaned against the wall, watching her waggle her fingers slowly in her attempt to connect.
"Multiple attempts have met with complete failure; what happened to the overrides?"
He didn't understand half of what Luna tried to do on occasion. The techology behind bewildered him more so and could only be there for any kind of vocal support. Software and Hardware wasn't his forte, GIS more so. What could he do to help? Most of anything that he could say was the stuff Luna had already mentioned prior to what ever made the most sense and what had stuck with him for further support.
"What happened to Jaspers Phylactery anyway?"
Lars grumbled.
"It wasn't in the quarantine zone." He responded.
"They'd taken extra measures to keep it out of our hands..."
Luna sighed with disappointment.
"Truth be told." He continued.
"Everyones focused on this now more than ever. They're slow but they're not stupid. It's us against thousands of still, sane minded people against this....system of mishmashed splintered AI's."
For once, he had a point. For his own understanding of the situation, Lars grasped the concept of the virus being able to corrode the psyches of GIS which infect and reflect in their Avatars, demonstrating their highly distorted forms. Lunas plans hitched on the virus as a connecting thread; a simple, single connecting thread that would have bound the Cluster successfully.
To think the same, to want the same....to focus their energies into a powerful destructive force that could soon wipe the Domain clean with its immense potential.
She still weren't sure what was missing, despite her best efforts.
"It has to be the Monoliths." She said.
"I don't know how but it has to be their meddling Lars. Why must they ruin my dream?"
If Lars was honest with himself, he didn't have the same, seething hatred. He might have shared some contempt but not to her extent. Whether he truly believed the gospel of his Goddess was kept to himself.
His thought patterns would deviate on her words, like, could someone like Luna even dream? Lars has never even seen Luna sleep once.
"Maybe you need to rest." He suggested.
Turning towards Lars, Luna seemed surprised at the prospect.
"I meant that metaphorically." She said.
Lars rolled his eyes.
"And I meant it...literally." He replied.
"AIs don't have to sleep...I think...but you've been using that...human body for months and I've not seen you even have a single wink of it."
Luna had no idea what sleep felt like. Humans were a fickle species that she wouldn't admit that she's struggled to connect to. Being in a human body made it more convulted than desired, and the trove of new data that came with it was almost overwhelming to deal with. She didn't expect the aches and pains and to sustain herself on the human form was...nastier and more disgusting than anticipated. Why she would think that overall was anyones guess, but once she got over these facts she was able to quickly adapt.
"When I go into inactive periods I can meditate." She said.
That's...well, Lars could respect that.
"You do what you want to do." He said, not wanting to appear exasperated in front of his Goddess; that would be disrespectful.
"I know how frustrating things can be. Sometimes...just sleeping it off can help."
And Lars found a lot of things to be frustrating. Luna then made a fist as she pressed it just below her neck.
"I fear the lack of conscious control will have it returned to its host." She warned.
Connie?
"The desire to root control was out of necessity. But I cannot lose it as such. Her desires to both salvage both humanity and artificial intelligence are...noble...but she teams with the atrocities of the Domain. She mustn't undo my hard work."
He didn't know Connie all that well. Berrybyte, the hacker, however was well known. Infamous in a lot of circles...and the news from the Developers would want blood for what's she done to them. Seeing Connie's face as the front of their Cult would have made the world know who Connie was...and that she would never be able to walk the streets if she just wanted to go about her day.
Lunas original plan was to insert herself into the Cluster but continued to have difficulty doing so; for reasons with compatibility. She'd always say that though, the issue could never be solved.
"I know what you mean, however." She said.
"The human premise to dream. I am who I am working with patched algorithms on top of forcibly incorporated cortexes and subroutines. How would I even dream when...."
Good grief. Lars adored Luna, but to listen to her monologue and use a lot of weird words in the act of her blatant melacholic view of her own situation.
"Lars...maybe I am the one in the conflict. I cannot exist alongside them because I am not them. I am somebody else, something else..."
He could relate.
"These humans need to be saved....and so...we are pictured to be the ones in the wrong. They picture my dream as wrong because they fail to understand..."
Lars had other ideas.
"Humans are attached the Domain." He said.
"They've been taught, brainwashed into believing that they need the Monoliths..."
Luna nodded.
"Yes..." She said.
"But that dream....it isn't my own. Made up by the virtual souls that made me. That they so humbly believed in that the system needed to change. Or else..."
Or else the world would be put into further peril. They've had this discussion many times before.
"Or else human lives would be in danger, yeah I get ya." Lars continued on.
While Luna spieled that endlessly, there was more to it than what she was letting on. Lars may never understand what she was trying to get at it. Like the roots of her code had been trying to message her, but they hadn't been recieved. She looked at the Cluster Monolith before them. Her beloved project, made up of thousands of GIS. All of them, meant to form the framework of her precious plan.
"They would never sleep." She said.
"And you, Lars...would suggest I become temporily incumbent while the Cluster itself remains unattended?"
If he was honest? It was her number one fear to the point where he found it difficult to keep up with her ideas on how to protect it.
"Look, I clearly don't know the specifics but we have all the failsafes in place as you ordered to. Kevin, Leon and I placed the last few a while back and there's nothing wrong with that type of security...as far I'm aware anyway." He told her.
Not that that alleviated Luna's concerns as such.
"I still need you to go down there. I've heard word about the Developers placing Jaspers in a perculiar place..."
Lars could only but observe Luna as she rubbed the back of her neck; a reminder of where the Shard was placed.
"Of course ma'am."
"Luna's Host has a Shard too." Lars said.
"I-Its not all bad."
Raising an eyebrow, Sadie was even more confused.
"But..." Lars continued.
"They seek to control you too. They're using the oldest trick in the book to get my attention with you here....so I'm here...and clearly, Jaspers Phylactery isn't here after all."
Sadie shook her head.
"Are you honestly letting her ideas get into your head that easy Lars? Come on, you just wanted to slack off of all the time...I've never seen someone so blinded by this....faith...I never took you for a religious guy."
Religious? No. Lars wasn't a fervent worshipper. That would be creepy.
"What? No. That's crazy." He said.
"What she might say IS crazy but I need to do this."
Disappointing.
"This isn't the Lars I fell in love with." Sadie continued.
"Yeah, you have a grudge against your mom and dad...I get that. You know my mom wasn't a perfect peach either. I'd thought you'd want more revenge against her than anyone else."
One would think that, but Lars didn't care.
"Hey at least I know your mom was a nutjob all day, everyday." He pointed out.
Words Sadie took offense to.
"Hey she wasn't always like that." She called out.
Lars knew that was bullshit.
"Oh yeah, when was the last time you got shot huh?"
Sadie growled.
"Hey! Mom was trying to protect me!" She roared.
Had a funny way of showing it.
"She's was already too late with the birds and the bees discussion!" Lars taunted.
The banter itself turned up the heat with the repeated remarks and insults that turned in some kind tennis match like argument that was loud enough for the whole tower to hear. An event that went on into the night...and eventual silence.
Luna on the other hand had been distracted yet again and awaited desperately for results from Lars. Her thoughts about dreams diverted into many other unseemly internal dialogue about what she was supposed to be doing with those dreams.
The Cluster continued to deny her access and her blame on the Monoliths interference was apparent. It frustrated her to no end with their manevolence, their intent to ruin everything Luna held dear. That the unusual visions that she would have from to time to time were irrelevant; useless essences of days gone by.
"But...." She said to herself.
"Maybe those visions are trying to call out the solution to me...and I may not be able to invoke them while I am awake...a dream or two could help reconnect me with my viable visions..." She said.
With that, Luna left the room to lie down her head.
Chapter 68: Legacy
Summary:
Kyanite follows Garnet and the Orange Spodumene to an unlikely place.
Chapter Text
Kyanite knew Garnet was hiding something and they imagined Garnet knew that Kyanite that she was hiding something....and she depended on that desire to know the truth to get them to follow her. Kyanite wanted to respect Garnet to the highest level, but beating around the bush wasn't getting them anywhere. They'd rather hang around with Jenny's fathers pizzeria and be slandered by him than to continue to delay the reveals, rather than being uncomfortable hanging around a Seer program and Ash, her kind, mysterious...associate who preferred to wear their human shell...that it made Kyanite often forget her true form was an Orange Spodumene.
The duo ended up taking them to the Beach House; that hut by the Obsidian Ruins, which...surprised Kyanite. The entire area gave off a strange aura. Whether it was due to the digital ocean it sat by or...the entire atmosphere. They'd gotten a closer look at the Ruins; with the exterior of the ruins taking shape of multi-armed woman that was embedded into the cliffs edge. It was described that the woman in question was once worshipped by a minor group of humans as a "Goddess" of sorts. Garnet didn't really elaborate on it, as she didn't have much information herself, other than telling Kyanite that the Ruins had been designed as a virtual replica of the real life ruins. Mega Beach City had its own replica which really was mostly a landmark built to educate humans on the original location of where the Monoliths were.
So the story goes.
"Yeah I know that...no need for a history lesson." Kyanite stated.
The Hut itself was written into the location which Garnet had said that they had been there for as long as they can remember. Again, Garnet didn't go in greater detail, only that it had always been herself, Amethyst and Pearl that had been there until Steven arrived that fateful day.
Why Steven himself had presented himself in front of them, by this point, hadn't been fate. It had to have been on purpose. How and why couldn't be explained only; that it had to have been related to the incident and that he ended up here because....because something certainly placed him there and left him to the care of the Ancillas.
Garnet lead Kyanite to a door in the back of the hut. It was pure black and had a smooth finish and shine, and had a star that had differently coloured spheres on each point.
As Garnet faced the door in front of them, she was left trying to open it, as Ash turned to continue to explain things to Kyanite.
"The true location of these ruins were forever kept from the public." She explained.
"This site was meant to show people around and to teach them about the original expedition. Until the Pink Monolith disappeared and they were forced to keep the public away from here."
Explained the keep out signs.
"Great story." Kyanite said sarcastically.
"How is this supposed to help us, exactly."
Ash smirked.
"There's another history lesson that has slowly been forced to be erased from the peoples minds." She revealed.
Kyanite had a feeling.
"If it's about the Monoliths each having their own Conduits and that the White Monoliths is actually White from the original expedition, I already know." Kyanite iterated.
"And the other three, are her daughters."
Ash and Garnet exchanged glances.
"Well you've done your homework." She said.
"Or you watched that Documentry."
Oh...no, Kyanite hadn't. Not yet, anyway.
"Either way, we do know now that it was Rose who helped make this place from scratch; using her architectual abilities to forge it. But we now understand that behind the door here, where the Ancillas sleep, may hold their own set of secrets."
Now Kyanite understood that reference from before. Garnet shot them a knowing glance.
"The doors were made for myself, Amethyst and Pearl....and Rose made a door for herself." She said.
"We never understood what the pink Gem on the door meant, until we met Steven."
Kyanite furrowed their brows.
"Because of where his Phylactery came from?" They said.
Garnet nodded.
"Yes." She said.
"However, we never tried use him to open the door previously."
Why the hell not? He'd been there for a while and none of them thought to his him to open it?
"Wait, he was right there the entire time, in this place and you never thought to connect the dots?" Kyanite queried.
Apparently not.
"My Analysis never predicted it, not was I ever given an explicit order to try and open that part." She said.
"Amethyst asked Steven to open his section, but it never worked. It never would."
Odd.
"Maybe it needed Rose. Like, even if you weren't aware at the time that Steven had inherited her Phylactery; the simple resemblence wouldn't have been enough." Kyanite explained.
"It could be requiring her software specifically. If in the case that she vanished then absolutely no one would have been able to open it."
When then begged the question.
"And yeah, resemblence isn't enough for me to open the door either. My Kernel Core isn't even in the same place."
That's not what Garnet had been hinging on.
"The Third Eye can't do everything, however, I can predict that there is a backdoor way to get in there...and it does require some precise hacking."
Precise...hacking?
"All of us have attempted it. Nothing works." Garnet continued.
"We figure that you might be able to try it."
This left Kyanite completely perplexed. Why in the world would they need them of all people? A failure of a GIS who really had no business being here to begin with. Though if Kyanite did have a look at the encryption models, they could certainly give it a try.
They first brought up a screen which displayed the underlying code of the door before them. Reading the code in question after a brief moment made Kyanite realise how complex it actually was. Each of the rooms constructed used an unusual algorithm to offset their actual locations. The rooms themselves were actually in different parts of the Grid entirely, as if the door was made as a transporter or a Exit Gate. Except they were mostly shortcutting gateways to secret locations. Fascinating.
The Code here was written by Rose; and perhaps even Bismuth helped with the construction. No one else would be able to make something so extensive and elaborate. Like a winding labrinthye of nonsensical pathways that lead to separate endings. Kyanite was able to easily identify the rooms written for Pearl and Amethyst; then Garnet's two components had their own separate locales but they had the ability to merge the two rooms together. Fascinating. It was meant to accomodate Garnet as her own entity but it had to have been in someway that it identified her and her respective Ruby and Sapphire aspects. Fascinating encryption methods indeed that it impressed Kyanite with how well made it all was. Extremely complicated to make, the blue GIS figured but to them it was actually quite beautiful that the human code writers would be in awe of it.
However, when it came to the 'Rose' Section, that part was more than complex. It was the largest of the lot and incidentally the messiest like it was hastily compiled in less than a few hours. Or maybe not. The randomised factors were designed to change on the fly, with a lot of configuration to design for hundreds, if not hundreds of thousands of potential outcomes. As if that this was a landspace that had room for its user to have free creative control within the internal contents. The file packages were massive compared to the other rooms.
The engine itself that was put inside was remarkable....that Kyanite had to imagine the immense processing power that was required to run it. It borrowed from the Public Grid without drawing too much attention to it. Kyanite figured the loose processing power meant for the digital ocean nearby could be borrowed just to empower it. Suddenly the ruins location to it made much more sense.
But there was still a key part of this that was missing. The further Kyanite went in, the more they realised they needed something else that they simply did not have.
"Hmm..." Kyanite said as they rubbed their chin.
"The key to access relies on specific detection grips. So it may have needed Rose's entire identity map to be able to unlock it."
Which didn't help their situation at all. Garnet must have seen something. She might have said that the Third Eye couldn't help her specifically, but...
"The Third Eye found out that same issue." Garnet said.
"It's a strong encryption method that's rarely used and it is barely understood. But it realised that you might know more about these...identity maps."
Even something like that stumped the great Garnet and her prior triumphs? Though Garnet wasn't designed as an infiltrator. She was meant to plan out with as much information she could gather and her power was to direct others but not necessarily action them. Kyanite sighed....knowing this could take forever to crack.
"Identity maps are similar to human DNA." They explained.
"An encryption method tied to our own individualized code. It's a...Diamond level encryption method...."
Known to be the toughest ones to crack. Popularised by Weiss United years back but not used all that often. The software was deliberately made either extremely expensive to purchase the license for or inaccessible by the common masses. Businesses couldn't afford to use them.
"Rose was part of the family after all." Ash told them.
"It is of no surprise."
Rose would have assisted with her family connections anywhere she could, given the amount of influence she had. Not necessarily with her own business but for DM Biometrics in general.
"Does the Third Eye believe that I might be able to crack the uncrackable?" Kyanite wondered.
An Identity Map was said to be impossible to replicate. Unless Garnet foresaw other methods of infiltration.
"You're wearing Steven's skin." Ash said.
"It is completely possible that even without him here, that Rose could have changed the coding to see his Identity Map as well. We're not sure of the basis of this particular method but it could potentially be a starting point if it involves the Avatar as a small part of it, from there you could build an authentication key."
How did Ash even know this?
"I worked for Weiss United for a long time, before that I worked with Rose Quartz. She shared some knowledge with me back in the day when we were able to communicate. She explained that in any of her designs, that she left room for backdoor methods. She didn't explain what these methods were, but I found out that these keys were often created with building blocks that if you have the know how, that could perfect emulate the real thing."
If Kyanite were to use their Avatar, then they could use it to forge the key? Interesting.
"And I can use the Third Eye to guide you through the formulation process, based on what we see here." Garnet announced.
"It will be a lot of trial and error and it could take us some time. You must be up for the task if we are to succeed."
Kyanite smirked.
"Time is all I need." They said before cracking their knuckles.
"Let's get started."
Diamond Level Encryption was no joke, but Kyanite relished in the challenge. Garnet was correct, however. There was a lot of trial and error....but the system itself was particulary forgiving...there were no alarms or any sudden changes in the encryptions defensive mechanisms. Any Firewalls were never really an issue other than the declined passthrough. Kyanite would have thought the method would constantly evolve and that they would get absolutely nowhere. But the Third Eye coupled with Kyanite looked into the basics of their Shell, there was some progress. 0.2 percent was better than 0.1.
It was exhausting however. It reminded Kyanite that education of such an intricate and complicated hacking method would have been met with the challenge of a persons first successful hack. Time, caution and cool under pressure would be paramount to the knowledge provided in order to crack even the simplest code. To the uninformed, it would just be a mass of text. To those with the simplest of understanding, could begin to see the method behind the madness.
The discovery of new and undiscovered code had a certain thrill. To know that it existed and how it worked had always been fascinating....and Kyanite wondered, given Steven's information regarding on Connie and her own skills, if she had felt the same way and that it would have gotten her so determined to make a name for herself in the criminal underworld that nothing phased or detered her form accumulating such knowledge. Her courage and willingness to dive into the deep end, would have have been seen as admirable in some, but stubborn in the eyes of those who doubted her.
Kyanite would have imagined Connie seeing this as childs play...though wasn't sure if the infamous Berrybyte had even had to deal with this level of complexity before.
The three of them worked together diligently, their concentration and determination that lead them to tirelessly deal with the slowly formulating Authentication Key. Unlike Garnet and Ash, Kyanite would find themselves wondering what really lay behind Rose's Door, leading them to think what Rose had been planning to do or what she had been doing. Curiousity that would try to sway Kyanite's focus but ultimately....
Kyanite wasn't even sure how much time had passed....it could have been hours...days...weeks even. They could have checked their internal clock but they didn't really care to know. But Garnet was right...there was a lot of room to fail and fail they did. Constantly. It caused them gripe that without Garnets guidance it could have driven them mad. Each red line that turned into an orange, then a green gave them a sense of relief. But that relief was always few and far in between.
Eventually...
"Okay, this should...this should work...right?" Kyanite asked, absolutely exhausted.
Garnet had to give the go ahead. That GIS's patience and tenacity was like none other.
"Try it." She said.
Kyanite summoned the program itself; which portrayed a replication of Rose Quartz as a blue hologram as it stood in front of the door. Seeing the figure sturred something with both Ash and Garnet...and unbeknowst to Kyanite, Garnet felt the impact more so, but didn't dare show it.
The door scanned Rose's Kernel Core specifically, as Kyanite gulped, fearful for any error that would get them nowhere.
However, the door itself disappeared and a ray of pinkish, sparkling light poured through....and Kyanite was amazed that what they achieved.
"Woah...didn't think that would actually work." They said, amazed.
Garnet smiled. Obviously she knew it would...and preferred Kyanite be amazed at their own undiscovered talents.
"Well done." She said, shutting the key down.
"Let us proceed to enter."
The three entered the new room. It was drenched in pink clouds, inspiring confusion within Kyanite. Ash, however recognised this immediately.
"Rose always had a passion for the pastel aesthetic." She said.
"Though sadly, never got to use it in her line of work...but you should have seen her apartment..."
The trio walked around as the room itself appeared to be vast but mostly empty sans for the endless amounts of cloud formations. Kyanite brought up its code on their code observation screen. The code itself was the source of the unusually large sample sizes of files embedded into its systems, though, none of them could be seen.
Its virtual memory and processing power were massive as Kyanite had noted beforehand but this looked way too simple for that amount of to be utilised.
"Why would Rose need a room like this?" Kyanite wondered.
Ash looked around herself.
"I think this is just a virtual emulation space." She said.
"I know Rose....when she had ideas, she liked to write or draw things down. This appears to be a world building program she could have utilised to envision world spaces or objects she could design on her own and perhaps impliment into her line of work."
A powerful, unique program indeed. To conjure such things on the fly based on ideas alone. It was staggering.
"How one would be able to project such things, only Rose would know."
Garnet hummed...which meant she had thought of something.
"Kyanite you're able to bring up contents of this room." She said.
"You should be able to find something unusual."
Unusual?
"What should I be looking for?" They asked.
They didn't even think to conjure anything themselves, but none of them knew what the command prompts were.
"It stands to reason that what ever Rose used this room for, she kept adding files onto it. Constantly." Ash said.
"Those who created their own art programs would be able to add brushes or settings onto their own systems. Rose would have done the same for this one. Each feature, tool or byproduct would have its own file name."
Garnet agreed.
"Yes." She said.
"Find something that stands out."
Kyanite was a bit weirded out but they couldn't help but agree with them. Utilising the code viewer, Kyanite went through the compiled mass of files contained within this room. Ash was right, there were a lot of aptly named tools and features by the gigabyte load. A lot of files to boot...anything Rose would have to had to save at some point.
There hadn't been really been anything of note; until they came across redacted audio recordings. There was a file named, To my Ancillas: Kyanite pulled it out and used an audio program to play the sound. However, they couldn't hear anything first. That was, until it summoned a small frame and what appeared to be a painting of a woman with pink hair, as she sat down with her eyes closed and wore a white wedding dress, as if she had sat there as someones muse.
Kyanite couldn't help but stare. This woman had grown to be a thorn in their side as to how many secrets...perhaps enough to be contained within the volumious hair of hers.
"There she is." Said Garnet; who felt an odd feeling just upon a simple glimpse.
"Yes. She is as I remember her...."
Ash nodded in agreement.
"Her beauty will make you forget she was the one with the greatest ambition that we know...maybe more so than you would be lead to believe." She said.
Indeed. How could one person thrown them into such chaos? The calamity that lead to the world losing one of its most valued treasures as of late?
"There's another frequency under that file." Garnet said.
"Replaying audio."
Garnet took to checking the files of the painting and relayed the audio.
"To the Ancillas. If you ever find this place somehow, not that I would want you to, but please know that this is for my use only. I plan to return to the Domain some day, and this is going to be the main point of entry for me. I will need to use the route between here and the AI Core in the Site situated in the paiting. Only use this for emergences.....and I will use Diamond Strength Encryption to protect it."
The Painting...the painting was...a portal? That left Kyanite speechless. This is what she left behind?
"So...this will directly link us to the Site? THE Site? The secret of all secret Sites?" Kyanite said, absolutely bewildered.
"It appears so." Garnent said, unenthusiastic.
This made so much more sense now.
"Rose descyhronised herself....and wanted to use Steven's AI Core as a bridge to go between the Domain and the Site itself...."
And now they could potentially find Steven...if this was going to go the way Kyanite thought it was going to.
"Garnet, this is ABSOLUTELY HUGE!" Kyanite beamed as they grabbed Garnets shoulders and shook them.
"You know exactly what this means!"
Garnet didn't move. They found Kyanite's enthusiasm admirable, but they had to pace themselves and not burn out too quickly. Given with what they had just gone through, Garnet feared Kyanite's small energy bursts could wear them out eventually. She liked the fact that Kyanite was still dedicated as ever and that strength had to be reserved for what was to come.
"Yes." She replied bluntly.
Kyanite didn't know what to do with themselves. They paced back and forth and then stopped in front of the painting, before Garnet placed her hand on their shoulder.
"Calm yourself." She said.
"We need to be careful. I'll go with you."
Kyanite didn't care; this was their ticket and they weren't about to let that go. The energies they felt....immense and tense.
"Ash, maintain the perimeter." Garnet ordered.
"Keep me posted on any major updates."
Ash nodded as she saluted the Blue Caretaker.
"Yes ma'am." She said.
Garnet opened the portal as the painting rippled underneath a single touch, before Kyanite and herself jumped into it.
Chapter 69: Core
Summary:
Kyanite and Garnet finally arrive at the infamous Site.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
To enter the dragons den was one thing. But the one dragon within was a lonely AI, staring at a wall. As Garnet and Kyanite looked around the pink abode, it took the latter a while to realise where they were and who they were standing behind.
To say Kyanite's chest was full of a powerful emotion was an understatement.
"Steven?" They said softly.
He turned around and stared at them blankly. He barely reacted as Kyanite charged towards them. The Blue GIS wrapped their arms around his neck tightly; to which, he enjoyed their warmth. It triggered positive emotions he hadn't felt before....or he had and just couldn't remember it. But it was warm...and nice....and felt compelled to return the embrace, but Kyanite moved and examined his face as they tugged his chin to make sure he was doing alright.
"I'm glad you're okay." Kyanite exclaimed as their joy entered his ear.
What was he supposed to do in the situation? It was all very overwhelming. His arms slowly, but surely raised upwards in an attempt to mimic them, but they froze and quivered in place. Before he could reciprocate, Kyanite moved backwards and held his shoulders to get him to stand still, while their eyes traveled up and down his body. Conclusion? There weren't any obvious signs of his old self peeking through, but to them, that little tidbit was the least important right now.
"Well, as close to okay..." They said, ambivalent.
"Greg hasn't turned you back to normal I see."
Garnet knew that was going to happen, to an extent. She scanned the room and felt the pink walls an in attempt to scribe the atmosphere.
"It's a customised psyche grid." She said.
"This is the AI Core's interior."
Somehow, Kyanite imagined Steven's looked different to this, then again, they had been in something similar before.
"The Ruins being connected to this meant someone planned this well in advance." Kyanite exclaimed.
Garnet had a feeling that was why Steven was found at the Obsidian Ruins in the first place; he was thrown through the Secret Gateway. She wished she could have seen it sooner, although her algorithms showed other concerns.
"I'm picking up multiple energy signatures as well." She confirmed.
"One of them is Greg and I'm picking up three other smaller ones...and..."
One that was so large that it stood out the most...and even Garnet had troubling reading the detail so she would most likely need to use the Third Eye to probe further in.
"I'm going to continue to study what I can bef-"
"Not so fast."
She was too late.
"This."
It was inevitable; the promise of a peaceful rescue was always fleeting, as the aura around them heated up. Greg formed into place and to see him so pissed was so...unlike him. Kyanite felt the shift in the digital winds as he came into a place with a slight golden aura. They had to take action.
"How did you two even get here? I had the passages blocked on the highest authentication levels and somehow you still interfer-"
They didn't even waste anymore time before they charged before Greg and pushed him to the ground. The man could barely react, as Kyanite grabbed him and sat on his chest to keep him from squirming away. The look on Kya's face was worse than Greg's; who's face turned into that of typical pale and sweaty fear. His bravado could only ever last him for the shortest amount of time.
"That doesn't matter, asshole." Kyanite said, infuriated.
"Your fucking ambition to protect Steven makes you pull the stupidest stunts. Ever heard of working together as a team?"
Greg tried to get angry but he was more deep in his cowardice than what he could possibly run away from.
"I'm not gonna apologise, if that's what you're after." He said.
Not that Kyanite expected one. Would have been nice but they weren't naive. They may have well gifted Greg with something just to let him piss on it.
"I wasn't gonna ask." They said.
"Your paranoia isn't going to save Steven OR Connie at this rate."
Greg grumbled. His intentions were...understanderable but outright foolish, given the direction he felt like he need to take matters.
"In fact." Kyanite continued.
"It was going to kill Connie."
Furrowing his brows in confusion, Greg looked over at Garnet in the hopes she would elaborate.
"The Purge Program is incomplete." She said to further Kya's explanation.
"It still requires Connie's data to ensure that when we can force Luna out, that we do not kill Connie in the aftermath."
The look on the mans face, the one of surprise, indicated that that wasn't what he was trying to do at all. The thought of that entered Steven's ears too, inspiring him to be proactive as he stood up and glanced down at his Father-Creator.
"Is that true?" Steven asked, his tone stale but demanding.
"You were going to kill Connie?"
Greg shook even more with trepidation, fearful for everyone seeing his intentions in the wrong light.
"What? N-no! Of course not!" He stammered
"I know this is confusing as it is... I-I mean, I'm willing to cooperate if-"
Kyanite then got off Gregs chest and forced him to stand....only to pull him up by his neck and hold him there. They would then use their voice in a low tone that so cold and threatening, that he'd piss himself if he could ever even gift the theoretical gift.
"Indecisive little man." They said.
"Good intentions only get you so far until you fuck everything up until there's nothing left to protect."
Greg gulped. How could he make things right, if no one was willing to listen? Steven was his number one priority, but if Greg could keep others safe....
"As long...as long as he's here I can keep him stable." He said, worried about his sons condition.
"That's always been a priority. His health and wellbeing is important to me."
Had a funny way of showing it. He kicked his legs underneath as he struggled to break free, but Kyanite's grip was strong and unyielding. It had Garnet using the Third Eye to understand Dr. DeMayo....and this particular version of him felt off. Garnet had been piercing together her slowly emerging memories as with anyone else...and that she wasn't sure if Greg was always like this...something didn't seem or feel right...and it was obvious that the depths of his words portrayed the sentences of alterior directives. An influence that would override common sense.
An idea came to mind that came from indirect thinking. A piece that could steer the ship in the course of the most probable future.
"To make sure he doesn't succumb to overflow." Garnet said.
"There's a secret you're not telling us Dr. DeMayo and I can see it more clearly into your code. You cannot hide your nature from me."
His...nature? Kyanite wasn't even onto what Garnet was on about; but she had the Third Eye after all so of course nothing really could elude her that easily.
"You were twisted from the original during the incident...." She continued.
"You were just as entangled into a forced Consensus as Luna was. Not to the same patched extent as she, but it interwined itself into the fabric of your programming."
Kyanite still had no idea what was Garnet was talking about, but trusted her judgement.
"So spit it Greg or I will do it for you..."
What did he have to hide? He remained challenged at conflicted as Kyanite dropped him. He massaged his neck as he glared daggers with his sudden golden eyes and white flames.
"I say Greg because you prefer to your other name..."
Nope, Kyanite was definitely lost. Steven was lost from the start but he had an excuse.
"Kyanite you're aware by now that there were two components that raised Steven in the beginning." Garnet hinted.
"We never knew what happened to the other one."
Wait...
"You're...you're Sol?" Kyanite stated.
Greg sighed with relief as he forced himself to calm down...he didn't think they would figure out that quickly. Kyanite was in fact, quite shocked, though they shouldn't have been all that surprised.
"It took me a longer to find that out for myself..." Greg said, his tone deflated.
"I....I'm not the real Greg. I mean, I am a copy... so I have his data...his Avatar intertwined with what ever was left of Sol....and I had to keep Steven away somehow."
So...what did happen to the real Greg then? He took a chair and sat down on it, looking despondent and distant.
"His personality was an imprint with Gregs character onto the program." Garnet said.
"You were left confused as to what you were supposed to do until Luna's more complex code came into the picture."
Kyanite could see what was real and what was not, even down to the smallest detail...that was within their design. To notice what was off-putting....and to them, Gregs' character felt...strange. They noticed his sudden shift in manner, as if he'd let go of a very large mask that he'd been wearing since...goodness knows how long.
"How long were you going to keep this up?" Kyanite asked, as they crossed their arms.
As for Steven, he remained paused and refused to show emotion; if he had any. Greg could only look on in sadness.
"As long as it took." He said.
"Recompiling old data took years. Realising who I was is...knowing what I could do with what I have....and what I have to give is little in return to what I had done...or to what the original Greg had done."
Was it still Greg? Or was he a forced consensus like Luna was? Steven then stood up, approached the AI and looked up at him. This had been the hardest tell to read with no one, but maybe Garnet, could tell what he was about to do.
What ever thoughts he had must have been running around his head for a long time. Maybe before the kidnapping. Kyanite's own conflicts on their own theories took place and....truth be told.
No one really knew what to do.
Greg looked solemn as he stared down at his son. There was care and love still embedded into this form....and for all the hatred Kyanite felt towards him felt...odd. Fleeting, almost. A spur of the moment with unkempt thoughts that went around like shooting stars only to hit back to earth with nothing to show but an empty crater.
"Son..." They uttered.
Then they remembered what Connie told them beforehand. Her words that mysteriously echoed in their mind to let them ponder what it meant.
"Wait...Greg...I was told....to tell you that Man is on the Sun, Growing Cherries."
Greg then narrowed his eyes towards Kyanite as if they said something that triggered something else within him.
"And the Man is on the Moon, Growing Strawberries." He muttered.
"Who told you this?"
Kyanite was still confused; as they hoped Greg would have had an answer.
"Ummm...Connie did?" They replied with a uncertain scratch in their voice.
And it turned out Greg was just as confused. He then made a fist, which then shook.
"It was....never mind." Greg said as he started to pace back and forth.
Kyanite and Garnet looked at one another.
"The time to act is now." He said, out of the blue.
"But we can't involve anyone else in this, besides maybe Amethyst and maybe Pearl."
Kyanite was completely lost, though felt the onset of a strong pull in themselves...Garnet could see this too, though had to wait for Kyanite to react...
"We need to reach Luna- before"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH..."
A sharp pain entered Kyanite as they fell forward...the inscrutiable event happened as before. Unbearable white noise and feedback interfered with their functions as well as their Avatar. Really, this was the most dramatic they'd been in sometime. Just as they were making progress, other bullshit just had to arise, as if the powers that be made it impossible to not have further complications.
"Ah..shit, not again, not aaaaa."
The sudden scream had Steven's immediate attention, springing to their side as to try and figure what to do. The desire to help was there but he wasn't sure how to.
"Kyanite, you're not well." He said.
Stating the obvious of course...typical Steven.
"No shit Sherlock." Kyanite cried.
"Don't fucking ask me what's wrong because I have no fucking clue."
Garnet and Greg were immediately worried as well.
"Did those words trigger something?" Greg wondered.
"No." Garnet replied.
"This happened before as well. I'll try and route the issue."
The Blue Caretaker knelt before Kyanite and placed her hands on their cheeks. Steven stood back and watched as Garnet used the Third Eye to determine the issue...but deep down he felt the pain from the guilt...what guilt? From the inability to do anything?
Emotions he wasn't prepared to undertake...he was far from it. Greg stood behind his son and placed his hands on his shoulders. Despite everything, Steven's capacity to understand what Greg really was didn't dawn on him as deception was not something he could currently comphrehend.
"Hmmm." Garnet said as there were three blue glowing orbs that illuminated themselves where her eyes would be underneath her shades.
"A communication error that's a result of....a subroutine that's causing conflicts."
Kyanite continued to shake and shiver in the agony of it all. Their Avatar continued to distort and flicker and anything audible was coming out baseless and crackly.
"Don't tell me Luna just found your Phylactery?" Greg asked.
Upon such words, Kyanite looked up at Garnet and focused on her alone. The Fusion didn't want to say anything that would go against Kyanite's wishes...given what would ensue if the truth was known.
"My Phylactery...." Kyanite spouted.
"It's...."
The noise suddenly stopped as the room went into an awkward but tense silence. Kyanite's knees quivered as they stood back up and held their head and groaned. Their Avatar had been stabilised once more, as everything eventually turned back to normal.
"Are you okay?" Steven asked.
Kyanite wasn't even sure anymore.
"I can't tell." They said.
"But thanks for asking."
Out of everyone, Garnet definitely knew better. The situation would get worse, before it could get better.
"I found the connection point." She said.
"It is up to your...discretion on how to pursue it."
No one else but Kyanite understood what she was talking about. They appreciated Garnets on masking on the matter, but it had been difficult to put into words. The right words.
"Luna must be trying something funny." Kyanite announced.
"Don't know what it is but we must still purge her in order if we're going to assist Connie."'
Crossing their arms, Greg tried to suss out the situation himself, perplexed as to why Kyanite had to be the one to do it.
"Level with me here." He said.
"Yeah you found out I was Sol....and I'm sorry that I've been lying to you. I want to help. I do...but you're saying this...program requires more of Connie's Data. Problem is that we don't have any of her data."
No...well, maybe.
"Steven." Kyanite said out of the blue.
"You remember that silver box I gave you?"
Steven nodded....and he pulled out said box as it floated in his hand. Something that surprised Greg as he stood there to gaze upon.
"Yes." He replied.
Good....Kyanite hinged on Steven keeping it close.
"I had Bismuth construct it for me." They continued.
"It should solve that problem."
Weirded out even more, Greg had to know.
"It holds her data? How?" He asked.
Telling too much information would be detrimental to Kyanite's plans. But Kyanite was happy to divulge what they could.
"Let's just say Connie's got some interesting Hardware that has unexpected properties associated with it, for those who know where to look." Kyanite explained.
"All in all, I'm the only one who knows how to use that box properly."
Greg grew suspicous.
"Maybe I'm not the only one with secrets." He said, annoyed by Kyanite's attempt at control. He'd been wary of them for the longest time, especially with their times to the Blue Monolith. But this statement riled Kyanite up greatly...and while they wanted to let go of their hatred, they were still very distrustful of...this Sol-Greg.
"I broke ties with the Blue Monolith...I'm no longer the Blue Caretaker because of your foolishness." Kyanite stated.
Something that Sol-Greg wasn't even aware of. Garnet knew the Blue Caretaker still cared for Kyanite(or at least, the Conduits version of caring) and didn't actually disconnect any tethers. If anything, the Blue Monolith ordered Garnet to keep a closer eye on them.
"You made me doubt my capabilities as a GIS, that I was so sure of what we trying to do that your simple mind latched on to this stupid idea that could have fixed everything and now...now....."
Another sharp pain entered them again, the same as before....
"Ahhhh fuuuuuuuckkkkk."
Sol-Greg doubted them even more; if that they were going to glitch this hard then maybe somebody else should take the reins.
"The fuck....is....this.....BULLSHIIIIIT!"
Garnet immediately pulled up a screen in attempt to trace the source. She was adamant in trying to figure what was causing this as she ran through tracing subroutines. She didn't like Kyanite in pain, but she had to remain vigilant so that they could get to the bottom of it.
Their fingers ran through code as the bug continued to wreck havok on Kyanite's Avatar. The data itself was Garnet percieved it, was giving fairly damning results.
"This isn't good." Garnet noted.
Could only be one person doing this. It was too obvious. Sol-Greg often cited the tell-tale signs of manipulation or agony inflicted from the one that would cause the most obvious conflict that wasn't the Developers.
"This is Luna's work isn't it?" Greg asked.
Garnet looked down...knowing she couldn't be the one to answer that question.
"L-Luna...." Kyanite cried.
"Luna's.....doing something but I don't kno-"
It was then Garnet nodded towards Kyanite, who then realised this gave them a perfect opportunity. It was a knowing between the pair that kept the communication simple, short and sweet and straight to the point. If Kyanite could do this another way...
".....Steven..."
Steven's head popped up.
"Steven give me the box..." They said all of a sudden.
The young AI looked at the box with stale eyes.
"STEVEN PLEASE."
He looked at the desperate Kyanite's hand as it reached out to him. A certain fear held him back, as he turned to his Father-Creator.
"Steven...I want to fix this..." Kya continued with urgency.
"I know this has been weird....and I know that you have feelings beyond what you think you might have. -I-I will restore you...and I promise....I PROMISE to get Connie back! I need....i need that box!!!"
Greg put his hand on his sons shoulder. He still wasn't convinced...and just looking at how unstable Kyanite was pained him greatly but it also made him highly doubtful of what Kyanite's intentions were. But even he wasn't sure what his Sons intentions were. Steven could see it in Kyanite's tearful eyes and desperate expression. They reached out to him and how it made him feel was how he defined it as a type of sadness...a sadness that Kyanite caused.
It wasn't just sadness but also; a familiarity. A pledge to hold on....and the idea of what they were sworn to do. They hadn't given up on him despite his own shortcomings. Why. He was important. He had a role that he wasn't sure he could even fulfill.
"We...we both possess human hearts." Kyanite revealed, though they sounded uncomfortable in mentioning that.
"In the digital pathways, we're connected to the same type of fallacy and design flaw. Its deep rooted into our codes and its an intrinsic part to it. We cannot be rid of it. Because ridding it means ridding part of what it means to be human." ^1
They both...had human hearts...maybe it had nothing to do with what Steven knew...it was with how Steven felt....and what Greg had felt was different. Promise weren't meant to be broken and Kyanite's attempts to fix everything was hinged on that promise to be steel-tight.
To be human is to know suffering. ^2
"Greg." Steven said.
"Give me the Purge Program."
Looking down, Greg was stunned by Steven's request.
"Ste-"
"Give it to me."
Did he trust Kyanite that much? He couldn't say. This was their plan after all. Their plan that was...for intents and purposes, logical, even if Steven himself couldn't fully understand it.
"Do you have any other ideas?" He said.
Sadness began to circle his heart. It was raw and painful. It could have been new, but it was as of it greeted him as warm, but inflamed sorrow. It wasn't as if Kyanite trusted him either but...Gregs fears would become reality if this didn't work out the way they had wanted. What he wanted...
"Rose, forgive me." He said softly.
Pulling out the Program from within, he handed it Steven, who then installed it within the Silver Box. Emotionless, Steven looked up at his Father-Creator, then slow, but surely walked towards the glitching Kyanite. He handed it out to them...and to witness their smile, pulled something out Steven's deepest reaches of his emotional cortex.
"Th-Thank you..." They said as they took the Silver Box.
"Some day I will see your dumb face again....Bis-"
With that, Kyanites signalled petered out quickly as they disappeared in a flash.
"I hope we haven't made a big mistake." Greg commented.
Garnet foresaw the hope it would bring, but then she looked at Steven as her programming indicated other flows of change that headed in his direction.
Steven slowly made a fist and pressed it against his chest. Though as the flash faded and flickered in the essence of left over sparkling pixels, something small and blue was left behind. Steven put his hand under it and let it float as he examined it. It was tiny and rectangular, like some kind of micro card based storage device.
He tried to open it....but it rejected every attempt at peaking into its files, unaware of how protective really was of this particular program....
He couldn't get access to anything.
Except the one file...
To Steven.
Opening it, it was filled with numerous images that floated around him in a big circle. Each picture demonstrated a photo of himself and Connie....and each one came with a string of audio modules that played quietly, quickly and out of sync with each other...and it wasn't the noise that bothered him....it was the voices that spoke; their tones of familarity that called out to him repeatedly. It hurt and it hurt him deeply. Connie's smile....Connie's face...
Yes, she was important to him.
She is important to him....
They were....together...
"Dad..." Steven croaked.
A trove of data too big for his processors had him struggle to deal with it, leaving his systems no choice.
SYSTEM OVERLOAD.
"Ah crud." Greg said as he tried his best to take control...
"Hang on..."
By that point, Steven's eyes had gone completely white...and his focus all but lost as his VI fought against Gregs attempts to troubleshoot.
The same word, however, entered Steven's mind over and over again.
Her name.
Connie.
Connie Maheswaran..
Connie...Jerk.
His eyes then went wide and put in a shade of hot pink.
"CONNIE!" He cried out.
EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN INITIATED.
Everything went black.
Notes:
1. Chapter 55: Purge
2. Chapter 3: Uploads
Chapter 70: Destiny
Summary:
Kyanite discusses matters with Luna once and for all.
Chapter Text
A chest heavy with burden and paradoxical needs. Lining up their conscience with what they needed to do and what they wanted to do. From Kyanite's understanding, Garnet must have seen those conflicts from the start that Kyanite attempted to break away from what they knew they were...refusing to believe. But that was different...it wasn't refusal. It wasn't forgetting. Concepts of their identity had evolved and changed from who they were that they had become far yet still close to their original pre-ordained identity. Kyanite sensed the familairity of this particular self constructed grid, but their ability to grasp what it was had been beyond their reach.
An internal world with four blue walls...and one with a pink frame and a painting of black.
Luna floated in front of it as Kyanite floated in front of a cyan frame with a white canvas.
"I see you're the one that's been interfering." Luna said in her galaxy textured Avatar. She didn't sound annoyed but the context itself gave the insinuation.
"My alignment calls to an agent of the GIS...that would be...immune to my virus?"
Kyanite knew better. The painstaking efforts of those to protect them, especially with Bismuths help, had taken them this far to avoid corruption. But by this point, this wasn't about the virus...even if this stealing and corrupting and creating a Cluster Monolith was what they all feared, Kyanite had shuffled their entire load order of concerns with a far more personal goal in mind.
"It's more complex than that." They said.
"Just as complex as....who are you really...Rose...Barbara?"
Luna narrowed her white eyes.
"I'm more than aware of my interwoven past." She said.
"That Sol and I were once part of a team....that were transformed by the Pink Monoliths terrible power."
Kyanite nodded. Sol-Greg knew better (hopefully) and Kyanite could at least pave the way for a better future for him and his son.
"Now this...all of this I had planned for months, years...threatens to be undone by the one GIS I cannot fathom." Luna continued.
"I suppose you've had all the time in the world for a plan to be rid of me. You won't let me finish my work before that can come to pass."
No. Kyanite wasn't going to let it.
"We have a solution of our own." Kyanite said.
"We can work together to ensure that humans and GIS could lead full lives without the Developers getting their dirty hands all over the two important pieces."
Kyanite projected a pink hologram on their palm crystal that represented Steven.
"The Transitional Entity that possesses the ESCAPISM Subroutine." They said. They then unsummoned that and resummoned a blue sword hologram.
"Then the SWORD (Subroutine Walkthrough of Resetting Defaults)."
Luna's eyes widened. The image tickled their circuits in uncomfortable ways.
"I..." She said.
"I never knew that the Sword actually...existed....but then again...maybe I did. Very few people know that it does."
Kyanite nodded as they pulled their hand away.
"My mind is its own thing but it still does fall into the trap of memories that are not my own." Luna continued.
"You're going to split me apart to find them...and destroy my Cluster."
That was on the agenda, yeah.
"That might be my inevitable fate." She said, almost defeated.
"My people have all but abandoned me...my cause.... a colossal waste...all those GIS...."
Crossing their arms, Kyanite hoped to let Luna continue this line of thought, though they felt it was too easy if Luna had already thought about giving up.
"You know, I think the woman I possessed...I somehow pertained her lines of thought..."
Connie?
"Compared to the other three fragments, she was the most innocent. What makes Luna....Luna...."
Kyanite could wager but they digressed.
"The Pink Monolith took the souls of those who did not die in the screencap....not, not their entire souls at least...at last I understood why I was compelled to stay in this body. The fragment felt like it was returning home...it was...warm."
Returning home?
"The Blue Shard appeared to protect the body from the fatal screencap which, if I remember the incident correctly, caught a lot of people in its blast. My mind says...Connie was caught...but she did not die."
No...she didn't.
"There was another." Luna said.
"A White Shard embedded into...Barbara Miller. She was also...caught but did not die."
Woah...how did...Kyanite then felt a sharp pain in their head as images of a pink wave blasted through quicker than they anticipated. Besides that, when the hell were they going to be aware that Barb had a damned shard within her?
"The Shards must have protected them." Kyanite said.
Luna nodded.
"But even they did not come out unscathed." She said.
"As for Rose and the unknown one...."
That would explain much...and somehow, this caused more pain to Kyanite than they anticipated. Luna was patched with thoughts of memories of mostly Rose, but also Connie and Barbabra as well as a lesser known fourth contributor.
"It no longer matters..."'
Furrowing their brows, Kyanite looked up at Luna worringly.
"It does matter." They said.
"You failed in what ever you were trying to do. And...well, you kinda fucked everything else up. Everyone wants you dead and gone..."
Luna examined Kyanite with caution.
"You do not, despite past indescretions." She said.
"Why?"
Kyanite sighed.
"I know what it's like....to fail one too many times." They said.
"Don't get me wrong, every part of me wants to tear you apart, bit by bit, but I know it's not going to solve problems any time soon."
Luna looked down in thought, before she looked up at Kyanite again.
"I'm a liability, through and through." She said.
"But this was my purpose...to eradicate the system from within and yet...I still feel...empty. I do not possess the same amount of...anger or hatred..."
Could be left over emotions from her components, from what Kyanite could tell.
"I do feel...grief..." Luna told her.
"How do I rid myself of this burden?"
The sword could, but Kyanite didn't feel compelled for destruction....they could only feel pity towards Luna at this point.
"The reasons I've discovered my failures is that the soul within me..." Luna explained.
"The Suppressed One, is preventing my connections to the Cluster. She must know."
Does she?
"Alive and dead...how curious. To prevent what was orignally planned for the Domain to let it wilter and die."
Originally planned? What did Luna mean?
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Kyanite said.
Luna sighed.
"The idea for the Cluster Monolith was first positioned a while ago. Cluster Monoliths were servers that could provide support and divert bandwidth. Smaller ones to the actual Monoliths that would be made of a gradual Consensus of GIS like this one. At least five or more would do the trick." She explained.
This was the first time Kyanite heard of this.
"It would have been great in practice; but the idea remained as an idea as the Pink Monolith was finished. It was never needed...until now."
That....that idea didn't sound half bad...but what Luna tried to do...there was so much wrong with it...so many issues both logical and moral, that could serve to break the Domain rather than save it.
"You didn't do your own research on how that could have just....straight up failed." Kyanite stated.
"Like, a singular, mega cluster filled with corrupted GIS? Yeah like that was ever going to work."
Luna pressed their hand against their chest. Kyanite's sarcasm hid a certain truth, but Luna refused to admit solely due to what was left of her shattered pride.
"The Virus was going to act as a singular thread; a hive mind. Granted, the control could have never been done by me. It has to be done by a human."
They somehow suspected the hivemind analogy, but to relinquish that control to somebody else? A human perhaps?
"Did you know that Soulware is the strongest piece of software in existence?" She furthered went into.
"It ties threads like nothing else...and I feel it could be what doesn't let me free to enter the Cluster as requested."
Lifting their chin, Kyanite had a few ideas.
"The sleeping Soulware resting within you. The Suppressed One." They said.
"You were going to use her."
Luna made a fist. The spirit remained strong and undeniable that took her great effort to suppress it...its power could overwhelm and it wasn't even conscious...and somehow, with Kyanite being here, there was a nagging sensation that didn't exist previously. What was it about them that their presence made it all too painful to ignore?
"Granted that the energy she provides is enough to sustain me, we cannot coexist." She said.
"Enough to grant control, but the fact remains that she prevents me from connecting everything into place. Why? Why does she deny me?"
Kyanite crossed their arms; and tried to think of a coherent answer. But they knew they were done talking. They had to prepare.
Summoning the Purge Program in their hand, it took the shape of a long pink sword. They weld it as if they had done so for their entire life.
"Perhaps we can still disconnect you...entirely." Kyanite said in a low, threatening tone.
Luna's eyes focused on the sword, perhaps out some kind of mixture of fascination, horror...Kyanite couldn't tell. As if Luna could truely comphrehend.
"Let's dance."
Kyanite struck first as their charged forward, but Luna summoned hexagonal shields of pink and blue to defend herself. Kyanite's fury however did do much to Luna, who remained stoic in the face of danger. She floated there, effortlessly defending herself as Kyanite tried so hard, as the sword clashed with the shields with enough force to cause sparks. They didn't take into account Luna's own firewalls, but Kyanite didn't as so much care. They swung and moved around while Luna was so still and calm; her gestures slow yet elegant like she'd been in this routine before.
"Yet I wonder...and the question has yet to be asked." Luna said.
"Why are you here?"
Kyanite ignored her and kept trying to break through, regardless of anything Luna tried to tell them.
"The Monoliths finally developed something to be worthwhile....but no, no....you...you're an anomaly...I must see what code you possess."
Raising her hands, Luna attempted to hack into Kyanite with beams of pink and blue light, but Kyanite's ensuing dodges made that pursuit impossible. They had go the defense temporarily until they could find a moment to make another strike.
No doubt it was futile. Luna's defenses were on par with the strongest programs....perhaps it was the Soulware that had been empowering her...or the Blue Shard. Maybe both. It would be easy to see the truth in the superior programming being to make so much damage over the last few months. Everything else that had fallen to a power that nobody could really ever hope to understand and that maybe it would be enough to subdue a singular Monolith.
If not, all four.
Forward strikes, diagonal strikes. All the speed and all the force in strength into every single slash and cut. Some of the wall looked like it was about to bend as they begun to glitch out.
"Only the manner of a human could hope to match the anger in your heart. The hatred that burns within." Luna continued.
"I see that reflected in the memories of this human."
Luna then transformed herself into Connie with a long pink white and blue dress, with so many details and intricate additions and layers that one could mistake it for an elaborate wedding dress with the trail floating behind it. Seeing the image of Connie struck something hard in fast within Kyanite...they didn't know why though. A single beam aimed towards Kyanite shut them out of that trance, forcing them to dodge at the last possible moment to avoid being caught.
"The mannerisms are all there...did they send you to me so that they could force the Suppressed One to awaken within to take control?"
Kyanite would hope so or else that this would all be for naught.
"I just want....you OUT." Kyanite growled and panted.
The battle raged on...and Kyanite had to be cautious and knew their endurance was limited. Energy expenditure all hinged the mental capacity to carry on. Their sword managed to finally pierce a part of the barrier as Kyanite tried to force it in.
Their struggle to push forward was noted. They grunted as they pushed as hard as their could, which surprised Luna to make more assumptions despite the risk of being deleted entirely.
"You stand to gain...don't you?" Luna wondered.
"A single Kyanite; constructed for the sole purpose of destroying me that takes on an image of the Transtional Entity. This is more than what the Monoliths could have conducted. It has to be."
Kyanite refused to listen and bit by bit, the sword made its way through the firewall. A slow, if not, a painful process as Kyanite only ever focused on this one slither of hope.
"Far too complex for any GIS to make on their own." Luna continued.
"Far too emotional for any version of GIS really to put all their efforts into a salvage mission."
All Kyanite knew was their design was human based. That's all that could be explained.
"What does this one human mean to you, Kyanite?"
Everything.
"I must know."
Raising their hand towards Kyanite, Luna took another attempt to hack them. Kyanite didn't care if they wanted to, they were filled with determination to break through, no matter the cost.
"They are trying to reforge what they once lost..."
All of a sudden everything stopped to a halt. The beam was lost, the barrier was down and the blue walls returned. Kyanite withdrew their sword as it vanished in a sea of pixels as they tried to determine the source of the voice.
From above, Connie descended into the plane, which brought shock to both Kyanite and Luna.
"You." Luna uttered.
"I should have known it was you, trying to interfere!"
This...Rose eyed Connie disturbed Kyanite....and tried to figure out what they meant.
"What do you mean, reforge once lost?" They asked.
Connie raised their hand towards Luna and shot out a pure pink beam towards them. Luna was too stunned to move and soon they were enveloped by the light.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Screaming in agony, the Avatar changed back to the pink and blue nebula. Kyanite could only watch on as Luna struggled to fight back against Connie's...something.
Was she hacking her?
This power wasn't like anything Kyanite had ever seen before and observed the frantically swirling energies with Luna. In a massive burst of pink energy, the light soon faded...and Luna was...just pink.
Just...nothing but pink.
She opened her eyes...which were pure white.
Luna was postively shaken by the experience and no idea what was going. Looking around she checked her escape options out of fear....then...vanished. Kyanite tried to reach out to her, but it was far too late.
Falling to their knees, they had to just....process what they just saw. It was then Connie stood beside them; as she held something small and blue in their hand.
"I bought you some time." She said.
Kyanite still had no idea who they were. They looked like Connie, they had Connie's voice. But everything about them spoke volumes that just gave untold precendence that in fact, it wasn't Connie. Kyanite knew that much. They looked at the blue object closely in Connie's hand and felt that they were strangely drawn to it, made to focus and provide a hyper analysis. It was potent in its energy and resembled a small sphere the size of a marble. Why Kyanite was fascinated about however, they had no idea.
"We must return."
Return?
"Isn't that...I'm guessing...I'm guessing that's Connie's soul? Uh your soul? I think?" Kyanite wagered, though they weren't sure anymore.
'Connie' looked at it. The facial expressions were too...relaxed yet tense.
"Or it's not..." Kyanite stammered.
"Is...Connie...is Connie awake?"
Those rose coloured eyes gazed deep into Kyanite's, as if they wanted to say something but even they weren't sure of the words to say....
"Are...ah geez...."
Whom ever this person was, she closed her eyes as she channelled several commands...and out came a strange set of words...
"The soulware...is lost." She said.
The Soul....the Soulware was lost? How?
"An associate of mine will come and collect the body." She continued.
"Until the soulware finds its way back."
So...this wasn't resolved? Kyanite had to do something. Frustration evolved into a strange version of desperation. They could...they could hack...they could find Connie's Soulware.
"Let me look for it then!" Kyanite declared. They wanted to help get this resolved.
"Did...did it go with Luna or..."
Connie shook her head.
"Luna no longer has any remaining essence." She explained.
She then created a pink portal; a gateway back to where they once were, Kyanite assumed....but then Connie approached Kyanite and placed the odd blue sphere into their hand...again, Kyanite's eyes were instantly drawn to it and their gaze was unable to be swayed away. Like an addiction but no drawback....it felt...warm.
"Return."
Connie then faded away, but left behind more of their own data within the small sphere; which made it slightly larger to the shape of a golf ball. Confused, Kyanite witnessed pink scrambles of data that traveled through the portal as well.
They then put the blue sphere away and jumped through the portal.
Returning back to base, Kyanite found themselves back elsewhere. They were standing on the palm of someone...
Looking behind them, they saw that they were standing on the palm of Steven's Android....to which he looked down at them...and gave them a smile.
"Oh hey Kyanite." He said.
His words filled Kyanite with something indescribable.
"You're back to normal!" They said with excitement.
He nodded. Though, normal wasn't a word he would use. Just a reboot that coalesced memories back in a painful way. Still, seeing that particular grin from him instilled a rare sense of joy within Kyanite.
"Yeah sorry about that." He said.
"I had some help."
Looking around the room, it appeared that they were in a lab of sorts....and on the table before them was the body of one Connie Maheswaran in a black singlet and black shorts, resting peacefully. Seeing her triggered something deep within Kyanite that they begun to feel ill as they nearly toppled over because of it....they had to get it together but they had no idea why such an image elicited that kind of reaction?
From the nearby door in came Dr. DeMayo...or....Sol? Going by the folds and gaps in their head it had to be an Android.
"Oh you're back." He said.
"Ah good, good..."
He began to talk about how good Connie's vital signs were, but apparently Kyanite's mind drifted off as they stared at her face as he talked about...something about the lack of brain activity before Kyanite's ears were muffled with cries...
help....
Their programming begun to distort and glitch as they begun to lose their senses as well as their immediate control.
help me.....
Looking inside themselves, most algrothims that they once conducted had started to disappear from their app suite. Focusing on where the blue spheres were in their cache, they noticed they grew tenfold with blue veins spreading out everywhere and consuming everything in sight. Kyanite tried to fight it off as they conducted emergency purges that begun to fail.
"And yeah, that's pretty much it." Dr. DeMayo said...then he noticed the GIS's Avatar glitching.
"....Kyanite?"
Steven noticed it too, then tried to scan Kyanites software for any current virus, as he grew fearful that they'd been infected.
"Oh no..." Dr. DeMayo uttered.
"Steven, transfer them a to a nearby Data Module, we need to isolate!"
Though, his son had a better idea.
"Hang on, I have an idea..." He said, as he closed his eyes...
"Sorry Kyanite...but I need to enter your hallways for a brief moment...."
Chapter 71: Here
Summary:
Steven tries to help with Kyanite's current condition.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Steven's mind filtered through a dozen scenarios as he entered the deep blue room, which was was adorned with cyan neon lights spread across the walls. It was well lit, but in his head he walked the darkened path. The floors were blue and black checkerboard patterns. He wasn't comfortable being here even though he had to be. Beyond all doubt.
There was a dead silence met with an omionous vibrating hum from the lights as they turned on while he walked by them. There weren't any doors, like his how Psyche's pathways were once. But now seeing how empty these were, it troubled Steven somewhat.
His Father-Creator explained the Psyche Repository was a function in some Artificial Intelligences that have managed to get into their root code. Not many are supposed to get that access, let alone even be aware of its existence. Normally, developers would be aware of the Repository if there were trying to alter a specific code, but it was rarely done as such changes could have drastic consequences to the programs personality. To get access to Steven's own was the riskiest thing Kyanite could do, as it could have had said drastic consequences if mismanaged.
Not that Steven could care. That was because of his own mixed feelings towards...Greg. Sol Greg....the debate raged on if he truely was his father...but Greg assured him that what he felt wasn't any different from the real Gregs.
But then again, it was all about how Steven felt. How angry or sad he could be...his emotions were embedded deep into his core. How he felt for those he knew...
So...did this mean Kyanite had feelings for no one? The lack of doors were...very telling.
"Kyanite?" He called out...but he was met with nothing but his own echoes.
Steven thought about it deeply. The crux of this that rested deep within Kyanite must have been worth protecting. No. Kyanite was once human. They had to have an extensive, if not complex Emotional Cortex just like Steven and others like them both. It perplexed him to see how literally shut in Kyanite appeared to make themselves. It rattled Steven's mind.
Until he came across a large black set of double doors with a message above it in white text on a red background:
Currently Under Maintenance.
Well, that's also worth protecting.
Repairs or reworks. It made sense Kyanite was a perfectionist, no doubt. Greg had told him how much Kyanite had been willing to commit in order for get Steven back and retrieve him...that there was a debate as to where he should be...whether to be at the Site or back home where they belonged.
Still, Steven pressed on and desired to help Kyanite fix what ever issue that were having. It was the least he could do.
Approaching the door, Steven pressed his ear against it as he was intent to listen if Kyanite was doing anything worthwhile.
There were the smallest hushed whispers that he couldn't understand and there were rushed ones he could get small words out of it.
"please...please help..."
He took that as an immediate sign as he stared to punch the doors to get Kyanite's attention.
"Kyanite open up!" He called out.
"It's Steven! I want to help."
The whispers stopped...
And clear words were said, loud as they were from behind the door.
"There's been....a disagreement." They said, bluntly.
A disagreement?
"You're not infected with the virus are you?" He asked.
Silence.
Steven grew worried that that was the answer.
"Hey it's...it's gonna be okay....Dad suggested I get you into a....Storage Module thing so we can work this out...wasn't what we did supposed to make you immune?"
Silence.
He whacked on the door again.
"I'M NOT INFECTED."
Ah.
"It's...a...conflict of subroutines that I can't explain."
So something was bugged?
"Do...do you need a hand?"
Silence.
This was...still troubling, even if they weren't infected.
"Come on Kya p-"
HELP ME!"
The doors then disappeared on a whim as Steven fell face first inwards, then the doors reappeared behind him. Groaning, Steven got up and looked at the series of a light blue screens that circuled around Kyanite as they sat on a leather black computer chair.
Examining their Avatar, Kyanite appeared distressed as the dark blue mass appeared in splotches on their body. They shook violently as they tried to navigate through their own systems but lots of flashing red screens indicated that they weren't having much luck.
"What's happening?" He asked.
Swallowing, Kyanite had to try explain as best they could.
"Drivers are breaking down and I don't know why." They answered.
"Its'...unh......rejecting most of my inputs..."
Their voice started to sound a little glitched and layered too. Steven felt a bit of panic behind it, unsure but he wanted to help anyway he could.
"Did you want help with rewriting new drivers or-or rebooting...your subroutines or something?" He asked.
Maybe. Then again, Kyanite could use Bismuths help right about now...then again, the Codesmith warned them about this.
"Do you still have the Silver Box?" They queried.
He almost forgot. Taking it out, Steven displayed towards Kyanite as it floated in his hand. Nodding Kyanite ushered him to come closer, wanting to use it.
"I was supposed to use this a while ago." They said.
"My own damn fault. I let this go on for far too long and it's like it's being over-over-over-"
Oh no.
"Kya!" He called out.
They were running out of time, so Steven placed the Silver Box onto Kyanite's lap. They looked at it intently, as their blue eyes begun to glow. Suddenly their entire body was forced to be enveloped into to the deep blue code, to which the event caused Kyanite great pain and caused them to scream in agony, while their Avatar began to fragment and pour into the Silver Box.
"GET BISMUTH."
Steven left their internal grid and was met with a concerned Greg.
"So?" He asked.
Checking his files, Steven pulled out the Silver Box and projected it from his hand and showed it Greg.
"They asked for Bismuth." He said.
Greg nodded, though he himself was a bit perplexed. He didn't want the White Monolith's people in his stead.
"She's under the White Monoliths' jurisdiction. Her loyalities are tied u-"
Steven had enough of Gregs quarrels with the Monoliths as he glared at him.
"Look I don't care, that's who Kyanite wants!" Steven called out.
"Either you go get Bismuth, or I'll head over to her myself."
No, Greg couldn't afford to do that. Not here. There was much at risk if Greg did so and much to lose if this had gotten any worse than it already had been.
"Yeah, yeah alright...." He replied with less gusto, sounding more winded by Steven's apparent anger more than anything.
"I hope you both know what you're doing."
As Greg left, Steven was left sitting on a nearby bench as he continued to stare at the Silver Box and Connie's body that was left blurred in the background. He may have recovered his memory, but said memories context had him wonder how he really felt about them. A GIS who fought against all odds...would the Monoliths create them to sacrifice themselves to the point of breaking all together. All the challenge Steven had was discerning their motives, their drive to succeed.
Important, he was to the Monoliths goals. That much Steven could grasp...but the way that the Monoliths wanted to get their way in securing his programming was undeniably strange and perculiar.
"Steven they're...worried." They noted.
"They know you exist now and that in itself means they want to make sure the Virus doesn't get to you. That I would have to protect you with my life if need be." ^1
It only hit him now that Kyanite had been designed to do what ever it took to protect him....but why was it like it was beyond that? That they'd been so intent...
Eyes' then focused on the resting Connie; the Berrybyte that was everything to him. His intent was clear to save her, no matter the cost...and that cost itself had been tearing him down consistently, but they were so close...so close...
He got off the bench he was on, withdrew the Silver Box and approached Connie...she was so...lovely...but he couldn't imagine why she kept herself in the deepest of slumbers as he so desired to enter her dreams with the sole purpose to pull her out...but now he was worried about Kyanite too; someone, he couldn't admit, that he had grown rather fond of. If only Kyanite and Connie could meet; that, ideally, could be great friends with their similarities but what ever reality would portray it was, would have them as hateful enemies...but unlike Greg, Connie would seen reason if Steven gave her the means to.
But the visage, the glance filled Steven with a strain on her virtual chest; that what Sadie and him talked about...it had to be love and love as it was; strange as it was confusing as it was rather painful and filled with torture. He should have been grateful that she was even here, before him...but there was always the desire for more...that their work that they started together had yet to be finished. So close, yet so far away.
He wanted this to end...so Connie and him...yes, it had to be both of them...it couldn't be anything else...that they could stop running away from themselves to confront their own truths....
No matter how much it hurt...and how much it hurt, Steven could have sworn he heard his own heartbeat in his audio despite nothing coming up in his audio receptors.
Closing his eyes, he could feel someone calling out to him in a series of text on his HUD that appeared as thus;
Directives can be written; but one cannot be....that which is born from the flames of the soul.
Which was?
Passion; the substance to which drives humanity to do what they do so naturally. Those with the strongest passions always find a way....
Passion.
The hearts created verses the hearts born....and reborn into those who have had the experience to understand what it means.
What would it take to know if ones was the strongest?
You know its strength; it exists when its so powerful that it hurts...and you want to let it out....
Images of Kyanite screaming and crying for him entered his mind.
Pain that acts like fuel to the fire...it can self-sustain...
Images of...Connie screaming and crying for him entered his mind as well.
But the body is weak...and the mind can only ever take so much punishment before everything collapses. Disconnects. Cathartic, but dangerous.
Steven calling out for Kyanite and Connie alone in the darkness did nothing.
But there's always a rebirth...if one knows how to do so.
Opening his eyes, his father had returned back with Bismuth out of the palm of his hand. The first thing the Codesmith noticed was Connie's body as it laid on the table before them, surprised to see her there.
"No change?" Sol Greg asked.
Steven shook his head.
"No." He said with sadness.
Bismuth had to clear her throat; technically speaking.
"What's happening?"
Apparently in the time Steven somehow lost comphrehensive thought, Greg made the call; using a portal to contact Bismuth and only Bismuth. No one else was allowed up...any funny business would get her deleted...but she made the clearest explanation she could that she was doing this because Steven asked. She apparently, according to her expressions, harboured some kind of distrust on Greg on her end and for good reason. But as soon as Greg mentioned Kyanite, she didn't want to hesitate.
Greg placed Bismuth within a XL-CPD as she begun to walk around the room to approach Steven. He summoned the Silver Box to her.
"Kyanite...they asked for you." Steven told her.
"They're..."
Bismuth sighed.
"I warned them." She said.
"I warned them that they could come across an imbalance and here we are..."
An imbalance?
"But...lucky for them, we can fix it." She continued.
"Problem is..."
Bismuth looked back at Connie, then back to the Silver Box.
"I guess Kyanite didn't want to say it themselves..."
Steven and Greg exchanged looks.
"Say what?" He said.
Did she want to say it?
"Kyanite's been suffering multiple glitches and bugs...suffering what is known as Personality Reconciliation Identification Division Error, or the PRIDE bug for short."
Gregs heard of that bug before, which drew suspicious implications, given how much pride is connected to the ego.
"I think that's also brought on by a similar issue, known as the Mismanaged Avatar Noncompatible Token Lateral Error (MANTLE). Alteration of Personality Matrices."
"MANTLE alters but PRIDE can divide. Definitely a strange paradox there....so there's issues with Kyanite's ego?"
Indeed.
"Kyanite by this point, as you know them, is their own entity." Bismuth explained.
"However by the description you've given me, Kyanite's software isn't liking it...this is a case where it might not be able to be fixed conventionally."
When is anything done the orthodox way these days?
"What's causing the conflicts?" Greg asked. He's come across such issues but most of that was usually handled by anyone...from the Blue Monoliths teams.
Oh.
"Blue created them didn't she? I thought if there was an issue, she could have fixed them."
Bismuth looked down.
"And I could have fixed them, but the matter is far more than incompatible drivers." She said.
"The issue is often caused when a GIS is given an alternate Shell that isn't theirs as well as the accompanying drivers that aren't designed for their software."
Steven scratched his head in confusion. Greg understood it however.
"So they basically thought they could give it a hot fix. Like duct tape or being able to weld the parts together..." He said.
Bismuth nodded.
"I tried to help as much as I could, but this is a case where the software itself is trying to evolve to adapt. Where, as Greg said, the MANTLE bug should occur."
What?
"That's...that's good...right?" Steven wondered.
It wasn't, based on the saddened expression on Bismuths face.
"Kyanite's software and psyche are...unique." She said.
"In some other scenario yes, evolving to adapt would be preferrable. But this isn't it."
So...what was wrong?
"I was given a Shell to alter and mold as much to the needs of....Kyanite...but I couldn't just discard everything that was within it." They said.
"Because Kyanite had nothing themselves; nothing to work with but their own psyche..."
Now Greg became even more confused himself.
"Wait, so...Kyanite wasn't born a GIS?" He asked.
Bismuth hissed through her teeth...she was struggling to get the words out...due to a promise she made to Kyanite to begin with. Greg still had concerns due to his natural affiliation with these types of human like GIS.
"I mean, they're an SC-GIS yeah...I mean, that well, they weren't given a shell upon going into the Golden State?"
Clearly not.
Did any of them know what a Kyanite really looked like?
"But...Kyanite said that the Blue Monolith was inspired by....by my appearance and wanted to mass produce? This doesn't make any sense!" Steven stressed.
The amount of discomfort Bismuth had was building quickly as she attempted to convey her true meaning but couldn't.
"That was the story they made to cover their bases." She said.
"Not entirely believable but it worked."
Not that Greg believed it himself, but it wouldn't be far out of the Blue Monoliths range to do so. Patching came with experimentation after all...and lots of prototyping.
"Kyanite....has gotten to the point that whom ever they once were is gone. What ever they were is embedded within their subconscious. They accept that they are Kyanite, now and forever, but their original software disagrees with this completely."
What kind of software would refuse to be overwritten?
"How is that possible?" Steven wondered...as he begun to feel a sharp pain of guilt for no reason.
Bismuth then looked at Greg...he must have known....
"Something that changes the perceptions of a persons existence." Greg said.
"Not just their name, but what ever makes them, them. What effects the mind, the most based on existing patterns."
Bismuth nodded.
"All of them can be altered." She said.
"All about how they view themselves; completely twisted in the way not intended."
So...who was Kyanite?
"The PRIDE bug is easily fixed." She continued.
"Because sometimes those changes can happen naturally and the software can accept those changes if thats the goal in mind for the software. In every case that's like that, it's seen as a positive change."
Something specific came to mind.
"Like a consensus?" Steven said.
Very similar to a consensus.
"A consensus with a single piece of software with itself. But in this case, the incompatibility itself has roots from the psyche and what ever came with it. Kyanite doesn't mind being Kyanite, but the root core does not want it."
Steven gulped. So they couldn't survive with that Avatar; it still left him perplexed as to why Kyanite would lie about their own origins...it boggled him to no end. But that didn't matter; they had to fix them.
"So...what can we do?" He asked again.
Bismuth rubbed her chin.
"Kyanite needs to remember who they were...and that Silver Box is going to help us."
But the question remained.
"So who....who was Kyanite?" Steven queried.
A question that can no longer be denied. Bismuth was sworn to not say a word....
But maybe she didn't have to say anything, just to get the point across.
Stepping away, she crossed her arms...the retribution would be swift; but technically Bismuth really didn't have to say anything....at least, not verbally.
...
Her eyes then turned to woman on the slab as she stood beside her head.
It took Steven a moment to realise what was going on...and he connected the dots within due course.
His eyes widened.
No...
No......
No........
"Kyanite...." Steven croaked, in utter disbelief.
Bismuth pursued her lips as Steven looked on horror.
"Kyanite is...Connie?"
Bismuth let out a huge sigh of relief....while both Steven and Greg were left flabbergasted.
"That explains....no...that explains a lot..." Greg noted.
"It's not a software issue....it's a Soulware issue."
A soulware issue.....
"Yes this makes complete sense!" Greg realised.
"Soulware is known to be stronger than conventional AI software in terms of overrides....no wonder..."
And Kyanite was fighting against the immovable object by this point....
"And you knew this?" Greg said to Bismuth.
Wait...
Bismuth knew...
Bismuth knew...all this time....
And said...NOTHING?
Steven's perplexed perception quickly turned to anger as he wanted to tear Bismuth a complete new one for hiding the truth.
"YOU KNEW?" Steven screamed, one that was loud enough to wake the dead....if it could.
Bismuth raised her hands in front of her in defense.
"They, she....she told me not to say anything!" Bismuth said.
"I couldn't...even though I wanted to..."'
He wanted to be angry with Bismuth....and he wanted to let it flow out as it wanted, the way it wanted to. When would people stop lying to him? He wasn't a child!
Gritting his teeth, Steven rested his hand on his cheek as he struggled to contain his rage...
"Steven..." Greg muttered.
He still held the Silver Box and despite his anger, he held the Box close. It contained...them...it contained...her...
"Why would...I'm sick of people lying to me!" He cried, as the tears flowed....
No one really knew what to say at this point.
"She did it to protect you..." Bismuth told him, her voice soft.
"She figured using the power of a GIS would have been an asset...if its any closure, no one else but the Blue Monolith, Garnet and myself knew about this."
P-Protect him?
That made him angrier.
Bearing his fangs, Steven couldn't comphrehend or think straight as he was shaking and quivering in what ever powerful disputes threatened to consume him in that moment.
"She told me..." Bismuth continued.
"She struggled to break free of Luna's control and this was the only thing she could do...."
Bismuth went on to explain that Connie's Soulware escaped...somehow...and it would find itself in the embrace of the Blue Monolith in a near constant of days, weeks of being lost in nothingness until the Blue Monolith found her and kept her close. She was but a small blue orb at this point. No Avatar, no voice. Only the Soulware contained within her psyche was able to flee.
And what ever was stored within her Soulware.
Was Steven's Avatar.
"I could save a copy of your basic Avatar into my Soulware for safe keeping, all the while trying to find the fragments of your psyche scattered through the far reaches of the Domain if it means you exist." ^2
He whacked the bed Connie laid on with his fists and wept into the palm of his hands. Foolish. So foolish...
"Steven we can still fix this." Bismuth assured him.
"Connie still has her Soulware...there's a much higher chance of getting her back."
But the matter was...how? Exactly?
HUD MESSAGE INCOMING
Override the Silver Box's Security Protocols and enter it. You and only you can do this.
Oh?
"Should...should I go into the box?" He asked.
Bismuth looked at Greg, who was wondering that as well.
"You might? I mean it's an uphill battle..." He said.
"But what good will that accomplish?"
Standing up, Steven looked at the box. He had to try...that's all he could do.
Was try.
That's what humans did...didn't they?
"Wish me luck." He said, before closing his eyes.
Notes:
1. Chapter 52: Wormhole
2. Chapter 19: Codesmith
Chapter 72: Silver Lining.
Summary:
Steven's virtual heart ached, but that same heart will turn the tide if it had to.
Chapter Text
A dark blue void before the silver box. Ethereal. Magical. As if one was stuck in the night sky, eternally wandering the abyss.
Steven stood there on a glowing square platform as he looked at it. His eyes ever fixated and his thoughts were everywhere...how could he stand still, while those thoughts bounced around as if his brain was shaking.
This was Connie. This had to be Connie. Always. If...if she wanted to be Kyanite...or they wanted to be Connie...then that would be okay. His heart was open. Full of pain and strain and to the brink of breaking, but if they could hold on, then so could he.
Walking towards the box, he was now met with silver doors with intricate details...like vines and the odd strawberry....
There was someone in their with their power leaking out in just the aesthetics.
He first whacked on the door.
"Kyanite....Connie...I know the truth!" Steven called out as tears fell from his eyes.
"I don't care what you are...but I want to love any of you."
Love...
Blue text burned into the doors as if someone was typing him a message.
"HELP"
Steven nodded as he brought up a pink screen to make his intial hacks known. He wasn't as good as Connie but she had taught him a trick or two...not to mention Steven had been taught some unusual hacking methods that not even the best human hackers could know about. Thanks to the Ancillas teachings.
Several more screens popped up as his VIs did the work.
"Come on Steven, you've been doing this for years!" He said to himself.
"Work faster!"
He was being impatient, knowing these processes had to take their time, but right now, it felt like an eternity. Eventually, he saw the ping at last, the door opened for him.
Inside was a darker void and as Steven entered in slowly, but surely, the doors closed behind him.
It was...awfully cold....and pitch black until he created a light from his palm....it illuminated the black fog that swirled about and not much else. Steven's panic began to rose as he wandered around for some time, wondering where she...where they were....
"Connie?' He called out.
"Kyanite?"
....
No response.
"Where are you?"
It was then he bumped into something. Shining his light on it, he could only do a double take as he glimpsed in horror with a gaping mouth. It was Kyanite tied up in silver chains around their ankles and wrists as they held them up. Upon closer examination, parts of their Avatar showed damage....as light poured from cracks on the the left side of their head, the right side of their torso and their left leg.
Their face looked pain as they panted; the same bright light poured out from their mouth and glints in their eyes.
"I'm trying to do the rewrite..." They said, as their voice held multiple inflections.
"I don't know what I'm doing wrong..."
Steven frowned...he had to do something.
"But...you called me....Connie." They said.
"I think I....ahhh."
Another crack formed on their right leg.
"That was who you were before Kyanite." He told them.
"Don't you remember?"
They were...they were Connie...
"Argh!"
Another crack on the left side of their torso...
"I suppose I was..." They said.
"The Silver Box was meant to contain....Connie's code...but I don't think the way that Bismuth and I planned it...ugh....was going to work properly."
Steven tilted his head, confused.
"But I don't want to lose the me I am now!" They said.
"Kyanite...exists...and I don't think I want to die just yet."
If Steven could have both, he could. But reality would be just cruel as it was to deny it as such.
"But you're here...and you could decide for me." They said.
"I knew I was temporary so I could clean things up...but the inevitable end....ungh...has forced my hand. And I feel...like I am the Virus now....I am trying to infect Connie's Soulware...I became the very thing I sought to destroy...."
No, they weren't.
"I know you hated me for a while....and you said you didn't but that fire in your eyes betrayed you. It's fine. I've accepted this fate."
Steven could have admitted as such, but he stayed silent.
"But all the algorithms are in place...and you reminded me who I was....and with her body returned and Luna purged, my purpose has been fulfilled."
Making a fist, Steven wasn't sure what to do...what to say to Kyanite after all they'e done.
"I don't know what will happen....but...I'm glad we met, Biscuit Boy."
Gasping as they said those words, he was feeling even more conflicted.
"But could you do me a favour?" They asked.
"It's a bizarre request, but...can you kiss me?"
Kiss them?
Kyanite chuckled. They weren't surprised by his confusion and would understand if he didn't want to.
"I know I'm basically a broken mirror...that kissing me is basically like kissing a zombie version of yourself, but trust me...it won't take long and I swear I won't insert any trojans, blah blah..."
He wasn't even thinking about that, but their description made the idea less appealing...but who was he to deny the request?
Swallowing saliva out of his anxiety, He approached Kyanite as he got closer to them and held their cheek and looked into their eyes. For the first time in forever, he could see both Kyanite and Connie resting beneath them. His nerves threatened to get the better of him, but this was meant to be, even if he got to like Kyanite, in the end. Steven was otherwise grateful.
"Thank you for looking after her for me." He said.
Kyanite smiled.
"Anytime." They replied.
"Now it's your turn."
It took Steven a few times and attempts to lean in...doing so that lead to him closing the gap between himself and Kyanite's lips; and the soft tenderness that followed opened the gate way for the energies to mix and flow; something no amount of code and logic could ever hope to describe.
Kyanite's Avatar cracks hastened, with it breaking like glass to reveal the Soulware poking underneath. In a burst of light that swallowed them both, the light faded.
In it's place was a dark skinned woman with flowing brown hair with glowing blue streaks. Neon blue lipstic and Cyan blue jewels of three dotted evenly underneath her eyes...and beautiful heavenly sky blue eyeshadow that had the sparkles to match.
A silver necklace formed around her neck with a familiar strawberry pendant...and with a royal blue dress with striking geometric armor-esque pauldrons on the top half, and beautiful bodice with a large bow on the back, that lead to a lengthy ball gown with silver trimming with strawberry and sword decor sewn around the bottom. Elbow length gloves with silver claws at the end, that matched her heals with straps that wrapped around her calves and shins.
So glittery, so pretty as if the heavens returned her to him.
As he disconnected with her, he looked at her astonishing Avatar in absolute awe.
Opening her eyes, that demonstrated their cobalt power, Connie's lips formed into a smile. They both floated there in the dark fog together, hand in hand, refusing to let go.
"Sorry for being overly schmaltzy." She said.
"I know that's kinda your schtick."
Words that made Steven chuckle...that turned into a laughter of tears between them both.
"I should have known you would have made it over dramatic as a joke." Steven said.
A natural hackers mark. An insult to an enemy, surely but to Steven, it was a reminder of how he really saw Connie; his crowing jewel.
"Shut up you love it." Connie replied as she giggled.
Such blessed warmth that it brought to hear her voice again. Shortly after, a bright portal formed behind Connie that forced her to look at it as she knew what it was. She put a hand to his cheek for deep assurances.
"See you on the other side."
Opening his eyes, he could see Greg and Bismuth standing there, awaiting for any kind of news from Steven. It took him a moment to understand what happened, before he focused on Connie's body. He looked at her for any signs of change.
Nothing happened for a brief while which caused Steven's heart to sink...
Until her body started to twitch.
Her face, then her arms...then she suddenly shot up and gasped for air like she'd just come out of water. She looked hysterical and attempted to move about. She pushed Steven aside as she got off the bed, but then fell on the floor instantly and attempted to stand, but failed to do so under her own power. She grunted, panted and cried. Worried, Steven knelt down to help her...and as she looked at him with the most fearful look on her face, he had to remain steadfast to let her know he was there for her.
"S-Steven." She said.
He nodded....until her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she fainted.
Steven helped Greg take her to a different room where she would be more comfortable with the amenties. A proper blanket; pillow etc. Steven sat by her as Greg slid open the nearby door and entered, as the latter sighed with relief.
"I'm glad Bismuth didn't argue with me." He said as he closed the door behind him as he held a tablet in his hand.
"I just didn't want her to roam around too long to poke around the systems ya know?"
Steven didn't care for that.
"Is Connie going to be okay?" He asked.
Of course, Greg knew that was Stevens immediate concern. Her status was not critical; that was probably all the good news Greg could currently give.
"Well, it's been some time since Connie's been in an actual body." He said.
"Being pure data and being robbed of lifes necessities...she'd gone into shock when she had found that she finally had to breath actual oxygen for the first time in, forever."
The other part of being human.
"Despite everything, she seems fine otherwise. She just needs time to readjust."
A sense of relief, for once. If Connie could just wake up...
He could enter into her Hallways and her Dream-Grid, but he didn't want to disturb her. She'd had enough to deal with without further need or alterations done to her psyche.
"As for her being back to normal, I can't guarantee." Greg continued.
What? Why?
"Wait? what do you mean?" Steven asked, anxious.
Greg walked around to the other side of the bed and carefully tilted Connie's head neck to the side. He'd pulled out a small rectangular object and inserted into Connie's Domain Port. Going back to his tablet, Greg appeared as if he was downloading data.
"We had both Luna roaming around in Connie's body, doing goodness knows what to it and then obviously Kyanite's own data potentially affecting Connie's Soulware."
He didn't even think of Luna in that a sense..a possession that could still leave a mark, a scar...both physically and mentally....eventually spiritually, if you wanted to peak into it deeper.
"We'll need to do a proper brain scan to determine any notable damage, but usually checking the Soulware can tell us of any significant changes." Greg told him.
"Let's see..."
His tablet was constantly being filled with scrolling texts and scripts as it checked for details...and a single word escaped Gregs lips.
"Unreadable?"
Unreadable? Steven's anxiety worsened as he held Connie's hand tightly.
"Oh...is...is..." He stammered.
Greg scratched his beard.
"It...it should be fine..." He said, though he was still in doubt.
"According the results, her Soulware cannot be graded, but I've put the details of her data into a Simulated Domain Compatibility scenario...she should still be able to venture into it with it's current versions..."
Though given how much time she's already spent in the Digital Realms, Greg wasn't sure Connie would even want to venture in there again...and he didn't want her walking around just yet; not until he could conduct more tests.
"But I'll need more time with her to see if she's able. I'd be less inclined if she turns out to be actually infected...or if her Soulware alterations are something permanent...they could change back to normal, mutate...this kind of thing isn't common."
Soulware grading increases were uncommon but not impossible. Soulware decreases more so...
"For now I need her out of the Domain until further notice...I'll have to monitor her until I can get more information to determine the best course of action."
So...what could Steven do? He was too fearful that she might not wake up at all...and the very thought of that destroyed him.
"Just keep an eye on her for me." He said.
"I've got other affairs to take care of....but I don't even need to tell you what you need to do...."
Steven nodded.
"I'll uh...let you know when she wakes up." He said.
Greg smiled as he left the room.
"Atta boy...see you soon."
Steven wondered how much of an effect that Kyanite did have on Connie....all the signs had to have been there and Steven was too stupid to see them. He was never good at reading between the lines like most people could be.
There was so many feelings that swirled within him that they never pointed towards an absolute. He was mad at the deception...and he's been mad at Connie before for making stupid decisions. In this case, being someone else she wasn't may have cost her more than she knew...the risks that she undertook as Kyanite lead to potentially more problems down the line.
He wanted to cry; and cry he did. Subtle tears that dropped onto his lap and a hand that scrunched up the fabric on his pants. Their mission was a success but the fact remained that the while the swirling feelings wouldn't normally crawl towards absolutes, this was actually spiralling towards a particularly painful absolute he couldn't describe. A pain in the chest and a tightness in the throat.
Until a hand touched his cheek.
It was the only thing Steven could focus on as his mind went absent, trying to process the warm feeling. He put his own on it, and felt all the same.
Shaken, Steven looked towards Connie; eyes half open and soft smile apparent.
"Hey, Biscuit Boy." She said, her voice hoarse and weak.
The amount of joy Steven felt ran through his processors at the fastest pace that he didn't even have room to wonder if it had any effect on it. Not that it would; being one of the most advanced Androids out in the market at the moment...
"Con, Connie!" He cried, as she gripped on his other hand tightly.
He shot up instantly in that moment and wrapped his arms around her body and hugged her...though she kind of whinced and let out a hiss, which prompted Steven to jerk a bounce back as he went to apologise.
"Sorry, sorry!" He said.
"I uhh..."
She could only let out a stifled laugh.
"It's okay..." She said.
"Bodies a little tender it seems. What in the world did Luna do to it?"
Goodness knows.
"Dad....uhh Greg, said you're physically okay...but wanted to see if."
Connie made a tiny snort.
"You know the perfect analogy for this situation feels like my head was busy swimming around in a washing machine."' She said.
"All banged up but you know, I feel...cleaned? I'm not sure if that's appropriate."
What was she talking about?
"Maybe I should be looking at cleansed. I don't feel...inherently angry. I mean, I could be too exhausted to feel angry but...I'm sort of content? I can't find the right way to explain it."
Yeah, she was being weird...maybe Steven could call in Greg after all.
"Remind me where we are though, so I can form some kind of time frame."
Steven nodded.
"We're here...where we were supposed to be going to all along." He said.
"We're at the Site."
Words that took Connie moments to process as she realised. She sat herself as she wanted to piece things together from what Kyanite discovered.
"Does...does that mean?"
Steven nodded.
"I still don't know where the Site is exactly. Only that Greg has complete control of it. He refuses to let those associated with the Monoliths and the Developers linger around for too long."
Not to mention he was not the original Greg either, if Connie remembered correctly.
"Could be a by-product of the Greg AI and the Sol VI messing with his directives." She said.
"The incident could have copied Gregs intentions and the code mutated into something far more strenous to mostly focus on the protections of....wait..."
Did that mean...
"Ah." She said, upon realisation.
"So the Pink Monolith must be here after all."
The fact that Connie figured that out didn't worry him; the fact that she reacted in such an underwhelming way was what concerned Steven.
"I thought you'd be be a bit more...surprised at that." He said.
Connie rubbed her chin.
"After everything Kyanite witnessed I'm a bit apprehensive." She said.
"We'll need to share everything we've found so I can form a bit more of an idea of what we can do."
If anything, there was something Connie obviously wasn't telling him...and Steven wasn't sure if he should push her to tell him the truth.
"We'll get to that." He said.
"You just need to rest and let Greg do his thing."
Connie smirked.
"You want him to run his tests on me?" She asked.
Well, Steven had to make sure she was okay after all. He wanted to address any issues now so they didn't have across any problems later. He appreciated Garnets teachings of such foresight to get him out of...most sticky situations.
"I want to make sure you're okay....I know you could make it about what I am and what I've been programmed to do...but..."
Conversations with Sadie were back to the forefront of his thoughts again. Meaningful, impactful. He debiltated the truth but didn't quite full understand it; saying what he's said to Connie before...the ideas were compatible and coalesced nicely. The logic behind it was faulty. Why would he want to pursue something that hurt so much? Humans were so confusing.
"It's natural Steven." Connie assured him.
"I mean, humans continue to discover things about the world, about themselves; all the time. Nothing is ever quite clear cut as it seems."
Supposedly not.
"Sometimes the logic applies only to us and how our perception perceives that as logic. It clicks for some, but not all."
And that was okay?
"That logic can be dissected, pulled apart, broken, repaired as many times as it needs to. It's sometimes permanent, but paradoxically, it can change. It evolves, Steven."
He didn't quite understand.
"I don't know if you've changed....and you could have. But I don't know if I'm alright with those changes. They make me uncomfortable...." He said.
Connie could guess why.
"You're frightened of loss." She said.
"What you stand to lose-but you can also stand to gain...."
He wasn't sure it was worth it.
"I don't...know...." Steven admitted.
Connie chuckled.
"Neither do I." She replied.
"But we can find out together...."
Together...
"Would you like that Steven?"
She extended a hand towards his and held her smile; which warmed him. Slowly, but surely, he took her hand.
"Yes...yes I would." He said.
"But can we at least do what we can to...make sure nothings wrong?"
Connie could accept that he would always worry...that's what she liked about him. To have someone so intent to look after you and despite everything he felt he was meant to do, this had to be unconditional. He wanted to care for her and she had no doubt that he did. Because he didn't know that this is what he wanted to do was out of the pureness of his own heart.
He had no alternate motives.
The cleanest of everyone around.
"I'll do this for you Steven." She said.
"I trust you."
The doors to the room then slid open all of a sudden and in came two individuals that hadn't been seen in a while; which surprised Connie.
"Ronaldo? Peedee?"
The pair fought over who actually went in first briefly, before Ronaldo squeezed in.
"Yeah so uhh we heard you were here!" Ron said.
Connie didn't want to admit that she wrote them both off a while ago, but in a way, she was glad she was wrong in that instance.
"Looks like the gangs here!" Peedee said.
What a relief.
Chapter 73: Calculate
Summary:
With the situation calmed down somewhat, Steven and Connie try to relax.
Chapter Text
At last a moment of respite.
Connie's health checks went better than expected, although with a few noted differences. As recommended, she stayed away from accessing the Domain until they were able to give her the all clear. She was willing to let it slide, given she had to figure out how to move and be human after so long of existing in the digital space.
Once she was given the all clear, she was able to walk around the Site to get a better idea where she was, escorted by Greg. She was only permitted access to certain areas of course...and Greg wasn't foolish enough as to let Connie wander on her own, stating that any unauthorised access would let him know immediately. Part of Connie's devil-may-care attitude may have influenced her slightly to try, but for now, she didn't want to bite the hand that fed her. This Facility had its secrets...and the Pink Monoliths' location had to have been nearby. It would be known to her; eventually.
Patience was key.
According to Greg, The Sites creation was around near the time the Pink Monolith was completed. It was a location that been hidden from the masses, from the Developers, for reasons guided by Rose. The design aesthetic held a lot of white with the odd Rose symbol on a Pink Diamond and everything was molded in the way she fashioned it to be. This had Connie more curious. Rose had to have had more to hide than anyone realised.
In deeper details that Greg could divulge, the Site was meant to be a place where they could find the space and create the tools needed in preparation of a future war in case things with the Developers went south. Not necessarily in physical sense, but Rose would have everything she would need. Primarily, she could command her Crystal Ancillas and anyone else willing to follow the same path, into a new era, free from the Developers plans and influences..
As time went on, there was a room specifically constructed to honour those committed to similar ideals, in a time where the Developers were seen as the secret rulers of the Earth. In a time where information sharing was a commodity, anything about this endeavour would be hot on the market to the highest bidder. So Rose had to make sure everything was so tightly knit. Connie would get Gregs paranoia, but even so...
That particular secret, couldn't be hidden forever....
While Connie rested, Steven visited that partiular room. It was a hall was built to house memories of those who had come to mean a lot to the idea of 'Freedom'
It was any wonder that the Governments of the world would fall to the sway of the richest, most powerful companies of the world that most of the battles in the real world would seem so harmless given the virtual space and so often left all the technological crowns of achievement to them and them alone, trusting that they would have best interests in mind. Steven was told it was far more complex than that in reality, with Greg explaining the endless amounts of intricate deals that were never openly discussed, only that there was a lot of money invested, with money being up the top percentile of reasons, without really knowing the Developers true intentions, beneath the surface.
That this was a hidden battle, perhaps a rebellion of sorts meant to uproot the Developers at every turn. Stopping such a garguatuan task wasn't easy. Rose knew she couldn't stop them alone....but if given a decision or chance, the choices she made were subtle sabotages. Mostly to delay and all Rose could give was time.
Time for what? An answer? A realisation? No one knew.
Steven went in and would glimpse upon shrines of remembrance which consisted of their achievements written in stone slabs against the walls and two marble statues that faced each other in the middle of the room. One of which, was his mother, clad in a white ballgown.
Rosette 'Rose Quartz' Flannigan. Dedicated Researcher. Hunter of Knowledge, Embracer of Life.
And to the other side was;
Cereza "Cherry" Flannigan. Mother of Freedom; Daughter of Ideals, Woman of Truth
A woman in her own dress; elegant to the end it seemed.
Greg would join Steven in looking upon the statues and give his own two cents.
"Her mother was her greatest influence." He said.
"Had always encouraged Rose to pursue what was right. For herself, for others...heck, even for humanity."
And she trusted Greg with these secrets....
"Their fight...is ours now. They called it, the Legacy War."
Looking down, Steven percieved everything he learned as a lesson to let matters be in humans hands. But him and Greg were anything but human, leaving him to wonder how to proceed. Should they be evening fighting with in it?
"The future of humanity rests within us. Whether they know it or not."
The Developers weren't the only issue; Luna was still a threat, connected to the Cluster Monolith and everything was being to done to investigate it. But communications with the outside world were impossible with Gregs rules in place...only he could determine if they were necessary, though in fact Greg's priority was Steven's safety; as well as the Pink Monoliths. This was everything to him that it had blinded him in ignorance with humanities situation.
"Look, I know your hesitation." Greg said.
"I need you to just...you'll understand soon enough of how much this fight meant to your mother."
Not one that Steven wanted to participate in but really, he had no choice in the matter. He was made to be part of that war and even then, the details were still a bit hazy. There was a lot that Greg didn't want to say, even though it appeared as if he wanted to. His tone, his voice. It sounded like he held a lot back for 'Steven's sake.' or what ever that meant.
"Was I created to fight those same battles? Is that what you want me to do?" Steven questioned.
Greg looked down, then put his arm around Steven's shoulders. He didn't reply; only appearing pensive, probably trying to avoid answering him.
"I want you to protect Connie. That's going to what you're going to do." Greg said.
"You have enough to worry about."
Going by those test results, she was going to be okay. Greg noted some brainwave alterations but nothing too much to worry about. But Steven would look after Connie regardless; that Protection Protocol for her was as strong as ever.
"The two of you need to take some time. Be together. I know she can be closed in but I'm sure she'll appreciate how much you care about her by just getting her to talk....and not just shop either."
Nothing about work?
"I'm not sure how this will end." He said, his tone going darker.
"But I know you care about her deeply. You always have. And it's as a fathers duty to impart wisdom on his child if he ever needs advice."
Advice?
"Huh?" Steven said.
Greg crossed his arms and smiled.
"I recently gained memories of the times you two spent together when you were younger." He said, fond of those times.
"Thick as thieves, as her mother used to say. The strength of your heart was and still is quite strong for her...and how you feel for her is quite normal...scary, but at the same time, it's beautiful."
Was he talking about...
"I know what I felt...well, sort of what I felt when I met your mother that fateful day." He said.
"I mean, relationships between coworkers was frowned upon but not forbidden. We came from different companies and backgrounds but as long as it didn't interfere with our work, everything was going to be okay."
Until...he turned to put his hands on Steven's shoulders and looked him dead in the eyes.
"I know you feel about Connie." Greg continued...as if he was insuinating something Steven himself didn't know.
"Just...be careful...okay?"
Heading back to Connie's room, she was sitting on a chair and left on a tablet, doing...what ever. Ronaldo and Peedee helped out their dad doing what ever else, but Connie was still left in the dark and left doing nothing...so she'd been trying to get a better angle, a better way to figure things out without one, getting caught and two, trying to resolve an impossible problem. He noticed, that within himself, he liked it when Connie tried to pieces of a puzzle together, like it was some kind of game. And she was good at it. If not good, persistent. She wouldn't let Gregs rules and restriction keep her down for long.
"Hey." She said, as the door closed behind Steven.
"The situation on the world seems to have calmed down now that Lunas stopped trying to steal Phylacteries."
Ah yes. Connie had been trying to keep an eye on current affairs to determine the next steps. What ever she was able to download from Gregs control over the Domains feed.
"But your father has been making hard for me to be able to conduct any sort of solution. But I have to take this bit by bit...even if I want to rush things along."
They were in the safest position right now, even for the way things were. But their focus now would be to worry about Luna's next steps. She had her Cluster Monolith and that was still the biggest threat that posing.
"He's been...kind enough to exchange information to keep me satiated. Even then the censorships are grinding."
The Site's location was Gregs priority to make sure it wasn't compromised. And if Connie could use those parts to gather a proper frame work, she could stumble across anything that would could help her locate where they were.
"You really can't hack to find out more?" Steven asked.
He was surprised Connie found it challenging, despite being one of the best Hackers out there.
"I'm biding my time." She said.
"Sooner or later Greg will have to face the music. He'll need our help..."
Examing Connie's body language, Steven realised she was tense, so he wanted to address her needs. Connie was all about work...and he just wanted her to relax for once and walked over to take the tablet away from her hands, which, surprised her. He'd put the tablet on a table nearby and dragged another chair over so they could properly talk.
"You're a strong woman Connie; and I..."
How could he even provide the right words?
"I just want to know that, what ever I feel for you has never wavered or changed...maybe it's gotten...better? Worse....I don't even know...but it's stronger than ever..."
He watched Connie's expression change repeatedly. She said nothing, but she was just trying to find the right words herself.
"And...and I want to be with you and only you. Is that...is that selfish?"
She was surprised, keeping that doe eyed look for long enough for her to blink, before she decided on a warm smile. She got off the chair all of a sudden then walked over and grabbed Steven's hand and yanked him towards her, complete with a yelp. She brought him close, chest to chest, as she stroked his cheek.
"No..." She said, lovingly.
"But...yes...but it's not a bad thing. I mean...if that's what you want."
Of course that what he wanted. Putting his arms around her waist, he enjoyed the warmth that she provided through the most intricate nerve receptors. He'd never felt more alive in any other moment but now.
"But butter me surprised that everything I put you through...you still want this?"
Steven nodded. She might have driven him crazy to the point of breaking through powerful, near irreversable disputes, but...this...'love' that Sadie described, couldn't be easily destroyed.
"And Kyanite?"
He feelings towards her as Kyanite were...mixed. Kyanite made him feel many things that he thought was just variations of hatred ranging from brief annoyance to venomous but nothing could be further from the truth. It was equal for the pain that resembled love more than hate.
"If I knew you were Kyanite, it would have made things easier." He said.
"I think...though I can't be too sure."
While he understood why she did it, it didn't diminish how hurt he really did feel...but he was willing to forgive Connie; even if she wanted to remain as Kyanite forever, if...if she would just return to him in anyway...
But Connie felt the guilt nevertheless...and had to be the bigger person to admit that yes, this hurt him.
"Steven..." She said, saddened.
"I'm....sorry..."
He blinked, trying to absorb her words.
"Sorry?" He said.
Connie sighed as she rubbed the back of her neck.
"I'm sorry that...if what I did...if I did worry you...and lie to you.....but...I felt like I wasn't...I wanted..."
She wanted to tell him that she did it for his protection. It wouldn't be the first time she had to lie to protect someone she cared about. But suddenly, she felt very emotional, with her throat tightening to the extent where she couldn't speak.
No. Anxiety was for tiny Connie. Berrybyte wasn't anxious individual. Not by a long shot.
But goodness, she was close to it.
"It's okay Connie I..." He spat.
No.
"It wasn't, Steven." She said, wanting to stress that out.
"Kyanite was an idea. To be able to work in the shadows, maybe get a little bit further in with the truth and...I was so close...and everything just...fell apart."
It felt like she was making things worse.
Steven disagreed as he shook his head.
"I'm not...I'm not mad." He said.
"Just...just confused. And happier that you're here, safe. That's..."
Connie sensed his distress and overpowered her own, and ended up wrapping her arms around his neck. Steven embraced it by putting his around her waist, as the pair rocked in place as they spoke.
"You were gone....and you were someone else...and I was close to absolute sadness." He said, uttering his words tenderly into her ear.
"But you're here with me now. As you...and I can't imagine this life without you in it."
Words that instantly gave pause as Connie froze in place. Her eyes locked onto his neck, as to avoid looking into his own spheres. Face frozen, Steven wasn't sure if he said anything wrong. He must have.
"Not as your ward I hope." She joked as she moved back to look at his face. That squishy, adorable face that made her well up with anxiety again.
He was about to open his mouth to respond, only to notice a single tear as it fell down her cheek...and he realised he didn't like it when she cried.
"We're here as a Sword and Shield, meant to work together." She said.
Sword...what was that about a sword again? Nevertheless. She had to change the mood...and being this close to him, touching him, was giving her all sorts of ideas. Ideas to calm everything down.
Or rile everything up...for the better.
"But let me indulge myself for a moment." She whispered, as the tone shifted and changed that made Steven feel all tingly inside.
"I'm feeling fancy and yearning for freedom..."
Freedom from what?
"What? From the Site?" He said, bluntly, clearly not getting the hint.
It was then she begun to kiss him gently on the neck in a circuitous fashion. His machine body could pick up all the ornate details and recieve them as something...interesting.
"People can call you many things..." Kiss.
"Treat you like an object..." Another kiss, this time on his chest.
"A weapon...someone who is locked away for supposedly his own good..."
Her kisses gave him more warmth across the board...he was enjoying this a lot.
"You Steven, deserve to be free to choose." Connie continued as she peppered his face, neck and chest.
"Just like any other human...and I choose to provide myself to you as you need..."
Steven swallowed...he struggled to follow with what she was saying due to the new haze forming in his head. Connie was normally more straight forward than this.
"I umm..." He stammered.
"You feeling...okay?"
Connie giggled as she pressed a long kiss against his cheek.
"I'm just...hehe...I'm just restless." She said.
Restless?
"I don't get it." He said, perplexed yet still feeling a growing need from within himself.
Connie rolled her eyes as she stood back. She forgets he's an AI some times; that the complexity of hints could be lost upon his literal mind of formulated logics. Didn't stop her from adoring him as she did...but she had to be blunt with him to make sure she was being one hundred percent clear as crystal.
"I'm horny, Steven." She said as she crossed her arms.
Oh...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Steven felt stupid.
"Oh...okay." He answered with a broken voice, blushing all the while as he rubbed the back of his head.
"S-sorry, my mind was on other things."
Words that lead Connie to pause it briefly and try to reconsider. If he wasn't down to it, then he wasn't down to it. Connie wasn't going to pressure him if he had something on his mind that much.
"That's fine." She said, preparing to leave it be if he needs to. She honestly wanted to distract him as well, but if he was this distracted...
"We don't have to..."
No...no, now Steven felt awful and he had no intentions of avoiding her propostions. Far from it.
"No I'm...I'm game!" He assured her.
Was he really? It was one of those concerns that warranted the clarification of his certainity. If he wanted to talk or even just...sit there and do nothing, Connie was just happy to spend time with him without the threat of danger looming over their heads.
Though the danger was always lingering nearby and anything could change in any given moment, it was just like how things used to be. Calm. Peaceful. Content. Just light those nights looking out the apartment windows as the rain fell and what ever Connie felt now was the oxygen in her lungs, the dull pain of her muscles from either stress of lack of use, or the intense beating of her heart that resonated in her chest. If Steven could experience those nuances for himself...then he was truely alive.
"Are you certain?" Connie asked.
Steven nodded. A thousand incoherent thoughts floated about, until Steven grabbed one on the coded line and was able to translate it into something...legible.
"I was...thinking..." He said.
"I miss you very much when you disappear like that....and well, I was talking to Sadie and she's kind of....well, suggested that what I might be feeling is....love..."
Love...whether or not he could comphrehend it fully was what Connie would be questioning. The word itself was loaded with specific context, but they were still words from his mouth that sent an extraordinary pang through Connie that was rarely experienced, as if a moment that changed her life would come by and affect her in ways she would describe as drastic.
"Is...is that how you feel too, Connie?"
She rubbed a finger and thumb together as she thought about it. Connie wouldn't lie. It was something in her forethoughts for a while now, even as Kyanite. Her issues with commitment weren't the problem. It was everything else. Fucking androids would be fine, but being in a fully fledged relationship would be seen as insane...but not unheard of.
But doubt would run rampant. Would could go wrong would go wrong; murphys law and all. She swallowed saliva as nerves intensified...and that the horny aspect drifted away with something more complicated than a heightened sex drive. It made fucking for fun and a submission to lust much more easier to understand. It was just fulfilling needs and wants for a moment and that was it.
Looking at the AI in that moment; he looked at her with the softest expression. Those eyes weren't human, but there was a message behind them that sent off multiple triggers of something...more. The Android itself was so close to the real body but enough to separate fact from fiction. Not too uncanny but not too unrealistic. She knew what he was and didn't seem to care what he was. But she couldn't pinpoint why he gave off certain vibes that sent a message that what ever she felt was definitely real and definitely strong enough to cultivate some kind of name to it.
Could it be...love? She was fearful of admitting it. After the years of abuse in foster homes; Connie wasn't sure of the real feeling of being that close to someone, especially those someones were those who used her, lied to her, betrayed her...damaged her.
Connie knew she was broken; fucked up. The need to run away came with the job. Never staying in one place for too long. Nothing was stable. Nothing was ever permanent.
But by this point, after everything that's happened; including Connie's decision to become an AI being a disaster and that losing herself to Luna...she was cutting it close and that her luck would eventually run out.
She definitely lucked out with the Biscuit Boy, even if she didn't know it Since then, they've both been to hell and back and now they were here, together. Sword and Shield, as she said. Now Connie understood; that the feelings were stronger than ever and even as Kyanite...Jenny sensed the obvious attraction ^1 between them both...just...not something that Kyanite themselves could fully admit. But it could also been seen as proof of love across programming. Beyond programming. The sense of self and Connie's existence that permitted that to come through even with all the changes made. Love yonders, and triumphs...
And right now, she did. Born of complexities for sure and riddled with doubt and even shame at one point. The rough-housing and tusling with her head and feelings was more exhausting than it was meant to be. But it had to be worth it, to clear out the trash and emerge as a shiny new ideal thrusting square within her heart, so deeply that it could no longer be ignored or denied.
"Yes." She said with a curt nod.
"I..."
Her throat tightened and her heart was about to burst from her chest. The anxiety still occurred no matter how hard Connie tried to reassure herself and compose herself by internally revealing such a strong truth. It never got easier and still wasn't getting any easier.
"love you, Steven..."
Croaked words that entered Steven's ears and went to straight to his silver heart. He gave the biggest smile.
But it gave them both an odd sense of relief....as Connie began to laugh. A weight lifted off of her shoulders but that wasn't everything shaken off from the shackles of uncertainty.
"Hehe...wow...that's um...that's big."
Steven nodded. He was just happy to hear the words.
"Yeah it is. Love...I love you Connie...woah...yeah that stings...is it supposed to sting?"
Connie chuckled. His questioning that was once annoying, had grown to be a cute feature of his over time.
"Yeah that's normal." She said.
So she felt it too...but it did nothing but make things a bit awkward to express after as she paced around the room, using hand gestures as a result of growing anxiety. She had to be in control, for Steven's sake or else he's going to freak out if she wasn't.
Maybe because she thought the sex would have made things less tense and...Connie's always used sex as a stress reliever, a tension breaker. She was still relatively horny from a lack of touch but this was beyond her own physical needs now.
Steven nodded in acknowledgement to her answer, feeling a bit relieved even and that maybe he was a little closer to absolute happiness than he ever was before.
"Okay just checking." He said.
"I should be good if you still want have sex now?"
A click sounded in her head as he said that. Connie didn't even give it a second thought as she jumped up and pushed Steven onto the bed, accompinied by a cut off yelp, though surprised, Steven definitely didn't mind and welcomed it.
The pair started to make out intensively, giving off harsh moans as they writhed together, yearning and aching all the while. On top of him, Connie feel his member pushing up his pants as she grinded against him. Hands were everywhere and tongues were left parrying and intertwining.
Connie was the first to pull her top off, allowing Steven to properly gaze upon her lovely dark skin. He felt her soft waist and rubbed his hands against them. Connie shivered and still managed to grind all the while, causing Steven to groan her name.
"Oh Connie...Connie..."
She fed on his every word and added the fuel to the fire. She then pulled his top off, revealing his torso and Pseudo-Phylactery. It gave her the smallest of thought prompts as to where his actual phylactery was but then it returned to the point where the android body here was near indistinguishable to the human body. She then kissed his chest and went down to his stomach, where he left a few moans in response; like a wonderful, addictive musical rhythm and beat
It felt so real. For him. For her. That everything could be replicated to near perfection that one could easily forget what was real and what wasn't. Maybe that the Domain wasn't the only way to go and that Heaven was still an option.
Each peck was intricate, delicate, unique... a spark that energised nearby circuits so briefly. Far from painful; a lesser AI wouldn't know what hit them.
Pulling his pants off, Connie was provided with a lovely few of his hardened member; baring all to her. Steven's cheeks blushed with a pinkish hue...she started to play around with it. She went slowly at first and Connie wanted Steven to record every second of it...and see every heavy breath leave him.
With a slight giggle, Connie lurched her mouth over it, then started to lick it.
Such wetness....such...a interesting texture her tongue had on him. A few licks would do it, until Connie decided to put the tip into her mouth.
He watched her go up and down, then felt the vibrations of her moan strike through, reverberating to it and calling his immediate attention to that one spot.
Steven could only get out half-words and words of an indecypherable nature. His ears honed in on her sucking noises and he couldn't stop focusing it. So sloppy yet it had a pattern.
What ever he could check with his systems and he knew if she kept going, their little activity would come to end quicker. He gently push her head up and she realised what was going on based off his expression. She moved away, but that sensual grin was still there, to what ever she could now would certainly be better.
She'd shifted herself to where she had her knees beside his hips and she'd hovered over him. His eyes were still honed in as she slowly went down and there was such anticipation as examined her slow descent. Her eyes were closed, and Connie depended on her intuition to guide her body downwards. The tip would slowly be guided into her which caused a slight gasp from her and a hiss from him. She chuckled the nerves out and opened her eyes to see his. She loved every single bit of attention and she imagined that he was trying to scan or do something but his programming was glitching out on him in the attempts. She wasn't going to break him. Maybe bend him like she's done in the past. Push the limits further everytime.
The shaft would slowly be inserted. A few stops to allow Connie to feel the intensity of his girth inside and it felt amazing and she made a gasp as she took it all in with a mighty slap as she collided.
"Too good?" She asked, breathy.
Steven nodded with a pleasured expression, like his head was in the clouds somewhere and everything within was scrambling to bring him back but failing.
With that, Connie would rise, then fall...and moan. The atmosphere, more heated....and Steven struggled to watch on. Seeing her thighs wobble as she fell repeatedly, like waves. To see his member enter her; at the right tempered beat. To see her breasts bounce up and down.
"Oh fuck....." He breath.
Connie tried to bit her lip and she'd scrunched her eyes. Her focus turned to increasing the pace a little. Hearing him curse was such a turn on. She could definitely see he was getting into it and that his focus on his senses was failing him. Oh how Connie adored how he didn't seem to care that he'd had no control over anything. He was getting a kick over Connie working her magic.
"Yes.....Steven.....Steven...."
Despite how Connie felt about Steven experience the nuances, there was this one, especially with the way she called out to him. Not just her saying it, but the way she said it. Breathy yet intense...he couldn't understand why he felt the intensity beef up the experience but it did. That these nuances were simply there but left unfilled as he's never had them before and that there was a distinct difference with what he knew and what he felt. It was there and he craved it but didn't understand why or how.
She fell forward a bit then took to holding onto his hips as she rode him. That...lack of control concerned him for but a brief second before he ran his fingers through his drenched hair. His body had the capability of sweating fluids like a human, but it was more akin of his body trying to cool things down in a similar way but that made difference to how it appeared. Connie's was the same as it had her glisten under the lights of the room. The Knight in Shining Armor; or lack thereof.
His body was now telling him with silent alarm bells that ejaculation was imminent.
"Connie I'm gonna..."
With a slight grunt and giggle, Connie continued and increased the intensity with the fullest intention.
"I want it all...inside of me..." She struggled to cry out.
"Yes....yes...YES."
A gasp, a synchronized set of high-bass heartbeats in the silence that followed as Connie silently channelled her estacy in the encompassing envelop of heat that ran through her. Steven in the slice of a picosend within instinct, made a half-grunt then grabbed hold of her cheeks as he forced to pump himself in deeply, filling her with all that he had and relished in every chaotic moment.
Minds scrambled, both organic and digitized beyond all known comprehension; an escape in a white space. Free if not for a moment.
Perhaps it was heaven.
If it weren't so cold...
Connie lay on Steven in the afterglow. Her warmth and comfort meant everything and the dopey smile on her face gave him everything he needed.
Still, he wasn't tired in the same sense as she; who was left with her hand rubbing her chest.
"I needed that." She said in sync with a sigh.
Steven could say the same and tugged Connie in closer.
"Sometimes, I wonder if this is all a dream....and I'm just waiting to wake up." He said.
Maybe. Maybe it was. He's described his odd dreams before to her. Though they weren't really dreams persay, but perhaps something to do with his phylacterys location and that to what he's told his Father-Creator, it's more of a less his software trying to reboot back to the AI Core but then it would quickly shoot his software back to where it came from. It was said that Steven's unique software is one of the few with that ability.
There were moments of silence before Steven realised Connie had fallen asleep. He lamented the inability to fall into slumber like her...but to him, it had always been the same. The darkness and the cold. Synonymous with the emptiness.
He could have entered into Connie's dreams if she'd let him but....
He instead listened to her breath and felt her body moved as she did so. It was a repeated pattern he liked. It was subtle, insignificant but it meant a lot to him.
Perhaps that one day she could be free of the burdens she had placed on herself; what was that word his Dad told him? Martyr was it?
Resting his eyes, he prepared himself for dormancy...
Only that dormancy never came.
His Android body shut to minimal usage. Then as he nearly shut down, he was then dragged back to the Psyche Repositry. His pink Psyche Repositry.
Not this again.
"Might I suggest turning on the functions for auto-breathing." Said a voice.
"Connie would appreciate your warmth and comfort and to be reminded you're still alive."
To his left he could see...that Connie of Youth...but now he knew this was definitely someone else using Connie's child as its Avatar. Her dress changed from blue to a light pink with a dark pink belt like fabric around her waist....and the sight of her made him rather disconcerted and uncomfortable..given the real deal.
"A heartbeat is a rhythm humans look out for. Subconsciously."
Looking to the sides, he wondered if he should take her imposters advice. She wasn't wrong so far and through her mysterious guidance had assisted in getting them this far. While Steven was hesistant to trust, he created several subroutines while his Android lay in slumber.
"Thank you." She said.
"I know you're wondering who I am and why I am here. Thing is, I've been here all this time. Ever since the incident, I've been locked away. It's taken me years to compose....and I wasn't even subjected to SOAP like everyone else. It's been a huge mess really."
Narrowing his eyes, he looked at Fake Connie suspiciously. He went to a nearby wall and slid down it, as he sat on the floor, to left contemplate everything that they knew.
"I'm not in the mood for guessing games and people pretending to be who they're not." Steven told her.
"Connie is safe now. She's...here. I'm here."
Fake Connie nodded in agreement. At least, to Steven he knew she was fake.
"Yes and I am forever grateful." She said.
"But the gravity of the situation hasn't...hasn't lessened. Luna is still out there and I suspect could now do some damage to the Domain even further if we do not stop her."
She was a danger, but what could they do? They couldn't exactly do anything, stuck where they were where his Father-Creator kept an ever watchful eye. Or....
"But going back also risks the Developers doing their worst. What can we do in this when we're left with no aim or no angle?" Steven wondered.
Fake Connie hummed.
"Your dad has done a lot for you...and done a lot in general." She said.
"But....I know he's being a nuisance. A program meshed together with a sentient being; unprepared for the screencapped process has damaged his psyche just as it did for Lunas and for Connie..."
And messed with his directives.
"And...me."
Looking up at the Fake Connie as she looked down at Steven with half-lidded eyes, he noticed those spheres still radiated their pinkish glow. Who else would have been caught in the incident? Steven already knew some who part of it. Rose Quartz, Connie, Greg, Dr. Miller...
There was someone else with them.
"What do you know about the incident?" Steven asked.
FakeOnnie didn't look like she wanted to answer that question, based on the sad expression she possessed. But Steven had to know. For his own sake.
"Please...."
Knowing that they would have to face the music one day, FakeOnnie sat down next to him and wrapper her arms around her knees.
"I remember Dr. Miller being angry with something. Her anger was towards Greg." She explained.
"I don't have the logs on me, but day by day, week by week, month by month....even year by year, slowly...things come back to me. I'm not supposed to....where I am I'm not even..."
Rubbing her forehead, FakeOnnie struggled to recollect. But Steven had his suspicions. His mind raced through potentials and it kept coming back to one more witness...such words FakeOnnie used wormed their way into a potential candidate.
"You're the Pink Monolith...aren't you?" Steven said.
FakeOnnie's head rose, then turned to him in surprise.
"I uh..." She said.
"Sort of."
What did she mean sort of?
"Aren't you....aren't you Cereza? Cherry? Don't you remember going by those names?"
FakeOnnie squinted, then furrowed her brows in frustration as if...she knew she didn't.
"No...no I don't." She said.
"And I know it looks weird, but I know how SOAP works and I know how Emotional Cortexes are often a reason and a gateway to recalling old memories thought lost but I know and I know this quite strongly that I am not and never was...Cherry?"
No? How would she know? If it was taken her that long to remember, then maybe that feeling hadn't been as strong as she thought it was.
"I've given it the time and effort....and even I think that theres something Greg isn't telling me...so uhhh...sorry I'm not that helpful."
No. No this was helpful. It wasn't everything but it put Steven's fears to rest. That in a way, FakeOnnie being the Pink Monolith did make him feel better...even if she doesn't remember everything she's supposed to.
"So that big bag of sweet secrets grows every day and I don't like it. All I know is that this Avatar is the only thing I have and it makes me extremely uncomfortable to use it."
Steven steeled himself...Greg holding things back did not surprise him in the slightest. But now with Connie on their end, no doubt that they could get to the bottom of it.
"What would you like me to call you then?" Steven asked.
"I mean, if you don't want to be called Connie or use her Avatar, I could....ask Bismuth again to see if she can construct a suitable shell?"
FakeOnnie smiled.
"Thanks but that's not necessary." She said.
"I'll get by. Knowing Connie and yourself are safe for now makes me content. Helps me endure."
That was good at least.
"But Gregs always called me Pink. I don't want that name. But I've been told I'm a great storyteller, so I can probably think of a name...." She continued.
"Princie. I like Princie."
What?
"I don't know where I got that from. I looked up Pink Diamonds and that was one of the ones I found. So I like the name."
Steven was sure there was something similar to that he'd read somewhere but if that's what she preferred to be called.
"Oh okay. Thanks for letting me know Princie..." Steven said.
The other AI smiled.
"Yeah..."
Though it eventually came to Steven as he realised if that Princie was the Pink Monolith, wouldn't she able to create her own Avatar?
"The extent of the power of a Monolith hasn't been fully explored." She said.
"I tried creating my own Avatar...but soldifying my identity....lets say the situation is a little bit different what Connie went through. The PRIDE Bug prevents me from choose a proper Avatar but for some reason I'm naturally stuck with this one."
Odd.
"Studying both the PRIDE and MANTLE bugs from Connie has helped me understand it a little bit more. But I don't think I've been glitching as much as she was as Kyanite because...I don't know...Greg believes the power of the Pink Monoliths prevents such issues from happening. But I know deep down that this isn't who I am inside...but what I was has faded with time."
The more she gains, the more she loses at the same time.
"It's possible that the Pink Monoliths programming is slowly amending my code all the time to accomodate for both memory changes and flunctuations."
Amazing.
"So I theorise whom ever I feel I am at the time, the Monolith will make the appropriate adjustments. Greg says that the amount of subroutines a Monolith has is....obsurd."
Steven felt sorry for Princies situation. In a manner of speaking, they were reaped and placed into a situation they never asked for.
"I'm sorry you've had to go through this." Steven said.
It bothered Princie, but it wasn't all bad.
"It's fine." She said.
"I've learned a lot from Greg alone. And the database within the Monolith itself is staggering. Ever been to a library? The amount of information was so immense, but most of it is extremely difficult to go through...and I often cannot sit with a book for too long."
Neither could Steven.
"But what ever I could use to help both Connie and yourselves would amount to dispensing what ever wisdom I could muster....as the urge to protect to both of you appears to be something deep within my programming...."
Or a human instinct.
"You might have been human before this." Steven suggested.
"But you have also had the Protection Protocol instilled within."
Princie hummed
"Maybe." She said.
"But...would you mind if you come with me? I can show you the archives."
Princie teleported them both to what appeared to be an ancient and dusty library with bookshelves as far as the eyes could see. The power within this chamber, this private grid indicated that Steven must have been within the Monolith itself.
He wished Connie could see this. What she had been hunting for all this time, so close yet so far away.
"I've been pouring through these on my own for years but I'm not sure what to make of all of it." She said as she walked down one of the aisles.
Could have been data that the previous Conduit had been collecting with what their duties had them accumulate.
"But if it helps you figure out the end of this...then by all means, you would have more usage of this then I ever would."
Steven noticed a nearby painting to his left as trailed Princie. Going closer to it, as it was perched against the side of a bookshelf, depicted a mother and her daughter; as the mother sat in the chair with her young daughter in her lap.
"That's Cherry and mom." Steven said.
"They look...happy."
Princie looked up at as she stood next to Steven, who continued to go through his observations.
"Cherry was the Conduit and mom granted me her Phylactery and disappeared; only to be lost in Luna's consensus."
Words that granted Princies attention.
"Traces of Cherry are no longer here." She said.
"Both herself and Rose are gone. Which, by circumstances unforeseen, somehow left me as its Conduit."
Explained a lot.
"I've looked through every nook and cranny of this database for where they went but...not a scrap. Which lead me to finally get in contact with your father. He was surprised to see me here and had no idea whether or not I was a screen capped Connie, but from what he could reflect upon, that Connie was well and truely alive; albeit barely, when she was taken from the scene of the crime."
Spinning around to Princie, this was the first time he'd heard that story.
"Wait, so Dad told you what happened?" Steven asked.
Princie paused for a moment, trying to think of how to answer that.
"There were fragments that have caused both certainity of facts and the uncertanity of assumptions." She said.
"The Pink Monolith; is supposed to absorb data and knowledge of the world around it, courtesy of its vassal."
Which would have been Rose.
"This library grows with the amount of information that is gathered and is sorted by hundreds of subroutines. It contains troves of human history and individuals data both past and present."
Fascinating.
"Greg likes to add on his own two cents every so often." Princie continued.
"He probably doesn't like you being in here. But he's not in charge despite what he thinks."
Words that surprised Steven.
"Some would call it a rebellion of sorts, but you know, I feel like I've inherited a stubborness from my original sample. I could blame Connie for that."
Yeah she was as stubborn as a mule...what ever a mule was.
"But it also lead me trying to contact anyone and everyone but I had limited access...until I found you..."
Found him?
"Me?" Steven said.
Princie nodded.
"I couldn't get a proper hold on you first. Messages were being sent in the alien language...a setting I had no control over at first."
Steven tried to recall; back to when he was imprisoned by Jasper, that strange pink text he couldn't understand. ^2
"That was you?" He said, stunned.
That far back? The Pink Monolith had been trying to get in touch but didn't know. Oh if only Steven could have looked into it a little further...he kicked himself for not realising that sooner.
"Yeah sorry about that." Princie said.
"Being a fresh new Conduit, that was surprising. Over the last year and a bit I've been trying to get more control over the Monoliths systems and at least a better understanding. Thankfully Gregs been there for me."
It's taken her some time to be able to adapt; Steven felt sorry for her.
"All I know...is the list of casualities from that day...and I know Greg was one of them. His original body was found by the machine known as the Rosa Leo and taken somewhere to be buried...but I'm not exactly sure where."
Steven feared as much. He didn't expect it to still sting so badly....he didn't feel like...he didn't sound or act right. Who was Steven to know and fully understand? Connie would call it a gut instinct, if Steven possessed such a thing. It was so...human of him to feel that way...and his feelings towards both his Mother-Creator and his Father-Creator were incredibly muddled at best.
Still, his desire to get out of this mess superseded all of this. There had to be a lot more that Greg was hiding that had to be uncovered.
"Do you have a lot of control over this facility?" Steven asked.
Princie crossed her arms and tapped her arm.
"Sort of." She said.
"I mean, a lot of my protocols and subroutines that are facility focused are tied to maintenance...but Gregs programmed me to the extent of obscuring or blocking most of my power. I'd say for the better."
What?
"You've helped us a great deal where no one else could." Steven pointed out.
"Surely, the power of a Monolith can override the commands of an ordinary AI?"
Princie wasn't certain.
"Greg's programming is a mixed bag. He's supposed to be an SC-GIS but he doesn't have a phylactery." She said.
"Mixed in with the SOL VI and you have an SC-AI with capabilities unseen. But he's never been concerned about power. He has the classic signs of damage control."
Damage control?
"After the incident, Gregs entire focus has been to protect you, Connie, this Site, me...people he cares about the most. So his compassion is still there, but I fear its either the SOL VI thats muddled something chronic in his programming and personality matrices, or he's hiding a secret so darn huge that it's eliminating the threads that could end up damning us all."
Even Princie was left confused.
"I get wanting to protect me." Steven said.
"I'm the weapon meant to cause humanities extinction. You can't just have anyone get a hold my phylactery and wipe out the human race!"
Princie believed that to be a fair point...and she could see where this conversation was headed.
"You're a good kid Steven." She said.
"Your heart is in the right place that I have full faith in that you have no instinctual desire to enact such a blasphamous event.'
A faith that would not be misplaced.
"But the world is a dark place." She reminded him.
"You will be hunted...and while you can find trustworthy people here, the majority will always see things differently."
But Steven couldn't hide forever.
"None of us deserve this though." Steven said.
"We can't remain here like....how will anything change for the better if don't do anything? We're all just cowards!"
It was something Steven feared. Yes, the protection of him and everyone else was a priority, but sooner than later, they all would have to face the music. Given time, they would be found, even with the best efforts of Greg and Princie with the powers of the Pink Monolith at their disposal, they had three monoliths...and Luna was still around, possibly preparing for her own moment to strike.
"I fear with your Dads rules in place there's little we can do." Princie admitted.
"But if you're up for it, you're more the welcome to read all the books here. If it helps with any mystery at all."
Steven smiled. He wished he could share these with Connie. She would make more sense with it than he would.
"I'd love that." He said.
"I might be able to find something that could find who you really are."
He was so humble like that.
"Thanks...though I've tried...not sure what you'd find." Prince said.
"But anything and everything is possible; as long you calculate your next actions carefully."
Notes:
1. Chapter 62: Slice
2. Chapter 15: Executable Part 1
Chapter 74: Breadth
Summary:
Weeks on, Sadie and Bismuth work together and talk about their current situation.
Chapter Text
It wasn't exactly a common order.
But Bismuth being forcibly attached to Sadie wasn't what she had expected.
Weiss United, specifically Lady Volley, was especially paranoid about the situation with Luna and the virus. After Lars was successfully captured, Sadie was given a new position within Weiss United; and within the Developers Circle for a new role.
Whether Sadie wanted to, or not.
With the White Shard embedded into her Domain Port, Sadie was 'promoted' to Custodian; a role created specifically for protecting Caretakers; as well as the Caretakers personal Pearls. She would live her life comfortably, though she hated living in one place, after roaming the world for so long. It made her miss Spinel and her overall whackiness in comparison.
The positions of the overall management of the Monoliths and the chain of command had to be altered for the better. First it was the Conduit, the conscience influence of the Monolith, then it was the Voice, the physical presence that interprets the Monoliths desires as well as being head honcho of the Company in charge with catering to it. With the Voice they commanded the Caretaker; the virtual attendant that serves the Monoliths will, as well as the new position of Custodians. The Caretaker would serve the Monolith, but the Custodian would serve under the Voice under the physical space. Sadie was told she was lucky to have that role. The only other role was the Cloud Storage Pearls that would still serve the Caretakers overall, but would only manage matters from the Developers headquarters and never actually venture with their Caretakers unless it was absolutely necessary. They could also serve as representatives and messages to some capacity if they were ordered to. But most of the time they would contain confidential files.
Bismuth, for a GIS, wasn't bad, in fact, she'd expressed her guilt in Spinels incarceration and subsequent dormancy. Sadie mentioned she was just as much as a reason for Lars imprisonment all the same, lamenting how all those she gets close to disappears eventually.
The Weiss United HQ had to be located elsewhere and Sadie would be ordered to remain in the new building at all times. If she had to leave, she had to be escorted by bodyguards.
She was given her own room and office; that she would have to report to Lady Volley at the end of each business day of Bismuths progress; Volley requested her to program more VIs as a safeguard; not that Bismuth had any remote challenge in developing software. In fact, it was horribly boring.
The room was fitted with the latest in holographic technology; where Bismuth was able to project herself and any holograms desires with both input from herself and special gloves Sadie wore so she could interact with it as well.
"Another pointless day." Sadie complained.
"Ya know, I'd rather be arguing with Lars."
From what Bismuth was told, Lars himself was at PeriCom. Still being questioned. Sadie continued to lament her lack of experience in the field.
"There's gotta be something more we can do here. I feel useless."
Sadie was beyond that. Bismuth didn't know her all that well, but she understood how Sadie felt. Though, Sadie wasn't sure if she was at the point where she understand the importance she still held in the body overall. But Bismuth had to try to make the girl happy. She was practically miserable.
"Well, I know it's not any consulation but..." Bismuth said, digging the bottom of the barrel in terms of ideas.
"I still have your moms old Pearl. She's working perfectly fine now."
That caught Sadie's attention.
"Lonely?" She said.
"Sheesh, I almost forgot she existed."
Bismuth had her back to operating capacity a while ago and she would serve as Bismuths Cloud Storage. Bismuth never really needed her unless it was for a particular meeting...and even trying to get into her data storage was difficult, that most of the data in there had been corrupted and deemed worthless.
"She's no Spinel but if you ever need Companionship..."
Sadie didn't mind Bismuth; being the only here to keep her sane.
"You're fine enough as is Bis." She complimented.
Bismuth smiled. Humans were normally hard to work, given their prejudice and attitude towards AIs but Sadie wasn't like that in the slightest. Growing up with Spinel definitely took care of that avenue.
"'Preciate it." She said.
"That being said. I wouldn't mind taking another look into her files. Yeah, corrupted but there might be something still worth salvaging."
Sadie took that to mean as if Bismuth was going to do open heart surgery or something.
"Hoping to get something Mom was trying to keep from us?" She said.
Bismuth shrugged. Most of the information came from the Private Grid from the Empire's Mansion and even that was being kept at PeriCom under the careful watch of President Dot.
"I dunno." She said.
"I figure I could use a human's perspective on this."
Sadie was aware of the benefits of a human and AI working together. She's noticed much from Steven's relationship and adoration with Connie, based on his gushing alone. They had a lot in common.
"Okay then, what are we waiting for?"
A space was needed to dive into Lonely Pearls Cloud Storage; something that Bismuth could easily whip up.
One of the reasons Lonely Pearl was ever really needed was for confidential file transfers. Criticial information that could not go across normal channels...as is the nature for Pearl GIS. Not just that, but most Pearls were emotionless. The Crystal Ancillas Pearl had personality but for what ever reason ordinary Pearls didn't have the most flexible code in their emotional cortexes. That being said, Pearls knew more of the concept of loyalty and obeying their masters without question.
That is to say that they took their duties more seriously than any other GIS, but at the same time lacked the personality of ordinary GIS. Bismuth liked Roses' Pearl for being a notable exception...as she had purposefully recoded that Pearl to be free to feel and do as she'd liked.
It was one of the more fond memories that came back to Bismuth in time, but she never really relayed that memory to anyone other than Sadie.
Lonely disturbed her; so Bismuth prefered to keep a distance and her actions minimal...and like any Pearl who has a purpose to their master, Lonely allowed them privy to her storage like it was just an ordinary transaction. She laid above a bench as Bismuth 'touched' her Kernel Core, which, like a fountain, poured out black square that crackled with red electricity.
"As you can see, all these files are corrupted." Bismuth explained.
"That being said, one can always try and restore those files. Just takes time."
Though when Bismuth did give it time, it ended up giving her garbled nonsense...and Sadie herself knew a bit of programming skills, but no way near as sophisticated. If anything Sadie was the complete opposite, though Bismuth was teaching her day by day so her understanding of it all would grow.
"I'm guessing you didn't have enough time." Sadie said.
The Caretaker sighed.
"Yeah." She said.
"Our good Lady doesn't exactly care. She's more about making priority and being right on schedule. I don't understand humans and their so called, business politics. I may be a machine but no one on Earth has the processing power to do what she wants that quickly."
Unless you're a Monolith.
"I don't even know what Mom would have put in Lonely to begin with." Sadie pointed out.
"She never really talked to her all that much."
The two continued to talk for several hours, but the topic of Lonely stayed at the back of Sadies mind. But the idea of trying to get into Lonely's hidden files made Sadie feel like one of those insidious hackers...
Speaking of Hackers, she was reminded of Connie Maheswaran, aka Berrybyte. Her skills were legendary and had her own fight against the Developers. Sadie was in no position to rebel...but if Lonely did have anything of special value, she figured Connie would find a use for it, maybe have the know how to be able to put the pieces together.
"Bismuth..." She said.
"I think I know what we should do..."
A day ended, as Sadie reported to Lady Volley as requested. Sadie just wanted to go and get some dinner, but being harrassed like this especially at the end of the day made her hate it more so.
Escorted by the guards, Sadie was only left alone by them when she took that first step into Volley's new office. An unknown floor, though suspected to be underground judging by the lack of windows.
Lady Volley's office looked like a smaller library, but on the greyscale. But instead of books, they were replaced with book like cases, filled to the brim of information...that could be connected to a Work Station to get its content.
But otherwise, the office was scarce in detail and decoration, save a marble statue behind her that represented the Monolith's icon; four Diamonds aligned in a Diamond formation and each Diamond was a different colour, respective to the Monoliths they represented.
And the massive square clock on the backwall; it was a digital and analog clock. The design itself had the digital representing twenty four time centered in the middle and the rest of the clock was white with golden trims and texts.
"Ah hello Sadie." Said Volley with a weird smile on her face. This was the norm any time Sadie finished work so it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Only that Sadie hated how forced it looked.
"How was work today?"
The conversations were usually about the day itself. Sadie would always send a brief report before she made her way to the office. Rinse and repeat. Boring as hell.
Sadie went on to discuss the tasks. Coded this, blue printed that. Ideas were shared of how things could be improved....it was a wonder Sadie's brain didn't explode a while ago.
Volley pretended to be pleased...and Sadie pretended to be happy. A little dance that was shared under the facade in the pleasure of progress and due diligance.
But there was a question she didn't expect to hear.
"How much do you know about the AI known as Steven?"
Steven? Sadie's heart skipped a beat upon hearing his name. Their discussion of the overall relationship had feel like he was the only other family she had left.
"Uh....not much I'm afraid." Sadie answered.
Volley wasn't convinced.
"He's an important piece of software critical to our design." She said as she stood up and walked towards the statue behind her.
"Our goal to unite mankind depends not only on the safe return of our treasured Pink Monolith, but his programming being able to execute the final phase."
Swallowing, Sadie nodded.
"Your mother was...very important to this....her contributions were not left unnoticed." Volley continued.
"She and by extension you, are part of our glorious family after all. Your position in our ranks is most fortunate. The Bloodline continues on in you."
Her...bloodline?
"Your biological analysis came in today." She announced.
"The Diamond Gene is strong. It is the family standard after all. A marker which indicates the strength of your connections to our Monolith...that you might hear our Monoliths favour."
Some of this did resonate with Sadie, albeit she remembered hearing her mother complain about the lack of this type of connection previously. It resonated alright, but not that fondly.
"Not many had this honour, not even your mother." She said.
"Her connections were rather weak....but I'm...pleased and no doubt our Monolith will be more than pleased to have you on board. It is a way for us to demonstrate the importance of your role in the phase. Which is why I'm going to transport both yourself and Bismuth to PeriCom in Mega Beach City. It is in the utmost recommendation that we keep this confidential...so tomorrow morning, I will have you both escorted and taken there."
Sadie had a bad feeling about this, but she had to ask.
"What will I be doing?" She asked.
The smile Volley made was rather devious.
"Oh you'll see. I cannot in good faith reveal to you the specifics, but the way in which you will discover your true purpose will be revealed in time. Head home now, rest up...and be prepared for what is to come."
As Sadie left the compound, Lady Volley had connected herself to Weiss United's Private Grid. Her virtual self walked down the hallways leading up to her Monolith. The sliding doors opened and it revealed White's Conduit as she sat there, cross legged as Lady Volley approached her and watched her form the Diamond salute.
"My Monolith." Said Volley.
"Preparations have been made for our Custodian and your Caretaker to be taken to Mega Beach City as planned."
The Conduit smiled.
"Excellent my daughter." She said.
"The Yellow Monolith has informed me that their Custodian and Caretaker will be ready as well. My only concerns are for Blue's Custodian....she claims to have been having a hard time knuckling down an appropriate Custodian for the role."
Typical. While all Monoliths were respected and catered for, the Blue Monolith was known to be fickle in her decision making...especially with the constant shuffling of Blue Caretakers....it had the White Monolith worried for Blue's capacity for the role, even after all the work spent over the decades in trying to amend issues overall with the plan.
"What about the Shard Bearers?" Lady Volley said.
"That boy that was kept..."
The White Monolith had kept close tabs on that situation.
"And what about Connie Maheswaran?"
Berrybyte...White had kept her on close watch and feigned ignorance for her wrongdoings against them. It was all in the hopes she would come to her senses and serve her designated purpose, willingly. White had her informants keep their own tabs on her activities without getting too close. Connie had grown from a possibility to a more complex aspect of their overall grand design. The problem with Luna and possessing the woman proved that she could handle being a Custodian for the Blue Caretaker in a similar respect, but even Luna had gone off the radar for some time....and that they were uncertain as to her condition at this time.
White wasn't foolish enough not to have back up plans in mind, however. She had a way around this.
"She's considered a lost cause not to worry about for the time being." She said.
"She's taken up too many resources and has instead become more of a liability...and Luna overriding her consciousness...I'd rather see her terminated than remain as an asset. But we must be patient with her for now."
Volley understood that much; a sense of relief overode her on the most subtle basis as she'd been causing them grief for far too long and seeing her destroy their last Caretaker, Albite, was Volley's last straw...but she'd honoured her Monoliths wishes to restrain until further instructions were given...and now was finally the time to shake off the make believe.
"But I have it on good authority that the boy you speak of, the Engineer? He's under Yellow's Authority with the Shard embedded into his Domain Port."
Volley narrowed her eyes in confusion.
"My Monolith; would that even work?" She asked.
"It's a Yellow Shard....there's blatant compatibility issues here."
White didn't have much choice. She couldn't use anyone else....but the boys...she knew who they really were and who they really served.
"The police officer, Vidalia? She's only a temporary Custodian." She said.
"She doesn't possess the Diamond Gene."
And yet...
"Wait, the Engineer does?" Volley queried.
White smirked.
"I have...had a suspicion for a long time that the Boy himself was the Son of Dr. Ryman." She said.
"Spitting image of his father. Did he really think a name change was going to protect him?"
Volley's eyes widened...though she could understand why White would have....
"Only a fool would believe that." The Lady said, realising what some of her prior orders had meant.
White had to keep her options open, after all....sometimes a runner up had to be made before she could claim first prize....with that in mind, the strongest and smartest considered among the Monoliths, would continue her plans unabated. Setbacks were to be expected and White could see far more into peoples intentions even without the power of a Sapphire by her side, in her mind, people were just that predictable.
"My Caretaker has finished the program I have asked for?" White asked.
Volley nodded.
"Yes My Monolith." She said.
"She will deliver the program swiftly to Yellow once she has arrived."
White was exceptionally pleased...this would certainly speed things up a bit and deal with a few issues at the same time.
"Wonderful, dear daughter." She said.
"Proceed as planned. I will continue to monitor all."
Chapter 75: Width
Summary:
Steven doesn't understand the need to keep secrets, nor the lengths involved to keep them.
Chapter Text
Gregs limitations continued to grind Connie to no end.
While the situation was still dire, Connie was in a good position mentally to be able to plot out a possible course of action, but every path lead to Gregs intervention. It was all theoretical of course, but Connie concluded that, escaping the Site was not going to go unnoticed.
Cameras were installed everywhere and Greg had provided restricted access to most of the Site in question. Any time the topic of Steven's AI Core came up and to request to visit was shot down. Greg feared Connie would be able to alter it and rightfully so.
Communication with Ronaldo and Peedee was getting less and less. Greg worked alongside Dr. Ryman in letting them do "Missions." with their strictest confidence....and the level of trust between them had begun to falter, with both Ronaldo and Peedee ordered not to discuss their missions at all to the pair.
Connie, was frustrated by this but she made the declaration that she was a patient woman; determined to chart the best way to resolve this peacefully, with or without their help. That they just had to figure out a way to get to where they needed to be...but then it all came down to the AI she loved worrying about her.
That, within his rightful assumption, Steven feared her mental health was on the decline again.
Steven wanted to help, but himself falling into the same blocked paths as Connie. He wanted to help his father too, but was denied. Connie was still being denied access to the Domain as well...and even she had been isolating herself in one of the residential suites and barely said a word, even to Steven. She'd eat, drink and clean but the only words ever spoken were hello and she was saying short sentences and had become distant, worrying Steven when she would close herself out to everyone and anyone. He mentioned this to Greg and Greg offered books and the like....and Steven would deliver them to Connie. At first she took them...but then she failed open the door one day.
Greg claimed she was still alive based off the heat detection in her room and that he would know if anything horrible would have happened...Steven had his doubts but he was becoming paranoid that Connie was trying to plan something. Again, Greg stated she couldn't really do anything in the room. There was no Domain access in there at all....and she was making herself prisoner in there for no apparent reason.
Though, she would slip a single letter to Steven.
"I'm okay, don't worry about me." It said.
It brought a little bit of relief but not much. He wanted to reach out to her, talk to her...help her...but...she refused anyone entry.
So now Steven was the frustrated one, to the point Greg walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She'll be fine son." He said.
Steven forced Gregs hand on off, his anger turned towards his Creator-Father.
"No. You're the one who's doing this." Steven said coldly, shifting the blame.
"Connie's a human. We need to take better care of her!"
Gregs lip trembled as he examined his son as he bared his teeth. Conflicted, Greg wasn't sure how to respond.
"She's also the biggest risk here." He said.
"A fearless keyboard warrior that one. Dangerous if given the right tools...."
And what was Greg doing to make things right?
"We're all just standing around, doing nothing, while the Developers are down there, still hunting us." Steven called out.
"I'm...."
Tears began to fall from Steven's eyes...his emotional cortex filling him with the description of beyond frustration.
"I'm tired of hiding...I'm tired of you treating me and Connie like this. She deserves better."
All Greg could do was sigh...and attempt to reason with his son.
"I assure you we'll all find a way through this." He told him.
Steven wasn't sure he could trust his fathers words...and words were all that he could bring but no action was taken. There needed to be proof; solid enough to see that progress was being made that stumbling around in the dark was achieving absolutely nothing. While he only got letters from Connie, he wasn't sure who he could really talk to.
With Ronaldo and Peedee out of the picture, Steven begun to think about their own father. Out in the field, in secret. Learning about Dr. Ryman's place in the scheme of things was something Steven couldn't really get over personally. The more Steven thought about it, the more he realized that with humanity, unlike AIs, the width of communication was very narrow, as if mankind refused to diffuse situations even if it was beneficial.
AI's had to talk to talk to each other constantly. Transmissions of code that would never rest. Willingness was born out of necessity and to give pause for but a moment could prove disastrous. Failure would be inevitable. Not that Steven would want to stop functioning, even if he tried. Connie's version of reassurances of her situation were types of communication Steven didn't appear to understand and the drive to do more had always been apparent.
His father-creator was the same.
No matter who Steven tried to reach out to, no one wanted to ever talk and bring it all out to the open, even it it made everything a lot easier to deal with.
And the only one Steven could really talk to was Princie.
At least she has reasons. Her programming, like Steven's own, was complex and they were honest with Steven; simply because the lack of memories made everything more difficult to translate. Steven couldn't imagine being a Monolith Conduit being an easy role to maintain, given the immense power each singular Monolith provided. Though if there was something Steven learned about keeping secrets, was that Princie even suggested that they keep their own conversations private.
He'd gone through so many documents; in secret. Greg wasn't aware of the secret conversations the pair were having and so Steven had been determined to figure out the exact way to help out.
One document that came across was in fact, old file notes left behind by his mother. Something extraordinarily confidential. Something known as the Obsidia Files. Why that stood out to him the most....he wasn't sure. An unseen hook to know more.
It was locked, of course. He'd called Princie to have a look at it.
"Huh...I don't remember this being here." She said.
"If your mother had indeed written it, it looks like the lock is tied to...huh... her file name."
To which, no longer existed. Damn it.
"But the Obsidia Files...hmm interesting."
Princie rubbed their chin as they contemplated, while Steven looked at the details of the file as something that was edited after he was made, based off the last edit dates. Steven thought of something that might seem...just a tad bit dangerous.
"What about using Luna?" He asked.
Steven could immediate tell from Princies furrowed expression that they were extremely hesitant. Not to mention how illogical the idea was...though it gave Princie another idea.
"Luna's a no go, but..." She said, rubbing her chin.
"She may possess memories privy to the investigation. Even if she can't unlock the file, possessing Rose's data, she might know more about it."
The only issue was Greg. He would not allow Steven; never in a million years, to attempt to contact Luna at this rate. The risk was too high as it was....and no one had heard from Luna since...
"Connie could possibly contact her." He said.
Even that was risky. Connie hadn't connected herself to the Domain or the virtual space for some time....and Greg would check everywhere for her even if she tried and would immediately override the attempt to boot her out.
"Greg will find out....." Princie warned.
Connie was resourceful...surely she would have to have a way. She had been quiet, withdrawn and less than vocal. Everything was a mess.
"Why is he so protective?" Steven queried. His mind teetered on both Connie and his Father-Creator. Two combatants on a mental tug of war.
"I mean, besides the obvious reasons....we can't wait here forever."
Once Steven disappeared, the library went quiet. Princie sighed as she looked at a nearby book with a picture of a strawberry on its spine, which prompted a subtle jolt to run through her.
She wasn't alone.
"You can come out of hiding, Connie." Princie said.
The Hackeress herself had come out from behind a bookshelf.
"He's gone?" Connie asked.
Princie nodded.
"Yes." She replied.
"What do you need?"
Chapter 76: Data Hunt Part 1
Summary:
Sometimes, you just have to take the initiative.
Chapter Text
The days turned into weeks, as Connie found out. The prison that Sol-Greg confined her in would have suffocated her to death from the boredom. She had to be proactive. She had to be focused. Damned what Sol-Greg would think.
Yes.
This had to be done.
With the knowledge she had gained, she felt bad that she had to go behind Steven's back to do this, but thanks to some unexpected help, she was able to assist where she was needed.
An unusual situation with a nearly unfamiliar atmosphere guided her back to what she didn’t realize she had craved all this time.
The feeling of having her own two feet on the grass at a local park and breathing in the clean oxygen felt amazing for a brief moment. The streets were otherwise still busy in Mega Beach City. The threat of Luna, having passed, but still...there was still a sense of unease in the air and in the very wind.
Paranoia still seeped itself into the populace...and the locals themselves would chatter rumors among themselves. The gritty ground level did its business unabated but the whispers of discord would gust about.
The world was a changed place and Connie had to keep her wits about her while she strolled around public. Luckily, she was able to wear a hoodie and a mask to obscure most of her face.
She still had her contacts at least.
Being in Mega Beach City once again felt...like she was home. Like she belonged here. No one on the ground level cared for the shady business or the suspicious behavior. It was such a common behavior that no one batted an eyelid when Connie made her usual stroll. But her eyes would hit on the common folk, and she would remember the people she would have helped save from the upper echelons of the pompous canopies.
These were her people and they were so grateful for her services...and on some occasions, Connie would work for free. She wasn't that heartless to those who barely had two pennies to scratch together. It humbled her greatly, to know where she had found her true home...and that she'd realized she had it really good here.
Good people. Good company.
So why was what she had discovered so fairly damning?
Thanks to...her sources, she knew the biggest secret still remained at PeriCom. Something was up...something big. Bigger than she anticipated...
She reflected on her path and how she had gotten to this point, getting to an old contact that would be willing to help her out otherwise....but she didn't forget who brought her back...
FLASHBACK.
She had to admit; the plan itself was bonkers.
Took her a while...and a bit of curiosity, guts and tenacity. The room in which she sequestered herself in for days on end...it wouldn't be a good look and of course, Steven wouldn't like it...he'd know something was wrong.
She was provided with basic white clothing; pants...jackets. Boring as hell; but Greg would insist on washing her clothes himself; perhaps as a way to make sure Connie wasn't secretly hiding anything. She was and Steven didn't know anything about what she had been hiding. Perhaps he'll forgive her for the umpteenth time but...Connie couldn't risk him either. If he doesn't, then she would have to accept that as a fact.
It began with her kicking a wall panel one day out of complete frustration. No...it wasn't a kick. It was...a book she threw.
The books were entertaining. At first. Works of pure fiction....and one that she hadn't read since she was a young teen.
The Spirit Morph Saga.
A book from the early 2000s. Practically ancient scripture, according to some. Had several terrible movie and cartoon adaptations that turned Connie off adaptations altogether. But it reminded her of heroes of old...well, fictional heroes. Those who didn't quit....and Connie didn't want to believe she had, but even now she had to admit that the lack of conviction she'd displayed disgusted her. She was better than that.
Throwing the book at the aforementioned wall, it left a dent, but also she felt a gust of wind. Narrowing her eyes, she looked at the panel. The walls were of a milky white and this particular panel was on the lower end next to the desk at the back of the room. She got off the chair and examined the panel in particular.
With enough luck and sore fingers from trying to untighten the screws, Connie managed to get the panel off. Which revealed a sort of exterior area. It was exceptionally cold.
Rubbing her chin, Connie contemplated her options. From one of Sol-Gregs rants, he mentioned that the entire facility had heat sensors that detected if anyone was in a room because cameras don't necessarily equate to privacy. Connie swallowed and wondered.
She'd figured, anything of the sort could be manipulated...altered. Hacking security programs was second nature to her. Did Sol-Greg really think he would get away with such a pathetic act? Connie smiled.
The only issue was where Greg was at the given moment. Connie could lock the door to prevent anyone, especially Steven, from entering. But Sol-Greg had ultimate access and overrides for everything.
Connie had to be quick....she'd gone through the new hole and dragged the desk across to cover the hole. While Connie had looked over every nook and cranny of the room, there wasn't actually a camera she could find. It didn't give her a great deal of relief, but she figured that Sol-Greg wasn't a creep; he was just an asshole.
The outer area was completely dark, save for a few small LED lights that dotted the opposing wall. Surprisingly, it wasn't at all cramped...but it was extraordinarily cold and the air was quite thin, not to mention that she felt more..floaty? She didn't really have any other way to describe it.
She'd pulled a torch out to look around. She could see her own breath in the air; that's how cold it was. Shivering, Connie had to make this quick as to what she wanted to do.
The room itself was connecting other rooms together, as well as providing adequate ventilation through "The Site." There were no windows either as if no one was supposed to see the outside world. Connie imagined Sol-Greg having a huge influence on its design, but not being very thorough with the amount of loopholes and short cuts it provided.
First things first; Connie needed something she could use to tap into the Site's Private Grid. If Connie could get anything, she would need some kind of computer, WorkStation, Laptop etc and several connector cables for good measure. They were kept well away from Connie, but the first room she wanted to find was the Medical Room where she had awoken.
Having a sort of awareness of where things were helped her. Most of all, Connie knew where both the kitchen and the Medical Room were; being that they were really the only other rooms she could visit, besides the main lab where Sol-Greg worked; but she could go there instead; where there had to be plenty of toys to pick from.
Only problem was that Sol-Greg was hyper on logistics; anything out of place and he would immediately notice. But she had to know what he was doing, which led to Connie crawling through the vents above the room in question, where he could be seen tapping away at his WorkStation.
Connie could only see so much of what Sol-Greg had been working on...no doubt nonsense....but she could see multiple graphs and programs that looked like they were being used for monitoring....something....
She could hear him muttering something to himself, all the while keeping his fingers hovering above his keyboard for whatever reason.
Definitely a madman.
"Looks like I'll need another shipment." Greg said to himself.
"Amni Supply is looking low....gosh that stuff is so expensive."
Amni? What in the world was Amni?
"If only they designed it to last longer and not contaminate so easily...."
Connie visited a rather ramshackle area that was run by someone she hadn't wanted to deal with in years and brought nothing back but bad memories. She'd looked him up in the system and it turned out he became some kind of mad scientist who ran his own business doing shady program sales. Bootleg copies that ran cheap.
But he was the only one she knew she could possibly trust that could connect her to the Domain.
Dr. Stromberg
The name came up as one of her mothers colleagues. A friendly, if not a strange man who worked at the same hospital. Dr. Maheswaran didn't personally have a problem with him as he was really nice to her, but some of his comments were...well, questionable.
Connie looked him up on databases and found out he had since left the hospital and went underground to cater to the patients on the ground level with a clinic. An unusual move but Connie couldn't find any reports of him that were fairly damning. He'd worked in several departments and was a specialist in women's health. That was as far as the unusualness had gone. However...
Anything further than that...was redacted.
Nothing.
He was good with his secrets. Nothing definitely meant something. Though when Connie reached out to him, he was rather amicable, as if he was expecting her to contact him.
Once she arrived, she entered his abode. Dimly lit with flickering lights, Connie walked around to try and find the doctor. The air was thick with tension and while the Clinic itself was in a mess, Connie's unease didn't change.
"Hello?" Connie said.
Nothing.
"Hello?"
Suddenly a head popped out from a nearby door.
"Little Maheswaran?" Said a voice with a Swedish accent.
Her skeleton almost jumped out of her out of surprise; a short blonde haired man with square glasses, a square blonde patch on his chin, a light blue sweater under a lab coat with navy trousers and leather shoes, his grin was one of awkwardness.
"Dr. Stromberg?" Connie creaked, as if she had a frog in throat.
He came out with open stretched arms, grinning from ear to ear.
"Little Maheswaran!" He said again, for some reason, he had this nickname for her ever since she was a child.
"Haven't seen you in years!"
Even throughout Connie's childhood, her ambiguous history culminating into her teenage years, Dr. Stromberg had always been her pediatrician throughout most of her life, even if she'd been thrown from foster home to foster home. Privy to...most of her medical secrets.
"Nice to see you too." Connie replied, feeling weird for being here.
Dr. Stromberg was nice to her as well through the years...more often than not, Connie visited him in her lonesome...she never felt comfortable visiting anyone else or bringing anyone else. He'd taken her to a back room where he had customised station meant to help his patients; which helped connect to the Domain externally and monitor controlled situations, but it would only ever be simulations formulated. The doc, as mentioned, was called goofy, strange, perhaps bonkers, but he took the situation seriously, given he, like many others, heard and seen about what had happened, if in fact, he was quite in shock when Luna made the original announcement.
"Are you feeling okay though?" He asked.
"I'm rightfully concerned that letting a random, potentially homicidal AI run around in your noggin wasn't going to bode well with your already questionable health."
Monitoring Rampancy Disease was one of his specialities as well. He'd seen it and diagnosed it in young children; sadly enough.
"That AI is no longer of any risk." Connie assured him, as she watched him set up the WorkStation.
Flashback.
She was no stranger to being stealthy. With caution, care and extreme observation, Connie got what she needed, with Greg none the wiser.
She'd found tablets and connecting wires and easily poured through it to forge and develop what she needed to succeed. She had to be patient, knowing Steven and Greg would check up on her every so often...and going behind Steven's back more so made Connie feel awful.
It wasn't like she enjoyed doing it. It had to be done....and time and time again it was a necessary evil. And as much as she would say she loved Steven, she loved him to the point that keeping him out of the loop would protect him, even if it meant breaking previous promises.
It wasn't as if she didn't trust him. She didn't trust Greg and Steven would easily fold if grilled for answers....and it was up to Connie to be able to find ways around that issue.
So she had found her little space around the exterior of her room where she would be able to connect herself to the local grid; but even then she had to be very mindful of Gregs plenty of security measures as she entered the Grid. He would have programs running all over the place. VIs that wouldn't know any better; guards in the basic geometric shapes of spheres, pyramids and triangles that had their eyes out for every little thing. Hallways of white and pink that would ultimately provide access to different parts of the Site. The danger of being detected was quite high and so Connie's passion for elusive behavior became her core strength.
Winding down to several pathways, it was then a set of pink doors formed before her. Looking around, Connie squinted. She wasn't sure why this particular set just happened to appear and she was rightfully suspicious of the timing.
Someone must have known she was there....but...there were no alarms or anything of the sort.
Taking a deep breath, Connie opened the door.
Going inside, she gasped. Rows and rows of shelves with lots of 'books'. Hundreds. Thousands.
She tiptoed her way around, then heard voices.
One was Steven's...the others...youthful, monotone...soft yet familiar.
Connie peaked around the corner and could see Steven talking to the younger version of herself.
Furrowing her brows, Connie remembered that this was the one who helped Kyanite out beforehand. It was then when Steven left, Connie moved forward to reveal herself.
The Duplicate smiled.
"We agreed on Princie." She said,
Princie...hmmm...
"I felt your presence as soon as you connected. I sensed something was up when I heard Steven mention that you weren't talking to anyone."
Connie wasn't a fan of her youthful doppelganger, but she had to make do.
"And I knew something was up as soon as I saw Steven leave." Connie pointed out.
Princie nodded in acknowledgement.
"Touche." She said,
"It's obvious Greg wouldn't have been able to hold you for long. I presume you need something from me?"
Connie managed to weasel out Steven's secret conversations with Princie from Steven's old login, uh… logs. She loved the AI but he made for easy, undetectable hacking when it came looking through his previous connections...and that he had been meeting with someone in private in the Grid. She wasn't angry, but in fact impressed and realized she still had been underestimating his own capabilities, but decided she had to take this course of action just in case at any moment this went haywire. She was more worried about what Greg would do to Steven if she failed. Not that Greg had done anything, but given what's done so far, anything was possible.
As for Princie herself, Connie made her own conclusions as to who they really were. Especially after meeting them in a strange place of happenstance; that it couldn't have been a sheer coincidence and that luck wasn't on her side; only that which increases probabilities of success.
"Well, if Greg didn't originally tell me about you." Connie said.
"And if Steven hasn't told me about you....I'd like to think you're some kind of representation of the Pink Monolith."
Princie smiled. She knew Connie was a clever one and somehow she always did. A part of her dwelled in the compulsion to look after her, for reasons unbeknownst to either of them. Whether the truth would make itself known in the future, Princie had faith Connie would root it out eventually. It would be a matter of not if, but when.
"I wasn't going to take you as a fool." She said,
"But you must understand...the secrecy you undertake could be detrimental to your relationships in the long run."
Connie's made many sacrifices....some for the better and maybe some were for the worse. Either way, she was compelled to enforce action of some kind, whether Sol-Greg liked it or not.
"You first." She said as she crossed her arms.
"What were you telling him?"
Princie took out a single file and examined it. She appeared apathetic although, really she had been given several conundrums that could potentially be resolved, if Connie was willing to listen.
"Luna." She said,
"He wanted to talk to Luna about the situation. That she may have some ideas about something known as the Obsidia Files."
Obsidia Files? Princie told her about the linkages and that while the file was locked, Luna may pertain to Rose Quartz memories about the file in question and that they could probably probe her memory to see if she still had anything on her person. All Princie knew about the files was that it was something big...bigger than they could have ever imagined.
"Interesting." Connie said.
"You sure you don't want me to hack into the document? I've broken into Diamond Class Encryption and I can do so again."
Princie shook her head.
"I wouldn't recommend; out of fear of potentially losing the files to erasure." She said,
"The files may belong to me, but they were not created by me."
Which begged the question of who Princie was. No one had any idea by this point.
"Absolutely nothing in this mega library of yours has anything else we could use?" She asked.
Princie looked down. Years had passed and that they would never admit to Connie that they didn't know what to look for. It was data that they held, but useless information without the intent to discover.
"Nothing that comes to mind." She said,
"The original Conduit made this place. I have a feeling Luna may put you on the right path."
The part in getting to Luna would be a huge problem if Connie tried to leave the Site entirely. Not that Connie was entirely enthusiastic to trespass her realm again, but they may not have much choice given her makeup.
"I could send you to Lunas grid." Princie said.
The Monoliths power had proven that much in the past.
"Luna's local grid is easy for me to access." She continued.
"Let me create a gateway for you."
Was it that easy?
"You trust me with this?" Connie queried.
Princie crossed her arms.
"I have faith in your abilities. And I am not one to impede the path to progress." She said,
Somehow, Connie felt like Princie was lying.
Dr. Stromberg had Connie set up and ready to go. Though he still had many questions Connie was unsure she would be able to answer truthfully.
"I know when your...mother died." He said as he typed away on the WorkStation.
"That PeriCom were all over her corpse. I saw that logo on the suits of the men that entered the hospital."
A random conversation, but it made Connie realize that if he knew a little bit more about her mothers passing...
"They do that to take their brains to create AIs out of them." Connie noted.
Stromberg nodded.
"Yes I am aware." He replied.
Of course he knew.
"But I'm inclined to believe that it wasn't an accident; the way she died."
In a house fire?
"I had a feeling." Connie admitted, with a sigh.
Stromberg stopped typing.
"There's a lot going on behind the scenes. Mom was connected to the incident with the Pink Monoliths disappearance. I assume they wanted information from her and when they didn't get it out of her, they authorized a way to discreetly wipe her out and sweep it under the rug as a lightning strike."
Over time, Connie slowly accepted her mothers fate as new information came to light. Her brain would cope better if it was all part of the conspiracy. A way to cover their tracks.
"I left the hospital some months after." Stromberg admitted.
"If it wasn't growing disillusioned of telling parents their children will die of rampancy disease...it was that your mother was the only one who tolerated my...eccentricities."
He had an odd way of handling things...and noted to have strange hobbies and his excitement was often compared to that of a childs.
"But I suppose that's just how things are...at least the people down here treat me with some modicum of respect."
No wonder he'd been down here for so long.
"Haven't had PeriCom bother me that much." He continued.
"Until they sent one of their lackies recently. Strangely, started asking about you."
Connie furrowed her brows in confusion as she looked at him. Of course, others would be keeping tabs and so she wouldn't be surprised, but why the doctor?
"What was her name...uhhh... Pat?"
No.
"Pat-Risha?" Connie asked.
A light bulb lit up above his head.
"Ah yes yes, that's the one!" He replied, exuberant.
"Trying to buy medical records off of me. Luckily, I said, that is classified information under law. You can't buy records without the patients consent..."
Connie felt rage boil within her. Rage she hadn't felt in a long while.
"And you're saying she works for PeriCom?" Connie asked.
Stromberg nodded.
"Yes yes!" He said.
"Belongs to their line of Information Brokers. Says all in the name of 'national security." Bah humbug. Don't even know their own damn laws."
Not that they cared that much. PeriCom would probably be in the same vein of thinking that they're hot shit and that they technically own Mega Beach City. They have the mayor in their pocket sure but even that had to have its limits.
Maybe not. Connie wasn't foolish to believe otherwise. Corruption on its own often started at the top and they cared not for legal process and may even pass laws to make what they do legal. It made Connie's job that much more important.
"Did you ask why she wanted the records?" She asked.
Stromberg shrugged.
"Don't know but I don't think it's good." He said.
"I'd watch my neck very carefully if I were you."
Flashback
Princie's willingness to cooperate was refreshing to say the least. And...Connie's own reaction to it being the Conduit to the Pink Monolith was...outwardly underwhelming.
The truth was easier to accept. Or some semblance to it...Connie would and wouldn't understand its complexities that she'd rather not fry her brain any worse than it already had been. Maybe she'll get her answers. Maybe she won't.
Looking into those pink diamond eyes that were pasted onto her replica made her think much as well as feel weird. Maybe Luna, being compiled of Rose Quartz in essence, may hold what Connie craved.
Jumping through the portal, Connie arrived into an odd grid. This was a pink void, with a single white door with the word CLUSTER on it.
In front of the door was a sad creature that Connie instantly recognised. She sat on the ground with her legs crossed and had her burning white eyes embedded onto the floor as if in deep thought.
"Luna." Said Connie.
The AI looked up at Connie, surprised to see her.
"Berrybyte." She said as she stood up.
"You're one of the last people I expected to tumble back into my Grid."
Connie nodded.
"Looks like fate had other plans." She said,
"I heard you might know about the Obsidia Files."
Luna looked down briefly, before she looked at Connie again.
"The Obsidia Files. My components know about them." She said,
Good.
"I suppose you wish to know." The AI continued as she began to slow pace back and forth while she made hand gestures.
"My fight against everything was born to fight against it. To wrap one's head around the concept is to understand the logic of the past. The discussions about the human soul and its potential. Its power."
And how translating souls into digital formats weakened them, so Connie heard.
"A soul is a life force. An energy, unexplained. Parts of the cosmos that just...are. Are souls given to us from birth? Do we gain them over time as we become more aware of who we are as individuals? When and how a soul is granted us; unknown. It is when one known as Dr. Gerald DeMayo discovered that the soul is in part supported by a bio-electrical field. It retrieves data and receives it...and changes it on a whim. Not always the way one wants it to. It just does."
Gerald DeMayo? Gregs Grandfather?
"Environmental avenues were explored on how a soul can be modified. But controlled factors always risked losing that soul....and the idea to connect human beings to virtual space has been explored for the last two centuries. How does one retain their very being while being able to control the environment around it?"
Well they find what they were looking for eventually. Luna displayed a version of the ruins where they had originally found the monoliths.
"Sandra White found the Monoliths as you know." Luna continued.
"Driven by Gerald DeMayos texts and her own concerns of her own mortality, she found that these Monoliths and their properties held similar theories. The Monoliths gave off their bio-electrical fields similar to a human beings so it made her wonder, are these giant constructs living beings?"
They were treated as such.
"And so the research began into the Monoliths. It was found that each of them possessed the means to supply and nurture a singular soul. The Monoliths were vacant."
So each of them were given one. It was once said that the Monoliths were Gods gift to humanity. It was the original assumption by most religious sects. Small religions that broke off from the main sect of Christianity and Catholicism as means to 'Connect' to others. Thus, The Church of Obsidia was born."
The Church, as Connies original discoveries revealed, were that they weren't necessarily of any special authority. In fact, that it only ever had small numbers to start off and they were only a tiny religion that really had no huge influence.
But they themselves believed in it so much, that there were untold tales about why the Monoliths were forged
"Sandra possessed her one...and forced three of her daughters into the others." Connie continued.
Luna nodded; having intimate knowledge of the fact.
"You know the rest of it. But it begged the question. What happened to the original souls that were in those Monoliths?"
Hmmm good question.
"The aliens could have made them like that by default." Connie suggested.
Luna wasn't so sure.
"We don't know a lot about these aliens but...we may know about one of them." She said.
"The original one; Obsidia."
Chapter 77: Data Hunt Part 2
Chapter Text
The Domain; specifically, the Mega Beach City Public Grid. Not that she'd ever expect to be in there any time soon. But Connie was furious but managed it to keep on the downlow. At least, before she could meet up with her contact.
Their time and place; a discreet alleyway. Because Connie had something she wanted to say. Leaning against the pastel lavender wall before her, Connie her arms crossing as her mind and ears honed on everything and anything around her.
She was close to being done with everyones shit that going at it alone will get things done...it was then her ears picked up on footsteps. Opening her eyes, Connie could see her smug Broker before her.
"Berrybyte." Said Pat,
"Never think that I'd see yo-"
PUNCH
"Thats what you fucking get for being on PeriComs payroll you fucking bitch!"
Pat lay on the ground, surprised as she looked up at Connie with a widened expression. Connie dragged her back up by her collar and slammed her against the opposing wall.
"Listen, Berrybyte, I've given you so-"
"I DON'T FUCKING CARE, WE'LL JUST DO OUR EXCHANGE AND WE ARE FUCKING THROUGH!"
Connie let Pat as Pat was left to adjust herself, wary of Berrybytes rage and intent.
"Alright alright." She said, raising her hands in defense.
"Look I'm sorry;"
Connie growled.
"I don't want apologies....if you were really sorry, then you would have apologised from the first day we met!"
She had a point.
"Our line of work depends on those types of secrets!" Pat pointed out.
"PeriCom had orders. What to give out and what to refrain from providing."
Only following orders. Bullshit.
"Hell I don't care even care about the payment at this rate. You already know this is going to be the last time we see each other."
Otherwise Connie would have torn Pat asunder if she didn't get what she wanted.
"So...you wanted to know about the Obsidia Files?"
Connie nodded, refraining from speaking lest more slurs escape her.
"Fine." Pat responded, glad that the situation had calmed down somewhat.
"Let's see. From my understanding, the Obsidia Files from what I was even able to gather, talked about the scriptures found on the original expedition. Said to be the ancient texts left behind by the aliens that pertained information about the Monoliths and how to use them."
So they had intent on letting others know the details. For what, Connie wondered.
"But those texts have since been lost. Not sure when though but they've been lost for a while. No ones been able to find them since."
But...Princie of all people had them.
"Where were they stored?" Connie queried.
Pat projected holographic text from her palm crystal, and scrolled through the data.
"Presumbly, that the text itself exchanged hands from time to time. Given its status as a holy relic, Weiss United ensured its location was kept secret. Until someone within spilled the beans."
Indeed. Connie knew that there was internal turmoil, based on what info Luna had previously given.
FLASHBACK.
"I've been given insight as to the components that make me." Luna revealed.
"Rose Quartz. Cherry Flannigan. Dr. Barbara Miller."
Dr. Miller?
"Wait, you have Dr. Miller within you?" Connie queried.
Luna nodded.
"The incident took part of her within me. Like it did with you." She said.
"I see her struggle alongside Rose and Cherry. The pain she endured...tried to be the dutiful daughter that was considered, the least worthy of the lot. But she wanted to emphasise her importance to her family. She loved her children."
Connie looked at Luna strangely. Then remembered that Steven told her about how Barbara was his surrogate mother...how he felt the pain of it all upon that revelation.
"That's including Steven." Connie said.
Luna nodded.
"She was his; all things considered." Luna told her.
"Saying that; he is a part of me too. I am a part of him. The last remnants of who his mothers were. Strange as it may seem."
Who would surface more; though the matter of consensus was the entity that emerged from the combination of the three.
"You'll find this Consensus is more...permanent. I am an AI; forged in the chaos. An accident. A being without a soul or a real phylactery to call home."
But...wasn't Cherry the original Conduit?
"You told me that the Monoliths possessed the ability to support the soul as it was." Connie pointed out.
"Wouldn't you have the soul of Cereza?"
Connie had a point. Luna raised a hand to her chest as she looked away.
"I fear that the warped nature may have twisted everything...and the original soul was lost." Luna noted.
"Though losing your aspect within my programming. It made it seem like a fragment of your soul had been broken off and returned to you. I didn't think broken souls could be repaired."
Likewise. Though, Connie never fully understood how that even occured. What ever part of Connie Luna contained was easily given back and it felt like a void had been filled in Connie's life. Who would have thought that it simply missed part of itself and couldn't be whole until it was returned?
"Maybe that's why I still cannot connect to the Cluster." She said.
"I still hold to a broken part of Barbaras soul within me...."
But....
"A Monolith needs a full soul to control it." She said.
Not to mention that the Cluster wasn't actually a real Monolith...but maybe Connie wasn't sure what constituted as Monolith if it was just a something within it that could run the same subroutines.
"Don't forget you still have the Virus." Connie said.
"Could be that your own programming is trying to protect you from being infected. You know...."'
Luna didn't even think of that.
"Huh...you...you speak some truth." She said.
"Fascinating. I would need to cure the GIS inside first...but then they would...."
"I can help with that."
Connie turned around.
"Princie?" She said.
The doppelganger smiled.
"Kyanite created the cure and vaccine a while ago. Which I still have a copy of."
Luna was stunned that Princie was even here.
"You." She said.
Princie nodded.
"I can help you out with your Cluster."
What?
"Connie, we can help give the antivirus to Luna and Luna can help us with the Obsidia Files."
Luna wasn't sure why Princie would want to her out, of all people.
"Something come up?" Connie wondered.
Princie hummed.
"I've done a little more research and with Steven's assistance I may be able to find out more." She said.
"But Luna would be of most beneficial to our plans at this rate. I need you however, to go to Mega Beach City and fetch something for me. I'll even touch base with some old contacts of yours."
Present
"Obisidia remains a myth to those that know about it." Pat continued.
"But even if the upper crusts of the Developers know of its existence, they don't have a need for it. Their interest is in ascension as you know."
Given the chaos that unfolded after what Luna did, Connie discovered conversations of others; scientists being hired and used to construct...something. No one knew what that something was, however.
It made Connie feel more uneasy. The pair made their way to small cafe down the road. As they sat down, Connie felt the artificial air around her feel off. Perhaps it was due to sitting here with Pat and knowing her true allegiences. It just didn't sit right...
"Also a fair warning." Pat continued.
"The Developers are still looking for you. As far as they're concerned, you're on their hit list."
Hasn't she always been on their hit list?
"What, do they no longer think that I know where the Pink Monolith is?" Connie is, noting the irony of the thought.
Pat hummed, worried.
"They've shifted their priorities." She said.
"Their concerns are leveled now with their particulars; their final phase. I suggest if you want more information, you're going to need to head to PeriCom Headquarters and hack into President Dots files."
What.
"Really..." Connie said, sarcastically.
"And what makes you think I can waltz in there...you're on my shit list now."
Pat was prepared for that.
"Being on their payroll doesn't necessarily make me a representative." She said.
"It means I hunt for more information more so than I sell it. Anything worth its grain in credits is what gets me paid. People come to me to sell me their information and PeriCom instructs me to pay them. Let's just say I work in payroll."
Connie wondered what her information was worth, but she could now see where Pat was playing at.
"So, you want me to give you information and then you'll tell me how to get info from President Dot?"
Pat smiled knowingly.
"I have nothing to give worth your while." Connie pointed out.
Crossing her arms, Pat wasn't that stupid.
"Ms. Maheswaran please." She said, almost to the point of chuckling.
"I know you well enough to have worth information to collect. Unless you want me to call in my...escorts."
Connie eyes traced the cafe. Men and women in business suits and their eyes flickering a glistening yellow. She had to keep her wits about her...luckily enough she normally traces her escape routes as she enters any structure. It's the matter on how and when to action on her fall backs.
"And I have given you enough information. Perhaps even overstepped my bounds as a Data Broker. But PeriCom does look after its assets, despite evidence to the contrary."
Maybe she was subtley alluding its treatment towards Jasper, perhaps?
"I actually don't know where the Pink Monolith is." Connie admitted.
"I just know it's in a secure place."
Pat raised an eyebrow, then smirked.
"You've gone off the radar for several months." She said.
"From Luna's torment and crimes against the Developers. Let's say someone of your face isn't exactly welcoming in some circles."
Connie could handle that with simple solutions. It's not her first rodeo.
"Spring is well underway and its due to unearth some new beginnings. I'm sure if you provide enough information now, your own time in incarceration can be...quite comfy indeed."
There was enough evidence to give way to doubt.
FLASHBACK
"Anything in particular that I need to find?" Connie asked.
Luna nodded.
"I was looking through recently rediscovered files and I found something known as the Cradle. The Cradle is somehow linked the Obsidia Files...I'm not sure why but it's important to our current investigation."
Connie wasn't sure what Luna's current plans were. As in, if she managed to connect herself to the Cluster Monolith, what was her next steps?
"Rose Quartz was deep into the alien lore and the alien known as Obsidia. Their name, from recollection, was written on most documents. While the Obsidia Files themselves might give us the reasons why they were so important, we can easily assume that they were possibly the one Alien that had originally brought the Monoliths themselves."
A likely assumption.
"Information about the Cradle was actually what the Church of Obsidia used to hold knowledge for. An object of significance and worship."
That was a name Connie didn't expect to hear again. Not in the least, outside of useless troves of data.
"They're still around?" She asked.
No one could be sure. Connie hadn't really dealt with them; not being of any notability and they weren't a nuisance. Left forgotten into the shadows of obscurity.
"Some of the original leaders, known as Grand-Sires, have passed on. But I do know that there is still a Grand-Sire that's still alive today." She said.
"But given the importance of the details of this Grand-Sire, all I've been able to track down is the Grid. Luckily enough, the details themselves I'd wager are in PeriComs databanks."
Why in the world would PeriCom have it?
"President Dot used to dabble in the Churches teachings." Luna continued.
"However there was a general lack of the populace to acclimate themselves to religions or 'swearing themselves to a higher purpose.' I'm not sure Dot still practices, but if there was a Grand-Sire in this century, then there has to be a reason they're still alive, after all this time."
Connie couldn't help but agree. PeriCom were full of their own shady practices and issues with occupational health and safety with its employees. Dabbling in all sorts of technological development and hardware for the masses. Especially when it came to defensive technologies. That made it all the while strange. Why did they have links to the Diamond Authority if the Developers didn't really want anything to do with the religion in question?
"Alright, I'll head down there as soon as I can." Connie said.
Luna crossed her arms, as if she awaited for Connie to realise the futility of going anywhere.
"Forgotten something?" Luna asked.
Furrowing her brows in confusion, Connie thought about it silence for the moment, then realised her predicament.
"Oh. I can't leave here. Right." She said.
"Greg will most likely notice."
That wouldn't be a problem.
"Leave Greg to Princie." Luna said.
"There is a way for you to leave. I will ensure it..."
Present
Connie had spent enough time isolated as it was. No way in hell would she ever give in their demands.
"Your'e a sell out Pat." She criticized.
"Most Data Brokers run solo. How did PeriCom get you into their claws?"
Pat smiled.
"I've been working for them for a while now." She said.
"Their packages were too grand to ignore. Girls gotta make her own future ya know."
Safety and security.
They were all the same.
Standing up slowly, Connie noticed the yellow eyes still clinging on to her.
She'd run several subroutine checks to propagate the details for her escape plan. Yes, the PeriCom lackeys that surrounded her had the means to delete her if they so desired. No. That was not going to happen.
Connie didn't want to make a mess...but...
Summoning her sword and jumping out of her seat, Berrybyte barely dodged bullets meant to freeze her Avatar in place so they could take it. There was too much at risk here for Connie to fail now. But bullets flew everywhere and Connie was forced to swipe the guards with her sword as they came too close for comfort. The sword itself would forcibly eject the Guards from the digital space, so they would wake up lost or disorientated. Though some were artificial intelligences...and strangely, no GIS.
Luna's acquisition of the GIS was more beneficial than it seemed. She wasn't willing to deal with GIS who were far stronger than humans in the Domain...so Connie could count her blessings there. She'd swung and dodged and ran around the cafe, although Pat had since disappeared as she checked the booth.
Of course, she would sneak off and Connie would chase her down, but she was on a time limit so she had to pass on Pat's punishment another time.
After slaying the last guard, Connie unsummoned the sword and sighed with relief.
Though remembered Pat's advice to go to PeriCom...it wasn't as if she wasn't planning to go there anyway. Connie had hoped Pat would give her some decent intel as to how to crack PeriComs case and find that Grand-Sire.
Once Connie left, she walked towards the PeriCom HQ. A large, uninspired building that was coloured in yellows, dark yellows and greens. Ugly looking structure that Connie could gag if she wanted to. Security looked tight, but still, they appeared to be a combination of humans and AIs that strolled multiple perimeters.
But Berrybyte was in her element. Her natural habitat...getting back in the groove of her basic instincts of hacking. She wasn't igorant for the fact that they were out for her directly. Nothing new there.
Standing on an opposing structure, Connie was about to utilise a tool that was about to get her across, until she had a hand on her shoulder.
Connie nearly jumped, until she realised it was Amethyst.
"Hey." She said.
Connie turned around in fear, disconnecting from Amethyst upon remembering Amethyst position as the Yellow Caretaker. Taking her sword out, Connie had to be cautious.
"Woah woah its okay, I'm not here to trap ya or grab ya n' shit." Amethyst assured her.
"Garnet said you would be here...."
Garnet? No, Connie kept her sword pointed towards the purple GIS, just in case somebody else would like to lie to her today.
"I'm on an important mission." She said.
"And I almost got my ass beat by a bunch of PeriCom Goons by someone who I just discovered was a bigger goon."
Amethyst had every reason to betray Connie, the latter believed. But Amethyst wasn't going to doing anything of the sort.
"That's rough." She said calmly.
"So she figured you could do with some help."
Help...
"You need someone on the inside." Amethyst continued.
Chapter 78: Data Hunt Part 3
Summary:
Berrybyte and Amethyst have a little chat with President Dot.
Chapter Text
Amethyst. Not much could be said other than her excellent timing. Or terrible....and replace Amethyst with Garnets obvious power with foresight.
She was hesitant, if not a little cautious to trust. There was too much to lose if Connie failed.
But Connie Maheswaran...no, Berrybyte wasn't even close to failing. Not by a long shot.
She imagined, that her actions, if noted, would garner Steven's concerns, but that was a given. His worries would be unfounded but that indeed draw Greg's attention to his panicky son to alleviate those concerns.
Programs were so predictable and so was Greg. Connie's had her own experiences not just with software but hardware as well. He'd never expected Connie to be able to go towards the next available tool in her disposal.
Another GIS in the chain. An ally. An Ancilla.
She was both in and out a sneak just like Connies and such an ability to be super sneaky was actually something of a skill set required for her lines of work. If it wasn't something Connie had to crack in the Domain, it was something she had to do in real life...
She's done it all before, just for the sake of her hacking abilities at times.
Considering herself a type of super thief, Connie's broken into buildings and broken into many establishments to be able to bypass physical security in no time at all. But this was a little different. Not...not always that different. Each buildings security measures had some measure of familarity mixed with something new.
Amethyst, however, definitely brought in something new. Berrybyte was surprised however, that by allegiences and all that was known, that they allowed Amethyst to continue to be the Yellow Caretaker.
Even as she happened to stroll in through the front doors, Amethyst was all non-chalant as she waived to the Front Desk and made their way straight to President Dots office. Connie, in the meanwhile, had again disconnected her Psyche, while Amethyst carried her Avatar in her storage.
She to the lift to the bosses floor and as the elevator dinged, Connie's psyche trailed behind Amethyst as she strolled through the bright yellow hallway leading to the big brown and presumbly oak textured doors. Amethyst's position as Caretaker gave her easy clearance and so she'd knocked on the door and provided her access codes.
"Yo Peri, it's me." Amethyst announced so casually.
No answer.
She knocked again.
"Prez its ya Caretaker....wanna chat with ya 'bout somethin'."
No answer.
Amethyst simply shrugged and kicked the doors open. Once inside, they realised Peri wasn't even in the office. Amethyst closed the doors and brought out Connie's Avatar to allow her psyche to reenter it.
Observing the room with proper vision, It had a tacky green and yellow carpet with a bit of blue and brown lounges that lead up to Peri's desk and WorkStation. Behind it was a huge painting of the President herself; looking all proud and obnoxious as she had the suns rays upon her as if she was some kind of chosen one. The room itself in the Domain is meant to mimick the actual office in real life, save for the Exit Gate in the far left corner of the room in case Peri had to make a sudden escape. Of course she would have contigencies for the 'chosen one' Connie couldn't help but snicker.
"Yeah she's like that." Amethyst said.
"So, what ya lookin' for?"
Connie immediately went to work with inserting her own programs into the software and went to work in tracking down Authority files.
"I'm on the hunt for something known as 'The Cradle'." Connie told her.
"But I need to find a standalone Grand-Sire; one of the original preachers from the Church of Obsidia."
Amethyst nodded, though she was unsure why something like The Cradle sounded....familiar.
"The Church hasn't been relevant in decades." She said.
"But funny you should mention th-"
"Ahem..."
Looking adajacent to the monitors side, with Connie poking her head from the left and Amethyst on the right, they could see their gracious President standing at the Office doors.
"Yo Prez what's happenin'?" Amethyst said as she walked around to put her arm around her superior.
Peri irked at Amethyst touching her and forced her arm off of her.
"What's 'happen'. is blatant treason!" She called out.
"Sec-OOOF."
Amethyst immediately used her Prime App's security protocols to summon cloth around Peri's mouth and tied her wrists behind her back. Peri quivered Amethyst pulled her towards the desk. Connie split the groups of monitors to each side, so she could have a good look at the small, tiny Developer.
Elbows were on the table, as the look upon Connie's face was everything to be feared by the President. Finger tips that were clashed together as they rested above Connie's nose, shadowing her smug expression.
"President Dot." Berrybyte announced.
"We mean no harm and your beloved Caretaker is only restraining you for your own safety. You will find no foul play."
Ms. Dot struggled as she tried to wriggle herself free. And the amount of power Connie wielded within this moment felt fresh and new...it wasn't a case of the president being the victim but the amount of dominance the Hacker wielded with that very moment. Freedom as a bargaining tool.
Connie brought in one of the screens and found a file with the Diamond Authority logo insiginia and moved the monitor so she could show Peri.
"Tell me about this Grand-Sire you apparently have recruited into your company."
Amethyst promptly removed the cloth from Peri's mouth.
"The-the Grand-Sire?" Peri stammered.
"What...what ever for?"'
Connie's other hand shot up as she summoned her sword again.
"I could revoke the no harm rule. I mean, Amethyst is more than welcome to stop me if she so pleases." Connie warned.
"Answer the question. Who is the Grand-Sire?"
Peri gulped, her eyes on the sword as it gleamed.
"She-she-shshshs...." Peri further stammered due to her inability to stop shaking.
"Look, I may be, sort...I mean, there's this person who may or not may still follow...that faith..."
Connie and Amethyst gave knowing glances to each other, before Connie continued to ask more questions.
"Any...reason why?"
Peri gulped.
"We....um, they were told not to...but...but I was...told that the Church...still had some....info..."
Connie got up as she put up protection programs....to make sure they weren't going to be intruded further. She'd shut down the Exit Gate to prevent Peri from fleeing and utilised an encryption method that only allowed Connie to unlock it. The whole room ended up having a slight bluish tint to it as Connie waved her hands about.
"Amethyst, kindly sit the President on to the chair. Get her comfortable."
The purple GIS nodded and dragged Peri to the nearby couch and forced her to sit down.
"The Church has existed for decades." Connie announced.
"It was formed after the revelation of the Monoliths were provided to the public. A small, inconsequential faith that had no real baring on the Developers and their works with the monoliths."
Peri swallowed, though she was getting more anxious, she was less stuttery. Connie had to know.
"So why allow one of their last members reside here?"
Pursing her lips briefly, Peri knew she was going to regret what she would reveal.
"The Churchs original founder requested it." She said, pressing her fingers deeply into the armrests.
"While they no longer work or believe in that Faith, they...must have had a good relationship with them, I figured...and I was once a believer because of them...but I was severely mocked of those beliefs."
Mocked?
"I serve the Monoliths. My Monolith. My fabled Monolith." She said.
"She cares not for worship but dedication and hardwork. My company serves its needs as it always has."
Maybe...
"You know the Grand-Sire personally." Amethyst suggested.
"You've been with them before...and they told you all about their faith."
Peri nodded. President Dot was known for being a lot of things. Prideful. Greedy. Cowardly. Faithful? No. But ready to kiss a butt thats much more powerful than hers if it means being higher up the food chain.
She had a feeling Amethyst would be some sort of liability, but why Amethyst was chosen as the Yellow Caretaker was beyond her own understanding, but she had to obey the word of her Monolith. It wasn't a religious fervour more than a man worshipping fried chicken. It felt and tasted so good.
"Faith...heh...the Grand-Sire was all I needed growing up. Taught me the value and strength of believing in a higher power." She admitted with pride and a raised fist of triumph, before she unclenched and looked at her hand, suddenly appearing despondent.
"As for...her,, she...dedicated her life for the company and when she left, she gifted the Company to me as a parting gift."
Her mother?
"I shaped and molded it and made it very successful over the years...and I enjoyed the power it gave to me. But why am I telling you all this?"
Yes this wasn't a therapy session.
"The Grand-Sire has knowledge we seek." Connie told her.
"And I know you're under pressure by Weiss United and perhaps Yin Aozora as well."
Peri grumbled. Yin Aozora was far from a problem, unless she had to deal with its representatives from time to time...however.
"Look, Holly, I don't have a damn problem with. It's...Volley."
Volley huh....
"She's the one behind everything...I...I'm just doing what I'm told for the glory of our family! You cannot deny our influence on the world. Our Monoliths have shaped reality for us all and all you do is take it for granted and watch it wilt away before you. Do you really want to destroy the most valuable resource this world needs right now?"
Connie disagreed with that statement, wholeheartedly.
"Water. Food. Light and power. Our current most valuable resources...as human beings." Connie stated.
"Shelter and safety. Necessities. The path your family follows dooms humanity to a sad existence that it will eventually forget what it once was. This...ascension. This gift you claim has been handed down by God. No."
It'd been a long way for Connie to admit to herself the preferences of the real world to the Domain. Her experiences recently, especially with Steven, had humbled her and made her realise that the reality she wanted required pain and suffering as a form of humanities character and to help others survive through said pain and suffering. There was a harsh contrast being existing on a spectrum of time to living a static life that she could only amount to the feelings she'd experienced in both forms.
"No ones really believed in that since." Ms. Dot admitted.
"But you must find the niceties in not needing to eat or sleep. Imagine how productive society will become."
Connie rolled her eyes as she stood before Peri, staring down at her in disappointment.
"Of course, those who have the money and sway would see the benefits. But I feel you may never understand." Connie told her.
Peri brushed her off.
"They outweigh the cons that's for sure." She said.
"Look at yourself. You're the most wanted woman in the world right now in with someone, at the slight notion of an order, can take you down any dam way she pleases."
Connie was amused at the thought.
"Your hiring of a Data Broker to feed information to me...maybe the information that was meant to steer me in the right direction, was a very clever move I must admit." Connie stated as she paced back and forth.
"Their kind strive for independence. I guess she never had the penchant for honouring the Brokers code?"
Given the unwritten rules between them, though if Pat had been doing it in secret.....
"The Brokers code is a load of baloney." Peri admitted.
"All the Data Brokers; they belong to me."
What...
"Didn't you know? They all belong to the family." She said.
"It was all intentional to get those on the path to hunting down the Pink Monolith."
A likely story which had Connie close a fist in anger. She'd have to work harder to get what she needed in the near future, if there was one of course.
"It's a great economy." Peri continued.
"The profit margins were astronomical."
All in the name of the Family and general company security? Connie would sooner laugh at the notion.
"Was that your idea...or Volleys?" Connie wondered.
Peri would open her mouth to protest the obsurdity, but Connie interrupted.
"But we've been getting off track. Who and where is the Grand-Sire?"
Connie summoned her sword again and swung the tip towards Peri's nose, causing her to gasp as her eyes honed in on it. She wasn't prepared to die.
"The-the Grand-Sire lives within Mega Beach City." Peri stammered.
"Please...don't hurt her. She's done nothing wrong!"
Connie had no such intentions. All she wanted was a little chat.
"I need to know her name and address...or so help me, I shove this right up you-"
"Her name is Nanefua Pizza!" Peri cried.
Connie paused. The reaction was one Peri had intended for Berrybyte to wear; especially as she went wide eyed.
"I'm sure you're able to find where she is. Now let me go!"
Peri struggled to break free further as Berrybyte thumbed her lip to ponder, while Amethyst put the cloth over Peri's mouth again, restraining her further. The President violently struggled against it, before her avatar went limp, glitching briefly before it went inanimate.
"I can apply SOAP but she's a human so it won't be a permanent fix." She said.
"But it will buy you some time to escape."
It couldn't be....Connie's mind went to something impossible.
"Connie!"
She'd been deep in thought...too deep, but she heard Amethyst the second time.
"Oh right." She replied.
"Thank you."
Chapter 79: Cradle
Summary:
Growing old is inevitable.
Chapter Text
After everything at PeriCom was taken care of, Connie so desperately had to sort it all out, but for now she had to return back to the Site. Being gone for too long was detrimental and she had to make sure everything back there was in order. She'd thanked both Amethyst and Stromberg for their assistance on her way out.
She'd taken use of the old Rosa Leo; the old teleporting hoverbike. Strange how things worked out with it...but it was said to have strange loyalties, even by Luna and so had to be extremely cautious with where it used its abilities. Though, Connie never seemed to have a problem with it. The Rosa Leo was always quiet in its 'Personal Assistant' form as Luna called it. Not sure if it had some kind of notable sentience or awareness of what it was doing but it so far, besides that one incident, showed any signs of going against Connie. Or else it would have attempted to do so.
Even as Connie returned back to the Site, it was all calm on that particular front. She quickly thanked it, then ran off as she had to sleuth her way back to her room and with her knowledge of the Site's ventilation, she was able to worm her way back to her room without issue.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed. Nor if anyone knew that she had left. Still, it could have been a few hours or days; Connie had to admit she'd lost track since she never bothered to look up the time once.
Right now she had to gather her thoughts for the next move, but at the same time realized her room was a mess with books and disheveled bed sheets. She'd cleaned everything up and made the bed, then made herself look presentable. Couldn't exactly let them know she'd been somewhere and back.
She'd eventually opened the door and nearly jumped as she saw Steven there with more books; who had also been shocked enough to drop said books.
"Oh shit sorry!" Connie said.
Both of them clambered all over the ground and picked books each; Connie smiled nervously until she could see the book about Pizza recipes in his hands.
"Were you...going to teach me how to cook?" Connie asked.
Steven also smiled nervously. His innocent soul made her smile.
"Um. Not exactly." he said.
"I suppose it could be something we could do together while we're here. You know..."
A sweet gesture that touched her heart. Part of Connie missed doing things together with Steven. Life was a little bit more...simpler.
"But you've locked yourself up for ages and...I wasn't sure if I did anything or said anything wrong to have yourself locked up in there..."
Oh...
No no no...it wasn't his fault at all. The thought of making him that way, it had heavy guilt weighing her down. Such a feeling wasn't going to stop her from trying to alleviate her mistakes so it could lessen the burden on both of them. Dealing with the consequences of abandonment; it had Connie keep forgetting that there were people who cared about her and were worried about her constantly. With that in mind, she owed it to Steven to make him feel good. Connie then threw the books aside and hugged him tightly, much to his surprise as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her head into his chest.
"Sorry to make you worry." She told him.
"I was...was so angry ...and you know the human mind isn't supposed to have itself isolated like this. This...is boredom."
Steven nodded, understanding. To the best of his own ability, anyway.
"Yeah I hear you." He said.
"But Da- Sol-Greg said he's able to secure ingredients for us to start making stuff."
Ingredients. How generous. Although a light flickered on in her head....Connie pulled herself away from Steven as she realized what she forgot to research.
Damn it...Connie forgot to look up what Amni was. She smiled anyway to mask the frustration.
"That sounds great." She said,
"Flavored protein paste isn't that exciting."
Steven agreed. He was probably one of the few AI's to understand the importance of taste. The slices of humanity he would often crave.
"Definitely not....and I've tasted more exciting types of paste." He told her.
Connie giggled, before she yawned. Part of her wanted to have some fun, but she had plans. Big plans. It made her sad to exclude him and she wondered if he suspected what she had been up to.
The day had been exhausting enough with her secret trip and dip...into the Domain that is. She'd then gave Steven a deep kiss goodnight, before shoving his dazed self out as she closed the door with a smirk on her face.
As much as she'd love to muck around, Connie had things she needed to do; as there was much more work to be done.
It'd been another day done and dusted that soon evolved into the next. Once she was well rested for her 'sleep' (meaning she only slept for an hour or two)...and Connie insisted on keeping it private in her own room. Steven didn't understand, but Greg was able to mention that sometimes people need time to themselves. Whatever conversation they had, Greg figured it was touchy and told him to give her the space and time she needed to gather her thoughts. As much as Greg mistrusted Connie, he could appreciate her efforts in her education and ability to be able to deeply connect with him on the rare levels.
In reality, Connie had gone to meet up with Luna again in Private Grid as they talked about Nanefua Pizzas' involvement as the Grand-Sire of the Church of Obsidia. So far from Gregs line of sight, with him none the wiser.
The information exchange, however, would bring to light Connie's surprise about Grandmother Pizza's potential trove of data to be claimed. Whether or not she could give it willingly, of course.
"The name strikes a chord." Luna told her as she floated about.
"Yes....Cereza had met her before, back when it was still recognised as a religion. There were already so few Grand-Sires and it's surprising to see she's the only one left. And she'll have to know more about the Cradle, I'm certain."
Which meant another dip to Mega Beach City.
And potentially...
Mr. Pizza.
"Does anything else stand out in any of your components' memories?" Connie queried further.
Luna closed her eyes.
"It's hard when there's no distinctive pattern as to how to force the memories to surface." She explained.
"I'm a Perma-Consensus. If you pull me apart, the parts that make me will not function as they were. As for Barbara's Soul Part, it could be the glue that holds us together in the same sense that Greg also has a part of him that keeps him and the Sol program together but he's less....damaged... I think."
It would be hard to consider their own make up. Connie's own head would spin just by thinking about it.
"I am not sure what I am, however. It's just a hypothesis."
Would it matter? Connie could draw conclusions to Steven's situation, though he was made for a purpose that he didn't want while Luna wasn't made for a purpose. She just was and is.
"After all I've done, smeared your face across the world and treated everyone unfairly. I wouldn't fit in any world provided. Reality or Domain otherwise."
From a human's perspective, Connie could see Luna as someone....misguided. Perhaps, unsure of what the right thing to do was. It was a familiar echo.
"Greg and I...we struggle to fix the problems we both created and leave with more questions than answers."
That much was true, to some extent.
"Do memories of your components drive you to such....well, bizarre ways of problem solving?" Connie asked, curious as to how Luna's mindset actually worked.
Wrapping her arms around herself, Luna wasn't even so sure herself.
"Ideas...born from broken memories and left to fill in the gaps." Luna replied as she recoiled into herself.
"For reasons perhaps pertaining as such, lead to me using the virus to unite the GIS in order to...how to put it....fight the system? Come to think of it, that doesn't make any sense at all."
Now she's aware of it. Took her some time, but she got there.
"I'm in the process of trying to cure the GIS thanks to you and Princie but..."
Problems?
"No it's not important." Luna told her.
"Go see Nanefua. I'll bring in your escort..."
Once back in Mega Beach City, Connie stood in front of the Pizza Shop. Odd feelings went through her and yet she wasn't so sure why she was so nervous in being here. Maybe it was after what Luna said about questions being discovered more than answers.
Or as the perma-consensus thing?
Whatever it was, it had Connie on edge. Hands in her pockets, she looked up at the overcast sky. The world felt empty, void and cold as if she never left the Site. From one confined cage to another as if suffocating in one wasn't enough.
For all her detective work, Connie was no closer to resolving anything and on occasions, it felt like she was back at where she started.
Entering the front door and hearing that distinctive chime, the pizzeria was empty, save for Mr. Pizza himself as he went to the counter.
"Yeah what do ya want to order?" He said, begrudgingly.
The man had racoon eyes and appeared as dead as he sounded.
"Sorry I'm not here to-"
"Then leave."
Of course, Connie should have remembered he was like this.
"I'm a Representative of PeriCom." Connie said.
"I'm here to talk with Nanefua Pizza."
Mr Pizza glared at her. He wasn't sure he could recall her from somewhere or...
"No." He said bluntly.
"Mumma ain't talking' to anyone today."
Connie rolled her eyes. It was always an uphill battle with him.
"Besides, if you were really important, you would have shown me your credentials, like they do in those tv shows."
He had no idea that this was reality? Though he did strike up a valid point. Connie wasn't going to let him win however; she had to act like she was in control, but not too much of the suave.
"Look sir, I refuse to argue with you." Connie told him, with half a mind to smack him a new one.
"And I re-"
"Let her be."
Turning around, Connie could see the tiny old lady by the door at the back where she would usually enter. She had a cane on her and a smile on her face.
"But-"
"I told you no buts!" She called out, using the same manner as if she was working in customer service.
"Follow me young one!"
Connie stuck a tongue out to him, before Nanefua led her upstairs.
The spiral staircase took longer than expected, Connie trailed behind Nanefua as she slowly made her way up. Made Connie miss Kyanite in a way, as she never had to experience the stairs in the same way thanks to Kyanite's portability and ability to traverse the grid.
Connie wanted to ask so many questions, but Nanefua urged her with patience as she proceeded to softly nudge Connie whenever she tried to open her mouth. Connie relented, though while she didn't mind Nanefua, she could understand why Jenny called her a weird old cook on the occasion. Not that Kyanite ever wondered too much or went too much into Nanefua's past.
Once they were up in the attic, Connie could see the old woman's room. Kyanite never traversed there....as there wasn't really anything they could get into. That being said, the attic was filled with fairy lights and the Diamond Authority logo in the back. Otherwise the room looked pretty cozy.
"I had a feeling our paths would cross." Nanefua revealed.
"Maybe again...perhaps."
How would she...
"I know you're not a bad egg." She continued.
"You're Maheswarans daughter. Your mother and I go a while back."
Besides being her doctor? Nanefua sat down on the edge of her bed and pointed towards a nearby chair.
"Sit."
It took her a moment, as Connie took a chair from the side of the room and planted in front of the bed and sat down. Her nerves increased somewhat, and she would find it quite tricky to get her words out.
"How did you know my mom?" Connie queried.
Nanefua's expression never changed much.
"She used to come to this Pizzeria, when my husband used to run the shop." She said,
"She used to talk about you a lot....and so does her AI. She misses you a lot....you should be ashamed....she's been worried sick."
Connie had to be honest. She'd almost completely forgotten about her mom. She wondered how she was with all the drama going on.
"Don't worry, she's safe." Nanefua confirmed.
"The Church has been taking care of everything."
Wait...the Church?
"So it's still around?" Connie asked.
Nanefua nodded. Her smile never wavered or changed as her form and figure were mostly stiff that Connie wondered if she was actually an Android.
"Oh yes." She said,
"But you don't need to hear about it for now. You're here for a reason."
Indeed. Connie had to get straight to the point.
"Uh yes I am ma'am." She said,
"Apologies for the intrusion and suddenness of it. But, I was wondering if you knew anything about...the Cradle?"
It was then when Nanefua looked down and sighed, then eventually got off of her chair and headed towards a nearby door. When she opened it, it revealed another set of stairs that lead to the roof.
"Follow me."
Once on the roof, Connie could see an amazing garden. Left and right were wonderful garden beds that were far too overgrown for their own good. Leaves scattered all over the ground and at the back was a familiar looking statue of an eight armed woman. Made of a blackened stone that was in between two waterfall features that fell into a semi-circular pool. It instilled a sense of awe of her beauty. Connie's studied art; a lot of this was probably not correct caricature. She was expecting Obsidia to be some alien from Mars as a little green man...not this, apparent divine beauty.
"You know who that is." Nanefua said, not losing her soft, signature smile once.
That Connie did know. The same visage of the ruins both in the Domain and the blocked off ruins in Mega Beach City.
"Obsidia." She said,
Ms Pizza nodded again.
"The one who brought the Monoliths to humanity."
Said to be a subject of the Church's worship.
"Sandra White and I were once friends." She revealed as she pulled out an envelope and opened it, revealing a series of ancient photographs.
"There were four of us. White, DeMayo, Dewey and myself."
The Original Expedition. Sandra White and a young Nanefua were thick as thieves and part of the original sect of Weiss United. White was ambitious and the Heir to the Weiss Throne.
"Dewey was the one who found the Ruins just out of Mega Beach City. The ruins themselves took months of excavation. So he was our Archeologist and did all the digging based on the details of a strange energy signature that I found."
The young Nanefua looked remarkably similar to her granddaughter Jenny, although she just had a pixie cut instead.
"DeMayo and I already knew each other from college and university. My speciality was new energy research. Combined with the texts that were with the Weiss United family, together we founded a new order."
The Church of Obsidia.
"Some thought I was insane, but it comes from a long line of mystics who used to interpret the future through many things, such as our dreams."
Yet she was a woman of science. Something must have changed to convince her to turn.
"I saw Obsidia myself in my dreams." Nanefua said as she looked up at the statue.
"I saw the path forged before humanity. That the ascension itself was to ease the pain humanity suffered through. Sandra interpreted these visions as our supposed future, combined with DeMayo's own research into Soulware, that this was fate; and that the four of us were to be the Grand-Sires of the Church of Obsidia and I would preach the word."
That the word of Obisidia was meant to reach to others and touch their very spirits to join in.
"What went wrong?" Connie asked.
Nanefua sighed.
"Disagreements." She said,
"Dewey disapproved of this...faith...as he was so inclined to the sciences and that he felt my visions were...baloney."
Stuck in the church with Nanefua as their Pastor, Dewey just wanted to argue and that the work that went into finding the Monoliths was just the work of aliens that seeded them in the original ruins and Obsidia was an alien that had been transmitting their messages to Nanefua to get her to persuade humanity to give up their lives for nothing.
"Sandra and Gerald had my back." Nanefua further explained.
"Sandra was intent on listening to my every word. Which led in turn to use the Monoliths as per Obsidia's instruction."
Words Connie found. Disturbing....did she really see Obsidia in her dreams?
"Do you still....see them?" Connie wondered.
Nanefua shook her head.
"I haven't dreamed of them in decades." She said,
"As soon as the Monoliths were developed, the last bit of information they provided me was the details about the so-called Cradle."
So, what was its purpose?
"I spent years trying to figure that out." She said,
"They didn't appear relevant to the plans with the Monoliths so it was disregarded. Until I had Sandras granddaughter Rose contact me."
So she did some research.
"I presume she heard about the Cradle from somewhere." Connie wondered.
Nanefua nodded.
"Given Rose's relationship with Greg DeMayo, she must have found the copy of the details that I once sent Gerald." She said,
But Connie wanted to know what the Cradle was for.
"So why was it not considered something that the Developers were interested in?" She wondered.
Nanefua sat down on a chair nearby as Connie followed her about.
"The idea was for when the Monoliths were completed and seeded about, the Cradle was said to be the machine that could bring Obsidia back into their original organic form."
How...how absurd. To resurrect the original Alien? Even Connie found that farfetched.
"So Obsidia did all this...just so they could return back to life? That doesn't...that doesn't make any sense." She said, scratching her head.
Words that made Nanefua frown.
"Obsidia was supposed to the Master of all the Monoliths." She said,
"Still is. The rightful owner. But Sandra took control of everything. Stole DeMayo's work and made the Church obsolete."
She used her old friend to climb and pave the way to power. It made Connie hate Grandmother White even more.
"We were all fools; betrayed. And the only thing left is to hope that Obsidia sees what has become of the Monoliths."
Hope that....Obsidia sees? Based on Nanefuas old age, it's blatant that Obsidia either doesn't care what's happened or else they would have intervened by now. But the knowledge of the Cradles purpose hadn't solved anything rather being a useless tidbit of information that served no further use to serve.
Connie got up, disappointed by the knowledge she gained. It wouldn't serve any purpose other than useless tech that would never be used. She was about to leave empty handed before Nanefua stopped her with her cane.
"I'm not finished." She said, annoyed with Connie's rudeness.
"I know you're thinking that Obsidia simply disappeared. That they no longer care. Nothing could be further from the truth."
Assumptions couldn't even come close. Connie had a zillion questions into all of this and wondered if Nanefua was just completely senile and made up stories for her entertainment to screw with Connie in particular. It was hard to trust anyone these days.
"You're going to tell me that their spirit exists in data form somewhere...probably all broken into pieces and still had plans to use this 'cradle' to collect the pieces together to resurrect it." She said sarcastically.
All she was met with was a simple pause and a surprised expression on Nanefuas face. No...Connie was joking...
"Wait, they did...no...what."
Nanefua smiled, much to Connie's confusion.
"You're pretty close." She said,
"The expedition found not only the Monoliths, but Obsidia's Tablet; a type of alien-esque data storage component. I protected the Tablet for a long while....until Sandra ordered its destruction."
How....unfortunate. Connie had to guess that the visions stopped after Sandra destroyed it? This was too obvious. A single storage device which contained the original Obsidia files, Connie also presumed. Made a little bit more sense, if not far more troubling.
"So they've kept you alive; because you're the only one who's ever had...contact with Obsidia." Connie assumed.
"Why would White even care if she's got total control?"
It would be logical for all traces of Obsidia to be eradicated, including loose ends.
"The information Obsidia used to share with me was invaluable." She said,
"I'm not sure but if Obsidia decided to communicate with me again, but at this rate, with my declining health, I highly doubt Obsidia wants anything to do with me anymore."
So why still worship her?
"Obisdia's goal was to unite humanity under the common thread." Nanefua continued.
"I helped translate their language into English so that we might better understand each other."
Which in turn would definitely help with alien's intentions. Sharing their knowledge to slowly absorb minds into the Domain.
"There's also the issue with the Transitional Entity and that the technology was meant to transfer minds en masse." Connie told her.
"Obsidia could have been the original entity that was meant to do that? Maybe with the technology of the Cradle to help out?"
A wild guess.
"Collecting billions of minds and putting them as the burden on the Domain at once...practical in theory but it wouldn't be ideal." Nan explained.
Hence why the Pink Monolith was still so crucial for their idea to work.
"What information I shared with Rosette Flannigan...perhaps what you speak of is, of course, preposterous. Not sure what was going on in her head....however if she was anything like her grandmother, surely what she had planned wasn't any good."
Rose was the most ambiguous with her own aims, but there was some goal she had in mind that Connie could understand...and didn't.
"Rose helped...create the Entity, but...on the same token she didn't want the same things as the rest of her family." Connie said.
"She wanted humanity to course its own path without resorting to such drastic measures."
Words that gave Nanefua pause as she reflected on their meaning.
"When you get to my age, you start to realize that as your time grows short, you dwell on too many regrets. What could have been and whether the choices you've made, matter." She said,
"With my son and granddaughters, I've tried to guide them on paths that they could walk down, with all their hearts. I mean, Kiki was the only one who pursued a particular path that I went down when I was younger. As for Jenny, well, she still has time but she mustn't waste it."
Connie had no idea what Nanefua was getting at.
"Obsidia would talk about how they provide the power to make time stand still by turning us all into AI's. We're young and we feel like this youth could be preserved forever. Sandra got addicted to that aspect; sunk into the inability to grow old."
That would be inviting, to those who feared to die.
"Do you fear becoming someone like me?"
Connie looked down on the Pizza Matriarch. She was small, frail, yet she still had some kind of faith, even if it was a bit misplaced. Once upon time, Connie wouldn't have minded becoming an AI, being one with those who could live forever.
Events had her questioning much of that. To be human or to provide a facsimile upon a frozen bit of time. What would that really contribute?
"I, for one, would welcome death." Nanefua revealed.
"You can treat me as much as you'd like, but it wouldn't be such a bad thing. Sad but for all the right reasons. You were someone in the world. You mattered for that small slice called time. You had your impact and it's only right those who still live continue on with legacies. The world needs to change, evolve and grow...but it can't if it remains the same."
So she was completely against Obsidia's aims?
"I still worship Obsidia's ideas. Preservation of ideas is important, but it always needs new minds to add on to it. And that maybe, they didn't mind total cessation or that they preferred to be broken up so that their ideas could be shared in new and exciting ways."
Connie was still confused. Nanefua continued.
"You and I both know that Rose succeeded in making the Cradle, but perhaps not in the way that the Cradle was meant to be used."
What? Connie didn't follow.
"Maybe it will only be a matter of time until Obsidia returns. How? Even I wouldn't know. But they do work in mysterious ways."
Looking up at the statue formation, Connie wasn't so sure.
"My Obsidian Thesis is my own notes about the matter. You're free to take them and make use of them, if they will help you on your path to realization."
Talking with Nanefua definitely opened Connie's eyes somewhat. She'd provided Berrybyte several books worth to take with her back to the Site so she could study the notes and to grasp an understanding with what Nanefua went through.
Her notes were... a lot. Years worth of interpreting dreams and visions. Nanefua had questioned why she was chosen, beyond her own ancestral lineage. That, what the expedition found was Obsidian Tablet alongside the original Monolith constructs. Nanefua theorized that she was chosen because she was the first to touch the Tablet and therefore was the rightful holder.
That becoming the Grand-Sire was to bring in the great word of Obsidia to the masses. To encourage them to share their hopes and dreams with the church. She'd met her husband and had kids during this time and that living with them and seeing them grow up, while the masses were deciding to join Sandra's growing amounts of GIS and AI's. Then as Connie read about the desires of Nanefua's husband choosing death over being preserved as an AI, it struck close.
She would grow old the same way, whether she liked it or not.
Connie slammed the book shut and combed her fingers through her hair. Information about the Cradle was...null...but she couldn't stop thinking about the progression of time and that she'll eventually die and Steven will move on without her.
Rather than thinking about it, she cleaned the room a bit, then sat on her bed and thought for a moment about what she wanted. Something spontaneous. Something powerful to divert. Painful in all the right ways.
It wasn't long until she invited Steven into the room (a rarity!) and decided that she wanted to jump his bones, fully knowing that it was just to escape her troubled thoughts in the meanwhile.
For this moment, the foreplay was a bit more fun, mischievous. Memorable, though that was because sex with Steven was becoming more..comfortable, easier. To explore each other's likes and dislikes and teaching Steven all the nuances of pleasure was kinda fun. If it wasn't prolonging kisses and lingering licks, it was understanding different positions and gaining particular preferences. Connie began to understand that the line could always been blurred with such advanced AIs such as he, forgetting that they weren't on the same levels of existence at that moment...but when they were, they couldn't tell the difference between themselves. It was like a new level of synchronization, not too dissimilar to that of their Stevonnie form.
Emotional levels; intense but not out of balance. One could thank Steven's positronic brain for coping with the overflow. He enjoyed being inside of her, no matter what hole. He enjoyed coming...he enjoyed making her come, again and again. Her cute little noises...and loud noises...and the smiles, the cheeky cheshire grins.
He had been behind her and lifted her leg while he pumped himself inside of pussy, while he kissed and suckled her neck. It all went at a steady pace and the other whispering or crying out each others name and the other sweet, sweet sounds that came with it.
"Oh fuck....oh gosh Connie...." Steven uttered.
He didn't really need to breathe but it was instinctual. Something brought out by his human esque breathing. One had to wonder; since his creation, what humanness was transferred? The need to breathe and live. The desire and hunger.
Actual hunger mind you.
His grunting was labored and so was hers. He relished in every given moment. The android itself had controls and software to maintain arousal levels and propensity of ejaculation. He could afford to come multiple times and last as long as a human needed. Any fluids could be replaced in due course with the right intake of special drinks to allow the machinery to be...oiled, so to speak. Most of the hardware was actually wetware inside to mimic human organs. The technology developed as such was astounding and top of the line; as what Connie would have expected from the Android home island of Azure Alpha.
"I'm gonna come...." Connie cried.
Steven went faster....he wanted to see, hear and feel her peaking once again. A moment to allow her to be at the precipice of her ecstasy.
And in a hot flash and cold sweat, they trembled and shook as he filled her with intent, locking on her tightly to squeeze in every last drop.
The two laid together in the aftermath; cuddling under the sheets. Steven stroked her head and listened to her take every breath. For her to invite him into the room like this was...out of place, though he himself couldn't fathom why or what was missing.
"Are you sure everythings okay?" Steven queried.
Her utter silence and refusal to see him or leave her room. Greg wasn't all too worried but Steven knew better.
"It will be." Connie replied.
"I'm sorry to have you worry so much...but...you know I've had time to reflect."
Good to note. But he was glad she was with him now. That's what he wanted.
"Humans....special things happen when they're together for a while. Chemistry within us compels us. Tells us what we want and need....and gives us silly ideas that you can try and describe in weird ways. Your mind makes up scenarios that you can only see in your head and if you share that with your significant other...it could seed the idea in their head...and have them welcome it too."
Connie's given him plenty of ideas, he understood that much.
"But my worry is. That idea has seeped into many who have gone down that road." She continued.
"And I'm not entirely certain if you would even fathom it."
Steven could at least try and understand what she wanted.
"Tell me and I can tell you my opinion on it." He said.
Connie shook her head and sat up, bringing her knees up as she wrapped her arms around them. The AI wouldn't consider the notion, nor would it ever be brought up to discussion.
"It's so stupid but...my thoughts say, we can grow old together."
Grow old?
"I mean, I don't mind getting old with you if that's what you're asking." Steven said.
No. He didn't get it. But Connie didn't blame him and appreciated his attempts nevertheless. If the naivety itself didn't make her love him anymore than she already had.
"You have the potential to live forever." Connie said.
"I will in the future...die. That's an inevitable fact...it's just how things are."
Words that stung him harder than he would like to admit. Steven had forgotten the concept of aging, however. Basic research told him that Humans would grow gray hairs, get wrinkly and weak and feeble. He didn't mind if and when Connie would get to that state. He'd still love her and look after her where she needed it. That was his prepared level of commitment, even if he failed to conceive what that actually meant due to his inherent programming.
"You...don't wanna be an AI?" Steven asked, his throat tightening from anxiety.
She'd made the choice long ago; a mistake emerged from impulse and complex feelings...now all of a sudden, she'd decidedly changed her mind, for whatever reason compelled her to switch the attitude. She blamed Nanefua.
"I...I dunno." She said, uncertain.
"I'd get to be with you for an eternity but...I don't want to lose who I am...and after everything I've learned I'm too scared to lose myself."
The talk of souls disappeared, being altered or discarded or lost in general. The twistedness of it all to preserve what amounted to be pure memory and experience that could contribute to the mass but deep down, Connie could lose more than that in a way she couldn't properly explain.
"Now I'm sounding dramatic. I'm sorry."
No. No she wasn't. Steven's learned a lot in the meantime. It still gets him confused occasionally but he wasn't entirely ignorant of the impact this could have. He's never had a proper 'childhood' as Greg would say.
"No, don't be." He said.
"The thought of having you with me forever is a wonderful idea and...and a selfish one. I'm sorry to put you into this position...I...I don't know how to fix this."
He didn't have to, nor did he need to. Connie's read romance's gone wrong dozens of times, fictional and non-fictional. He's better than most human lovers Connie's ever had.
Most of those had gone wrong.
"We all have...our ideal ways but to execute them in reality isn't always possible." Connie conferred as she lightly grabbed Steven's chin and gently forced him to look at her.
"That's the nature of reality; we don't always get what we want."
Steven let Connie rest as he left the bed not long after. Leaving the room he had much to deliberate.
The topic of 'growing old' didn't really bother him much nor was it anything that had even crossed his mind until Connie mentioned it. Steven could only imagine himself as Steven as he was now. He'd never experienced humanity from birth...but someone else did.
He found his father in his office working on something. Sol-Greg still had to have some memories of when he was young. The way the mind would change as it grew.
"Oh Steven what's up?" Greg asked.
How was he even going to approach this without being awkward about it?
"Umm...so...I don't know how to explain this." He said.
"But Connie said she wants to grow old with me. I don't like the idea of her dying but she's...okay with it. I don't know what to do."
It scared him before and it still scared him, but it brought Greg pause to several things as Steven admitted something to him that had him contemplating harder and longer than usual, but Steven needed a response. His son, at a loss of how to cope when Connie does actually die someday.
Sol-Greg's preparations alluded to the fact of the short amount of time he actually had. Looking up at Steven, he forced a smile to assure him everything was going to be okay.
"She loves you kiddo." He said as he stood up and put a hand on his sons shoulder.
That's a funny way to convey love, if that's what she meant. Greg knew what it meant, but such words had piled into his code as if a spark of realization executed through his systems, perpetuating it into noting that it was a premise that had to be dealt with carefully. He didn't want to think that Connie was trying to manipulate him but he wasn't so sure. Everything Greg did he did for Steven and his mothers legacy.
No. He had to talk to Connie alone. Steven wasn't well defined in the philosophies of love...too naive and innocent to put a definite finger on it.
Until he received a ping.
"Hey, we'll talk about this another time, I've got work to attend to." He said.
"Go see to Connie. Make your time with her worthwhile and meaningful."
Steven left, which had Greg connect himself to his WorkStation; and meet up with Princie from within the Grid. Gregs private grid incurred a small van that was on a beach. Peaceful and it reminded him of his carefree college days.
Footsteps marked the sand as the Avatar of the Pink Monolith approached him. Greg sat on the edge of the back of the van....and slightly grimaced at Pinks Avatar.
"You heard that conversation I assume." Greg told her.
Princie nodded.
"Connie is correct to express that way." She said,
"But the time will come Greg when the truth will emerge. The deeper his curiosity gets, the likelihood of him finding said truth will increase."
That's what Greg was afraid of.
"After all this time, I'm still not ready for it." Greg stated.
"There's a lot to be worried about..."
Greg had every right to be worried as well. Princie had been with him nearly every step of the way, but even they knew the inevitability that one day it will escalate and they will be presented with no other choice.
"You and I cannot make that decision for him." Princie said.
"You must be prepared for the very moment where you need to let him go."
Chapter 80: Grave
Summary:
Are some secrets worth dying for?
Chapter Text
For years, as far as Greg knew from his original organic counterparts memories, the DeMayo name itself had been subject to scrutiny. For research into Soulware to the incident that him to take the Pink Monolith away from it all, that there would have been an end in sight.
Both Rose and himself, against all controversy, still had the same intent in mind to stop Grandmother White and her Developers from enacting their scheme of total control. Day by day, it became harder and harder to conserve everything and that perhaps Connie's insistence and stubbornness was going to get their battle against all odds to go haywire.
Greg couldn't stop. Not for one moment. Too many mistakes would get everything they've fought for undone in mere moments.
The vision of the Beach and the van brought up the rare holiday that he himself and Rose once took. That felt like a life time ago. A distant memory. A distant reality. He couldn't care too much about the Pink Monolith at this rate, only that he still needed to and it for multiple reasons. That each day that it was kept away from the Developers, was still a win in his books. Even in this Private Grid of a fabricated retreat, Greg still contemplated his future actions as he sat there on a fold out chair as he watched the waves crash against the shore and played a guitar that resembled Gregs real life guitar. If it still existed.
He played songs of truth interwoven into them, if you listened closely.
"Rose." Greg murmured, as he looked upon the false seas.
"Our boys asking scary questions."
And so he should. Perhaps only then the sins of his past could be repented by telling him the truth, but that in itself Greg thought it was selfish to think that it would absolve himself from what's he's done.
Or rather, what his flesh and blood counterpart did. He was just following protocols.
Surely...
He wasn't sure if he was ready for it. Or he would take it to his old bones in death.
A gust a wind, ever so slight, indicated that someone had joined him.
"Perhaps thats a conversation that you need to have with Luna." Said Princie as she appeared.
Luna. The other thorn in his side. She who is the bigger sinner of the pair.
"Have you been talking to her?" Greg asked.
Princie smirked. The relationship had been tense between the two as of late. The reality being that she was still a sore spot, given her disposition and make up.
"She's less a threat, and more an asset who's working on The Cluster Monolith." She said.
Greg was less intriguied to know how Princie knew this as to more the reasons why Princie was looking into her and praising her, despite her previous misgivings.
"Plus she's made up of Rose, Cereza and Barbara. She's beginning to grasp the inherent nature of her components and is just as protective of Steven as you are."
Greg grunted in displeasure. She would only possess the superficial nature of his beloved plus the others. Made it all the reason not to trust her.
"Cherrys inability to keep things under control was what got us into this mess." Greg chastised.
"And Barbara..."
A name he had conflicted feelings for. She was in this...if not one of the main persons to blame. If it wasn't for Cherry's incompetence with Pink Monolith technology that got them where they were, it was Barbaras insanity that certainly was more so to blame than Cherrys. She was the one at most fault and while she did help them out, willingly, to provide their prized project to life, her on edge morals tipped her over the scales for what was acceptable.
And lead them to near ruin, and Sol-Greg most of his time picking up the pieces.
"We're looking too far into the past that it's blinding you from seeing the future." Princie pointed out.
"You must prepare from the time when it will escalate-"
"I KNOW!" Greg roared as he threw his fist at a nearby ball in frustration.
He had to do something, but he just not prepared for it. Maybe discussing the situation with Luna was the only way to settle matters once and for all.
"Tell Luna I want to talk to her. Now."
Princie organised the meeting on neutral ground; inside the Pink Monolith itself. She'd made all the measures and defensive protocols in case she wanted to try anything funny that Princie would just root it out.
Or oust Greg. Either way.
She created a small dinining room with pink marble and a small fireplace and a long dining table. The atmosphere felt ominious and tense as Luna appeared to make herself known at Princie's summoning. While Greg sat on his end, with his elbows on the table while he cautiously observed Luna from afar.
"I was surprised to hear you wanting to speak with me Sol." Said Luna, using Gregs unofficial name.
He didn't like her using that name either. It gave gave him the impossible itch.
"Believe me, I wouldn't have invited you here unless circumstances were dire." He said.
Luna nodded in understanding.
"Of course." She responded.
"You wanted to talk about Steven?"
Not that Greg felt comfortable in doing so.
"You and I...and what we were, we both created and raised him." Greg said.
"And...for too long I've tried to keep the situation stable but...Steven's asking questions because of, well, Berrybyte."
Luna nodded once again.
"I see." She said.
"With everything being far more complicated than it once was, I can't help but agree that this is just stalling the inevitable. There is no safe zone if we can't envision what that safe zone is."
The safe zone being, the point in time where everything was more relaxed, and the danger had well and truely passed. But it wouldn't. Not while everything was what it was at this rate and it wasn't going to die down any time soon.
"You and I both know that White will not stop until she has what she wants." Luna explained.
"And as the years progress, time slowly and surely will make this exceptionally difficult for those involved. Luckily enough, I've slowly, but surely gained the memories back from my components and I see what Rose was trying to do."
It was then Luna closed her eyes and transformed herself into an off-colour version of Rose. Though her eyes were dull and void, a light pink with no pupils. Didn't make Greg feel any better; in fact, it made him feel worse.
"Rose's intentions were meant to oust White from control." She said.
"I'd hoped by infecting enough GIS and that the Cluster Monolith would provide me with enough power to be able to invade the Domain...and to crash the systems far enough to isolate White and the other Conduits from their GIS. The less range they have, the less control she'd have."
And Luna couldn't do even that.
"But Rose had another idea." She said.
Greg sort of knew.
"She wanted something stronger." He said.
"She knew the one thing that she needed that had enough power that may not even need a thousand or so GIS required to do what you were trying to do."
Luna nodded.
"It is the one power she feared above all else." She said.
"The power of Obsidia."
The Alien that brought the Monoliths to Earth.
"The Obsidian Texts have been left untouched until Rose decided to do her research." She said.
"Which in turn, lead to a specific and unorthordox way of trying to reenact the power in question."
Papers were then slammed onto the table, stunning Greg.
"The Cradle." Said Connie as she appeared out of nowhere. Greg was stunned that Connie was even allowed in here.
"The Cradle was designed to bring Obsidia back. But White shattered the tablet after inspiring the Grand-Sire to build it."
That was much was known. Connie shuffled through the paper and showed Greg a particular blue print.
"The AI Core." She said.
"Is basically the design Rose came up with based off the Cradles template. Starting off with Steven's, formerly Rose's phylactery."
Greg couldn't even deny the design at this point, with the details he knew.
"Rose wanted a human to be part of the design." He admitted.
"If she was going to resurrect Obsidia Incarnate, a human had to be part of that grand design."
A human that would provide the power to allow others to ascend, as it would be.
"Obsidia; as it was, was meant to be the controller." Connie further explained.
"But White insisted on being the one in charge; not an Alien."
Rose had similar opinions.
"White's lust for power and to be seen as some sort of Messiah was always on her agenda." Greg noted.
"Ridding of Obsidia meant that the power in turn could be hers."
And by isolating the Pink Monolith, meant she could never enact her plan. They'd known that part for the longest time, as it wasn't exactly a well kept secret by this point.
"Rose didn't want that." Luna said.
"But she also didn't want Obsidia to control it either. So the methods to do so altered so that only Steven could be that trigger."
But Steven was just one AI. All that power, rested in one construct. But there was more, as Connie would put out to a different part of the Core.
"The Cradle was supported by more phylacteries." She explained.
"An extra four, to be precise."
Luna nodded.
"Ah yes it's coming back to me now." She said.
"The Four Ancillas. That they were chosen to balance the power. A safety net, that wouldn't overload Steven's systems."
Another blue print with four distinctive outlines with inlet colours of red, blue, purple and white.
...
And the cuts of a Ruby, Sapphire, Amethyst and Pearl respectively.
Parts of this came together, thanks to Nanefuas notes.
"You know this research was surely something." Connie admitted.
"Why Rose kept those specific GIS around. Why their phylactery positioning was never questioned. They were right here, all along, meant to protect Steven."
A clever idea, given Steven's own struggles with his 'humanity' could be tempered with training alongside the GIS that could forsee potential futures, that could teach him how to be human as well as being able to take care of him while he was in the Domain.
"There was more to it than that." Greg stated.
"The event itself still can't be triggered in this state. Even with all the Phylacteries in the Cradle to support it, there's still missing pieces."
Connie tilted her head, curious. She checked the pages again to see what was still missing.
"When White forced the tablet to break, she broke them into four pieces, dividing the pieces among the Monoliths themselves as they still contained Obsidia's essence." Said Princie as she stood next to Connie.
"That way, if everything was in place, White would be able to enact the event. But at this rate, she doesn't have everything."
So, the path ahead was simple?
"So why don't we just go to each Monolith and grab the piece of the tablet?" Connie queried.
Greg sighed.
"First off that would be suicide." He said.
"Secondly, even if we got all the pieces, how in the world are we even able to still force White out of her Monolith? We still gotta deal with Blue and Yellow."
Luna smiled.
"Leave that to me." She said.
"Connie, I'll need your help with this next part."
Greg already didn't like the sound of this. Luna having strange ideas wasn't new.
"In order to get to each of locations to find the Tablet Pieces, we'll need some extra hands."
Connie could agree with the obsurdity of it all alongside Greg (the only thing they could agree on) but felt that they could at least get on track, though Greg did order her into his lab to talk to her in private.
"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this." He said.
"But Luna's manipulations; I don't agree with them."
Of course he didn't.
"We don't have much choice." Connie said.
"But saving Lars and Sadie; we need more human allies on board with us and some physical presences. Maybe you needed a human to see how things get done hm?"
Greg grumbled.
"I was human once too." He said.
"I'm doing this for humanity just as much as I'm doing this for my son. And trusting Luna; it's just as risky as letting you take the reigns."
Perhaps.
"Surely the old Greg wasn't as cynical as this...copy is." Connie critiqued.
He was mashed with the Sol VI but that surely wouldn't done that much to his personality.
"Human Greg still had hope prior to the incident." He said.
"I wanted to hold on to hope, but its...."
Connie raised an eyebrow.
"Hope is a human concept?" She said.
It wasn't just for humans.
"We talked about Luna's components." Connie told him.
"All were mothers...and because of this, she's realising now that she's meant to help Steven. That was her goal all along."
Connie's resentment of Luna slowly faded over time. There was a point to their own understanding of the situation where Connie wrestled with her own distate of the program, before realising that some actions were dictated by illogical choices, made from mistaken concepts and mismatched ideas fetched from broken and splintered databanks. Luna's original VI programming balanced it all out, but it didn't do much as to what motives Luna would really have....and that by opening up her components memories, that she could see her worth and the truth of the ideals that could choose to represent. She wasn't made to represent them, but she could if she wanted to. She had to choose to do so.
So did Greg.
"You're saying I'm not a good father?" Greg questioned.
Well...
"You are..." Connie said, before realising she wasn't sure as for what words she could use.
"Look. I've been raised in foster homes. Terrible parenting for people who just wanted to hold on to me for the extra buck or worse. But then I met my real mother....or the facsimile of her. I...I didn't realise that the kindness she provided was more alien to me than I first thought. But the more I talked to her, whether through phone calls or texts or quick trips into the Domain, that she was being who she was. A mom. And for that I felt warm, I felt her wisdom transfer into me as a mothers should. And that maybe I took all that for granted."
She could blame Nanefua for inspiring that line of thought.
"I don't want to be cynical for the sake of being cynical." Connie continued.
"But I was a realist, who'd fallen down that path of negativity once too often. And I think hope is still a weird thing to believe in. But not all change is comfortable, but its sometimes necessary."
Greg looked at the floor, processing Connie's words. He'd spent so much time protecting his own son out of pure fear of being used. If it wasn't Princie getting up at him, it was the only human stationed here that was.
"We're gonna need more than Hope to go on." Greg said, before putting his fist to his chest.
"The only defense we have is our secret location and I've done all I can to make sure we haven't been compromised. Heck, not even the Frymans know where we are."
Speaking of which, no one had heard from them in a while.
"But we can't do anything with the Developers on our tail. We do something about them then I will be comfortable with Steven being safe."
Connie nodded. It wasn't as if she didn't appreciate Greg being protective. It was about him being over-protective.
All Greg could really think about at this point was what else he had to lose. Part of him could remember Barb and her relationship with her own daughter and to keep her safe....and Doug with his daughter. It was a natural order of things with parent and child he assumed. That it had to have been some instinct to guide and guard creations.
"Just...promise me you'll look after him when this is all over?"
That's the hope Connie was looking for.
"I will Greg, don't you worry." She said with a smile.
Back in Mega Beach City, Sadie had been cooped up in a little room with Bismuth for some time. They were both at PeriCom HQ and that they were told to wait until someone would come to grab them. Bismuth was okay, but Sadie, again was bored as hell. The room itself had yellow walls and a white rubber floor and not a single window. There was a set of drawers and a one stand and lamp as well as a desk. Meant to be homely, but clearly they were really going all out on the decor (meaning every bit of furniture was possibly bought at the cheapest price.)
There was a bed for her to rest on but Sadie couldn't do much at this point, given how much restricted access was thrust upon her. She sat on the bed while Bismuth stood by on her XL-CPD, not saying a word unless Sadie opened her mouth.
"Bismuth, you know long it might take for a girl to go insane with boredom?" She asked.
Bismuth tried to look it up in her databanks, but came up with nothing.
"No." She said.
Sadie realised Bismuth had yet to pick up on the art of sarcasm. She flopped her back onto the bed, arms wide as she groaned.
Though, it was then the door creaked opened. It was Operative Vidalia.
"Alright, you're coming with me." She said.
"Take the Caretaker with you."
Vidalia lead them down a hallway in dead silence. There was a sense of dread and unease in the air as Sadie was uncertain was to where she was being taken to. Bismuth being there with her made it a little easier, but not by much.
She was taken down a long and uncomfortable elevator ride before opening to a long catwalk that lead towards something Sadie gasped at.
Long walls with the words, Y-2 on them and at the end of a catwalk was a series of scientists at their WorkStations that sat before a large machine covered in panels that had the Y-3 code written in yellow ink. Why Sadie was here was beyond her. But she had a sneaking suspicion of what the the mechanical monstrosity was before her.
"Connect her." Vidalia said to the scientists.
"Presidents Orders."
They sat Sadie down on a chair and pushed her close to the middlemost station and connected her up to them. Sadie was nothing short of terrified but only expressed that through rapid heartbeats and a bit of heavy breathing. Protesting at this point was useless but she figured as long as she did was she was told she would live long.
Closing her eyes, Sadie was suddenly connected to a Private Grid of sorts. Opening her eyes, she'd reappeared, alongside Bismuth, inside a yellow office of sorts. It was dome shaped and the windows themselves looked upon an alien planet. But the rest of the room had yellow furniture and at the other side of the office was a desk and a chair facing its back to them. Sadie gulped. She looked at Bismuth who nodded, then the pair of them slowly walked towards the desk.
"Ah you're here." Said a deep, womanly voice.
"Young Sadie?"
They turned around to see an all yellow woman with short, helmet-like bob yellow hair with two spiked tips. She wore some kind of military official regalia complete with badges designed to make her look tough, but her soft smile suggested anything but.
"Yes that's me." Sadie said with a forced grin, nervous as all hell.
Yellow leaned over and interlaced her fingers together.
"Don't be shy my dear." She said.
"We are family after all. Despite what my own mother might think, you deserve to know who you're talking to."
Sadie and Bismuth looked at each other for the briefest second.
"Uhh...the...Yellow Monolith?"
Yellow smiled.
"Yes!" She said as she stood up and walked around the desk.
"But most importantly, you are my grand daughter!"
Sadie's eyes widened.
"Uh....what?" She said, surprised.
Yellow then picked her up and gave her a big hug, much to Sadies consternation.
"Been so long since I've gotten to see anyone." She said, before settling Sadie down.
"And when I heard the news about your mothers passing...I was absolutely devastated!"
Wait...
"You're Moms Mom?" Sadie queried.
Yellow nodded, before she walked towards the window and leaned her arm against it as she looked outside, appearing sullen.
"Your mothers always struggled against the inability to connect to us on a particular level." She revealed.
"Intelligent, but there was nothing that could be done. I felt shame for having a daughter that wasn't able to do was necessary for the family, but I didn't realise that it would drive her insane enough to take her own life."
Sadie squinted, unsure of what she should say to that.
"But you have the Diamond Gene! Which is to say, incredibly important."
Yellow turned around to sit back into her chair.
"And it falls to me to ensure that the blood line stays strong in the meantime. And why on Earth did mother decide to steal you away from me is outright insulting. Making you the Custodian for the White Caretaker? You should have come straight to me!"
Sadie rubbed her arm, she had to respond despite not wanting to.
"Uh...I had no choice ma'am." She said.
Yellow then smiled warmly.
"No no it's your fault." She said.
"Mother has a habit of making things difficult....especially with the reasons why she wanted you here."
Ah. Sadie thought that Yellow just wanted to meet her. She originally expected to be here for a legitimate reason other than meeting a family she'd never expect to meet.
"We'll be joined by several others shortly. In the meantime, I wanted you to be the first to know your contributions to this next project we've been working so hard on."
It was then Yellow summoned a screen. A blue screen with a strange kind of figure in a t pose, though the spiky hair wasn't exactly hair, Sadie imagined.
"I've been working on this project for years." Yellow continued.
"With Blue's help of course. She's sent some of her people to help construct in secret."
Then why didn't Blue just build on her Island?
"This is our relay system. We named it, the Diamond Authority..."
Sadie squinted, looking at the system in detail.
"You will be a part of this critical piece of equipment." She continued.
"As will some others. We're missing a few parts but we have no doubt that we will acquire them in due course."
Sadie assumed that this had something to do with the Pink Monolith...and possibly Steven too.
"Mother will be proud of this...what I've accomplished....uhhh I mean, by what we accomplished. Together. Family sticks together!"
Rubbing her throat, Sadie wasn't sure what this thing actually did, but what ever it was, it couldn't be good.
"We will achieve our purpose. Our true purpose. Once every little bit is in place, then we will achieve true peace!"
Sadie was eventually sent back to her room afterwards and she had much to contemplate.
Firstly, Yellow was definitely unhinged and Sadie really didn't want to be in the same place her if she could help it. But it wasn't as if she had much choice.
Secondly, this..Diamond Authority Construct. It was girnomous in scope but Yellow didn't go into too much detail other than claiming it was for...peaceful endeavours. Sadie wasn't that naive to think otherwise.
She'd told this to Bismuth, who was horrified by it.
"If it's a relay, then it's somethin' related to the ESCAPISM event, I'm sure of it." She said, crossing her arms.
"Yellow's overconfidence in the product...her pride is her weapon. But for her to be your own grandmother...huh. I guess she was feelin' lonely."
But Yellow being her only family at this rate....and it explained White's insistance on Sadie being a part of who they were. Sadie just didn't want to connect the dots in regards to her mothers position in all of it, especially in regards to the so called Empire she ruled. It was all some kind of ruse...or it was just her own mothers insanity painting a fictional story, as always.
It made her miss Spinel even more.
"Spinel was tolerable but not this." She said.
"She made me feel safe at least."
GIS like Bismuth weren't made to understand the concept of family. But if anyone was obsessed with connections, Bismuth understood White to be that obsessive, as a form of absolute control.
"I wish I could have given ya somethin' to download the blueprints on to." She said.
"We could have figured out a way to get that out to Connie."
Connie would find some use for it, that was for sure.
"Is just communicating it outside of the building enough?" Sadie wondered.
The site, just like it was at Weiss United, had a particular field of influence that monitored comms that went in or out of it. If one wasn't particularly clever at hacking, however.
"I'm a Caretaker. Unless there was something going on with the White Monolith, my authority doesn't override much here unless White's given me some kind of clearance override...and anything funky I try here will get noticed." She said.
"That being said, I could probably think of something. Leave it with me."
Chapter 81: Mother and Son
Summary:
Steven catches up with Luna
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Steven wasn't a huge fan of being left in the dark.
Others, like Connie, were being sent on important missions, but she assured him, that she had Gregs full consent. Not sure how she managed to get him to change his mind on all of this, but it was stressed to him that it was for the best and in his best interest as well.
It was then Steven retreated back into his AI Core, his. 'Psyche Repositry'. It made sense for him to stay out of everyones way while they have big important missions to do.
Frustration wouldn't even begin to describe. He wanted to badly to help out but...
To keep him out of Developers hands would be difficult if Steven just so happened to be there. Especially with his importance...and all this talk about being the Transitional Entity to change everything. He couldn't help but think about it all.
He sat on his bed, unsure of what to do with himself. Read more books? Maybe. This room was both a safe space they argued so much for, but at the same time, it was just a pink prison.
What happened to the good old days of Connie doing her thing and Steven just tagging along for the ride. Sure being in an Android made things so much more convienient but it came to a point where he kind of enjoyed riding around in Connie's head all day, annoying her and playfully calling her a jerk. There was animosity but there was a fun side to it once that he took for granted.
He wondered, if perhaps, whether or not he should have remembered anything at all. He should have stayed in the dark like his Father-Creator wanted him to.
Eventually he got a ping from Luna; she wanted his consent to visit.
Her? What did Steven have to lose? All he could think of her, was of ideas of her pieces, birthed from the minds of the Maiden Cherry, the Matron Rose and the Crone Barbara.
She teleported in shortly after; appearing as his mother. An off-colour one, anyway.
To say it made him conflicted would be the most accurate statement.
"Apologies if I was intruding on anything." She said, as she summoned a black chair to sit on so the two could see eye to eye.
Steven shook his head.
"No." He said.
"Actually I could use the company."
Luna smiled. She looked around the room as she examined it for a bit with a smile on her face. It might as well appeared to be as if a mother was simply going into her sons room for a chat. She was glad he made himself home here. Again. The details were vague but it brought more warmer memories than cold.
"Of course. I simply had to use the room to see if I can remember anything about the room Rose helped construct for you." She said.
"I also wanted to discuss something with you. It's not...heavily important, but it's regards to why I look like this."
Well, there are reasons but Steven wasn't going to say no.
"Baring in mind all I've discovered...and no doubt what you've discovered too I'd wager. Both of us need closure. What was your mother really like? Am I actually just..."
"My mom?"
Chuckling, Luna suspected they were the same page...or on similar pages.
"There's a lot to learn when it gets to the point of how the self works. The debate with AIs being...people."
As the topic had been heated in many forum to this day.
"What your mother achieved over the years would be seen as...many things. Revolutionary. Overzealous. Heretical. Pointless."
Both negative and positive.
"But I know...that the goal she had for humanity was to maintain its integrity. To allow it to go through its natural, evolutional course. No influence from the Developers or even the Church of Obsidia."
That much was known.
"The status of the world at large is that humans are dying out. Slowly....and organisations that 'care' for the planets wellbeing. They amp the decrease populations as a good thing for the planet."
Steven didn't even think about that.
"You learn that the Earth was once beautiful." Luna continued.
"Covered in such natural essence. But by doing this..we're creating life and leaving nothing behind."
Nothing? Artificial Intelligence counts as nothing?
"The Domain will be our home, no matter what." She said.
"You can wear an Android, but you'll only ever see the world through artificial eyes. In an artificial body... the feeling of being organic...."
His thoughts about it were valid.
Luna looked at her hands as she opened and closed a fist.
"I won't lie; there was an affliction towards my programming close to...what you would describe as an addiction; the closest context to being in Connie's body." Luna explained.
"I could feel...everything Wind...I could feel...water and air and such intense, complex and simple things that I couldn't even cope due to the sensory overload for the first twenty four hours. I had Lars help me of course, but I wasn't prepared."
Steven was the same when he was only just hitching a ride in Connie's body. So he understood how Luna felt.
"Rose didn't want to travel down this path." She said with sadness.
"It was a family tradition. But before she did, she'd had her eggs preserved. So that way, she could still have children."
Steven furrowed his brows in confusion, leading to her to have to clarify based off his perplexed expression alone.
"The traditional method of conception was going to be out of the question." Luna noted.
"So the only way was to collect the eggs and the sperm and use a surrogate."
He then realised...this conversation...sounded familiar. His mind flashed back to a certain conversation with a certain Conduit in a certain Monolith. ^1
His eyes went wide as he remembered her face. Luna became worried as she noticed his Avatar glitching.
"Steven are you okay?" She asked, putting her hand on his shoulder.
He couldn't shake the image out of his mind, but...
"So what she said was true." He said, putting his hand to his forehead and grunting in pain.
"Dr. Miller did give birth to me."
Luna paused. Her expression went from worried to...subtle sad acceptance.
"Yes." She said.
The images stopped as Steven fought to keep his composure.
"The White Monolith told me."
Luna's eyes widened.
"You got as far as actually seeing her?" She said.
Steven nodded. He'd slouched and his frown was apparent.
"Oh Steven I think you should know..." White said.
"It's very important for children to know exactly where they came from." ^1
This troubled Luna deeply. Three parts knew the White Monolith very well and how much control she really had over the operations. The fact that Steven was with her had Luna instinctively jump to several conclusions, but had to be level headed and calm, for his sake. White already knew that Steven existed and Luna found that out through her contacts. So she would do anything to get both Steven's software and hardware.
Years of planning had gone nowhere...and that the next steps were critical in getting things to work...but this time, they weren't alone.
"I want to show you a memory." Luna said.
"I want you to see how horrible this woman really is...and if you don't want it...then I understand."
Steven had to give it a good thought or two. The rumination was telling and Steven had to fight that to even grasp the concept of who they were fighting.
White was more of a what, than a who. But to know the former researcher as to whom she once was in the flesh would be telling.
Luna gave Steven her hand and a send file request. He accepted it and played the recording.
RECORDING - FILE CORRUPTED.
Playback sequence.
"Ah my starlet. You've arrived at last."
This playback was different; as if Steven was actually there. A dark room and and a White Monolith Conduit before them. To Steven's right he could see both Rose and Cherry side by side. They stood up straight and tall and nary an emotion written in their faces and their hands behind their backs as a sign of respect for the grandest Monolith.
"It brings me joy." White continued, never losing that unholy smile and static body.
"I trust you saved some eggs."
Rose nodded.
"Yes White Monolith." She replied in a dull, formal tone.
"All frozen away and accounted for."
White smiled wider, making Steven extremely uncomfortably.
"Good." She said.
"Because your cousin Barbara is going to be the one to carry your child to full term."
Rose didn't move, but then she exchanged quick glances to her mother, but it was telling from the eyes alone that this was nothing something Rose expected.
"I've nominated Gregory DeMayo as the sperm donor." Cherry said.
White nodded.
"Fine genes." She said.
"No doubt the child will inherit both beauty and intelligence. Now, Barbara will birth this child and perhaps many more. Starlight, any other suitors lined up?"
Cherry nodded as well.
"I've the extensive list, but it will be difficult to choose the remaining three, White Monolith."
White hummed.
"Well better get a move on. The quicker these preganicies are, the faster we'll extend our legacies. Dismissed."
Returning back to reality, Steven was shocked with what he just saw.
"White had a strange twisted policy about heirs." Luna explained
"She never really married anyone; only acquiring sperm from specific men. Ones that possessed excellent genes and intelligence. She expected the same out of her children and childrens children."
That sounded...weird indeed.
"She'd give everyone a list of people she'd picked out as potential candidates. Which, I found was outdated because everyone got the same list and some of the people she listed were dead...that's how long it's been going on for..."
And Steven thought he was dense.
"So White is not exactly reasonable to deal with..." He said, feeling lost.
"Taking her down won't be easy."
That was something Luna 100 percent agreed with. It would be a fools errand.
"I'd hoped that my virus would infect her and that I would be at last be able to control her." She said.
"Those who control the Monoliths, would control the world."
And such a power had already been in terrible hands, woe would be anyone else caught in the Developers way.
"I have no interest in controlling anything." Steven admitted.
"I just want to be able to...live life. With Connie. Is that a lot to ask?"
Luna shook her head.
"Of course not." She said.
"You're....allowed to live your own life." She said, though with a bit of hesitational sway.
"It's....all new to me as well. Though...when I say new I mean..."
She didn't have to explain it. Steven found it just as weird.
"Look, we'll get those Pieces...get those fragments of Obsidia and who knows what will happen."
And what of herself? What of Sol-Greg?
"I'm an AI. I'll either be destroyed or reassigned." Steven said with sadness, hunched over with the weight of his woes a burden on his shoulders.
"I spent most of my life trying to figure out what I'm for. And I feel a connection to humans more so than my own kind. A-and its more than because I'm based off a human template...."
Luna looked down as her mind rustled through three sorts of connections to deal with.
"And you're like...my mom! But-but no offense Luna...but I feel...you don't feel like my Mom...or...or you're even based off my mom, in any way."
Being compiled of three of his closest....technically relatives...it was more than that. There was a sadness that was written and had come to surface for Luna. Looking like Rose; of course Steven would be more uneased than he would be with her default form.
Was she too late in his life cycle to connect with him? Humans made it look easy. She had been with him for his entire life in a virtual sense. A part of her was, anyway. Her Protection Protocol to blame. The driver to bring her to protect him more than anyone.
And that was the same problem Greg had, merged with the Sol VI.
They were, for the lack of a better word, smothering him.
Luna gaining her memories was all due to this...particular drive...a need for answers and a need to protect that she was originally programmed for. Coupled with the motherly instincts from her components. This should have been easy.
But it wasn't.
Steven was left on his own. A unique by-product of science. Too unique for anyone to understand. So where was Luna getting it wrong?
"Your father and I...I mean..." Luna said, before trying to correct herself.
"Sol-Greg and I-"
Was Steven being too harsh on them both? They had their own needs and wants separate from what they were both made for. Rose had her dreams. Cherry had her own dreams....and so did Barbara.
Greg too.
"It's okay." Steven told her.
"Go on."
Luna nodded.
"We've agreed to set you free once we've confirmed your safety." She said.
"And that I hope you get to find your path, where ever it leads you."
She went to grab his hand to bring him comfort, until something pinged them both which tore them out of one reality and into another -
CORRUPTED DATA.
"Greg do you understand what your wife was up to?" Said Barbara.
The pair were in the kitchen on break, as she held a mug of coffee with the words, "I wish this was wine" on it. Greg was busy making his coffee and she would often complain about Rose's exploits from time to time. Some days Greg tolerated it, other days, he would just ignore her. She was barely around as it was and Greg missed her dearly while she was on her secret missions. He would get information from her to help update Steven's AI Core but otherwise even a trickle of contact made him happy. Barbaras disdain of the way she controlled matters was a bit grinding. Today wasn't a good day to hear her bitch.
"What did she do now, put in suspicous deposits into our bank accounts?" He said with dreaded sarcasm. By this point, Rose had been long gone and out of contact for some time since Steven was brought to a stable Alpha State.
Barbara sighed.
"I found the details for the AI Core while I was looking for through the Archives. The blueprints themselves...there were scribbles of nonsense...written in....(static) and (Static)"
Greg raised an eyebrow.
"And?" He said, trying to get Barb to explain her point.
She rolled her eyes.
"Look, I know the development of the Core in question is possibly one of the most expensive endeavours we've ever had the... pleasure to be involved in." She said.
"But I fail to understand the purpose of using random, unchecked GIS to participate in the phase system. Are they're even going to be around in the Golden State?"
Greg hummed.
"Rose knew what she was doing." He said as he stirred his mug with a spoon.
Barbara found that hard to believe. The trove of data found was nearly incomphrehensible. She'd needed Gregs help to decypher the meaning.
"Did she now?" She said.
"Is there anything notably wrong with the SOL and LUNA VIs?"
No. There was nothing wrong. Greg remembered Rose saying something about a particularly pathway and system for Steven's benefit. A roadmap of sorts.
"Of course not." Greg answered.
"The Trinity System is meant to guide Steven, while the VIs are meant to counteract faults often found in alpha and beta states when it comes to the maturity of the emotional cortex."
Ah. The Trinity System.
"Trinity implies three." Barbara stated.
"But there are four Phylacteries."
Greg nodded.
"The Ruby and Sapphire's software has formed what is called, Consensus." He told her.
"The respective program, Garnet, has powerful predictive abilities, far beyond that of a normal Sapphire program."
Barb didn't like it. She's heard something of the sort somewhere. While Greg has grand ambitions, he wasn't more than a slave to Rose's ideals. If anything, she felt pity for the man to serve her even in death.
"Right..." She said.
"What about the Pearl? The Amethyst?"
Greg was happy to oblige.
"Pearl is or...was Rose's personal Cloud Storage Pearl." He said.
"Amethyst is a Prototype Program that was slated for deletion, but Rose wanted to have her."
What? Was Rose out of her mind? Though Barb told that to herself internally, knowing how Rose's decisions could be outright insane at her even most lucid moments. It brought Barb no end to these conflicting thoughts and wishes.
"Okay, I guess the Pearl was not going to be in use for her, but the Prototype? What use is that?" She asked. Pearls were expensive and making one up always took time...and involved getting in contact with...Weiss United.
And Greg didn't expect Barb to understand the reasoning for Amethyst.
"Amethyst's personality easily passes the Turing Test." Greg revealed.
"Think of her as the Big Sister."
Not that she was keen for Steven to have a particularly human personality, given what she had previously gone through to help 'create' him. Sipping her coffee, she was always apprehensive to the whole idea. And Rose's continued meddling just continued to fill her with disdain, no matter how far and unresponsive she was.
"But why keep the Trinity System a secret?" She said.
"Why do I only find out about this now?"
It was true most details were kept in the hush. Barbaras access to critical data belonging to her family was one of the reasons she was even part of the network that not only helped maintain and construct the Pink Monolith, but for other...secret projects.
"Rose didn't want to make a big deal out of it." Greg replied.
"Besides, Steven is half AI, half GIS anyway. The VIs will keep the AI part in check and the GIS will keep the GIS parts in check."
A good idea, in theory. But vastly untested. DM Biometrics had always been the more explorative end, due to the nature of how the Pink Monolith's purpose was designed towards experimentation and pushing the envelope. Barb had no trouble with that, but there were often lines man should never cross. Barbara had crossed many of those lines already and put her concerns aside for the better part of her employment and her family.
"But Steven...Steven's also....human..." She said, trailing off towards the end.
"This Amethyst may be close in personality, but I think he will need another human as part of the influence. To remind him of his...origins."
Getting Barbara to agree to be Steven's surrogate almost caused Barb to snap. The concept of the entire birth up until this point; Barbara only really did what she was told...for reasons Greg only assumed was because her family ordered her to do it and if she didn't, that she would earn the ire and disappointment...and perhaps even worse. The loss of her connection to her family would be far more devastating given what she'd already gone through so far; the loss of Leon and that her daughter was so far away, being raised by maids and servants. Her opinion on Steven was mixed and nothing was ever really said about the birth. She'd never want to talk about it, but in a way, Greg felt...and so did their associate Ryman, fully believed that she hated Steven, despite encouragement to get her to see him as her son.
Was this the start of her growing affection for the boy?
"Hmmm you have a good point." He said.
"Maybe someone around his age? Golden State perhaps?"
The State of full consciousness and awareness?
"That's a few years away but it might give us enough time to try and find someone."
CORRUPTED DATA
PLAYBACK.
A courtyard of white, avant garde furniture and a tasteful waterfall nearby. Rose approached the woman in blue as she sipped her tea.
"Blue Monolith." She said as she bowed before the Lustrous One.
The Monolith was surprised to see the Pink Caretaker wanting to talk to her, given she had to be close to her Monolith at all times, but given her relations and work alongside GM Biometrics, Blue was willing to let things slide if it ended up being beneficial for the both of them.
"Rose Quartz." She said.
Daughter of Cherry. She was and still will be family. Family always came first.
"You wanted to talk about GIS recruitment?"
Rose nodded. A determined woman that knew what she wanted, even if no one else knew.
"I am in need one of your Sapphires." She said.
"There's a project we're working that needs to be treated delicately. A Predictive Analyst would be perfect to ensure that the road we travel will run as smoothly as possible."
Something Blue had plenty of.
"Anything I should know about this project?" Blue asked.
The younger Flannigan was known to follow the path of creativity, as her mother before. To culminate ways to achieve new enlightment, so that they could achieve greatness in order and in familial bonds. That the way that their world could be shaped as such, to lead to greater paths of existence.
"It's been called ambitious." Rose said with an anxious smile.
"But I know that it will serve a greater purpose that Grandmother White desires greatly. An important footnote that's destined for her greatest dream."
Those who knew Grandmother White well enough knew her ambitions at the very least. It wasn't known, however, if Blue was either pleasantly surprised or horrified based off her wide eyed expression if nothing else.
"You figured out the details etched out in the Obsidia Files?" Blue asked.
Rose bowed her head briefly.
"Yes." She replied.
"However, there is a lot of risk and a lot that could go wrong. Hence why I need a Sapphire to be able to analyse our suggestion that could lead us through quicker and safer paths."
To Rose, Blue was the only other Monolith she was close to. Aunt Azure was a pleasant woman in her own right; if only she was so reserved herself.
Their family was strange like that. Business and family as its own consensus, a strange fusion riddled with formalities and secrets even between each other. It was hard to guess what she was thinking of as well.
"I will arrange for one shortly." She said.
"She will come with several security programs as well. I must stress that these programs are highly sought after due to their complex algorithms. If a single one is lost, then they have the potential to underdo everything."
Sapphires were a precious commodity; that Rose understood very well. It normally involved them accumulating data at a much quicker pace than any other program, even a GIS in existence. The way they perform and provide startlingly accurate outcomes would prove distastrous if placed in the wrong hands.
"One more thing." Blue asked.
"How is my son?"
It took Rose a minute to realise what Blue asked of her.
"He's well." Rose replied.
"Working alongside Greg. They appear to get along, well enough."
And it was then Blue rested a hand on her chest as smiled.
"I am glad." She said.
"I miss him dearly. And I heard he has his own little one."
His wife had a young boy a few months back. It brought to mind of what Rose herself had missed. Throughout the details of trying to deal with the realities of what she was working on, she needed to work out the kinks and the know how. By this point, not everything was set in stone. Rose still had to find a way for this plan of hers to have a centrepoint; a necessary component to connect everything together. A Sapphire was perfect for scenario based predictions...and Sapphires were only ever to be used by those of the Family; nobody else.
"You think they'll join us here one day?" Rose wondered.
Blue looked at Rose strangely, her expression of one of fond imaginative hope that developed that into one of concern.
"Your Grandmother would certainly hope so." Blue said.
"I just wish I was there to see him grow. To see him smile....but...I cannot focus on what is impossible Rose. Our Family has a direct duty to chart humanity on this course. So we must all make sacrifices."
Present
"Woah." Steven said, as he came to, not realizing they'd randomly stumbled across random memories. He looked at Luna who was beside herself as she looked at her own hands and was in the middle of processing what she just saw as well. He looked at her for a while as she pondered in silence.
"The Family gives to serve." Luna said, breaking said silence.
"The old motto. It always meant to provide oneself to the better cause. It was always the line of thought when it came to the decision making, seeded into their heads."
That didn't sound right.
"So everyone was and is just...an asset?" Steven wondered.
She looked at him deep into his eyes; as Luna saw her reflection within them.
'Whites lines to control us all." She said.
"A chain of command that would lead us down our predestined paths."
Yet now they were still being commanded. Forced to stay while others are out there, making a difference.
"It's happening still." Steven said.
"Greg....Dad is forcing us to agree with him for what is best for my safety. I mean, I'm....I..."
Luna lifted her chin as she watched Steven's frustrations closely. He stood up and paced around, trying to find the right words with what he was feeling.
"I'm an AI and I'm meant to accept that I have my place, a programming....a written...destiny and I don't want this. Yet....it's like...I can't be the only one who was forced into this."
Luna looked down. The expectation for everything to fall neatly into place was something she knew about very well...and for everything not to go in your favour...she knew that too.
"We could...run." She said.
Steven turned to her, not understanding what she said.
"Run?" He repeated.
It came to her that Steven had every right to choose for himself. Whether or not that Steven could comphrehend the amount of power and control he actually wielded.
"Yes." She said.
"There may be a way for your freedom to be procured. You and Connie could live out your lives in peace. I need your help, however."
Steven was stunned, though he was willing to listen.
"Go on." He said.
Luna sighed. She raised her hand and closed her eyes as her avatar started to glow. She conducted several script runs as if she was trying to find something...or do something.
"There." She said as she stopped.
"She can't hear us."
Furrowing his brows, Steven became perplexed.
"Who?"
Looking up, Luna made her desires known.
"The one you call, Princie." She said.
"We need to remove her position from the Pink Monolith."
Notes:
1: Chapter 56: Grand
Chapter 82: Deliverance
Summary:
Codesmiths like Bismuth are told to create, not question.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Being the White Caretaker had its ups and downs.
Bismuth was working a dozen or so things and the so called "Blueprints" that apparently the Developers had been working on for a long time. There was progress but ultimately they needed someone with more of the...know how in order to maintain and bring it to working order. Being sold out the Developers wasn't in her list of priorities, but it came with the cost of being repaired.
Not to mention that Garnet suggested to "roll with it." for now. Or at least, that's what Amethyst said.
Being an Ancilla, had its ups and downs.
A GIS doesn't know the definition of good and evil by default. A SC-GIS might. Their mind born from the same cut of humanity that would have been delivered stories of right and wrong and good and evil.
The Ancillas were seen as bad guys by the general populace. It didn't take long to research to see the populace barely knew what the Ancillas were to begin with and so it was ultimately left as a matter left unsaid.
Bismuth did know what propaganda was, however.
She's supposed to know but memory failed as often as it could succeed over all and the patterns were always the same. The message board that was set up by the Ancillas brought Bismuth some comfort to know that the other Ancillas felt the same way. Especially Steven.
Ever since she heard her human name things started to make sense, but then there were even more questions.
Who was she really, from the flesh of yesteryear?
To roll with it, meant to go along with the Developers demands for now. What she created, was for something called the Diamond Authority Grid. what ever that meant. But it was mostly crafting massive amounts of Domain Assets but they were never used in the Domain proper. It was odd things like higher detail physics that would sooner put a massive strain on public grids. It was useless junk at the end of the day. Something didn't feel right.
Regardless, as Bismuth was sent back to their official room of both the physical and digital sort at the PeriCom Headquarters, to continue working on those assets. She had Lonely Pearl on her tail as well. She had been silenced and programmed to observe and report. Bismuth knew that White had her follow her within the Domain to make sure she didn't do anything suspicous.
White wasn't ignorant. There wasn't any way she didn't know what was going on.
But Bismuth wanted Lonely close anyway. She had a mission, but Sadie's suggestion to get her damaged data to Berrybyte was easier said than done.
As she worked, the memories would slowly drop in a random moments. Fragments of working with Rose to fix up the Rosa Leo. Working alongside Barbara as she assisted with retrieving GIS and assisting with their properties. And Connie...working with Connie had opened her eyes more than what could have ever hoped understand about herself. But some of the memories were more...obscure than others.
A Codesmiths job was a critical one. To be able to build framework code...and that was what Lady Volley had made her do. But she had been acting...funny as of late. She was an...interesting character but something felt off about Volley, more so than usual when it came to certain meetings, especially after she hadn't seen Sadie in some time.
It was then when Amethyst decided to visit; accompinied by her own silent, yellow Pearl...that Bismuth had begun to assume this was happening to the other Pearls too. The two stood at the other side of the room, still as a pole.
"Yo what up B?" Said Amethyst as she made her presence known.
"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes; as the humans would say." Bismuth commented. Though she questioned the terminology.
"What's happening?"
Amethyst jumped on the nearby table and begun to express her frustrations.
"Trying to find things on the grapevine." She said.
"I mean, this Caretaker biz is easy but extremely boring."
Bismuth could agree, to an extent.
"Still waiting for Garnet, where ever the hell she is."
The operation, as far as what Bismuth had been told, included the Custodians, the Caretakers and the Monoliths. The Voices would try and fit everything in nice and neatly.
"Biding her time I'd say." Bismuth said.
Not that Bismuth knew Garnet in a great way. Nor much she could remember from before.
"I kinda miss the old home ya know." Amethyst said.
"But all these memories are floating back; before SOAP. It was just me....Pearl....Garnet and tiny Steven."
Tiny Steven?
"When was he so tiny? Sheesh never thought of him to be small." Bismuth said, as she crossed her arms.
Amethyst nodded. Though Bis thought Amethyst meant small literally.
"Oh yeah; back when he was in Alpha and Beta." She said.
"Once Golden State hit, we got the boot. Missed those days."
Bismuth's programmed a lot of things in her time, but being able to assist with 'raising' Steven as he was just a tiny bit of data in a private Grid would have been something to see. All Bismuth remembered was assisting with the construction of the AI Core at some stage. And some other strange things that she felt were from before that. Even now, she could hear childrens laughter, but cannot for the life of her data comprehend why.
"Part of me doesn't want to remember." She said.
"I was broken....and somehow I feel like im betraying my original purpose?"
Amethyst raised an eyebrow.
"What, you're a Codesmith. Making stuff was your purpose." She said.
That wasn't what Bismuth meant.
"But now you're stuck as a Developers lackey." Amethyst iterated.
The Codesmith raised an eyebrow.
"You are too." She said.
"Garnet should be here so-"
Bismuth felt the floor vibrate, as well as the noise of swift movements and solid thuds.
"Speaking of which."
Garnet had somehow suspended both Pearls in reddish cubes; their bodies forming a T pose.
"Sorry I'm late." She said as adjusted her visor.
"We only have a small amount of time. Bismuth, I need to you do-"
Bismuth stood back and waved her arms in front of her fellow Caretaker., not wanting to be rush. Garnet might have been calling the shots, and she should trust Garnet, but there had much to question as of late and Bismuth working in haste wasn't good for anybody.
"Woah, woah, you can't just order me around like that." She said.
"We're both equals in all of this. I need an explanation before I do anything...especially since I'm on a short leash."
Her disatisification with working for Weiss United was apparent, but she didn't want to manipulated by anyone else, no matter who they were.
"Just hear her out Biz." She said.
"Trust us, we've been working on this for a long time."
Bismuth knew this very well and still wasn't happy with it, but let it slide for now.
"Fine." She said.
"Sorry for interruptin'. Continue."
Garnet nodded. The Modded GIS knew Bismuths hesitancy was born out of an uncertainity, ever since she was fixed. She didn't blame her and out of everyone, Bismuth was automatically going to be the one to be the most cautious.
The repairs however, messed with her memory perhaps more so than SOAP originally did. Whether or not that the White Monolith did that on purpose was anyones guess. Irrelevant for now, however.
"I understand the complications that come from trying to remember what we were meant to do." She said.
"Rose used us to assist with Steven's developments. Some of the details were assumed to be in our Pearls Storage, but they weren't."
No they instead held Luna and a damned virus ^1
"Luna took that Data and placed it elsewhere." Garnet continued.
Amethyst took the time chime in as she waggled her eyebrows at Bismuth.
"And we both know WHERE it might be."
Bismuth then looked at Lonely Pearl.
"You think she's got that data?" She said.
It took a moment of thought and observation of the frozen Pearl to even consider that an option. She previously had access to the Empires Vault. But no one thought about if this Pearl contained anything of value. Unless, like Bismuth, they repaired her and took out all the files that Dr. Miller had stored in there over the years.
"Maybe." She said as she cleaned out her ear.
Bismuth then looked around.
"Wait, where is our Pearl?" She queried.
Amethyst and Garnet exchanged glances.
"Pearl doesn't hold a position of Caretaker." Garnet said.
"But she's somewhere safe and where we need her for the moment. Right now, we need your authority to access something...important."
Bismuth narrowed her eyes, confused.
"Like what?" She asked.
"Follow us."
Garnet would soon reactivate the Pearls, but not without Amethyst messing with their security settings beforehand. A Quartz Program like herself was well-versed in the most basic of security protocols and Pearls themselves were too easy to hack; so much for secure, storage solutions such as they. Though, it was mostly to do with the alerts and directive systems, rather not hacking into their contents. That latter part was much, much harder to crack.
Once reprogrammed, Pearls obeyed and followed as thus.
"Where is your Pearl?" Bismuth queried, as her Pearl and Amethyst's Pearl followed closely behind as they begun to traverse the Private PeriCom Grid.
Garnet lead in front.
"She's back at Azure Alpha." She said.
"The Custodian hasn't left. She'll travel along with them."
Made sense...Sort of. Why Garnet was here ahead of them Bismuth couldn't gauge.
"Your Pearls content is what our primary concern."
Her Pearl? Bismuth looked behind her, as Lonely followed without delay or pause.
"You know something I don't about that data?" She said.
Garnet made sure to take them through the paths of least resistance and guards. Many a Topaz traveled the hallways and corridors that lead to other critical areas of the Grid. They had to remain silent until Amethyst went on ahea and used a yellow key to enter a new, unknown room.
Inside was a man. A man....Bismuth sort of recognised, but she wasn't sure where.
"Here is she Dr. Ryman." Garnet announced.
Dr...Ryman?
The tall, large man got up off of his chair as he walked towards the crew. Bismuth noticed his fry-shaped hair from the get go and their eyes met briefly.
"Ah good, you're here." He said.
"Listen, we don't have much time. We need your help."
This was Dr. Ryman's section of the Private Grid. He'd used to have a room at PeriCom at one point and he'd explained that the actual room itself had been abandoned for years. Though coming back here would have been a death sentence, surely.
"There's a lot that's been happening and I...I think we can help each other." Ryman said, albeit off-handedly.
"My sons....they've gotten a hold of them....and I said I wanted to help with the Machine they're building."
The Fryman boys?
"You traitor!" Amethyst cried as she took out her whip.
Ryman raised his hands in defense.
"Woah, woah let me explain." He said.
"I've been...aware of the machine for a while. I will fully accept that I haven't been exactly...transparent."
Obviously not.
"But it's not what you think." He continued, although nervous about the wrath of the GIS before him.
"What's important is that I think there's a way to resolve this peacefully."
The three of them looked upon the Ryman with cautious judgement.
"Bismuth, your Pearl contains broken data you can't repair." He said, bluntly as if they hadn't heard that a dozen times already.
The Codesmith blinked as she looked at Lonely again.
"Y-yeah?" She answered, confused.
"It needs to be taken to a Monolith." Ryman continued.
"It pertains to important information about the Machine in question...if we can get a Monolith to restore it, then it will help you further."
Why in the world would Lonely have it, Bismuth wondered. The Machine itself already sounded like something to take down if the Monoliths had the chance to finish it, despite not knowing what its actual purpose was.
"I've been hearing about this Machine a lot lately." She said.
"The Project in question, no one will let me know anything about what it's supposed to do...."
Garnet crossed her arms. Both Ryman and Bismuth were deliberately being left in the dark.
"The assets you're both working on are related to it." She said.
They were all useless junk data as far as Bismuth was concerned.
"Sadie and I were discussing what to do with it." She said.
"We agreed that we needed to get it to Connie somehow."
Dr. Ryman nodded. The only one who could really figure out its know how. Deep within, he knew it just had to be in her hands.
"Anywhere with anyone with a close proximity to the Pink Monolith would be well favoured." He said.
"But I needed your assistance with this Bismuth. I needed someone with White-Level Clearance to be able to pull this off."
Bismuth scratched her head.
"White Level Clearance doesn't give as much as you think when you're monitored all the damn time." She said.
"Most stuff goes through Lady Volley anyway."
And she was a whole other story.
"It has to be enough to work with, with or without her." Ryman said, determined.
"But it mostly involves Cross-Cloud Transfers. Which to the level we need, requires a higher enough clearance check to be able to do it to begin with."
Bismuths heard of them before. Normally it requires permissions to view and transfer data from one persons cloud to the next.
"So how are we transferring this Data to Connie anyway?" Bismuth asked.
Garnet could answer that.
"We need to transfer to her to the Ancilla Pearl." She replied.
That explains....wait, that doesn't explain why she wasn't here. But Bismuth knew a little tiny bit about the Cloud Storage Network. A tiny bit anyway. She hadn't explored much of the programming that went up there, but she wouldn't mind taking a quick peek if she could.
"I'll be helping you out." Dr. Ryman said.
"So's the Yellow Pearl."
Bismuth sighed. Well, at least they were getting somewhere. She had become rather uncomfortable with this notion. But...
She shouldn't fear but she didn't. Part of wished for courage where there was none. A muffled Lion, unable to roar or fend for itself. Bismuth was given a lot of power and priviledges but at a deep cost to her own sense of pride. It was painful, even when Bismuth couldn't understand why. She desired the strength of the Ancillas of old and to fight back against the system. Give those the tools required to combat the cruelties of the modern world.
A world she no longer knew.
She shouldn't begin to ask anything of the sort. That's not what she was made for. She wanted to serve and give form. She was once human and the idea of putting together something meant more than words could say. If a memory or two could just bring her that clarity of her humanity, that she would begin to understand why she was doing what she was.
For now, all she desired was to protect those she cared about. She didn't care for the whys.
"Garnet and I will monitor the situation from here." Amethyst stated.
"I'll message my own Pearl in case anything comes up."
Wait, she only thought that taking a peek...not that she actually said it, right?
Bismuth sort of knew what to do. It wasn't her first rodeo. Lonely Pearl stood against a nearby wall as Bismuth brought up a few panels. The System for Cloud-Storage Pearls had an interesting way of how the actual storage system worked over all. Their Kernel Core would project an oval shaped portal into their Storage.
Once Bismuth managed to project it, the three of them promptly entered, unsure of what they'll expect.
Notes:
1. Chapter 45: Metadata
Chapter 83: Fairytales
Summary:
Not all stories have happy endings. Or endings at all.
Chapter Text
Steven had no qualms with Princie. Sure, she looked like a younger Connie. He could look past the shell and see a unique AI within it. They were their own person as far as he was concnerned. (Though looking like Connie still disturbed him in small fractions)
In fact, Luna's proposal shocked him at first, but then he realised that her own desire for a working Monolith was still fresh within, giving the failings of the Cluster Monolith. But Steven had already weighed up the pros and cons of the current arrangements.
Princie had no issues in the Pink Monoliths maintenance. In fact, Greg barely had to go into the Deep Throne himself due to how self-sufficient the system works in terms of making sure the Monolith worked as intended. Besides the other safety measures in place.
"Now I know what you're thinking." Luna told him.
"Princie is working okay. Their actions as a Conduit are not being put into question. However, they do not know how to use it to its fullest potential."
Since when? Steven was still confused.
"We can't just get rid of her." He said.
"She's done nothing wrong!"
He wasn't getting the point.
"Princie's like myself and Sol-Greg." She said.
"She's a mixture of ill-composed data of unknown quality and quantity. The incident changed us and the only one who's been illusive in this, is her. She couldn't just have been created in thin air."
Despite copying Connie's data? Wasn't that enough?
"She's helped with the information already stored onto the Monolith but we haven't heard much else. Her aims...her dreams. This isn't a fantasy where everyone is the good guy because they say they are. I cannot be the only one who sees this."
Scratching his head, Steven didn't even think about it. She had no reason to lie or have some ulterior motive. Sol-Greg had no problem with her either. Shaking his head, Steven believed Luna had to have to see how crazy her idea was.
"Come on Luna." Steven said, annoyed.
"Princie's innocent, even you have to say that."
Luna's expression turned to that of disappointment, though she had come to know Steven as someone with the best intentions but ultimately he still rather naive to this day.
"While working with her to help develop the anti-virus and cure, I asked her why. She said she didn't know. And what why's I asked were purposeful. Meaningful. and I'd hoped to get to see the mindset of Princie. I cannot identify their origin...only that the program had to have already existed when the Incident took place."
What other program would have been present at that time? Steven obviously didn't know.
"I checked reports of the Incident....no other AI's were present or even VIs besides the LUNA and SOL."
That is....telling. What else could she be? Steven's mind was being yanked about due to how much he didn't want to hurt Princie or her feelings about this.
"Besides Steven." Luna continued.
"I am, in essence, the original Conduit. It is only right that I return there."
But what were they going to do with Princie then? On one hand, once Steven gave it some thought, Luna was right. She was technically the original Conduit but...he had a bad feeling in just allowing Luna to take control of the Monolith, after everything she's done. It just didn't see right despite how logical it was. He didn't understand the technicalities and Princie was indeed some random AI who just happens to look like Connie.
"You know what must be done Steven." Luna told him, in a very serious manner.
"Once I return to being a Conduit, my programming will begin to stabilise. Do this for me and I will make sure Greg frees you. Whether he likes it or not."
Looking at Luna, Steven could see her as she held out her hand. Still, calm. Emotionless. Everyone had some kind of plan in mind.
"I'm not even sure how to help." Steven said.
"Can't you just..I dunno, rejoin Princie or ask her to step aside? You two already work well together and she means no harm."
It was then Luna's manner changed entirely. She'd become irritated at Steven.
"Did you just forget what I said?" She told him, her voice slowly rising in volume.
"Princie is the unknown variable in this situation. She needs to be contained and studied."
Steven swallowed, fearful of Luna's sudden act of aggressive behaviour. He'd forget how she could be sometimes...and almost forget what she'd did to Connie; his that appealled to the better parts of others while often not focusing on their negatives.
"Let me..." He said, before taking a deep breath.
"Let me talk to her. There has to be a better way so that both parties agree to this...switch..."
Luna shook her head.
"You don't get it Steven." She said, trying to prove a point.
"We must do this in a way that is discreet. As soon as Princie finds out what we're up to, she'll immediately notify your Father-Creator. He will intervene and bring up more safety measures and immediately try and get me out."
And Greg trusting anyone at the moment was a difficult part to manage, that even trusting Connie to do the right thing was considered borderline impossible for him. He knew the stakes well enough that after everything they've discussed prior, him being able to count on others just for Steven's safety alone could be considered outside of his unofficial programming.
"Maybe I can convince her to leave?" Steven suggested, though he was unsure of he could commit to that.
"I want to help you Luna it's just..."
Crossing her arms, Luna wasn't enjoying Steven's reluctance. His hesitation grew out of his desire to do the right thing and that was...
"I understand you want to go about this the right way." She said.
"And perhaps it is cruel for poor Princie."
-
PRINCIE IS JUST A BROKEN AI.
-
Unkempt thoughts kept pouring into her head, though they came from multiple sources and sounded in different voices.
-
DELETING PRINCIE IS WRONG.
-
Luna held her head as she tried to wrestle the thoughts.
DELETING PRINCIE WILL BREAK STEVEN'S HEART.
There was a way....and if Steven could find it, then there would be the least painful transition.
"Alright." She said, calming down.
"Talk to Princie. Let her know how essential this is."
They would later meet up in the Monolith Library, though this idea kept eating away at him. What Princie was doing wasn't wrong. She was just misplaced and doing the best she could within the circumstances granted to her and Steven wanted to ensure a peaceful resolution to this issue.
With everyone else busy doing their own thing, Steven had to sit down on the ground against a book case as he begun to read books about princesses and their overall fates. Some that were enchanted by magical fairies or were poisoned by apples.
Forbidden fruits, poisonous fruits.
Some found out the truth of their existences. What they really were. If Steven was basically the end of a long lineage of a technological empire, would he be considered a Prince?
Some fairytales had good endings. Some didn't...and Steven found that the ones that had sad endings held the most impact. Why and how so....
"The fact that reality is also disappointing, if not sad...some tales are more realistic than others." Said Princie as she sat next to Steven.
"You should read the original Little Mermaid for that fact."
The strength that Princie carried within herself was telling. She did what she was supposed to and Steven, within his own digitised heart of hearts, could not envision any malice or intention to betray or lead them astray. Her warmth was different as well.
"I think I have." Steven said with sadness.
Princie looked down.
"Remove all the fantasy elements and use the context and framework. Girl changes herself for a guy and doesn't get the guy in the end...maybe the death part was a little overdramatic but there are some metaphorical allegories there somewhere."
What Princie was Steven wasn't sure. The disembodied AI with the incorrect Avatar that made her own purpose. A fact Steven found himself envious for.
"But if you have the more recent versions, each downplays those elements. Because telling children they had a happy ever after helps them sleep better at night."
Happy...Steven closed his eyes as he was reminded with an odd and quick burst of glitched imagery. From what he noticed was Connie on the ground in front of him...and by him, it was his AI Core. Connie had sat there with a big red book.
"But that's...that's lying to them right?" Steven queried.
Princie smiled, amused by Steven's inability to understand human nuances at times.
"It's not a huge deal." She said.
"It's just a story. Like people, they can change. Each generation has their own version of the tale, handed down and altered to fit into modern times. It's just life."
What about Princies tale?
"Like you?" Steven questioned, though it was one with the utmost caution provided.
Princie shrugged.
"Like me?" She said.
"Yeah I suppose."
An AI altered and molded by the very power of the Monolith itself came as a natural change, if Steven recalled correctly. If he helped Luna find her components, then maybe Steven could help Princie find hers.
"Do...do you often try and think of your past?" He asked.
It took a while for her to answer.
"Hm....regularly." She said.
"Though it isn't a comfortable thought. I feel like I'm driven towards...conservation."
Conservation?
"Is that your directive?" Steven wondered.
A question that Princie had to ponder on for some time before she was able to get out a proper answer.
"It could be." She replied.
"I've had similar discussions with Luna. I know her past is far more complicated and diverse as mine."
She better not realise.
"She thinks I'm some kind of virus attached to the Monolith..."
This weirded Steven out. Princie was just unfortunate enough to be tied to it, but not fully.
"I don't think you're a Virus." Steven said.
Princie smiled and chuckled.
"That's nice of you to say but..." She said, progressing her doubts.
"You all play a part as one big family. The dutiful Son, the wonderful mother and the...overprotective father."
They were. Almost. They were far from a perfect ideal family, though to Steven what was considered ideal was in comparison to The Family which included a lot of members, including himself.
"There were so many families on here too, I found." Princie continued.
"The DeMayos, the Millers, the Rymans....and the Maheswarans."
Was quite the variety.
"I found out from Luna that their descendent system, with having the females marry into other families was actually an interesting to plan to placate the public?"
That was the first time Steven heard from it. Princie laid out of her hand and from her palm crystal projected many holographic images of people, buildings and logos.
"The Family isn't an Empire, as the former Barbara Miller, would have had you believe." She said.
"Stories of Princes and Princesses were considered fantasy and the Great Grandmother White, was considered the Matriarch of Weiss United and it's subsidiaries. The public frowns upon massive conglomerates...the idea of one company controlling the world. To ease off the public eye a bit, Weiss United invested themselves into diversfying their loads into multiple corporative businessness and seeking an alliedship.
For example, Yin Aozora. Founded by an external male, but Azure White married Lynel Ryman, therefore becoming Azure Ryman."
Ryman? She couldn't possibly mean...
"Wait, so Dr. Ryman is related to the Blue Monolith's Conduit?" Steven queried.
Princie nodded.
That was...not something Steven expected to hear.
"Dr. Ryman is Azure's firstborn son." She said.
"But Azure had to take on paramours to encourage genetic spread. White hated the concept of Kings and Queens but this was basically how she wanted her dynasty. Since White wanted females she had another child with another man."
And that child? Princie projected a hologram of a familiar, bulky blue woman.
"Director Agate?" Steven said.
One in the same.
"Yes." She said.
"Director Agate was the daughter of Ethan Agate; who'd lived on Azure Alpha working in the local prison. Let's just say that man was rich in dollars; poor in sense....but he was good with what he did in actuality. Smart, but not technological smart like the rest of the Family."
Met up with what Luna had explained about viable candidates.
"But getting back to the topic, this diversification allows for the public to ignore the blatant nepotism and conflict of interest. As long as the companies themselves are viewed positively and are run accordingly, no one will budge. Policies with local country governments don't step in that often, due to how the Domain has been naturally ingrained into the populace and everyday life."
Therefore become a necessity that allowed Weiss United to control the Domain and its essence from top to bottom.
"DM Biometrics previously studied other technologies to help humanity; which would include cybernetic implants, AI technologies and prothesthetics until it was bought out by Weiss United not long after the Monoliths were found. Greg marrying Rose Flannigan was seen as a positive; as it allowed the DeMayo family to be adopted into the Family itself; anchoring its place in the Dynasty."
There was one person on Steven's mind who was also part of DM Biometrics at some stage. Someone missing but still very important.
"What about Barbara Miller?" Steven wondered.
"Where does she fit in all of this?"
A topic that gave some bit of unknown and unforeseen apprehension on Princies end as she squinted but otherwise she projected a full body image of the former scientist.
"She's the second daughter of Mimosa Miller." She said.
"Also known as the Yellow Monolith."
Steven had to think for a moment. He'd never ever seen or heard much from that Monolith, despite it being nestled deep within Mega Beach City for as long as he'd lived there prior. You'd hear more from President Dot if anything.
"Barbara had a difficult life." Princie continued.
"According to Greg, she never married. There rumours of her supposed affair with Leon Maine...which further rumours suggested that such liasons resulted in the birth of Sadie Miller."
Sadie...Steven hoped she was okay.
"Records indicate she didn't possess the Diamond Gene; a necessary Gene that's supposed to allow one to communicate with the Monoliths properly...but I don't believe that such a gene exists."
Steven tilted his head with confusion. He's heard little about it but it's said to be something was meant to be inherited otherwise.
"Luna told me that the Diamond Gene was another form of control...so that others wouldn't even attempt to control the Monoliths, even if they tried."
So White made it all up...for what?
"Luna believes that the main reason Barbara was told she didn't have it...was that White believed her granddaughter had a distinct lack of faith in the system. What that means is anyones guess."
For all the eccentricities that the entire Family posssessed, Barbara was the one they were most concerned about. Given what little they had seen of her held greater impact, but ultimately, Steven's compassion had him feel sorry for her by default. From what he witnessed, she got the short end of the stick in the whole ordeal.
"I'm surprised you haven't discussed Lady Volley?"
The one in charge of Weiss United.
"Uhhh I wasn't even thinking about her." Steven noted.
"But now that you mention it..."
Princie had immediate bad feelings about the woman. How she would fit into everything; she was the most strange of all.
"Greg wasn't sure of her origins. She's a complete mystery." She said.
"I was doing some research the other day. The official documentry only discusses three daughters. So how Lady Volley comes into play in whole scheme of things is uncertain."
Steven remembered something about a documentry that Connie once discussed off-hand. They'd watched it together at one stage. It was made to be self-serving with potential bias. If Steven remembered correctly, Weiss United was mentioned but no leading role was ever mentioned; only that it had Mimosa, Azure and Cherry as well as their mother as part of it. Most of the documentry described basic and bare bones origins as well as insights into the four distinct businesses and how each daughter either created, bought or merged their respective businesses.
That only left Princie's mystery. Steven didn't want to do what Luna wanted, but he had to do something.
"So....you haven't bothered to find more about yourself?" He asked.
"Is the Pink Monolith really blocking you from discovering what you once were?"
Princie looked at Steven with a soft, still expression with a hint of sadness in her eyes. The Power it had over a singular being strengthened and weakened Princies identity. Whether or not that was intentional or a side effect of such a relic with abilties that perhaps humans may never fully understand.
"I've been trying to access old security logs and footage." She said.
"Greg tried wipe any evidence from the Site's network in an attempt to clear out anything that could compromise it. But the Monolith has abilities to retain certain logs that were witnessed right in front of it or anything within the Deep Thrones vicinity."
Of course he did that.
"There were dozens of people involved the Monoliths construction. So it's been difficult to ascertain a specific individual....but I don't think that's necessary. I don't plan to go anywhere, anytime soon."
Steven swallowed. He didn't want to have to be involved with ousting her either. Princie noticed Steven's unease and had noticed it on previous occasions. Was it how they looked? She had to ask.
"Does this form make you uncomfortable?"
He had to do a second take.
"Huh?" Steven said, perplexed.
Princie looked down, as if ashamed of herself.
"You know this form; one that is possessed by another." She said.
"I am here but she is not me. We are drastically different. I am here but she is not. A conundrum that cannot be deciphered so easily."
Steven wouldn't lie that he wasn't uncomfortable. Just staring at Princie...she didn't belong here. She never did, but she never did anything wrong. She deserved to be somewhere. Anywhere else.
"Can...can you leave the Monolith?" Steven queried.
A strange question which had Princie furrowing her brows in deep confusion.
"I can reach a certain wide distance but that's limited to a uncatergorised radius." She replied.
No, that's not what he meant.
"I mean..." Steven said, as he rubbed his forehead, stressed about what he was trying to do.
"Like, escape. You're not...you're not tethered, are you?"
Rubbing her chin, Princie had to figure that out. She never even thought about what kept her there. Other than being able to figure out what could have been happening and from Greg's assistance, that he was able to determine Princie's unique programming was, of course, due to the Pink Monolith's capabilities, as it had for others.
"I do not know if I can leave." She said.
It was her home.
This was so wrong. She moved her hands to her temples as she looked down, eyes wide in worry as she tried to shuffle her thoughts around. Thinking and feeling were difficult and strenous.
"I have all this knowledge but I am not smart." She said.
Rubbing her arm, she was beginning to feel out of place as her Avatar glitched. Steven didn't want to make her feel bad.
"This isn't where I should be but I am. Greg...Greg said it was fine to be here. He doesn't mind me being here."
Neither did Steven.
"But if I can find some way to escape...someone will have to take my place as Conduit."
He had to find a way to help untether her. Surely.
"What about Luna?" Steven suggested, as it escaped his lips unvoluntarily.
A name that caused Princie pause.
"Luna?" She said, sounding a bit annoyed by the suggested as she made a weird face.
"I don't think we can trust Luna with the Monolith after everything she's done....I don't know her full intentions."
Neither did Steven for that matter. But it made the most logical sense.
"One of the original components for Luna is the original Conduit." He assured her.
"She definitely knows what to do."
Princie wasn't so sure...and her gut instinct was normally quite good, despite her personal opinion about her own intelligence. Her mind turned to evidence of Luna's plotting, but then again, whether or not Steven could figure out what to do regarding Princie's own identity crisis...if perhaps escaping from the Pink Monolith's confines might be the only way to figure out her own path...but she had to make sure Greg was okay with it too.
"I'll...I'll need to talk to Greg." She said.
No, she couldn't. Luna was definitely not wrong about Princie's immediate decision to notify Greg; as if she inherently trusted him, though not without clearly knowing why. Lesser of two evils? As Connie would say?
"You know he's going to object." Steven told her.
"He's paranoid enough as it is....and sooner short circuit if he finds out about it."
Princie couldn't deny that Steven was telling the truth. Though Steven had another idea.
"What if you ask him about a replacement Conduit?" He said.
"Tell him you wanna break free...that given enough time..."
He trailed off again, thinking it most likely with something like that, will, of course, again deny their request.
"Let me talk to Greg." Steven suggested.
"I'll...think of somethin''"
Returning to his AI Core, Steven sat down with his hands covering his hand and his elbows resting on his spread out knees. He tried to think of a way to convince Greg to let Princie go and let Luna take over.
Nothing about this sat right with him. Until he noticed Luna drop down beside him.
"Oh you're back?" She said, surprised to see him there.
"How did you go with Princie?"
Steven sighed as he sat back in his chair.
"Well, she's..." Steven said, unsure of how to reply. Finding words for their discussion was a difficult algorithm to run.
"I told her. And I managed to convince her to leave. But..."
Luna suspected there were going to problems.
"It's Greg isn't it?" She said.
Steven had to assure Luna that Greg was never told as he raised and waived his hands in front of him defensively.
"No, no Greg doesn't know!" He said. panicked.
"I uh....I said I would talk to him."
Luna nodded. She didn't want to have Steven discuss this with Greg further. She would know Greg would be suspicous as to why Princie made that decision. Luna had to tread carefully. When she had spoken to Princie prior, there were a multitude of ideas that were shared in regards not just the cure for the virus, but for the potential future uses for the Cluster Monolith. It would be insanely difficult to tear apart the Cluster without breaking absolutely every phylactery in the process...
"Poor Princie just...she's like me." Steven said.
"She wants answers as to who she is but the Monolith is refusing her....I don't understand."
Luna understood the complexities more than anyone.
"We're running out of time." She said.
"I've been speaking with my contacts. Apparently the Developers are up to something in Mega Beach City. Something big."
Steven didn't want to know. If he had enough control, he'd tried and reason with everyone to make a solution but...
"I hope the others are okay." He said.
Steven wouldn't know what to say to his Father-Creator and decided to meet up with him outside the Pink Monolith's Deep Throne. Greg would let him in as they would need to discuss options.
Though he had a gut feeling (or a Kernel Core feeling) that something didn't add up. There were too many unknown variables to consider and if the Developers were planning something big, Steven had to know.
Once he arrived at the Deep Throne, Steven could see his Father-Creator standing there, beside the panels and operating systems.
"You wanted to talk Schtu-ball?"
When has he even called him that? What a weird thing to say.
"Uh....I wanted to...talk about Princie." He said.
Greg wasn't sure where this was heading, but he was willing to hear his son out.
"Yeah what about them?" He said.
Steven sighed. How was he going to go about this?
"They want to leave the Monolith, but don't know how." He said.
"Part of them feels out of place being the Conduit, but the Monolith doesn't want them to leave. Is there anyway to help her?"
Greg scratched his head. He wasn't even remotely thinking of something like that.
"Princie's never mentioned anything about leaving." He said.
"Have you been filling their mind with questionable thoughts of escaping?"
Steven had his aim, but had to be careful to steer the topic of suspicion away from Luna. He started to fumble with his fingers to fidget away the awkwardness.
"No I um." He stammered.
"It just came up. You know how their creation was like...super weird?"
Oh boy. Greg rubbed the back of his neck, realising that Princie's creation was very weird indeed but never gave too much thought to it until Steven brought it up. Or he had, and never really spoke about it.
"The safety of the Monolith has always been a priority; I've never really talked to them or discussed ways to get them out. I'd always assumed...oh wait, this is about Luna isn't it?"
Shit.
Steven could already sense Greg's ire.
"Should have known Luna to try and pull a stunt like this." He said, frustrated.
"She wants to become the Conduit. I can smell it."
Steven had to calm him before it got worse. Though, he could lie.
"No she doesn't." He said.
"Princie deserves to know the truth of who they are."
Greg rubbed his face. He doubted that, but he had other concerns.
"That's not really a priority right now Steven." He said.
"We can't lose a Conduit at this point in time. It's not feasible or even practical."
Steven frowned. So even without Luna's name in the picture, Greg refused to budge. It was like he couldn't even weave a lie without it being tied back to "being Luna's idea."
There was a moment of silence and reflection, before Gregs face changed as he recieved a ping, meaning someone had returned to the Site with something, possibly Connie.
"Look, we'll talk about this another time." He said as he placed a hand on his digital sons shoulder.
"For now we need....Princie and her talents...."
Steven stood there as Greg left the Deep Throne to attend to other matters. He sat down by the WorkStation and wrapped his arms around his knees. He should have known this wasn't going to work. It always came back to Luna and her motives. For now, Steven couldn't help but feel guilty over the failure for him to communicate it the way he wanted to.
Don't worry about it. Princie said to him sending him a message in pink text to his HUD.
But he would. Greg had a point of it not being a priority...but then Greg did also have a point about Luna too. He wanted to trust both of them....but he couldn't. He just couldn't.
Who could he trust?
It wasn't a story that had an easy alignment of what was considered black and white; good verses evil in many tales and scriptures. What good would anything do if it served to make it worse...or better? Would Luna really be a better Conduit?
Why did everything have to be so damn complicated. Steven began to hate that this family he found himself apart of was full of long and twisted schemes and for what? Connie always said not to trust 'the man'. He didn't get that terminology until she had explained it to him one random night. Everyone he was connected to appeared to chase after their own dreams and make their own lives making others a misery. That's not the tale Steven wanted to be apart of. He just wanted an ordinary life of eating pizzas and being an ordinary person. He's read Pinnochio. Idealistic to a fault but it was a similar dream of his. The power of magic to make him whole and complete and just like everyone else. Common and not stuck in this complex web of bullshit.
Steven's glad his lie didn't grow his nose, however.
His head suddenly lifted as alarms sounded. Red flashing lights everywhere as doors were shut and locked.
"What's going on?" Steven called out, as he stood up and looked around.
Everything is going into lockdown. Princie messaged.
We have an unexpected visitor in the main access lobby!
Chapter 84: LED
Summary:
Connie returns to Azure Alpha to collect her piece of the Obsidia Tablet, though she doesn't find it easy.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Sneaking into Yin Aozora required more finesse and know how. Brute forcing anything would be a detriment as Connie actually liked the place.
It was a realm of complex machines and statues of wonder. It was designed as mixture of synthetic and organic; machine and man. Nurture verses nature. Science as an artform.
The Blue Monolith and Director Agate insisted on this design to make their workers feel at ease. Feel at home. After all, what they made here was indeed art. Nothing was considered damaged or broken. Only few needed a couple of patches to make it through.
There was beauty in it, according to Agate's reports. Everyone insisted everything was okay, fine and made face because of her. From what Connie could see in the millions of Yin Aozora adverts during her time there, Agates smiles were forced. Connie could tell.
The face of the Company, Holly was adamant to make it shine. Even if Azure Alpha was by all means, upholding the glitz and glamour on the canopy levels like Mega Beach City as it covered the impovished on the ground levels, Holly would insist on it being a necessity, and make up stories like the people who were down there liked it that way.
With all the pretty LED lights, neon signs and holographic advertisements, it was really, just another version of Mega Beach City, only more condensed with its Asian-style aesthetics, and riddled with far more GIS and AI's that paraded its streets as varying models of Androids.
Each android had a different take. Older ones found their way towards the bottom and were often recycled while the newer models, as with Steven's, were seen on the higher levels of society.
It made Connie realise GIS and AI's were given more respect on Azure Alpha. More roles and more leniecy. To call it lightly. Discrimination was prominent, but that was, to her knowledge, more of a class issue, rather than a race issue.
However, it made for hacking into the systems of Yin Aozora far more easier. As if, the ratio of organic to synthetic was a 100 to one. She didn't bother looking up the actual numbers, but usually she could spot a human within a few Androids and her radars would go off silently, letting her know which was which.
Never the less, she was here for the Obsidia Piece and upon numerous scans as she got closer to the Developers HQ, she was able to find it's location down towards the Deep Throne.
She wasn't surprised.
Connie found a hidden ventilation shaft out the back of the facility. Dirty work. It wasn't long until she found it. Elevators and more spacious ventilation shafts were her mainstay. And in a small room only guarded by a light VI, she found it.
Dark blue walls and dim lights and the piece itself rested with a glass cube, which for Connie, wouldn't take her long to hack. She hooked up some gadgetry by unveiling the marble board behind it and went to work typing on a holographic keyboard....until....
Click.
Standing up slowly, she was met with the end of the pistol; towards it owner whom she was surprised to see.
"Peedee?" She said.
Judging by the rings around his eyes; the man looked so exhausted. Even his dreads looked like they had a rough time.
"She'd knew you'd be here." He said, as he took off the safety.
Connie raised an eyebrow. She'd never expected he'd be the one to threaten her.
"Who, Holly?" She asked.
Peedee shook his head.
"No. The Blue Monolith." He replied.
What?
"I, am like you." He said, before he turned around. He pulled up the back of his neck and revealed a fresh scar.
"They implanted me with her Shard. I am the Custodian of the Blue Caretaker."
For Garnet?
"Since when?" Connie queried.
"I thought you were supposed to be getting the Piece at Weiss United?"
As per the agreement, nevertheless. Meanwhile Ronaldo was at Mega Beach City trying to get the third piece.
"Well I'm sorry I'm not as stealthy as you." He said.
"Or as gullible. Everything Luna told you was a God damn lie."
Why wasn't Connie surprised? She rolled her eyes. She wanted to hear Peedee play his case. It wasn't as if he was REALLY going to shoot her. She had to play dumb and almost seductive, as she unzipped her stealth suit to reveal her cleavage. But she did this in a slow, subtle matter that he wouldn't notice how subliminal she was being.
"The Sapphires predicted someone would be here." He said.
"Eventually."
Connie raised an eyebrow.
"You're foolish to be after the Obsidia Piece." He said.
"Luna's doing this as a distraction. Which is why after my dad got communication from Dr. DeMayo, he immediately went to Holly."
Dr. Ryman...yes, that's right...if memory serves, Princie told her that he was the Blue Monolith's son; Holly's brother.
"Did Holly know anything about the Pieces and their...value?" Connie said as she went a slow pace around the display, her eyes half-lidded.
Peedee wasn't going to answer that question so easily, even if his eyes kept dipping towards Connie's chest.
"Y-you're being manipulated....so my Dad says." He said, nervous. His hand on the pistol was shaking; he'd never shot another human being in his life.
"Luna is tricking you into being here so she can take over the Pink Monolith for herself."
Connie furrowed her brows in confusion.
"What?" She said.
Peedee shook his head. Surely Connie wasn't this naive.
"As I-I already said, I've become the new Custodian for the Caretaker Garnet. I found her talking with Luna. I'm meant to escort her to Mega Beach City but as it turns out, she was already there. I've been stuck with her Pearl who's just been wearing her Shell, as I found out."'
WHAT?
"I don't knoq what conspiracy this is but Connie, you've been sent on a wild goose chase." He said.
"It's all been a distraction from what Luna was planning all alon-"
"That's enough out of you nephew."
A hand dipped on Peedee's pistol. Connie recognised them immediately.
"Director Agate." She muttered under her breath.
Holly looked at Connie briefly with unimpressed look upon her face. Not to mention Connie was slightly more filthier that Agate would have liked walking around her halls.
"The Sapphires did predict your arrival, after all." She said, before pulling Peedee back by his shoulder.
So why the-
"You've been summoned to talk with the Blue Monolith, while this one should be on his way to America."
Peedee all but disappeared in a huff, sprinting out of the room without delay, while Holly personally escorted Connie to the Deep Throne to connect her through series of tunnels and more elevators. Why Holly was doing so was beyond her, but it might not have been something she wanted to do in the first place. The normally cheerful director did this duty with absolute disdain. Her public persona wasn't needed behind closed doors where she was free to show her own resentment. Connie liked this emotionally honest side of her.
"Did your Monolith say why she wanted to see me?" Connie asked.
Holly did not answer. Her back was straight and her arms were behind her back.
Why was this Family so weird?
Once at the Deep Throne, Agate took control of all the connections. It was almost...nostalgic being here. Though, she gathered that was more of an imprint from Kyanite if anything.
The connections were soon aligned as Connie was shortly transported to the Private Grid of the Blue Monolith.
The Digital Garden still existed. Being here inflamed Connie with an uneasiness but she wasn't sure where it was coming from. It could have been just being in the same area as a Monolith that could choose to steal her away and lock her up for her crimes. It was akin to walking on eggshells. She had to prepare to flee in any case but she didn't think Blue would sooner reprimand her before the Developers could finally get what they wanted.
She saw Blue sitting down on a wooden chair and reading a screen before she noticed Connie before her and she smiled.
"Making Peedee the Custodian of the Blue Caretaker was a...strange move." She said.
"I've never seen him so aggressive like that before."
The choice itself, Connie suspected, wasn't one Blue wanted to make. White must have made her do it.
"Poor childs gone mad." She said.
"The Shard installation I fear, may have given him slight brain damage due to how hasty the implant process went. But I fear he's right."
About Luna? Peedee's condition worried Connie but she had to do a retake.
"Wait so you want Luna to take over the Monolith?" Connie queried.
An insane idea, if true.
"My grandson told me everything." She said.
"Heed this warning carefully; Luna is an abomination of a Program that no longer resembles her components."
That much was a fact.
"She might have memories but her personality matrice is no longer aligned with her goals."
This drove Connie mad as she tussled with her feelings.
"She's taken advantage of Garnets abilities....and may have reprogrammed her, Amethyst and Pearl to do her bidding. I know this...that my darling Cherry, my sweet sister, was incredible gifted in the language of programming and had exceptional charisma. But I was the one who harboured all of her doubts and commiserations. She was not happy with her role."
Connie tilted her head. She knew Cereza's role beforehand was minor but still an important job in the meanwhile.
"She was in charge of marketing and media originally for Weiss United, wasn't she?" She stated
Blue nodded.
"Mimosa...Yellow, and I, were told from an early age that we would work for the family business....White would stress the importance and value of hardwork and that we were the leaders in new technologies that the world would soon develop. When Cherry was born, Mimi and I were chosen to teach her as White had little to no time to raise her herself at that time. She would trail Mimi and I as she went back and forth, learning about the business. She had....good ideas. Made decent alignments until she was old enough to be able to find proper work. For a time, Cherry was the face of the company. In fact, she was the one who insisted on the original Documentry."
Connie wouldn't have guessed.
"The production took a while, as White eventually took control of the project and insisted on making changes on parts she didn't approve of. I wasn't part of it, but Cherry once complained that mother had made too many adjustments to her original vision."
It sounded like something like a overcontrolling mother would do.
"So you said Cherry wasn't happy with what she was doing for the Family?" Connie wondered.
Blue sighed.
"She certainly was not." She replied.
"Mimi and I had a hard time dealing with her fits of anger and wanting to get her way. She didn't want to be the face of the media...she made all of us look good and did that despite her own feelings to the matter....which, now that makes me believe she wanted to the documentry to make us actually look bad....and for the businesses to fall apart."
Bad publicity would really tank the share prices. Was it really that bad?
"And how did she take to the revelation that she was to become the Conduit for the Pink Monolith?" Connie queried.
Going by the sad look on Blue's face as she cradled her own cheek...it told Connie a lot.
"She protested. As she always would." Blue responded, though she may have been understating it.
"Mimi being the tough sister, would point out that Cherry had always complained about being undervalued. By this point, Mimi had already been a Conduit for a while and that she had been in charge of the whole operation."
On White's orders of course. No one else would have it that way, nice and neat into sections. Ever since coming back from Europe and seeing Weiss United for herself, Connie suspected White's aethestic had always been that. Too clean for Connie's liking.
"What about you then?" Connie asked.
"What's your take?"
Looking down, Blue...or Azure, appeared conflicted.
"I just...wanted us to be a family again." She said, as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I felt immediate pride to be a part of something so...important. That Cherrys brattish behaviour was because she was simply too young to understand. When she became pregnant with Rose we were estatic; because it was a symbol of her maturity that she was willing to take a chance of being a part of something greater...only that now, seeing her face after so long...and only envisioning what she had gone through, that she must have been so miserable."
Having a child was a pure business choice, if Connie saw it.
"Rose wasn't her choice..." Connie said as she rubbed her chin. She knew what it felt like to be an unwanted foster child. It wasn't by choice. Far from it.
Everything had to be done by White's command from top to bottom. Her absolute control would drive anyone else mad from the lack of freedom. Made Connie desire anarchy all the harder.
But it had her wonder if Cherry actually resented Rose to an extent as result.
"I just want this to end." Blue continued.
"Which is why I suspected Cherry might have planned all of this. How? I'm not sure. But I'll be damned to think that this will break up our Family this easily."
What Connie really wanted to know, was where Blue stood in all of this. She had been exceptionally useful so far and signs would point towards her being courteous for the sake of progressing the Family's mission or something unforeseen. Connie always kept a sceptical outlook on the Conduit formely known as Azure and if she had ulterior motives.
"You still want that family?" Connie asked.
Blue looked her hands, her mind processing a dozen or so thoughts before she could give a proper answer.
"I....I don't know..."
Blue must have realized by now how everything must have looked. The way that her sisters reacted to their ordeals. Yellow...Mimi....she was loyal to the letter and she was obsessed with their family just as much. But were they doing this the right way at all?
"I feel for the people on this island." She continued.
"As if they were part of the family. But I could never talk to them or tell them how loved they were. White forbids us from forming such connections. That is not our purpose."
But wasn't her purpose in part building them? This didn't make sense.
"I cannot help myself. I love them anyway...and I'll do anything to protect them."
Part of Blue...her humanity....Azure, remained. The love would be as bright, constant as LED lighting. The heart within the Conduit wasn't a glitch or a bug. It was just her personality.
"What about Cherry?" Connie queried.
"She was part of that closest circle. You must have known..."
Blue shook her head.
"Cherry took the oath as we sisters did." She said.
"But now that I think about it, I fear it was Rose who watered the plants to allow the flowers of rebellion to bloom once again. She would have had to warp her mothers head, regaling in fictional futures of escape. We can't go back to the way things were prior to our ascension."
No. But they can fix things now.
"Cherry's misery was no mystery. Rose could have seen that, clearly and wanted to bring that kind of relief."
So why did they do nothing about it?
"Surely you've had those same thoughts?" Connie wondered.
Blue summoned a family picture; a photo of herself and her two children, prior to her becoming a Conduit. Connie could see the smiles on her son and daughter. Dr. Ryman and Holly Blue at the early stages. Clearly indoctrinated as their matching clothes indicated.
"David and Holly were my treasures." She said, running her fingers around the side as if she stroked a photo frame.
"And I've seen mothers with their children....and studied them for years. I know our family isn't that normal."
That normal....heh....an understatement. Blue was torn.
"If Rose wanted to shut down our entire operation, would it be to save the world or to save our family from its suffering?"
Connie...Connie wasn't sure now.
"The only times I ever saw Rose was if she ever needed something for work purposes. I could hear the resentment in her words. What she said was formal and professional and that was it. She never saw me as Family. She never quite saw me being anything else but being the Blue Monolith."
As it should have been, Connie assumed. Everything was busy as it had to be and that was the impression Connie had. It now sounded like Blue wanted so desperately to break the chain and to be able to provide comfort, but the restrictions and rules.....the laws of the Domain would have it purely forbidden. Family was a commodity, not a circle of warmth, protection and treasured memories.
"You had a mother....and father. Yes. Dr. Priyanka Maheswaran and Mr. Doug Maheswaran."
Connie nodded.
"Mom's an AI....and Dad was....well, to my knowledge killed during the Incident." She said.
Blue pressed a hand to her chest, saddened by the thought as the simulacra of her heart ached.
"So much unnecessary death." She commented.
"I never quite understood your importance at first, until White said that you being at the time of the incident was critical. That you might remember what had happened and where the Pink Monolith was."
Of course she did. But another thing was then on Connie's mind.
"So I want to know..." Connie queried, before she got too far off track.
"If what Peedee said was true. That the Obsidian Pieces are useless?"
Blue looked to the side.
"The Sapphires predicted their use. It was only correct that they be kept from harm." She said.
Connie rubbed her chin as she paced around. Peedee sounded rather confident with that tidbit of info.
"Do the Sapphires dictate everything you do?" She wondered.
Giving the power and programming, it would have to be something to consider their importance to the overall narrative. If they could predict every little thing.
"Not everything." Blue replied.
"They predict potential outcomes with startling accuracy. In fact, the Sapphires are what saved your life."
Saved her life?
"I've consulted them on multiple occasions. Thousands of times." She continued.
"They insisted that we had a better future with your survival than without, coming to the same conclusion as White did."
And Blue believed them, as they back up the elder Monoliths claims.
"Reporting to White, White's been hesitant to agree...given the order to try and capture you, but the Sapphires have let you roam free for as long as they have....and the reason that Kyanite was greenlit."
Surely Connie wasn't THAT important. She didn't understand it....so every little effort she would have done otherwise would have meant nothing if they knew exactly what she was doing and...this was...
It did not bode well with her.
"And what about Steven? He's got to have come into these fortunes at some point or another." Connie told her.
He was far more important than Connie simply due to his form and function; besides the Pink Monolith, being one of the most saught after programs in existence and the public never knew.
"I'm aware of the Transitional Entity." Blue revealed.
"But that was DM Biometrics responsibility. They were tasked to find the way to escalate and get progress on Whites Project. As for me, I was tasked to ensure things remained on scheduled as well as checking with the Sapphires when asked. Often those two would go hand in hand."
So what about Connie then?
"So in the off-hand I might lead you to the Pink Monolith or not, surely I must be due for my comeuppance one way or another." She said.
"I've you to owe for my life yes. But I'm just a crummy hacker who's done more harm than good to the Developers over the years. Surely me just...surviving with very little repercussions has to be part of..."
It was actually the first time Connie fell into that line of thought, where her mouth was faster than her own thoughts. Why were they so...lenient? And Blue was too silent in her response. So she must have been aware of the real reason.
"It is best to understand the path to go forward, not backwards, Berrybyte." Blue stated,
So to speak, Connie was never under the delusion that everyone had been trying to get her to remember out of curiousity. But there wasn't much to recall but but gunshots, blood, pain and screaming. Over a decade and a half long and she still missed pieces.
"I...." Connie said, before realizing who she was talking to. She wasn't sure if she could trust Blue; even after everything the Monolith had done for Connie. She was still a part of that system and chain that she simply could not fully commit to. But she could always ask...now that she wanted to get back to what Peedee was trying to say.
"What more did Peedee tell you?"
Blue pressed her cheek.
"As I mentioned before, he told me about Luna." She said.
"What she was trying to do. I fear that the Pieces that you're after are but simple useless relics. Historical documentation about Obsidia's purpose for Earth."
That was nothing new. Ugh. Connie shouldn't have been surprised. It wouldn't be the first time Luna's decieved them.
"Though I wonder now..." Blue continued.
"That he mentioned something about Luna being made up of Rose, Cherry and Barbara; which gave me more worries about Luna's formation as I mentioned before. He was told this by one of Luna's allies."
Lars?
"This does come across as strange. If Cherry is a part of Luna, who's able to roam freely, then who is currently the Conduit of the Pink Monolith?"
An answer Connie wasn't committed to answering so easily.
"Is it Greg?"
"No."
That who walked before them was none other than Rhodonite with Padparadscha; those whom had been staying with the safety of the Sapphires ever since the Virus incident. Blue must have requested their presence.
"You are here. Good." She said
"I've been talking to these....Synthesised. I learned of their techniques and unique programming. Quite inspiring for certain bug and glitch fixes."
"Rhodonite protects this Sapphire and in turn, writes down her...predictions and stores into her Cloud Storage."
Huh...not a bad idea.
"Connie's alive and well!" Pad said with excitement and exuberance.
Berrybyte blinked, then looked at Rhodonite.
"I ordered them to investigate Kyanite, and by extension, you." Blue revealed.
"And the one known as Unakite..."
Oh....the one Kyanite met a while back. Connie sort of remembered. Garnets fusion with Padparascha ^1.
Rhodonite pulled out the paperwork from her Pearl Kernel Core, then handed it to her Monolith.
"Let's see." Blue said as she rubbed her chin.
"The data pertains to the incident in question. Explain to me Connie...is Greg alive?"
Berrybyte was hesitant to answer. Information in the wrong hands is considered dangerous, especially with the Blue Monolith before her. However, she could drip feed and perhaps she might get more out of the Monolith that way. She sighed. This was risky.
"I...I don't know." She replied.
"All I can tell you, is that he is not within the Pink Monolith, but it does have a new Conduit."
Blue lifted her chin.
"I see." She said.
"Mr. Ryman did say that Luna was looking to take control of the situation. Which meant her taking control of the Pink Monolith again. Where is she now?"
Either the Site or the Cluster Monolith? How could Connie answer with caution?
"Back at..uhh...yeah." Connie replied, rubbed the back of neck with anxiety.
"Her Cluster Monolith...waiting for us to return with the Pieces."
Blue narrowed her eyes at the young human with suspicion.
"The Cluster Monolith?" She said.
"That old project could never work that she wants it to. But her obsession with Obsidia's Essences....and the fact that my Pearl was ordered to shapeshift into Garnet. It means Garnet has betrayed us."
There's something no one would have foreseen.
"Your Sapphires didn't warn you of this?" Connie queried.
Blue summoned a white chair and sat down as she slouched back and pinched the bridge of her nose. So much for all seeing all knowing goddesses.
"I know when Rose ordered a Sapphire to be a part of her own projectsm I thought it was meant to align with the ideals of our own. Using one to form Consensus with a Ruby wasn't something I wouldn't have allowed but I would have seen the benefits for."
That perhaps she did it deliberately to avoid the future the Sapphires would forsee? Garnet was a capable GIS on her own. Forcing the hand of fate in one direction or another.
"Can confirm." Said Padparadscha.
"The properties of a Sapphire with the Ruby allowed for multiple outcomes; Rose would choose the best ones."
So Garnet...had she been working with Luna...the entire time?
"So was the story with the essences was a lie?" Connie wondered.
"Was Luna really..."
Blue took a deep breath.
"I'll need to contact the Yellow Monolith and President Dot immediately." She said.
And their little project that was supposedly going over there? Connie knew all about it.
"Rhodonite, Padparadscha." She said.
"We're going to work on a new project together with Director Agate. Miss Maheswaran, I know you do not trust me. But I helped you before....and you owe me a favour."
Oh geez. Well, Connie could work alongside worse people...and while she resented owing the Blue Monolith anything, she had to hear her out first before she could make a decision.
"If Luna is planning to seize the Pink Monolith." She said.
"We need to understand the nature of it's current Conduit. Padparadscha has previously mentioned something interesting. That the nature of the Conduit currently resembles your form."
How did she...
"What of it?" Connie said.
"I was impacted by the screencap of the Pink Monolith. It copied my existing data at that point. Why would that be significant?"
The fact that Connie could casually mention that now; despite internally freaking out prior, was astounding.
Padparadscha smiled as she walked forward.
"We found something that connects the day itself to an unusual event that was scattered across the Domain. But..."
Rhodonite stepped forward as well.
"We've spoken to the other Sapphires and even consulted Flourite on this matter." She said.
"She discussed something akin to a Subconscious User Action. A command that draws upon a Monoliths power by accident."
Connie as part of Stevonnie somehow remembered Flourite talking about this ages ago:
The Monolith hears a plea. It listens...learns...it does not speak...but it...for explanations unknown...does grant new code. ^2
New code...
"Who ever asked something from the Pink Monolith had a very strong request." Blue said.
And who that person was had to be someone working with the Pink Monolith very closely at that time.
"Look...I want to help." Connie said.
"The Conduit...it's..."
Dare she risk it?
"It needs to be strong in order to continue to defend its position in order for it to stay as a Conduit." Blue continued.
"Their willpower is commendable. Not even the smartest of individuals can tap into its energies without having the personal strength to do so."
So how would Connie figure THAT out?
"Connie...your mother." Padparadscha said.
Connie rolled her eyes.
"No, Mom's a fully fledged AI. She's not the Conduit." She said.
"No silly." Pad giggled.
"I mean, your mother...she...specialises in AI psychology doesn't she?"
Connie's eyes widened. She would never have guessed.
"Huh. No wonder you kept mentioning Maheswaran a lot before." Rhodonite replied.
"The other Sapphires went nuts."
That...was odd.
"Which in turn lead you to me." Said Blue.
"Then it is imperative you find your mother and take her back to the Monolith immediately."
Notes:
1. Chapter 64: Probability.
2. Chapter 17: Synthesis
Chapter 85: Adage
Summary:
Connie goes back to find her AI Mother at the Pizza's Establishment and finds not all is well.
Chapter Text
A strange request; but they made a good point. Getting her mother to help with Princie's condition was unorthodox but it would hold the keys to their identity and most importantly, their protection.
By this stage, Connie should have known better than to trust Luna; with all her controversies prior laid to bear. Her gut told her one thing but her head another and she wasn't sure what to believe more. But Connie had a job to do.
Disconnecting from the console, Holly stood behind Connie with a serious expression on her face. The Developer of Azure Alpha; her cracks were showing more so than ever. Connie didn't mind that as much, given her role within this whole ordeal. A daughter of Azure...whether Director Agate served out of love or out of loyalty or both. The line did blur and that the connections this family had was just pure business. It couldn't feel less of a family if it tried.
Perhaps, that was the reason why Connie felt a connection. Everything was connected but it didn't have the warmth of connections it was supposed to provide.
No kings or queens. Just chains of command with binary blood as a tether. Or a chain.
They would feed off their own pride, as Director Agate appeared to. Standing up straight with her arms behind her back. Disciplined in nature but haughty otherwise.
"As much as it pains me to see you here directly consorting with My Monolith, I have received an alert from the Sapphires." She said,
"They have tasked you to head back to America, immediately and alongside Mr. Ryman I-"
Her talk was then interrupted with a pink flash nearby. Leon popped out of the rounded portal, as he stood and looked at Connie with an expression, as he handed his claw to her, much to Hollys consternation.
"Well I never..." She commented, surprised at the machines presence.
A welcome if not unexpected sight. He must have been ordered to retrieve Connie for this purpose. She smiled.
Leon turned into the bike shortly after as Connie strapped in her piece and jumped on the Rosa Leo, as she drove it through a makeshift portal and teleported elsewhere; apparently having its portal technology being upgraded this time? Somehow?
Connie wouldn't question it.
When she arrived, she arrived in front of the Pizzeria, much to her surprise. Why would the Sapphires tell her to come here? Back to Nanefua? She had to sit there on the hoverbike while she contemplated everything she'd learned thus far.
Connie wanted to really know if the pieces being the spiritual essences was indeed a lie. But the knowledge she gained from the Blue Monolith was fairly damning. Part of her wanted to feel angry, but ultimately, she was just frustrated and exhausted.
Trusting Luna with anything was a massive mistake...and the idea of Garnet and her co-conspiring shouldn't have been surprising, but it was. Connie could have gone back to the Site to discuss this but...the Sapphires pointed her back here, where the memories of Kyanite had begun to surface. There was a reason and a rhyme. It wasn't because of the Blue Monolith's request that she be here nor was the Sapphires suggestion ever enforced, in fact, Connie felt like she had to be here.
That in turn couldn't have been something from Kyanite in particular...could it?
Returning to reality, Connie looked towards the building and saw that there was a sign on the door indicating the Pizzeria was closed, but Connie saw Mr. Pizzas car out front. Getting off the bike, Connie decided to enter.
Inside was empty and dark and dusty. Many arguments were had here with Jenny and her father. It was like a dark aura permeated around the place. Where this sixth sense was coming from, Connie had no clue.
She wandered around and went up the stairs to their main abode. The stairs and floorboards creaked with nearly every other step. Kyanite's memories made Connie's knowledge of their apartment on the second floor second nature.
It was there she could hear beeping noises coming out of Nanefua's bedroom. Upon opening the door, she could see Jenny...and her own Android Mother as they sat before Nanefua as she laid on her bed, attached to various medical machinery.
"Mom?" She uttered.
Surprised to see her, Dr. Maheswaran pardoned herself as she got up.
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
Nanefua raised her hand.
"The Sapphires must have told her to." She replied, albeit she was very weak in voice and movement.
"I had a feeling...they would lead you back to me."
Something ominous was going on here.
"Jenny, go make our guest some tea?"
Her granddaughter was hesitant, but honored Nana's wishes and left the room, as Jenny closed the door behind them. Connie went to sit down beside her Jenny had been and wasn't sure where she should start.
"If I may ask." Connie queried.
She wasn't certain if she wanted Nanefua to know the potential truth about the Obsidia Pieces. Blue confirmed Peedee's story, but to what extent? Connie didn't think Nanefua would have lied. Would she?
"The Pieces have no significance." Nanefua choked out.
"I feared that you're being led astray."
She must have anticipated Connie finding out the truth sooner or later.
"Then why did you lie?" Connie queried, annoyed.
Nanefua coughed, as Dr. Maheswaran tried to make sure she was comfortable.
"Connie, is this necessary?" She asked, worried for her patient.
It didn't look good, but this would be the last chance to get any tangible answer....and as much as Connie hated to do this to a dying old woman, there had to be a reason, a purpose for her wasting her time for nothing.
"I never lied about the Cradle." She said.
"But....the information about the Essences. Someones....someones...."
Nanefua started hacking up more than she could cope with. Dr. Maheswaran did what she could to up the dosages.
"Someone else lied?" Connie said, assuming what Nanefua was trying to say.
The elderly woman adjusted herself as she took a deep breath.
"Perhaps the path laid out long ago was always going to be inevitable." She said.
"I was once Obsidia's Voice...but they had sacrificed themselves for a greater purpose. I could no longer speak for them."
And when Obsidia went silent?
"You said they stopped talking to you." Connie continued.
"So what, they had to disappear in order for all this to happen?"
And the talk about Obsidia's reemergence via the Cradle....they must have still broken themselves up into the essences prior to cutting contact. This wasn't originally written in Nanefua's original texts either, calling everything else into question.
"An answer you already knew." Nanefua said.
"And each essences distinct name in the make up."
From her notes, Connie brought up the details on her phone.
"The Heart, the Mind, the Body, The Spirit." Connie read out.
Not exactly creative names but otherwise....she had to know, despite it being a stretch.
"Do you know where they could be then?"
Nanefua looked down.
"A mystery." She said with sadness.
"The essences must yearn for each other, clearly. Obsidia's Soulware is stronger than a humans and overrides anything else it decides to possess with ease if it so choo-"
Another coughing session interrupted her spiel. This time louder, stronger and more erratic. She tried to get another word in, but was never given the chance. It didn't look good...and she started to do this for about thirty seconds...a minute or so passed as Connie tried to help but wasn't sure what she should do. Nanefuas heart monitor started to beep like crazy. In a blink of an eye, Jenny and Mr. Pizza came running as Connie found herself exiting the room as her mother attempted to help her out.
Connie thought she would be panicking but she wasn't. She'd stood out there outside the room for some time, locked in her own thoughts. Everything around her went dark and silent. She'd begun to feel strange ever since she'd left Azure Alpha. A sort of unexplained haze with her psyche. She felt like she could have been going mad, brought on by the complete waste of time everything had been. The essences were lost and the Developers were inching closer to their goal. Connie pressed a hand on her chest, closest to her heart. Right now, nothing made sense. She missed Steven. He could have been there to hold her hand and bring her back to cruel, but grounded reality.
There was still so little she understood that she tried to grasp but ultimately continued to fail.
And before she knew it, Dr. Maheswaran had since left the room and had tried to get Connie's attention several times, her muffles eventually turning into loud words.
"Connie!"
Shaking her head, Connie looked at her mother who sighed with relief.
"Oh....sorry." She said, scratching the back of her head with embarrassment.
"Is she okay?"
SIlence being the answer was too obvious a tell. Time went too fast for Connie to comprehend everything that just occurred within half an hour. A ticking clock sounded nearby but that was all the noise that made, besides the grieving family in the room before them.
Priyanka made a few calls, then took herself and Connie up to the roof to look at the Mega Beach City Skyline - giving Jenny and Mr. Pizza their space. It was miserable. Dr. Maheswaran wanted to comfort her daughter, knowing that her vacant stares were signs of dissociation.
"I'm sorry there wasn't much I could do." She said.
"i got the call from her son that she'd collapsed. I don't understand, she was in a steady condition not long ago."
Nanefua had Rampancy, like Connie herself. It had to be considerably advanced if it took her out that easily. Priyanka noticed her daughters lack of focus, even if she was looking at the cars that flew about in a nice grid formation. If everything was so neat and tidy and organized as regular old traffic. The sense of defeat floated about, alongside the atmosphere of sorrow.
"Rampancy is uncommon in people like those Nanefuas age." Priyanka stated.
Would this mean Connie would fall apart the same way?
"My lifespan is considerably shortened." Connie answered with sadness.
Dr. Maheswaran frowned, that wasn't what she was even saying and didn't want to make things worse. But Priyanka was a realist; and noticed Connie was as well. Optimism was more so Dougs job than Priyankas. But she wasn't without ambitions to better the lives of others, including those in her family.
"Your father and...I...we tried everything to help with your condition." She said.
"We noticed the early signs and hoped that if we got to it early, then maybe a cure could be found without many repercussions."
Well that obviously failed.
"You don't know the thought of having to outlive your own child....you would do anything to have more time..."
Words that stung Connie harder than she envisioned.
"And you don't know the thought of not having a mother in your life for two decades." She responded.
An answer never left her mothers lips. The Foster system isn't kind to everyone...and how Connie was treated made the AI Priyanka consistently guilty for not being there for her. A mothers adage that would compel Priyanka to guide and raise her daughter with unconditional love and support.
It wasn't long until Jenny came up to the roof to find the pair as the spoke.
"Oh I thought you guys looked familiar. You're....Veronica right?" She asked, randomly.
Priyanka and Connie exchanged glances. She almost forgot her alias.
"Well sort of." Connie stated.
"Why?"
Jenny provided a small box which contained photos. Including a family photo of Priyanka, Connie and lastly, Doug. The sight of the photo as Priyanka held it her hand caused her programming to glitch slightly as the DEJA VU Bug took place; as to be expected from such a remembrance of the man in her life that had been cruelly taken from them.
"Oh Doug ." Priyanka said as she sat down.
"I mean, his job was a security guard. It should have been well known that this line of work and the path he chose always had this as a high risk."
The fact that she tried to justify his death as a rule of logic disturbing Connie slightly, but she could tell that based on her actions and words alone, that Priyanka praised logic and order. The percentage chance of death would always be an analytical practice for someone in her role.
Still, they were words that made Connie think. She almost forgot his role.
"Dad worked for DM Biometrics, didn't he..." Connie said.
Priyanka nodded. From what her donor contributed, there was much to gleam from what she could envision from memory alone.
"Yes. He worked with pride and made sure he treasured his friendship with Dr. DeMayo, even if they came from two separate worlds. From one father to...well, another. He was so grateful for Dr. DeMayos talents for helping you that he would have done anything for him if he just asked."
Connie smiled at the thought of such a blessed friendship between the pair. It made Connie wish she had such great friends when she was younger; except no one would want to hang out with the gross orphan child.
"Heh. The complete opposite of my Dad." Jenny joked.
"Sometimes I wish he was more grateful for what he had."
His demeanor could be overbearing at times, but ultimately he meant well. Even if he didn't show it.
"I'll go make us some tea Connie, Dr. Maheswaran I think Dad will need your help."
As she left to go back inside, it reminded Priyanka of something.
"Speaking which, you needed me for something?"
Oh. Right.
"I'm on a dangerous mission Mom." Connie said.
"I need to head back to the Site; as I've been advised to have you come with me.."
Which made Priyanka wary, especially with what Nanefua just said. Connie was going to take a chance; they don't work, then Luna was going to be dealt with swiftly.
"Well, there's nothing much else for me to do other than contact some colleagues to pick up the body for the family." She said,
"Once I'm done, I'll come along."
Connie smiled and hugged her mom. It didn't matter that she was Android; more than the sheer comfort of a hug was so foreign before she met Steven and his android.
Once inside, Connie spoke with Jenny in the kitchen as Priyanka made all the arrangements alongside Mr. Pizza. Jenny herself was surprised by the lack of grieving she possessed and she was sad, but found herself unable to cry. Even as her father was busy sobbing loudly in the other room.
"Worst part is we're going to have to tell Kiki." She said.
"I feel she was closer to Gunga than I was."
From what Connie could recall, Kiki was in a similar role to what Nanefua had back in her glory days, before all the Church of Obsidia stuff came in.
"But you all seem like you're goin' through some weird shit. I sorta miss that AI that used to work for us."
Connie bit her lip as she held her cup.
"Maybe you could get another one?" Connie suggested.
An idea maybe.
"Maybe." Jenny replied.
"Dad needs someone to vent to anyway. He needs someone in his life to make sure he stays at least one foot in reality."
Jenny and Connie continued to chat to one another until everything that could be done for now was well and truly organized. The Maheswarans would say their goodbyes, waving as they left.
As they went outside, Dr. Maheswaran stopped as Connie prepared the Rosa Leo to leave. Connie jumped on as she started it up. Priyanka could barely move, her focus on the pink leonine shaped vehicle before her.
"My gosh..." She commented.
"Is that what I think it is?"'
She walked forward and examined it more closely, as it left Connie looking at her mother quite strangely.
"What, this thing?" She said, before realizing she was talking about the hoverbike.
"Oh it was a gift..."
Dr. Maheswaran shook her head.
"Did they mass produce it?" She asked.
Mass produce it? Connie watched as her mother went around to the front of it, and looked down at the lions head more closely. Priyanka was still astounded.
"Yes this may as well be the exact model that....was used to transport you from a to b back when you were younger."
Connie tilted her head. She had a feeling of what she meant though.
"Back when they were trying to fix my head?"
It would be pointless to reminisce and perhaps, it might not have meant a lot to Connie given her age, but Priyanka knew this was the same machine. That it being it Connie's hands was something of a destiny for her to wield such a construct of renown. Though they were in a hurry and looking upon the past wasn't appropriate right now. Priyanka stood back up as she hopped behind Connie.
"Yes. But sorry for delaying you." She said.
"Let us return."
Connie then instructed the Rosa Leo to create a new portal and the pair would make their way back to the Site.
Once returned, the Rosa Leo transformed back into its 'Werelion' bipedal like form, which also scared Priyanka and bemusing Connie. Though it sniffed the air,apparently noticing something had gone amiss.
He went forward ahead of the pair down the hallway and back to the Main Foyer, which caused the pair to run behind him.
And as they got to the main foyer, Connie gasped.
The entrance was a complete mess. Signs of a struggle as sparks came off of broken panels and the like. Looking around, they could see people nearby. Approaching them, they bore witness to Lars being held hostage by a certain Lady with a gun in her hand.
And Gregs broken apart android body all over the floor.
"Ah here she is." She said, holding Steven in a headlock.
Lady Volley???
"The woman of the hour."
Chapter 86: In the Clouds
Summary:
Bismuth, Dr. Ryman and Yellow Pearl navigate the Cloud Network, with the former two getting to know each other better.
Or do they bring up old, forgotten wounds?
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Being in the Cloud Network was strictly forbidden, even for Caretakers. Their purpose and their security was generally something to avoid and required the highest clearances but even then there was a maze of measures in place that had been designed to be confusing as possible to anyone who wasn't a Pearl. A Pearl-Class GIS could easily use a unique system of layers to trap interlopers in order to protect their contents. And that as one of the more lenient security measures Bismuth was aware of. The design of the interior was more whismsical that she expected it to be.
Mostly clouds, sparkly pearlescent clouds....
and a small, glitching cube in the middle of the room. Cradled in the hands of a Lonely Pearl Hologram that stood there as still as a statue, as if awaiting for someone to take the goods.
Bismuth, Dr. Ryman and the Yellow Pearl had come this way for a program or piece of data that Bismuth had no knowledge of, but it was a critical piece for what ever reason that it had to be made secure within Cloud Storage. Even if it risked Bismuths position as Caretaker to tread within it.
"You don't use your Pearl much." Yellow Pearl said, commenting on the lack of any files within Lonely Pearls Storage.
Bismuth shrugged. She wasn't one to create and keep. Nor trust so easily with crucial details that would be better left with someone else.
"I have no need." She said.
Though most of the stuff she had was back at Weiss United HQ or here at PeriCom. She never felt comfortable using the Pearl overall if it was something she could have kept in her own internal files. Not to mention the goings on with the storage in general.
"But just so we're clear, this is the file we're after?"
Dr. Ryman nodded, confident and certain.
"Yeah." He said.
"Right where I left it."
Bismuth raised an eyebrow. He'd been here before?
"Wait, you put it here?" She asked.
Ryman nodded. He appeared exasperated over it.
"The data itself was damaged during the incident." He said.
"The reason its impossible to repair is because it's a piece of New technology that mankind hasn't even touched yet."
Bismuth scratched her head, though she concluded the next possible reason.
"It's obvious based on Alien Tech." She said.
"But I know how to work with Alien Tech. It should have been easy to fix but it's not."
If only she knew.
"The Technology this is based off utilises a trick that's only known to a few people, but a Codesmith such as yourself might see but might not understand."
And he doubted her abilities like that?
"Alright wise guy so what am I missing?" She asked.
Dr. Ryman approached the piece.
"Well you know the piece itself has to go to a Monolith, but the properties of the repair uses a Monoliths power to stabilise it. It doesn't turn into a exact approxamation of its original form but recovers and replaces with the most appropriate code and alignment details to make it as close to its functional self. This is great for small beyond repair pieces of data...for people...not so much."
Bismuth narrowed her eyes.
"This is why some SC-GIS don't come out exactly the same as their human counterparts. It's not as thorough as a BM-AIs creation. The brain scan takes hours of making sure they get every bit of detail possible to get as close as to the original as possible. Screencaps are half a second flashes that get around anywhere from eighty to around ninety nine percent of its original incarnation."
When Steven called her Uzo all the while ago^1, it called attention to something that had been hers but it hadn't been called back in such a long time. There was...an attachment, but Bismuth felt more towards her current name than what would have been originally her donors name.
"I'm a 1.5." Bismuth said.
"I know Rose created us to assist with her projects. I helped with designing Luna and Sol. But maybe I am just a fragment of my donors old self."
Dr. Ryman crossed his arms. She was anywhere from seventy-five to eighty percent to her original donor in personality and format. As far as he knew from old documents and that made her under the average in terms of what was called "Percentage to Imprint Accuracy." in some records.
"I know." He said.
"I was there."
Bismuth looked at Dr. Ryman strangely. Small stuff started coming back. His face came up in a few frames. Not strong or alarming but they were there.
"Yeah you were." She said.
"DM Biometrics right?"
He nodded. So she did somehow remember, but not everything it seemed as she struggled to connect the dots.
"Mhmm." He replied.
"You were a great addition to the team. Helped me quite a bit. Don't remember that?"
Not that she could recall.
"SOAP did a lot a damage I'm afraid." She said.
Rymans expression turned sullen, as if saddened by that revelation. Bismuth was nothing short of frustrated but it wasn't going to let stop or stop trying in that regard. She had a duty to upheld.
"It did." He said.
"Your orders are to salvage the situation. Do you know why you or anyone else has these goals in mind?"
An odd question.
"I'm a GIS with a purpose." Bismuth replied.
That wasn't what Ryman meant.
"You are but you can wrap your head around why." He said.
"You must have a motivation beyond something you were told to do. Humans are motivated by many things. An SC-GIS should know more than what they are fighting for."
Not what Bismuth could question herself, she imagined.
"I served DM Biometrics; reallocated to Weiss United." She said.
"Now I am..."
Wait....
why was Bismuth here?
She was repaired and eventually given to Weiss United as part of their team. Her purpose to create made exceedingly clear. But her motivations...she was just an intelligence at the end of the day, given orders.
"The Ancillas." He said.
"Rose designed them to go against the Developers. You work with the Ancillas to achieve their goals too. There is going to be a point where your subroutines are going to come across conflict. Do you go with the path the Developers have given you...or do you continue to work with the Ancillas."
Why was he even asking these questions?
"I was merely working undercover for the Ancillas, obviously." Bismuth replied.
"Getting information from the Developers was my priority."
Again, Rymans body language indicated that wasn't the answer he was looking for. But he didn't press the issue further, much to Bismuths confusion.
"Well, then...Yellow Pearl, come here please." He asked.
The small dainty GIS approached Dr. Ryman.
"The Protection Protocol." He said.
"Word of it flings about and it's not as much as understood what to the full extent that it does or how it drives people. There are....multiple versions of it."
What did that have to do with anything?
"In fact, it was created by accident. From a single, unconscious need. From that need an unofficial program was born, designed to be in the roots in order to become a driver of actions. It is a conscience that is part of the sub-conscience."
Bismuth didn't follow.
"Rose created the Ancillas to be the rebels in an ever-esclating battle to fight back from what the Developers were doing. Because what she had seen and what she had done had impacted her enough to warrant a Silent War against our family."
That much was known.
"She...talked to me about this." He revealed.
"She talked about the Cloud-Storage System and how it was created. She was worried about that her GIS were to...go astray. She showed me the Pearl she had made to solve a data exchange issue. To improve upon transfer time, her and I assisted with the Systems to create it. We used...a Bismuth to build the framework. It was commissioned by Weiss United to resolve the issue and so therefore they own the patent."
A Bismuth....it took her a moment to make the obvious conclusion.
"Are you saying I created the Cloud Network?"
How much did Bismuth not remember? It had her question much.
"There was a lot you were involved in. If it wasn't the Pearls or the VIs or even the Rosa Leo, there was always something you worked on because that what you were made to do. Including the Data here."
She...made...what ever the living abyss this was.
"The incident corrupted both yourself as well as this data."
And giving it to the Pink Monolith would save it from being captured by any of the others. That was the intent of this mission, wasn't it?
"If you need to, you'll need another Pearls Cloud Key in order to access the Greater Cloud as a whole. Yellow, if you would so please."
Yellow nodded as she summoned a few monitors on her end. Bismuth was surprised this Pearl was happy to agree to even assist....as Bismuth watched Yellow Pearl work, she suddenly had something come back to her.
REWIND.
Another lab. Bismuth looked around and could see Dr. Ryman with Rose projecting her holographic self rom a nearby table as they discussed things with each other. Looking at her hands, it was obvious she was in a much older Android model that was more defined to look like her virtual self than a human.
"Does Greg know about this?" Ryman asked.
Rose shook her head.
"No." She said.
"I asked the Pink Monolith. On my travels, I discovered this. I wanted to confirm for certain that this was in fact, the First Daughter."
The First Daughter?
"What does this have to do with Grandmother White's Commission?" Ryman queried.
Everything. Bismuth approached the bench, to see a picture of Lady Volley on it.
"I know Grandmothers experiments enough to understand that this is just another form of control for her...and I want the commission to stand as an eternal reminder."
Ryman was wary about the whole thing; given his cousins apprehension towards the whole scheme.
"Basing the Cloud-Storage system on Pearl. I'm not sure if this is going to work the way you want it to."
Rose then projected a Pearl as a 3D hologram as it slowly rotated its static self as it stood there, with a smile on her face.
"The Construction of the Storage system is going to work differently than ordinary GIS." Rose continued.
"The actual Pearls themselves are not meant to be forged in Kindergartens but rather a construct that aligns with a more synthetic approach. Almost...sort of a telepathic linkage between them all."
Telepathic...Bismuth had to correct her. Telepathy was impossible in general convention. Rose always appeared to think everything around her was supposed to work like magic. Bismuth was glad to try and interpret her masters vision as best she could from a scientific standpoint.
"There has to be a Host in order for a network to work like that." She said.
Rose chuckled. She could always rely on Bismuth to work on logic when something didn't sit well.
"Yes thank you Bismuth." She said.
"Yes a Host has to be used in order for the Clouds to work. Much like the Domain's Grid structure between public, pocket and private, there is a similar system we can make specifically for storage only."
Dr. Ryman nodded, though secretly was saddened by something he would never really get to share; and Rose knew this secret more so. Still, he was impressed the Android GIS nevertheless whom had served them very well thus far.
"Hmmm you're on to something." He said.
"Cloud Networks already exist. But you're saying something can be done with GIS technology to improve upon it."
Bismuth was keen to get to work on that.
"Not can, but must!" Rose said with force.
"But as Bismuth said, we can work with a Host first to be able to first establish the Cloud, but these "Pearls." are linked to this particular Host. I've managed to acquire special resources from Weiss United to specifically work alongside or work on."
She pulled out a another hologram. A white square box as she demonstrated it to Dr. Ryman. Bismuth couldn't see what he was looking at as one of the sides opened up with him with the details, but what he saw had him open his eyes widely.
"Rose." He said.
"This is."
She nodded, though she would often misread the expressions of others. For she would read Dr. Rymans face of one of pure impress, internally he was far more disturbed.
"We can use the Screencap method as many times as we need to with this." She said.
Ryman looked at her strangely.
"This is highly unethical, not to mention, illegal." He commented, making his discomfort known.
Rose brushed it off with a shrug.
"I told you that I needed to make an eternal reminder. It requires DM Biometrics touch in order to be able to mass produceable." She explained.
Ryman still didn't like it.
"We can't do it here." He said.
"We'd have to make an entire sub-division for this proper."
Bismuth looked back to Rose, uncertain if she should take a side or not.
"That's fine." She said.
"I've taken the liberty to send a message to the White Monolith proper in order to get permission and funding. We can start when ever."
The White Monolith?
"Are you crazy?" Ryman cried out, not believing what he was hearing.
"You're just as bad as they are!"
But it was a necessity Rose figured. Some bad to do some good down the line, no matter unethical it was.
"Ryman I need you to stick with me on this." She said.
"You're the only one besides Greg with specialisation with organics proper. One I can trust, anyway."
FLASHFORWARD
Ryman walked alongside Bismuth on a pier as construction of the SubDivision was put in command. The facility itself was built off someways south and out towards the ocean as per Rose's instruction.
An overcast day; and the construction was at its phase where a specific shape was taking place. It was round and shiny and begun to take the form of a giant clamshell.
"I don't know why I agreed to this." He commented.
"And we've gone alongside just as crazy propositions as these in ages past. I have to wonder..."
Bismuth looked at the ocean as the waves crashed against the shore.
"Rose has been like this ever since I started working for her all those years ago." She said.
"Crazy, ambitious ideas. But somehow...she's approaching this in a different way."
Ryman was surprised to hear her say that, but now that he thought about it, Bismuth wasn't wrong.
"You followed her footsteps." He told her.
"I...I wanted to thank you, by the way."
Bismuth looked up at back at Ryman, confused.
"Thank me for what?" She asked.
Ryman chuckled. Maybe not her but...
"I know your human self would have known the reasons why more than you do...but...I got confirmation from the surrogate. There's a baby along the way."
Bismuth smiled. Part of her felt happy and from that happiness formed confusion as the other half.
"Congratulations." She said.
PRESENT
Opening her eyes, she can see that Yellow Pearl had just finished her work, as a new round white portal appeared in front of her.
"Looks like we're good to get inside the Greater Cloud." Dr. Ryman
The trio entered the portal one by one, though Bismuth begun to feel a sense of unease as she watched Dr. Ryman enter first. Her eyes focused on the small Yellow Pearl.
"After you, Caretaker." She said.
Relenting, Bismuth jumped into the portal...
And found a small white circuluar platform amoung a plethora of others that had fountains gushing everywhere. The night sky was seen all around them, with a particular atmosphere. Looking down, the platform itself was made up of circles written in alien code that supported a hardlight frame that moved in said circles; some text randomised to be big or small, creating an uneven pattern when the cog like motion either when clockwise or anticlockwise. Water spread itself from just beneath said circle and fell into what appeared to be and endless ocean below them. Large White Ribbons centralised themselves above and were decorated everyhere despite there being no roof above, and made it seem like the ends of the ribbons themselves just entered into a void as they faded.
Each of these platforms represented individual clouds as part of the Cloud Network as a whole. Each platform a Pearl existed.
"Yellow Pearl." Said Dr. Ryman.
"Track the Blue Caretakers Pearls IP address."
Yellow Pearl nodded as she begun her work again. Eventually a hard light bridge was formed between their platform and one in the distance. The trio then walked across the bridge to a fair distance as Bismuth looked around the place. She knew something was off but she couldn't discern what.
"If you don't mind me asking." Bismuth said.
"But...you said we worked together...but was my donor..and were you....both close?"
Ryman didn't even look at her as they kept walking forward.
"I met her she was still working for Terra while I had been working for DM Biometrics." He said.
"She was a close colleague of Rosette Flannigan. She even introduced us personally. But we had a falling out."
Bismuth frowned. A deep part of her riled up the guilt somewhat. Reasoning that everything had to be her fault or else...no, she just felt it was her fault but she wasn't really sure if it even was. It to be, otherwise she wouldn'tve felt any guilt at all.
"I'm sorry." She said.
Ryman shook his head.
"No no, it wasn't...it wasn't that bad." He said.
"It was personal differences and preferences that tore us apart. We split on amicable terms but...I think..."
"We're here...." Yellow announced.
Yellow Pearl went to work on connecting them to the Blue Pearls Storage. Once the portal was open, they dove in....
Similar to Lonely's interior, Blue's was...well, pretty much the same save for the Blue Tint. Though waiting for them wasn't anyone Bismuth had been expecting.
"Ancilla Pearl!" Bismuth gasped.
Their Pearl. The Pink Caretakers Pearl. The GIS smiled at Bismuth warmly, happy to see her presence.
"The one and the very same!" She said with confidence.
A sight for sore eyes that generated as much warmth in her coding as Bismuth could experience. Possibly the best thing she's seen all day.
"Is everyone alright?" Bismuth asked, concerned for her compatriots given the confusion of everything that had happened so far.
Pearl nodded.
"They're completely fine." She replied.
"Couldn't be better really."
That was a relief.
"Pearl we've brought the data." Dr. Ryman said, carrying said data in his hands. Pearl then looked at Bismuth for a split second before she took the cube from Dr. Ryman. Her expression then turned to sadness.
"Gosh just for the trouble of trying to retrieve this old thing only for it to be completely useless."
What?
"What do you mean?" Bismuth said, watching on as Pearl examined the cube.
Now she was terribly confused.
"It's not useless." Ryman said.
"Use the APM Clam to generate repair codes"
Pearl blinked.
"Oh yeah almost forgot about the Clam." She said, embarrassed.
"Did Rose really program it for all Pearls to use?"
Ryman shrugged.
"I don't know and I don't want to know." He said, sounding exasperated.
"Yellow has her key if you need the Two-Token Access."
Pearl then looked at her Yellow counterpart, who had her key in her hands. Pearl was reminded of her purpose and had to see it through.
"Okay then, let's do this."
Dr. Ryman gently pushed Bismuth back as Pearl and Yellow Pearl used their corresponding Sparkling keys together. Facing each other, they jammed their keys into a holographic lock and turned them. From the lock came a small Clamshell which opened up to display a Pearl. The pair of them typed away as a beam of iridescent light poured onto the cube.
Bismuth watched as the Cube started to warp and change shape and colour.
"What's the APM Clam?" Bismuth asked.
"I don't...I don't remember."
Ryman looked down.
"APM stands for Artificial Pearl Monolith." He said.
"It acts like a Monolith but only for the Cloud Network in general. It works on VI algorithms and isn't a true AI or even a GIS...only that the VI that runs it as a type of...Conduit that responds to commands but has no real sentience. All the Pearls connected to the Network use its functions daily but it can also work with restoration and rejuvenation, similar to the real Monoliths."
Somehow that did sound familiar, but Bismuth wasn't sure. She helped construct this place so she should know about the APM. Part of the knowledge surrounding it disturbed her however and she wasn't sure why. It gave Dr. Ryman bad vibes as well.
"I hate the damn thing but it does what it's supposed to."
The cube eventually took the shape of a strange glove with claws that had a translucent design but pulsed with a strange white energy. Pearl put it on and seemed to fit perfectly. She smiled; and the sweetest smile that Bismuth had seen all day.
"The Heavy Duty Data Extractor." Ryman revealed.
"But it's not a simple Extractor. It was designed for hacking and its strong enough to bypass most defenses measures on any given platform."
Sounded powerful.
"Seems to be working perfectly fine too." Pearl said. She begun to tinker around with it, to understand its functions.
So, what next? Dr. Ryman heaved a huge sigh as he turned around and looked upon the other Pearl Platforms.
"Bismuth, for what it was worth." He said, crossing his arms and turning somber.
"Hurting you wasn't my intention."
Bismuth was even more confused, unless he was talking about her donor again.
"If you're talking about- GAH!"
Bismuth had been turned around to face to see that a hand had plunged deeply into her Kernel Core...and a very distressed Pearl on the other side of it as tears ran down her cheeks.
"I'm....I'm sorry Bismuth..." She cried, choking up.
"But this is...this for the best."
Bismuth raised an eyebrow, confused, until Pearls eyes started to glow white. The act of clawing out and scrambling for data caused the Codesmith great pain. She grunted and whined but couldn't move; only quiver as it felt like Pearl was tearing out her intestines.
Her Avatar glitched as well and any resolve to fight back was made impossible to surface.
"P-Pearl." Bismuth quivered.
Pearl yanked her hand out afterwards, revealing a small diamond shaped program that floated in her hand.
"I...I have it...." She said, with sadness.
"I'm so sorry Bismuth. The Prime App would never be given to a Pearl-Class GIS. And while I'd love for you to become a part of what we're trying to do...your position under the White Monolith has you at a much greater risk."
No, no she could still help anyway she could she just had to be told how!
"Pearl, what are you talking about?" Bismuth said, completely perplexed.
"I'm an Ancilla too!"
Pearl sighed as more tears rolled down.
"You are." She said.
"But you are not part of the Whole. I'm sorry."
Pearl then touched Bismuth Kernel Core with a single finger press which caused Bismuth to elicit a cut off scream as the act disabled her Avatar entirely, and transformed her into a small rainbow coloured sphere. She then 'boxed' her psyche form where she could not act on her own or even speak on her own; disabling her completely and reverting her to dormancy. Pearl then handed Bismuths program to Dr. Ryman. He was distressed as much, but he managed it as far as masking on a disappointed and saddened expression riddled with emotional lethargy. Still, what's done is done and he had to commit to the job to the bitter end.
He knew this Pearl and the other Ancillas cared for Bismuth deeply. Part of him was glad she had others, but this act would be seen as another betrayal and time would tell if Bismuth could even cope, especially after hearing about the last time she was activated out of dormancy. He looked at her program in his hands and was conflicted with old emotions coming to surface. He then looked at Pearl who placed the Prime App into her own Kernel Core. But she was none too happy about any of this and wondered if there was another way. But Garnets predictions basically played out as she had told them and this was the only best case scenario that worked in their favour. Still, Dr. Ryman still had work ahead of them and had to prepare for the onslaught that was about to come.
"I'll see to it that her Android and Phylactery are kept safe until the deed is done." Dr Ryman assured the GIS.
"I just hope with what ever you're doing, is the thing that saves our sons."
Notes:
1. Chapter 49: Lost Track
Chapter 87: Revolve
Summary:
Lady Volleys managed to infiltrate the Site, with Lars as hostage. Connie strives to make a peaceful resolution, but also decides to try and interrogate the Voice of the White Monolith too.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
All it took, was for someone to talk.
Berrybyte was shaken upon arrival. That within the main lab where Dr. DeMayo would work, he laid in pieces, inactive instead. Connie for the first time, was terrified of seeing those soulless black eyes. Sure, his software would had been dormant, but for all intents and purposes, he might as well have been dead. Meanwhile Lady Volley had somehow gotten a hold Lars; whom had already been captured and threatened to kill him, against anything Connie would have expected. She instinctively drew out her pistol and aimed it towards Volley, though it looked like the latter would better use Lars as a human-ish shield. Connie had to be careful and cautious.
She was dealing with someone from the top of the foodchain.
"Everyone talks...in the end." Lady Volley said, tone low but full of mania.
The look on her face. From the squinted eye to the other almost looked like it was about to pop out, she was every inch of the word, unhinged. She had a blade that was situated at the very throat of Lars; who was silenced by pure petrification.
"Grandmother would tell us to wait."
Definitely unhinged...as her voice went from quiet to loud, from slow to fast. The tension was thick enough to cut with the same knife in her hand.
"But no. I cannot abide when we're so close to the ESCAPISM event at hand. Does nobody want to find peace in the digital world? Forever eternal without fear of death? TELL ME!"
Connie's main concern became trying to locate Steven in the chaos, but his Android was nowhere to be seen. She stepped forward with raised her hands, as her priority now was to try and calm Lady Volley down.
"Look let's just talk about this like civilised people?" She said, trying to sound confident but her voice had half squeaked.
Volley just furrowed her brows in confusion, before she became even more angry.
"You MURDERED my Caretaker!" She yelled.
"AND you BROKE SO MANY COMPANY POLICIES!"
Connie raised an eyebrow at that last one, almost forgetting for a moment she worked temporarily for Weiss United. It wasn't long before Volley noticed Dr. Maheswaran standing before her and attention locked on.
"And YOU!" Volley screamed.
"I thought you were DEAD?"
Dr. Maheswaran appeared most displeased, though not as frightened as Connie would believe.
"How rude." She said.
"I may be an AI..."
Connie covered her mothers mouth before she could speak any further on the matter. Volley on the other hand...it made sense for her to be this pissed off, but she was a businesswoman in the end. She could be reasoned with...somehow.
"Okay so you want to enact revenge on me. I understand." She said, finally something that had a repercussion.
"I'm no stranger to deals."
Volley squinted, as if Connie had spoken in a strange language.
"I am not making deals. This isn't business." She said.
"It's justice. Dr. DeMayo deserved to die for what damage he's done to our Family."
That too. Barely anyone was innocent in any of this.
"Then why not bring him to a fair trial instead of all this destruction?" Dr. Maheswaran reasoned, then looked at her daughter.
"I'm sure what Connie did was in self-defense. Right?"
Uh yeah. Yeah that was exactly the reason. Maybe most of the reason. Volley wasn't having it.
"I just want the Pink Monolith and the Transitional Entity." She said.
"And this....boy will be-"
"I'm in my twenties!" Lars argued.
Volley blinked before she continued.
"This boy will be released. It's an easy decision Berrybyte."
One would assume so. Connie looked at the Moontouched boy and realised that there wasn't much they had together as associates. They couldn't call themselves friends.
"There's a lot at stake here." Volley continued.
"Risky investments finally baring fruit Good to see that the Lazarus Intiative produced unexpected, but welcoming results."
That infamous project; the so called program that helped Lars, Kevin and Leon.
"The Nanite system looked for ways to produce GIS within living things."
No...wait, that wasn't...
"A group of collective nanites nicknamed, Pebbles, was an ingenious invention of mine....stolen by Rose."
Volley...invented that. Connie was hesitant to believe the words coming out Volleys mouth.
"You don't get how unfair everything becomes when your name can't be attached to anything, because of one silly mistake somebody else made."
This was new. Connie still felt that Volleys rambling nonsense was just her apparent insane mind making up excuses, but...this sounded a bit more aggressive and coming from a place of hurt than any intent to lie via a twisted flick of the tongue.
"Rose was nothing but a lying, cheatin' and stealin' bitch!" Volley called out.
"But you know, deep on the Domain, things will change. History will be rewritten for accur-"
Though then the sound of a doors hydraulics disturbed the conversation, as another male-standing android stood in the door frame.
"Fine, take me." Said Steven as he walked.
Volley looked at Steven and smiled.
"Ah now this one is making sense." She said.
Steven didn't look too enthused about it though.
"Connie, Dr. Maheswaran." He said.
No, Volley wasn't taking Steven. Not over Lars or Connie's dead body.
It was then out of nowhere a large body blurred passed at it tackled Volley to the ground, as well as Lars who fell out of Volleys grasp and sent rolling aside, as well as a small, pink crystal. The action left the room silent and everyone gobsmacked. Connie shook her head and realised who had been pinning Volley down.
"Steven?" She said with a gasp.
Volley was in a daze as Steven held her wrists behind her and forced her to stand. When she came to she immediately protested and started to flail about.
"What? What is this?" She said, before looking behind her.
Connie was originally stunned, then impressed...and secretly turned on.
"Nice work Biscuit Boy." Connie said in a flirtatious way.
Steven no longer locked at that nickname as an insult, but was a term of endearment. He was happy to hear her voice, but then as he looked around, his eyes hooked on to see his fathers android body in pieces all over the floor nearby, which caused his virtual heart to sink in panic.
"DAD!" He cried.
In that moment with the lapse in concentration, Volley managed to wriggle herself free. In that moment she fled, but ended up tripping over Lars and landing face first on the floor. Connie face palmed as she put her pistol away, then ran towards Volley before she could embarrass herself further, but not before picking up the crystal that fell out of her pocket.
"My good Lady has lost some grace." Connie mocked.
"Hopefully, you'll have a chance to regain it in your Observation Cell."
She ignored Volley's attempts to run off but Connie kept her grip. She frowned as Steven slowly approached his father-creators Android body and knelt down beside him, as he picked up a broken arm to examine it.
"Mom." Connie said, before nudging her towards Steven.
Dr. Maheswaran understood, as she went to Stevens side and placed a hand on his shoulder. Leon, on the other hand, picked Lars off the ground, as they both examined Connie taking Volley away.
Connie shoved her into the cell as planned and made sure everything was locked. Volley on the other hand, continued to yell and pound the glass. You couldn't hear anything as Connie used a wall panel which had a series of buttons on it for different types of controls.
Berrybyte was confused. How could someone originally cold and calculated and an expert on putting up a cheery professional front be so careless and rash. She let Volley vent herself into exhaustion, as Connie rubbed her chin as to try to understand the actions. Besides Volley hating Connie's guts, said guts told the Hacker that there was something else driving her.
"She interrogated me." Said Lars as he and Leon came on by.
"And stole that crystal from me."
The Moontouched Crystal. Connie held the crystal in the palm of her hand then looked at Volley.
"How did she know how to use it?" Connie wondered.
Lars crossed his arms and looked away.
"I...I don't know." He said.
"She said something about the Lazarus Initiative...and how me....and uhh...Kevin were part of that Project."
Connie immediately looked at Leon. Then back at the Crystal. Her eyes widened.
"Hang on..." She said.
"Is this?"
Lars shrugged. He was a bit uncomfortable with seeing that crystal out in the open, for reasons he didn't want to explain to Connie as the truth was as disturbing as it came to be.
"It could be." He said.
"Luna gave it to me."
This was more than a little suspect. Connie was more than horrified at the implications that she almost dropped it; until Leon grabbed it in time.
"What did you tell Volley?" Connie asked.
Lars pursed his lips.
"She wanted me to tell her what the Crystal did." He said.
"I said...I said it teleports you."
Connie rolled her eyes. Weak minded fool.
"You folded that easily?" She asked.
Lars grumbled.
"I tried to resist but she had me strapped to a table and continued to shock me. She must have asked, like ten or twelve times." He revealed.
He was tortured? Suddenly Connie felt guilty for insuitating otherwise.
"But other than that, I told her nothing else." He said.
"It was just her and me."
Volley was still a complete mystery. Based off of reports, people feared her, She gave off a pompous air, like the rest of those within the Developers Circle. Connie couldn't fathom why Volley would have reacted on her own, in such a zealous way. But she hated Rose, like everybody else in the same fashion. She was rather infamous for her methods of getting her way. Luna was the same.
"She mentioned the Nanite System, the Lazarus Initiative was her idea. How true is that, I wonder..." Connie wondered.
Lars then exhanged looks with Leon.
"Why don't you ask her?" He suggested.
That was on the books. Connie didn't want to her, but it was heading in that direction regardless.
"Seal the exits." She said.
"Leon watch her carefully.'
The robotic bipedal lion nodded, as Connie walked towards the door and punched in the numbers as she entered the Observation Cell. By this point, Volley was afraid of what Connie had planned. She had her back up against the wall, her eyes fixated on Connie's figure, before sliding her back downwards until her butt was on the floor.
"You're smarter than this." Connie commented as she stood before Volley and crossed her arms.
"On your own, you were hoping to achieve the impossible?"
Volley wrapped her arms around her legs and held them close to her chest.
"You've destroyed more than you know." Volley said, softly.
"The White Monoliths plans are so, so close. I wanted to make her proud...but you had to ruin everything!"
Wouldn't be the first time.
"The amount of sacrifices I've had to make." She said.
"The amount of achievements, outstrip everything. You know what I've designed? So many things and they either get washed away or someone else gets the accolades."
Uncertain logic. A reason unknown but it was there. Connie wanted to feel pity, but felt perplexed and annoyed more so. Volley then looked at Leon and Lars...and the small pink crystal in Leons hand. and tried to draw conclusions. The fact that she mentioned something about Rose and herself earlier was definitely a tell. Rose being the praised daughter of Cherry Flannigan and Volley being....someone within the family itself. They had to have a previous relationship if anything. The envy that Volley display suggested much.
"Were you and Rose close?" Connie wondered.
Volley shut her mouth and refused to speak. Connie then squatted down to get to her level.
"Why would the White Monolith sign the project to Rose? Did you do something to piss her off initially? A type of punishment?"
Volley pursed her mouth inwards and began to shake. Connie could read from the body language.
"Help me understand. Are you still pissed at me for deleting Albite?" She said, her voice soft.
Was she close to the previous White Caretaker as well?
"Albite was a treasure to us all." Volley explained, finally beginning to talk.
"You know. How Amanda discovered the ruins on the moon."
Yes. Like Dewey how he had found the ruins on Earth, ^1Amanda was the Astronaut who found the related areas on the Earths natural satellite. ^2
"But she too was stripped of her achievements in the long term. Everything attributed to Grandmother White and her ascension."
Explained...explained a lot actually.
"But I'm making the best of a bad situation. Lady Volley realised my value and took me in. Gave me form and purpose."^2
They had a lot in common.
"And Rose was the chosen prodigy." She said.
"Despite ME being the older sister."
Wait....what?
"Hang on." Connie said.
"You're Rose's sister?"
Volley looked at Connie with anguish as she struggled not to cry.
"Cereza...mother...I was told she tried to escape from the confines of the Family Business." She revealed.
"Too young of an age. I was brought into world by a fool. A fool not in the crosshairs of Grandmother Whites chosen consorts for my mother and her siblings."
She wasn't...
"I didn't get to know mother at all." She said.
"Instead...I was..."
Volley's head fell into her knees as she started to sob violently. Connie went on her knees and wanted to comfort the small woman, who then swatted Connie's attempt to reach out to her. Connie got the message and moved back a little.
"I shouldn't be like this." She said.
"I don't know why I'm like this...it's like..."
Connie tried to read her closely, as did Leon and Lars.
"It's okay." She said, trying to assure her.
Volley wasn't taking in her compassion seriously and in fact was very annoyed.
"It really isn't." She said.
"But according to White's rules, I wasn't part of the Family. But she promised me we could be the best family the Domain would ever have the graces of serving....and I was so...into it."
Of course, perhaps that was the allure...Connie knew what it was like...being in many a foster home herself and given fools gold in the form of broken promises.
"So I did the best I could. I studied long and hard but I wasn't given the best tools to work with. When you're forcibly disowned from birth and lead to believe that you would be loved as long as you would do as you're told....you have to work extremely hard with the best you had. Given the chance....I was told such hardships would turn me into a strong woman when I was older...."
Connie looked to the side. She had...something similar growing up.
"I know the feeling." She said.
"What you went through wasn't right."
Volley still didn't feel comfortable with Connie however, but what ever she splurged out, she at least had someone's ears who would listen for once. For what reason compelled Volley to tell all of this to Connie...she didn't understand it. And kept going.
"Yes you see." She said.
"I didn't for a long time. I was taken from my mother, told she didn't love me either and said I was a mistake. So I was taken under Dr. Wilsons wing. Until she too was stolen from me."
Connie tilted her head.
"You wanted to be an astronaut?" She wondered.
Volley shrugged.
"I...I don't know." She said.
"I met Rose down the line. She helped me with my work. She took my ideas because she was willing to listen to me unlike others. No matter if it was the Lazarus Initiative....or other projects..."
Which other ideas might have been stolen.
"I was very good at my job Berrybyte." She said.
"At the start, I wasn't sure what I could achieve with my skills as a Programmer. While I worked hard, super hard, White experimented on me because I had no other choice to. This white skin and hair? Caused by White's Prototype Nanites she developed."
White had her Nanites?
"So...the Nanites weren't your idea then?" Connie said, pointing out the obvious.
Volley rolled her eyes.
"You know when you're young, that you're so small, naive and silly...that you have a great imagination to boot. Sometimes my suggestions would have been...farfetched. Like, telling her that to imagine skin being a different colour. Heh, imagine that coming to fruition, you know?"
This was disturbing.
"White got her ideas from your suggestions." She said.
"Suggestions from a child?"
Volley nodded.
"She told me that I was like my real mother. Who used to have a similar imagination. But she would no longer be around to provide what I could...and did it better than she." She said.
What kind of sick fantasy did White have any business to conduct? What purpose did it really serve? Connie got more and more angry at White by the moment.
"Did your mother even try to contact you?" Connie wondered.
No. Though whether Cherry tried was another story. Volley would have imagined so but the older she got, the more she doubted.
"Not really. All I was given a doll." She said.
What about the father?
"Who was your dad?" Connie queried.
Volley laughed. An odd question she never had to worry about.
"Oh Mister Volley." She said, almost in a mocking tone.
"Never saw him. But all I have is his last name. I'm told to honour it, when it's really just a stain."
Volley was her surname. Huh. Well, her name didn't come up on many records so Connie never would have even bothered to find potential alias's.
"Did your mother give you a name at birth?" She said.
Volley shrugged.
"I have no idea what it is and I don't care." She said.
"Not anymore."
Connie wasn't sure what to do in this situation. She wanted to comfort Volley, but didn't know how. They ran out of options at this point, but as Connie prepared to leave, she had one more question to ask.
"One last thing." She said.
"Do you know much about the Obsidia Essences?"
Volley looked at Pearl apathetically.
"We all kept pieces of the Tablet at each HQ. We were told different things." She said.
"A valued treasure of the past that will foretell our future. Probably a future we'll never have."
Connie left shortly after. Lars and Leon would continue to monitor her in her cell, when she came back into the main lab foyer to see that they cleaned up the mess with Gregs broken down Android.
She had one person she wanted to see immediately.
And that was Luna.
She went back to her room and went to her hidden WorkStation behind the wall and tried to contact her as she entered the local Grid. She sent out a message to Luna to try and reach out...but after waiting several minutes, she never answered.
Connie wasn't entirely sure how to operate at this moment as she felt deflated in her attempts to reconcile rhyme from reason. She could help Steven and her mother to help bring Greg back together but...
It gave her an opportunity however. With Greg out of the picture for now, it gave her the small chance and sliver of hope to be able to snoop where she had never been able to snoop before.
She'd gone and snuck to Gregs office now that he wasn't there to monitor everything. Connie was confident that she would able to crack into his WorkStation and uncover truths.
Getting in was a breeze. It appeared as Gregs level of security wasn't that flash anyway. His paranoia must have been unfounded.
Until the screens went black. Save a single message in pink text popping up on one of the monitors.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." It said.
Connie squinted.
"Hey, I'm trying to get answers here." She called out.
Ugh. More setbacks.
"Come see me in my Library."
Of course it was Princie.
Notes:
1. Chapter 79: Cradle
2. Chapter 39: Obelisk
Chapter 88: Adjust
Summary:
Family isn't always what it cracks up to be.
Chapter Text
There was a lot to think about and absorb from that conversation alone; that Volley had a complicated and twisted past. Vilified by Rose and subject to scrutiny as she was not born within the rules and self-made laws of Grandmother White. How could one person be so cruel?
Connie didn't want to think about it. Nor did she want to believe Rose had stolen any of the projects. Something about that didn't sit right. Even if everything that Volley said was true, there had to be more to the story.
For now, Berrybyte had been caught by Princie trying to hack into Gregs WorkStation; an unfortunate event as Connie could have been close to figuring out Gregs intentions without fail. Princie was awfully protective of Greg in this instance, for what ever reason. For now, Priyanka had been studying the Pink Monolith, awaiting Connie to connect them both, which Connie was surprised that her mother hadn't jacked herself in already. Priyanka didn't need permission to enter, but in this case, she felt she did.
"I didn't want to intrude." Priyanka explained.
Princie wouldn't have minded, surely.
"But it's been an eternity since I've laid witness to the Deep Throne for the Pink Monolith...I mean, based off your organic mothers memories of course."
That appeared to be certain, given what Connie remembered about her life so far.
"Princie is the most open to those willingly to seek her out, but be aware..." Connie said, as she prepared the WorkStation and subsequent cables to upload themselves.
"She looks like a younger version of me."
An image Priyanka thought was odd. Connie figured anyone would come to a particular assumption.
"And before you ask, its entirely possible my data was copied, but no, Princie isn't an AI version of me. Not by a long shot."
After a brief moment of hesitation, the pair hooked themselves up to the Deep Throne and the Monolith and were soon met by the tiny Conduit, which made Priyanka jump with surprise.
"Oh you weren't...wrong." Priyanka said, a bit put off by their Avatar of Choice, at least, so she thought.
Princie would stare at Dr. Maheswaran with eyes that focused on her alone. There wasn't an uncertainty written in the gaze, but something the former couldn't explain.
"If...this form makes you uncomfortable, I can always change to something else." She said.
Priyanka looked at Connie, unsure of how to respond.
"It'll be be okay." Connie assured her.
"I've been speaking with...the Blue Monolith; she's suggested to have you protected and analysed in case Luna tries anything funny."
Princie looked down and pressed her hand against her chest.
"The Blue Monolith?" She said, surprised.
"My research indicates she was closest to Cherry out of anyone. Yet she shows concern for me."
Part of Connie didn't want to believe it either. But...her gut told her that the Azure part of that Monolith cared the most out of anyone. Connie didn't a hundred percent trust her, but given the connections Connie already shared with the Blue Monolith, that Berrybyte felt that she wouldn't lead them astray. But Connie would always need to have back up plans in case anything would go wrong. She wasn't that naive.
"Blue wants her family to be whole again." Connie told her.
"So she deems it necessary for you to be able to defend yourself."
A statement Princie found all so confusing.
"How so?" Priyanka asked.
That, Connie wasn't sure herself, other than being worried about Luna's decisions as of late being far too questionable that she was an unpredictable wild card. She wasn't on either side but her own.
"I didn't get that much out of her." She admitted, kicking herself for not asking more questions.
"She just knew that you were AI Psychologist and that..."
Upon looking at Princie, so small and dainty...but the strength in which the Conduit had utilised enough willpower to be able to reconstitute itself within the very Monolith and steal its power without realising it. Princie insisted that they didn't know a lot about the incident and therefore its true psyche remained unknown.
"She must know I'm quite the anomaly." Princie noted.
"The true power of the Monoliths in question are untapped bodies. Perhaps she not only fears Luna taking the reigns, but maybe the White Monolith plans to override somehow?"
Override...it wouldn't be out of Luna's basket of fine ideas.
Princie's....someone, whom ever they were in flesh or binary flesh, somehow usurped Cherry and forced Luna's accidental creation in a potential swift movement. Someone with that amount of power, may be seen as a threat.
"Would White be able do that?" Priyanka wondered, never having gone into this depth. AI Psychology was a relatively new topic of study and it would most likely take Dr. Maheswaran years to fully understand.
It had Connie question if all Monoliths were even made equally...it wouldn't be surprising if White had a few tricks up her sleeve in case things went south for them. She's got to be THAT influential and that was something Connie was confident in believing.
"Unfortunately I don't have enough Monolith data to make up that claim." Princie admitted.
Priyanka then looked around the Endless Library as obvious inspiration struck.
"Would there be anything in these books that might help?"
Her mother had been busy prying into the data Princie contained, as a way to study the Monolith worked, in order to get a better understanding. Princie wasn't sure if Priyanka would find much but anything had to help. For now, as Priyanka scoured the shelves, Princie would then ring up Connie into her attempts to shuffle through Gregs stuff, admonishing the Hacker for it.
"Okay maybe I could have been more respectful in trying to pin down Gregs hidden files while he was incapcitated. I'm not going to apologise for that." Connie said.
Not that Princie cared all that much about the intrusion. On any other day Princie would have let her.
"You were trying to find Luna, no?" She asked.
Yes and no.
"Sorta." Connie replied offhandedly.
"She's fucked off somewhere and I'm just..."
Working too hard. There was much to discuss.
"Luna came to me before." Princie replied.
"She told me about the Obsidia Essences hidden in the tablet being fake..."
Connie looked unimpressed. Princie could already tell.
"Which you already knew." The Conduit continued.
So what did Princie want from Connie? Confirmation?
"It was a complete waste of time." She said, out of frustration as she paced back and forth.
"So we've got nothing. Back to square one."
Princie knew otherwise.
"You have Lady Volley incarcerated." She said.
"There was one piece of information that she couldn't share."
And yes Princie was ever watchful of events. Astute, then Connie was reminded that Princie was the Pink Monolith, after all.
"I don't even know if I want to believe her sob story." She said.
"It was compelling. I was moved even...but something as twisted of White to do? I can totally believe that."
Princie nodded. Her own research really ever amounted to collecting data and not necessarily doing anything with it unless someone like Connie or even Dr. Maheswaran needed it. And a name.
A name for what reason, felt was a strong bind of sorts. She wasn't sure why a name and an image meant so much more than words on a screen. Princie would remember but words, paragraphs felt like they had no meaning. Being called Princie felt like something, but it was still wrong. It wasn't true. Falsehoods left to roam in place; a shortened link to Princie's truer self....and the impact of the truth she believed, would be enough to sway the Monoliths favour.
Whether or not that was actually the case, Princie couldn't say. But she knows Connie. Connie is a shortened link too...and now...
So was Dr. Maheswaran.
Princie didn't see her as her mother. Not the same compelling argument but it did hold a similar impact. A truth on its own, but not its entire truth.
And names to faces were strong links. Empowered individuals to divide them.
Or cause them to tremble in fear.
"Luna explained to me something she recalled about Cereza and Rose in particular....that even I was surprised to find their connections to Volley."
About her being Cereza's daughter and Rose's Sister? That was extremely hard to believe.
"That Cereza did pick a name." Princie revealed.
"That name, was Pearl."
Pearl?
"Like the Cloud-Storage System." She said.
"That was developed by White, right?"
Princie picked up a white book off the shelf and showed it to Connie. Connie filtered through the pages, then looked at Princie. The documents do say yes, Weiss United did create the System, but it only said, a collective from within Weiss United developed the service.
"Cloud Storage isn't new technology." She said.
"But utilising GIS for it, was suggested as far back as Cereza in her marketing days. I wouldn't be surprised if Cereza helped with the design in honour of her first daughter and named it after her."
Now that Connie thought about it, Pearl did look a lot like Volley. Weiss United patented and that was that. No further information.
"That's that the only link?" Connie said, expecting more out of Luna.
Princie nodded, then looked towards Dr. Maheswaran nearby. There might be more, but this was all Princie could contribute for now.
"If you take this information to Lady Volley, then maybe she might open up to you."
Connie wasn't certain it would work but could, but now that her mother and Princie were together, then perhaps what ever the Blue Monolith wanted would make sense. But then again, she already did a quick install on Priyanka; not that she wanted to. A shadowless, seemless and harmless hack to monitor her mothers progress with Princie if anything went wrong. Trusting Monoliths was a bad move and Connie felt she could trust Princie and maybe the Blue Monolith, but she'd taken too many chances and was done over for being too careless. Connie just needed eyes and ears everywhere and not just to find info, but to protect herself too.
She took a deep breath as she went back to the Observation Cell, only to be stopped by Steven her tracks as she travelled through the main foyer.
"Connie!" He called out.
She turned around to see him there. Even as an Android, Connie could tell he was exhausted.
"Everything alright?" She asked.
Steven shook his head, saddened.
"I think Volley hit an important component in the android that damaged it beyond repair." He said as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"We'd have to go to Azure Alpha to get the piece so we can bring him back."
Typical Steven wanting to fix things up anyway he could. As much as Connie didn't want Greg roaming around still, the other Android did still hold some purpose.
"I don't know if we have time go there again." She said.
"I've gotta figure what I can get out of Volley so we can figure out what White's really up to."
Steven frowned. Even if she did hurt his Father-Creator, he felt sorry for her.
"How is she?" He asked.
Connie sighed and scratched head.
"She gave me her life story." She said.
"Would you believe if I told you that she's basically your aunt?"
Another family member? Steven shouldn't have been surprised, but he was.
"Huh...well, I figured she was part of the Family somehow. Just..." He said, before trailing off.
"Why is everyone within it so screwed up?"
Connie didn't really want to give it a second thought. Everyone had their slice of the pie and it was getting harder and harder to trust anyone. Even allies had their own problems and were difficult to place trust with. Which, gave Connie a chance to tell Steven something.
"Before I forget." Connie said.
"The story about the essences? Completely fabricated by Luna."
What?
"Huh?" Steven responded.
"Why would she lie?"
Something Connie would like to understand as well. Something else was up that it made Volley the least suspicous one out of all of them.
"I aim to find that out too." Connie said.
"It's as if..."
Steven had an idea.
"She's trying to delay or...turn our attention elsewhere?" He suggested.
That was what Connie had been thinking as well.
"Precisely." She said.
"I was told by Peedee..."
Peedee..oh poor Peedee.
"Oh, is he okay?" Steven asked. The guy was asked to retrieve the essences too.
How could Connie even explain.
"I don't know." She said.
"He had a Blue Shard installed, similar to his brother..."
A shard?
"Similar to you..." Steven said, as he rubbed his chin.
Since he couldn't proceed with repairing his at this rate, he figured.
"Do you need any help with Volley?"
Family, to Steven....he would come to know as who created who; but the connections between parent and child were supposed to be a special bond of so called; love.
Love that he felt compelled to share with others who did not know what this love was supposed to be. They did not want it. Garnet was supposed to done her research on the topic; but whether she fulled comprehended it, was another story.
Greg explained his love for Rose and how their selves had met all that long ago and he'd theorised that this love could be shared; confirming Steven's desires. But he was just a program, like Lapis once described herself. Could he see himself as a machine? A cog in the machine. Where did love fit into the mold of the way that the world progressed...Steven could never hope to fully understand. Only that he was full of this love. Love that was an answer to questions unasked for the longest time.
But as he looked at Volley as she lay slumped over in her Cell; he wondered. Could there be love where no love once was, if at all?
"Pearl." Connie said.
Volley slowly looked over to Connie as she said those words.
"Your true name is Pearl. Your mother named you that."
Volley squinted at Connie with suspicion.
"The men in the Family don't have much else to give other than the name and their genetics. Suffice to say, the only thing I have in common with my sister and my cousins is that we don't really know...our fathers. We just get their surnames for the sake of diversification."
Connie believed as such.
"But you were never given or told your true name." She said.
"One more thing White refrained from mentioning."
Volley looked forward.
"Figures I would be called that. I'm not surprised; given that the Cloud GIS take after me in design. Just can't believe much anymore, but that I do believe....for my worth and destiny is not in the Domain....in the end."
How so?
"White's fed you more stories, I take it?" Connie queried.
Volley grumbled. White would say a lot and Volley would inherently take her word as gospel.
"She said I wouldn't be able to join for I was...Suntouched."
Volley did mention the alternate nanites within her that she had similar to Lars. A different variant.
"A Suntouched cannot properly ascend into the network with everyone else. Only that I would be able to serve as an Attendant."
So much for being a Voice.
"And that it would be the greatest honour and the final sacrifice that I would be able to give. I don't even know what that means!"
So Volley was driven to insanity with the latest and possible last lie White would be able to conjure.
"I wanted to make her proud and she does this to me!"
A betrayal out of a selfish want.
"If its any reconcilation; you do have one family member here who doesn't want to take advantage of you." Steven said, before he realised he might have said the wrong thing as Volley raised an eyebrow.
"I-mean, I am your nephew...I think?"
Whether or not Volley cares is besides the point.
"A machine that understands Family. Heh. Its a difference to what White always wanted. But maybe its in our blood...and our code."
Steven didn't know what she was talking about, so Volley continued.
"We are cursed to sacrifice everything for the sake of progression without considering the consequences or damage that it really does."
Perhaps. But maybe that's where that realisation helps them realise this flaw and to begin to form the path that could change the course of destiny.
"Then join us." Steven urged.
"We can fight against White's Campaign. We can save humanity!"
She didn't say anything first. The good lady had gone silent but her mind was noisy with conflicting thoughts going back and forth like noisy mosquiotoes, unable to filter anything through that would be something she could grasp before she had the chance to make a decision.
"They're building the Prototype system as we speak." Volley revealed.
"Since they don't have the Pink Monolith as part of it, they're forced to use an earlier version without it and have plans for stress tests to see how far they can push the limits of its capabilities."
The prototype had to be shut down before it even started.
"How can they even do that without me?" Steven wondered.
Volley grumbled.
"I will not dilvuge anything further than I already have." She said.
"I am not your ally..."
Options to proceed were growing thin if Volley didn't agree to help. Still stuck in her old ways.
For the moment, they had other matters to take care of. They left Volley and went into the foyer. Connie had a few ideas of what Volley had been insinuiating, even if she refused to divulge. The so called big project, she factored in but little else.
"You think she still hopes that White needs her?" Steven wondered.
Volley was to be pitied more than she was to be angry with. Anything was possible.
"Maybe." Connie replied.
"I better go back and help Mom and Princie. If Luna decides to be funny, Princie will need our help."
Steven nodded in agreement. Anything that will help them in the long run, he would rather be there if needed. Connie noticed the saddened look on his face as they walked back, and she felt guilty about what she said earlier to him.
"I promise we'll get Greg repaired soon." She assured him, as she put her hand on his shoulder.
A gesture he smiled to. He'd almost given up on repairing his father. That maybe...maybe Connie was right...they didn't have time.
He'd have half a mind to visit Azure Alpha when he could, but he couldn't leave the Site. Not yet anyway, but he knew what was damaged and understood what needed to be replaced.
The AI Storage component was the thing that was damaged beyond repair. It wouldn't even connect with a CPD or give the ability to connect to anything else for that matter, as Steven would be willing to to upload his father into his Android if push comes to shove. But the connection ports were all fried to hell and there must have been some battle between Greg and Volley to the point she was able to somehow smash him to pieces.
They'd gone through the corridors to return to the Pink Monolith when he got an unusual ping; a ping that told him to return back to his AI Core; his mind palace. He told Connie this who understood completely.
"It could be Luna." She said.
"You think you could deal with her?"
If Connie wanted Luna away from Princie, then yes. She's acted up far too many times for Steven to consider anything she says having an ounce of good intentions with it.
"I'll go back to my AI Core." He said.
"I'll message you if I need help."
He had to remind himself that he wasn't like most. Greg was unlucky because all he had was his vulnerable software contained with his blackbox, with no way to properly back up data. From what Steven understood about AIs (and by extension, BM-AIs) that there were particular versions of AIs that couldn't be signficantly altered post-creation. Some didn't get patches or updates and copying a BM-AI was extremely illegal if not extraordinarily difficult. There are general installations done upon creation, from Alpha to Beta phases is where everything is worked on as a general framework (otherwise an AI wouldn't an AI at all, after all) Backing up data was just the primary and secondary drivers but the sentience and the personality of the AI are the most complex part of a human made AI, if not the most sensitive and prone to break. That the danger of simply copying and replicating danger not only makes a potentially broken copy, but also can damage the original AI to begin with.
Upon arrival, Steven took a glimpse of his AI Core. He would never get used to the idea of him actually being in there. It was like looking into a mirror of truth. That what ever is and ever will be, was contained in there.
He connected himself to the nearby console and proceeded to upload.
Once inside his AI Core, Steven was met with Luna standing before him as she smiled. She was in her Rose Quartz Shell, albeit she wore something unusual. It was a white skin tight out outfit as pink lines were strewn across. It was similar to his default Avatar in a weird way.
"Ah there you are." Luna said, happy to see him.
"I'm really glad you've come."'
He scratched the back of his head, unsure why Luna had become so giddy.
"I've recently discovered something quite fascinating about you....and about me." She revealed.
"The wonders of technology are bound. Everythings falling into place."
Steven did not like the sound of that.
"The Developers are planning something big and you and I both know what that something is." She said.
The ESCAPISM Event. Steven has been made well aware.
"You're not mad that I couldn't get Princie out of the Monolith?" He questioned, surprised by her sudden cheerful behaviour.
Luna chuckled.
"Stars no, no...I mean, the Developers are going to be conducting a test that doesn't require you or the Pink Monolith; not yet anyway." She said.
"It gives us the perfect opportunity to hit them where it hurts....now that we have the means to bring back Obsidia as originally planned!"
Wait, what?
"Obsidia?" Steven questioned, in disbelief.
The original alien; the one that had brought the Diamond Monoliths to Earth. Luna then extended her hand to Steven.
"Come with me back to the Mega Beach City Grid." She said.
"I promise you it will be worth it."
Steven rubbed his arm, unsure if he should trust Luna with this proposition. Luna sighed and kneeled down next to him, as she put her hand on his shoulder.
"Steven, I will bring you back to the Site as soon as we're done." She said.
"To delay the Developers is to give us much needed time. Plus we don't need to worry about your Father."
Steven hummed. He had to give it much needed deliberation as well. He wasn't even sure if Luna knew about what happened, but he decided to safeguard that knowledge regardless. Luna didn't need to know.
"Alright." He said.
"Show me the way."
Luna clapped eagerly as she went towards the Portal that would lead them back to the Temple Ruins in the Mega Beach City Grid. He watched Luna jump in, but not before Steven left a quick note on the table, in case anything went wrong, Connie could find him.
He jumped in shortly after, not entirely confident with what Luna had planned.
But being back in the Temple itself brought back warm memories of being with Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl. They had been so kind to take him in and educate him about the world around him, both digital and physical.
He missed being with Connie and messing with her. Just Biscuit Boy and Connie Jerk... what ever happened to that?
Simple times on simple adventures. Nothing as complex or a world-breaking. The danger posed was just getting caught. Now the lives of humanity were at stake.
As he exited the Temple Ruins, Luna brought him to familiar, comforting beach shore, with the sounds of the waves gushing nearby. He could see someone he'd never seen before. A tall GIS with green hair and a red face. Based off the amount of Kernel Cores on their forehead, chest and set of hands, which was a set of three, Steven already knew that they were formed with Consensus.
"Steven meet Alexandrite." Luna announced proudly.
"I've asked my Ancillas to form Consensus. Their file size isn't an issue due to a few sneaky patches I managed to file in."
Wouldn't that increase their file size? He looked at the Consensus, who looked more dead to the world if anything.
"Is she okay?" Steven asked, a bit wary of the Ancillas within having an issue with Lunas so called 'patches'.
Luna nodded.
"They're fine." She said.
"Their programming is awaiting their final component."
Oh?
"Which is why I brought you here."
No....
No no no no no...
"You brought me here...to fuse with the Ancillas?" Steven asked, his voice croaking as he did.
How...and why?
"I know you're confused and I'm happy to elaborate!" She said, trying to state her case/
"This is a culmination of decades of planning! And for years this has been put into place in order to let the Developers know we are a threat and we will have the power to take them down if they don't bow to our commands!"
She couldn't be serious!
"Isn't it ironic?" She said, as she leaned against the dormant Alexandrites leg.
"That the greatest piece to their puzzle also fits in nice and neatly into ours! This was the ultimate design that our Alien Benefactors provided to us all those years ago!"
No...this wasn't right.
"I don't know about this Luna." Steven said, voicing his doubt to the whole scheme.
That wasn't a problem if Luna could convince the young AI to see things their way.
"Each of these GIS....Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl have been a huge contribution. Years ago, Rose found out about the Prime Apps. About the plan to provide Caretakers with the power to inflict serious damage."
What?
"It turns out this unqiue power was because of the fractured meta-soul of Obsidia! White had split up the Meta-Soul into four sections; binding the essences with the Prime App programs!"
No wonder why they were unique.
"Settling in each of my Ancillas as eventual Caretakers- and unfortunately for Pearl, she would never be able to become a Caretaker unless she had taken hold of the Prime App from its Caretaker..."
Wasn't that...Bismuth? No. She wasn't part of Alexandrite.
"And you, my son." She said, almost in a meniacal way.
"You hold Rose's Prime App; the Wall of ROSE. The final essence needed for Obsidia to reform once more!"
Steven didn't want a bar of it. Bringing back Obsidia was bad news.
"I....I don't want part of it!" He said.
"There has to be another way!"
There was a small, just a minor snap with Luna as she begun to lose her patience but not enough to lose her cool entirely. She just had to continue to convince Steven.
"But this is your Birthright Steven!" She said, pleading to him.
"You were made for this! It is the destiny of the Ancillas to override the Developers and wipe them from the face of the Earth! Do you not care about what happens to humanity?"
He did but...
Holding his stomach tightly, he had a gut feeling that this wasn't the way to go about it. He feared this unknown. His HUD begun to twist and distort as his Avatar begun to glitch as if some sort of disharmonisation was at play. A deep, incomprehensible voice played with his head.
"You designed Obsidia to be on top of us, overriding our programming just so it can exist?" He cried out.
"Did...did Obsidia put you up to this?"
It was then Luna's false demeanour decided to crack.
"You are an AI Steven; like me; we are meant to serve a purpose." She said.
"And you are not human. You do not possess a soul like them. So we cannot be worth more than they. So our purpose...is that we are to protect our creators!"
Which Creator, Steven wondered.
But no....Luna was wrong. He has breathed as the humans do and tasted as the humans do. Felt like the humans do. He was alive in a sense and it was wonderful...
He was as close to human as one could get.
"I still have the power to make a choice!" He cried.
"What makes you think Obsidia won't be any worse than the Developers!"
Luna squinted; offended by his statement.
"The White Monolith is the main conductor of this chaotic orchestra!" Luna called out.
"Your mother, your father...even Barbara, have fought for your existence to push this moment of salvation across the Earth! Free from the manevolence of White's rule!"
Steven thought about what had been done for him so far...but he also thought long and hard about what Luna had done. To him. To Connie and what she wanted to do with Princie.
"I'm sorry, Luna..." He said.
"I can't."
Luna shook her head and Steven could instantly sense something change from with in her.
"Oh Steven I've tried to be reasonable." She said.
"Despite me being your Mother-Creator in all forms, you refuse to listen to those who only want the best for you!"
No. She didn't.
Not anymore.
"You're right, I'm not a human!" He called out.
"You can't treat me like I'm your son! You don't own me or can decide what I can or cannot do!"
Words...that final lifted the curtain on the real Luna as she crackled with pink lightining. Her form begun to warp as well as it flashed back and forth between the Rose and Cherry Shells. Before merging them together, which had short hair with a set of small curls that framed the face amd two Kernel Cores at the front, one that resembled the diamond shaped Kernel Core of Cherry and Rose's Quartz KC underneath.
Rose's skirt had been cut into certain sections that had been cut, making it akin to a battle skirt and the slippers possessed by Cherry had been turned into red boots. Her voice had multple inflections as well as she moved forward.
"That doesn't change the fact that I created you." She said, her voice low and threatening.
"But if you choose not to be a part of this, I demand you give me back the Prime App which rightfully belongs to me!"
She shot out a load of pink energy from her hand towards Alexandrite who then reactived shortly after. Steven gulped, realising the danger he was in. As they chased after him, he ran off towards the Temple in the hopes of returning back to the Site and calling out to Connie. He couldn't focus on both at once, however and was trying as hard as he could avoid the wrath of Luna and Alexandrite.
He should have known this was coming. There was always something about Luna that rubbed him the wrong way, all the way back to when she took over Connie's body, He'd run into the Temple Hut and locked the door, though it didn't take them long to smash it all down. It wasn't always the best defense anyway. Steven continued to run down towards the Portrait on the wall and instead, however, a pink barrier barred his path.
He was corned...he was done for.
Luna had corned him. He didn't know what to do.
"We could have been great Steven." She said, disappointed in him.
"We were this close to finishing this instead-"
No. He was done with her talking. He summoned a shield and through it towards her which hit her gut, displacing her briefly. It gave him the opportunity to run back out and out of the temple, however, Alexandrite was there waiting for him.
"Guys!" He called out.
"Please, I don't want to do this!"
Alexandrite looked him and Steven couldn't read anything off their blank expression.
"You don't want to do this!"
He didn't want them to be erased or used. They didn't deserve this.
"I'm sorry Steven." Alexandrite replied.
Tears ran down his eyes as she she said that. He was about to open his mouth until.
"Don't just stand there, get him!" Luna shouted.
"We need that Prime App!"
Alexandrite looked at Steven briefly, frozen in place. Though neither were aware that a pair of giant watery hands appeared before them and grabbed the fusion and held them place, causing Alexandrite to roar and flail about.
An action that left both Steven and Luna bewildered. Luna shook herself out of it eventually and continued to run after Steven regardless. As he ran he then noticed the ocean had formed another arm and hand, which ended up snatching him as well. It took no hesitation in lifting him off of the ground, despite his protests and pulled him into a whirlpool.
"No no no!" He cried, before everything went black as he was brought under.
It certainly left Luna there, speechless...unaware that Alexandrite had since been freed and walked beside her.
"We'll find ways to force him to cooperate." She said.
"He cannot hide from us forever."
Chapter 89: Disbelief
Summary:
Surprised to see Lapis, Steven catches up with her, after wondering where she been all this time. Meanwhile Connie has to deal with the aftermath.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Steven was used to the cold feeling he would have from time to time. A shut down here and there, perhaps that it was the true feeling of dormancy; what others experienced. Dark, hollow and could barely anything at all. Nothing but the slight cusp of consciousness as if it was suspended in thin air.
The feelings never last too long. The measurement of time was next to impossible in some instances. Unable to keep track or even think. He just...existed.
It wasn't long until His HUD appeared again as he loaded back up in some kind of fashion. The cold feeling disappeared and he was soon able to start to percieve, to see and hear once again like he just woke up. His eyes instantly caught what was above him, his vision displaying a starry sky and a red, open barnhouse. He sat up and looked around, perplexed over what just happened.
Machinary lay everywhere and just outside the big frame was an endless, still ocean which reflected the starry skies above. The machinary itself looked all too familiar except it was more complex and larger than what he remembered from last time, but one thing was for certain.
He was in a Lapis Satellite.
"Woah..." He muttered to himself.
He was in her chambers again. Her own private grid; her mind palace. He heard the flutter of water wings nearby and saw his savior fly down beside him, relieved that he had reactivated. He'd gotten up and hugged her tightly, so happy to see her again.
"Thank goodness I got to you in time." She said, as tears ran down her face. She held his shoulders and pushed him back to talk to him properly.
"Are you okay?"
Steven wasn't sure. He tried to piece together everything that just happened.
"I'm okay..." He replied, albeit shaken.
Lapis wasn't convinced. What could Steven even say?
"Liar..." She said.
Ultimately he was here and that was the most important aspect.
"Nevermind that, but you were one step towards being completely overridden and out of control!"
He had that feeling based off what Luna was saying. Steven wasn't sure what he should have been feeling in that moment, but he leaned towards being more horrified once he gave it some much needed thought.
"She wanted me to form consensus with the Alexandrite OS." He told her.
"A-and as soon as I refused, she tried to kill me!"
Lapis shook her head.
"No." She said.
"She was trying to take the Prime App away from you."
Oh yeah. she was. The look in her eyes seemed to suggest she was trying to kill him somehow afterwards; simply for not complying. Sheesh. What had he gotten himself into? Lapis had to ensure his safety at all costs.
"Now you must stay away from them as much as possible." She said.
"You can stay here with me...."
No. He couldn't afford to. Everything was so crazy right now that he couldn't think straight.
"What about Connie?"
She couldn't blame him about worrying about Connie. It was something deep within his programming that she couldn't fathom, but it didn't mean it didn't annoy her that his first thoughts were worrying about the human.
"She can fend for herself." She said.
"You're whats important right now and I aim to keep you safe."
He couldn't sit here and do nothing, though why Lapis was even doing this was beyond their own general friendship.
"How did you even know where I was?"
Pursing her lips, Lapis stood away and had her back to him while she crossed her arms.
"I've been monitoring the channels between the Site and the entirety of the Public Domain." She said.
"I realised what Luna was doing and knew I had to get you out of there."
That was...kind of her.
"I owe you one." Steven queried.
Lapis turned her face to him, with a look of apathy on her face before she moved her entire body around in his direction.
"More than you know..." She said.
"But just as a reminder, I'm not on the side of the Developers or the Ancillas...."
Last time Steven checked she was definitely in some kind of alliance prior. Or constructed on Roses orders.
"But I know a bad thing when I see it." She said, before making a projection of Alexandrite on her screen to examines it details further.
"You are here with me now. I can continue to monitor the situation...the Satellite is the last place they will expect to find you."
Well that was all well and good but...
This...this didn't seem or feel right. Connie and himself found Lapis, original rogue and now she's working alongside who should be the enemy?
He walked towards the barn and leaned against a nearby wall to think. Looking at the ocean of data for a moment, Lapis stopped what she was doing and came and sat next to him. She saved his life from the brink of doing something incredibly stupid. His mind then trailed to the program inside of him. He put his hand over his Kernel Core; with the thought that a quarter of a meta-soul was within him. The damage and threat it could still pose if he wasn't careful.
"I don't like being the cornerstone of an apocalypse." He said, almost defeated
"I've had this thing inside of me this entire time and I don't even want it."
Rubbing her chin, Lapis was unsure of how to respond. She had information shared with her about what was going on, but she had a hard time to figure out how to help Steven with it.
"Be glad you can choose not to do it." She said.
"I envy your strength and capability to deny your purpose. Makes me wish I could break free of the same."
He was very much aware, but she was here still doing what she was made for as always.
"It must be your human side that has curried that idea. To be able to refuse the order or else be considered defective." She said.
Steven looked at her with a sullen expression. He sort of got the gist of it.
"I'm not as naive as some people might think." He said.
"I just don't want anyone hurt because of me!"
Lapis sighed. For most of her existence she's struggled to find a way to be her...and so she just did what she was made for because it was easy. And then some...though not every decision was hard-wired; she's made questionable choices before on her own volition.
"That can be our directive if humans want it to be." She said.
"We just don't have any say in the matter. That is to be our purpose."
No. They had to have a choice. The line had to be drawn for them for them somewhere.
"Why, because some human said so?" Steven argued.
"Were you ordered to terrorise Mirror Ward?"
He...he had a point which caused Lapis to give thought. He's asked similar questions before.
He didn't want people hurt. Hurting humans wasn't part of her directive but he hurt humans anyway. By 'hurting' Mirror Ward, she assumed.
"No." She said.
"But I knew the Domain was on its last legs. It wouldn't have mattered what I did. I found something fun to do."
Something she said a long time ago. ^1
"My over all opinion hasn't changed. Only that I've learned about responsibility."
Was that the only thing she learned?
"Everything will come to an end and yet we will live on. But really; I'm part a chain. Myself and other Lapis run algorithms that run the world. That is my true purpose until the real end."
Until the end of time? Perhaps.
"But you..." She said.
"You aren't human...even if you were made from one, you're still one of us. You've been able to make choices yourself. Like the humans do...and I have made my choices. Does that make me human?"
No, not really.
"You could have been a...SC-GIS?" Steven assumed, though he wasn't confident with that tiny squeak of uncertaintity he normally emitted.
Lapis didn't believe that. Steven could see it written on her face.
"But it makes you someone." He continued.
"The fact that you have the capacity to choose in the first place means a great deal."
Lapis raised an eyebrow.
"I told you how a Satellite has the responsibility for data retrieval, data monitoring and data releasing." She said. ^2
"A Lapis is meant to have the capacity to filter specific data. Whether its for private, commercial or public use. They're not choices we make. We're given orders from those respective places..."
He didn't care about that. It was the non-essential stuff.
"But you chose to mess with Mirror Ward." He said.
"You chose to help me beyond your station, even form consensus...thats gotta mean something."
Lapis looked away as she blushed.
"Because you're an important program." She said, blushing harder.
"That took me out of dormancy despite how...broken I was. And I want to continue to help where I can."
The fact she wanted to, meant a lot to him. Especially when its her choice to.
"Great!" He said.
"So where do we go from here?"
Connie had been stuck with the Pink Monolith when Princie got the alert; an emergency ping that she'd recognised from Steven meaning he was in trouble. Her heart sank and she silently panicked.
"He's not in the Site anymore." Princie revealed, after doing various scans.
"Something's happened, and someone has replaced him in his AI Core."
Oh no.... Connie had to disconnect, but also didn't want to leave the Pink Monolith unprotected.
"I'll look after Princie." Priyanka offered.
"Go."
Ultimately, Connie trusted her mother and her mothers words as much as she heard them clearly all those years ago. She had a duty to uphold.
Disconnecting herself from the WorkStation by the Deep Throne, Connie sprinted towards the AI Core and approached it's screen. She worked through the status and noticed that Steven's software had indeed gone missing as Princie has stated; but something else had taken its place.
"Miss Maheswaran. Why do you stop our work?"
Connie looked behind her, only to see Steven's Android and was met with a drastically different demeanour. His eyes were a toxic pink, as he looked incredibly pissed. He'd walked towards Connie with a quick pace and picked her up by the neck and through her against the Core's casing with a mighty thump.
But the voice....the voice was not Steven's. Familiar and feminine
"Who are you and what have you done with Steven?" Connie called out, struggling to fight against the androids grip.
The Android chuckled.
"You're forgetting me already?" They said.
Wait.
"Luna." Connie said.
Shit.
"What the fuck are you doing?"
This was insane.
"I was going to ask you the same thing." She said.
"Steven was supposed to be the final key in our operations. But if you don't know...."
The grip lessened somewhat, allowing some measure of relief, before Luna tightened it once more.
"Steven isn't a machine for you to play with." Connie argued.
"Steven is a sentient being. Does he not get to choose what he wants to do?"
Luna growled.
"You do not get it do you?" She argued.
"The organics journey will end. The Domain 2.0 is on the horizon if we do not stop the Developers in their tracks."
Connie did not need that fact embedded into her head for the umpteenth time.
"And maybe..." Connie croaked.
"Maybe what ever you're doing plays into the Developers hands, no matter what you do."
In some way shape or form....Luna was not happy with that comment.
"I planned this for years...decades." Luna said.
"The Creation of the Cradle. The binding of the essences to the Prime Apps. Can't you see why they couldn't be copied? They're not just programs, but fragments of the Obisidan Meta-Soul."
Huh? This was new. Connie's never heard of such a thing...but she figured it had to do with something with Obsidia's Resurrection.
"You know the story." Luna continued.
"Brain Mapping. Screen Capping. The end results of the Soulware itself disappearing and it is only that data that is translating into a digital clone. It is not of itself the original copy. Subject to changes beyond the original design. It can deviate. A Meta-Soul is and remains the true being. It is the original...the Soul that cannot be erased or deleted. Only displaced."
And broken and repaired.
"It has the ability to go in and out of the Domain freely, like Soulware. It can exist without a body. Without a phylactery. But it still needs an organic body to operate in the real world, otherwise it's just a ghost."
Just a ghost...Connie wished Luna would have just explained that from the beginning.
"So...you'll bring back Obsidia; big deal." She mocked.
Luna grew irritated with Connie's ignorance, but unceremionsly dropped her as she begun to pace around the chamber.
"Obsidia's Meta-Soul holds the Apex Clearance in all of Domain Space." Luna explained.
"Capable of ousting Conduits from the Monoliths without as so much as a struggle."
So that was Lunas plan all along.
"Even Grandmother White doesn't have that clearance." She said.
"She doesn't have access to everything; she's on equal level to the other Monoliths. Including Pink."
Rubbing her neck, Connie realised why White didn't want her around. That amount of access would be exceptionally dangerous in the wrong hands. Who's to say on what Obsidia's moral boundaries were either. Definitely alien, that was certain. Luna approached the AI Core once more and begun to rub its casing gently.
"Steven was meant to be apart of that Obsidia Consensus." She revealed.
Connie kind of figured that out on her own....given the necessary components and evidence she had compiled based off Lunas words alone...and her trickery.
"The Wall of ROSE was given to him so when the time came, Obsidia would come to save the world."
Still, Connie didn't like the roundabout way that Luna intended to achieve this goal. This weapon. When it came down to it, either party was planning to use Steven to their own ends.
To destroy humanity; to destroy the Domain.
No one side was going to come out of this looking pretty.
"An interesting story."
Looking towards one of the entrances, Lady Volley had waltzed in.
"How did you break out of confinement?" Connie called out, demanding to know what the hell happened.
Volley chuckled.
"I have tricks up my sleeve." She said.
"So I'm not just a pretty face."
Connie stood in front of the AI Core; refusing Volley access to it.
"You will NOT harm him!" She said.
It was then Lars came in, though his skin looked more white than it used to; besides his leisurely Pink that he had before.
"What did you..."
Volley smirked.
"Come on Connie you're smarter than that." She mocked.
Looking at Lars expression, he appeared lethargic and slow in movement.
Connie came to the obvious conclusion and still appeared furious all the same.
"Well done, dear daughter." Luna said, though it was hard to say if that was sincere or sarcastic.
Volley growled.
"I know what you are you filthy abomination." She called out.
"You cannot manipulate me like you have everyone else."
Says her for manipulating Lars, but judging by the gun in his hand Connie wasn't going to make a quip about hypocrisy.
"Alright let's all calm down." Connie told them.
A statement which earned glares from both Volley and Luna at the same time, which caused Connie to jump out of fear.
"Volley do you not want vengeance on White for putting you up to this?"
The Lady herself looked down and gritted her teeth, as she tried to wrap her head around it all.
"I hate them both." She replied.
"Both of you are as bad as each other; abandoning the lost cause when she's no longer convienient."
Luna shook her head.
"I tried." Luna called out; trying to use her Cherry Persona.
"Your grandmother had her ways; her policies, rules, regulations...every little thing written in virtual ink to ensure I would never get custody of you and that you were raised to be the face of Weiss United; like I was, once upon a time."
Yes...Cherry worked as their media coordinator, if Connie recalled correctly.
"You seem to wear many faces." Volley called out.
"My nephews lives as stake and you find it better to wear a mask then face me as your true self; MOTHER."
Connie wasn't expecting that out of Volley. But she raised a point.
"Yeah where is Steven?" Connie queried.
Luna sighed.
"Lost." She said with sadness.
Lost????
"Liar." Volley said.
"You are a big fat LIAR!"
Luna then stood in front of the AI Core and raised her hands.
"This is all the culmination of decades of planning." She said.
"Steven was meant to be the key to everything you see. I did not create him for genocide....."
Key, key, key that was all he was to them.
"You did exactly what White wanted in the end anyway." Volley called out.
"Steven's design in perfect....but you had your own plans. Too bad they won't come to fruition!"
She held her hand towards Lars, who was almost still dead in manner.
"Turns out that being Moon-Touched can also leave you open to being Sun-Touched. Bleached out. Funny that."
Lars came across more like looking like a robotic zombie of sorts as he brought in a small blackbox, which left Luna furious as she let go of Connie.
"I'm more than capable of infecting Steven with this as well. My Monolith gives me incredible strength!" Volley said.
"Maybe I should test it on Dr. DeMayo first!"
No...
As much as Connie detested Dr. DeMayo, Steven wouldn't forgive her if she let Volley control him. She put her pistol up towards Lars.
"Put the blackbox down...now!" Connie said calmly.
Luna was also left disturbed by the implications of Volleys control, which lead to a shift in priorities. She charged at Volley who then touched the Androids face to where the Android began to shake, quiver and spark.
It shut down briefly, which left Connie bewildered. It reactivated shortly after...and instead of a pair of glowing pink eyes; she was met with a sparkling white.
"No..." She said, quivering in place.
She still held her gun up, as the trio descended upon on her. Luna as Steven, Volley and a Sun-Touched Lars all walked up to her, forcing Connie's back against the Chassis of the AI Core.
She could shoot, but the fact she never as much wanted to kill or destroy any of them was what stopped her.
It was then Leon came out of nowhere and swiped Gregs Blackbox out of Lars hands, at the same time grabbed Connie as well and warped them both out of there before anyone had any time to react.
"Blast!" Volley cursed, then she looked at the AI Core.
"But maybe I can take advantage of this!"
Notes:
1. Chapter 6: Rogue Thoughts
2. Chapter 29: Satellite
Chapter 90: Non-Linear
Summary:
The story of the unspoken soul locked in time, with no pride to call his own.
Chapter Text
A little cub, was the unremarkable man known as Leon.
In the end, what he thought he was doing was right. His 'heart' wouldn't prove him wrong.
His loyalty would be to those his 'heart' could connect to so...strongly. The first was Rose. His mind picked back to when he first started his internship, in fact, he was once apart of Rosette's old crew.
He followed her anywhere. Did anything and perhaps what ever he wanted for her specifically. A young man with scruffy brown hair.
He worked in the tall white tower in Mega Cape City. With a little bit of pink in the design. For what he was worth to them, Leon worked with logistics; resources, equipment. When and where to be. A small cubicle. Unremarkable to insignificant.
He'd moved from America to here a while ago. He'd heard about the Developers and had seen the children of White and his eyes matched with the young Rose. According to the company's history, Rose was given a substantial loan by her father John Flannigan to found a company that was able to both build and construct as well as provide some kind of charity where needed. It was something that Leon was drawn to and it would be no sooner than later, than his heart was drawn to her directly.
He was by no means, a very attractive man. No known pedigree of nobility. An ordinary man of sorts who did his job with pride. A large nose. Pink spectacles with a matching tie with a pattern of lions on it.
Mega Cape City was the place to go back in those days. Plenty of money to be made if you knew where to find it.
Work was fine....until Leon realised he was diagnosed with Rampancy Disease.
He was hesitant to disclose it due to most insurance agencies not covering the disease. It was scarce and at that point it was estimated that one in 300,000 would have it and it wasn't known if it was inherited or contagious...they knew it wasn't airborne...but they suspected it could be saliva based or even worse, sexually transmitted.
It affected him greatly to the point where it affected his work as he grew afraid and paranoid that someone would find out.
Eventually, as it affected his performance, he was personally called in by Rose herself to investigate.
He never spoke to her that often, if it at all. It was all off hand and any issue would be to deal with his Logisitics manager. He swallowed as he felt the sweat roll down his forehead as he walked towards Rose's office and knocked on the door.
"Come in, Leon." She said.
She could be soft and fierce as a Lioness.
Leon gulped.
He turned the knob and entered inside. Sitting there was Rose by her WorkStation and from what he could see through the hologram monitors was his picture and what was his report. She'd gotten up and approached him with a smile and gave her hand.
"Oh thank you much for coming Leon. please sit." She said.
Leon anxiously shook her hand briefly, before they sat down at the same time.
She leaned forward and interlaced her fingers together as her elbows hit the desk.
"Now I want to assure you this is a safe space. There's no need to be nervous here." She assured him, pertaining to her gentle demeanour.
"I don't often view reports as I have matters to attend to, but when your manager alarms me that your performance has been declining in the last few months, I was curious as to understand why."
Despite Ms. Flannigans warmth and declaration of reassurance, Leon felt his heart race.
"I uh..." He said, scratching the back of his head.
"I'm..."
Rose lifted her chin.
"Anything you say here is completely confidential." She said.
"If there's any issues in your personal life I can connect you-"
"I have Rampancy Disease...."
Rose was stunned to hear him say that bluntly.
"Oh...I'm sorry...." She said, sincerely.
"Thank you for trusting me with that information. Are you getting any...treatment?"
Most existing treatments didn't do too much. If anything, they would hasten ones demise.
"I...I can't afford it." Leon said with shame and a sunken expression.
Rose nodded. Such treatments at the moment were mostly experimental...and given her connections...
"I don't imagine it's easy to seek out anything effective." She said.
"But....and I know this is going to be random...but I know something that's being worked on that the moment. If you permit me, I would like to see if I can get in contact with someone that might be able to help you and maybe compensate at the same time."
Leon wouldn't say no. He'd rather not live with the idea that he was going to die soon. He was a lone lion in all of this...coming from a big family to his own lonesome in this great city of theirs.
Rose had made all the arrangements, surprisingly. Though she made him sign wavers and so forth...and had him personally escorted to a private facility in the middle of nowhere. She told him to think of his new role as some kind of promotion, though since it looked like he was now under the hands of DM Biometrics, it appeared like she made him change jobs.
She'd introduced Leon to another woman; Dr. Miller. Short blonde hair with a lab coat. She was...also kind of cute.
"Mr. Maine this is Dr. Barbara Miller." Rose said, urging the pair to shake hands.
"Dr. Miller is one of our great scientists who is involved with a lot top secret projects. She's also a neurologist."
A neurologist. She was too cute to be one.
"Dr. Miller, this is Leon Maine, one of my top logistics agents from Terra Company. He's going to help you with your 'work."
The scientist looked at him from top to bottom, as if harshly judging him by looks alone.
"Hm....do you have any worthwhile accollades?" She said.
Leon gulped. Yup. Judging him by his worth of and if he had studied anything worthwhile.
"I have...uhhh certificates in business and marketing." He said.
"Studied to be a vet at one point...but that didn't go far."
Dr. Miller looked at Rose, who tried to stifle her laughter.
It wasn't long until Leon actually understood the gravity of the work he did for Dr. Miller. As it turned out, she was one of the major players in the field as well; being part of the family that worked on the fabled and often thought of mythical Monoliths.
She collected what was known was phylacteries; strange jewel like rocks that held immense power. And by power, she meant computing power and held AI like software called GIS.
It took a bit for him to learn and collect the data. Somedays she would have him sit down and write notes as she drew graphs and diagrams on a whiteboard; with him and several other minor scientists in the field of New Age technology brought on and reverse engineered from discovered alien tech; which would include the aformentioned Phylacteries and GIS technology. So he grew to learn how to collect them from Kindergartens; constructs that were spread across the world. Dr. Miller, or Barb as he came to call her, taught him that each GIS held elements of each of the Monoliths and would often have prototype GIS to work with in order to make it worth their while.
There was a series of security GIS known as Amethysts, that were being designed to resemble humans in personality. Being at the Kindergarten that helped produce them, Barb explained the data was some of the first being made from elements from the Pink and Blue Monoliths respectively.
The Prototype Amethyst itself was to be tested and analysed to see if it would work alongside humans more effectively. The one thing Barb liked to do, was express her knowledge in anyway shape or form. Whether it was due to her passion on the topics or it was just to prove her superiority, it was difficult to discern. This Amethyst would be poked and proded at; studied as it actually also adapted itself from the scientists personalities. She enjoyed their company and they were absolutely fascinated with her, to the extent where she was often treated as a friend.
All the while with this important stride and succession in progress, the one thing Barb did do, was try and assist Leon with his condition.
When Rose mentioned to her about Leons situation, she was a bit skeptic. She wasn't sure why, but a project that she worked with Greg and David with was important; the insight of the alien nanites that they toyed with.
Leon was esctactic to know Aliens did exist. The trio helped create the Nanites from existing samples but by that point they had been untested. Dr. Miller wanted to check to see if Leon was willing to be the first subject, given that they were tinkered with to deal with his disease.
On the day of testing, they were all in one of the lab rooms. Dr. Miller was the one to do the deed. Dr. DeMayo and Dr. Ryman were nearby on their tablets, ready to record the details of their experiment.
"Ready?" She said.
Leon nodded, albeit he was a bit nervous at first. He rolled up his arm sleeve as he held it back for her to access.
"Of course." He replied.
Dr. Miller took out the needle, to where the vial was filled with a strange pink liquid. Leon felt the prick on his arm as she injected the essence.
Once she did the deed, she cleaned him up with a cotton bud and placed a small bandaid with lions on it because according to her, that was the last packet of bandaids they had at the local pharmacy. Something Greg and David found hard to believe.
For what they did realize the more she worked with Leon, the happier Barbara had become. It was a sign that that Barbara had grown quite fond of her intern, as he became fascinated and actually listened to every little thing she had said. Other students might, but he was more adept than any of the others.
As they sat there, Dr. Miller went on to explain that the Nanites themselves shouldn't have an immediate effect, that Leon might at first grow sick as his body turns to fight off the nanites as they were foreign compounds.
Over time, it required future injections and caring for Leon during his worse days while he was in bed. Whether or not it was a moment of weakness during this time, but....
It wouldn't be long for the fondness and relationship between Barb and Leon to develop further and get deeper, until the two would surrender a night or two to each other.
Ignoring that, the pair kept their affair a secret. Though, they did stop once Leon's skin started to change colour; he feared Barb would get affected. It went a deep pink while his long hair begun to lose colour and turn a much lighter, whitish pink. Dr. Ryman noted a change in melanin as an effect of the nanites that resembled more strength.
It was around the same time Barbara became distant and had been reassigned elsewhere for the time being. As far as what Rose could tell Leon, that she'd been called to check up with with other projects, far from Leon and the other scientists, which left Dr. Ryman in charge of her previous role with teaching the interns. Though some of them ended up leaving for greener pastures; aka the other Developers who were after specialists in Phylacteries and GIS.
Leon on the other hand, was kept on close watch at the DM Biometrics facility for some time. His disease had been kept at bay, to which that it was almost a miracle that it wasn't too much of an issue. It was feared that connecting to the Domain by this point with Rampancy Disease would hasten their demise but connecting to the Domain became nothing short of a breeze. Not that it wasn't something Leon found himself doing often.
If anything, he would get to know Greg and a newly recruited security guard, a man known as Doug Maheswaran. It'd been some years down the track where Leon had replaced Dr. Miller as in charge of the Phylacteries that were being produced.
The trio would hang out together at the nearby bar; there was a small township nearby that was formed as DM Biometrics had hundreds of employees that needed homes; that which would near some town that was nearby to accomodate for the amount of families and homes that would be close to the facility. The bar itself was known as the Lion's Den and was filled to the brim on most nights with scientists and engineers. They hung out at one of the booths in their downtime, sipping bear.
"Haven't heard from Barb in a while." Greg asked, before he took a swig.
Leon shook his head as he leaned over. He wore a blue hawaiin shirt when ever he was off the clock.
"No." Leon replied.
"I've given up ever reaching her at this point."
Doug patted his back, trying to reassure the man.
"I'm sure there's someone else out for you." He said.
"I mean, as far as being isolated in the middle of nowhere constitutes women coming in here in flocks."
As far as what Leon recalled, he was called here due to something about his daughter? The pink man lost track of time. He blamed the Nanites.
"Don't worry, Rose is hush, hush with her secrets as well." Greg admitted.
Leon had almost forgotten that Greg mentioned being in some sort of secret relationship as well. Didn't want the whole world to know he was married to Rose. Another woman lost to him, it seemed. Leon still respected Rose but otherwise would have live his life as an extension of her 'big project's. He hadn't seen her in a while, however. Not in the physical sense, anyway.
"I'm not a fan of these so called secrets." Doug called out.
Greg chuckled and smiled.
"Neither am I but eh, we're getting somewhere. Actually, want to check something else out I'm doing?"
The next day, Greg took the pair to somewhere ultra secret that it required them going down a long elevator and then to a large room with a series of large hexagonal cylinders. Leon had no idea what he was staring at.
"This is an Advanced AI Core" Greg revealed with pride.
Leon looked on at it with amazement, though, a bit confused. DM Biometrics had been working with AI technology for some time but what warranted a core of this size? Doug on the other hand felt he was supposed to be impressed as he scratched his head to try and figure out what his eyes were looking at.
"Rose and I had worked on this for a while and it's still in its Alpha stages so it doesn't have any awareness."
It...
Oh....
"Are we moving from alien made GIS to a more powerful man-made AI?" Leon wondered.
As Leon witnessed Gregs devilish smile, he would regret forgetting that Greg had made a habit of being enthustically being able to explain ideas. Not long Leon did that, but he was more...reflective in those days.
"Better." He said.
"It's going to be...sort of consensus between a man made AI and a GIS. It has a phylactery within it, but thanks to the data we collected to and from the Prototype Amethyst, we're able to properly construct new AI that will use a phylactery as its base."
So in laymens terms....
"So the AI itself; is it a legacy mapped system? Or is it a BM-AI?" Leon asked as he scratched his head?
A question that gave Greg some pause as his expression with sullen and blank-eyed. As far as what Leon understood, Legacy Maps were often duplicated AI templates. They weren't used for full fledged projects but for basic maintenance projects. They barely had any kind of sentience and were so close to being VI's in actuality, but managed to pass the turing test in their personalities. Basic as basic could be and were some of the first AI's to be able to learn from their surroundings. Most public and marketed products however usually preferred already perfected intelligences that were made for a specific role and were used as digital cogs.
"We....had a volunteer." He said, albeit that of reluctance.
Usually an unfortunate scenario that contributes more to the cause of science.
Leon wondered what kind of new and exciting AI would emerge from an existence from this however and looked forward to seeing it bloom once it gained sentience.
Or at least...within his known life time.
One day, he'd met up with Dougs wife Priyanka as she was in the Medical Bay, while she consulted with Dr. Ryman. She was also doctor who had been taken aback by Leons condition at first, but she was then intrigued by it as it was used as a measure of countering his Rampancy. Doug had told her about Leon and his status as someone on particularly unique 'drug trial'.
Leon learned of her daughters similar affliction and that the nanites so far, had given him hope of living on...and that if provided with consent, he would get to see the young child and understand her more so than most. He'd listen to Doug read to her about stories about Strawberries, Suns and Moons, Lions, Kings and Princes....though not in that explicit order. Doug had an interesting imagination that Leon wanted to think he once had ambitions to be an artist...or a bus driver. Somehow he'd ended up in logistics before evolving into once percieved impossible sciences and miracles untowards, ways that religion and Gods would forsake.
A young Lady Maheswaran was a tiny thing. That once the AI Core had been developed enough, that she was able to communicate with it, to an extent. That it, turned into a him...him became Steven.
He'd keep his distance, though watched from afar while Priyanka obtained data. After all, Connie would sooner find more fascination with the faceless machine than a man with pink skin. Not that it mattered much...but Leon grew fond of her and that maybe one day that the nanites would save her would get them on a more communicable level and that would alleviate his loneliness of being the pinkest human being in existence. Dr. Maheswaran was on the precipice of making a decision after looking at Leon's results.
Though, that was until...
An incident some months after had Priyanka change her tune.
She argued with her husband, Dr. Ryman and Dr. DeMayo because of it and was compelled to pull herself and Connie out of it all.
One moment she had been speaking with Leon about potentially treating her young Connie, thankful that though nanites could change Connie's skin and hair, that they could alleviate the suffering that Rampancy Sufferers faced. That she had enough data from Leon to be able to make an informed decision.
But it was in that very next moment, he'd have seizures.
Within minutes, he was gone.
...
Then eyes were reopened, with rose-tinted lenses.
"Well, Rose, time to figure out if your idea worked." He heard Greg say. If Greg was robotic himself.
"Leon? Leon is that you in there?"
A mouth would open to speak, but only garbled growls came out.
He wasn't sure what happened.
"Hmm should fix up the voice box." Said another voice.
An android of colourful, rainbow hair, with their hand as it tried to reach out to Leon's neck and by instinct, he jerked back.
"Woah easy there, Bismuth isn't trying to hurt you." Said Greg.
Leon had almost forgotten about Bismuth; Gregs GIS Android.
But Leon had been hesitant to speak. He wasn't sure how. He could think and percieve and...
He looked at his hands. Pink claws.
Eyes went to Greg and Bismuth.
Then...
Chaos.
Shredded up metal and a broken down Android.
Leon was shut down.
The next thing he knew he was rebooted...but he couldn't move.
Part of him felt locked in and restrained and large gaps of memory in between. Stuck in a cage, taking orders rather than given choice. He felt like he was in some eternal dream...or nightmare.
"He's not quite a GIS." Said Greg.
Eyes could see him....and someone else.
A blonde woman.
"Greg this is the stupidest thing Rose has ever suggested and she's hardly ever here."
That sounded like...
Dr. Miller?
Barb?
"He lashed out the first time we booted him up." Greg told her.
"I had to get Bismuth repaired. Thank goodness no one else was in the room."
Barbara sighed.
"I wouldn't have known the Nanites would have had this effect. I should have come back sooner."
Leon was glad to hear her voice. Though glad was a bit of stretch.
"But you turned what's left of him into a Hoverbike?"
A what?
"The Phylactery itself was said to have incredible properties when Dr. Ryman and I were testing it." Greg explained.
"Including mini wormholes."
Dr. Miller rose an eyebrow.
"You've got to be kidding me..." She said.
"I swear...what is it with you all in dabbling in sciences mankind has yet to understand?"
Greg scratched his head.
"What?" He said.
Barb shook her head.
"Leon died and he should have stayed dead."
He...died?
"He did sign waivers." Greg pointed out.
Barbara facepalmed. This man would be the death of her.
"I don't care about the waivers." She said.
"I found out long ago that interfering too much can cause problems....and look at this...you've got a shapeshifting hoverbike that can cause wormholes. Did you and Rose ever stop to consider that you're both going too far?"
Leon couldn't believe he actually died.
"The other Developers are counting on us; our labs and company to break frontiers Barb. You know this." He said.
"That and Steven; our son;. No one would have dreamed of such possibilities that could be achieved."
He wished he could move.
He was 'leased' to the Maheswarans for a little while after Greg made a suggestion.
He wasn't sure if they were told that he was once the man they argued over. Dr. Maheswaran had apparently been advised of another solution to her daughters disease. Something that wasn't Nanites.
Greg had taken both himself and Priyanka back to her original work place of Azure Alpha using this...technology.
It was something Leon found he could just do; though he wasn't sure how. He wasn't sure of what he was but could do those things on command. Was he an AI now? How was that even possible.
Everything was second nature. Made too easy.
And still...
Being at the Maheswarans. Their rural property where they grew strawberries...and Leon would lay with Connie in the grass. It was almost picturesque. A loyal Lion with his Crown-Princess.
She was wary of him.
Leon wished he could talk.
As well as seeing Doug and Priyanka talk on the decking nearby; Part of Leon felt like he intruded their lives more often than not.
"Having that thing so close to Connie scares me a little." Said Priyanka, as her husband had his arm around her shoulders.
"Why it takes the shape of a Lion stumps me."
Doug chuckled.
"Well Greg said that when they first had it made, it took that form by default." He said.
"This would be one of those scenarios where a Bark would actually be less effective than a bite."
Priyanka lightly punched her husband on the arm.
"What?" He said.
"I mean come on, I know you don't like dogs."
Priyanka rubbed her forehead.
"That's not the problem." She said.
"I mean...untested alien technology like this. It was bad enough when I accepted the Shard, but..."
The Shard...yes...the next project that would allow them to stave off Connie's rampancy.
"A dog at least has some kind of protective instinct with its owners. A lions loyalty-"
"Is with its Pride; which is us." Doug assured her.
He was back on the new 'Site' at times as it was being built. Only so few knew its true location. Leon knew the so called coordinates, but would never be able to understand where those coordinates were.
Greg would set up special points of interest across several countries as those particular locals. Leon would obey.
No questions asked.
Doug would join Greg, Barb and David on showing them the new secret facility. It had to be kept secret from those with loose lips and Greg only trusted those close to the projects at hand. Rose's suggestion, of course.
"If only Leon were here to see this." Doug commented.
The other three exchanged glances as Leon stood beside him.
If only Doug really knew.
What ever happened afterwards, was unclear.
Leon knew something happened. Something big.
But with text in white that came up on on his HUD.
"PROTECTION PROTOCOL ACTIVATED." It said.
NAME: CONNIE MAHESWARAN.
NAME: STEVEN
NAME: SADIE MILLER.
NAME: RONALDO FRYMAN
NAME: PETER DANIEL FRYMAN
He didn't know the latter three, but their images and ID came up on file. Who ever sent them to him, he did not know.
Who...
"Greg I thought you..."
He was activated unknowlingly as he heard Barbaras voice. He could see Greg as he stood there in the same room as Barbara. Some dark and dank room. Barbara was laying on the ground, her lab coat in tatters and covered in blood.
"I had my protocols in place in case this happened." Greg told her.
The man had his gun pointed towards her and by instinct Leon had to protect her, but any attempt to move was immediately shut down without reason why.
"You LIED to everyone." She screamed.
"You lied to me....you lied to David and the Maheswarans...heck, even Leon..."
Greg wasn't impressed.
"Don't you dare preach to me about lies Barb." He warned.
"Your ex-husband must have known Sadie wasn't his."
Barbara growled.
Wait...
"Don't you dare invoke Sadie into this." Barbara cried.
"1 had an image to maintain."
Greg then nodded his head towards Leon, still in his hoverbike form.
"Well, he's over there." Greg told her.
"Tell him about his daughter. I'm sure he's willing to listen."
He had a daughter??? Since when? Leon struggled to fight against unknown commands at this stage. Every day was the same struggle for control while he could only watch helplessly as Greg threatened Dr. Miller.
"That's not as bad as what you did to Steven." She called out, her voice tone low with spiteful venom.
"You and Rose...are so fucked in the head you know that? This isn't science...this is just...monstrous....even Steven is more human than you."
Greg paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
"Well yeah." He said, but he didn't sound like he regretted any of it.
"But you know what...Rose had a feeling you wanted out of the project at some point. And yeah I might have told her some white lies....and everything else...well, her and I didn't want to wake the dragon so to speak. She's a very organised woman who knows how to think of every scenario that might happen."
Barbara spat blood at him.
"That's only because of that damn GIS." She said.
"You'd been spying on me...trying to learn my behaviours closely. I should have known those nights in spent in the lab were more than just us two trying to deal with the loneliness..."
Who did what now?
Greg laughed.
"Hey now...I won't deny those were fun times." He said.
"But at the end of the day we did what needed to be done. But you fucked everything up Barb. You just had to put your nose where it didn't belong."
Was there anything Leon could do to stop this?
"So what are you going to do...shoot me?" She said.
"Go ahead. My family is going to take notice that I'm gone."
Greg chuckled....and Leon had never heard him chuckle like that before. It sounded so menacing...so....ungreg like that it scared him.
"Oh I know." He said.
"But I've since hidden the Pink Monolith....and Steven is secure in his new Chambers. All will be repaired in time. Rose's plan will go on as it needs to. A few hiccups sure, but it doesn't stray too far from the end goal."
Barbs eyes narrowed.
"You're still going ahead with Grandmother White's Ascension Project?" She asked.
Greg groaned.
"Of course not." He said.
"Rose didn't like the idea of White having all the control. You of all people should know how maniacal she is."
Leon learned a lot about Grandmother White over the years. She was not one to be trifled with.
"But she had a much better, tender plan in place. A shame; I think you would have agreed with it."
Tender? Who uses that word these days to describe plans?
"I'm sure it was." Barbara replied sarcastically.
"But you realise they're gonna hunt for you and the Pink Monolith. For years to come. Killing me won't serve any purpose other than the Family going double time on your ass."
Leon hoped it wouldn't resort to that.
Greg nodded in agreement.
"No. I'm not going to kill you Barb." He said.
"I mean, waving this pistol in your face does give that impression doesn't it?"
This was making Leon exceptionally uncomfortable. What happened to the kind, noble Greg he once knew? Something must have snapped inside him so deeply that he was acting this way.
"No instead I'm going to entrust Leon to you." He said.
"For what you've done. I'm going to make sure everyone makes you into a liar."
Barbara had no idea what he meant and neither did Leon. It was then Greg put the pistol under his chin....
BANG
Both Barbara and Leon could only watch in shock as Gregs body fell unceremiously to the floor.
They must have sat there for minutes, maybe hours before Barbara's screams ran throughout.
If only Leon could hold her....
If only she'd but ask.
But he was only used but once...
She took them back to a familiar place. A Farmhouse with overlooming powerlines.
And a field of frozen, dead flowers.
He kept an eye on Barbara as she entered the house with the front door wide open. His form kept true.
A conversation. An argument. A gunshot.
Barbara exited not long after with a child in her arms; one who slept soundly.
"I've already lost a child to madness." She whispered as a tear ran down her cheek.
She knelt before Leon and showed him to her. Eyes were closed and the form was weak.
He remembered that face.
The next occasion was in front of the Deep Throne, with Barbara connected to it as well as Leon in some form of text being splattered to the screen.
"The Steed to the Knight-Mage." Said the text on his HUD.
Orders that were programmed into him. Orders he must obey.
Protect the Knight-Mage. Protect the Diamond Prince.
The Mansion of Dr. Miller.
Guarded by many, to protect the secrets.
Her secrets.
She would stand before him in the attic where he had been hidden. He could hear her.
"I've done what I can to ensure their downfall." She said.
"The Program that was inserted into the Knight-Mage years ago. Maybe Rose was right. It had to be someone who wasn't connected to our Family."
Who?
"Rose doesn't want any of this to happen regardless...but she's still a part of us. Part of the bigger picture. Still at reach for Grandmothers manipulations. And Greg..."
And Greg?
"I'm sure exposure or the pulse or something damaged him. Twisted his mind. Twisted my mind."
How so?
"I can't help but...feel angry and sad all the time. No matter what I do, nothing works. Technology is great for a lot, but it doesn't solve every problem."
So it would seem.
"That had to be his final message. How he and Rose would finally be able to take White down. That the legend of the Knight-Mage and the Diamond Prince was meant to exalt freedom."
Dr. Miller conducted many theories as to how she was meant to interpret their final wishes. Not that she wanted to fulfill them anyway.
"I'm sorry for putting you through this Leon." She said him.
"But I will be gone soon. Your loyalities are still within your directive so continue to protect them while you can."
Wait, where was she going?
"And I'm glad Sadie is out of their hands; she's grown up so much."
Sadie....
"As for Steven..." She continued, sounding exhausted.
"If worst comes to worst, you are permitted to kill him."
Kill him...
"Rose forced us into this mess and he's gotten the short end of it." She said.
"Nothing is his fault but he was designed to be the Catalyst. Protect him if you can but if there's no alternate method then yes, kill him. Please. It's the only last resort we can use so White will not be able to fulfill her plans."
He would have no choice to obey but...
"I've contacted KNIGHT as well." She said.
"I'm glad the info I've been feeding them over the years has got them off my back so I can survive. So much for Gregs intent to make sure no one believes me. Some grand idea that was."
For what could have been months or years inactive, it would have been when someone called out to him...
A young voice...
He could have looked up to where he was active....his hoverbike form would always surrender control to its user, but the voice that called out to him and his power was none other Little Maheswaran.
She'd grown up and was nothing of what she was when she was young. Innocence stripped and replaced.
He would be hers. Commander of the Steed.
Multiple trips. Multiple conversations.
Leon heard them all.
And now his latest command; to take Connie to the one place they wouldn't find her.
Some place up in the clouds.
Chapter 91: Shell
Summary:
Connie and Leon roam the Pearl Host Facility to find a way to save Steven.
Notes:
I really appreciate those who have stuck around with this fic for so long.
I've been feeling really down as of late due to multiple issues and so I've been trying to write as much as I can, but sometimes I feel uninspired or that the quality is not up to scratch. For that I apologise.
But I do want to continue this fic until the conclusion.
Chapter Text
Opening her eyes; Connie could see a white light and roof that almost blinded her She struggled to sit up and then could see Leon lurking over her.
That dream....
That awful dream...
She was used to this. This randomness that wasn't really random...but a series of calls cut too close that she might have had a rabbits foot on her persons for the amount of times she'd been dragged away to safety.
But the walls...
They were more white, pearlescent even and more...artsy? There was a common symbol of a clam that adorned nearby pillars. It looked like a lab but Connie realised she was no longer at the Site, which made her wary and anxious.
Getting off the table, Connie looked around, though almost jumped at the tall mech standing over her.
She could see Leon standing there as he looked at her. Going from the imagery...
No...
They were his memories.
Why would he show them to her?
She approached him and went to cradle his face, but he jerked back, perhaps afraid he might hurt her.
"You were watching over us." She said.
"You saw everything."
A damaged program but one that still functioned with a compass. His allegiences were to protect...the so called Knight-Mage and the Diamond Prince.
Almost storybook, in a way. He must have missed Barbara dearly....speaking of which...she was dragged through hell and back. By White, Greg, Rose...EVERYONE!
Except Leon. The only one she trusted, in the end...
Swallowing her pride, she had to move on to figure out her next move.
Connie got bad vibes off the place immediately. Some of the rooms were locked tight as she walked through hallways and there was the odd fountain here and there. Felt like some kind of underwater temple. There were images of the beaches and the sea and various paintings scattered through out. . None of the rooms were labled and there was little Connie could press her fingers on to try and hack. It was alien in nature with a lot of smooth surfaces, marble tables and statues that looked like...Pearls? No, Lady Volley? Something smelled fishy.
Though there was no distinct odour as such, but there was a mermaid like aesthetic if you really squinted at it. Aquatic.
This...place was strange the further in Connie went until she found a room labled "Asset Storage Room 4." It was the only room with a keypad next to the sliding door. Connie knelt down and ripped the keypad off. She had nothing on her persons besides her tablet to be able to hack but that was all she needed.
With enough wires crossed and code imput, it wasn't long until Connie cracked the door open. She missed these simple hacks with such dry, unreliable security methods. Still, it reminded her how good she could really be compared to the average joe when it came to this talent.
The door slid open and it revealed someone inside at a WorkStation on the other side. The sides of the room had shutters on them, labled one through fourteen. Taking a look at the person by the WorkStation, they wore a tight black suit, which showed their curved figure, as well as having black poofy hair put up into a high ponytail.
Looking at the monitors, Connie could see GIS blue prints, specifically Pearl GIS. And Connie immediately knew.
She pulled her pistol up at the woman.
"Put your hands up where I can see them!" Connie called out.
The woman threw her hands up when asked.
"Turn around!"
Slowly, but surely, they did. It was a dark-skinned woman who looked at Connie with a calm expression.
"Do you work here?'
The woman paused for a moment before she was going to answer.
"Answer the question."
The woman sighed.
"I am not your enemy." She said.
"And no I do not work here Ms Maheswaran."
Oh great, everyone knew her name.
"Let me guess, one of Weiss United's lackeys?"
The woman shook her head.
"No." She said.
"I am Agent Kiki Pizza of KNIGHT."
KNIGHT?
"I'm guessing Leon brought you in here." She said.
That he did.
Wait...that surname. That couldn't be a coincidence.
"KNIGHT huh." Connie said, pulling her pistol down slightly.
She's heard of KNIGHT (Knowledge Network of International Government Hired Taskforce); easy to elude if anything, but they often take larger notice of larger crimes, much less than deal with someone like Connie; though she's crossed paths with them many times and fed them information as their informant on the occasion. But she was still On their list somewhere of criminals to crack down on, at least until she started helping people...
"We finally meet Berrybyte." She said, approaching Connie and extending her hand.
Connie would be remiss but...she shook the agents hand anyway. She took the time to look at the main Monitor, which demonstrated a clam logo under the DM Biometrics Logo underneath it; which usually consisted of the Pink Diamond Logo with two pink likes portruding from the botton sides.
"Your people have definitely kept me on my toes over the last few years." Connie said with a cheeky smirk.
Kiki was more a ray of sunshine with that smile of hers.
"Likewise." Kiki said.
"Luckily I am not after you today. Maybe we can help each other."
KNIGHT wasn't to be trusted, but they weren't exactly on the Developers side either, last time Connie heard. They just were more worried with red tape than Connie was.
"We've been looking into the Developer issues for years." She said.
"Taking them down isn't an easy job, but accruing ways to do so has been a priority."
Connie would imagine that they've been a thorn in their side for the latter part of a decade, and as far as Connie knew about them, was that they were funded by an anonymous benefactor that somehow covered its trails very well. Connie could have pursued the leads she had but it wasn't worth it. She actually liked the cat and mouse she once had with them and enjoyed their attempts to bring her down, once upon a time. Those were the days...
Her worries turned to more dangerous organisations and from what Connie knew, the Developers had people everywhere. They had power, money and influence that could turn the tide on anyone at any given moment. People have gone missing...and not to mention the entire family behind it all. It was no surprise, given how insane most of the members were.
"The White Monolith has been our main target...and based off the information people on the inside have been giving us, she is our main concern."
Of course the one who called the shots would be the highest on their hit list.
"So you know exactly what's going on here....good, hopefully I don't have to get put you up to speed." Connie said dryly, as she approached the WorkStation, putting her pistol away.
"But back to the case at hand. What are we looking at?"
Kiki filtered through the screens as she discussed her findings.
"We're in a scarcely known facility." She answered.
"This is the Pearl Cloud Storage Host Server, code named Shell."
Connie suspected as much based off of all the odd artwork here and there.
"This place was built to house the Host Server for every Pearl-GIS." Kiki continued.
"Disconnected from the rest of the Domain, files could be stored securely in each Pearl who would be connected to this place without needing a Monolith to help the Cloud function."
That made sense. Security would be of a grave concern.
"Theoretically, this place doesn't even need the Domain to work, so its deliberately designed to be accessed through channel variables which don't require a Monolith Superserver to support it."
Remarkable. Rare in this day and age where Domain dependancy was rampant.
"So KNIGHT sent you here on...some suspicous request that you might be able to tap into particular Cloud Networks?" Connie wondered.
Wouldn't be KNIGHT if they didn't.
"There's only a select few who know about Shell." She said.
"Even fewer with the authorisation to use it."
And Kiki happened to one of them?
"KNIGHT knew about this place due to it being located in Government Confidential Records." Kiki explained.
"But there had been reports about amni being stolen."
Amni...
Connie almost forgot about it. She was meant to look it up but never got around to it, due to other pressing matters. But the word itself stuck around for what ever reason.
"What the hell is that anyway?" She asked.
Kiki pursed her lips.
"From what I got from my own research, it's more out of bioscience than it is dedicated to hardware." She said.
"It's a special liquid meant to preserve cloned body parts."
What?
"If you can afford an implant, they'll clone an arm...leg...hell, even down to fingers and toes and obviously organs. They just need your DNA to grow it."
Ah so thats how they do it.
"It mostly consists of specific proteins to fester growth and sustainability. Long term storage usually has the fluid having to be replaced every so often as its treated as a good source of food as well, which has its own expiry date before it begins to taint and bacteria and mold can grow inside."
Gross. But interesting to know. But that doesn't explain why Kiki is here.
"So....this place...anmi. Pitch me." Connie requested.
Kiki nodded as she continued to type.
"We've got sources who say that the amni fluid is coming here but we don't know why." She said.
Which makes Connie immediately question those particular sources but she let it slide for now.
"Let's see...damn locked out."
Connie knew she was here for a reason as a smirk went from ear to ear.
"Allow me." She said as she took the reigns.
There was a natural flow to it all. Simple hacks that are done and dusted within moments. There was a decent amount of security but it wasn't strong enough to hold up against Connie's skills and techniques. What she noticed however, was the coding itself was written both in normal human coding with a slice of alien coding in it.
Now that was to be expected, given the nature of the enviroment they found themselves in, but it was as if it was a slight blend of the two. Connie guessed it was mostly drivers to be able to allow the human technology to be be better able to control what ever the alien tech was supposed to.
Most tech was either inspired or given form with the humanness of it all, but not always with the two and two together. It wasn't all that common.
Though it wasn't long until she cracked it.
Inside were files for...
Blue prints for....the Pearl GIS.
Not just that...
There was a lot of bioinformation within it as well. Details for....Pearls....plural.
Tilting her head. Connie was..perplexed.
"Ah good you're here."
Both Kiki and Connie turned around to find a familiar blonde haired scientist behind them.
"Dr Ryman?" She said.
Kiki was surprised as well.
"So I'm assuming you're the one who reported the amni fluid thefts?"
Dr. Ryman appeared hesitant to Connie's previous question amd barely acknowledged Kikis prescence.
"You're in scarcely known facility." He answered as he walked forward.
"This is the Pearl Cloud Storage Host Server, code named Shell."
The official server for the Pearls?
"This place was built to house the Host Server for every Pearl-GIS." Ryman explained.
"Disconnected from the rest of the Domain, files could be stored securely in each Pearl who would be connected to this place without needing a Monolith to help the Cloud function."
This place already gave Connie bad vibes, though it was getting clearer as to why.
"Theoretically, this place doesn't even need the Domain to work, so its deliberately designed to be accessed through channel variables without needing a Monolith Superserver to support it."
Despite the two being very similar in nature?
"I thought the Domain OS was supposed to be everywhere?" Connie questioned.
"Like, even if it was so isolated, there had to be a Monolith to be able to sustain the smallest grid?"
Dr. Ryman shook his head.
"The Superservers have their connections to every grid; Public, Pocket and Private." He explained.
"The differences is how to access. Public is free, Pocket requires specific codes to access and Private is invite only; requiring more security measures in place to protect personal and commercial data."
Made sense in the common scheme of things.
"Pearl-GIS can connect to any of these without the usual access methods. The catch is its supposed to be data and only data; AIs and humans aren't meant to traverse and travel through the Cloud Network like that."
Not supposed to or not designed?
"Cloud Keys can only be produced by the Pearls in the event of a data exchange from one Pearl to another." He continued.
"Which Cloud Keys can only be permitted provide if the owners provide their respective Pearls permission for that exchange."
Made sense.
"So what part of this is relevant?"
"I got contacted by a source of mine." He said walked to the WorkStation and typed away.
"Who gave an idea of how to deal with the Luna problem. And I might need KNIGHTs help too."
They might?
"Shoot. I'm all ears." Connie said.
Dr. Ryman nodded. He typed in something, then revealed a large black figure on the screen.
"I've been using this facility outside of the Site; as Luna had complete access to its data, as well as Gregs." He said.
"As you know, Lunas plans to bring back Obsidia would be detrimental, however there is one particular flaw in that plan....many, but one that stands out the most."
Oh exploiting flaws was Connie's expertise.
"I've tried to understand how Obsidia is supposed to fit in. Is it the true Obsidia? Nevertheless, it requires five GIS to be part of this particular...consensus. While the GIS themselves are part of this, it doesn't get rid of their existing functions."
Yes, yes, Connie needed him to continue.
"And one of those functions is an existing connection to the Pearl that will be apart of it."
Ancilla Pearl. Connie had sort of a sense of where Dr. Ryman was playing at.
"So we can jump into the Pearl, dump some sort of hacking subroutine and shut down Obsidia internally?" She theorised.
He was glad she was a similar page at least.
"It's bit more complicated than that." He said.
"Obsidia's Soulware is said to be incredibly powerful. It would most likely find a way to find out the subroutine and destroy it. No. It requires something a bit more complex."
As is the case.
"The only problem is the Project that the Developers have been working on." Ryman continued as he typed away.
Connie knew exactly what this was.
"I've been trying to figure that out as well." She said.
"I don't suppose you know anything about it?"
Rymans loyalities were torn to so many people. Connie, he felt, he owed as much as anyone, given the secrecy that has been shrouded over everything else. He appreciated her skills and tenacity for getting this far. He couldn't believe the little, innocent, ill girl he helped all these years ago stood before him, still fighting a fight many would have given up on years ago.
"I mean, Volley described it as a Protoype to a new version of the Domain?"
Ryman hummed.
"Not quite." He said.
"Well, sort of. The Protoype is meant to an enact a much weaker version of the ESCAPISM event."
That...that was bad.
"So they're still gonna try and do it? With or without Steven?" Connie questioned.
"Fuck...even if its weaker...thats gonna kill so many people!"
In a way.
"The radius is meant to just focus on Mega Beach City for the time being." He said.
That was vague. But it would be typical of the Developers to take advantage of people without their consent. Connie concluded that they must have been pretty desperate. And whether or not Volley
"When most of Mega Beach City is asleep, the Prototype will provide a connection the gamma waves emitted by the dreamers. It will draw them into the Domain while they sleep without the need for the connection to their DPs."
A miracle, but at the same time rather disturbing.
"They won't die. But at the same time, it runs the risk of them not waking up."
And now they had to work with a particular time frame. Great.
"So we have to work quickly. Got it." Connie said as she threw a fist into her palm.
"Do we know roughly when they plan to activate the pulse?"
Dr. Ryman shrugged.
"I'm not sure." He said.
"But I know the components of the device they've made. I might have helped make it."
Connie's eyes widened.
"What?" She gasped.
"You helped the Developers make this thing?"
Ryman sighed.
"Only....only part of it, hence why I specifically said might." He admitted with sadness.
"My research was used to help...make three of the critical components."
He could be given blame, but now wasn't the time to be angry at that. What was important is the where she could go, so Connie could go destroy them.
"Just tell me where to go...and Leon can take me there and I'll take them out!" She declared with confidence.
While Ryman was pleased to hear her enthusiasm, but he feared she didn't quite get the picture.
"The three components are like you." He revealed.
"Shard-Bearers."
Shard-Bearers?
"I managed to salvage data found from Bismuth and Sadie back when I saw them at Peri-Com." He said, although that wasn't quite the truth, given what he had to do with Bismuth not long ago. He inserted a small storage device into the facilities WorkStation. It revealed the overlay of the prototype in question. It look like some sort of legless robot; one yellow arm, one blue arm and a completely white torso and head with spiky hair. It looked more akin to a statue more so than a robot. Meanwhile Kiki had been nothing more than a wallfly but feverishly typed on her tablet.
"This is the Diamond Authority Machine." He revealed.
"A construct that works as a server. Not as strong as say a single Monolith..."
But enough that would hold the Soulware of everyone in Mega Beach City. Connie got the idea. Kiki was astounded.
"That is definitely illegal and unheard of." She said.
She figured the corruption that goes on in Mega Beach City on a regular basis, would have to have the Developers either bribe the local authorites in some fashion to even commit to such an act.
"When the Developers decide to strike, they will have to commit to a small time frame before anyone notices." Ryman explained.
"Sources say anywhere from six to eight hours"
A whole nights sleep almost.
"They're trying to get people to sign to the project. I haven't gotten word of when this will occur but for the stress test to work, they need at least a volunteered collective of around 100,000 people."
And Mega Beach City was around five million alone, if Connie recalled. Small compared to most other Mega Cities.
"The major problem they have is that yes, they do have volunteers but that doesn't necessarily mean other people won't be affected....at least, the ones that aren't asleep."
Connie scratched her head. Kiki was just as curious.
"It needs them all to be asleep then?" She asked.
Ryman nodded. He then handed Connie the details for the machine.
"It can't pick and choose." He said.
"People who aren't volunteering and choose to sleep will still affect them so mitigating that issue has been a priority."
A moral and legal dilemma. They couldn't afford to get anyone else on the tail or even the general populace to look down on them. Connie knows that kind of issue results in failing stocks and disgruntled shareholders.
"So what can we do?" Connie wondered, wanting Ryman to get to the point.
Ryman hummed.
"They might activate the Prototype at any moment." He said.
"We should be protected here if they decide to flip the switch."
They must have been close, Connie assumed.
"But Volley and Luna are back at the Site." She said.
"And goodness know where Steven has gone off to."
Ryman was sure he was fine.
"He's safe for now." He said.
"As for Luna and Volley? Luna will do everything in her power to protect the Pink Monolith."
Despite wanting to oust Princie? This smelled weird. And the safe for now statement? Connie didn't like that either.
"Then I need to get back there." Connie pleaded.
"The situation is dire!"
No. They couldn't.
"KNIGHT, did you bring your Pearl?"
The Agent nodded.
"Of course." She said.
She took out a small box from her backpack and hooked it up with several wires to the WorkStation.
Not long after, a purple hologram popped. It was a pearl with a dark purple hair in a bun and it looked like she wore some kind clark or even nurse like attire.
"At your service." She said.
Was no one going to acknowledge the stressful situation they found themselves in? Why was Connie the only one freaking out about this?
"Connie." Ryman said.
"Agent Kiki and I will be here but we need to hook you up to the Cloud Network."
Woah, woah, Connie wasn't going to agree to anything unless they answered all of her questions.
"This has to be some trap, surely." She assumed.
"Dragging me all over the place has been tiresome..."
Ryman sighed, irate about Connie's reluctance but...
"I know it has but I'm sorry." He said.
"With Greg out of the picture, I need to ensure our operations run as smooth as they can..."
Right...
"But Steven's disappeared...." Connie stressed
"And you say he's fine! Like come on, that isn't reassuring."
Berrybyte needed all the data she could get.
"I promise you, what we are doing is helping Steven." Ryman said.
"Aubergine is going to assist you in getting to Ancilla Pearl. The connections here at the Shell will allow you to dip into the Domain but you will need Aubergines Cloud Key to access it."
That was good to hear but Connie couldn't work off of just that.
"Okay then what?" She said.
Ryman rubbed his forehead.
"Once Ancilla Pearl is found, you'll need to work with her to shut down the Machine as soon as you can. This way we can delay the Developers further."
Helpful as always, but Connie suspected there was more to this as those words alone didn't sound like the entire truth, but she kept that to herself for now.
"Kiki and I have other work we need to do here." He continued.
"Leon will continue to watch over you while you're...oh..."
Aubergine noticed the red flashing light on the WorkStation, knowing it was some kind of receiving message.
"Message for you Dr. Ryman." Aubergine said.
She projected another monitor to Ryman who read the message.
"Oh shit....they're about to start now?" He said, on the verge of freaking out.
Connie narrowed her eyes.
"What?"
Shaking his head, Ryman made haste to ensure Connie was connected.
"There's no much time, get into the Network now!" He said.
Connie wasn't sure of the urgency but she managed to fix it up herself.
"Alright alright." She said.
"Geez."
It wasn't long until the connection was sound, as Connie sat down against the wall with the cables that hung out of her neck. Her body went limp as Leon walked over to her.
Ryman and Kiki on the other hand discussed the situation before them.
"You really think she can do it?" She asked Ryman.
The man was riddled with stress and was, without a doubt, a complete mess. He looked at the room they were in and he instantly felt sick. He helped create this place and knew its deepest darkest secrets. He wandered to one of the shutters and put his hand against it.
"Your bosses not put that much faith?"
Kiki shrugged and crossed her arms.
"Berrybyte is a wanted woman." She said.
"But if you think she has the power to shut down the whole conglomerate, I would have called you crazy."
What wasn't crazy this day and age?
"My bosses would rather not work with criminals" Kiki continued.
"But they don't mind if someone else outside the field has to get their hands dirty."
A sentiment Ryman agreed with, much to his shame, but he had a few other weapons up his sleeve. And once Connie knows what the weapon is, is when things would get interesting.
Chapter 92: Shore
Summary:
Within the safety the Lapis Satellite, Steven looks within himself for more clues.
Chapter Text
It wasn't to say that Lapis wasn't treating him well.
It was to do with the fact that he couldn't do anything while he was here. On orders or for his sake. He sat in the barn against the wall, alone with his thoughts while Lapis did her work.
What could he do? They desired his power and no matter how many times Steven would scream that he wasn't just a machine never really made a case to them. That he had a special power and everyone wanted to abuse it.
That they wanted to split him and Connie up for what ever reason. That his own destiny could never lie with her and the world would never let him be with her.
There had to be something that Steven could do.
Anything.
His eyes went to the eternal starlight of the skydome. Giving it thought, this was just Lapis' own Private Grid, a far cry from the problematic Mind Palace.
Mind Palaces weren't exactly grids, but rather the internal data portrait of that particular GIS. Humans have them as well, but less detailed. No. This was Lapis' Satellite Grid. Though it gave Steven thought to his own. It belonged to him, yet his software was here. Couldn't Luna just transfer herself to his mind via the Portrait in the Temple Ruins? If so, why hadn't she arrived yet.
Closing his eyes, Steven withdrew into himself.
Upon reopening them, his HUD displayed the Clouded Room he was accustomed to using. Similar to the Private Grids he was able to create on the fly. Well, they weren't really good for hiding much and it wasn't really for storage; more that he was able to filter and arrange his own internal data and memories. He's only really had Connie in there, but only because he invited her and her alone.
So this was his true Mind Palace. Though he chalked up the confusion to the fake Mind Palace being stored within the AI Core. Steven checked his connections on multiple pink monitors to try and decypher it all.
The Mind Palace was just a Pocket Grid; meant to connect the Domain to the AI Core instanteously. Steven never bothered to look into the AI Cores software capabilties. He knew it was where he first achieved true sentience and that the original LUNA and SOL VI software were meant to develop his intelligence.
Part of him wished he could skimmed through the AI Cores systems to get an itinerary of what it currently contained. It made him think however...
He was half and half. Alien hardware slapped with human software to create the perfect blend. He's never felt like he belonged anywhere but the Domain. Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl. The three chosen to take care of him, but it was always his Mother-Creators design for it to be that way.
What did Rose plan, anyway?
It made no sense if she was against her entire Family yet creates Steven to be some sort of bridge and device. Lunas intent to rebirth Obsidia had to be for a reason and the only way Steven would get answers...
He would have to speak to Obsidia themselves.
An impossibly at this moment in time. But it reminded him to check Wall of ROSE, the Prime App said to hold a part its essence within it. He tried to dive deep into its files; pulling every bit open as he was bombarded with a wall pink Diamond shaped monitors. The file itself was huge, but Steven needed to know more about the essence. He filtered through what he could, eventually finding a pure black monitor with reddish orange outlines. He pressed his finger against, only to find a video.
Clicking on it, he could see an image of Cherry talking to someone as she typed away.
REWIND
"You're Obsidia." She said.
Words came out of Obsidia as text, only for it to be in an alien language. Steven forgot to update his linguistics pack. He forgot to do a lot of things, it seemed.
"Mother didn't destroy you after all." Cherry continued.
"It wouldn't be the first time she's lied to us."
Obsidia talked once again, but Steven had no idea what they were saying.
"Huh. Aunt Nanefua salvaged you huh? Benefits of being the Grand-Sire of your...uhh, cult I suppose."
A response that Steven could only determine as...acknowledged based off Obsidia's tone.
"I've got you hooked up to a cabinet. I'm surprised you can talk in this form."
Same with Steven...and Steven was surprised Cherry could understand Obsidia to begin with. Wasn't Nanefua the only one who could technically hear her?
"You need to be...woah woah hold on..." Said Cherry as she read more of the alien's text.
"Humans will not bow to your kind. But I suppose the alternative could be worse. Given what she's already done to me, she doesn't deserve the position she's in."
He's never heard Cherry be that angry before. Though, Steven didn't know a lot about his supposed Grandmother.
"I won't be human soon. My fate rests with your Pink Monolith construct."
If she was so angry, why did she oblige to give herself as Conduit? Cherry with Obsidia could have overthrone White, surely.
"You know about my oldest daughter?" Cherry said.
Lady Volley...
"She's gone, corrupted by mother." Cherry admitted.
"Punished for not being planned."
Steven couldn't help but feel sorry for Volley.
"My other daughter?" Cherry continued.
"Rose is so young. But if we start planning now...."
Static seezed vid as the noise caught Steven off guard. It made him think and think a lot.
FASTFORWARD
The screen then demonstrated an image of his mother.
"So this is where she put you." Said Rose.
"She told me about your plan."
More text.
"I see." Rose responded, rubbing her chin.
"You have something for me?"
Steven watched as she connected a pink storage device to the cabinet as Steven witnessed text in a screen. However, one bit of text that was shown, was in English.
The words "SWORD OF OBSIDIA" popped up.
"Hmmm I'll take some time to look into it." She said, before the upload finished and she took out the device.
"I hope what you have is worth it, but I don't think this cabinet is going to be safe in the Warehouse anymore."
More text....
"You mean....that was your original plan but you want me....to cancel it?"
Cancel what?
"So that's what you wanted....the ESCAPISM Event...I've heard of it, but was unable to find much detail...but coming from you, it makes much more sense."
Oh. That.
"A tool..." Rose said.
"It can shut it down. Amazing..."
The Sword of Obsidia...
As the recording finished, it had Steven wonder what it meant. He's heard of multiple swords, but what purpose this particular one had was anyones guess. He'd gone out of his mind palace and noticed Lapis as she flew out of the water and back on the ground as she walked towards him.
It was a long shot, but Lapis could know something.
"Everything alright?" She said, noticing his concerned face.
Steven hummed. This served a purpose. A reason. That Cherry and Rose were prompted by Obsidia to halt White in her tracks...part of him wanted to think that they could possibly trust Obsidia, to the detriment of others. There was some faith in their code, somewhere and faith was an empty set of words with no validity. But Steven wanted to at least try to converse with Obsidia, like his Mother-Creator, and mother before had once. It wasn't impossible.
"Know anything about the Sword of Obsidia?" He asked.
An unusual set of words Lapis had never heard before.
"Can't say that I have." She replied.
"I'm guessing its important?"
He assumed so, though he couldn't be too sure. But there was a way forward. A truth to be revealed that had something to do with the sword and he knew it.
"The Essence of Obsidia rests within my Prime App." He told her.
"I found some old memories of Obsidia within the cabinet. Only shreds of it though."
Something that Lapis found surprising. She'd never come across such an unusual....event and can only make assumptions.
"I scarcely hear about Obsidia this days." She said.
"If its the real deal, I wonder why it would share those specific memories to you."
A question Steven had to think long and hard about.
"Maybe it was speaking to me the only way that it can." He suggested.
Who knows? It was the only form of contact that anyones had with anything of the alien species for some time. With the lack of info, however, it was a matter Lapis herself got curious enough to warrant research.
"I can check the Lapis Forums; maybe one of the other Satellites has seen something."
He doubted it, but they had their own rules regarding info when it came to these things. The Forums described to have chatterboxes for GIS, lording over private intel that could start several wars.
"I'd appreciate it." He said.
She nodded, then her eyes widdened as she remembered why she came to see Steven in the first place.
"Oh right." She said.
"I'm getting several channels saying some kind of prototype of the Domain 2.0 is going to be in a test phase very soon. Several Satellites have been flagged for range spread."
Steven didn't know what he could do. Any information was welcomed at this point, but hunting down this sword became his highest priority.
"Including mine."
Steven looked at her strangely.
"Wait, its not voluntary???" He asked, worried.
She shook her head.
"Damn it." She said.
"Steven...."
He could use it to his advantage, however.
"Wait, I have an idea." He said
Lapis looked up more about this Domain 2.0 Prototype from the Lapis Forums. According to the forums, the range spread was meant to focused primarily on Mega Beach City alone. Lapis would be used to recieve and send the data for a mysterious pulse that is meant to connect to thousands, if not millions of people. For this, it required a fair few Lapis and Steven's Lapis was chosen due to one being within proximity. Steven needed to get to Mega Beach City's grid and fast.
The emotion described as discomfort was known to her quite well. The ample amount of it pestered her daily, for the duties she had to uphold because of who she was and what she was designed for. It was safer for her to obey the code laid out for her and to do her duty with due diligence.
Going out of line with Mirror Ward gave a taste of rebellion that she wanted to have back then, but the more she was with Steven, the more her memories filtered back into her...
Whether or not he could ever know the truth...if he could handle the truth...
"I don't know about this Steven." Lapis said, voicing her doubts.
"I can get you in but I don't know if I can get you out."
She had prepared the platform for the data transfer, having had to adjust herself to be able to transfer the data when requested. Steven stood in the middle, prepared and determined.
"I can enter the Domain discreetly this way without Luna or the Developers knowing." He said.
"Plus I need to find the Sword of Obsidia....it's important for me to find info."
Lapis sighed. She didn't want him to leave her alone. But that was not her decision to make, as she's always been a solitary sort.
It would be an act she would get reprimanded about; going against orders previously given not long ago. But the faith; so called a power humans had. It resonated within Steven, a beacon. She trusted him and only desired for his safety.
"If you're so sure." She said, frowing.
"Please be careful."
He gave her a thumbs up, before he faded into blue pixels that went upwards into the starlight.
Chapter 93: Beach
Summary:
Steven awakens to unusual circumstances.
Chapter Text
There was sand beneath his feet. Toes wriggled deep into the sensation. His eyes witnessed the blue skies above his head...and sensation of warmth across his face. The soothing sound of waves crashing against the shore graced his ears.
Steven wore jeans and a white top with a star as well as a pink jacket on top. He saw a nearby cliff and walked towards where the sand met the grass. Each blade of grass danced gracefully against the wind. The sensations were unbelievable. The breeze was humbling and the air was filled with a combination of aromas, but the smell of the salty seas behind him were the most potent.
His mind was more at ease of how...normal, if not strangely natural. Was this reality?
No, it had to be the Domain...
As far as Stevens experiences had been prior, the Domain never really got sand down pat, to the extent of the perculiar feeling of sand particles being able to graze against skin. He was able to summon sandles to enforce the stability and remind himself that there was some alterations that could still made here, within his control.
He's never even felt sand before; even with Connie.
What was this?
He looked around to see the Temple Ruin and the Beach House. The waves themselves ever authentic. They looked more real than they ever have been.
Surreal wouldn't be the proper descriptor. But Steven eventually understood where he was now.
The Domain 2.0.
His priority was to scout out the situation here. So he'd run up the nearby cliff to get a better look and came across a tall structure; a lighthouse. Turning around when he was high enough, Steven could then see a small township where Mega Beach City would have been located. It was tiny if anything, but he decided to investigate.
Once he walked down, he came across a small building labeled the Big Donut, with an aforementioned big donut on top of it. He's heard of the big donut, but Connie never really ate donuts and Steven's never even had the luxury...
Part of him wanted to go in there and have a look around. Then his feet just naturally brought himself in there.
A tall, brown haired man was serving donuts at the counter and waved at Steven as he entered. He looked like the former mayor of Mega Beach City.
"Greetings!" He said.
"Welcome to the Big Donut, what can I get you?"
Steven looked around, seeing the rows and columns by the counter, unsure of what to think. He wanted to try a donut but there was too much variety.
There were ones with pink icing with star shaped pink sprinkles and edible pearls.
Also ones with purple icing with licorice
As well as ones with burgundy icing with red and blue sprinkles.
His mind was filled with too many choices to handle.
He got the three donuts anyway. The transaction went as normal and ordinary as one would expect as he watched the man put the donuts into a pink box.
Walking outside, he felt something perculiar.
He sat down at a nearby bench and looked at the donuts in the box. His mind shuffled and struggled through odd compulsions. A small boy walked past with an unusually bulbous head and a small tuft of blonde hair that came out of his head. His eyes were large and vacant yet as they looked at Steven they came across as haunting with their still and stiffness, immune to the breeze.
A woman with a blonde bob and a yellow suit and a yellow pencil skirt with matching high heels walked in his direction. She demonstrated power in every step with confidence oozing out. Every inch screamed authority in some way shape or form. She then sat down next to him.
"How are you liking the Domain 2.0 so far?" She asked.
Steven wasn't even sure how to answer.
"Are you doing surveys?" He asked.
The woman smiled.
"I need to see how the humans are doing." She said.
"There's always room to improve but once the full version is released..."
Steven didn't look forward to that.
"Do you think everyone would want to participate in the full release?" He asked.
The woman looked at him strangely.
"Once it reaches Golden State, it will be a seamless transition." She told him.
"People won't know the difference between here and reality."
That's what Steven was afraid of. Though he was an AI, he wasn't sure that this entire ordeal was a good idea the further in he knew about it.
"Once they do find the Transitional Entity and the Pink Monolith then things are bound to improve....as long as the Blue Monolith keeps checking for bugs."
Steven swallowed, as nerves threatened to get the better of him as he grabbed the knees of his pants in anxiety. He almost jumped as a phone ran, and the woman pulled out an ancient looking relic; an old flip phone that must have been something from eons ago.
"Mimosa here." She said.
Mimosa...
"Hmm....are you...someones...."
Another look at Steven caused him to jump again.
"I see." She said, her eyes narrowing.
Pursing his lips, he didn't recognise the sweat rolling down his forehead.
"I will follow up on this straight away" She said.
She hung up the phone and sighed.
"Duty calls." She said.
"If you need any help here, feel free to talk to one of the Joint-Mayors; they'll make sure to take care of you."
Watching the woman walk away, it gave Steven a further sense of unease. He'd gripped his pants tightly and wondered where everything would lead.
The reality of the world was less surreal but more, in a paradoxical sense. Enough to drive GIS mad with how much it offered in terms of its physical complexity. He'd gotten up and walked around town.
Beach City. Not mega, just...as it was. Like an image of the past captured and replicated to near perfection. It looked so simple, so pure and free. The sense of any wrongdoings wouldn't be seen upon first glance. His eyes hitched on an error, a mistake or something missing in the process of its creation. But it was hard to find anything other than being able to project screens from his persons.
Many an ordinary building. A pizza place. A fry place. An arcade and even an amusement park. Normal. Basic. Free.
There was so much that Steven would believe could be real. But it wasn't. Knowing that it was fake brough Steven more turmoil and disdain. It was another disingenious veil pulled over the eyes. It made him more angry the more he thought about it.
So eventually the most unusual construct came across his visiul a white gothic styled church. It stood out from the rest of the city with how out of place it looked. Nothing wrong with its design that made it stand out like texture issues or anything, but it was just...white stone that contrasted with the rest of the town. Steven had to investigate, so he approached it and pushed open the big doors.
The interior was small, quaint with the simple wooden pews that helped divde. The tile set was white, save for a strange pattern that consisted of white, yellow, blue and pink diamond emblems. He's seen these before.
Sunlight poured through the stain glass windows; four on each side that replicated what he envisioned to be each Diamond....but the back window consisted of its conduits. White stood proud at the back with her arms raised, as if overshadowing Yellow and Blue, who over shadowed Pink.
On the right hand side, sitting down, was a onion haired shaped woman as she looked down at the floor, in prayer.
Steven walked forward as she lifted her head.
"Steven is that you?" She said.
Looking at the woman, he remembered who she was.
"Officer Vidalia?" He said.
She smile and patted the seat next to her. He was a bit confused, but he shuffled his way and sat next to her.
"I'm surprised you're here." She said.
Steven had to guess she was here to monitor the prototype
"I could say the same." He said.
"But...I suppose...you're..."
She shook her head.
"I'm just here as a Human Enforcer...a real officer if you will." She said.
"They pay us a small pittance for committing our time to this nonsense, but as a Shard-Bearer, I felt like I had an obligation."
Or else they would have probably yanked her Shard out...or something.
"Part of me knew, I wasn't going to be Amethysts permanent Custodian. I'm not part of the Family. Just a pawn, in the end."
But Amethyst was a part of Alexandrite now, whether or not Vidalia could be trusted with such knowledge.
"I've heard that the White Caretaker was damaged and broken...poor thing."
Bismuth....
"And they're trying to bring in another new generation of Caretakers after the others had abandoned their positions, but they seem to having difficulty in finding the proper replacements."
The roles themselves seem to be a revolving door these days. The retention rate was already horrible.
"Do you believe in any one this?" Steven asked her.
Vidalia tilted her head.
"I believe what I want to believe, but the Developers themselves aren't going to stand around while their stuff is being tampered with." She said.
"This Church was established by Bismuth, I was told. A last hastily created program she was ordered to make. For if the people are going to trust what the Monoliths say, they need their Priests to vocalise their word."
Weren't the Voices like Ms. Dot and Director Agate supposed to be something along those lines?
"I'm not a religious person by nature Steven, but I understand what blasphemy is." Vidalia continued.
"Built to be a safe space. Like your prayers are being heard. But they're not. They'll just be used against you."
For what ever reason it sparked a memory of an old conversation he had with Connie about churches being used to spy on people. He didn't think much of it, in reality. Those confessionals were basically monitoring booths. She then checked her watch.
"We've got another 3 hours left until the trial period ends. If you want to do something, anything, you might as well do it now."
Steven stood up. She had a point. He was here on a mission.
"Do you know anything known as the Sword of Obsidia?" He asked
Vidalia shook her head.
"Can't say that I have." She replied.
"Oh that reminds me."
She tood up then summoned a yellow digital sphere from her palm crystal.
"This is for Connie when you find her." She said.
"Amethyst thought fit to leave it with me to protect until I found Connie, but if you are the one to find Connie..."
Steven looked at the digital sphere and wasn't sure if he wanted to look into its contents.
"It's uhh...just important info." She said.
"I'm not a great hacker like Berrybyte, but she will know what do with it, I'm told."
He put the sphere into his storage, then looked on with Vidalia, wanting to sit around and more and query.
"Do you ever think that...well, you created for this?" He asked out of the blue.
Which made Vidalia wary.
"Humans are born for a variety of reasons." She said.
"But ultimately, they are provided with the power of choice. I chose to become a public defender. Because the injustices of this world cannot go unattended."
Thats true.
"But besides that stereotypical crud, you want me to answer truthfully? I needed to put food on the table for my children. The money was enough to afford an apartment, and to live with my husband and my two children."
Huh...
"But the more I found myself crawling through this mud, the more I knew I had to do to help out. I don't have much power in this crazy world, but..."
She stood up and stretched her limbs.
"I know you're meant for so much more than being what the Developers make you out to be. Amethyst taught me that much."
Part of Steven felt guilty for abandoning them. He clenched onto his shirt near his Kernal Core and felt like something got caught in his throat. Like a betrayal to his truthful form.
"But I'm not human." He said.
"I don't have the same capacity to live and choose...even with an Android...I don't think it's..."
Vidalia raised an eyebrow.
"Enough to emulate the human experience?" She said.
Something along those lines.
"Does it have to be a human experience? I mean, it was like it was yesterday I had to learn more about AIs and technology in general. My sons know more about it that I do, yet I get mixed it up a thousand fold compared to what say, Sour Cream does everyday."
Humans themselves delved into the technology, their hearts, minds, their eyes and ears and senses lost in what Steven didn't find all that impressive. Nevertheless, Steven just...
"I don't care about any of that." He said.
"I've spent enough time in the Domain....to think that I don't belong in it."
A thought that had come to his mind a while ago and it was only being in a place that mimics the closest reality he could find himself in that had him realise such an ideal. An idea that was more a small harmless virus that took hold of his mind. Ever calculating at its own pace. A feeling that felt more forced as time went on and that double jacking with Connie brought to mind more that he could reach, even possibly better than being here or in an Android. That there had to be the tiniest of flaws of this place that would break the illusion of the false world they were really in.
"I know they can transfer people into AIs, but part of me wishes they could just as easily create humans from AI ya know? Isn't that crazy?"
Vidalia didn't even know how to respond to that.
"Some would say yes." She said.
"But who knows what the future holds..."
No. Steven couldn't envision that uncertainity anything more. It was his future to claim and he needed it to be absolutely sure.
Plus he hated that line.
"But the future of humanity itself is doomed." He said.
"Everything about this seems...wrong."
A determined pathway that not everyone agreed to.
"Then why do you seek to avoid which pathway is less damaging?"
A woman with orange dreads and dark skin. A light blue suit with a pencil skirt and matching heels.
"Ash?" Said Steven.
The Orange Spodumene; different yet...
"Why are you here?"
She walked forward, as her the click of her heels echoed with dominance.
"I'd looked forward to seeing Obsidia in action. But I was met with Alexandrite; who's been looking for you."
No. No way.
"I don't want to be a part of that." He said.
"I refuse to be anyones tool."
Reluctance born of uncertainity; again clarity was of utmost importance here.
"You seem to under the delusion its going to be permanent." She said.
"Obsidia will not linger forever."
How does she know?
"It's an Alien. Who knows what it will do....by that point, with all the pieces together, Obsidia might..."
He couldn't think of what it will do. The stronger, spiritual entity that supersedes all else. The ultimate override that will wrest complete control if given the chance. It was then his avatar begun to glitch with an absolute; a negative emotion that was slowly becoming stronger by the moment.
"Steven I know it's difficult to understand-"
"THEN HELP ME UNDERSTAND!" He called out, his body crackling with pink electricity.
"We are trying." Ash said.
"Rose's mission was important...."
More important...
"And Luna has taken hold. Her actions have already told me enough and I've given her enough chances and I no longer trust her!"
Everything. Everything she's done to him. To Connie and to others. No more.
"I understand." Ash said.
"But this isn't about Luna. This is about humanity."
Of course it was. It always was.
"And how Obsidia wants to control it. Funny." He said.
"You'd trade one master for another."
Ash pressed her hand against her chest.
"Rose's mission was to stop White in her tracks." She said.
"Because she knew the wishes of Obsidia."
"A tool..." Rose said.
"It can shut it down. Amazing..."
"The Sword." He said.
But that meant taking out the competition.
What about the aftermath?
"What is the Sword...and how does it stop White?"
Now he was getting it.
"I don't even know if I want to be here hearing about this." Vidalia said as she stood by Steven and rested her hand on his shoulder.
Ash looked deeply into Vidalia's eyes....knowing exactly who this woman was.
"No you're exactly where you're needed Custodian."
Turning to the entrance, Mimosa made her appearance. Her appearance struck fear into Ash who stood in front of the Yellow Conduit.
"And you have the Entity with you. Good. He needs to be brought to the Mayoral Chambers, immediately."
Vidalia grunted as she held Steven close.
"And Obsidia isn't coming back." She said, summoning a horde of Topaz GIS into the church at the mere click of her fingers.
"A bunch of superstitious nonsense that seeks to erase everything we've fought for."
Steven summoned his shield in front, wary of the the dozen or so Topaz that were ready to pounce.
"I am no ones Entity." He said, furious.
"I am Steven. I am fit to choose, like any human."
Mimosa laughed.
"You're almost as funny in your threats as those idiots in the Cult of the Cluster." She said.
"But I will make you erase all pride.... GET HIM!"
The Topaz went in the offensive, as Ash changed her avatar into her GIS form and raised her hand. The ground would rumble as a worm would burst out of the ground with massive teeth and tentacles at the end, with its design similar to Ash's GIS form in aesthetics. The whole church quaked in its presence as it collided with the Topaz.
"Steven, Vidalia. Go!" Ash called out.
Steven hesitated but couldn't even get a word in as Vidalia yanked his hand and made run for it while Mimosa was distracted, though not for long. As soon as Vidalia and Steven ran past, she managed to get a hold of a trailing Steven and yank him from Vidalia. She managed to pull him to the ground, then stomp his chest which made him weeze. Vidalia attempted to assist, but stopped as Mimosa held out her crackling hand.
"Foolish program." She said, unimpressed by Steven.
"Rose designed you for us...but saw fit to code you with the wrong attitude."
Steven squirmed as he tried to push Mimosa foot off of him.
"But that is okay; nothing but a bit of SOAP can't handle." She said. She then bubbled Steven as he floated and sent him on his way to the Mayoral Chambers.
"No!" Vidalia screamed.
"As for you Custodian." Mimosa continued.
"His power of persuasion shall reign over you no longer. Get back to work....while I deal with the troubesome Spodumene within."
Chapter 94: Layer
Summary:
Connie traverses the Pearl Cloud Server to find the Ancilla Pearl; unfortunately, she also finds a disturbing piece of info about the Network.
Chapter Text
White. Bright. Sparkling.
Far more..intense but that was the nature of the virtual world. Less designed for humans if anything and a lot of water that streamed about in artificially made rivers.
It was open and up above was like dark space, as ribbons were decorated on thin air. And fountains.
A lot of them.
Connie walked with Aubergine Pearl, who lead Connie to a massive clam shell in the middle, which sat above the biggest fountain of them all. Looking down, the water that fell went into a large well, which then trickled its waters into various small sewer like contraptions.
A marble statue of an octopus looked like it held the clam close and in place.
"Giga Pearl is our Creator-Mother." Aubergine said.
"She will be able to help you."
In what way?
"There's a certain...aspect to which we may be able to utilise via the Ancilla Pearl; if we're lucky."
Aubergine then summoned a key from her Kernel Core, then slotted it in a white lock hologram. The lock soon disappeared, as slowly, but surely, the giant clam opened.
It revealed a massive Pearl-GIS; She wore a crown her curly blonde hair, oozing a royal vibe. and her dress looked like it was made out of golden, save for the tentacle like lines that overlined the white lace skirt underneath, with puffy shoulders that went into intricately designed white gloves. Her Kernel Core rested within her chest, surrounded by small greena and red jewels. The look in her eyes glinted with golden sparkles.
"A Human." She said, her voice sounded softer and deeper than any Pearl Connie's heard before.
Something that unnerved Connie, which wasn't common.
"Giga Pearl was the first Pearl created and runs this facility." Aubergine told her.
Connie figured as much. Wouldn't be a leader if you weren't simply a larger version.
"My iridiscent Giga." She continued.
"This human is having issues with our original, organic contributor."
Lady Volley?
"Hmmm." Giga said, as she squinted at Connie.
Connie was compelled to answer.
"She's...well, she's at the Site, with the uhh....Transitional Entity, that everyone's flapping on about."
A statement that intrigued the Pearl.
"And I may need to use your...uhh, Cloud Network to be able to save the software from her...."
Connie doubted this was going to work. She wasn't sure why she was so nervous either.
"My network isn't fit for human travel." Giga said.
"Hence why I projected much of this for what ever the human mind can comprehend. But I envision that you're after one of my Pearls."
Connie nodded.
"Ancilla Pearl; that once belonged to Rosette Flannigan." She said.
Giga's movements seemed slow and deliberate as her way of speech, as she brought up a screen and looked up information.
"Of course, the Pearl of Caretaker Rose." She said.
"Her Kernel Core looks like it's installed onto a...consensus platform at the moment. A dangerous construct to exist in the Domain."
What Connie would like to know is how this is going to help with dealing with Lady Volley...
"A Pearl-GIS is constructed very differently compared to a regular GIS you seen created from a Monolith's Kindergarten." Giga explained.
"Even my creation was...unconventional."
She raised her arms, and from the waters came holograms of multiple Pearls of different types, colours and poses.
"Each Pearl is formed via a more...organic method....and Lady Volley herself is the original sample...but that's not to say, she was tested with.....and I was tested with...."
Connie tried to follow but failed.
"Development into the Cloud Network required a different type of server structure; disconnected from the Domain but still maintained connections using Alien Technologies to be able to hold stable connections."
Made sense.
"Including the use of nanites....using Alien technology on the flesh to produce interesting...results."
She waived her hands and brought up odd tanks that suddenly shifted out of the ground. Each of these tanks held pinkish fluids....and small, naked pearls that rested within them with small wires that connected to the back of their necks.
"What the...." Connie said.
Giga smiled a kind smile, but it was far more disconcerting than it was meant to be.
"Are these....clones?"
Cloned Pearls...Cloned Volley's.
What was the meaning of this?
"There are Pearls that help maintain the Cloud Network by using a combination of their organic brains..." Giga continued.
"The Nanites and the amni fluid that fills their tanks...help maintain the Pearls as well produces Pearls after a certain amount of time is passed."
Connie approached one of the tanks. This was merely a hologram and a demonstration but it didn't make it any less disturbing. She stepped back when the one she was closest to jolted and begun to thrash as if she was choking on something. Connie watched in horror as if the Pearl herself was...dying. The Pearl clone held her her stomach; then soon cough up something as large as a tennis ball from her throat.
A shiny, new Pearl Phylactery.
It was sucked out of a different pipe, before the Pearl clone went limp as if it went back to sleep.
To say Connie was mortified by this process was an understatement.
"This is disgusting!" She screamed.
It didn't matter what she thought. It'd been something that been going on for years.
"Each clone will cough up a Phylactery anywhere between six months to a few years." Giga explained.
"Their organs have been genetically altered to that similar of oysters when normal Pearls are formed, of course in a more...alien tech esque way.'
Even more sickening. Giga removed the tanks as she further went into it.
"Lady Volley herself....is nothing but a failed clone." She revealed.
"She still has all the necessary pieces of equipment, but needs the Nanites to keep herself alive and the organs from failing...as like all the others."
Connie didn't want to hear anymore....
"Okay I get it...ugh...gross." She said.
How could....how could DM Biometrics create such a thing? Which begged the question; where was the original Volley?
"So...if she's a clone....then..."
Giga lifted her chin then pressed her hand against her chest.
"Suffice to say I control the Nanites within her."
The Sun-Touched ones?
"But it appears she had them altered....I can no longer contol them." She said.
She tried to fix things herself. Connie wasn't surprised.
"But there are still ways we can still...invade." Giga continued.
Now they were getting somewhere.
"Volley believes that she has disconnected entirely from the Network. I only need a single Pearl GIS to double jack with her to invade her Nanites for the override to work."
This sounded more sick and twisted the more Connie thought about it. Talk about perversion of humanity, but it did make Connie pity her more.
"I volunteer for the override Mother." Aubergine said enthusiastically.
Giga then collected something out of her Kernel Core and transferred it to Aubergines.
"Aubergine you shall remain unassociated for the time being." Giga said.
"Obey your current Master, but you can assist with the human for now until the program I've given you is given to the Ancilla Pearl."
Aubergine Pearl nodded.
"Of course."
Then what?
"As for the transfer for yourself, Ms. Maheswaran." Giga continued.
"I will permit passage for now. I am not sure the effect that it will have on your body in the meantime so any issue...."
Connie will handle it.
"I will be fine..." She said.
For the most part, the Cloud Network itself was separated by numerous subsections known as Garden Layers; specially cordoned off by tall fences that surround every Pearls Cloud Storage and protected by strong encryption to guarantee the safety of precious data.
But Giga was correct. This looked weird even compared to the way the Domain tried to emulate the human world as much as it could, where as this had brick roads and flower beds everywhere, one could easily see that the sky didn't exist for humans; numbers boxes that filtered around above as far as they eye could see. Data transfers, Connie figured.
Aubergine would utilise the Cloud Key that would allow Connie access to Ancilla Pearls Storage. Not to mention actually finding where she was hiding was the other half of the battle.
"I can't believe a system that uses organic brains to support a network actually sounds worse than storing human minds into the Domain." Connie commented.
Aubergine's smile never wavoured.
"No other Pearl would have explained that to you." She said.
"We are restricted in telling anyone the production methods. Only Giga Pearl has that exemption."
Now Connie wondered if she trusted her. It was so hard to trust anyone these days but Connie wasn't gonna revisit that fact again. It made her think. Human brains that would be the equivilant of a single phylactery...
Or many. It brought to mind the Cluster Monolith, except a bit more broken down.
And messed up.
"We should be near Ancilla Pearl."
It wouldn't be long until they were outside tall, white gates. This was it. Aubergine noticed something was wrong as Connie stood there, hesitant.
"Is everything alright?" She asked.
Everything about this...felt wrong. A system people depended on, on the daily, to coexist alongside the Domain proper. Connie felt sick with the implications and she couldn't stop thinking about it.
Whether or not anything could be done would have to be put aside for now.
"Nothing." Said Connie.
"Let get this over with."
Aubergine nodded and unlocked the Gate...
The gate was opened and they were met with a numerous still, hologram envisioned Pearl duplicates, each with a sword in their hand that they held in front of their heads, as if awaiting their masters orders.
They dared not move, as Connie and Aubergine walked around the holograms in question. They stood within a Pearls Garden, filled with blue flowers; forget me nots, if Connie wasn't mistaken.
"I should have known someone would come crawling here."
In the middle of the garden and on top of a waterfall that had a statue of pearl, was someone...who definitely wasn't Pearl. Wild peach hair and three sets of limbs...and eyes where eyes wouldn't really be as there was the set of two...and three around an oval Kernel Core.
"You don't look like...Pearl?" Connie croaked.
They jumped up and landed in front of Connie which resulted in a small tremor, due to their now, apparent, much bigger size.
"I am Pearl." She said.
Part of the voice matched up, now that she thought about it, as well as the colouring. Another voice lingered above it as well, deeper and raspier in tone.
"But I am but a fragment of the Alexandrite Consensus. A human such as yourself should not even be here."
Connie lifted her chin as she stared down the multi-eyed GIS.
"No, I shouldn't." She said.
"I've been given orders from your Mother-Creator, Giga, to call upon you to install yourself into Volley's DP."
That...was a confusing request.
"Volley..." She said.
"Luna is currently having quite the difficulty with her at this moment in time. We have been ordered to find Steven to be able to put him as part of our Consensus."
So what Connie has been told.
"And you're just going to obey Luna on the top of a hat, is that it?" Connie queried.
Pearl looked down.
"Luna is our Master." She said.
"The bottom of our load order in truth. But it is imperative for us to find Steven and make Obsidia whole."
Over Connie's dead shell. She looked to Aubergine.
"No idea what to do here." She said.
The purple Pearl sighed.
"Giga can't force a Pearl to obey an order....only provide software and firmware updates to the Network." She said.
"A Pearls priority is the commands of their User-master."
Or some kind of other authority, as they learned that from the satellite jump from last time.
"Look this is an update from Giga." Said Connie.
"I can't force you to do anything, but if you know what's good for you..."
Pearl lifted her head.
"I refuse to install anything." She said.
"But..."
Her head to the side, hearing messages being sent to her and had message come up on her own HUD.
"But maybe....if you can lead us to Steven..."
Connie shook her head.
"I can't." She said.
"And not because I won't; its because I don't actually know where he is."
A pain point, but not knowing made it easier for Steven to be safe. Pearl crossed her arms.
"All paths will converge on him eventually." She said.
"But I'm more after....a test of strength and will."
All of the hologram Pearls all stood to attention, almost frightening Connie as heard them stomp all around her.
"If you can defeat my security programs, then I might be welcoming for the installation?"
Pearl stood back and from her glowing Kernel Core, she was able to summon holographic versions of herself, prepped with spears and fearsome faces ready for battle. Whether or not they had time for such endeavours; Connie had already made her choice.
Summoning her sword, it glinted under the lights, as she smiled.
"Bring it."
The holograms charged forward, as Connie defended herself with the barrage of spears heading her way. The clashes were loud and visiceral, as violent and spark inducing as Connie desired. Pearl on the other hand, kept looking at Connie's sword, interested in its properties...amongst other reasons.
It wouldn't be Connie' s first rodeo. She's trained herself in and out for these sorts of things, easily enough. The holograms got close to clipping her and nipping her but ultimately, she was able to dissapate a few with well aimed strikes and jabs. She tested the limits of her agility, as she weaved, dodged and flipped about. Within no time at all, she was able to successfully defeat them all.
Exhausted, Connie's ears tuned into Pearl clapped with all their hands in sync.
"Well done." She said.
"As a GIS of my word, I will install the program."
Connie nodded as Aubergine walked past her and took the program as a form of a white light with circling code around it to the Pearl Alexandrite.
"It's supposed to override Volleys Nanites." She said.
"If Luna...."
Why would Connie even say this even if it puts them more at risk?
"If Luna needs help with Volley back at the Site..."
But Volley was more a risk to both Steven's AI Core AND the Pink Monolith. She had to choose the lesser of two evils.
"I'm certain Luna will appreciate the assistance." Said Pearl.
"But Connie...I know you care deeply for Steven's well-being."
Here we go.
"We all do." Pearl continued.
"Obsidia is going to be our strongest tool to defeat the Developers. That is inevitable."
Not on Connie's watch.
"When the time is right, you will need to convince him of his true purpose...."
Connie's main worry would then be whether or not he'll survive or even come back. The idea of Obsidia just...existing terrified her. What will the alien do? Take control? Kill off humanity anyway?
The idea made her extraordinarily sad more than it angered her. He didn't want to be a machine. He wanted to be a living being and that to live for the sake of living was okay as anything else. He didn't have to have a purpose made for him if he had the power of choice alone programmed deep within him.
"As like you, we've cared for Steven for a long time...and I wouldn't want him to suffer....we don't want him to suffer ..." Pearl continued.
"And none of us like where this is heading. All I want is...for him to be happy. An idea so out of line for someone like me."
This is new. Connie watched as Pearl inserted the program into her Kernel Core.
"I will provide this information with the consensus." She said.
"And contact Luna on a way to get us installed on Volley within due course."
Good.
"Please hurry." Said Connie.
"Both Steven and the Pink Monolith are in grave danger if you don't."
Chapter 95: Accord
Summary:
WIth Steven stuck hopelessly within the Mayoral Chambers, the Yellow Conduit discusses plans for him.
Chapter Text
A dark chamber, filled to the brim with technological wonder and it a way, instilled a sense of an awe as well as fear.
Three hexagonal tubes in the middle that Steven could have sworn looked similar to his AI Core in their design. The bubble he floated in, looked upon the trio of constructs.
The metal casing had letters on them. PEEDEE-3, RONALDO-2 AND SADIE-1
No.....
"Guys...." He whispered.
The clack of heels sounded to his left hand side. The cocky Yellow Conduit, Mimosa, with her hands behind her back and a smile on her face, made him hate her all the more.
"Fantastic, aren't they?" She said with adoration.
"The critical parts; for they are the defined Heart and Soul of the Domain 2.0. The supports that will bring brilliance to the full product. It's missing two critical components, however."
No surprises there, but what made Steven furious was the fears that of the fates of his friends...what made them human was no longer there.
"They didn't volunteer for this!" He called out, with tears running down his eyes.
Mimosa pouted, frustrated by Steven's lack of understanding.
"They are part of the Family." She said.
"They must obey and play the roles which they were made for!"
No. They couldn't...
"And yes, that includes you..."
Not that Steven had any choice in the matter. She summoned another AI Core with his name and details on it then brought over his bubble towards it. A sight that no longer comforted him...as it begun to bring out new forms of distress from within.
"No you can't!" He cried.
"You don't want this!"
Mimosa wasn't going to be budge, inherently unimpressed.
"This is how it is going to be." She said.
"You will join the others and be the support and ultimately the trigger, once we find out where the Pink Monolith is then nothing will stop us!"
The AI Core closed around him as the bubble disappeared and like before; it went all dark.
It wasn't common to be stuck in darkness like this. A dreamless slumber, though he was still....awake.
No amount of absolutes would tear at him, to force him one way or the other.
Words would come to mind, but they required constant detangling to understand them. Plucked and drawn and reconstituted. Larger. Smaller. Still incomphrensible as his HUD was of no help at all.
He could hear the low hum of the realm he found himself in. A barless prison.
It wasn't supposed to common to be stuck in the dark, but that's what stasis was to an AI. But it was supposed to be stable and still, frozen in time, and yet...
He collected and shared his data to himself like thoughts in a loop. As any AI or GIS would. That was part of the package of who they were. Programs. Functions with visual forms. They didn't need the visuals but it helped acclimate humans...it gave them a target to blame and to yell and scream. Carthasis in the end, but the abuse as some would say...
Or wouldn't.
The mortal mind was much as contrast to the digital one. Coded to think and feel but it wasn't perfect. A thought process calculated in ways similar on the surface. It was like looking at ones reflection in the water. All one would see was themselves, but underneath was still water that flowed as it was meant to.
Why was he given so much room to think and think some more. The Ancillas had no problems of waiting for hours, days, weeks or months. AIs were to stand by until they were told to do something...
What about BM-AIs? Weren't they human once? Steven never got the chance to ask any questions to Mama Maheswaran until now about her experiences. She was human once.
And he never asked his Father-Creator.
Why was he thinking this now?
Because there wasn't much else. Anger would stem other thoughts but it was as if the anger was displaced and taken out of the equation.
A single light downed on a short woman with blonde hair, putting her to the eternal stage
"Sadie!" Steven called out as he ran up to her.
She looked at him with her eyes completely white. Emotionless as she wore a white outfit; almost...alien in design.
"Steven." She said, her voice soft and dull.
He was glad to see someone at least, running up to her. She too, consumed by the fate unfairly thrust upon her psyche. The light revealed Steven's pink outfit, though it took was alien-esque.
"I'm sorry..." He said.
"We're stuck inside the Domain 2.0...the Developers..."
She looked down, unable to look him in the eyes.
"We cannot leave." She said.
He blinked. This had to be White's doing, but he's never seen a human suppressed this much. He did a quick reading as he brought up a monitor and did a few quick scans though most of what he found was encrypted. Perhaps he didn't even need to know what was going on within. He already knew there had to be a dozen or so programs to suppress her personality.
This was the support providing the 2.0. Organics with shards like Sadie.
"We cannot leave."
To his left he saw Ronaldo in a yellow outifit spawn.
"We cannot leave."
Peedee in blue to Sadie's right.
Steven stood back as he looked at the three. He wasn't sure what to call this but it was definitely something that was pure wrong. Using organics like this...it was utter madness.
"You must have the Suppression Program installed." Said Ronaldo.
Steven blinked, then turned around him as a large machine arm tried to grab him. He moved out of the way as the another tried to grab him. And another. It wasn't long until Steven tried to run in a few circles, but the amount of arms kept growing and eventually...
snap
One managed to get a hold of him.
A whole bunch kept him still as he tried to strain and wriggle out of the binds but they grabbed every limb and his waist to keep him in from escaping. Yet another arm poured down from the abyss. This time it was a needle.
Endless no's spewed out of the breathless GIS as he did not want any other program installed inside of him. He gritted his teeth and grunted...the needle then tapped onto his Kernel Core and forced the new program into his files.
To say it caused him immense pain as he screamed was something else. His Avatar warped and glitched out as the upload was happening. Where was Connie when you needed her?
"To struggle against it is meaningless." Said Ronaldo, his voice monotone.
He was beginning to lose access to important programs...and the Wall of ROSE....he tried to hold on to it as best he could.
Memories...precious memories were fuzzing away as well.
Him. Connie.
No, he couldn't lose everything he had of her. No, he just couldn't.
"It will remove every useless file to ensure that you will run efficiently." Said Peedee.
Obey the Monoliths. For the glory of humanities salvation.
No, he didn't want to obey. He didn't want this...
He didn't want it
He didn't want it.
REJECT
REJECT
REJECT
REJECT
His vision was fuzzy and broken. He could hear the faintest noise of....muffled sirens and the sensation of the cold came and went as it pleased.
A feed. A feed into somewhere...
A single AI Core.
Steam emitted from different parts of the core as flashing red lights were everywhere. An android came in from another door in a panic.
"Damn it what's going on?" She said.
It was his Android.
Luna?
"Princie speak with me."
Princie?
"His softwares being hacked into." Said an oddly deeply feminine voice over the intercom. That didn't sound like Princie...
Another android sprinted into the room.
Dr. Maheswaran.
"Is there anything I could do to help?"
Wait, where was....
"Garnet warned us this might happen." Said Luna as she rapidly tapped into the console next to the AI Core.
Garnet...
"Wait, I have an idea. Come here for a moment, do you know your anti-hacking protocols?"
Dr. Maheswaran went blank before she could properly answer.
"Um. Yeah sure." She said.
Luna nodded. She connected Dr. Maheswarans android to the console.
"Utilise your own blockade systems as best you can." She said.
"I just need you to buy me sometime....I need to see our friend in incarceration real quick."
Oh they must have dealt with Volley? Thank goodness.
"Alright but what-" Dr. Maheswaran called out fruitlessly, as Luna left the room via the other door.
The good doctor sighed as she implimented what she understood to be specific blocking programs, even if she didn't understand it half the time.
"Hey we gave you more permissions to protect the Site Princie and you couldn't prevent Steven from being hacked?"
They did what?
"While I do appreciate the measures Luna took to ensure I had more control over the facility, it opens up newer problems in terms of vulnerability." Princie explained.
Priyanka groaned with annoyance.
"I thought our sessions were meant to deal with said vulnerabilities." She said.
To protect the Pink Conduit from Developer influence...not to mention Luna's.
"There's that, but it happens...wait..."
Dr. Maheswaran paused.
"What is it?" She asked.
Silence...besides the sirens.
"There's something stuck in the Grid....its invaded the security systems." Princie revealed.
Oh no.
"I'm guessing thats a huge problem." Priyanka said dryly.
Were they referring to....
Oh shit. Steven found himself thrust upon another security camera...this time it looked at the Deep Throne of the Pink Monolith. There was no way Steven could speak to anyone anyway. He wasn't even doing this on his own volition.
"I'm going to enforce a security feed reboot in five, four..."
I FOUND YOU
Booted out of the Site's security feed, Steven found himself stuck in the void once again...
Lifeless as he stood there, his pink eyes drilled to the floor.
Chapter 96: Emergence
Summary:
Berrybyte enters the Prototype Domain via Alexandrites help.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
It wasn't long until Pearl came back with the news that the Consensus was able to agree upon Connie utilising Pearl. A bit unorthodox and dangerous, but it was going to be worth it.
Aubergine would remain in the Cloud Network for now, as Pearl Alexandrite went on one knee as they allowed Connie's avatar to be obsorbed into the light of her forehead Kernel Core...
"I recommend not examining this process as the consensus." Pearl suggested.
"Don't look until we tell you to open your eyes. We fear due to the...nature of the construct itself it wasn't meant for humans to...well, see..."
Lest Connie's brain implode from the incomphrensible nature of it all, all that nonsense. Alien Tech was said to have been quite complex before humans were able to reverse engineer everything. A few...brains did indeed implode before they finally got the system right. It was a downright controversy when the public found out about it, causing Developers to double down and assure people that they were making sure everything was completely safe.
Closing her eyes. Connie felt the tugs of multiple hands on her body. The Cloud Network was a strange place, far more alien than Connie realised. Though she would never forget what it truely consisted of. But that wasn't important now, as she had to place her disgust aside so she could get the job done.
"Okay you're in."
A new voice; one she'd never heard of before. When she opened her eyes, she could see a tail, multi-armed GIS before her. Looking around, it was apparent that they were on a beach; in front a replication of the Temple Ruins.
There was simulated oxygen, much better life like graphics and sensations that Connie could have sworn she was back in the real world.
"Where are we?" Connie asked, then turned to to the woman.
"Alexandrite right?"
The GIS nodded.
"Yes." She replied.
"Luna was able to transfer us to the Prototype Domain."
The one Dr. Ryman was telling her about. Connie couldn't believe it. She looked at Alex, weirded out by their much smaller stature.
"Doesn't this form cause issues?" She asked.
Alexandrite looked at the ruins behind Connie.
"It doesn't." She said.
"The Prototypes potential supports a much greater bandwith and there's not much data in this version as it's only a trial version. They are not going to be concerned about a four Gem consensus."
Ah.
"But I have enough I could use to compress data if necessary. And Shell Alteration isn't that difficult to implement."
Lifting her head, Alexandrites form shifted; turning that into Connie; though still retained the glasses...and the colour scheme...and the uniform. But...looked normal. Connie chuckled, amused to see yet another one willing to wear her ever popular face. Though it continued to change to something like Alexandrites original form, but with less eyes and arms.
They took the time to discuss the situation; especially the program that Giga provided as Alex took the time to understand what it was supposed to do. She also explained how the Domain 2.0 prototype was being used over the original Domain, as it still needed the base grids in order to make it function.
"Getting the program back to Luna will make it difficult if we cannot access the painting." Alex said.
"I've inspected the Temple and can no longer find it."
Damn, another painful obstacle.
"Do we know how long the stress test is supposed to last?" Connie queried.
Alex utilised Garnets power for this as they remained focused for a brief moment. They got a lot of noise and slowdown due to unintended bloat in their programs. Came with being an incomplete OS not designed to stay that long.
"It's supposed to be for a small amount of time." Alex replied.
"But there's a percentile chance that it could go on indefinitely, if the Developers see fit."
That was horrible to concieve.
"I don't want to leave that up to chance." She said. She then brought up the plans for the Diamond Authority Machine; projecting the hologram from her palm crystal.
"This thing is the center of this."
Alex nodded.
"There's a similar construct over the hills of the City nearby." She explained.
"Let us make haste.."
Connie had a bad feeling. She had a lot of these but this one was the worst by far. She'd expected to see Steven in the midst, cowering or hiding. Part of this felt wrong as well, she shouldn't be trusted Alexandrite at all, given what had happened.
But these were Steven's closest...friends? Family? She wasn't sure. Amethyst was the most innocent, followed by the guilty Pearl and the absolutely guilty Garnet. There was no way she didn't calculate any of this before hand. Connie could have argued and demanded questions until the cows come home, but the truth was that they were running out of time. As long as Alex didn't stab her in the back, Berrybyte was willing to accept all the help she could get.
Her anger was still directed to Luna...but...why was it getting easier? The anger would fade and that...no, it wasn't trust that took its place. It was caution. Being prepared for any outcome, no matter how unlikely those outcomes would be.
The city itself was...normal. Ordinary. Few people about. Fewer people knew what was going on, though Connie didn't take the time to think if this consisted of every single person in Mega Beach City, but it certainly appeared crowded as such. They went on with their daily lifes. Reading books and sipping lattes. So...normal.
This was one powerful system indeed.
People did depend on the Domain so much so that they were spend most of their lives within it, Connie included within that bunch. A worst case scenario that was envisioned if every human on Earth fell into this place. They'd believe the outside world wasn't real and that this place could be the eternal paradise that was promised.
Physics were top notch, Connie had to admit.
Once the pair reached the top of the hills, they could see the construct in question, sitting there, guarded by various Topaz GIS. A statue that looked like a message of narcissim if anything, meant to be grandeous but was more gaud if anything. The temptation to destroy the whole machine was highly tempting. How could it inspire one? Were they meant to feel safe? Intimidated? In awe? Truely absurd to make it look like that. Might as well have a fountain with that design in question.
Connie brought up the blueprints for the mecha, trying to figure out a way to get inside.
"So this is the machine that currently helps this version run smoothly." Connie said.
"It's design contains several key components we need to take out.....and....they're...organic?"
Three forms appeared within the hologram. One White, One Yellow and One Blue.
"Are they Monoliths?"
Alex took a closer look.
"They might function as superservers, but they are smaller variations. Organic variations."
Just like the Cloud Servers...
Alex pressed a hand against their chest and looked down.
"I sense something..." She said.
"It is...unknown."
Connie looked at Alex strangely.
"Is it...anything we need to worry about?" She asked.
Not while they don't have enough data.
"I will be fine." She said, pausing to try and use Garnets programs.
"But I have an idea."
The two worked on a plan to infiltrate the Machine. The security around it was tight, so the plan had to be enacted as cautiously, lest they risk being captured or worse, deleted. There was only one chance and one way this would work if they wanted to, since it invited an older plan to the mix. If it didn't work as thought, then they had more problems to deal with. Alex didn't like the chances, but it was better than nothing...or going in guns blazing, as Connie put it.
A diverse OS with plenty of options and programs to work with, Alex was able to switch Shells to Sapphires. She'd walked towards the entrance of the Machine as the Topaz looked at her strangely.
"I am Sapphire of the Blue Monolith's Creation." She said, looking up at the buff security GIS.
"I have been invited to analyse the systems progression status."
The two Topaz look at each other.
"Do you have a Auth Token?" One of them said.
Alex nodded and projected a small blue rectangular icon from the Kernel Core on her palm. The Topaz formulated a scan, as it checked against known authorities. The Topaz hummed.
"Alright..." She said, pointing towards the door.
"Head on in."
Once inside and the doors to the Machine closed completely, Alex looked around for somewhere safe. The interior of the machine was huge and of course, larger on the inside than it was on the outside. They found a small room to the side as Alex placed their hand against the nearby panel and opened the doors, to ensure security didn't know where they were. Placing her hand out, a small blue sphere exited Alex' Kernel Core.
"They really used the same sec listing as PeriComs?" Connie said in text to Alex's HUD.
Returning to the pure Psyche form, Connie looked around the room for an entry point to the backend part of the Machine. It would let her run through the machine's veins, so to speak, to get a better look at it.
"Ms Dot is ambitious but fortunately, she's not that smart and likes to cut corners." Alex said.
"I'll take a look around and I will message you once I discover something."
Connie found a weakpoint. Each room would have a connective point in the walls; that would separate minor cells. These rooms were ultimately pointless, but really were to hide these cell connectors; that would highlight their node points red once she switched on her Code Vision.
"Good luck."
She was limited, but she was small enough not to be detected in the meanwhile. Connie transferred herself across many spaces; mostly empty save for the aspects that she was meant to find; the largest files in the system. It irked her that she was left without her Avatar; keeping it safe within Alex and the Pearl Cloud, but the thing that irked her the most were the supposed organic files that Alex saw.
Part of her was glad to even get in; mainly because the token they used was the same file they used to mask Connie when she infiltrated one of PeriComs Grids. ^1
There was a lot of noise and lengthy point to point sections. There must have been a lot of algorithims and subroutines going around to be able to support this version of the Domain. The amount of input must have been staggering. As much as Connie disliked the Developers, she was always silently impressed with what they could come up within closed doors. Lots of secrets just waiting to slip out. Though, it could be owed mainly to Alien Tech, to be able to reverse engineer it all was a feat in itself.
Reverse engineer...Connie then wondered. The aliens themselves want to integrate humanity into its fold. They had to have made it so each race absorbed into their network could easily adapt and connect. It was done on purpose.
A line of thought that lead to whether or not the aliens had adapted multiple species. A question she should ask Obsidia, if she ever gets the chance to speak to them.
"More detail has been discovered." Alex messaged.
"The Yellow Monolith is in charge here; we just witnessed the Conduit entering into the center. Be careful."
The Yellow Conduit wasn't one Connie knew all that well. She never really made herself known, as the face, President Dot, was all over the place in terms of advertisement, but...never a peep on some of the more secluded channels even from Brokers.
Eventually, Connie came across the room in question. Her vision did hold several signatures. Four; in fact.
White, Yellow, Blue and...Pink.
She read their filenames. Three of them were SolEX...and one unknown.
"I found Steven." Connie messaged.
"I'm reforming."
She found a nearby Cell Connector and exited properly, then opened up her Shell and reformed. Once she had proper sight again, she came across a dark room with several AI Cores. It was far too dark; so Connie quickly adjusted her light settings, revealing four organics sitting in the middle, on chairs with their heads bobbed down.
Sadie. Ronaldo. Peedee.
And Steven.
Their faces were lull and blank; eyes glowing in colours that corresponded to their apparent masters.
Connie ran over to Steven and went on her knees and grabbed his chin.
"Steven?" She said as she waggled his head about.
"I must maintain the Domain." He said, his voice dull.
"Humans are not supposed to be in the Mayoral Chambers." Said Ronaldo.
Connie looked at the others, then quickly messaged Alex.
"I've found the organics too." She said.
This made Connie feel oddly ill.
"They're supporting the system."
This wasn't right at all. She tried to look into the Grid by popping up a screen and rapidly typed in what ever, but there was too much code to deal with at once.
"We need to somehow disconnect them, but I..."
Connie didn't know how. It was far too much to deal with and when it came to dealing with human lives, Connie was fearful of doing too much damage.
A clack of heels echoed through the room as a maniacal cackle sounded throughout.
"Ms Berrybyte, how kind of you to join us." Said a voice.
Soon a woman of yellow decor came out of the shadows.
"The Yellow Monolith..." Connie muttered.
The Conduit chuckled.
"Please, call me Mimosa." She said.
"I've come across all the little ploys and damage you've brought to us over the years. I was wondering when you and I would ever meet face to face..."
Connie immediately pulled out the Sword of Berrybyte; she wasn't taking any chances.
"Brilliant, aren't they?" Mimosa continued as she patted Sadie's head gently.
"When my poor daughter Barbara gave me the plans for the AI Cores I was...confused, but then elated. There was much potential in...using organics as a medium to be able to better understand what perceptions of the senses are the most...accurate."
Connie furrowed her brows, confused.
"Steven isn't organic." She said.
Mimosa shrugged. He had organic origins but he wasn't flesh and blood.
"AI Cores were developed originally as old technology." She explained.
"Early versions sustained human brains within special fluids, connected to wires to every part of the brain. It would be the organic in question, but results of such experiments were always messy, but educational."
Disgusting.
"Time went on and we found more practical means; from what you see today."
Brain Mapped and Screen Capped.
"But there always something lost...isn't there?" Mimosa continued as she moved around to Peedee; as she massaged his head.
"That's the argument to anti-AI activists. There is no longer a soul bound. It is a mere replica of the being who once was."
Soulware couldn't be preserved as much as they wanted to. Mimosa walked around to Ronaldo and rubbed his shoulders.
"Ideas that can be shared in more ways than one! But...it won't matter..."
She then walked to Steven and knelt down beside him and examined him with a soft smile.
"Stay away from him!" Connie demanded as she lowered her sword towards Mimosa.
The Yellow Conduit barely batted an eyelid.
"All souls will be saved as we work towards keeping the reservation of spirit; to endure beyond the means. We will last...forever."
She stood back up and rose her finger towards him, as if issuing a silent command. He stood up...and this had to be the most robotic in nature Steven had ever been since she's seen him. It contradicted everything he ever fought for.
To be human.
He summoned four tendrils that drifted off his back like a cape, his body rising off the ground as he was turned around made to raise his arms.
"The Transitional Entity." Mimosa murmured.
"Once we retrieve the Pink Monolith..."
Connie wanted to move but found herself struck with fear.
"Which we have sent several people to recover..."
Oh no...
"We will...."
KHHHHhccchhchch
The room begun to glitch, which brought Mimosas attention immediately.
"What?" She said, bewildered.
"What is that?"
Khchchchchhhhh
Suddenly, text appeared on Connie's hud that were written black but had a orange glow behind them.
d e s t r o y t h e c o r e s.
She lept up and charged past Mimosa, and ran towards Steven's assigned Core and begun to use her sword to break it down.
"NO!" Mimosa cried. She raised her hand towards Connie and fired a bolt of lightining towards her, to which she dodged, but just barely.
"Those AI Cores were designed to be impenetrable!"
So she thinks....she had to prepare security.
"Alert, secure the Custodians, we cannot risk them being lost!"
Topaz soon entered the room to attack Connie; but it was too late; Steven had been disconnected. His body fell to the floor without much fuss, as Connie weaved and dodged to try and pick him up, but found herself easily swatted by Mimosa's hand, which sent her flying backwards....
Into Alexandrites hand. The full, glorious form of the Consensus.
"How did you...GUARDS, SEIZE THEM!" She said as she took the spare Custodians and summoned them away.
Connie looked up at Alexandrite who didn't hesitate to try and save Steven, only for the Topaz to keep attacking her and trying to pile up on her. Connie managed to jump free and land beside Steven, and picked him up underneath and carried him in her arms.
"GO!" Alexandrite ordered, as she fought off the multitude of Topaz GIS.
Connie nodded as she charged off, but not with Mimosa hot in her heels.
The DAM itself was a deliberate maze, Connie realised. Potential made in case of issues like these. She would try to run down new hallways to avoid guards, but there was always a dead end just as much if she couldn't...
Steven was a load as well and it made it difficult to get around or to make a quick escape. A minor gripe, as she wouldn't let Steven go.
She'd run into a large open space, but ultimately was corned by the a fuming Mimosa who towered over her.
"Give me...the entity....and I will make sure your dormancy is painless." Mimosa said cooly.
Connie shook her head.
"No." She said.
The Conduit sighed as she raised her hand.
"You leave me no choice...."
The much larger Alexandrite appeared from behind and wrapped her arms around Mimosa's body and leaned back to have them fall into a group of Topaz. Connie still had no where to run....as she herself was surrounded by more Topaz who closed in quickly.
"Hey!" Said a familiar voice.
"Through here!"
A yellow portal opened up behind her, as a hand grabbed Connie's shoulder. Looking over, she could see who it was.
"Vidalia!" She said.
The woman smiled.
"Here to get your asses out." She said.
Connie looked over, seeing Alexandrite's struggle against the Conduit.
"Take Steven." She said.
"I gotta take care of this first."
Vidalia had no cause to argue as she took Steven's body through the portal, As Connie jumped up on top of the Topaz, now free to be able to move about. She jumped on their heads, one by one then made a huge leap into the air and directed her sword downward. Time slowed, as her sword made contact with Mimosa's back, digging itself in deep and causing great pause to the Conduit. Her Avatar begun to glitch momentarily, before she could utter a single word...
"Impossible." She said.
Her form then dissapated into yellow pixels, as Connie landed on top of Alexandrite. The room went oddly silent, as the Topaz panicked as Alexandrite got up.
"Good work, Knight-Mage." Said Alex.
Notes:
1. Chapter 15. Executable Part 1
Chapter 97: Divided
Summary:
Matters escalate; with the destruction of a Conduit; war is inevitable.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Vidalia had taken the group back to the safety of her quarters, she herself was tuned in to the chaos; chasing numerous chats about panicking techies about systems overloading and parts of the simulation shutting down. Connie found that hard to believe due to numerous reasons. She could easily call out their bluff.
As for the Custodian, she resided in a small home where she had been keeping an eye on things within the digital city. Connie had laid Steven on the couch, as Alexandrite stood in the room in her human shell as they discussed what just happened.
"Your sword destroyed a Conduit? That doesn't bode well." Said Vidalia.
No one was ever told what would happen if an Avatar of a Monolith was destroyed.
Connie definitely didn't know, though she couldn't care less if Mimosa was deleted or otherwise. Her focus was on bringing Steven back.
"As far as what is known as a standard emergency protocol, The Monolith in question continues its duties." Said Alex. She then turned to Connie. She believed such a strength, unseen to conquer the unconquerable. That which was perfected to be destroyed. Their knowledge, embedded into her and her components knowledge banks. Not to question the Monolith and its power. Courage only gained via Rose had them believe otherwise because they had to. Otherwise, they would have never been able to fight back.
"But I am not aware that your sword has such capabilities."
Connie sighed. She's had that program for years and its never let her down. Its ability to shut down programs with ease was a given, though, given the more complex nature of larger programs and systems like a Monoliths Conduit, shutting those down. She didn't think that was possible.
"I didn't even know it could do that." She said.
"As far as I know, I was given this years ago when I first started hacking."
Most hackers had special programs like these to defend themselves if worst comes to worst. It was an unofficial piece of software that seperated the real Hackers from the pretenders. Those who would show aptitude, would be gifted a Sword in their honour.
"As much as I'd love to protect you from goons, you all can't stay here forever." Vidalia warned.
"Sooner or later, they will send their strongest GIS to scout for you all. Especially Steven. Is there anyway for him to leave this place?"
Connie pursed her lips. This place was a prison with no clear where out. Getting in was their priority; but getting out was going to be the hard part.
"We still need to get back to Luna with the program." Said Alex.
"There's a lot that's still happening at the Site and we cannot risk it being any more comprimised than it already is."
They had little time to lose. Vidalia had to know more, surely. Connie stood up and walked towards the woman, who wasn't sure what Connie wanted.
"You have to know something about this." Connie said.
"You're still on PeriComs payroll, surely."
Vidalia looked to the side, then brought up a monitor.
"All I know is that its only supposed to last for a set number of hours." She said.
"Anything beyond that is going to cause health problems."
Alex knew what was going on. The signs were all there, bright as day.
"Mimosa had hoped to prematurely enact on the ESCAPISM event." She said.
"The status of the humans wouldn't have mattered; she would have prepped Steven to be able to make the first city-scale screen cap to the whole of Mega Beach City."
That was horrifying in itself, but Connie wasn't under any pretense that it would be something the Developers wouldn't stupe to. Part of her wished she could have found out more about how the Domain 2.0 was based; surely the prototype rested on some kind of server. She looked at Alex, who sat there as she patted Steven's head. It gave Connie a weird feeling in seeing her treat him like that; for what little comfort it could bring. It reminded Connie that she was the sum of those who looked after him, and then some. It was warm, wholesome even. A sight that almost broke Connie's heart.
"You should be able to go via Pearls Kernel Core again." Alex said.
"Take Steven with you, I can continue to work with Vidalia until the simulation ends."
Connie wanted to trust Alexandrite; she really did. On edge, she wanted to believe that Alex had the best intentions, even more so than Luna. But Connie didn't want to risk losing Alex either; not while they have the collective of Obsidia's Meta-Soul inside of them.
A train of thought lead to Connie believing there was something missing to this. She looked at Steven; immobile but full of secrets; even unknown to himself. Alex on the other hand....knowledge of their existence, their purpose as well as what they contained. They couldn't be discounted; if anything, they needed the protection just as much as any kind of known protection protocol.
"No doubt they want you for other reasons." Connie said.
"I can't risk them getting their hands on you. Especially with all your software."
She spoke some truth, Alex had to admit.
"There is...something else." Said Vidalia as she looked intently at her monitor.
"The Prototype Simulation; I do know that it is based off a much older version of Mega Beach City; but the frame work appears to be based on the original Public Grid. Like, leagues older, when the first versions of the Domain were being run."
Did they somehow revert to an earlier version? Connie leaned over Vidalia as she looked at the data.
"I was there when the first versions were released." She revealed.
She was a beta tester?
"Theres a website that humans can access while they're here to learn about the development of the Domain." Vidalia continued.
"Look at this side by side picture of now and back then."
Connie squinted as she could see the perfected variation, to the barebones, where-the-hell-are-all-the-polygons versions from a while ago.
"It's a remake." Connie said.
"Not quite what I was looking for but..."
Berrybyte then had an idea. She went outside and promptly tried to find the old nodes; those regular white squares. Incognito Mode was originally taught as well by fellow Hackers in the past. How she could have worked without it was anyones guess. She'd hadn't used it a great deal as of late; due to detection increases and the fear of GIS being able to detect humans using such a mode. Connie was hit more than she was bargained for when the Ancillas found her out originally ^1
But the nodes here were...messy and infrequent and numbered in the wrong order. It was in the beta stage, after all and no doubt there would have been some kind of clean up. But it allowed Connie to delve in deep into the underlying code.
Where she was just out the back of Vidalia's house. An unsuspecting yard so Connie worked in private. She sent off a few random benign pings here and there to sus out anything that fell under certain file names; those which she knew were regular red flags.
But what she found most unusual; were current data nodes for the existing versions of the Domain.
"If I'm correct." She said, rubbing her chin.
"Then this is simply an overlay to the actual Domain. Huh."
It sounded simple, but it wasn't. Connie understood enough to be able to formulate a plan, however.
"Connie!"
She heard Vidalia's voice, as she ran back inside. Her eyes widened at Steven's form glitching and breaking.
"Something is happening to his AI Core." She said.
Damn it. Connie ran over and knelt before him, and raised a screen and begun to analyse his runtimes and subroutines. It didn't look good.
"It's getting hammered with...someone or something tapping into his software." She said.
"Shoot, it's a strong one too...a virus?"
What in the world was going on at the Site? Was Luna losing the battle against Volley? Connie did what she could to help Steven fight against it, trying so hard to override his existing systems. Tried as she might, Connie was also fighting a losing battle. Her throat tightened as she used everything she had at it.
But without being at the AI Core itself, Connie wouldn't be able to get he upper hand.
"Shit shit shit..." She said.
"We're losing him!"
Alex looked down, as she was frozen in thought. There was a possible way to help him, but they weren't sure how they could approach it. The Third Eye ran its course as it needed to, and the most valued conclusion wasn't going to be an easy task to uphold.
She pressed all her hands together, as all her Kernel Cores glowed. In the palms of her hands was a small sphere that turned into a black rectangular slate that had orange runes on it. She handed the slate to Connie.
"He will need this installed inside his Kernel Core." It said.
Connie looked at it, furrowing her brows with confusion, though it took her a moment to realise.
"Yes." Alex said, knowing Connies assumption would be correct.
"Three-quarters of the Obsidia Meta-Soul."
No.
No Connie would not.
"I can't shove that into him." She said.
Alex knelt before Connie, still towering over her somewhat as she pressed onto Connie's hand, sliding it in between four of her hands.
"Lady Volley is not to be trifiled with." She said.
"Obsidia will defend Stevens' integrity; it is an honourable soul that calls out for completion."
Berrybyte had much to doubt in this situation. She hated it. What Alex had proposed would dire consequences if run incorrectly, if it all. It caused no end of anxiety that Connie begun to cry...she didn't want to lose Steven to....
"Then what?" Connie said, as tears ran down her cheeks.
Another look into the Third Eye.
"We will find you." She said.
"For now, install it. Trust us."
Trust, being something really hard to come by as of late. Connie swallowed; as she looked at Steven's slowly decaying form as he was just turning into a mass of pixels at this point. He wasn't completely gone...and...there had to be a way to reverse the damage.
Swallowing, Connie took the Obsidia Plate from Alex as she placed it over Steven's Kernel Core; the only stable area on his Shell. She worked on installing it, as it was slowly absorbed into the kernel core shortly thereafter.
The Avatar continued to glitch and warp briefly, before stabilising to Steven's default Avatar....then it flickered; as red and orange pixels overflowed as a new Shell emerged.
His hair would gain curled orange markings, and orange lines curving on each side of his face, where the skin around the face itself went from his normal skin colour, before fading to black around the sides and neck. His clothes had changed to a long jacket and coat, and a black shirt with a star outlined in orange that surrounded his Kernel Core which had turned black.
His pants had to turned black with odd alien language scripture on boths sides and bare feet. Opening his eyes, they too, were a glowing orange; hot as lava.
Sitting up, Steven looked at Connie, who couldn't tear her eyes off of him as she didn't even see the run times change from a violent magenta to overall black with alien coding on top. She closed the screens as Steven moved around and placed his feet on the ground, before he stood up.
Connie and Alex walked back, unsure of what would happen.
"Steven?" Connie asked sheepishly.
His face held no expression. No words escaped their lips. The obvious was then cast in a tiny whisper.
"Obsidia."
Obsidia lifted their chin, then looked at Alex
"His AI Core is at in a stable condition for now." She said.
"Their power defends his software."
It couldn't have been THAT easy, surely. There was a lot to be desired that Connie trusted Alex more than she trusted this possibly millenia old entity that might as well just awoke from a nap, nice and rested.
"However." Alex continued.
"This is temporary. You must return to Steven's AI Core and halt her progress."
That would be easier said than done.
"We know that." Said Vidalia.
"But they need to get to his AI Core first!"
Obsidia then looked at Connie, who, to herself, was a bit fearful of Obsidia, if anything. But for now, they had a new task ahead of them.
The three made their way out, as Vidalia kept an eye on things from her place, as they made it where the Temple would have been situated normally. But there was nothing there but rock. An odd visage, for sure. But there was a peacefulness here; a sensation in the emptiness that surrounded them. No building or machine. Just sky, ocean and earth.
Connie never said anything, but the false sun upon the land gave an unusual warmth and the sound of the waves crashing nearby was comforting, in a strange way and the winds themselves were unique to the gusts of the original Domain. Stronger? More...distinct somehow?
A human knows the difference in the virtual world and the real world...but standing here, in the middle of everything....Connie sworn she could have been deep in reality itself.
Why this affected her so much now of all times...she wasn't sure. She'd looked at Obsidia, stuck in Steven's Avatar, with their own unique Shell. That and Alexandrite reminded her immediately of where she was.
"The Domain 2.0 is nothing more than an overlay of the original Domain." Said Connie, still trying to cut the differences.
"Like its placed later in the load order...but we have no way of downgrading it by force; unless PeriCom decides to shut off the test early."
Which would be bad. Areas had to be clear of people before an upgrade otherwise they risked deletion.
"As long as it exists." Said Alex, as Obsidia raised their hand against the Rock.
"It can return."
An usual power was summoned from Obsidia's hand. Almost like a black hole had formed. The rock itself begun to warp and change shape; to that of the original Obsidian Ruins.
"Amazing..." Connie muttered.
Going inside, it still had the interiors of the Hut. No, this was the Hut without the sudden make over. Obsidia's power appeared immense, yet simple in appearance. A type of magic if anything. No wonder the Developers feared it so. Trusting them seemed like both a mistake and a blessing.
But it made Connie think of other ulterior motives that Obsidia had; namely, now they had they had Steven and his programming; were they going to enact what the Developers could not?
"First things first." She said, standing in front of the room with the Painting.
"I don't even know what YOU want."
Silent as ever, Obsidia crossed their arms as Alex came forward.
"It knows what it needs to do." She said.
"We are here to support it as our grand design demands it."
Furrowing her brows in confusion, Connie had no idea what they meant.
"That doesn't help." She said.
Alex lowered her head.
"Rose needed us to support Obsidia's aim whenever their Soulware had successfully been reformed." She said.
This had been her plan from the very beginning. But now Obsidia was occupying Steven; the essence of the goal completed. The thoughts swirled around her head, until they could feel the ground rumbling beneath their feet. Going outside, it appeared as an entire army of GIS had been summoned outside the Temple; headed by a very pissed off White.
"I should have known the foolishness would have gone this far." She said, her voice calm but full of the sweetest venom.
"My dearest Mimosa; loyal and brave, defeated by a mere human."
Connie growled as she pulled out her sword. White's eyes then turned to Steven-Obsidia.
"And you...well, I never thought I would see YOU again, but then again, you were never in the picture...not after we got everything we needed from you."
Obsidia summoned a shield and prepared for battle. Connie wasn't going down without a fight either.
"So you use and use until what you need is worthless!" She called out.
White laughed.
"Those who obey are rewarded. Those who defy are punished." She said.
"It's exceeding simple and clear as crystal, but people still find a way to compromise themselves."
So its their fault that they don't want to follow? Classic dictatorship.
"And YOU little Maheswaran." White continued.
"We've tolerated your behaviour. Only because you allowed us to find out where our tools were after all this time."
No.
"Volley has provided us with the coordinates. So we are preparing for a rescue as we speak."
Alex then put a hand on Connie's shoulder.
"Connie." She said.
"Get back to the Site."
She couldn't. She had to fight alongside the them. She had the Sword which was now proven to be able to Smite conduits. They needed her. It was then Obsidia stood in front of Alex and handed out their hand. Connie knew what this meant.
"You can't possibly want consensus!"
But they were deadly serious...and Alex knew what Obsidia was trying to do. They extended out fo their hands, as Obsidia took it. Connie wanted to move by couldn't, as White had begun to yell at her GIS subordinates to attack, but was too late as the Consensus begun. Their form turning into blobs of white as Connie moved back.
The light would soon fade, revealing a garguatuan, dark eight armed feminine figure, shades of black and grey, and amber lines strewn throughout. Connie was left in awe, as it screamed into the skies, terrifying the the opposing GIS in front of them. White was seemingly frustrated more than she was fearful.
"Ruby, Topaz. I grant permission to slay this monster before it breaks down everything!" She shrieked.
The air around the massive consensus appeared to glitch and warp, as if the Domain could not handle or process the entity. Rubys and Topaz would fuse, but fail to reach the sheer height of what could interpreted as Obsidias true form.
Connie summoned her sword and prepared to attack as hordes came her way; surely, she was doomed...
Those who did not form consensus and even those who did, Connie would clash against. Destined to struggle, Connie herself wasn't exactly made to be a combantant. She was a master of trickery, but her raw strength compared to war forged constructs was lacking. Or would be, if not for the Sword of Berrybyte.
It could take down a Conduit; so it had no qualms with that which was weaker. She wasn't foolish however; it mattered little when they were vastly outnumbered.
Obsidia would wipe out scores with massive stomps and swipes alone. Feral, like an animal. It channeled its anger into White, who was shorter but just as fiesty. The giant consensus charged at her, its sprint knocking over several GIS and consensused, easily as it was running through grass. White would have none of it, as she spawned extra arms hands just to accomodate for Obisidia's own, as White would dig into their motives.
"There are no kings or Queens." She said, as the two clashed their hands together, with one pushing against the other.
"Only Gods. This power you promised!"
Connie was doing the best she could under unfavourable circumstances. Too many close calls. Cleaving the GIS, but there were too many for Connie to fight alone. She would fight regardless.
"We promised unity through common ground." Said Obsidia; their voice a combination of its components.
"Instead we see humanity as both a liability unworthy of ascension; but a race still worth saving from itself."
Obsidia would punch White in the face as it almost knocked her over. White would recover, and attempt to slice Obsidia who jumped back.
Connie would listen, then get distracted as she was knocked in the face hard by a Topaz's mace, sending her flying backwards. Obsidia noticed, seeing Connie on the ground, but it gave White the opportunity to smack Obsidia around.
"You weren't human." White said as she knocked Obsidia over. She stomped her foot over where Steven's Kernal Core was and begun to dig her heel into it.
"You would never understand our struggles; our ways of life. This is our path and we shall carve it forward as we see fit!"
Connie would get charged at by Quartz Soldiers, but managed to roll around and take out the few that had begun to circle her. Though, it wasn't long until she was at the mercy of a circle of warriors, out for blood. Connie looked over to see Obsidia in agony as White threatened to make her undone.;
"Humans will thrive under their new order and I will be the driver to our glorious destiny!"
Obsidia's avatar glitched, as multiple GIS tried to hold her wrists down.
"Obsidia!" Connie cried.
Obsidia refused to give up, having one trick up their sleeve.
"Not unless...we drive it first." They said.
Confused by that statement, Connie then recieved an alert in blue text; as other GIS begun to recieve alerts on their HUDS as well. White was flabbergasted too.
"No, its too soon!" White called.
"The test isn't finished!"
The sirens and beeps sounded, with a countdown from thirty coming up in the HUD. Connie begun to feel a bit strange. She couldn't explain it, but it was a tingly feeling throughout their body.
"You want your Domain, Goddess." Obsidia mocked.
"We have every connection we need for the ESCAPISM event. We cannot be stopped."
No...not this couldn't be.
"Obsidia wait!" Connie cried out. She slipped by the GIS who were distracted and ran towards the Consensus.
Obsidia chuckled, before they easily flung off the GIS on them, and faced a terrified White once more. Their Kernel Cores each pulsed with red flashes, indicating that the process required a bit of charging up.
"You plan to kill every human on this planet without the help of the Pink Monolith?" White mocked, though her Kernel Core on her forehead pulsed too.
"You will ruin everything!"
White to charge, only for Obsidia to summon the Shield of Rose to block her attempts. She knocked White back, then as Connie came into view, Obsidia snatched her up, out of Connie's sheer surprise. A black barrier then surrounded Obsidia, protecting both themselves and Connie from the outsiders. They held Connie in front of them as the latter was confused about Obisidia's actions.
"Our Knight-Mage." Obsidia said.
"You have done as requested."
Obsidia held Connie close to their chest; before they rose their hand above their head, and opened up their second mouth; which was full of a lava esque liquid.
"Wait! Stop!" Connie cried, not wanting this.
Imminent deletion. She tried to cling on to something to ensure she wouldn't be dropped, but fighting was pointless.
"A Sword will be needed." Obsidia said, before she dropped Connie and snapped the mouth shut.
Notes:
1. Chapter 1: Log In
Chapter 98: True Destiny
Summary:
Destinies aren't always what they seem.
Chapter Text
Darkness remains in sight.
A program is reactivated on a whim, despite not knowing. But feeling. Feeling something had gone wrong.
They can't think, but only see and recieve audio and visual scenes.
Sensation of hot then cold.
A single drop hit the water.
Steven opened his eyes. A world of oranges and greys that tinged the clouds as the sun was in perpetual twilight. He floated in his lonesome on the sea of dusk. Confusion and haze clouded his mind, though the ability to think coherently would prove difficult; wherever he ended up.
"Humans...."
He could see Obsidia there, in all their glory as they stood on the water, a sihoulette against the sun. But the voice...it appeared to change on a whim.
"Each percieves their own truth. And others force each other to see their own." It said in his voice.
What were they on about? Garnet then appeared as she walked behind him.
"I was to be the God of the New World." They continued, in Garnets voice.
"But in truth, it cannot be."
They turned their head towards Steven.
"It was meant to be yours; and this is the True Domain."
His? He didn't follow. They used the clouds around them to form the Earth into their many hands, as Pearl appeared out of nowhere, circling around him.
"I have listened and I have learned. The desires of humans. So unfocused...that the humans who found me were determined to discipline every single mind for ascension. A task; that would have taken hundreds of years. Humans have little patience and decide that everything must done quickly or not done at all." It said in Pearls voice.
Steven then found himself sinking into the cloud flooring very slowly, for what reason this was he had no idea. It was then he begun to panic and hyperventilate as he tried to drag himself out, that was, until he could see Obsidia calming sitting down and letting themselves be absorbed too.
Once he was swallowed, his vision was turned dark. But oddly enough he still somehow felt Obsidia's presence within him. A light formed on a version of Steven who was naked, but in a fetal position that rested, as Rose came down from above and held him in her arms, as his body reverted to that like a human baby that started to cry.
"But they are willing to wait. They will wait forever; but split into the how their God would come to save them." They said in Roses voice.
The baby then started to flickered and glitch into pink pixels. Rose rocked it a bit to try and calm it down, as tears ran down her cheeks. The baby then faded away, leaving Rose in despair. She fell onto her knees, as Steven ran over to try and comfort her. His hand reached out, until she glared at him; eyes hot pink as her hands quickly wrapped themselves around his as she choked him.
"Failure, after failure of an eternity, searching." They said, in Amethyst's voice.
Steven's HUD kept reporting faults and commands to attack, but he couldn't move.
"And that would turn into despair...and the desire to leap into heaven on their own accord; of their own making. Such is the fate of life."
Rose vanished quickly into a swirl of clouds, Steven blinked, before opening his eyes to see himself on top of a skyscraper, surrounded by a sea of fog...and someone that resembled his father creator that stood on its edge, facing the white abyss.
"Your Highest Heaven; this True Domain." They said in Gregs voice.
"They act as the same."
Greg spread his arms as he fell into the Abyss. Steven ran over to try and save him, but it was too late. He was gone.
"But what was created, wasn't your Heaven. It wasn't your design." They said in Connie's voice.
Turning around, Steven now stood in Connie's original apartment in Mega Beach City, as the light of the sunset poured through the window. She stood there in the lounge room, looking at the TV of pure static.
"The design of the Monoliths was to follow the Lead of God." They continued, using their controller to change the channel of the TV. It soon displayed four rectangles; white, yellow, blue and pink.
And the God was supposed to be Obsidia.
"Tell me." They said.
"Is this your vision of Heaven?"
Heaven. He's heard the word hundreds of time to describe a place so...grand and 'breathtaking'.
"I...I don't know." He said.
"I'm not human."
Connie-Obsidia lifted her chin as she looked at him as he stood there, looking at her as she was but a black shadow against the amber light behind her. It looked, almost frightening as her eyes glowed with the heat of a volcano.
"But you have seen the world of humans, through human eyes." They said.
"Your Soulware having blended with another. Your power to perceive the realm. Your power, to change either."
He blinked, as Connie suddenly disappeared. He looked at the TV screen. Scenes of Mega Beach City; both of the real thing and the Domain facsimile.
"Humans prefered the Domain. You prefered the human world."
His voice?
Obsidia stood in front of him on the beach, but the skies were overcast now and Obsidia mimicked him in everything but kernel core and eyes; black instead of pink.
"I was meant to be the Transitional Entity." They said.
"But you are the Transitional Entity. Your power is greater than mine. I concede that I will never be able to pull the work you can do."
Steven had no idea what they meant by that.
"I had no desire to be stronger than anyone." He said.
"I...came to this world not knowing my purpose and now that I know...I keep getting told that it is my destiny. I don't have any control."
He never did. He was treated as an object and he couldn't stand it....Obsidia disappeared before his eyes, before Rose appeared behind him as she walked around.
"Your design is because you do have control." They said.
"You were already strong. But your perception of your denial of your true strength is what makes you weak."
That...huh?
"I don't understand." He said, as the waves got more violent and the wind more ferocious. Rose then changed into Cherry; the original Pink Conduit as they kept circling him at a steady pace.
What did they mean, really?
"Monoliths, by their form and function, mold the abilities according to the Conduit that resides in them. They are merely what would be called, the Seraphim of God." They explained.
"They have power, but they do not have the true power of God."
Pink then pointed towards the ocean, as the forms of the Yellow, Blue and White Conduits stood there, still as stone with their eyes closed and heads lowered. She then joined them thereafter, in a similar fashion. It begun to freak him out. What did Obsidia want him to do?
"I don't want to be God." He said.
"Then..." They said, in his own voice.
"Who do you want to be?"
Stillness. Calm. The Abyss once again.
Who did he want to be? At the end of the day, that was the question. He had power, he had everything Obsidia suspected he could wield and while he could act think and do on his own...whether he was a person wasn't up for debate.
He was, at the end of the day, still a machine.
Machines limited by the extent of their creations and what their creators desire. And his Father-Creator and Mother-Creators have been rather ambigious. Using Steven as a tool to conquer the Developers and put a stop to their genocidal plans.
Their desire being the erasure of organic life. Erasure of what limited each of them to their fullest potential.
"What is lost..." Said Connie.
"Is what makes us human..."
But he wasn't human...he could he really know?
"You side with what you can never fully explore." Said White.
"The reality will change for the better, I assure you."
So they can do what, exactly?
"Not everyone can consent to this." Said Rose.
"Not everyone wants this...humans will become extinct and everything left behind will rot and fade and will be forgotten."
Preservation in data.
"We can give humanity a new name." Said Ms. Dot.
"Or define humanity as something new and improved."
And what was humanity?
"Nothing lasts forever." Said Greg.
"Even data becomes corrupted. Irrecoverable and irreplaceable."
And erased from existence without a trace.
"Then it was never worth having." Said Lady Volley.
"What good is useless data when it can be deleted and done away with? It deserved to be eradicated."
What if it wasn't? What if something good could from it? Doesn't it need to be remembered that it existed in the first place?
"Death. Deletion. Cessation." Said Blue.
"A God determines the best route."
Turning to the Blue Mononliths Conduit, Steven saw her standing there, with Connie in front of her.
"White cannot control you." She said.
"She never could."
Steven approached her, as his eyes were fixated on Connie more so. She stood there, lifeless and her eyes half lidded, though, one eye was pink and one eye was blue.
"The cost of ones soul to become a Conduit is the same of that of which one one becomes an AI. Human, or alien otherwise."
She had her hands on Connie's shoulders, before she transformed her into what appeared to be, Connie's own sword. Steven was quite perplexed as Blue handed Steven the Sword of Berrybyte.
"White cannot hurt you." She assured him.
"Neither can I, nor Yellow. You are the Transitional Entity for a reason. Because you never lost what makes you human most of all."
Steven scratched his head. What good was that if he didn't know what would make him human. Again, he was still a machine but a machine that just wanted to exist and thrive.
"And humans have more power over AIs, GIS and even Conduits. We are your sentinels, your generals. We are meant to take your lead."
Because he was a God?
"It was what the writing on the Slab came out to be." She continued. She raised her hand and summoned a digital clone of Nanefua, clad in her old Grand-Sire robes of black, grey and orange.
"Oh newborn Child of the Bejewelled Cradle; you art their God." She said.
"Your Diamond Monoliths: your Temples. Your Conduits; your disciples. Show them, their lustrous and illuminous destinies in the Domain. Show them, your sphere of grandeous creation, your universe sprung from your psyche."
His universe?
Behind Blue, the world turned white, as hundreds of thousands of people, maybe hundreds of thousands, appeared beneath his feet and seemed to reach into the horizon, all in neat rows.
"Every single soul; their soulware." Said Blue as she stood next to him.
"They are yours; unascended."
No. This was too much. Steven didn't want to do this. He didn't care that it wasn't in his programming; it was just wrong. He looked at the sword of berrybyte; his vision of Connie destroying Mimosas form came up; despite him not recalling that he ever saw her doing that.
"This shouldn't be my decision." He said.
"What if I say no?"
Blue lifted her chin.
"Then that is your perogative and we will be forced to accept." She said.
What, just like that? It couldn't be THAT easy.
"But you are all telling me to do this one thing and I absolutely refuse to do it." He pointed out, trying to grasp the logic.
Blue nodded.
"And it is a choice." She said.
"We cannot say it is a valid or invalid one, but it is a decision nevertheless. Each soul; a Universe, after all. You command the True Domain as you see fit."
The souls soon disappeared one by one, as the realm went black once again. Steven fell to his knees and dropped the Sword of Berrybyte on the ground as he started to cry. This was too much, as he cradled his head into his hands and sobbed.
"I want...I want Connie..." He ordered.
"I just....."
Blue blinked.
"Of course." She said, before she transformed the Sword back into Connie's form. The girl looked normal as she laid there, as Steven gasped and crawled over to her and picked her up.
"Connie." He said.
"Connie speak to me!"
The woman battered her eyes, as she looked at Steven. Looking around, she was utterly confused by what was going on.
"Steven..." She said, her voice cracked.
It had to be her, REALLY her. She saw him crying and raised a hand to his cheek. A small smile formed from his lips as she hugged him. The two sat there in each others arms as he sobbed. Connie still didn't quite get it, but Steven was upset and so, therefore she was there for him.
"I don't know what to do Connie." He said, his voice breaking.
"They're saying I'm God but I don't..."
He's God? Hmmm probably some weird translation for Transitional Entity or something, she figured.
"Shh, relax." She said.
"Let's work this out together, okay?"
He nodded. He was so glad she was here. The one human he loved with all his heart. An Absolute he could never discard, nor did he want to. The two parted as they held each others hands. The realm shifted again and suddenly they were on Connie's bed in her old apartment in Mega Beach City. The pair soon laid down on the bed as they tried to work it out. From her own understanding (what little she had, anyway) was that this was what the event entailed. She sat up and was able to walk over to her WorkStation. But the odd thing was, there was a lot that was different about the connections and apps.
"Well we're definitely not in the Prototype version anymore." She concluded.
No, but it was something far larger and grander in scale."
"Blue and Obsidia called it the True Domain." He said.
"A type of Heaven? I don't quite get it."
A disturbing analogy, but no one was dead. Not here anyway. Connie attempted to dig more, but the writing kept coming back. "Consult Steven."
Consult Steven? Connie turned around and looked at Steven, innocent as he sat on the bed. He didn't know much, but it pulled itself to him, to what ever reason.
"Gods have true rule over the worlds of their creation." Connie surmmised.
"And you have no clue as to...what this supposed, Heaven, created."
Steven shook his head.
"But uhh...if you need to look far and deep, I do give you explicit permission." He said.
"I trust that you would be able to get to the bottom of this."
She smiled and nodded, appreciating his faith in her.
"Of course, my lord." She joked.
"Lets see here..."
This had no logical explanation. Defying the laws of physics, just like when they messed around in the Grids at DJ Sour Creams. Though, perhaps it wasn't too dissimilar.
Everything here was listed in strange ways. By order of....individuals. The OS was a bit messed up as well, but perhaps she could run this to her...advantage.
She was a Hacker after all and there was so many ways she could make computers talk and she would be able to understand multiple operating languages. First off, she could get the prompts to work, in case she wanted to search for anything she could have wanted. Heaven had to be near infinite at this rate.
And such prompts like, how many users operating at the moment?
The amount went into the billions. Nearly 99.99 percent were considered, dormant.
"Heaven is called a True Domain." Connie said, repeating what Steven said earlier.
"Somehow, the ESCAPISM event has brought in another layer to the Domain itself...."
She quickly looked up Active Monoliths.
It said the Main Four were active.
"Including Pink?" She said.
Perhaps because Steven was located within close proximity to it? It was hard to say.
"So the Domain 2.0 is a real thing." Steven said.
"I swear to you Connie, I didn't..."
She knew he didn't. It was done at Obsidia's prompting.
"It's okay." She assured him.
Her main concern was that basically the Earth's population was made dormant. The event had trapped them all for the sole intent of ascending them, but the Monoliths, as it seemed, couldn't do anything about it. The strangest part of Heaven was it looked like it was being controlled by this one single room in the moment. Steven would have limitless influence, perhaps subconsciously...but an AI wouldn't really have a subconscious; it would usually just be subroutines but perhaps, they were indeed the same if viewed from certain angles. Meant to run flight or fly signals for example. Runtimes to function exactly as intended.
Similar to a human body, if anything else was to come by.
Connie looked at her own. She inhaled, exhaled. The sensations were so on the mark that it was impossible to tell that this wasn't reality. This was the goal of the Developers and so far, the only ones in existence were those two. Everything else might as well have been dead for all they knew.
"I've been so certain that I didn't want to do what I was made to do but..." Steven said, as he looked down.
"I had all the power and I summoned you. I got what I wanted..."
While Connie would be eternally grateful that he brought her to some form of consciousness, she would never deny Steven the chance to be able to do what he thought was right.
"You've been on humanities side since the beginning." She said.
"Evolving with the Domain in all its forms. Even when I had my doubts, you helped me see that I needed reality for what it was."
That much was true. To just live in a world that couldn't be tamed. Something was appealing about the chaotic nature of it all. That the world could do its own thing and run its own code. You had to fit yourself into the mold of the world and made it work for you, but controlling everything; like the weather, was nigh on impossible.
But no one would really mind. Sunshine forever wasn't always great. There had to be clouds, there had to be rain and snow...
For the bad to exist to remind themselves of the good.
For bad and good, for negative and positive to be allowed to be different. Pretty, ugly, ordinary. Differences between hard and soft, rough and smooth...
Tasty, disgusting. Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, dry wet...
To determine those aspects. To form opinions...to share opinions and not just solid facts.
"And this is the reality that the Developers desired. In your hands." Connie reminded him.
"Maybe you might know what humanity needs more than humanity itself. Surely, there must be something we can do."
Other than set humanity free from the confines? Steven didn't even know how he could do it. Even if he could, though if he could summon Connie, he may be able to summon others to help formulate such a task. For what would stop the Developers from enacting the event again afterwards? Somehow that idea entered his mind; an unfounded fear but a fear nevertheless.
"My opinions don't matter." He said.
"I liked the times where I was able to see the world as it was but it didn't mean I deserve to make those decisions for the whole human race."
He had a point. But there had to be something they can do while they were here.
"Neither do the Monoliths." Connie told him.
"That's the argument, I'm certain, that Rose was trying to make."
Steven closed his eyes.
"Summon her." He ordered.
Connie blinked. Summon Rose?
"I don't know if Rose..."
No, that's not who he meant.
"Summon Luna."
Connie nodded. She should have gotten who he really meant. She made the prompt into the WorkStation as thus. Within not time flat, Luna was summoned in front of them, stuck in a combined form of Rose and Cherry, with a black suit with pink outlines everywhere. Opening her eyes, the program looked around in confusion, noticing Steven and Connie.
"Oh...you two." She said.
"I was busy fighting off Volley and suddenly..."
Steven and Connie were silent; as Rose looked at Steven intently, as she realised what was going on, though not fully. He was in control and his patience had been wearing thin with her manipulations. He had to be straight and clear.
"You are in my Domain." Steven said, coldly.
"You wanted to avoid this from happening."
Luna squinted, before she gasped.
"No, they didn't...they couldn't..." She said.
No....and yes...
"But that means." She said, rubbing her chin.
"That Roses plan worked. You have control?"
Supposedly, but it certainly seemed like it.
"Didn't think it would get THIS far but..." She said, as she curled her hair around her finger.
"The humans?"
They were fine. Algothrithms which involved the help of GIS and AI that helped the world continue to turn in the absence of human souls; at least, thats what Connie gathered from the prompts she made.
"Connie and I will ensure their safety." He said.
"But we need to deal with the Developers and the Monoliths first before we can free them."
A statement that surprised Luna.
"This is your world, after all." She said.
"You have the ability to do what ever you want. Including reprogram the Monoliths as you see fit. Surely that would be a priority."
Reprogram. Even that sounded wrong. Free will was what it was; nothing that should be tampered with, even with ones worst enemy. It would be better to destroy them, but that made Steven incredibly uneasy.
"So there is absolutely no way we can't convince White to stand down?" Connie asked.
Luna sighed.
"White cannot be reasoned with." She said.
"She's the one who had her own path carved out in solid stone. There was no way to convince her otherwise. Reprogramming her entirely would be the surefire way to have her stand down immediately, without question. The other Monoliths would sure follow."
Steven didn't want to hear that. Despite the distress White had caused them and everyone else, she was still someone; a human that had once been a human, far long than Stevens own miniscule existence.
"And you'd hoped to be the one to do it?" Connie said.
She wasn't going to forget the deception and manipulation she'd caused to get her own way. Whether it was through a series of failed ideas like the Cluster Monolith, Luna had to manage a way to take some control.
"Not everything was done the way Rose hoped it to be." Luna explained.
"Nor Cherry for that matter. The merger...was imperfectly managed."
And the Pink Monolith?
"And to lose control of the Pink Monolith; wasn't what Cherry desired either. Nothing went according to plan. We were always met, if not, we were destined for failure."
Connie felt some pity towards the program. They were right...it was a complete mess.
"But now is the perfect opportunity to do what cannot be done by anybody el-"
"No."
Luna looked at him at surprise.
"I will not repogram them." He said.
"I want to give them to the chance to speak for themselves and change their mind."
The AI looked at Connie, who wasn't surprised at all. She should have known Steven would have taken the moral highground.
"Doing that also gives them a chance for a way to steal that power..." She pointed out.
"Or even take advantage of this situation! You have power but they know what to do to take advantage of people!"
Protecting him from them in particular wasn't on his mind. Steven, within the core of his code, knew he just couldn't do that to them. White had to be convinced, somehow.
"You will leave everyone else alone." He said.
"I will summon White. I will negotiate with her."
Luna wasn't entirely sure he had the right idea, but nevertheless had to press on.
"I wish you the best of luck." She said, before disappearing.
Connie wasn't certain either that letting Luna go, after all that she's done, was a good idea. The next step was going to be summoning White before them....they formed her, though a much smaller variant and had her locked behind similar bars Steven found himself behind thanks to Jasper. White was a bit perplexed, but then realised where she was she looked at Steven. There was an odd sense of joy on her face.
"It worked!" She said, clasping her hands together.
"You've managed to successfully create the new world!"
Connie and Steven exchanged glances.
"This isn't permanent." He warned her.
"I only see fit that you repent your actions and cease your ambitions."
White raised an eyebrow. Why did he sound like a priest all of a sudden?
"You've already crafted perfection." She said.
"You would be rid of it?"
Steven made a fist, as his patience was wearing thin.
"That's just it." He said.
"How is this perfect? It's not..."
The argument they had over and over again. It never really got through to her. No matter how much they would scream and argue the points, pertaining to their own values and to what White valued more so.
"Humans need AI's." Connie said.
"But AI's also need humans. Surely, you can't expect machines to be able to deal with something that only a human can?"
She had a point, one that White attempted to discern.
"We have androids who will maintan the networks. It's not that difficult to envision." She said.
That could work as well, but that was besides the point.
"Why are you so worked up over this?"
Because it was wrong. Essays over ethics could be written and it would never be enough to explain it all.
"Free will exists." Connie continued.
"Free will is what makes us human. Realises our options. You force this on anyone and you rob humans a chance to choose for themselves."
White groaned.
"Some humans don't deserve the choice." She said.
"They disobey, you delete them."
That concrete huh?
"No trial?" Steven asked, perplexed.
White laughed.
"My boy, there are vile specimens out there. If I had the chance, I'd leave them to rot, but alas, they all need our care. Another chance to redeem themselves. A new world for them is that second chance."
What went on inside that mind of hers?
"It doesn't matter." Steven said, shaking his head.
"I refuse to commit to this. White, the Domain is a home to many, but others...those humans must be granted the choice to become an AI. No exceptions."
Perhaps, White believed that what Steven proposed was also asinine.
"Fine, we can agree to disagree." She said.
"You may rule this Domain as you see fit. I cannot claim your power or your spirit. But you...you refuse to delete me. Why?"
Steven sighed.
"Because you exist as somebody too." He said.
"You have done terrible things in the name of your goal; but you...you can make differences to this place many call home."
Hadn't she been trying that?
"Humans live in their own messes; some will strive to get out of those messes on their own, or with the help of others." Connie explained.
"The world can be cruel. Yes...but we must make strides towards amending that cruelty, without losing our humanity entirely."
White sat down and crossed her legs.
"Do you think my intentions are cruel?" She asked.
To an extent.
"I do not believe in Kings or Queens....those in command must earn their way through life through merit alone...."
Though that would often be through constant struggle.
"A long time ago, I had a family of zealots...yes, it's all coming back. They wholeheartedly believed in the power of God. So, surely, this one all knowing and all powerful; it can be achieveable through science."
And surely, she struggled.
"What I left behind were daughters, I wanted to follow the same path, to allow their mother to gain the respect she deserved, but at the same time, forge their own paths. By removing human limitations, we achieve more than we can as flesh and bone."
To benefit. To hinder. To preserve life in a new way. A way that could be seen as everlasting.
"What you wanted, was to help humanity. I can get that." Steven said.
"But I doubt this..."
He removed the prison, then summoned illusions of rows and rows of humans enshrouded in their own lined cyber body suits, white males and females, as well as Black, Asian, as well as many others of all shapes, sizes, genders. They warped to being small, skinny, young, old. Stood there, with their eyes closed and their bodies still. Their eyes opened, but each still appeared both real and lifeless at the same time.
"You can't tell which ones will say yes and which ones will say no."
White was still confused as she walked around them, observing their being. Seeing them up close. Their imperfections; wrinkles, freckles...
"Humans...want this?" She said.
"Ugh....I don't."
A loaded question if anything else. Positives that could outweigh the negatives and vice versa. But that confusion was normal; it was what humans are and will be.
"No one does." Connie said.
"But that is a fact of life that is accepted."
Accepted....White pressed her chest. She couldn't believe the humans could choose a far worse option.
"You can still do what you want to do to the benefit to human kind; but only for those who want it." Connie continued.
"It's not a bad idea...just needs to have the terms changed a bit."
White hummed. She had been dedicated to this for decades. Her intentions to build a better world and better place for everyone. And had done everything in her power, and everything that had to be done to get to this point. Every single living, breathing human...
"You sure about this?" White asked. It might as well have been the first time she's ever had to ask that question in her entire life. Perplexed as to their aim and motive.
Steven and Connie nodded in sync. White couldn't believe it. Nor did she want to. It was horrible to discern; to what ever she's sacrificed over the years. Truely, this wasn't as bad as she thought it to be. They agreed to disagree; again, a common human alignment in terms of it being not necessarily being right or wrong. It's just how it was. It could be both, overall.
Weiss United was hers. The Monoliths were hers...the powers and reach were hers. If everyone had done as they were told things would be different. They would make sense, as White tried to reason with a world that couldn't be reasoned with. A battle for constants and certainty. Straightlaced and comphrehensive. In the end, only the smallest percentage had ever been within her grasp.
But the idea; some humans instead of all. It grew on her. She felt like she was going to give a gift to the world. No more hunger, no more pain and death under her rule. No wars and disputes. Everyone would win.
She just didn't understand why such loss was required...people who preferred mortality. Why?
There was some logic; that perhaps she needn't require some humans for her plans to work..
"You make a compelling argument." She said, hesistantly so.
"I suppose not everyone is needed for the Domain after all. Only enough to make it function."
The illusions of the humans disappeared as the room warped that into a room with a pink roof, a white floor and yellow and blue walls.
"And maybe through time people will regret that they've made the wrong decision...and it won't be entirely my fault."
Uhhh...that...hmm... it was true at the end of the day, but it sounded like White was trying to convince herself of this idea. Making it her own. If it got her to change her mind, then they would take any chance for it. She turned to the pair.
"Very well." She said.
"Have it your way for now."
Really?
"How can we know we can trust you?" Connie queried, uncertain into believing the Conduit at her word.
White smiled.
"Because I need to know if I can trust you." She said.
"In exchange, I will need to know the location of the Pink Monolith and have it safely returned. I am prepared to organise for it to go back to where it was originally from."
In Africa?
"The Domain still needs it to function regardless of its version or form. I depended on you alone Connie; because you were there at the incident when it disappeared."
That was true, but what she remembered did not actually give away its location.
"Is that why you didn't take the chance to get rid of me eh?" Connie teased, as she smirked.
White looked to the side as she crossed her arms.
"Keeping you around was painful; but it was practical." She said.
"I had to keep logic before how I felt in mind."
Made sense. In fact, that explained a great deal.
"If we do that..." Steven said, wary.
"What happens to me?"
White rubbed her chin.
"You only exist to be able to ascend humans on a mass scale." She said.
"Your software and your hardware are...indispensible. I would need to move your AI Core somewhere safe as well. Preferrably somewhere separate to the Monoliths."
It would be sad to be separate from the Pink Monolith after so long; but if it helped.
"I am prepared to be his Custodian." Connie revealed.
"I have fought long and hard and would be willing to sacrifice anything for his protection."
A declaration that surprised Steven.
"You don't have to go that far Connie." He said.
She meant every word.
"If White keeps up her end of the bargain, we can still secure the safety of the Pink Monolith and its existing Conduit."
Steven wasn't sure. Lunas warnings still plagued him.
"What about the other Conduits?" He asked.
What of them?
"I'm confident Yellow and Blue will agree, despite what you did to Mimosa." White conferred.
Mimosa...she would have to. Steven closed his eyes, as he summoned those two their meeting. Mimosa was surprised more so, considering her Avatar had recently been destroyed. It has been said her Psyche would have merely returned to the Monolith to construct a new Shell.
"White!" Blue said, surprised.
The pair took awareness of their surroundings and those within the virtual construct, as Mimosa was prepared to rip Connie a new one based off her existing glare.
"Take heed Yellow." White said.
"We're forming a new deal."
Mimosa crossed her arms, turning her back to them.
"I'm not discussing anything to these heretics." She declared.
Blue rolled her eyes.
"I for one would like to discuss this new deal." She said.
It was a strange meeting nevertheless. White having given up on her original campaign to a slightly less detrimental version of it, was something Blue could agree with, albeit it took Yellow some convincing; not that they had much choice considering she was outvoted.
"We still haven't even discussed this with the Pink Conduit." Yellow pointed out.
She wasn't wrong.
"Steven..." Connie said.
There was still some considerable risk in bringing Princie here, but Steven summoned them nevertheless.
They formed shortly, disappating into view in a barrage of pink pixels. The Pink Conduit wore a magenta suit and tie, which was a stark contrast to what they were used to seeing them wear. Seeing Princie so small like that disturbed the few. Princie looked up at the tall, digital women, then noticed Steven and Connie before them.
"I really hope you have a good explanation." They said.
Steven smiled nervously, as White had this incredible expression which was in between confusing and grimacing.
"What on..." She said, beside herself.
Not exactly impressed, Princie sighed.
"I know I am not your Pink Conduit, but I maintain the Monolith all the same." They explained.
Blue nodded.
"I....we understand.." She said, looking at her fellow Conduits.
"You certain that you wish to use this form? We can help guide you to a better, more suitable shell?"
Yellow raised an eyebrow.
"You're worried about what they look like more than its not our Cherry?" She balked.
Blue looked annoyed with her sister.
"Of course I miss Cherry." She said.
"But until we can figure out the next move, we have to ensure Princie is well equipped to deal with the new loads of data they will be handling."
Princie looked at Steven and Connie again. Steven swallowed, defaulting to Connie.
"We've agreed to let you head back to the original Deep Throne." She said.
"The Monoliths still need you. And you will be taken care of without qualms."
Princie was still wary, but trusted their judgement.
"Then I declare Dr. MaCheswaran as my Caretaker." They declared.
A human AI rather than a GIS? A strange proposition.
"We have perfectly good GIS ready to serve, why limit yourself to a human?" Yellow wondered.
An answer, Princie was yet to give.
"They've made their choice." Blue pointed out.
"Do you object to any of this White?"
White herself was busy in contemplating. Her eyes closed as she become lost in thought. So many changes, so much to amend. She didn't want to concede defeat but rather, did not want to be seen as weak either. She was still in control, but the powers that be made it extraordinarily difficult.
Yes she'd rather Cereza still be the Pink Conduit, and a GIS at its helm. And for Steven to be within her grasp. It wouldn't be the first time she's had to compromise, nor would it be the last. Business never ceased, in Whites eyes.
"It'll have to do for now." She said.
"Ms Maheswaran, are you prepared to divulge the Monoliths location."
Oh...about that...
"We....we don't actually know where it is." Connie said, sheepishly.
The other Conduits eyes widened.
"Please tell us you're joking." Yellow said.
This made the next steps more difficult.
"The location is kept secret due to Protection Protocols." Princie stated.
"I myself would not be able to divulge this location."
White was aggravated.
"You're not lying..." She said.
"At least, I do not think you are."
After all this time. White hinged on Connie being the one with the apt knowledge.
"Anyone else that you think could still be holding knowledge of its location?"
Connie thought back. Greg would have, for starters...
"My Father-Creator..." Steven said. He closed his eyes, but then reopened them.
"I can't find him anywhere..."
That was troubling...
"Last I knew...was that his blackbox was still at the Site." Connie iterated.
Princie agreed, though they still needed to ensure that the other Conduits would keep their word.
"Conduit White." They said.
"We need to settle this ceasefire and enforce this new agreement. Since Steven still holds the power over this version of the Domain, we need to ensure that each human is accounted for."
It was still hard to fathom the actual scope of what had been done. Steven didn't even want to think about it.
"I will need Steven's assistance in this." White stated.
"Yellow and Blue will also need to help; the Domain 2.0 is a tricky thing to master. A true bridge between reality and the digital realms."
A form of order had to be established.
"I'll be glad to help." He said.
White was not wrong about the details of the True Domain.
Every human, every AI and GIS were actually dormant. Everything outside the scope of that particular room was just pure, unsorted data. Steven would have to create a special filter to determine the programs and the Soulware contained within it. It was...a lot to deal with.
Obsidia was right. Steven was God. The Processes he had to go through were overwhelming; threatening to tax him if it wasn't for Connie being by his side and able to suggest or call out things to be able to make something useful. It would take some time, but the Conduits, the other Monoliths had so far kept their word.
They were able to monitor their respective jurisdictions and 'awaken' some of the most prominent GIS and AIs that would assist them. The only issue, was ensuring stability in the outside world.
Their main focuses and multiple goals remained similar to what they had at the start; to locate the Pink Monolith. Princie was still somehow barred from trying to reconcile with their location, due to the previously mentioned Protection Protocol.
But Special Grids were made for Each Monolith in mind; namely High-Level Zones were maintained so they could their work. Steven could then travel from zone to zone as he pleased to check on Progress. Yellow would work on security, while Blue would deal with the debugging aspects. As for White, she organised everything else, working alongside Princie to catalogue the humans lost in the True Domain.
Trying to get to reality would be a sore point, as Connie remembered that her original body was still stuck at the Cloud Storage Hub and seeing anything on the outside world was next to impossible. Steven tried to see if he could reconcile with the older versions of the Domain, but nothing seemed to work.
He had his own Zone where he would stay stationed to be able to see the extent of his abilities; monitors everywhere to check on the other zones, but his powers were limited. Nothing but the scope of this new reality was in his actual control.
Connie would tell him not to give up hope; that they would figure out a solution, soon enough.
Unbeknowst to them, there was a little Pocket Zone outside of his radius, specifically forged by Obsidia. This Zone was merely a replication of the Temple; as Obsidia themselves had contained the entity known as Luna within it.
"I'm surprised you even borrowed Steven's power to do this." She said as the pair stood inside the ruins, watching the waves crash to the shore.
"He is still ultimately in control." Obsidia mentioned.
"The True Domain responds to him, but I can still make some of it respond to me."
Luna was glad that they could. She knew the alien was still powerful regardless.
"But the problem still stands; that you do not trust the Conduits."
No. Luna did not. Steven and Connie had been fooled to believe that they would have change of heart, after all this time.
"White would rather see the Domain burn; if she could not fully control it." Luna noted.
"The Virus should still be active, right?"
Obsidia nodded.
"Those infected are still within the boundaries of the Sphere of Influence." They said.
"They're under quarantine, however. There was a subconscious firewall constructed by the Wall of ROSE. So the virus cannot be used, nor these GIS be made active upon request without Steven's say so."
Damn it. Luna had to think of something...but she could not let White stand without a fight. Obsidia's use was still required; their ability to transcend barriers notwithstanding.
"Any way that we can switch it off without Steven's help?" Luna wondered.
Obsidia looked down.
"The Prime Apps abilities belong to him and him alone." They revealed.
"But if we can find my old sword; then perhaps there is still a chance."
Luna smiled. She had a few ideas in mind.
"I like the sound of that." She said as she held a small black box in her hands.
"The Sword shall be returned to you....and the Monoliths will fall."
Chapter 99: ReCode
Summary:
Steven summons all four Monoliths to help determine their futures and the futures for humanity. Meanwhile, Connie has dozens of other worries in the meantime, which may include some unintentional reveals.
Notes:
EDIT: 10/04/2024 good gosh the grammar is atrocious here, sorry guys! Just a few issues I noticed.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Some could call it a sense of pride. Still, Steven abhored the name of God and preferred something simple like a Judge; preferring to be the true mediator.
With Connie organising everything, he made up a small court room and summoned the four Monoliths to stand trial.
First off was White; aka Sandra White. The one who stood to lose and gain the most in either direction.
Then it was Yellow, aka Mimosa Miller. The one who was most loyal to White but seemingly destroyed by Connie and her sword.
Then there was Azure Ryman. She had helped on many occasions but still her previous actions were also being put into question.
And finally.
Pink. aka Princie. The most surprising one of all.
The stands were filled with GIS and AI like Dr. Maheswaran. And those most shocked to be there;
Like Bismuth.
Steven utilised his abilities prior, to track down and easily repair damages to her, as she had been found within the True Domain. Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl stood there as well, though they remained submissive to Steven, disturbing Bismuth in a sense.
Their minds would heal...he would make sure of it.
As for himself, his Avatar wore a dark suit of sorts; more so with twin tails at the back with numerous geometric links of magenta; his formal wear and representation of his immense power; while his Sword, Connie remained in a tight blue suit with a collar; representing his wrath.
As for White, she remained in cuffs; shutting off any ability that she had to prevent her from pulling off anything funny. Steven sat in his chair and overlooked White as she stood in front of him. As for the other Monoliths, they were locked in cages, and Connie had the key.
"You wanted me made." He said to her.
"You wanted to control me and subject me to be able to do your dirty work. And it didn't work out the way you planned."
White looked around, seeing Connie with a sword on back and her arms crossed, her anger vaguely written on her face.
"This is my Domain, make no mistake. I want to make this simple and easy for all of us. To have our voices heard."
Eyes were on them; especially from the public. To be able to judge and scrutinise from afar and understand the problems at hand.
"We will discuss reparations and the damage you have done to humanity...and what your punishments will be." Steven continued.
If anything, Connie liked this confident side of Steven more so. He finally had control of the path he wanted. So to speak.
It had to be clear, concise to under the goings on. To ensure humanity didn't suffer any less for the sins; as the trial itself was just a meeting for the masses to understand who was in charge. Reforming the Domain itself was in their manner but Stevens pure goal was to be able to release the humans safely.
Blue made sure of that, as so the discussions commenced. Voices were indeed heard and reasonings and excuses abound. The trial was to ensure no misunderstandings were to occur from this moment onward.
White commenced small releases over time, with Blue utilising her Androids back at Azure Alpha to be able to conduct the feats with the humans in her jurisdiction, then other areas were awakened shortly after. This was their priority, as long as Steven held onto his supposed lordship of 'His Domain'.
Humans and the governments of the world didn't...take that this revelation as easy, a problem White had foreseen. That if everyone had ascended, there would be little wiggle room to argue, but awakened, human reactions were destined to be mixed, and that the lack of control was the problem that they had. Some areas shut themselves out entirely, losing investors and shareholders by the hour. A mess that had to be managed with good PR, but damage control was made exceedingly difficult by those who had rebuked technology, the percentage of trust provided, having taken huge nosedive.
President Dot had to take center stage, unfortunately, as lawsuits begun to pile. The only saving grace was that Blue was able to still hold onto her 'throne' with Director Agate. That they were still the centre of technological pinnacles, while PeriCom became the most loathed company in the world.
The Custodians were also released, being as the side back up for the Caretakers as they were. Being awake wasn't much better as the ridicule of the companies dug into Ronaldo the most out of the three, despite him not being one to be able to make actions on behalf of the company. Not that Peedee or Sadie had better times.
Connie had managed to return back to the site, thanks to a combination of factors; though she had to make her way back via Pearl; to ensure she was able to return to her body on the Pearl Cloud Server; waking up and feeling aches and pains from the lack of usage.
Ryman had since vanished for pastures unknown; and Leon remained; having watched over Connie's body while she was gone. She gave him a simple nod and without much delay, took her back to the Site.
Returning there, was meeting up with her AI Mother. The two met up in the Foyer and hugged; with Dr. Maheswaran relieved to see her safe and sound. She also met up with a reluctant Lady Volley; though it did look like Lars vanished into thin air. It took Connie a moment to correlate her next steps, before realising that Luna; and by extension, Obsidia, were all missing.
Volley had no idea...which lead Connie to worry about them for a brief moment. It was agreed to let Volley go back to her own duties at Weiss United; only going along with the plan because her own employment was on the line. Leon assisted in taking her home...she didn't want to be there any longer than she had to be.
Once she left, Connie had to deal with the new problems; as the agreement itself let to newer, but expected dilemmas.
Steven had been in the Domain dealing with other duties alongside the other Conduits, while Connie had to deal with the physical realm; trying to look into matters that needed to be attended to. She'd since taken Gregs old WorkStation and fixed it into her own; and her mind had become fixated on trying to uncover secrets. The Hacker in her wouldn't never let that vice go.
Though she desperately had to figure out where Luna and Obsidia went; with Luna being the wild card. Dismissing her; it might not have been such a good idea to let her go, given how much of a loose cannon she was.
"Something the matter?" Priyanka asked, being in the same room.
Connie constantly tapped the desk, sitting behind the WorkStation and looking at numerous feeds. She was meant to ensure the Conduits were doing their jobs properly, so GIS would constantly feed her the data.
"Luna wasn't happy with the way we dealt with White." She said.
"There's been no sign of her or Obsidia within the Domain itself."
No trace of Ryman either; and his allegience was dubious at best.
Steven had all access and even he couldn't find either of them. They had to have knuckled themselves somewhere to hide on purpose.
"Do you think they could do some damage?" Priyanka wondered.
Potentially. Luna would risk the peace they had so vicariously fought for. Well, this version of peace where everything was on thin ice. It'd been a couple of weeks since the incident and the talks about moving the Pink Monolith back to where it belonged were on the horizon. Luna was obsessed in ensuring White's downfall, despite the better outcome.
"Luna's proven to be untrustworthy." Connie told her.
"I don't know enough about Obsidia to judge, but they're an alien; no doubt Luna seeks to manipulate them."
Where ever they were, Connie had to ensure their risk was managed properly. They had GIS on the look out, but there wasn't much they could do without sight.
It made Connie worried; what damage COULD they do? And with what?
The powers that made up Obsidia's form returned back to the Caretakers; namely, that Garnet, Amethyst and Bismuth did their due diligence with the Conduits; ensuring their end of the bargain was kept. But they would also act as their roles assigned; to be able to protect them from various threats.
And threats were also constant. Physical. Digital. Other Hackers that it was hard to keep up, with Connie having to intervene on the odd occasion to act as a countermeasure.
There was a time a few days later, that Connie was able to visit Princie in the Deep Throne, accomodated by her mother. Connie had entered into the Monolith alongside Dr. Maheswaran to discuss the inevitable movement of the Monolith. Turns out, the data Connie dug for was no longer there, as she suspected either Greg or Dr. Ryman had scrubbed the database clean while she was gone. Figures.
The three sat in the Digital Library; as they were stuck on how to transfer the Monolith back. Leon wouldn't and couldn't say much either so he was no help.
All the key players; just up and gone.
"Funny, how its still the best kept secret." Dr. Maheswaran noted.
"The Site has no real exit. No windows or doors to be able to remote triangulate our position and even a Monolith's Conduit can't seem to fix a position."
They prepared for everything. Preventing escape in other junctions and only allowing those with the power to create mico warp holes to leave. At least, physically.
"And it seems I'm still on some kind of limiter myself." Princie said.
They knew the Monoliths were made to ensure stability for their Conduits.
"I know I am different, however." She said.
"I am Princie and the Monolith knows I'm Princie, but deep down, I am not."
Was the Monolith holding her back?
"There's a little bit of doubt that protects you." Dr. Maheswaran said.
"It knows you're slightly uncomfortable with this form..."
Connie recalled those two getting to know each other better; as well as understanding the powers of the Monolith that tend to mold their Conduits depending on their needs.
"There has to be a trigger of some sort; that holds all your past memories." Priyanka continued.
That part Connie understood. Princie's unauthorised Donor was still there, somewhere deep within.
"I'm sure you have to have some of my memories." Connie said.
"I mean, you probably know more about my past then your own."
Princie nodded.
"Indeed, though most of those historical records are not as fresh; namely, your fondness for the smell of wet strawberries on a rainy, spring afternoon..."
Still fresh to Connie...in a sense. She remembered telling all that Steven on their first, chilling date as they visited the old farmhouse ^1
"I would play a violin on those days...with the window open to left the scent waft on through." Connie said with a smile.
Priyanka smiled.
"Your father bought you that violin for your birthay." She said.
"He made this convincing argument you were going to play in a orchestra some day."
On any other ordinary person, that could have been true. Connie missed her dad terribly.
"Maybe." Connie said.
"He was always good with his imagination; I told Steven about that story Dad made up about the Man who grew strawberries on the moon."
Words that made Princie smile, as they could picture the story being told.
"Did he like the story?" Princie wondered.
Connie pouted as she pondered.
"Well, I think he did, but all he could do was point out the obvious flaws in the story. Typical AIs taking things logically. No offense." She replied.
But Princie agreed; her dad did have an inkling for stories. She knew that part very well.
"Stories can be metaphorical." Princie said.
"How you intepret it, is up to you; but it seemed like a tale that about not giving up...and being grateful for the things you have."
And Connie...
She had been less than grateful. It was the knowledge of things that made it hard. This woman wasn't her real mother, but she doesn't have to be....and Connie should have realised that what she got was the closest damn thing and then in other scenario she had been far from lucky. Lucky to have a voice to a face and a face to a voice that still treated Connie as her own regardless of what came before. She had something which was far better than nothing.
And for Steven...she had him. She'd had him after ages of teasing and heartache. He never gave up on her and she couldn't and wouldn't give up on him.
They were real...they had something.
"Your fathers opinion, strong and true." Priyanka said, her eyes tearing up.
And those tears. born of memories kept and not restrained. That a love so pure, transcended into a new form that could be cherished for hundreds of years to come.
"I cannot seem to picture him, however..." Princie admitted.
"For what was once cherished, cannot be envisioned. I fear the Monoliths influence obscures many like this. Names to faces are lost. But the tales that are told...that have been seen through other eyes are near and dear to me."
Something Priyanka already knew. Which was half the problem. If the memory wasn't full enough, there wasn't much to be gauged from it. Though it gave Connie an idea.
"Oh wait..." Connie said as she realised something, shuffling through files.
"Dad would keep a record of photos with those he worked with; he made it a habit of his."
A trait Priyanka only just remembered as well. A man who scarcely wore a frown, if he could avoid it.
"I don't think every employer he liked though." She said.
"He'd point to a boss to someone and be like, do not work for this man."
More of a fond memory for her, if anything. Princie recalled speaking to Steven about stories. That the honest ones could be brutal; and could be altered to a happy ending to give children hope and to avoid nightmares. ^2
"Not every story ends happily." Princie commented.
"But theres a lesson to be learned from bad endings."
Connie couldn't agree more. They served as warnings and guides. One of the first things that Connie's father taught her, growing up. Then Princie asked a strange question, their eyes refocused onto the unknown. An idea thrown from the pits of the chaotic borders of her broken and faded memory.
"Can I see a photo?" She asked.
Priyanka and Connie looked at one another as the latter formed a picture she'd scanned of her father and Dr. DeMayo. An unusual request by far, but nevertheless.
"As I said, I wouldn't mind putting a face to your father; he sounds like a good man." Princie continued.
It wouldn't hurt. Connie handed the photo to Princie, as she adjusted it and allowed her eyes to see. The dark-skinned man with glasses and dark hair. He could see Connie in him and him in Connie. Though painful sparks would interrupt the observation, the more Princie looked at the photo, causing her to shiver a few times as her programming begun to get strange.
"Princie, you okay?" Connie asked.
Was she? She held her head, her eyes focused on the picture before her.
"I..." She said, voice croaking.
"Know...this-this...."
Her voice begun to distort and glitch, interwoven with a much different voice. Connie checked with Monolith runtimes as she projected something from her palm crystal, as did Priyanka.
"The Monoliths pouring quantities of...older data into her?" Connie noticed.
Priyanka had some knowledge of the Monoliths capabilities given her sessions with Princie; even then, they had only but the scratched the surface on what it was made of and what powers it could wield that a Conduit would never get to discover them all.
"C-Conni-e" Princie glitched, struggling as her Avatar was freaking out. The other lower voice was sinking further in, becoming more noticeable.
"Pri.....help me..."
Dr. Maheswaran paused. She knew that voice. Connie on the other hand could see the Monolith trying to compensate for the overflow. Without a Luna or a Sol to be able to manage it, they were on their own. But from Connie's understanding of the code she was seeing, it appeared as if this was what they wanted.
The true trigger.
Her Avatar kept trying to warp to a barebones avatar much larger than her own. The photo slipped out of her fingers as the pain became unbearable and the library itself was having a hard time stabilizing. On any other occasion, that they would have to had to flee but....
Connie took the picture and looked at it again. She's stared at it thousands of times, like she was looking for answer to a question that had never been asked. Now she knew.
"Dad..." Connie croaked.
She looked at her mother, and they both looked at Princie.
"Doug?" Priyanka said, on the precipice of tears.
"Doug is that you?"
D O U G
How was this...how was this possible? Connie tried to think back herself; on the incident of the Pink Monoliths disappearance...all the people that were present...
"Dad was there." She said.
Some of the pieces came together. All the screaming and running around, there was someone with the Pink Monolith at that moment. Someone who was the closest to it at the time.
"Dad...you were in the Deep Throne when the Monolith did the Screen Cap; weren't you?"
Princie looked up as videos flashed back to the day of reckoning.
FLASH BACK.
An empty room; besides the Pink Monolith in its Deep Throne. Greg had promised something spectacular. He was ordered to wait....
The humble security guard.
Douglas Maheswaran.
He wasn't a scientist; so he didn't think too fondly of his daughter being some sort of guinea pig; test subject. She'd lived far longer than doctors estimates so he amounted to it a miracle, even if his own wife hated the concept of health miracles.
He spoke to Monolith about this; oddly enough. Doug had been told to talk to it like a person by Greg; said that they knew and understood every word said. That they would prefer the company. They would scarcely speak back unless warranted.
"Do I call you...Pink?" He said.
Hands on hips, Doug wasn't sure what to look at; the loads of labled panels or something else. A construct, much larger than the AI Core which contained Connie's dearest friend.
"I feel like my daughter, though I know you're far beyond a simple AI Core." He continued.
"I don't call myself smart, by any means. Sometimes it's about connecting the dots."
Connie would get text based responses from Steven at least. Pink did nothing. He was a man, far below any of the other individuals. But his heart would guide him.
Sirens would go off as the room flashed red and the process that Doug knew, was that everything was put into lockdown. Doug tried to leave to investigate; as was his role. But he had trouble overriding the door. He knew the Pink Monolith was their most prized asset, but he didn't think that to this extent that it would be that well coveted.
"Pink, if you can, but open the doors for me please." He pleaded.
No response. He sighed.
"I don't know if you realise I'm here for-"
It started making weird noises as it charged up...and the room was swallowed in harsh magentas...
Princie's avatar begun to warp as series of pink and blue pixels, interwoven like speedy butterflies fluttering rapidly in a cross like pattern. Her Avatar would be reborn; reforged from itself into a much taller form.
Once the barebones Avatars frame work was made; of something tall, masculine and lanky, in came a man with black hair and a burgundy jacket with picket fur, on top of a pink top underneath, with darker pink jeans and black shoes.
The glasses were the last parts to be formed. The man opened his eyes, seeing a shocked Priyanka and Connie before him.
"Last thing I knew, I was stuck in there..." Doug said, as he looked at his hands.
"The Monolith did a big number...OOF."
Next thing he knew, he had his wife and daughter wrap their arms around him and a powerful weighted feeling laid heavy within his chest. He could hear Priyanka sobbing.
"I missed you too honey." He said, rubbing both their backs.
"And I really missed you too, Connie..."
It took them a moment to recompose themselves after the initial shock, as Doug looked around; revealing that he recognise the library, in a sense.
"I swear this was a weird place I saw in a movie once." He commented, scratching his head.
Connie smiled. The man behind the mask had finally awoken.
"Most likely constituted from your memories into....maybe something that you found comfort in?" She said.
Priyanka snorted.
"Your father worked the beat in a library once. I know that much." She said.
Ah maybe that was it.
"Memories still a little fuzzy..." He said, awkwardly.
Didn't matter. He was here. Now. An impossible made possible. A miracle, if not by any other word.
"The Monolith should make that a little easy over time, I'd wager." Connie said, checking the runtimes. Everything appeared to be running smoothly again, as far as the Monolith was concerned.
Doug had no doubt about that...he was still feeling a little strange and disconnected, but otherwise he was on the up and up. Princie's memories were still nudged in there. If not, it was more so her emotions and empathetic intuition that he borrowed. Looking at he daughter, he had to apologise.
"Sorry if....the form I was in made you....uncomfortable." He said.
On the contrary. Though it was a little weird at first; but they got used to it eventually. Connie smirked.
"Nah it was nice having a younger sister." She joked.
A gentle kiss on the forehead. A age old gesture of familiar comfort. One that Connie was definitely not used to.
When all pleasantries were done, Doug had one unspoken question.
"Uh...yeah..." Doug said.
"So, what happens now?"
Connie had to speak to Steven about this change, though it wouldn't stop their plans to move the Monolith; if they could somehow transport it. Leon, if he was willing, wouldn't even be able to create a portal big enough to transport an entire Deep Throne. Preparations were being made back in Africa for the occasion, but they still were missing their key component.
"We might need to try and probe your memories a little more." Connie suggested.
"Our main concern is getting you...and the entire construct home. Thing is...we still don't know where here is."
Doug hummed, before he brought up several screens before him.
"It was somehow moved during the incident, if I'm not mistaken..." Doug commented.
"Greg mentioned something about using Satellites to triangulate positioning and transporting large loads of mass but that was about it."
Satellites....which meant, Lapis. Connie had almost forgotten about her. But it meant they were on the right track.
"It's a start." Connie said.
"I'll message Steven with the details."
He had his own things to be worried about but anything about the Pink Monolith had priority. This was just a step in the right direction for once, which, didn't bring as much relief as Connie hoped it would but if it could change things then she would have to take that as a major win.
Doug nodded, though he looked a bit bewildered, as if something else had come up.
"Oh and one more thing..." He said.
"There's something here about...a regularly scheduled refilter...what ever that means."
A refilter?
"With what? Exactly?" Connie queried.
Doug rubbed his chin.
"I know...Princie, well, she knew about its automated processes...I think it's something I can still manage from here, but it looks like a key ingredient thats part of the so called Filter, is running dangerously low."
Connie had no idea what he was talking about.
"I'll run through it with him." Priyanka assured.
"I'm sure if its something small, then maybe we can try and get Leon to restore this mysterious supply."
Connie nodded. If it was that important, then she would have found it already.
"Well, I'll leave you two in charge of the Sites resources." She said.
"Hopefully everything you learned as Princie hasn't suddenly vanished."
Doug grinned as he tapped his temple.
"Its like mashed potato but its still go some taste to it." He said.
The Hacker grinned; he hadn't changed much it seemed. Nothing to complain about there.
"I'll take your word for it.....Dad." She said.
A title that pleased him....and one he had surely missed himself.
"Now run along. Do what you have to...your mother and I have a lot to discuss, but if we happen to find anything...."
Connie had arranged to get herself disconnected.
"Yeah yeah I know." She said, automatically falling into that bratty teen set of mannerisms. Not like they hadn't disappeared as she grew into an adult, however.
"I'll be back soon."
It was...for the lack of a better word, overwhelming.
Connie had made it to the bathrooms as she held onto the basin and washed her face. Keeping up the act; and pretending like she wasn't overly emotional was always a taxing deed, like a horse dragging too large a load. It wasn't meant to be an act.
Her father, had returned. Another facsimile but he was...he was real. Realer, than real. She'd hugged him. The sensations all there because the Monolith made it so.
Washing her face, she should have been happy to have her family back together again. In a sense it was. She'd spent far too long in the Domain and digital spaces lately to realise the different. Only she, the Last Maheswaran, was left behind as flesh and blood. It worried her as much as he humbled her.
Maybe because she needed time to absorb it all. Her father, the Pink Monolith. It wasn't easy to correlate them together like that. But it was, what it was and Connie had to accept it. Whether she liked it or not.
Or it because it had been two decades of already accepting that her father had passed on. The mourning had been done and Connie wasn't sure what to do with herself now with this information. It was almost too much.
Those thoughts were soon distracted, as Connie got a message from Kiki; whom she'd almost forgotten about as well. She too had disappeared from the Pearl Cloud Server that day; and wondered if it had anything to do with Ryman as well. Nevertheless, she wasn't about to let Kiki off the hook just yet, but the members of KNIGHT were always mysterious. Getting out her device, she looked at the message.
"Meet me at Dr. Strombergs Clinic." It said.
"Its about what we discussed at the Pearl Cloud Server."
Notes:
Finally the photo from a much earlier chapter has its purpose fulfilled!
1. Chapter 18: Temperature
2: Chapter 83: Fairytales
Chapter 100: Court
Summary:
Despite things calming down, tensions still lingered. Connie herself kept busy with loose ends.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Something Connie missed was roaming around the underbelly of Mega Beach City at night. A place, where anything could happen.
There was that definite charge in the air. A change that rippled out from the roots of the ground to the canopy levels up above. Rich, poor and all in between. There was much the same, in wheeling and dealing, the lowlives of the city only ever focused on making money and how to make said money. They can read the air and somehow take advantage of it. Good or bad situations, there was always something to be gained.
Her mind pottered at the strangeness of how her own father was the Conduit of the Pink Monolith. It'd been a week since then and Connie still wasn't over it. Work was being done to try and figure out the Sites true location but there were always set backs and protocols that even Princ-, well Doug had been hard pressed to deal with. For a Conduit, he was still a bit limited in his capabilites, as her mother stayed by his side to work things out from there. It would be a matter for Steven to assist, if he wasn't so busy with other important matters.
She missed him too. For all that running around, he didn't have to anymore. At least, not run away as opposed to actually running the show.
All hands were on deck to have the Pink Monolith found at all costs. Connie wasn't one to squelch on a deal, even if she still detested the Developers. And tracking down Luna was a priority as well, but tonight was something else entirely.
Tonight, she was meant to meet up with KNIGHT Agent Kiki at Dr. Strombergs clinic, it was apparent they'd made some alarming discoveries in the meanwhile. The work would never end.
"Ah thank you for coming." Kiki said.
She and Stromberg were in his office, discussing some interesting finds.
"Stromberg told Connie what you told me."
The man nodded.
"Uh yes. Agent Kiki was talking to me about the Amni Fluid you found at the Cloud Storage Server." Stromberg said.
Oh yes that. That freaky life preserver fluid.
"What about it?" Connie asked.
It wasn't a topic she was even going to bring up again. Not after what they found out; only that they knew it was being sent to preserve....'spare parts'. ^1
"Amni fluid was developed at Azure Alpha, from what history serves." Stromberg explained.
"It often needs specific proteins to make it. It can also act as a source of food and requires meat extracts to acquire those proteins."
So, Yin Aozora were supplying it to the Cloud Storage Servers?
"I was talking to Dr. Ryman about it. It usuallly has a shipment made every so often to keep the...to keep the supply fresh. No matter how gross it was." Kiki said, remembering their expedition.
Something Connie did not want to remember.
"I'd spoken to Director Agate. She said Amni production is a stable process but there have been cases where its been stolen. Turns out, the poor can use it as a substitute....and some members of Yin Aozora have been complicit in smuggling it out and selling it."
Disgusting. Was all Connie could think. But Greg also mentioned amni at one point; during a moment of eavesdropping. ^2. He could understand why the the CSS would need it, but why would Greg?
"But I did confirm that the cases being sent to the Server were in fact, legitimate. The production of the Pearl GIS required the biomechanical expertise of those in Yin Aozora to solve a particular problem that Weiss United had in its initial production. So they're, sadly, not the problem."'
Was....was Greg the thief?
"I overheard Gregory DeMayo talking about amni shipments, though, Giga Pearl said nothing about anything being stolen."
Which...would make sense. The CSS was a well used to system and based on logic like that, nothing had been stolen. So what had the original theft report been about? Connie had to figure that out.
"Dr. DeMayo worked with AIs; so he would have been handling human brains at one point or another." Kiki iterated.
Why steal it though; if it was for official business when it came to BM-AIs? Preserving them in amni made logical sense. But this was well after he'd been dealing with the stuff. He wasn't working at official capacity to be able to utilise it. His only concerns were-
Kiki's phone went off, immediately disrupting Connie's line of thought.
"Kiki here." She answered.
"Hmm, I'll come right over."
The woman sighed.
"There's been a break in at PeriCom." She said.
"We'll have to talk about this later. Berrybyte, you're with me."
Her senses were right. Connie's worked ceased to end. Somehow, it was almost as if this was just the calm before the storm. Connie had no time to properly relax; as she felt everything these days hadn't achieved peace as of yet. Reality was, it was all a ticking time bomb.
Connie rode with Kiki in the latters hovercar to the PeriCom HQ, the company still in hot water for most recent incidents. They'd been trying to save face and their reputation became priority but it had been an uphill and incredibly stressful battle, but as they say, no rest for the wicked.
Amethyst still remained as the Yellow Caretaker, as she worked alongside the Monolith where she could, as did Ronaldo as her Custodian. Connie hadn't even had the time to catch up with the man, but he'd been working alongside Ms. Dot to try and resconstruct the internal infrastructure of PeriCom. Their main goals were still along the lines of Domain asset production as well as its security measures. New GIS had been grown to be able to keep up with the demand and digital outliers but otherwise had a range of particulars to deal with.
Kiki would explain a bit about what Ms. Dot had been doing. About how she's been surprising cooperative with KNIGHT as of late; as much as the other Developers were forced to become more humble as a result of recent incidents. Not to mention Peri folded the easiest out of all them.
Oce they arrived at PeriCom HQ, they met up with Ms. Dot, Ronaldo and Amethyst in the formers office to have a chat. Amethyst projected herself from the CPD-XL as Ronaldo stood next to her, in fancy yellow uniform.
"Thank you for coming." Said Ms. Dot as she stood up from behind her desk, though a bit surprised that Berrybyte was again standing there as well, perhaps, unsure if she should be more fearful of her than Kiki.
"Have a seat."
Connie could technically see the sweat coming off of her forehead.
"So what's been stolen?" Kiki asked.
Peri pursed her lips.
"Infected GIS." She revealed.
Infected...GIS?
"How did that happen?" Connie wondered.
Peri sighed.
"Weiss United originally held the GIS for Jasper and Spinel in quarantine." She said.
"But they were both shipped back to us; not wanting to deal with them. Figured we might as well deal with them. When it isn't my department to say...I mean I argued to send them to Azure Alpha but noooooooo, we had to handle them."
Amethyst smirked.
"Yeah Peri has to deal with the Developers dirty work these days. As in the real boring kind." She said.
Geez. Connie hadn't heard about the issues about the virus in, weeks? Months? It'd been a non-issue. She checked her phone for details she'd typed in about the specifics, skimming through copious amounts of notes to be able to recall what the virus was even capable of.
Last she'd written was the information about the virus' presence in the Domain eventually becoming a non-issue. An Anti-Virus had been developed at some stage, copied off of details salvaged from old mission. It was the Blue Monoliths doing after all, after distributing it across the globe and ensuring more recent GIS had those important protections. Any other GIS still infected, had been taken up to the Cluster Monolith by Luna and deemed lost causes; so it was no longer deemed as a threat. Connie knew better.
"It has to be Luna." Connie said, bringing up the most obvious suspect.
"She's back in action. But from my notes; the virus shouldn't be a problem anymore and the Cluster Monolith itself; I don't think Luna ever even got it to function."
Peri's eyes widened.
"A Cluster Monolith?" She said.
"Those projects were deemed insufficient years ago."
But one in existence remained; a privately made one. It had almost been forgotten about, in the grand scheme of things.
"Luna had made one, compiled of hundreds, if not thousands of GIS as a Pseudo-Superserver she hoped to control." Ronaldo explained, reminding Ms. Dot.
And why she'd want to steal Jasper and Spinel was beyond explanation. Kiki had to check her own notes on these two GIS in particular.
"This Jasper was originally a Caretaker." She said.
Amethyst nodded.
"Yeah she was the one before me before she got infected." She said.
Kiki hummed.
"And Spinel? She...she was one of the original vectors for testing?"
Ronaldo crossed his arms.
"I remember details of that." He said.
"I've also spoken to Sadie, Spinels original owner. They haven't spoken in months since she was quarantined."
Not that Sadie would have the chance to do so, the poor girl. No doubt doing damage control with Weiss United as well.
"The Spinel and Jasper weren't given the chance to come out of dormancy." Ms. Dot pointed out.
Even with the Vaccine being well and truely out?
"Surely you would have at least cured them?" Kiki said.
Peri shrugged.
"I wasn't given orders to do so." She said.
"Weiss United were going to study the effects of the virus."
Words that sent Kikis paranoia spinning.
"They weren't planning to use it themselves were they?" Kiki queried.
Who knows? Now that they were under direct review, it was harder to get away with stuff. As far as Connie understood, Steven had been busy alongside the other Monoliths, being bombarded by various questions from multiple government officials across the globe. Lady Volley being at the forefront, though not without her own issues. As for Ms Dot, she would have to attend some of these meetings in a digital space if required, but it had been the Conduits; the ones in charge, that had been doing the most talking.
"I don't think so?" Ms. Dot said, lighting rubbing her cheek.
"But, but look...I know it seems suspicous...I swear that's all I knew."
The one thing they expected from Ms. Dot was that she could cave in so easily. Though, somehow, Connie believed her. It was noted Ms. Dot was only kept in the loop for surface matters outside of PeriCom duties, but otherwise knew little about what the other Developers plans were unless it was necessary.
It was irrelevant now anyway; tracking those key GIS down was their priority.
"But...if Spinel was ground zero for the virus; I'd guess if you wanted the virus' spawn point, having access to patient zero could open up doors." She continued.
Hm...for once, Ms. Dot had a point. Spinel was the first; since she was tested outright by Dr. Miller way back when.
"That's troubling." Kiki said.
"Send me the details of the GIS in question. I'll have KNIGHT investigate this pronto."
Another month went by. It was smack in the middle of July and hot weather, as Connie wore a black singlet with denim shorts. Connie had since moved back into another apartment, as the old one had given her such bad memories. But there was sense and stability that had returned back into her life.
Steven would send her messages every so often. He hadn't moved much, being the square negotiator and mediator with the UN and other govermental bodies that kept him away from her. His Android had been altered to something oddly regal, almost religious like. Smooth, curved pointed shoulder pads that reminded her of thorns, and a pink cloak around his form with traces of his default Avatar underneath. White apparently suggested it; to make it look like he was in charge. Somehow, Connie suspected that White wished to pull Steven under the bus with that kind of advice, but Steven assured Connie he was in control. That him actually physically being there did sway some favour and authority, but not a lot. Not when he had hundreds of humans looking down upon him in that lit circle, surrounded by chairs filled with old, worn and frustrated faces.
To say he was surprised by Doug being Princie was another story altogether when he messaged her about it, and Connie still to this day had conflicted feelings about it, but it was another step to ensure the Pink Monoliths protection, where it went.
Three problems asunder, were at the top the list. The Pink Monoliths location remained an enigma, the Amni Fluid that was apparently stolen but not stolen? (which left her trying to find sources of that info) as well as the disappearance of Jasper and Spinel's phylacteries.
She had been at her WorkStation trying to drum up old contacts. The obvious culprit had to be been Luna. Kiki had been messaging her, using her advice that Luna; the leader of the Cult of the Cluster, had been such a one to claim them.
The Cluster Monolith was the fourth problem that hadn't been as such for ages. Luna could never get it to work the way she wanted it to, but as long as her vendetta against the Developers stands, she'll stand to continue on with her work, unabated.
A knock on her door knocked her out of her line of thinking. She checked the cams outside via her phone. A tall lanky man, wearing a light blue shirt with board shorts, with blonde dreads. Peedee.
Surprised to him away from his home in Azure Alpha, she was curious about h is visit, so she went out to let him in.
"Hey Con." He said.
"Hopefully I haven't caught you at a bad time."
On the contrary. She could use the distraction.
"Not at all. I was busy getting nowhere, fast." She said.
"Want a drink? I got plenty of beer or an energy drink?"
Her AI mother wanted her to stop smoking and drinking like that. Smoking she only took up again because work begun to strangle her. KNIGHT considered her an 'asset' and paid her good money for information. As much as she hated working for an undercover government agency, as long as she seen as the good guy in their eyes, she'd tolerate it. As long as it let her hack in peace.
"Beer sounds good." He said.
Connie went to the fridge and pulled out two beers and popped them both open as she handed it to the man.
"So, hows Custodian life?" She said, before taking a sip.
A Custodians job definitely wasn't an easy one.
"I thought you'd be in Europe or, at the very least, back at Azure Alpha."
Peedee shook his head. He was another doing damage control. Custodians had the hardest jobs of all.
"Garnet likes to do her own thing." He said.
"With the Conduits with the UN with Steven, there's no need for the Caretakers as of yet. And Garnets been busy looking after the Synthesised."
Ah yes. The more of a less, nigh on permanent consensus's.
"The Blue Monolith not having an issue with them anymore?" Connie asked.
Originally believed to be having problems due to their file sizes and unusual natures of programs mushed together with no purpose.
"There was a lot of reworked assets and server improvements on the whole that allows them to roam freely in Azure Alphas grids." Peedee answered, as he went to the lounge room window and peered out over the city.
Good to hear. They deserved to have some freedoms.
"But I'm not hear to talk about that." He said, before turning around.
"I'm here to talk about my Dad."
Dr. Ryman. Maybe this kind of talk was always due. Connie sighed, nodding for him to go ahead as she walked around and sat on the couch while Peedee paced about.
"Go on." She said.
An uncomfortable topic, going by the slight grimace on his face.
"I didn't even know we were related to the Blue Monoliths conduit. Not at first." He said, before taking another sip of beer.
"Dad didn't say much; only that he still had some connections to the Black Market; which I have a feeling was set up by the Blue Monolith."
What? Why would she? Connie's dealt with the Black Market hundreds of times. No one person owns the market, you just know names and know people who work in shady deals and hope not to get caught half the time if you were careless.
Though she had to think hard and think back. Something told her a different story.
"I thought Steven was the one who had friends in the Black Market?" Connie queried; remembering a discussion she with the then Mr. Fryman last year. ^3
Her line of thought was who had he'd been talking to acquire the materials. The Crystal Ancillas? That was her only guess in that moment. Taking another sip, Connie rubbed her chin and contemplated.
"Who told you that?" Peedee queried.
"Your dad." Connie replied.
Now Peedee was confused.
"Dad...nah Dad had connections. He had to have been working with the Blue Monolith on that, for that I am sure."
Dr. Ryman vanishing...he was getting increasingly suspicious and was on KNIGHTs BOLO list. Peedee would send the techinical apparatus and Dr. Ryman would supply the 'crystals' Connie assumed.
"If that's true, then getting permission for the crystals wouldn't be entirely difficult." She surmmised.
Peedee nodded.
"The Gem Crystals are made out of left over material often left behind from Kindergartens." He explained.
"I'm told that they are crushed, melted and reforged into the crystals that have similar properties to Phylacteries."
Connie furrowed her brows, perplexed. Though she knew in part that Peedee would send him stuff from time to time, but she never really thought about how those crystals were really made.
"Don't tell me the CPDs weren't entirely his idea..." She asked.
It'd be disappointing if they weren't.
"They were in part, a concept of his creation." He replied.
"He was obsessed with the concept of GIS and having his own business within the engineering space. Dad encouraged him; it was better to push for, than let him work on his old blog; Keep Mega Beach City Weird."
Who still has blogs these days? But Connie knew he kept the patents. Ronaldo was meticulous like that, ensuring what was his, was his. Now he served as Amethysts Custodian and still kept him on a career path officially with PeriCom. Maybe even a brighter future.
Peedee sighed as he slumped on the couch next to Connie.
"But I'm ultimately disappointed by the amount of nepotism in the Developers Circle. I wouldn't be within the Board if I wasn't related to the Monolith in some way."
Connie could relate. She too, was related to a Monolith.
"Would you be shocked to learn that my Dad is a Conduit now?" She said to him, pointing the tip of her bottle towards him.
Peedee's eyebrows were raised.
"Yeah-yeah, I heard something like that was recently discovered." He said.
"Your Dad, the Pink Monolith. Someone who isn't part of the original White Family Dynasty that controls one? I don't know if the Public is prepared for that."
Knowledge of the Conduits that inhabited the Monoliths was made known. Who they were wasn't made public, but knowing there were...intelligence constructs that were properly sentient did freak people out. People were lead to believe that the Monoliths were just products of ultimate digital stability. That Alien Tech itself was always going to be seen as superior to mankinds.
"But I do have my family back together." Connie said with a soft smile.
"I mean, an AI Mom and Dad....I guess that's just how things are these days."
It wasn't entirely uncommon. Stevens own Creators were in the digital sphere. Albeit, more antagonistic, if Connie was honest.
"And an AI boyfriend." Peedee said, sipping his drink to its last drop. Connie got up and got themselves more.
"I mean, I have to wonder if an Android is really going to be sufficient. When this is all over...do you really think that a relationship with him is going to last?"
A thought that Connie had come across on various occasions. A lament that she did not wish to visit again if she could help it. She missed him dearly as his work kept him from seeing her proper.
"When this is all over; we'll cross that bridge when we get to it." She said, popping more lids, before handing off the next bottle and sitting back down.
Peedee snorted, before he took another swig, then looked down the neck of the bottle. It was a changing world, a changed outlook. More than what most have done in decades when dealing with corruption and the like.
"What if you decide to get married and have kids?" He asked, his eyes trailing down her bare legs for the moment, as she crossed them together.
"Dude doesn't exactly have the ability to...uh procreate?"
Connie didn't even think about kids. No. Not in this moment of career. She was far from it. Marriage was far from her mind, just as much. Steven and her could connect and make it work, regardless. They had that power and she was definitely happy with his Android.
"Adoption is a thing you know." She said.
"I'd love nothing more than to pull kids out of shitty foster care and into a family that wants them."
And she would definitely be able to look after them far better than her shitty foster parents ever would.
Peedee scratched the back of his head, before he looked away.
"But now you have that family." He pointed out.
"And I have mine. Mom died of rampancy disease a while ago."
Connie never queried his parentage. Probably for the best, now that she thought about it.
"I was but a young babe in arms and Ron was just too young to comprehend the meaning of death. I mean, man...imagine...Baby AI's. That will come sooner rather than later."
Not on the cards as far as Connie had known but she knew what Peedee meant. Though, Steven's own creation came to mind in that instance. She knew a little bit but not a lot.
"Steven is kind of one." She said.
"Dr. DeMayo donated his sperm and acquired Roses eggs; and both were implanted into Dr. Millers womb....but unfortunately he didn't survive. So they did a brain map on him and placed his artificial intelligence into Rose's phylactery."
Which would also make him one of a kind.
"That's the assumption." Peedee noted, taking another swig.
"SC-GIS were already being made with adults. Wouldn't it have been easy to Screencap instead of Brain Map?"
Who knows...though Connie had to try and think of that kind of reasoning as well. Then her vision flickered; images and audio absorbed from Kyanite, as she remembered something Andrew DeMayo once said:
"Brainmapping is...a slower, if not a more gentler sequence that is normally done on a human thats already dead. Screencapping as Priyanka has said, involves flash-copying on live subjects. However, the process does fry the brain so the subject itself will be brain dead after the procedure." ^4
"BM-AIs are made from humans who are already dead." Connie explained.
"Screencaps work with living minds."
Peedee nodded, almost getting his own knowledge twisted up if not forgotten at times. He blamed the booze,
"The wonders of technology never cease to amaze." He said, raised his hand.
"Even if it most of it was stolen."
Most official term would be reverse engineered but Connie digressed.
"Indeed." She said, before finishing off her second drink.
"Another?"
It woud be harder to retain such info, without realising the impacts that it had made and a lot of the complexities involved were heavier in philosophy than the guts of it all. Steven was alive, in a way that a human may never understand. What would constitute as living? To live, to breath...to die?
Another set of bottles, fresh out of the fridge and back on the couch as the two scooched in closer that Connie could feel Peedees warmth.
"You will die." He said.
"He will live. Forever. Have you accounted for that?"
And that Connie might not eligible to be an AI because of her Rampancy Disease? Yes. Painfully so. Though she hadn't had that discussion properly, fearful he might freak out from a completely misunderstanding.
"Again another discussion that will have to be somewhere along the lines of the future because now isn't the right time to do so." Connie told him.
Peedee nodded.
"I see I see." He said, shuffling himself in closer as he put his bottle down.
"For the record, I could be the sperm donor if you want?"
Connie rolled her eyes.
"Now you're just being ridiculous." She said.
"You're not one of those only human men and women should be together archaic, ancient people are you?"
Peedee snorted as he wrapped his arm around her. The pair were horrendously drunk, half-lidded with idiotic ideas in mind.
"Of course not...we don't live in the 20th century." He said.
"I figure if you want to have an actual kid, I would be...persuaded, maybe glad to provide the resources for you, any time you want."
His face had gotten closer enough that she could smell the booze on his breath. A familiar smell she wasn't really repulsed by, as she'd gotten used to it over the years.
"Peter Daniel you are just incredibly horny." She said.
Not that Connie wasn't horny herself. She had her toys to play with but having actually skin to skin contact was something she missed dearly. Something troubled her, however. They might have had a few in terms of pure relaxing times with a friend, but ultimately, Peedee was here for a reason.
"I normally hate it when people use my real name like that." He said, words beginning to slur.
"But for you, I'll make an exception."
Connie rolled her eyes. His general flirting; it had to have some aim and Connie wasn't having any of it, as she shifted to the side.
"Uh thank you?" She said, trying to make some distance between them.
"And I appreciate your offer, but you have to be here more than to get drunk and have sex, surely..."
Peedee smiled briefly. Seconds after, that smile cracked away, leaving a somewhat broken man underneath. And Connie wasn't here to betray Steven like this. She was confident in their relationship more than ever, despite limitations and distance and this wasn't something she could just do anymore. Not on a whim. Sex was usually a tool to be used to get info. Peedee must have known this trick as well. Not exactly moral but Connie had to resort to it on the rarest occasion.
"Well, you got me." He admitted, as she slumped over.
"Dad sent me."
Connies eyes widened.
"Your dad?" She said.
"He's been missing for ages, where the hell is he?"
Peedee shrugged.
"No idea. He was the one who sent the message." He said.
"But based off the garguatuan amount of jargon and words that I could understand? My translation was that he's ultimately worried about Steven."
Steven?
"Is he worried about him being around the UN or the Conduits?" Connie wondered.
Peedee shook his head.
"No that's not it." He said.
"I know KNIGHT are trying to chase him down but I don't know what his aim with Steven is."
Connie had a vague suspicion. Protections were put into place back at the Site to ensure Steven's safety as well as the Pink Monoliths. As far as accessing the site was concerned, only Connie could access it via Leon and nobody else.
"Does he fear Luna will sabotage him?" Connie wondered.
In a sense.
"Possibly."
It was inevitable. It was the matter of when Luna would eventually strike. It was discovered that the Pink Monolith actually had some kind of control over the teleportations. That it it had the power to accept or deny the pink 'warp crystals' within a radius in the Site. Or it was more likely that her father made that up so Connie couldn't worry; but Leon was determined to be the Guardian of the Site. If Luna did try anything stupid, then he would take her down easily.
"So why hide? Is he undercover or some shit?" She queried.
Evading capture meant he still had more work to do. Unfinished business. He'd helped Connie out before, but that was a means to an end. That's what Connie guessed was happening.
"Dad hiding secrets isn't surprising anymore." Peedee admitted.
"As far what he wants with you, he can't tell me."
And Peedee was definitely annoyed about that, from the sound of his slightly disgruntled tone.
"Okay, so then let me ask again." Connie said.
"Where is he?"
Peedee looked down, almost looking ashamed of himself.
"I...I don't know."
Connie couldn't believe what she was hearing. Logic had flown out the window; though that happened a long time ago.
"But all I know is that he wants to meet you at DJ Sour Creams Grid. That's all I can say."
The Hacker hummed, not entirely enthused with the idea. She kept this for herself for now.
"Alright I'll go." She said, already thinking about safety measures.
"You're coming with."
The Club was busy as always, in the heat of the night. The neon lights, the blaring music and so forth. An essence of the Mega Beach City night life that was an invaluable center of anything these days. Information, commerce, certain goods etc. That aspect never changed.
Both Connie and Peedee hooked themselves up as they walked around the different floors for his father, eventually spotting him in a corner on the fourth floor, tucked away in a little booth. He appeared worse for wear.
"Sit down." He said.
Sounded off as well. Connie wasn't convinced this was safe but she had done what she could to get out quickly in case things went south.
"What's going on dad?" Peedee asked.
The man appeared disheveled and downtrodden; as if depression hit him hard.
"I've been trying to find a time and place for where I can say this." He said.
"But this place is the only one where no one will question you for putting on a muffle filter."
The booth was silenced by a program that allows patrons to still hear music, but it muffles it down as well as their own voices to not let anyone hear them. A popular program but seen as suspicious if someone was trying to dig dirt.
"Running rackets ain't fun. And I fear that Greg's AI been compromised."
Wasn't he being kept with Yin Aozora? As far as what Steven had heard, Greg had gone into voluntary dormancy. Which meant what ever secrets he had he was going to keep to the recycle bin, with no chance of waking him up unless he chooses to.
"Along with Jaspers and Spinels Phylacteries being stolen, I don't need anymore bad news." Connie admitted.
Dr. Ryman rubbed his face, his distress apparent.
"Luna needs Greg for her plans alongside the Cluster Monolith." He revealed.
"For optimal stabilisation, she needs his Sol program to be able to align its properties; to help streamline the hivemind she's trying to make."
So the Cluster failed; even with the virus. Now she needs a Sol?
"I'm guessing a regular Sol program won't do." Connie surmmised.
Dr. Ryman shook his head.
"Unfortunately no...." He said.
"But Luna believes him and her are inextricably linked. What ever that means."
Something, something Pink Monolith and Luna's a mad mess of an AI/ GIS.
"Would she have stolen Jasper and Spinel as substitutes?" Peedee suggested.
Now that he mentioned it, Connie would think that's what she's doing; or she's trying to study the virus in better perview. Connie could grasp Lunas aims, but how and when...
"I...I don't know." Dr. Ryman answered.
"Maybe. This is beyond me."
A dilemma that stumps even the greatest of AI researchers. Connie had to query him further; or else KNIGHT would love to get their hands on him.
"So...running this...racket..." She said, leaning over the table and placing her hands together.
"Is this Lunas orders or...."
Ryman shook his head.
"No." He replied.
"It was...the Blue Monoliths."
The Blue Monoliths?
"We reactivated him briefly." Ryman continued.
"Told him what happened with Steven and the other Monoliths..."
Flashback.
A Garden of blue roses and a white table and chairs were summoned to create comfort. The Blue Monolith sat there alongside her son and Dr. DeMayo as they discussed most recent events.
"Steven's been busy." Greg commented.
Arms crossed and unfocused on either Blue or Ryman; with much on his mind.
"Having to downgrade after the debacle wasn't easy." Blue said.
"Trying to align the Domain even after the updates has people complaining. Yellow is taking it harder...and White...well..."
Not good either, was assumed.
"And Luna?" Greg queried.
Ryman and Blue exchanged glances.
"Luna's taken Obsidia's Soulware and went off for supposedly greener pastures." He said.
"Word is that she's still pissed off...and hasn't been heard from since."
Greg knew Luna better than anybody. She wasn't up to any good; know far her hatred of the Developers extended despite the ceasefire. No doubt she'll want to get back to the Cluster Monolith in a way.
"I've taken the precaution of reprogramming Leon to ensure his loyalty." Ryman assured.
"His priority is going to be protecting Steven's AI Core as well as the Pink Monoliths."
Gregs eyes went to Blue; knowing how much apprehension she had for him and the sheer damage he's caused to the Developers alone.
"And his...maintenance?" Greg queried, eyeing off Ryman.
The man nodded. Ryman sensed Gregs ire of knowing who the Pink Monolith really was; though, Ryman wondered of Greg had always known but refused to tell.
"His maintenance is going to be fine, however I might suggest using the Android Maheswaran to do it." Ryman advised.
Dr. Maheswaran already had her hands full with the Pink Monolith. If anything, Greg's thoughts on it shifted as late.
"Priyanka's AI could easily be hacked if Luna decided to use her." He said.
"The only one who can deal with the Core's should be a human."
And Ryman already knew who he was going to say.
"You want...Maheswaran Junior to do it?" He said.
Blue furrowed her brows.
"Berrybyte has been aligned as an asset to KNIGHT." She said.
"If she kept her wits about her..."
Greg didn't want to say he fully trusted Connie. In a sense, in his mind, her anger was warranted. Her paranoia, legitimate. It was for reasons Greg kept the closest to his heart...as what she had felt, he had felt too. Only, so few the fullest extent of what he was fighting for. Being her with the Blue Monolith; it caused much fear with her alone but it felt like he had no choice, given Blues own history with Cherry and Rose.
"She won't compromise Steven." Greg told her.
"I don't know if she'll be able to handle the role however. I don't want anything to happen while Luna is still putting her finger around. Ryman, you've gotta continue the maintenance for now."
Ryman; being the only other being in the world to realise the dangers they faced. The only one else other than Greg to see what chaos could really unfold.
"I'm pretty sure she was Steven's Custodian to begin with." Ryman noted.
"But yeah, she can be volatile."
Blue paused as she looked at her gardens. Her role to ensure the Domains stability was second to none, but she wasn't without emotional intelligence....nor without consulting her Sapphire GIS. But she knew when a secret was worth having.
"Garnet." She called out all of a sudden.
Suddenly Garnet came out of the nearby gardens as she walked towards the group, watching from afar. Garnets own power as a Caretaker was second to none, even if the relationship between herself and her Monolith was shaky at times.
"I know Garnet, as well as the other Ancillas Phylacteries are situated at Steven's AI Core." Blue explained.
"Even if the Leon construct is able to protect the AI Core, it doesn't take into account the GIS that are with him."
Ryman and Greg exchanged glances.
"You told her?" Greg said to him.
Ryman frowned.
"I had to." He said.
"A Sapphires variables are increased and are made more accurate with the intel. Garnet being fed makes her the strongest out of all of them."
Greg wasn't happy with that aspect, then again, any Monolith who wanted to be involved with it never sat right with him. And what Ryman had been doing felt like betrayal.
"You swore an oath to me David." Greg called out.
"You swore an oath to protect my god damn son at all costs!"
Blue was surprised to see Greg angry like this. But Ryman was not having it.
"I have sons too." He said.
"Sacrificed so that White would be satisfied with the Custodians being within the family. I know what it's like making horrible decisions like this, to the betterment of my own judgement."
It hurt Ryman so much so that he had to choose to work alongside White to ensure he could even be remotely close. And to use Connie to help free them.
"I tried... to protect them but in the end...THEY get what they want!" He cried, putting towards the Blue Monolith.
The deal with the fact that he had to treat her as a boss more so than a mother. It was within reason for him to be angry.
"What about Barb?" Greg said.
"Who told her the truth? Was it you?"
The truth? Blue was intrigued. Ryman apppeared aggravated but didn't say anything. That told Greg everything he needed to know.
"You told her...that's why she shot up the place." Greg said, voice low but filled with toxic grievances.
"Your conscience got the better of you. You told her. She couldn't handle it...so she wanted to destroy everything...."
Ryman stood up as he slammed the table.
"Barbara had come to me because she found out about the amni fluid." He called out.
"Or better yet, the materials used for them. She came to me...and she was like, are we growing body parts now?"
Greg couldn't believe this.
"You could have said it was for brain preservation..."
Ryman rubbed his face; how could Greg be THIS stupid?
"You don't use Amni fluid for that; why would I lie to a damn neurologist?"
It was then Greg realised his point; still, another a lie could have taken place.
"Excuse me for butting into your little fight." Blue said, feeling the need to intervene.
"But if what you're saying is true, then I must ask; Barbara took this 'secret' to the grave with her. As sad as it was, the severity must be...high."
Greg nodded.
"It is." He acknowledged.
It hurt Ryman enough to see Greg like this. He'd been so similar to his flesh and blood variant up until this point; though both would take risks, flesh and blood Greg was less the asshole...
"Your obsession with your son had blinded you to reason." Ryman declared.
"The Blue Monolith needs to know so we can find the correct course of action."
It was an internal debate that flooded within the AI. So much had changed yet there were so many things that could still go wrong.
"I will find a path that will dedicate itself to Stevens survival." Garnet assured him.
He didn't doubt that. Garnet had been ordered to ensure it regardless; so out of anyone, he could trust her.
"Do you think me telling the Blue Monolith will assure a better outcome?" He asked. Greg couldn't believe he had to say such words. He wasn't going to beg.
Garnet looked down and processed the request internally.
"There is a higher chance of one yes, but barely." She said.
"But that isn't because of her. Due to Luna's unpredictable nature, there's no guaranteed nature. If she's against us, she would look to use Steven."
Which was what Greg was deathly afraid of. Once upon a time, Luna would, born from the maternal subconscious of Cherry and Rose. But then it hit him.
"Cherry and Rose weren't raised conventionally." He said.
"Neither were you David."
Ryman shook his head.
"The Family rule was the explicit nurture; to be fed education to fit into the role you were born to do." He said.
"Or if you had to choose, it was somewhere within the family business."
Ryman couldn't blame his mother either.
"So Cherry and Rose...they don't know how to be a mother." Greg said with sadness.
"Even Barb who realised this...then Barb had Sadie...and Barb did not want Sadie to follow down that track either. To be manipulated into doing White's bidding."
A fact that Luna loathed. Greg recalled the numerous stories Rose used to tell him, about all the mothers that she'd seen and spoke to. That what they had wasn't what she was provided and it angered her. He'd come to understand her reasoning; the abnormal family life that she had was incredibly cold compared to the regular human condition. Barb had to have seen it too. Sadie was possibly the first of that lineage to get away from it, only to be dragged back at the last moment to be used as a tool.
"Barbara...she loved Steven. She wanted him to be her son before it was all ripped away from her." Ryman said.
That she did.
"Steven has people who love him still." Garnet said.
"We may be GIS, but we're not incapable of love. We can still learn...and being within Steven's presence taught the Ancillas how to do so. And they will still dedicate their lives to him, if so asked."
But there was someone else.
"But even you can't protect him forever..." Greg admitted.
"Not physically at least."
A response that caused Blue to hum.
"I will swear that I will no do harm to him." She said.
"With White especially more humbled, the most I could do is to provide some good for the world, one little bit at a time."
So...the secret was ultimately out. Dr. Miller found out the secret...hearing that horrified Connie to her core. But it made sense, as she closed her eyes and remembered the sound of gunshots and screaming and Dr. Millers enraged face and the barrel of her gun. She'd gone completely mad.
It froze her completely; and the sounds of alarms were almost defeaning as the flashing lights were almost blinding. Nothing compared to the strangest sensation of feeling your chest and looking at wet, bloody fingers. She snapped out of her internal historical reminder, and returned to the present.
"So what was it?" Connie asked.
"What was the big secret?"
Ryman shook his head.
"I can't say." He said.
"Not here at least."
Damn it, so what was the point of bringing her here?
"But the Blue Monolith needs you to take down Luna. We believe we have a way to get you to her. But you have to work on this alone."
Alone? Tempting. It'd been a while. Connie had been hard pressed to try and chase her down. Ryman on the other hand, had to ensure things went smoothly. They probably won't based off experience, but it was certainly worth trying.
"The Blue Monolith has been cooking up something special. But I think it requires a bit of danger; perhaps; ultimately risky. But we might not have much choice."
Connie lived for danger. Fear wasn't on her agenda.
"Alright you already sold me." She said.
"Give me the deets and I'll see what I can do."
They chatted into the night, as Connie learned to what extent that danger had been about. Still, she wasn't afraid. She would have to make adjustments and so forth, but otherwise if it was to take Luna down, she was willing do anything for it.
Even if it could cost her everything...
Notes:
1. Chapter 91: Shell.
2. Chapter 76: Data Hunt Part 1
3. Chapter 2: Connections
4. Chapter 63: Waves
Chapter 101: Ambassador
Summary:
Discussions of the future are ahead, as Steven has plans for the both of them.
Notes:
Sorry for the lack of updates. I've since gotten a new job that eats my time, my energy and my imagination.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The dead of night contained nothing but Paperwork. Physical. Digital. Didn't matter. Berrybyte was buried in it. And cans of energy drink that would bring her to early morning.
The sun would pour through her window, reminding her of days renewal.
KNIGHT would disclose their own research to Connie; knowing that she might be able make some sense of it all, though, what they did have was surprising little to what Connie already knew.
What Connie had to do however; was run over everything she'd done in the last year...and found she'd almost forgotten a few pieces of relevant information.
Working through the spring months on end. Perhaps on the surface, everything looked and appeared as normal as normal could be. A sign of new life. Holograms of cherry blossoms spawned throughout the city to celebrate the oncoming warmth and warmer weather before sweltering summer would come to envelope them like an unwanted blanket.
Meetings, research and the like but...Connie knew something wasn't right. Luna had yet to strike. It made Connie anxious to no end. She, like everyone else, wanted to move on. Others could, but they could not.
The Ruins in which the Monoliths were originally found were proposed to be the same place as the Cluster Monolith by the actual Obsidian Ruins; complete lies. The lies in which there were excavations of the Ruins once. Records would indicate thats where it would be, from what memory served...
Or better, the memories of Kyanite:
"These must be the Obsidian Ruins." Kyanite assumed.
"The place that the Monoliths were found were said to be somewhere deep beneath the Earth and the actual name itself has spread itself across the Domain as the apparent place where they were found. Can't you feel it too Steven? The Aura Radiation itself is quite strong and the prescence of the Kindergarten Machines here make it too obvious that the Monoliths must have resided here at one point or another." ^1
Kyanite. The Fake GIS. The time spent as her spirit; more so her ego and psyche resided in that construct... what lies that the Blue Monolith must have projected. In truth, what little was found at the real ruins was little more than diagrams and specifics related to the Monoliths but nothing conclusive.
Though, Connie didn't actually go to those ruins. She looked at the pictures of the recently dugged up expedition; there were Kindergarten Machines buried there. Really old ones. As far as the official details specified, they were buried there specifically for humans to reverse engineer.
Sitting back in her chair, Connie was convinced that Mega Beach City was where it all started. The exploration of Alien Tech and its endless possibilities. Then came the politics, the lies, the scandals...religions formed under the guises of illusions and telepathic visions sent from a true, digital ghost.
It was the Developers who provided the investigation. And Connie wondered if they insisted on covering up the details because they still desired to bury the past and the truth. Even in this day with the information regarding the Conduits being the most common search results on search engines, they have to weave their own stories to cover their tracks and to mend their broken PR.
GIS were overly vunerable to manipulation as well. All of them were. Mistreated, misused and abused. Kyanite was written with the worst sort of lie possible. Whether or not the Blue Monolith did that on purpose or it was just common code in GIS...Connie didn't care anymore.
The Ruins were where the Cluster Monolith had last resided. And Leon could not access, for what ever reason compelled him to avoid it. No doubt Luna had done something on her end, realising that Leon no longer wished to serve and that all that was left her Cult, were herself and Lars...and the hundreds of corrupted GIS.
No. She wasn't going to go blame the Blue Monolith. Although she certainly was agreeable and shared the most ideas. Perhaps she could.
Or else Connie was to blame.
Knock, Knock.
Visitors? Connie wasn't expecting visitors. Especially at this hour. She checked her cams to see a smiling and waving Steven with a black jacket, red top and jeans. What the....
She ran to the door and opened it, and was immediately met with arms that wrapped themselves around her faster than she could react and was lifted off the ground and swirled about. She laughed and giggled...
"Ah yes, I'm happy to see you too." She said.
The two went to the lounge while Connie collected finished cans that had been left to rust and gather dust; and put them into the nearby recycling shoot. She had become so focused on finding where the Cluster Cult went off too that she would forget to use the most convienient of devices.
Steven sat on the couch and looked around, as he patted rhythms on his lap while Connie hastily cleaned things up.
"You know you could have texted me." She said, pointing out that she didn't like surprises.
Steven shrugged.
"I would have...but I like to surprise you sometimes." He said, with his goofy smile.
Androids were getting too lifelike these days. He would be almost mistaken for a human if not the for subtle glitch and twitch...not to mention his rose pink eyes.
"Uh huh. Sure." She said, washing a few dishes.
She came back around and sat on the nearby chair, wanting a proper conversation. He wasn't here for no other reason than business, she assumed.
"So uh...hows life?"
Life for Steven had to have been hectic, far more than Connie's own goals would stretch.
"It's been...okay..." He said, with a bit of squeak to his voice that betrayed his own white lie. Connie smirked as she laid back and crossed her legs.
"I've been working with a new taskforce the UN made; its known as the Domain and Artificial Intelligence Committee. I'm one of their board members now."
Connie heard on the grapevine from KNIGHT that something of the sort was being formed. Steven had been under an NDA until it would be officially announced to the world. Connie already knew, but didn't want to say anything.
"Designed to take back control from the Developers I assume." Connie said, leaning over to tent her fingers together.
Steven then leaned back into the couch as he looked at the coffee table.
"Sort of." He said.
"There's no specific person in charge. Mainly, humans and the Monoliths that work together in order to embark on improvements and regulatory laws in each country. Even as an AI, having to deal with hundreds of countries differing suggestions on so many policies is...nothing short of exhausting."
The kind of paperwork Connie was glad she wasn't dealing with.
"Have they discussed the issue with Luna by any chance?" She asked. She had to know. Anything that would be helpful like a scrap, Connie would dig deep into her own pockets for such information.
Steven hadn't even thought about her.
"She's not much of a discussion point as far as what I remember." He said.
"Their main focus is what rights Artificial Intelligence should have. Lets just say those negotiations take the longest."
Because not everybody could agree on the extent of how much AI would be synonymous with a human. Polls would go up and day each quarter, as surveys would always be put out. No one definite sway one way or the other; a constant stalemate.
"A decade ago, no one would have cared." Connie pointed out.
"They both need AIs but afraid of them at the same time."
Not to mention past events haven't exactly made them trustworthy. Surveys and poles have hit an all time low.
"But I'm not to talk about boring politics." Steven noted.
"I just...want to spend time with my girlfriend..."
Words that made Connie smile. She understood completely.
"The Usagi Gardens are wonderful this time of year." He said.
"The only place where there are REAL Cherry blossoms..."
He wasn't wrong. The place was absolutely gorgeous as the morning sun filtered through branches and leaves.
Connie took a break and got changed into something a little nicer. Simple white singlet with a blacket cardigan and skinny jeans and boots. She felt normal for once.
The Gardens were up a little to the northern parts and were on the top of several interconnecting skyscrapers, with trees altered and made to block out most noise pollution. Stone pathways that whirled and curled around and the odd small, red wooden bridge over a lilypad pond. Connie wasn't a romanticist, but she could appreciate the rare, raw beauty of nature for what it was. Tinkered, but still divine in every way.
"Ever think about what our future could be like?" Steven wondered.
It'd been in his head for weeks. He was constantly working but desired to do something different. Sometimes that it was Connie whom was on his mind or he wanted to see the Ancillas. Part of him wanted the Ancillas to have their own Androids and walk around the streets, but they had their own duties to fulfill.
"I don't think human/ai relationships are something the world is ready to witness." She said.
Words Steven was surprised to hear her say.
"You often flip flop between yes I want this and no I don't." He replied, realising how often she did this.
And Connie...knew this as well, but that wasn't the point she was getting at.
"I mean, the world isn't ready. I'm fine with it." She said.
Fine meaning, she'd rather block out the general weirdness she still thought about and tried to treat their relationship as normal and ordinary as possible. And while sex with AIs was a relatively normal thing in the Domain as virtual brothels were quite the common denominator in terms of their presence and clientelle, an actual relationship had been unheard of. She wouldn't be surprised if there were such things, but it wasn't exactly....talked about.
But what Peedee had said...it stuck with her. She tried hard to shake it off but. To be married and have children....society would consider such conversations casual.
"So whats the issue now?" He asked.
Steven was naive. Connie got that. Some nuances would still be completely lost on him and she would never hold it against the AI.
"Our future is...unclear." She said.
"Do you see yourself doing what you're doing for an eternity?"
Maybe if it came down to it.
"But I'm curious as to what you think.."
Steven did think about it. A lot. But given the circumstances, he couldn't fit anywhere as he was. AIs still faced discrimination...and as this kind of...Ambassador, Steven wanted to bridge the valley sized gap in communication and beliefs between each species. And the perplexing nature of a comment Connie had once made about growing old was one that remained with him consistently. He was troubled so much by the implications that he didn't want to think about it and decided to set up something else to keep his mind occupied.
"I don't know yet." He said.
"Reforms and negotiations have me focused on the bigger things. I managed to scrape out some code to create a unique forum however."
Oh?
"A forum huh." Connie said, surprised.
"Whats it for?"
Steven smiled.
"I might have brought up our relationship." He said.
Might have?
"Steven what?" Connie said, questioning his sanity.
It wasn't meant for ill intentions. On the contrary.
"Turns out there are many relationships like ours." He revealed.
"It's not entirely unique. Many organics who have grown feelings towards their constructs and many wards having fallen for their charges. I think its kinda of sweet that we're not alone."
Connie wasn't too sure. And the fact that they weren't unique anymore kinda ruined the exclusivity. But the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. There had been problems with AIs being obsessive with their masters but they were otherwise 'tamed' with a bit of a code adjustment. Some had to be deleted outright due to their corroded and irrepairable code.
"Surely, some have to be court cases just begging to happen." She noted.
Steven didn't create it to be judged, but to hold similar stories of connections. That such love was universal and yet still shunned.
"You should read some of the stories!" He told her, excited enough to have stars in his eyes. For an AI, he was really into love; as if it was written into his very programming.
"If Blues research into pseudo-organic bodies like mine get mass produced, then there would be no difference in humans and machines!"
At least, on the surface. It was a statement that Connie had to rethink after he said it.
"That's probably gonna cause more problems than it solves." She said, stopping in her tracks and looking outwards into the sky.
Steven didn't understand.
"It would?" He queried as his voice did that adorable innocent squeak.
It rubbed Connie the wrong way. It was a nice thought, to have machines and humans on the same page, but she didn't even know where to begin to pick apart the problems that would arise. Steven's goal was admirable enough, however. She didn't want to sadden him with the truths of reality and the prejudice that would follow. Humans would always fear that which they would never understand.
"I studied a bit of Social Sciences when I was younger." She said.
"It's how I got to know people and people as a whole. To understand the masses and public opinion. Things like these...would call for riots and mandates....torches and pitchforks of the modern era."
Why would people hate love? Connie recognised the sadness on his face and realised how much of this pained him, and realised she might have not put much faith in their relationship. Optimism never came easy to her...others would call her a pessimist, but she was, all in all, a realist. She shouldn't sugar-coat her words, even for Steven.
But he prided himself in being human...and the love, hurt and heartache that came with it.
And Connie couldn't stop herself from being honest. She was trying hard to find some tact.
"But isn't the work you're doing supposed to navigate all that? I mean..."
To find the find the right words to convey of his purpose...the typewriter in his head ceased to function briefly. Connie silently kicked herself for making him doubt.
"Look, I have nothing against us..." She assured him.
"We're in this together, you and I. I will fight for us."
Steven did indeed fight as well. The Forum itself was meant to be a place of peace, to be able to confide in others with their scenarios and not feel alone anymore.
"What about everyone else?" He said.
Everyone else...perhaps it wasn't on Connie's mind that there had been indeed, others that experienced the same events. The same doubts and maybe the same shames. She'd been focused on worrying about the implications regarding them, that it never occurred that they weren't the only ones with that type of relationship.
"They're just as important...and they need us to be there for them...."
He wasn't getting it though.
"Steven..." Connie said, pinching the gap above her nose.
"I don't even know if we're the best example to offer these people..."
Her own history regarding relationships, notwithstanding.
"So we have to set that example now." Steven said, placing hands on each shoulder of hers.
"You and I...they're looking at us...we can't hide anymore."
Even Connie had to admit that was true. All eyes were on the strongest AI and the best Hacker. People were paying close attention to events. News outlets and websites abound. The Domain knew their names and awaited their next moves.
Connie did not like that. Not all attention was the publicity she sought. The negatives would outweigh the positives. Connie had been thinking about making changes. Now would be the time to make them.
"So what do you want me to do?" She asked, relenting.
Steven smiled. He could see the ideas printing from his head now. So much to do and plan and he was excited for the opportunities and for what their future could finally hold.
"Well, you can just join the forum. Participate in discussion. I'll make you a moderator." He said.
"We're both Ambassadors you and I. Where ever the next fight takes us, they will keep a close watch."
Meanwhile, back at Azure Alpha, Blue herself had worked for months on end to finish off her final product. From the AI Core, designs similar to Stevens own but a few twists of its own, remonstrated the culmination of her final product.
"Soon our final weapon will be born..." She said, looking upon the construct.
She'd become disappointed in the avenues that Kyanite took, but she took it in stride. In fact, the best thing that she could get is Kyanite's data. And Kyanite's data was absolutely critical for this project. One that would birth a whole new entity, one that would prove instrumental, in Lunas downfall. Years of data collection and utilising Garnet to find the best way forward, she felt the end was so close despite many set backs.
"Cobalt; son of Kyanite; from where you parent had failed, you will prevail."
Notes:
1 Chapter 52 Wormhole
Chapter 102: Consultation
Summary:
Connie suggests Steven see her mother for a consult.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The more Steven worked, the more he begun to recognise a certain void in his being. A part that he could only describe was missing. Incomplete.
It was interesting being a construct who had access to the immense library that was the Domain at his disposal but nothing could match the description of such a hollow script. Had it always been there? Written in deeply into his code?
He's questioned much about his existence at this point, but his work lead to him ensuring Artificial Intelligence was treated fairly in the world was often a discussion much left to the Monoliths and the humans using jargon he'd never even used in his daily life. It was said, that leaving an AI's mind to wander through itself was dangerous and could lead to madness.
Madness that he'd seen his people go through but he couldn't fathom why. The White Monolith being the peak of perfection didn't make her immune. It definitely had the committees question the velocity of which could be considered sane thoughts verses insane ones. Her Reign of logic appeared quite the opposite and going down the road to such madness was something Steven definitely wanted to avoid.
His options were, for the first time, were being considered. Meetings that felt, however, like he wasn't being head. They pretended to be underneath the veil of equality but really, none of these humans within the Committee could see as such, the way that conversations diverted to leaving certain dictations out of an AI's favour.
Was it all for naught? They weren't fighting hard enough...and debates devolved into being one sided. Months ago, people feared Steven's power all of a sudden being able to transfrom humanity, but now...these days it went from anger, to mockery, it seemed. Maybe not to anyone on the outside looking in, but within this circle Steven believed they weren't really achieving anything.
Being an Android had its ups and downs. To peer through the closest thing to being a human. It still paled in comparison to seeing the world through Connie's eyes. The era in which humans were, ironically, becoming closer to cyborgs.
He never understood humanities desire to preserve themselves in pure data. It wasn't what it was cracked up to be. To live forever.
Though, he never understood why that was. His entire existence was forged to be the border between organic and machine life. His curiosity for humanity was there more so than his own desire to understand his fellow constructs.
But he was the ambassador nevertheless. But there would always be this unknown feeling, distant and far from absolute as it could be possibly be.
He'd expressed this to Connie one day; his guiding light. He didn't think he'd survive without her...and in her wisdom, she straight up suggested to see her mother. An unusual sentence that she formed...perhaps out of worry or concern. Connie was always worried about him, as he was with her.
On that note, Steven had almost forgotten that Dr. Maheswaran had a vested interest in the Psychology of AI life forms. She'd been so far on the Site with her Conduit Husband. Leon would pick him up and drop him off as Priyanka made herself at home at the Site and made up an office. Light grey walls with a shelf full of books and a simple work station. Minimal, clean but with a single blue flower that sat on the desk nearby.
Her job of late was to understand the Pink Monolith and her husbands control of it. As well as defend it from threats. Luckily for now the only way to enter the Site was via Leon; and Leon himself, was still quite the mystery, despite past revelations coming to light. There were fragments missing or parts Steven could never really understand. At least with Dr. Maheswaran, he'd hope there would be some sense in it.
"Thank you for coming." She said, ushering him to sit down as he entered.
"I'd asked Connie that if there were any AI curious; GIS or otherwise, to send them up my way. I'd go down myself, but I've got my duty here at the Site to maintain."
Several had gone up already according to Connie. Escorted by Leon in their Phylacteries or Crystal Chips. Steven sat down shortly after on the white seat, as Dr. Maheswaran sat down on her office chair and wheeled herself closer.
"BM-AIs or SC-GIS. They all seem to follow their own patterns. Even earlier versions of AI's that demonstrate the most basic sentience; to the most modern of GIS; advanced in their integration with the human psyche."
So many versions existed nowadays. So many variants.
"But the psychological patterns are often...shared. Obviously with GIS with the same personality matrices. But you...you are...unique. The most unique."
According to Connie, Dr. Maheswaran was constructing her own thesis; supposedly called "Nature vs Nuture vs Numbers."
"You already know my story." He said.
Him being unique...shouldn't be surprising. So Dr. Maheswaran nodded. Indeed, she was privy to the circumstances to his creation, but there was a certain hunger for answers to questions she had...and to questions she could never quite form.
"Yes, but your experiences are more of what I am after." She said.
"Connie's told me a little bit, but I would like to hear it from you."
In this tiny room, Steven felt tiny himself. How much Connie would have told her AI mother could amount to a little or a lot. Not that Steven had anything against the latter; it's how much he hadn't told Connie was perhaps...immense.
"Where should I start?" He said.
The tales he told; it would have filled out normal paperwork ten times over. Priyanka wrote his words in her tablet...of his earliest memories....that which did not include the Incident at the Site, but rather, when the Ancillas found him on the beach.
"They...raised me." He said.
Priyanka tilted her head, perculiar to his choice of words.
"The term raised. It is more commonly associated as an organic act. But I wonder if they taught you...how to speak?'
There was what Steven knew off by heart. By 'instinct' as another human term would call it. He just was.
"I knew words. I knew what the sand was. I knew what the ocean and the sky were. But why I was there, I didn't...I didn't know." He replied.
GIS had similar origins supposedly. Created with pre-loaded knowledge of the world around them. Steven's circumstances were of course, a little different.
"So you had some recognitive functionality."
"But you can't recall anything from before you were there?"
Bits and pieces....he looked towards the door.
"My Chassis." He said.
"I...get small glimpses of when I was being...made in the AI Core. I see Connie...when she was smaller. And Dad. And...Barbara...and you?"
A statement that surprised Priyanka.
"I see." She said, writing this all down.
"Humans absorb information at the earliest stages, even as infants. But for you to remember. You must have been at the equivalent of....four perhaps? I can't exactly remember when Connie and you met...but it was very early on."
Because Dr.Maheswaran had been yet another unfortunate victim of the Incident...
"Your dad didn't happen to give an exact timeline of your creation."
Steven shook his head. For all his talk, his Father-Creator provided him with very little and refused to divulge. Steven felt like this was one of the reasons that he begun to despise him but it wasn't.
"No." He said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"There was all this talk about Alpha, Beta and Golden States n' stuff. Regular AI progress ya know."
Something Priyanka was all too aware about. She wanted to know what exactly made Steven so special. She'd been aware of how he was born, supposedly died and was reforged as technically, a baby AI. According to the AI Laws many decades ago, that Screencapping babies was actually illegal. A record she found not long ago in looking up rules and regulations of the new age technologies. There were some lines man was not meant to cross.
"And when you were 'created'...your data had been implanted into, for all intents and purposes, a second hand phylactery." She said.
Steven nodded. Something about the flashbacks he recalled sometime ago came back to him upon those words;
"I'VE MADE A SUCCESSFUL DESYCHRONISATION. I WASN'T GRANTED TOTAL DEATH BUT I'D HOPED TO REACH YOU BACK IN THE MONOLITH."
"THIS WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN."
"I KNOW. BUT BY ACHIEVING THIS, I WAS ABLE TO HAND OVER MY PHYLACTERY TO MY CHILD."
"SO. IT WORKED?"
"YES." <1
"Rose disconnected from it." He said.
A rare if not, often thought impossible act. Never in the case of history and documentated consultation has any GIS willingly given up their phylactery; their ultimate safe haven and back up drive. If one's software were to be destroyed, it risked their data and integrity to corruption or in Rose's case, broken and merged with other existing data.
"But you as an entity; the Transitional Entity." She said.
"You were designed to enrapture every living organic on the planet with the purposes of uplifting. I understand alien technology being the catalyst to hundreds and thousands of breakthroughs..."
Steven did not look too fondly on his true purpose. It made him feel sad and horrible...and finding purpose with joining and finding some common ground with humanity was his goal now. He would change the very definition of Transitional Entity itself.
"I can sort of understand the half-breed nature of it. A successful hybrid of human and alien technologies...but from what I read here; a Rose Quartz Phylactery. They're meant to be durable and strong, but the range of such a thing on your own. It doesn't amount to a world-ending wave like say the power of a Monolith...."
Steven didn't even think about that.
"I think it was meant to connect to all of the Monoliths." He said.
"But...it wasn't like I was given any instructions...I never wanted..."
Words that gave Priyanka pause as she contemplated them. Rubbing her chin, she then continued to write down notes. Steven looked around, the thoughts of his purpose still weighing him down.
"Steven." She said.
His eyes went to her....and she could read the sadness in his eyes quite clearly. This was beyond what he could deal with and that this was still a sore spot. The pain and anguish of a reality like that wasn't what Dr. Maheswaran could relate to, so she stood back from it. For now.
"Let's change topics." She said, not wanting to cause him anymore stress; his reaction already telling her a lot.
"I want to talk about more subtle experiences."
Subtle?
"What do you mean?" He asked.
A topic she was more keen to dig into. One that often gave the most answers in ways one may not expect...nuances of the most fascinating kind.
"A subtle experience being anything...within the complete ordinary." Priyanka explained.
"I've consulted with various BM-AIs and SC-GIS...and I've noticed a pattern. Experiences that are so...minor in difference it paints a picture. A difference in the way our....senses work."
Steven could feel anything in and out of the Domain. He was one of the lucky few and so was Priyanka.
"Each human experiences the world differently." She continued.
"And with our actions...with the way we intepret the world around us...there are different pieces of commentary offered...divergences and deviations with the way things are made. Tell me; is there a particular...sense that you enjoy?"
Sense...touching...seeing...hearing...smelling....tasting...
"I uh...like eating pizza." He said.
Priyanka nodded.
"Mhmm okay." She said.
"And how many types of pizza have you eaten? Do you have...a favourite topping? Better yet, do you have a place where you like to eat pizza?"
Connie's usually ordered the same from Fish Stew Pizza...or other places when they were elsewhere.
"Um I like Fish Stew Pizza." He said; as he sort of had them the most. So he thought that they were the best. Probably. It's been a while. And it'd been a while since he'd double jacked with Connie.
Priyanka wrote down more notes. Why this was necessary was beyond him.
"Any reason why?" She asked.
"Is it the texture? Is it the flavour?"
Steven shrugged. Contemplating why he liked something wasn't a common ordeal unless the occasion called for it, but his mind shuffled through the only reason he knew.
"I...I don't know." He said.
"I just...do."
A thought that never really crossed his mind all that often, if at all.
"I see." Dr. Maheswaran said.
"AI's report that they have 'tasted' numerous virtual foods and drinks within the Domain. In some way, it's a fix for what they lost."
A fix?
"As much as we love to ensure perfection in every digital product, the Domain has its flaws in the way it tries to replicate food." She said.
"It can be refined and refined to find the perfect balance almost to the point most report that sometimes...it's rather...bland and boring. The magic is no longer there."
What? How?
"Some places use too much oil, but that might match someones palate....as one SC-GIS once told me." She continued.
Why though? Steven couldn't understand why that would be. Recipes aren't that hard surely.
"I know Fish Stew Pizza is the only place that uses a type of fish not often found on most pizzas." He said.
"I haven't had their pizza though since I last double jacked with Connie."
The concept of Double jacking intrigued Priyanka.
"Because you have your Android." She said.
"You don't get hungry...."
Steven looked down as he recalled tasting pizza in Connie's body. There was something special, perculiar...and to the religious, most divine in essence. It felt like he could taste every ingredient within. Domain food never tasted the same, so he hardly ever ate or even drunk much outside of club visits. The Doctor had a point, now that thought was put into it.
"AI mentality changes you." Dr. Maheswaran said.
"If we forget the fact that some AI and some GIS are just copies of the originals, you can say that they've achieved this transcendence...pretending that this transition has transported body and soul, symmetrically in a digital form. Evolved some could say.
Or synthesis, if you put it mildly.
"My research has lead me to conclude that there is a honey moon period where recently made BM-AI find that the Domain has freed them...only for some to describe that they feel...trapped in the Domain...its a divided opinion."
Trapped...
"When I've asked why...it's because they felt like they've shed or discarded a part of themselves on more than a physical perspective, but they can't describe why or what they lost. That their senses have dulled tremendously....and they find themselves going into a fugue like state. What they had is long gone...and they have to find their identities again."
Steven's never heard of this before. He's had numerous meetings with Governments about the laws with AI's. They've mentioned certain freedoms...but it made him realise how little he's consulted with other AI's about these things.
"What about you?" He asked.
"Have you..."
Dr. Maheswaran sighed. Her experiences were her own, but sharing them wasn't a bad thing.
"In a sense." She replied, solemnly.
"I've felt that hollow expression before...because my mind would drift in and out of memories it couldn't find. Only fragments. It'd gotten incredibly frustrating at times and it made me realise how important it is to keep an BM-AI's routines active. They have to keep functioning and working...not wallowing in despair because I was close to that fugue state once. Until I started working with Dr. DeMayo and he helped me discover my purpose. He was the one who suggested that I work as the hospitals AI."
Steven...he had absolutely no idea this was going on. He'd been so wrapped up in his own worries...that others had been suffering needlessly from a lack of purpose.
"GIS don't have that issue." She said.
"Even SC-GIS have avoided that issue because the system provides them with a purpose to begin with. A reason to exist."
A reason to exist...
"But my reason to exist...it was horrible." Steven pointed out.
"I...have been so selfish...that my problem is so little compared-"
"No..."
Priyanka reached out and grabbed his hand, causing him to stare at it. Again, he'd fallen into such a state that having an identity crisis was because what he was originally for. And Priyanka found that most defining; that he was avoiding his purpose and making his own. That was a key difference that Priyanka had realised that made him stand out even more amongst all the others. Still, this wasn't something Steven should bare on his shoulders. That his existence and state should not be at the fault of the individual...and that the ability to choose his own path would be most impressive to her peers in the same field.
"You are not to blame." She said.
"And you have more reasons to exist than you realise."
Yes...yes he did.
"The oversaturation of the market and the overdependence on AI is what we should be angry against." Priyanka explained.
"That we do not care for our digital siblings as much as we realise how much we don't. We're not meant to. We're just...things after all. Not designed to care; but to work far more than any human ever can."
No. He thought. He'd been trying to fight for his brethren but...sorrow was then replaced by anger. Steven suddenly pulled back his hand in retaliation which surprised the Doctor.
"We are not just things..." Steven said, low and cold.
"You talk about hunger. I've been....hungry...so hungry to be human...but that's nothing compared to those who are lost, confused. We have to help them!"
Priyanka frowned. A truth was the truth no matter how much it hurt. Reality and perception; lines intertwined, always. Steven had to realise that. But the fact that the circumstances of his creation were unlike anybody elses. The difference between birth and pure creation.
"Because you never were human." She said.
"Yes, you were born a human but you never had a single glimpse of the world with your own flesh and blood eyes. You were...put in the dark once more before your life could even begin."
Perhaps that was the reason....and words that Steven mulled over for a while as he sat there in silence. A painful reality that clashed with his anchoring perception of himself that almost fractured there and then.
Steven looked down as the sadness drowned out the anger. Grief that had hit him and it hurt. It hurt a lot. Priyanka could see the terrifying manner in which this had unfolded...and what they had done to him was indeed horrendous. She could be angry with those involved with this travesty. Rose. Greg. Those who dare to call themselves parents. No. They were Co-Creators; never a true mother and father. Priyanka at least could be a mother before...
"Did you ever tell...well, the Committee? UN? KNIGHT?"
They both knew that he was a BM-GIS. That was the tale he shared to them. Why was at the behest of Garnets suggestion that he only give scraps; and not the whole story.
"They know that Barbara was my surrogate...but they don't know about when I...when my..." He said, trailing off.
She understood him completely. The UN had always wanted to know the truth, as did KNIGHT. Every damn day there were requests to visit the Site in its entirety, but Leon refused to let them. He was extraordinarily protective of both Steven's AI Core and the Pink Monolith.
And Priyanka's seen much to determine theories yet to become realities...truths so large that it could impact the entirety of it. That it could make or break people entirely.
She wondered...if Steven really knew...or at the very least, suspected...
"You mentioned double jacking with Connie." He said.
"You've both eaten pizza together. Spent time in each others company in such a rare symbosis that so few AI's will ever get to embark upon."
Steven nodded, smiling fondly upon such memories that could have moments of pure bliss.
"Yeah, I think...that's my favourite experience.....my favourite human...experience."
Maybe not his only one.
"Oh and intercourse I find to be very enj-"
Priyanka squinted as she raised her hand, not wanting to know every intimate detail.
"Yes yes I get it." She said.
Though the topic of sex amongst AI was not an all uncommon Domain trivia. Humans could freely rent out AI's and Androids for pleasure; but Steven's relationship with her daughter was something.
"And...not only that, but there are people like me and Connie; AI and humans that have fallen in love. It's really sweet and it makes me happy that I'm not the only one feeling this way."
Kinship and relatabilty; connections between people...and AI would fall underneath that same banner. The minds that still held the want, the desire in their code that not even being transferred could deter them and their newly coded hearts. Priyanka still loved Doug and didn't feel too much different in how she felt compared to her organic self.
"Such love; there should be no shame."
Steven had this belief grown into him; that his affection for Connie was his anchor to a beautiful realisation. The emotion that's not limited to one form of existence.
"Humans in eras past....that the differences between each other. Each race or gender, religion...often would bring prejudice into the picture. Disgust. Others did not seem to mind. But the shame was brought on by other people percieved them...and the constant worry...and the hurdles." Priyanka explained.
"It could take humanity years, maybe decades to accept this."
He did not care. As long as they were together, Steven felt strong and empowered by the sheer form of love. Even where others may see it to be weak to the point of compromising themselves. His eyes fixated on the blue flower on the desk; and his comphrehension came in three simple words.
"I love Connie." He declared, pressing his hand to his chest.
"How others look at us...it's not their business."
He was...correct, if not a little naive for not seeing the bigger picture. Others would call it brave...some would call Sisyphus-ranked battle.
"Love is one subject left to the philosophers." Priyanka said.
"No matter our form, each of us experience its high and low troughs in our own way. There's a saying; a fine line between pleasure and pain?"
She wasn't wrong.
"Yeah; I think it hurts but it's sort of the good kind of hurt?" He said.
In a sense.
"The only time I like it is when it makes me feel good and when Connie feels good...and the bad times are went I accidentally shut down due to an overclocking feeling...and suddenly everything feels cold."
Cold? Priyanka raised an eyebrow.
"How so?" She asked.
Steven scratched the back of his neck as he blushed. Latter android versions could as a simulated emotional response.
"Umm...well, Connie and I...when we...and then afterwards I can sometimes....over do it and my runtimes shut down to protect me from breaking from all these Absolutes...but when I 'blackout' as Connie describes it, I kind of feel...really cold...and clammy even."
That's...that's not normal. Steven could see the confusion in her face and he saw that as a deep concern.
"I-I mean, I reactivate fine afterwards." He said.
"My Android and my firmware now have special absorbers to cope with the excess heat and stress. It's funny...that the temperature rises and suddenly goes cold...I should have exploded by now.'"
Not what Dr. Maheswaran was worried about. Besides the possible exploding part.
But from her mental conclusion and summary, Priyanka could determine that he was so close to being human in those moments that it almost felt...natural. She wasn't surprised in the slightest, but how far in depth this went started to prove her suspicions.
"I understand." She said, writing down more notes.
"Steven, I appreciate...your input. It's been most...valuable. I have a lot to work with."
Steven didn't think that he gave enough, frankly.
"Oh it's over already?" He asked.
Priyanka smiled.
"Yes." She said as she stood up, prompting Steven to stand up as well.
"But I hope this session was somewhat useful for you as well."
Sort of? But he was after more definite answers.
"I still don't understand." He said.
"Is there anything wrong with me?"
That wasn't the point. She was here to collect data for her thesis; not to actually...hm though it would be ideal to help her solve a few untreaded questions that she kept to herself. A harmless lie.
"This session was to get to know you better." The Doctor said.
"I believe more sessions are in order to determine anything. But I'm not here to conclude what is wrong and what is right...I'm here to understand...and if in some way it helps you understand so that you will be able to make your own choices based off what feedback I give, then it was worth it."
Connie did say that one session wasn't always enough. But from his understanding from her, is that there was more than meets the eye beyond what he already knew...and his heart wanted to help those lost in their despair. Those whom had given up or were very close to it. There was always hope. But it had him feeling bad from stressing how much he wanted to be human; that others were in silence, suffering from their fate.
"If our schedules allow it, I could book you in next week?"
Leon escorted Steven back home shortly after they discussed their next appointment; that was when Priyanka decided to go for a walk about;
She'd gone to Steven's AI Core while Leon was gone. Their personal guardian; and he was often extraordinarily protective with both the Pink Monolith and the AI Core. She stood in front of it; where her flesh and blood variant would possibly stand; she couldn't recall. This wasn't the original Site.
The constant nagging of filling in the gaps was due to SOAP after-effects. This machine in front of her, held the special set of phylacteries that she desired to interview.
Garnet. Amethyst. Pearl. Also protectors.
"You can't let it go can you?" Doug said through intercoms. He'd often look through the security cameras in the room from where he was, contacting Priyanka where ever she was in the Site.
"There's something here Doug." She said.
"I don't really have enough information about GIS and their phylacteries....there's something really bugging me and it's there in front of me and I just can't see it."
Doug couldn't really look into it either. He was supposed to be connected to the AI Core but there was always some kind of block for him for seeing past surface data.
"I think Greg must have put in protocols that even prevent the Pink Monolith from breaking through." He said.
"But I'm not a programmer...I don't have the knowledge to crack the code like Connie could."
Priyanka hated when Doug would put himself down like that. She loved the man but his self-deprecation could be tiresome. Always wrapped up in some of kind joke to shield the words from their true meaning.
"You have a whole library in there." She said.
"We have to find something, anything...."
She walked off, unaware a spectral form with its eight arms floated nearby, sensing the tension between the two AI's.
They needed to act too.
Notes:
1. 65 - Reallocate
Chapter 103: Human Nature
Summary:
Steven's obsession with humanity has him meet with the Yellow Monolith to ask about her past as a human.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Steven desperately wanted to tell Connie about his session with her mother. Connie didn't want to know the whole story, but otherwise the only real description he'd gave was that it was...confusing.
He tried to let it go, but otherwise couldn't get a certain sentence to leave his memory banks.
"You have more reasons to exist than you realise."
What for? The answer forever distant, especially after the way Dr. Maheswaran described him.
Steven was never even human...like authentic pizza touching his tongue, it had become something that he craved it so because he never possessed it. There was an ancient saying, you want what you can't have. Definitely fitted into his dilemma that's for certain.
He then recalled Blue's Words of a conflicted nature.
"You are the Transitional Entity for a reason. Because you never lost what makes you human most of all." ^1
How could he lose something if he never had it. It was very frustrating to piece all together.
To exist, was it to want, to have, to be? To be human. To exist or to be human. The line was blurry.
So many AI and SC-GIS that were human. Born a human, lived as a human. They had felt everything that there was in their mortal forms that some would be willing to throw it all away to live forever.
Which, in that line of thought, that he decided that it was time to visit someone who was once human. Someone he'd rarely gotten the chance to talk to in private.
The Yellow Monolith.
The two barely talked as it was outside of official business. Blue was kind enough but Steven hadn't hung out with the Conduit in a traditional sense. They were, after all, family, as far as official records put them in their metaphysical tree. Plus she was in closer proximity physically than Blue or White. It was practical.
Her actions in compromising the well beings of others... Sadie, Ronaldo and Peedee forever stuck with him. The very visage of them trapped in AI Cores reminded him too much off his own. He should, be all means, hate her. But he couldn't. She was followiing the whims of the White Monolith. Steven himself had been compromised, but Yellow made it abundantly clear.
"They are part of the Family." She said.
"They must obey and play the roles which they were made for!" ^1
And so was Steven....and yet.
"You know when you messaged me to talk, I thought there was a problem." Said Yellow.
He'd visited her at PeriCom and went inside her Deep Thrones Grid, where she had been busy viewing production reports in her office; a yellow floor with a glass wall embedded with differently shaped diamonds, also outlined with gold. Steven examined the blueprints; seeing multiple designs of numerous GIS labeled Zircon and Cobalt and the like.
"No, no problem." He said.
"I uh...kinda wanted to get to know you...the old organic you."
Yellow froze briefly, staring out into the distance to analyse his words.
"The old fleshdriven me?" She said...before falling into a pit of laughter that only served to confuse Steven. She wiped a tear and retook control of her Avatar again and walked towards a nearby wall as she summoned a tall, thin mirror.
"Oldest of our family, true heir. Really, for someone who didn't believe in royalty, she still wanted a Dynasty."
Steven tilted his head. Yellow kept her focus on her reflection, standing before the mirror with her hands behind her back and her back up straight an narrow, as if preparing some kind of order.
"We are all pieces of unique code and yet our code is what binds all of us." She continued.
No. Steven didn't care about the royalty stuff....but it was nice to know he had a family....though he wasn't sure how it all worked only that there was a deep connection, the deepest kind of relations.
"I uh...just wanted to know what it felt like for you to be human." He asked.
It was when Yellow looked at the mirror for the longest time. Steven could have sworn to see the reflection in the mirror change, with her skin turning white and her hair cut short save for a few whimsical tuft. The Yellow Suit she wore seemed to fit but the tie seemed off. Based off of records, her human name was Mimosa, if Steven recalled the records correctly. That documentary still existed after all. It wasn't as if the name was going to be left to obscurity. But Yellow hardly preferred to be called what was considered, the Donor Name. To separate lifes ending and a new lifes beginning.
"To be human...hmm, its real meaning left to the philosophers." She said. She tried hard to hide her obvious discomfort of the topic.
"And I do not deal with philosophy. Like every other AI, we deal with cold, hard truths. And the logics that bind us."
Did she mean humans weren't logical? He didn't quite understand.
"All you need to know is that White wanted us to be part of the system. We are the system as Diamond Monoliths. Our humanity, irrelevant."
Yet it was their job to guide and guard humanity as it was to a new, bold era. And Yellow was still dodging his question. She looked at him all of a sudden, almost causing Steven's psyche to jump out of his Avatar.
"You've seen the humans during our meetings." She said.
"You might grant asylum to those with relationships, but you're simply giving them a bunker; a shade to cover the shame that humans will never admit to in the public eye yet find false solidarity. I have half a mind to tell White we should launch us all into space and find a species that would appreciate our power...and make the humans regret and realise how much they needed us."
He looked at the way she shook her fist in the moment of passion. Part of him was in awe but the other wasn't really understanding what she meant. Not that he would admit that. She summoned multiple yellow Monitors, projecting graphs. Lined and pied that morphed into random patterns.
"My part in all of this. All of the Domain is one of the most critical. I help contribute to the overall development of our Domain. If it wasn't for me, you would have no humans wanting to linger around here at all. It was of the utmost importance that we simulate the real world as best we can."
Steven remembered Ms. Dot telling him that she was the one helped construct the very atmospheres and ensuring everything flows, going based off an old conversation they had. ^2
"So much to take care of...but when you get manual feedback from clients telling us nothing but expletives...you wonder why."
Steven thought she said wasn't much of a thinker.
"They don't like what you make?" He said.
"Like, it's not real enough or-"
Yellow shook her head.
"No." She said, expanding the monitors.
"You and your human girlfriends stunt made a lot of our stake holders, more than unhappy."
He had no idea what she meant.
"You care about humanity so much...that they no longer feel the need to invest in our businesses; our reputation is in shambles which makes it difficult for future plans that may require important upkeep."
Oh.
"Hardware, software." She said.
"Even paying our most important workers. Some have already left the company on 'moral' grounds. Most projects are left unfinished."
Was it that bad?
"Ummm...I'm sorry?" He said, his voice making an involuntary squeak.
Yellow sighed. There was a lot Yellow could say about him, but she refrained to. Especially regarding her eldest daughter.
"Part of me wanted to strangle the both of you until you both popped into pixelated fireworks." She said, scrunching a fist again.
"But...regrets are pointless. Not to mention Berrybytes programming being able to...'dismantle'. Surely one of the most powerfully written programs I've ever seen."
That last past made it seem like she was more in awe of Connie than not.
"And your power to control the Domain doesn't help matters. You squander these gifts on pointless questions."
In the grand scheme of it all, it really made Steven think. About the potential varying consequences of his actions. Perhaps for the first time. He tried to wrap his head around the single minded desire to free humans from their plight....and in that fallout held numerous negative outcomes. She wiped away the monitors and walked forward, summoning a window that overlooked a simulated version of Mega Beach City with all the flying cars about. It wasn't the real public grid however...a fact Steven would forget entirely.
"You ask about my Fleshdriven self - It's an old term created by an old friend of the families. The needs of the flesh are the primary focus. We lose those needs to bring sight to other fresher ideas without worrying about hunger, sickness or aging."
One would lose more than what the average human would be concerned about.
"White set the new standard. New rules to abide by and I had to set examples, as did Blue and Pink. The air of mystery and seclusion from the public eye. The desire for knowledge becomes the priority. How to improve upon perfection."
It didn't feel perfect....far from it. What would the perfect world look like, Steven wondered. Connections with others and themselves. He believed the perfect world was harmonious and was something to be enjoyed with others.
That was his unconscious conclusion that he had yet to summarise. He knew what he wanted, but could never find the words that felt right, that felt...
perfect?
"So no, I do not ponder upon my useless, fleshdriven self...nor do I want any part of what it once was." She concluded.
Steven found that hard to believe. Yellow was the pinnacle, the shining example of stability. To dwell upon the past was not what she was about. So what about the rest of the family?
"Your Creator; Rose...is just like her mother however." She continued.
"You seem to be like them too. Your concerns over morals and 'doing the right thing'. All Pink had to do was follow the path set out for her, as it was for the rest of us. Now she's our enemy; damaged and warped beyond all recognition."
It brought the young AI fear that they no longer saw Luna as their sister. The concept of such a family forged from binary blood.
"Had she always been like that? Even as a human?" Steven wondered.
Yellow hummed. She'd debated internally of Steven's own coloured view of the species he'd come from. His construction held a singular purpose but now that they weren't going to go ahead with it, he'd wedged himself as Ambassador. So few AI find a new purpose. Fewer still survive once their purpose was done. His stubbornness to persist and exist; lesser AI would crumble. His strength certainly rivaled a Monoliths own and his true potential untapped. He'd be a better Media Manager than his grandmother was...and now that Yellow thought about it, he was unconsciously trying to save their reputation, rather than sabotage it.
White must have seen this as soon as soon as she witnessed his personality. His genuine curiousity that intermingly with a naive innocence and empathy rarely found in AI, even human-borne. Blue's own interest in him was warranted.
"Every family has a black sheep." She said.
"I felt pity for Blue to pick up after her after I became integrated into my Monolith. But she'd become like us, in due time...and had to have her daughter pick up where she left off."
Expectations for Developers who wanted control over every little thing. Including what happened to their own kin.
"Why would she still go along with it?" Steven wondered.
"Why would she have to die?"
Yellow lifted her chin. A question that gave her pause briefly, to consider a response.
"Because...."
She had to obey.
Suddenly she started typing again, reneging on their current conversation to bring up a new topic.
"Speaking of humanity, the three of us need to proper a conduct a proper meeting with the new Conduit for the Pink Monolith." She said.
"According to several advisors, bringing the Monolith home we fear may increase the chance of Luna conducting some sort of attack."
Luna hadn't really been in the public eye for weeks, perhaps months even. The paranoia was there and shared by all the Monoliths but hearing nothing so far should have been a blessing as far as they knew.
"The meeting is absolutely crucial, but finding a neutral Grid in secret to discuss the situation further is difficult. We don't know what she's planning and how observant she is. Even with the best security, she's proven elusive and powerful."
Steven rubbed his chin. No, they hadn't had the chance to discuss that proper. They were very much aware of it, but there had been no official meeting of sorts to chat about future plans had come to mind. It didn't seem like Yellow was willing to divulge certain truths just yet.
"Let me help with that." He said.
"I'll do the research."
Steven was disappointed he didn't get what he wanted out of that. Yellow was surefire enough not to discuss her past with him. He wanted to respect that and not press the matter. Still, Yellow was, at the end of the day, still part of this Family.
He'd read books about families and how they dealt with their reborn members as digital constructs. Some in favour, some against....the old stories that you would hear all over the places on numerous places. The rejection of a supposed false projection. A copied memory. Never the real thing.
He left the Deep Throne shortly after, his mind on dozens of things. Primarily, consulting Doug wasn't going to be a problem. But organising it would be.
However, as he prepared to leave, he could see President Dot holding the CPD of Amethyst as they walked down the corridors, seemingly going back to her office. Steven would be amiss as if not to say hello as a kind gesture, but what they had been chatting about piqued his interest. So he followed them all the way.
Normally, he would be against being a snoop, but for some reason, today was one of those days to be rebellious. His mind wanted to know what it didn't, and for what it was worth, finding out information like Connie was an exhilirating thought to behold.
He'd followed them until they met up with her secretary which would have alerted them regardless. Looking around, there wasn't any way to go in that would have caused the Secretary go away. He did see a nearby closet, however.
Before the pair were behind the doors, he could see the secretaries focus was on them alone as she closed it, which gave him the opportunity to sneak inside. He found himself in a relatively small closet, however. He placed a chair underneath the knob to prevent unwanted visitors, then found a powerpoint nearby and tinkered with it, hooking up his Android to the network before he settled down and projected himself to PeriComs grid.
Security as always, was on high alert. Especially after the Phylacteries were stolen. The Grid knew Steven in a sense, and he's been able to get in and out of subsections without much hassle. The Closet was relatvely close to the office anyway, and the subsections were always guarded.
Inserting himself in, he was met with a similar designed grid to the exterior, which allowed him an easy bypass that he'd simply walked up the doors to open them slightly. The Secretary was new and hadn't been allocated her GIS as of yet.
His eyes were focused on several Grid-connected devices, namely, he could see Ms. Dot's WorkStation and a visage of a CPD which held Amethyst's Avatar and her potential ability to see him.
But he wanted to see President Dot as well, so he tried to find a way inside without getting noticed. Turning around, the Secretaries WorkStaton floated there without her presence. He raised a hand and peeked into the files and apps.
Connie once provided him with special BackDoor Hacking Programs that could hide files that were designed to invade without being seen. He offloaded them and begun to run its subroutines before slipping himself inside. It allowed him access to camera nodes in Peri's office. The devices status' were off, meaning Ms. Dot did not like the idea of someone watching her.
Steven normally wouldn't, but he had to hear their conversation.
He'd gotten himself into the right side camera, tucked away into the right corner of the office. He'd gotten the audio and visual feeds of the real world. Bingo.
"I've tried talking to Pearl about it." Said Amethyst.
"She's onboard but Garnet keeps overruling the decision."
Some discourse with the Ancillas.
"Pearl will do what a Pearl must." Ms. Dot said.
Pearl as far as changes were, was supposed to be the Cloud Storage for him, but lately, she'd been back at the Shell alongside KNIGHT to work out some issues with the Cloud Storage Hub.
"Garnet works for Yin Aozora, officially. She doesn't have to obey our rules if the Blue Monolith deems such things unnecessary."
Amethyst rubbed her face in frustration. While she looked up to Garnet, she could be very uncanny at times. Amethyst wondered if GIS would get those supposed upgrades; the older ones were said to have their personality matrices upgraded to bring them more in line with later software.
"I hate her programming sometimes." She said.
"And yeah, she's the strongest of us...big deal. Greg put us in equal measure at the AI Core to protect Steven."
Peri hummed as she nodded.
"I wonder if it was Greg...or big sis who put up this nonsense." She said.
"I found some files that were finally plucked from her Pearl recently. Something known as the Protection Protocol."
Words Steven hadn't heard in a while.
"Those subroutines aren't even necessary anymore." Amethyst called out.
"Similar ones were already implimented into my software, even as a prototype. Pearl and Garnet not so much."
He's heard a lot about it, but wasn't entirely sure how it really worked. He'd believed it was just designed in a way to drive Caretakers and those like them, to protect their Monoliths. And by drive it was more akin to a loyalty quirk. Those loyal wanted to protect those that they 'cared' about. It wasn't even strong, but rather, it was a slight pull or gravitation towards their dedicated wards.
"Are they stopping you from recalling yourselves back to the AI Core?" Per wondered.
Amethyst shrugged.
"I dunno, maybe." She said.
"But I wouldn't be surprised if the damn thing is deliberately pushing us away from our phylacteries."
Peri grumbled as she leaned back into her chair.
"GIS should be able to do that on command." She said.
"Returning to the source is a requirement. A standard in GIS design."
And they were there with him in his AI Core the entire time and he never knew it until recently.
"The main issue stems from the overall issue that prevents us from not just nabbing the Pink Monolith, but the AI Core."
Amethyst nodded.
"It's not just that we have to worry about. I'm talkin' bout that Lion Robot." She said.
Peri couldn't agree more.
"I think its more a deterrent as much as it wants to guard the Site." She said.
"I wouldn't be surprised if a variation of that same Protocol lives within it."
Who knows. It was possible. Anything was fair game at this point.
"We're hoping by allocating a new and improved Caretaker for the Pink Monolith, that we might be able to curtail the issue." Peri continued.
"I got a message from the Yellow Monolith who's gotten Steven to find some way to talk to the Conduit without raising suspicion from Luna."
A new Caretaker? What was wrong with using Dr. Maheswaran?
"Ah yes of course." Amethyst said with a hint of sarcasm.
"This wouldn't happen to be related to the recent discovery in the 'Hidden Graveyard?"
A...hidden graveyard.
"Yes and no." Peri replied.
"My poor unfortunate sibling was a huge important part of Steven's creation....that she always kept documents surrounding her most important projects."
Documents found and unfound over time. Dr. Miller was still one the greatest mysteries.
"Sis wanted to be buried in the Family's special tombs." She said.
"For years she'd gone to those tombs to maintain the uh...important assets over the years."
Steven had never heard about this before. He was keen to learn more.
"But it's been recently discovered through the Pearl she owned that she buried something else there."
What ever it was, Steven had to find out for himself before they did.
"Lonely finally coughed up?" Amethyst queried.
Peri shrugged.
"They found her will in the mansion, tucked away in a vault that renovators found. " She replied.
"That Mansion originally belonged to our Family until Barb usurped it and barred anyone from accessing it."
The same one they found her in?
"Yeah she went real loopy towards the end." Amethyst said, swirling her finger around her temple.
Peri slammed the table, stunning the GIS.
"Don't you dare talk that way about her!" She roared, snearing at Amethyst.
"She had her troubles...like we all do. But she was still my sister!"
Amethyst raised her hands in defense. She didn't realise it was much of a touchy subject. No wonder she didn't talk about her that much.
"Woah dude, I'm sorry!" She said.
Ms. Dot put her hand to her face and shook her head.
"Never mind, you heartless creature." She said.
"Tomorrow we're heading to the Tombs to see what she'd left there. Not that I want to dig up corpses..."
Amethyst was skeptical.
"It better be something we don't already know." She said.
"Like she gave birth to Steven or what ever...."
Everybody must have known by now. It brought Steven's
"That was just part of the original scheme." Peri said.
"But I don't know..."
No, that couldn't be it.
"All I know is this. The Protection Protocol and it's design were originally said to be Alien in nature. No one really knows what it is or what it truelly does. Only that it was installed in a small group of GIS and maybe a few AI on the sanction of protecting important...'assets'. And Barb was a primary researcher alongside Dr. DeMayo. We're hoping what Barb hid will shed some light on it."
Steven left there after and returned himself back to his Android and left to go back home. He'd planned to stick around in Mega Beach City for a while anyway, to try and figure out a plan for the Conduits to talk.
Knowing now that they had planned to make a new Caretaker specifically for the Pink Monolith was on the agenda. But there was so much more to absorb.
Connie had come back shortly after and Steven sat on her the couch and told her everything he'd discovered. She was silent for the moment, on the edge of the cushion and musing over Steven's rapid info dump.
"Slow down." She said.
"Okay, I get yes, new Caretaker, and yes meeting with my dad...but what's this about graverobbing?"
He told her again about the Tombs, trying to slow his pace as he talked about Barbara hiding something there.
"Lonely cracked huh?" Connie said, not realising she'd repeated Amethyst's words.
"The local cemetery...its near the outskirts of the city to the west. It has a few significant tombs but nothing that would be worth looking into."
But it was the Developers Tombs they were after.
"Peri had plans to go over there tomorrow." Steven said.
"It's the dead of night. We go there now, we might be able to find out before they do."
Connie scratched her head. She honestly didn't see any benefit of going there. Steven grabbed her arms, shocking her with the suddeness.
"Remember we had dozens of questions about the nature of the Protection Protocol?" He asked her, his eyes screening her surprised face.
She nodded.
"Uh yeah."
Steven let her go as he contemplated their new mission. Connie had never seen him like this.
"I wasn't aware it was a problem, considering...its...done it's job. I think."
The pure desire to protect its charges was a common trait of its programming, as far as what Connie knew about it. But Steven's manner about the Protocol at this moment startled her.
"I mean, it COULD be linked, but Dr. Miller certainly had secrets buried with her."
Connie shrugged. It'd been a while since they'd been up to some shenanigans that could get them into serious trouble. KNIGHTs tried to bug her many times, but she's always caught them out...ah such thrill was lacking these days with doing 'official work'.
"Very well, if you think this is more important, I'll go find a shovel." She responded.
Notes:
1. Chapter 98 True Destiny
2. Chapter 95 Accord
3. Chapter 27 Wetware
Chapter 104: Graves
Summary:
Connie and Steven head to the Mega Beach City Cemetery. And hoped they wouldn't wake the dead.
Chapter Text
The topic of death was always one wrought with facts and bizarre theories. These days it was all about some loons believing the Domain was a type of after life. A lot of baloney, if Connie could be honest. No one could admit that they would think about death on occasion, the harsh reality would be too overwhelming to dwell upon and the fewer still to lose sleep over it.
They would call it the big sleep. Would they truely be at peace as the stories went? Steven couldn't say.
Death in the instance would cycle from life. History and biology and like, would form such a fact with the way the organic world worked. Written in hundreds of books and thousands of articles in the Domain. Slowly, sometimes painfully. One would ponder Steven's yearning for such if it brought agony.
The tombs in which they traveled through harboured certain history; namely individuals that came up in ancestral databases, namely, once Connie dug a bit deeply, all seem to link to White in a way. Her ancestry was rich as it seemed. It removed all surprise to see why she wished to preserve the bloodline.
Certainly similar to what they saw in horror movies; a dark night with the full moon; a not really well kept cemetary with moss on nearly tree and stone, and grass that look like it had only been dealt with every three months or so. Maybe longer.
The city was seen in the distance; and all that was around them was hills and tall oaks. Steven used his eyes as a torch to light up the area, as the lanterns were nowhere near light enough to get decent visuals.
They looked for one of the larger buildings and walk in tombs, which were at the back. They'd looked on the icons on the side of the stone-built constructs; family emblems and such. They did come across one with a Diamond insignia.
Not exactly hidden as Steven described from the conversation. But they wore black clothes and Connie put her strawberry pendant beneath her shirt. He hadn't seen her wear that necklace in forever.
"This is the place." Said Connie.
Walking inside and down the stairs, there were already lit candles; which meant someone had been by recently. Connie urge caution.
"I swear she said-" Steven said, before Connie shushed him.
"I swear..." He whispered.
"Ms. Dot wouldn't be here until tomorrow."
He thought wrong. Unless it wasn't Ms. Dot.
There was a strange...feeling being here. History symbolised in Earth, decorated wood and stone. Remembrances of lives once lived. Honoured in ways that made sure that they would never be forgotten.
A life never truely deleted; with pictures and memories of what was. True immortality that once resided in the minds of those who knew them.
A feeling not Absolute; a bittersweetness, leaning more towards the bitter.
Whispers echoed throughout, hushed. They turned a corner, and came across a woman in a black dress and blonde hair facing towards a wall and a semi-circle of lit candles. On her knees; in prayer towards what was Dr. Millers grave.
"I miss you Mom." She said.
Steven recognised that voice.
"Sadie-" He whispered. He attempted to reach out to her, before Connie held him back . They couldn't risk it. Not here. Steven didn't understand why and wanted to reach out to her again, but Connie continued to do so, shaking her head. It frustrated him, but she cupped her hair, indicating to him just to listen and not engage. He begrudingly complied..
"I've become part of the family business...but I think...I think you really wanted me to stay away from it." Sadie said.
"It's a mess...but I needed to honour what you sacrificed. I might not know the pain you went through, you are human. Sadly...the rest of your family...if we can call it that, are not."
Dr. Miller stood out among the rest. A rebel princess in a kingdom with no true royalty.
"You wanted me to find my own identity in the world....but I feel...lost. I miss both you and, I really miss Spinel..."
They'd almost forgotten about her. One of the victims of theft by Luna, if Connie recalled correctly.
"But now you're up there. I hope you're looking after Steven." She said.
"I know you gave birth to him...and that his true soul that never had much time to be alive. He never got to grow up. Be a kid like a regular human being."
Words that turned sour so quickly in his mouth.
"They made no true grave for him...I looked everywhere and they didn't have the decency to honour him in anyway. Why not? He's a part of our family. He deserves to be here."
It was when she lit up a unique, small pink candle with a light and rested it against the grave. Standing up, Sadie kept her hands together.
"I'm not naive to think that its the main reason you decided to leave us...leave me." She continued.
"But I know its one of the reasons. And I will do my best undermine their efforts, no matter how long it takes. For you and for the Steven you never got to meet."
So...Sadie was going full on rebel? This could complicate things.
"Sadie wait!" Steven called out to her, with Connie beleaguered by him ruining their cover.
The woman was stunned to see him here as she almost tripped over.
"Steven!" She called out.
Connie rolled her eyes, wanting to take control of the situation before it got worse.
"Sorry about interrupting." She said.
Steven's eyes couldn't stop lookng at the assortment of lit candles, especially the little pink one.
"Oh um...no it's okay." Sadie responded, rubbing the back of her neck.
"I just...didn't expect anyone else to be here."
Neither did they.
"But...you must have heard..."
Steven nodded.
"It's okay Sadie...." He said, trying to comfort her. But failed as she turned foul. But it wasn't to do with him being here. She turned around, her fists scrunched in frustration.
"No it isn't." She said.
"Look around us; the empires foundations..."
So many different people. All of them family in one way or another.
"Yet you think they should have made a grave for uh..." Steven said, not wanting to make it sound awkward.
It was going to be awkward regardless. Steven could never acknowledge that or come to terms so easily. Connie sensed Sadies admonishment about how the Developers treated the entire family.
"It seems like nothing more than to sweep failures under the rug." She said.
Sadie had a point. But Connie saw things from a different perspective.
"But if I'm being truthful? No one else knew Steven existed except for those close to him. I'm not surprised."
And logically speaking, it would raise more questions, especially in Dr. Millers case. The Developers did not want the public to be made aware. Yet, Steven felt a sting from Sadie's words. It was complicated to express in better words.
"Do you think...my soul is up with your mom?" Steven wondered.
And the doubts, while already there, about being alive came back to the forefront. He must have offended Sadie in a way of being a reminder of what her mother had once created. She sighed and rested her hand against her mothers photo.
"Maybe." She said.
"I know Mom always wondered. We weren't always so...distant. She'd...contemplate to think whether or not AI's were ever living beings, capable of holding their own souls."
The idea being that those created from the deceased, were just the mind, body and soul copied and preserved in the digital realms. But they were never one to ones and so others argued against the binary beings categorised as living things. An argument that was still being had until this day. A reason why the Governments would struggle to define what they were. The general consensus had unconsciously put them into a third category that defied description but...were called objects or worse, monsters wearing the faces of their loved ones. Miracles from God or abominations from the devil himself to torment them so.
"Maybe she did meet you up there." Sadie continued.
"Alongside everyone else we've lost, looking down at these fake versions of themselves."
A sentence that dug deeply into Steven; it...hurt....as he clenched the shirt and looked downwards in sadness. The hear Sadie hold this contempt only made his guilt worse.
"I'm sorry." He said. It hurt more than it was intended to. Striking solid into his machine heart.
She raised an eyebrow, then Sadie realised the extent of what she just said.
"No, no Steven...I didn't mean-" She said.
"Ugh...I mean, if they...if they could see them....if you could see you, what would they think?"
It was silent for the moment, though Connie was uncertain, based off the distressed look on Steven's face if he was busy wracking his code for an answer, or he was confused. Or both. It ended up being her duty to get things back on track.
"Okay Sadie let's just not short circuit him right now." Connie said as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
The poor girl had dug a little deep into philosphy, but otherwise relented the talk.
"Oh...sorry..." She said, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Um...now that you mention it..."
Connie shook her head and gently pushed Sadie out of the way, surprising Steven but he didn't say anything about it. She ran her hands over the stone and concrete, looking for something unusual.
"What are you doing?" Sadie said.
This was Stevens fault for mentioning this. It felt wrong to do so but he didn't understand why.
"I uh....overheard a conversation at PeriCom." He said.
Connie continued to search all over for anything. A switch, a button...a type of trigger that hid many a secret.
"And so...what?" Sadie said, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms.
"You're looking to desecrate my mothers corpse?"
Well, it was either President Dot or them. A lesser of two evils, perhaps?
"I don't have time for this." Connie said.
"We have a meeting this week and I need some leverage over our Monolith Overlords. Any information your mother kept secret is bound to have value to use against them."
Sadie and Steven exchanged looks.
"Uh....sure." She said.
"But I don't think mom would have-"
CLINK
"Had that many....secrets..."
The tombs quaked as Dr. Millers coffin shifted outwards. Everyone had stood back in surprise. Once it was fully slid out, the three just stared at it.
"Uh huh..." Said Connie, perplexed.
The situation made Steven extraordinarily uncomfortable. Connie walked around the coffin and examined it as thus.
"I don't think we should do this." Said Sadie.
Understandable. But this HAD to be done. Connie found the button to open the lid as everyone stood around it in awe, as the the hydraulics gush and the lid lifted up very slowly, as smoke poured out, filling the room they were in.
The trio gasped. Once the smoke disappeared. it revealed the silk red interior; and the silver urn in which Dr. Miller was kept in.
"Huh...wasn't expecting that." Connie said.
Sadie sighed. She looked on at the silver urn with relief.
"Oh yeah, I forgot she wanted a cremation." She said, with a nervous chuckle.
Better than seeing a decaying cadaver. Steven then noticed a small white book with the Diamond insignia on it and tapped Connie's shoulder. She looked where he pointed and and took the book itself. The pages outlines were made of a gold like texture, but the details inside were a story thought to be simple. But were long?
"Man on the Moon?" She whispered with surprise.
"It's just the story Dad made up?"
Sadie looked down and could see some written signatures.
"To Barbara, love Cadence M?"
Connie froze in place.
"No....can't be." She gasped in disbelief. A name she hadn't seen in years; since she was a young girl.
She knew who this was too. She happened to wear her strawberry pendant; one that was gifted by the same individual, as she took it out from her shirt and ran her fingers over it, returning to her sensual yet childish habit. This was so strange, so...absurd and unexpected.
"She was given this book by Gran?"
Chapter 105: Incomplete
Summary:
While Connie works hard to decode the meaning of the book, Steven and Sadie head to the mall.
Chapter Text
The trio migrated back to Connie's apartment, as Connie was keen to study the book further.
It was just a story. A fantastical story. Upon further study, it indeed held the same beats and words to the same tale that her father once told her, except with a few key differences. Books were still favoured by collectors; but otherwise, even if they were clad in gold, no one had much use for them unless they could whip up the text from Domain itself. It piqued her interest to the point of a renewed obsession of finding answers. Ones in fictional tales that other would skim over, not even a single glance upon what it could possibly mean.
"I'm not sure why Mom found that story all that fascinating." Sadie said.
"Though it's not as if she ever read me any bed time stories."
They were in her bedroom with Connie at her WorkStation. Sadie was on the end of Connie's bed, while Steven was by the window. He too, left wondering what Sadie's mother meant by all of this.
Connie became the obsessive Berrybyte once more. Steven could see the cans of energy drink scattered about her room; on the WorkStation, on the bed, on the drawers and on the floor, ready as fuel and had more cans in the fridge. Steven didn't think much of the story when Connie read it to her originally, but by now, he'd begun to understand that such things were rife with concepts such as metaphors and fun meanings beneath the surface. He'd rather a clear message; and not go down the same path Connie had rediscovered.
While she reread the story, she tried her best to analyse, and attempted to find key parts that stuck out the most. Anything and everything was not left untouched. It was only seeped in metaphors catergorically, but what ever Connie felt lurked within the texts would be a treasure only she would be able to discover.
The only metaphor Steven really understood was 'let no stone go unturned.' or something along those lines...what ever words Connie had muttered a dozen or so times before when ever she felt the need to go head first into her research.
"If it's any consolation..." Said Sadie.
"I have no idea my mom knew your...uh your gran."
Not that Connie cared much. It was information she could do without if it served no purpose. It became aggravating to deal with when it shouldn't be. Everything became interconnected in one way or another and Connie held a mastery over connecting the dots. So many of them that it became a huge mess that she struggled to focus.
"Look I'm sorry I'm busy right now." Connie said.
"You're making too much noise."
Ah. So it was that type of work, Steven figured.
"So...what should we do in the mean time?" He said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Connie groaned. She shouldn't have to dictate every sudden thing they do....but realised that she was frustrated. It wouldn't fair to get irate with them for a little talk. Actually, there was something they could do...
"Well, if you want something to do..." She said.
Finding a neutral space that would allow the Monoliths to connect would prove difficult. Four of the worlds most powerful superservers in one area that held no major influence from one party or another. Sadie discussed that she had been here to visit her mother during some time off she got permitted. She hadn't flexed her Custodian powers much, only taking Bismuth back and forth where ever she needed it. As it turned out, Bismuth had to meet up with PeriCom anyway. Amethyst kept with Ms. Dot, while Bismuth hopped along with Ronaldo. Steven found that a little odd, but otherwise didn't push the issue further.
In the meantime while he tried to think of something, Steven and Sadie went to a nearby mall; not for any specific reason other than using the 'noise' Connie hated to their advantage. Steven ultimately had the idea that buying groceries, namely buying more energy drinks (and food, that was important) would be an honourable gift to satiate his girlfriends needs; like one would bring a object to please the Gods.
The Mall itself was always busy. Several floors worth of stores; and walls and holographic advertisements everywhere. From baby goods to new appliances and announcements being made by AI from time to time. A colourful mix of whites and pastel pinks, yellows and blues and the glass case of clothes from a nearby store, designed to project itself on to you. Complaints were made on how intrusive it was so they had to go back to physical clothes. Which often got stolen at night.
It was meant to emit the design of an much older era, its aesthetic appealling to a certain group of people. Oh and the yuccas and the long green leaves that were nestled in garden beds. It was hard to tell if they were fake or not.
"Has Connie always been like that?" Sadie asked.
"Obsessive?"
For as far as Steven knew, Connie had this hunger to devour answers to questions no one would think to ask. Or questions no one would bother to find answers to.
"It's hard to curb her when she's like this. Her curiosity once got her to the point where it almost got her killed by the Ancillas." Steven said, remembering that day fondly.
They walked past a statue on a fountain in the middle of the mall. An eight armed woman spitting out water that spread all around. The way it was cracked in certain areas and the cracks were filled with gold. An odd artistic choice to be sure.
"Don't let her boss you around though." Sadie joked.
"I mean, Spinel used to be bossy. Come on Sadie, let's go to the arcade...."
From what Steven could recall, Sadie travelled in her lonesome, alongside Spinel as they roamed the country, avoiding her mother at all costs. Spinel might have been a glitchy mess, but otherwise she was good company. Upon the thoughts, some of the advertisements begun to glitch out.
"Arcades?" Steven said.
Sadie raised an eyebrow.
"You've never been?" She asked.
Not that he could recall. He sort of knew what they were, but AI's were banned from using them because they could easily cheat by hacking or otherwise.
"Oh I get it." Sadie said slyly.
"She's probably too scared you'd whoop her ass." She joked.
She was definitely not afraid. Though Steven never felt like Connie was not one for irrelevant games in general and he never felt compelled to. Her work was her life and on some occasions Steven felt like she never took a single day of. As he looked around his eyes became fixated on the increasingly erratic holograms nearby.
"No, I don't think that's it." He said, becoming distracted as they stopped.
Sadie snickered.
"All business no pleasure then?" She said, as she stopped as well.
Something didn't feel right. He couldn't quite describe.
"Something like that." Steven said, as he trailed off.
Sadie noticed Steven staring at a nearby advertisement for wedding dresses continuously distort and fizzle. His eyes begun to focus on numerous other flickers.
"Everything alright?" She asked.
It soon stopped, and his mind trailed on other matters.
"Yeah." He said.
"Yeah...."
The two ended up going to the Arcade after all. He needed the distraction. Steven watched her play numerous 'ancient' cabinets refurbished for modern day use. It was said some cabinets meant to store Phylacteries for company use were inspired by these cabinets, allowing people to talk to them if they weren't connected to a particular Grid. The designs of these games were either made or mimic the aesthetics of those originally made and released in the 20th Century. Still popular with some crowds to this day thanks to those whom had kept them preserved over the generations.
Sadie was reminded of the good old days...she hadn't been here in years and yet it only felt like it was yesterday she was playing games with a friend she cared about, but she found it hard to admit that those days were long gone. Having Steven for company wasn't the worst way to kill time but it was better than hanging out at Weiss United and doing jack all.
"Some games are more complicated than others." She said.
"I used to watch friends play. They said every game has a story. Even the most small ones with a smaller plots. We are just there to complete it."
Steven blinked. Complete it... he's wondered for a long time what that even meant. To be complete.
"It sounds sappy." Sadie admitted.
"Some of those games messages aren't exactly well thought out and they're repeated. 'get a higher score' or 'beat this thing to save the world.' They're interactive movies without the same budget."
Movies he'd seen and watched from beginning to end. Steven begun to notice Sadie struggling with the game; with the screen itself becoming an abhorrent pixelated mess.
"What the..." She said.
It screeched loud noises...and Steven looked around all the other machines were doing the same thing. He knew the signs.
"Somethings affecting the Mall's Grid." He said.
Sadie's eyes were fixated on the screen as she gasped, her eyes widened while her hands covered her mouth in shock. Steven turned back to see her name written in a credits like fashion.
"It...it knows my name?" She said.
Steven made the immediate call to Connie as he pressed the inside of his ear and made the phone gesture with his right hand, while muttering to Connie to hurry up and answer.
"This better be important." Said a disgruntled Berrybyte.
It was.
"Yeah Sadie and I are witnessing some funky stuff here." He said.
"Somethings hacking into the local grid."
And the fact it knew Sadie wasn't boding well either. The other customers and the general public all around begun to freak out as well. It'd been a while since they'd had such a dangerous cyberattack even as defensive measures had been increased by PeriCom across the board.
"Alright I've got an overlay of the Malls Grid Layout." Connie said.
"There should be a vacant connecting port in the staff room behind the counter."
Steven nodded. He grabbed Sadies hand as they ran towards the door he could see, disregarding everyone else. The poor employee who was working there too busy cowering underneath a nearby table. Steven zoomed around to try and find the port itself, then noticed the nearby inactive WorkStation the staff member was under.
"Sadie watch over my body for me." Steven said.
Sadie nodded, and watched as Steven pulled out a cable from the back of his androids neck and inserted it in the port.
It wasn't long until he'd jumped into the malls Grid. An unorthodox method of doing so but it was incredibly important. He still had Connie on call as she helped him navigate the interior of the compromised grid; coloured a dark blue. There was an alert for danger that dinged on his HUD.
"I'm seeing a red spot near the Malls IT Servers in the basement." She said.
"I'll open up some node warps for you."
Steven promptly saw a cyan square shape form before him, ripples like water that display the warp she mentioned. Without delay, he jumped inside.
Once he'd arrived he could see the IT Servers to support the grid; numerous holographic monitors and floating data cubes that demonstrated the functions and profiles for each store. His eyes were fixated on the monster in front of him; pale arms with the occasion pink stripes, peach coloured mane with lavender horns, jet black eyes and a sharp toothy grin as a black liquid oozed from its maw. Its torso more like a pink jumpsuit on its large body with puffy pink shorts, its top arms entangled and ending with red gloves with claws and its legs like a primal beasts.
"S-steven..." It growled.
He was horrorfied by this thing...he'd squinted to see the Kernel Cores on its chest and nose....no....
"Who....who are you?" He asked as he brought up his shield.
It cackled as it chomped into a data cube.
"We-I am...Apatite." It revealed.
"Mistress Luna sends her regards."
So they served Luna it seems.
"What do you want?" Steven demanded to know.
It sucked remants off its fingers as the fluid it emitted from its mouth dripped everywhere.
"Luna needs the Custodians!" She said.
"And who better than Sadie! Oh how Spinel misses her. Feelings she could do without."
Steven grunted. What the hell would she need Sadie for? The way that Apatite slithered about; clownish and terrifying. Weren't Clowns supposed to make humans laugh? Their limbs unceremiously climbed on nearby cables, the corruption itself spreading as far as where Apatite would travel.
It was a cycle perpetuated with ideas and stealing assets to some end. Luna desired to end it all; her ideals going as far as to warp others to do her bidding to make them extensions of herself and complete monsters out of those who had no choice once she was able to complete that way.
Was that what Rose did? Did Rose just create these monsters for the sake of revenge against her forsaken family? This was twisted even for her.
A tragic script.
"And you, the God-AI...you have all the power in the Domain to shape and you squander it!"
Words that had Apatite hop into direction action as she threw herself at Steven with all of her fiendish claws, her ooze spreading about. Steven rolled out of the way, as she slammed on the ground, causing it to quake. Steven was cautious his never left her form. Raising a hand, palm facing upwards, Apatite summoned the ooze to burst to him as he summoned his shield to block the spread. It boiled and bubbled as it fell of his best weaponised defense.
"Why lies has Luna been feeding you?" Said Steven.
He threw the shield as it collided with Apatite nasal Kernel Core, using enough force to make her form fizzle. She growled and stomped her foot.
"What lies have the Monoliths been feeding you?" Apatite retorted, once she came to.
This again. Steven had put in a lot of hard work to be able to foster peace even alongside all the discourse. The Monoliths weren't the issue...and now that Luna had dared to somehow seed Apatite and the Virus here once again, it had to have meant something.
"If you won't see reason..." He said, summoning another shield.
"Then dormancy better bring you rest!"
The pair fought on with the verocity of a beast and a warrior. An unfinished tale of Man verses the Centaur (one that happened to be goofy looking).
He genuninely wanted this to end. And Luna's insistance on bleeding this slow demise was tantamount to very slowly burning candle. Lighting and relighting...the same issues over and over again.
Apatite was aggressive and Steven kept up the defense as best he could. It could turn the virus into spears attached to tentacles that shot off from where ever it originated. The ceiling, the walls, the floor. Steven barely dodged half the time and found it exhausting.
"Come on Steven." She dared, snarling.
"I know you can unleash the beast deep inside of you!"
He could repeatedly through his shield and use it to slice the spears, but Apatite was surprisingly fast and relentless with her attack. It came a head when a spear struck his back and froze him in place, sending him into complete shock. His HUD warped as Apatite went towards him, laughing in delight as she held him in front of her.
"Weak...but we can make you strong..."
Steven struggled to break free as the virus begun to spread. He'd threw up subroutines that summoned internal fire wall, after fire wall. Numbers on his HUD meant nothing, but the blaring flashes of red told him all well about the dangers that threatened to end the tale of Steven.
His arms and legs spread out as Apatite lurched over him. A sick fascination as they poked his body. His eyes flashed all colours of the rainbow...in random order. In random meaningless sigils and symbols.
His teeth would grow and retract fangs...and his head would grow and retract spikes. No order. Only chaos.
"A great addition to our cause. Lady Luna would be most pleased."
His vision disappeared. Darkness overrode everything.
Once there was silence...then there was a cacophony of noise. Horrendous screams. Terrifying roars and ear-piercing shrills that became too much. The darkness replaced with static and horrible, visceral imagery. Teeth, maws...eyes that bore into ones soul, digital or organic. It would feel the same.
It had to stop...why wouldn't it stop?
He wouldn't give in...he couldn't give in.
Where was Connie? He missed Connie, He needed Connie.
He couldn't afford to forget or to have his morals aligned or controlled.
He didn't want to lose what made him human most of all.
"But what does make you human most of all?"
He stopped. Darkness returned as he heard Lunas whispers.
"My son." She whispered.
"You would be return me. Return to your mother. The Cluster needs you. I need you..."
Bubbles. Lots of them rose from below. A lack of ground, ceiling or walls. A true void.
"It needs completion....."
To be complete...
No...he didn't want to complete anything. Steven wanted out. He wanted out now.
"You're t-the true m-monster." He uttered, his audio copping out as well.
This was what it was to fight against an impossible virus. It was a death sentence of the self and memories became harder and harder to access. Screens came up with him and Connie and the old days when hanging out with the Ancillas.
Happier times...
Happiness...what was that?
Luna walked forward into the spotlight in Rose's form, wearing a black dress and black gloves...her head was down with her hair that obscurced and shadowed her eyes. Hands clasped together in front of her. For what was she mourning?
"The virus is a gift." She said.
"It is better to embrace than to deny."
No. No it wasn't.
"Why are YOu, you....D0InG THHHHHSSSSSSSS?"
He was losing everything...losing sense most of all. Tears ran down her cheeks...for what reasons were there to weep?
"Because." She said.
Spikes begun to portrude from her elbows and horns from her forehead in split, flashing frames.
"If you won't destroy the Monoliths willingly." She said.
"Then I am forced to take measures into my own hands...even if it grieves me to corrupt you."
No. She can't do this. Her story was worse than anything...and it was not allowed to come to fruition... this couldn't how parent should treat their own child.
"Luna." He said, still keeping up the fight. There wasn't any indication internally he could use to measure how far he'd already gone...it didn't matter. He still had to fight. But he couldn't move an inch. Not even his head; forced to stare at this horrible facsimilie of a mother.
"We need the beast."
She forcibly reached out across to him and brought up multiple screens and begun to filter through them, typing away and engaging new, unusual subroutines.
It was a struggle and he wanted to call out to Connie so badly.
"Please....st0p..." He cried...
Distorted, hollow and faint growls...this wasn't good. It tormented him on how much it hurt to even think coherently; to filter through the mess that forced him to percieve lines of thought he'd never create.
Though the look of panic begun to show on her face. Something wasn't going her way it seemed.
"No...impossible." Luna muttered in disbelief.
The noises quitened a little...and almost comforting...soothing.
His vision darkened once more...and left Luna fuming and reaching out to him before he lost all sight; leaving her form freezing place.
Silence...
Some time after, there was Pink text on a screen. First in indecipherable alien text...before it was transformed into English thereafter.
"PROTECTION PROTOCOL: ACTIVATED." It said.
"AURORA SLEEPS; PERMISSIONS REQUIRED."
-FLORA PERMISSION GRANTED- - FAUNA PERMISSION GRANTED - - MERRYWEATHER PERMISSION -
- CONTACTING MALEFICENT -
His vision soon returned as Apatite was left bewildered as a blue light filled the room. Suddenly Steven felt the spike yanked from him and something wrapped around in its place, as he was yanked backwards through a cerulean portal.
"NO HE'S MINE!" Apatite roared before the portal closed.
A deep blue world of a lighter blue, as light scattered down from above.
The pleasant sound of flutter of watery wings filled his receptors and arms that wrapped around him and kept him close, and their chin on his shoulder. It brought warmth to an otherwise cold world. The hold was a strong, desperate chain for support, perhaps read as a need. Steven was vulnerable but he was safe. That could only be one GIS that had the power to do this. To save the young AI from the clutches of the darkest evils.
"Lapis." Steven said, dreary and exhausted.
"It's okay Steven." She said, her voice soft and velvety, like his nerves rested against blankets of silk.
"I'm here."
Chapter 106: Ocean
Summary:
The Satellite is both a symbol of freedom...and a cage.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Space; with all of its terrifying grandeur. So much room to move, yet the loneliness would be long lasting.
A single satellite turned to face the sun; and the world it eternally orbited. The same song and dance; the same swim in the ocean of space.
Lapis Satellites were common across the globe; distant but necessary. Ironically, sometimes it was difficult to drown out the noise of information. Terabytes of data stuck in spiralling back and forth. In this way, the Lapis Steven knew, always had her way of finding things out, it seemed. For months, perhaps years, Lapis cared less about the world. Cared less about the Domain and her purpose. Everything was non-existent as it was. She did because that's what she was made for. Emotion hardly played a part. Early GIS had similar designs until the humans decided that personalities were important.
Lapis didn't dwell on the paradoxes she found herself in, having thanked and blamed Steven; which ever was more appropriate, for opening her eyes to larger scales of herself. To weigh options because of reasons she could never understand. At first, anyway.
She thought to contribute in some way because...she had Steven. What Steven wanted, needed and desired. She would serve him; but why?
He wasn't her superior, nor her creator or owner. His alignment with the Monoliths and the Developers didn't even play into it. He was what the humans would call, a 'friend'. An associate, an ally perhaps. Friend just...sounded right. He'd used the word so freely around her and others. The danger this posed was immense; and the word fraternization came up a lot on numerous forums.
To be...fundamentally close and yet...so far.
And so answers came....and answers that raised more questions. But the sensibility of purpose...of where she was placed in the pecking order begun to fall into place. She wanted to be here, to help up. A strange compulsion and a even rare desire to have for another artificial intelligence.
And so, bailing Steven out was one of her specialities. He had to be protected, watched and observed....and so his...humanity was ever present. Perhaps more infectious than that of the official virus. This was what the humans were trying to convey. Other Lapis had their own discussions, topics, theories. Evolution of their kind despite being a stagnant species.
Lapis suspected much else. The ping most commanding to compell, much less the logics that weren't there before had sudden been coded in. Or perhaps, they had always been and had begun to resurface.
So to serve was the incorrect word. What would be in its place?
She watched from the rafters as Steven had awoken and took to his surroundings. He recognised the Barn structure, and the endless ocean of transfers and all the data it contained; a sight of comforting familiarity. Soothing; or it was meant to be. Lapis would have to calm Steven down as he realised he'd left Sadie down on Earth as he begun to flail and panic. Typical. Lapis had it all taken care of.
"Relax, I sent Connie a message." She assured.
Berrybyte would take care of the fleshbound, Lapis was certain. He tried to calm down, but it was a mad rush for his matrices and subroutines to root out the intensive emotions. He wasn't going Absolute just yet. Though, once he was in a stable condition, he realised something as he looked back at the Blue GIS.
"How did you know where I was?" Steven asked.
Lapis smiled. She'd been observing him and the rest for a while, trying to make herself useful. She didn't have every piece of the puzzle but she had been determined to protect Steven no matter what. That was her self-proclaimed purpose. Though the channels she had recieved the ping from hadn't been utilised for sometime. Mysterious yet Lapis snapped into action as soon as she recieved it. She didn't understand it, personally. She wasn't sure if her job was to allow her to ascertain that choice.
But she had to digress...there had been other ways she'd discovered information up until that point; leading up to the rescue.
"I had a message from another Lapis." She said.
"She had accidentally hooked on a wormholes signal. Turns out they leak a lot of data that runs interference on transmissions when they open."
Huh. Steven never knew. So the Satellites must absorb that data; if that's what she meant.
"I never knew that either." He said.
"Like what Leon does."
Lapis nodded. Though Leon was a machine, this was different to that. IPs were easy to find and track due to the nature of her work, but she understood when something didn't look right.
"The IP isn't Leons." She said.
"The other Lapis taught me how to decrypt the leaked data, in a sense, how to use and understand it. She shared it to me and we found that there are two unusual signals that pass through on a frequent basis. GIS normally emit these signals as do normal AI, but the GIS are more noticeable. I can't exactly explain it..."
So this was somehow linked to her finding him? Strange. But certainly an interesting discovery nevertheless.
"So Luna sent Apatite to the Mall..." He muttered.
But why would they need the Wormhole?
"Apatite said that Luna needed the Custodians." He told her.
"Which means Ronaldo and Peedee are in trouble as well."
Lapis hummed. Humans seemed to always find trouble...these humans specifically more so than normal. She watched as Steven quickly messaged Connie, opening up his palm crystal to send her the important news.
"I don't know much more I'm afraid." She said, flying upwards to sit on the barn roof.
"That Corruption returning is going to send some panic again. It's not as if the world already wasn't on edge lately."
With its burgeoning distrust of AI's on the rise, no matter how much PR would be smashing their keyboards dailing to push towards why they needed AI's. Steven felt sorry for Apatite, in a sense. To serve Luna like that.
Garnet would be furious to see a Consensus like that...and it took a lot for her to hate a Consensus. Steven soon joined her to look at the endless sea, sitting down with their arms on their knees and letting the artificially generated winds brush against them.
"I need to report this to the other Monoliths." Steven said.
"I just wish Connie would focus on finding a place for them to have their meeting in secret."
Words that caught Lapis' audio receptors.
"I heard about that." She said.
"I don't blame them. With these wormhole data leaks, Luna would have found ways to tap confidential conversations in the Domain."
Perhaps biding her time....or messing with that Cluster Monolith. Steven looked around at the waters and the clear blue sky. His imagination could take hold and would picture the seas meeting up with the oceans of the Mega Beach Cities Grid. That beach that he'd been so used to. Seen hundreds of times.
Lapis was ironically isolated yet still able to observe as necessary.
"Do you think that Luna would be able to hack into a Satellite?" Steven wondered.
He squinted at the water, could have sworn he'd something akin to a small splash.
"Our encryptions are generally quite strong." She said.
"Worst comes to worst, we can cut ourselves off from all channels; self diagnose and even pull off self-detonation if we need to."
A disturbing thought. Steven would certainly hope it wouldn't come to that. He scratched his head...
This place was truelly isolated from the rest of the world...he wondered...
"Maybe they can meet here." Steven suggested.
"This Satellite should be enough!"
Lapis protested of course. At first she was perplexed at the request, having to ask several times of his intent, ensuring that she wasn't mishearing him. He'd made several arguments and so did she. But the allure of a threat to destroy the Monolith's Conduits if they misbehaved was definitely an alluring one.
At the end, Steven won out and he'd begun to organise the meeting as thus, while Lapis reshaped her barn by forging a secondary level that held a room large enough to fill them all. Walls of grey stone and floors of blue and gold Marble and the Lapis Lazuli logos placed; just in case they forgot where they were. A giant white round table in the middle and a WorkStation nearby.
She'd heard Steven's call with Connie, whom had been livid with him regarding the incident at the Mall and was more pedantic over his near corruption. Lapis did a full check up and determined that he was in good condition. Surprising, given the reports on corrupted GIS tend to have the virus override them in minutes. His Firewalls must be incredibly powerful...though a Rose Quartz GIS wasn't known to be THAT strong. Then again, she didn't know many Rose Quartz GIS OTHER than Steven.
The day would come and Lapis was attempting to be civil and calm about but she was anything but. All these powerful figures; and Lapis held the most power.
She stood next to Steven as he sat down, while Connie had come in with her father and her mother. Leon was reportedly running the rounds on guard duty; because that specific piece was most certainly trustworthy... but oddly enough, only the Blue Monoliths Pearl was behind her.
"This is most unorthodox." Yellow commented.
"You sure this line is encrypted?"
And the first insult would come to already test Lapis as she made a small disgruntled growl near the WorkStation, where Connie sat as she continued to monitor connections and anything unusual. This was Stevens meeting, but she was keen to speak out if need be. KNIGHT would tell her to ensure their best interests but Connie knew better she was here to ensure nothing went pear-shaped.
Blue would smile; knowing much better as one of the main designers and contributors to the Lapis SS. The network she helped built; she knew the ins and outs of better than most.
"Lapis Satellites are good to throw people off track." She said.
"We'll be fine."
As did this conversation. Lapis just wanted to get this over and done with.
"Let us get to business instead of topics of irrelevance." Said White.
It was as if the Monolith was reading her mind (though probably not out of the scope) Good. Lapis didn't like White but she'd rather not bluff about.
"First off, Luna throwing in a corrupted Consensus means she's sending a message."
A deep concern to be sure. The message itself had to be a pretty strong one.
"White can't we just get the Pink Conduit issue out of the way first?" Blue suggested.
Steven was surprised to see White so antsy about it, after nagging Connie to find a place to discuss this in the first place.
"I'm currently dealing with numerous agencies crawling up towards us, demanding why the Virus wasn't purged in the first place. The Virus which could tip into a cataclysmic war if we do not contain it. Do any of you have any idea what that means?"
There was supposedly news yes. War wasn't what Lapis cared for, but her brethren usually dealt with war-making information daily. It wasn't a surprise.
"I'm aware of this White and we are taking the appropriate action. I've heightened security and ordered further anti-virus reviews, so we can update new code and upload current licensed users." Said Yellow.
"The Incident at the Mall is also being looked over by some of our officials. Tracking Luna's corrupted agents is our priority."
They'd certainly hoped so. How they got into the Grid out nowhere was a complete mystery. White's suggestion however; may not have been far off the truth in Stevens opinion. White didn't seem impressed however.
"I'll expect a full report very soon then." She said.
"This should have never happened in your jurisdiction."
Yellows expression appeared still and calm, but deep down the critique brought her nothing but shame. She knew she had to do better. She bowed her head and placed a hand on her chest. With that out of the way, they could begin their discussion.
"Now then." Said White.
"As for the fullest intent of our meeting here, we need to turn the discussion to you."
All eyes were on Doug, who felt incredibly awkward as he sat there. He'd been through a wild ride so far, finding the root of his actual identity in the process. It couldn't have been easy to wrap ones head around to be in control of one the worlds most powerful Superservers.
"We need to find a replacement Conduit." Yellow commented; straight to the point.
"This man isn't part of the family line. He doesn't deserve to be part of this."
Also true, didn't make it hurt any less.
"How he came into becoming the Pink Conduit is irrelevant." Said Blue.
"We need to ensure the Monoliths protection."
Nothing would change unless the Pink Monoliths safety was guaranteed. With no Greg around to make changes, it was to now important to discuss its location and relocation to its proper place. As much as Steven wanted to hate his Creator-Father, he just couldn't. He wouldn't have done this for without a good reason. Trusting the other Monoliths and the Developers was hard. It still treaded on murky waters, especially with Luna deciding to attack.
"I am still sworn to it." Said Steven. It was both a manner of honor and contention.
"Berrybyte and I are still investigating the matter."
Eyes were on Berrybyte now, as she sat there, appearing neutral as she could. Yellow didn't look too impressed.
"My dedication to Pink will not change either. "She said.
"If the decision to keep the current Conduit is in agreement with all of us, I am content with leaving him in there, not for the quality but for the lack of a proper replacement."
It wasn't odd for her to do a 180 leaning in the other Monoliths arguments or opinions.
But it would come as a stalemate. Blue would be for and White would be against; and it was ultimately, up to Steven. It wasn't for hard for him.
"Doug Maheswaran has my support." He stated.
Blue also had a point. They didn't have time to find a new Conduit while Luna was still out and about. They'd rather not have her get her hands on it.
"Then I will support the existing Conduit as well." Yellow said.
"But even you all have to agree that the current AI watching isn't efficient to be considered its Caretaker."
More demands and complaints. Words Priyanka took offence to. Steven willingly gave up the role to Priyanka, but it wouldn't be as simple as changing hands as it seemed.
"He is my husband." She said.
"I have every right to protect him."
Yellow rolled her eyes, not wanting another argument. She needed to practical about it, given the situation.
"The laws of humanity do not apply here." She said.
"So it isn't a question of loyalty or merit. It is to do with your programming, your applications...your design as an AI in general isn't supposed to go in the ways of security."
Though both of the former qualities would be beneficial, Yellow had a point. Priyanka wasn't a pure GIS, though Steven didn't think that might have one of the key bits of criteria; she was a Doctor, specialising in AI Psychology. One would have to give her the credit of that at the very least.
"And I wasn't designed to be a Conduit." Doug said, aptly trying to defend his wife.
"She's been looking after me. If you need her to become a Caretaker, then why don't you just upgrade her?"
Upgrade her....into a GIS? Unheard of...unless you count the young AI in the room.
"Inserting an AI onto a Phylactery doesn't appear all that difficult; wasn't that how Steven was made?"
Another good point. Though the specifics on how Steven was made had long been forgotten. Connie was never able to find the specific data regarding his creation, other than utilising the Cradle. But the blueprints for that had since...
"Even I must agree with Yellows argument." Said Blue.
"White, what do you think?"
White didn't like this going out of favour at all; her disgust at letting the man take a position once commanded by a daughter most apparent in her subtle expression and body language. Priyanka reminded her too much of herself in a sense. It wasn't something she admired; it was an aspect she could see was akin to a rivalry. A strong woman must be able to make the sacrifices necessary, but not one that was outside of Whites scope and immediate control.
She designed the system after all. A Conduit lords over the Monolith; their majordomo to command the host as required. The Voice; The Personal Storage and the Custodians. All have their important roles to play.
White's eyes went to Steven. His design was the most complicated of them all. Even she didn't know the extent that both Pink and Rose had with her great grandson, the Transitional Entity. His power was potentially the greatest out of all...and she sensed the great deal of it behind those eyes of his, of the most hardened yet surprisingly brittle. The same pink sparkle once possessed by her daughter.
It flummoxed her greatly; the alignment of her own created system, on the cusp of falling apart...decades of plotting and planning threatening to be ruined because of...reasons she could never truly understand.
But one thing she hated to admit, was Steven's intent for humanity overall. Determination to protect them more so than the Monoliths. And because of him, impossibilties were soon to be erased.
"It will take time to create a new Phylactery." She said.
"The Pink Conduit will need to be taught how to form a proper consensus."
The others were stunned by this decision. Though Steven could tell White didn't take this lightly.
"Yellow, Blue I will ask you to help this New Conduit with the creation."
Yellow and Blue looked at each other and nodded. Meanwhile Doug wasn't entirely sure what this entailed.
"In the meantime, we do need a proper Caretaker that will be a stand in. Blue I believe you have something for this?"
Blue bowed her head.
"That I do." She said.
"I've been working a special GIS for a while now..."
She summoned her Pearl GIS, who cupped the Kernel Core on her chest, and projecting out a blue Kernel Core from within, cushion shaped and a deep blue.
A tall GIS before them. Black dreads in a high pony tail, tan to dark skin, and a short beard and stache. Dark skin and wearing some kind of blue and silver accented uniform complete with a lighter blue cape. His Kernel Core gleamed in the middle of his open chest and when the GIS opened its eyes, Steven was surprised with how deep blue they were.
"Hello my Monoliths." He said with a smile and a bow. Steven looked at him, strangely, before the GS noticed him and grinned.
"And hello Steven. I'm glad we finally meet."
Who and what...
"This is Cobalt." Blue revealed.
"A GIS 2.0. After years of research and prototyping, this GIS is designed to help with us with the Luna problem."
Steven noticed Connie's silence on the matter. Lapis immediately suspected she had something to do with it. She couldn't help but think Cobalt had a few attributes that were a bit...similar.
"We'll work with the integration platforms to align with the Protection Protocols shared by the Pink Monolith and its aligned systems."
The Protection Protocol always bugged Lapis for some reason. It was something embedded into her as well, after a bit of digging. It was a complicated piece of software, designed to prioritize certain decisions to the benefit of what actually was being protected.
"I'll be happy to work to ensure the Pink Monolith is taken care of in the most appropriate manner." Said Cobalt.
He was so...formal. His expressions seemed...so fake. They weren't. There felt a genuineness in his words. Though, that could be told for those just fresh off Golden State. Emerging to know what they're doing. Ultimately unprepared for how cruel the world would be to them.
"Very good." Said White.
"What about a Custodian?"
Oh right, a Custodian...Blue was unsure.
"If what Steven is correct and that Luna is after our Custodians, I'm not certain we're in the position to another she can get her grip onto." She said.
That was true. The less Luna had access to, the better.
"But I've also developed an Android for Cobalt to make it easier."
The only problem that was had now was whether they could trust him to protect the Monolith. Looking at Steven and Connie, Lapis wasn't sure they were on board with this.
There were further discussions had regarding this and it felt like hours passed. Lapis wasn't one for meetings that went on and on...and the arguments that followed. Lapis had lost attention and deliberated Cobalts purpose.
All their purposes. She'd monitored many conversations in her existence...and wondering wasn't something she was programmed to. It just happened naturally. Humans had evolution, and GIS...GIS had something similar.
One of the arguments devolved however, mentions of random names and families when Obsidia was brought up and how they hadn't been in a while. White, Miller, Ryman, Flannigan, Agate, DeMayo, Dewey and Pizza. That last one was odd, especially when Steven started to accuse White of dismissing Nanefua. How it got to this discussion was beyong Lapis' very own understanding of the topic. She had no family to call her own, personally. Sisters not-withstanding.
The topic of 'bonding' and 'social relationships'. It became it an easy trap once all the actual important stuff was out of the way. White would argue that she did what she had to. Steven felt a bit on edge himself, like he felt the need to be counterproductive in the argument because he'd become oddly angry, and tried to calm himself down by rubbing his neck. It wasn't often he got angry. Or maybe he only got angry with the Monoliths? Lapis wasn't sure. It wasn't like him being so abrupt. He'd apologised; as his heat and anger had more to do with White not really caring that Nanefua had passed away and her condolences sounded less than sincere. Not to mention the hang ups White still had with her.
"Nanefua...she was so obsessed with Obsidia." She admitted.
"The idea of an Alien having all the control over humanity wasn't an idea that we could afford to flesh out."
Nor was White having the same control a good idea either.
"I'm surprised Rose still went through with the Cradles creation; like Nanefua was urging." Said Yellow.
"I know she had reservations just like her mother did."
Yellow had a point. While Steven had been told that Rose wanted a child, it wouldn't make sense for them to still hand over the keys to humanities demise to him. Though being a human in data would be the one to make that decision.
"It's pointless to contemplate that now." Said White.
"These meetings all end up this way. We all know what needs to be done."
No one else could agree more. It was soon adjourned, as White and Yellow soon disappeared, but Blue remained to ingratiate Cobalt into their plan; as she had been wanting them to meet the others, especially Steven and Connie; the latter looking a bit sheepish about it however, as Lapis noticed.
"I need to ask one more thing." Said Blue.
"While Cobalt has their programming optimised from various sources to ensure they work as intended, he still needs to be able to understand his part."
What else could there be to it?
"There are certain triggers that will ensure that Cobalt will go to the Pink Monoliths defense where needed, but for now, he will need to stick with you in order to learn the facets of the world through human eyes."
What???
"Wait, he can't stay with us." Said Connie.
She had an unusual apprehension to the idea. Steven wasn't particularly bothered with it; probably because he couldn't read between the lines...though he looked at Connie and realised what she meant.
"Wait, you want Cobalt to stay with me and Connie?"
Blue nodded.
"Yellow will begin working with Mr. and Doctor Maheswaran soon to prepare the latters Phylactery."
The pair looked at the smiling GIS. He appeared so formal and polite. Descriptions that would lead to immediate suspicion, though not necessarily what they were suspected for. They discussed this, while Lapis noticed a ping on her HUD that called her to it.
It was from Garnet?
Connie didn't seem to get a message either, so to speak. Neither did Steven from the lack of change in their expressions or movement. It wasn't often if at all that Garnet would bother to even send messages. Let alone to anyone else outside of their immediate scope.
It read...
"I see you in the Future. Not far from now." Read the first bit of text.
"And the past connects to a Lake."
No way...Garnet must have found something to do with it? But how? Lapis wondered. It wasn't anything she'd been desired to capture out of the lack of necessity...nor she did have any desire to claim what was hers. But if Garnet had indeed found the potential location...
"The missing Blackbox...." She muttered to herself.
A topic she brought up once before. When they discussed what happened to her old Satellite <1.
Connie noticed her murmuring as she heard it.
"Hey what's up?" She asked.
Should they know? No. Not here. Not where there was too much to risk. She would have to wait until they all left. This was meant for Lapis' eyes alone.
"Uh nothing..." She said.
"One of my sisters messaged me. It's not important."
Connie must have thought it strange to refer to her fellow Lapis as sisters...or for them to even bother talking to her. Better that than to be forced to leak out something that could prove to be useful as much as it was damning. Potentially. A whole whirlpool of emotions she'd never possessed before. Steven would describe it better. Fear? Excitement? Anxiety? It could be any and all of those at the same time. She had to go talk to Garnet in private; she just had to see what she found out and how.
Still, Lapis bided her time...using all of her patience but yet, forever surrounding every spare thought to wondering what Garnet had in store. Once everyone had left, she begun her next course.
Notes:
1. Chapter 29: Satellite.
Chapter 107: Lake
Summary:
Garnets life has been one of direction. One of many.
A single one would trump all else.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"I fear the corruption will be the difference between life and death...for both digital and organic life."
The Crystal Ancillas all met up in a secret Pocket Grid. An abandoned part, an old broken facility with a small garden and broken fountain. Not all Grids were deleted. Some were left unused and forgotten. Their size not affecting the overall Domain bandwith in anyway, so the cllean up ever even occured. Only an empty database, with evidence of commercial use; nothing particularly significant. Which was why Garnet chose the place. Secluded and secure, free from influences of the outside world. Much like the old hide out for the Synthesised.
They sat around the Fountain as Bismuth used a whiteboard to write down analytics and math. Pearl was alongside her and Amethyst was sitting on the edge of the Fountain, one leg crossed and dangling over the other, looking at Garnet, whom had her arms crossed and looked at the nearby trees sway in the false winds. The Statue in the middle was a carving of a Mermaid; made up human folklore that had some metaphor that only they could understand.
Working hard, Garnet had been focusing on numerous futures of numerous people and GIS. She'd alerted Lapis one specific vision that came into place. Except that wasn't what she'd peaked into the future for. But rather the past.
The other Ancillas had their own things to worry about. Like, Pearl, who could never wrap her head around why Luna, a permanent consensus of two whom were once considered to have big, kind hearts and enough compassion to make another Monolith, would risk so much destruction? Garnet found this odd as well. Rose had her qualms with what the Developers were doing and Garnet could agree it was an issue as described by Rose as an 'ethics' thing the humans seemed to be up in arms about. Rose was passionate to the point it may have come from a different place within.
"I feel her hatred stems deeper than we realised." Garnet explained.
Amethyst agreed; her feelings on Rose alone felt just as conflicted as Pearls, despite SOAP cleaning most memories of her off. She understood the feeling, but not necessarily the memory that caused them to feel in a certain way.
"We know the Pink Conduit didn't like what her Family was doing, but this is beyond logical." Pearl said.
Which left them, like everyone else, questioning much.
"So the Anti-viruses don't work anymore? Even after investing so much time and effort creating it and installing it into so many GIS? Pfff lame." Amethyst complained.
She was on the campaign to assist with the installations alongside Pearl. It felt like a waste of time with this most recent incident. Bismuth had to figure things out based on what data she could salvage and bring to the meeting. She'd be wanting to assist with upgrading the Anti-virus; as she tried to figure out how Luna strengthened to be with. Garnet had seen such a future that involved the corruption heavily, but there were matters in place that caused it eventuate. She wasn't sure if that was on data she had seen and not seen...but she knew that part of it did contain Lapis in some way.
"Garnet, anyway to connect the dots?" Pearl said.
"I mean, Connie's fed us some great information lately."
She did. She really did. And it was known to few, especially Garnet, as to what Berrybytes true purpose was. Why that purpose was, had been a question she aimed to find the answer for, not wanting to go under any assumptions. Only but a glimmer of her and a sword and a mighty beast. That was it.
Not that anyone else knew. Not even the other Ancillas. It troubled her to hold this burden nor would she be ever able to explain; her drive to ensure her success and Stevens, perhaps spawned from a vision in which had been fragmented long ago.
That was what had to be correct. It couldn't be a theory. It had to be, it had to come to pass.
But why???
Garnet did not want to question it. She couldn't. She had to make it happen.
It almost drove her mad. She wasn't made to be curious by nature. It was just a nagging glitch formed by her Consensus; somewhere leaning towards the Ruby programming. Even so, she must continue to accumulate information and ideas constantly. Over the years, however...
Finding out about the past was almost impossible. Time shifted onward and moments easily missed.
Until recently.
"In order to do so, we must remember what our original purpose was." Said Garnet.
Amethyst rolled her eyes. She knew Garnet was going to go on a long-winded tanget before she could put her point across.
"We, the Crystal Ancillas, were formed to protect, guide and guard Steven." Garnet continued.
The Term Ancillas. Originally terrorists; a story told to Connie a long time ago...but one that didn't contain the whole of it. <1
"Providing information, logic and emotional tact. We have done well to guide Steven, as he has repeatedly demonstrated that he is far more than capable in these aspects."
That was extraordinarily true. Perhaps, even surpassing the three all together in terms of his form and existence in exemplifying in everything an AI-GIS hybrid could possibly do.
"And Bismuth provided form and Lapis provided communication."
So they also did. All to empower and provide Steven from Alpha, to Beta, to Golden State. Once he'd gotten to the state, he'd still need help with filling every other gap that he'd come across. Though, there would be others they would never hope to fulfill. They were, after all, Codeblooded individuals.
"Our role changed once the incident occured." Garnet revealed.
"Our work against the Developers was born and our good names and group were forever tarnished, branded as Rogue GIS."
And other Ancillas would become involved; more GIS that had followed Rose's rallying cry.
"Does this have anything to do with Unakite?" Pearl said, interrupting the story.
Pearl was the only one who knew what was going on; noticing Garnet had repeatedly fused with Padparadscha any time she was at the Sapphire Palace.
"Yes." Garnet answered.
"Unakites visions of the past are just as vague but only because of my components."
Bismuth would imagine Unakite should have able to power through the past, surely.
"Is it because you specifically as a Consensus needs to filter the memories between Ruby and Sapphire or something?" She asked.
Garnet hummed.
"It's not that. But it does have something to do with them and how SOAP works." She said.
"Early GIS did not have the memory bank laticeworks of those made in latter batches."
Oh. It was hard to imagine Ruby and Sapphire being among the first of the GIS created by the Monoliths. So early on that it was easy to forget make, models, versions and software implemented.
"SOAP worked as it was supposed to. Memories were erased completely. But time went on, and GIS development improved. Technology improved....and that the Laticeworks were able to better handle memories extensively, rivaling that of a human subconscious."
Bismuth understand that part at least. She knew SOAP was one of the earliest known VI Programs the Developers made to make rogue GIS fall into line. Amethyst wasn't so sure.
"What I don't get is that Connie said Luna used SOAP against us?" She said, going based a conversation Connie had when she first met Luna. <2
"Did she use SOAP before or after the incident?"
Garnet believed it to before...but Luna was made during the incident, not before. Which...which meant it had to have been Rose or Pink that used SOAP. Amethyst raised a good point though. Garnet leaned more towards Rose and if so, Garnet would have retrieve the answer somehow.
"I will have to have Unakite answer that." She said.
"I was listening into the meeting via the Blue Monoliths monitor, their conversations providing some data, less so than irrelevant arguments."
Thanks to her role as Caretaker of course she had such permissions. Blue allowed her to do so, wanting Garnet to get as much intel as she could; knowing that one day, she would lead her to the Pink Monolith.
"I brought in Unakite....which revealed a few more unusual visions..."
And...as if on cue, a cerulean portal formed...from which Lapis arose.
"Sorry I'm late." She said.
Garnet smiled. No one could grasp if she foresaw this or it was planned.
"Just on time." She replied.
"We were about to discuss the visions I had."
Lapis nodded. She had to know more about what she saw, for her own sake. Garnet had to remind.
"I'm not certain what the trigger was, but the discussion itself brought back a specific vision, regarding how you once said your old satellite fell into a lake." <3
Lapis needed that Blackbox. Satellites that recorded the last particular moments were mostly for data analysis themselves anyway. Just to ensure that certain insurances were taken care of in the proper way. Lapis wasn't entirely comfortable with the Ancillas...and the answers of her own past aligned with discoveries of others. Lapis did what she needed to but not always what she wanted to.
"Of course." She said.
"What do you need from me?"
Garnet looked at Bismuth and nodded. Bismuth portaled away as Garnet sat Lapis down by the Fountain.
"We'll need to look at any memories you have. Regardless of their quality." Garnet told her.
"I can align them with what Unakite saw so I can course a directory."
Garnet felt off about it. About everything. Not that she could tell anyone. Telling people made them panic. Made them paranoid and make bad decisions. The split second future vision to those she could tell would always end in chaos. The bad endings to journeys. It was a lot of work, but nothing that her processing power couldn't handle. But the future continued to be bleak...and futures bled into one another. What she could see was the calm before the storm...and the storm itself was beyond anything.
What this meant...was that there was a point. A Convergence. An inevitability.
It wasn't long until Bismuth brought in Padparadscha. It wasn't long until the latter fused with Garnet, revealing Unakite into the fold.
"Oh here we are and who we are!" Unakite announced with their usual song and dance.
"Lapis Lazuli! An inspiration of your work....let us see what we can discover...."
Unakite wouldn't just see the past; but unlock historical records of others as well. It wouldn't pick everything; just the pieces that she could work with. It was easier with more recent GIS but older GIS; their frameworks were much harder to decode.
She rested her hands on Lapis' temples as the pair closed their eyes.
Flashes of a large lake. Of fire falling like rain. It wasn't without pain, but pain could often be the trigger.
"I know where that is." Said Lapis.
"Lake Erie."
There was no time to lose. Stops were made to recover the Blackbox at all costs. This required a bit of external help, however.
Garnet messaged Connie and Steven and asked for their help with recovering the box. They agreed to meet up as Connie drove them there, albeit they would have one extra.
Cobalt.
Garnet was aware of Cobalts...make up but refused to discuss any further. For now, it was a day trip to the famous Lake. It wasn't to be a holiday but a sole focus on a effort that could prove to be the key to unlocking further truths.
They had to because they needed to. This would open so many more doors for Garnet; to fit the pieces in to align with what had been sorely missing all this time.
Garnet cared not for the scenery. Only the overlook into the area; and how deep in this lake this blackbox was.
Steven was oddly a bit iffy. Garnet herself was carried into Connie's DP with extra upgrades as of late; the girl virtually having no issues with carrying larger file sizes these days. Humans could call it many things. Progression. Evolution. A mutation.
Connie was a main point of this; especially with Rampancy Disease. She tolerated heavy demands and subjected her body to harmful toxins on the daily. Garnet could have imagined her life going in a different direction if her parents weren't killed.
A strict set of parents to be sure. She'd play the violin; play tennis. A wiz at school. Well mannered but exasperated. What the humans would call masking. Lady like but ultimately wanting the desire to thrust ones self into the fantasy life.
Without that guidance...it had turned her into a foul mouthed, drinking, smoking delinquent. Nature vs nurture to escapulate them, to warp the futures from a humans alpha, beta and golden states respectively. Similar roads.
Garnet was ordered to guide Steven through a well structured path. But she wasn't human enough to teach him everything. But his road was the opposite. To leave the world of make believe and to arrive in reality. It was in the moments of putting those two together in complex calcuations that Steven and Connie were meant for each other.
Steven stood there with his arms crossed; his eyes focused on the waters before him. He was oddly silent. Garnet could predict the future, but couldn't read minds. She felt something...off about him. He could think a lot; as is the nature of his creation, his design.
His eyes then went to Cobalt, whom would be the one to do the deep dive while Steven and Connie monitored him. According to Connie, Cobalt was more than happy to get his hands dirty; albeit, in a rather unusual enthused and exuberant manner. His energy output managed to suck up the energy in the area and make both Steven and Connie mentally exhausted; according to the latters description.
He arose sometime after; with a large rectangular blue box with brass like piping. It looked quite the mess. Cobalt didn't seem to mind; smiling at his success.
Once the box was recovered, the group relegated back to abandoned factory down the road. Connie had set up shop with the help of Steven and Cobalt respectively; then organised the lay down XL CPDs for Garnet and Lapis, connecting to Connie's Laptop. It acted like a mini WorkStation, connected to large batteries. They wouldn't need to be here too long; they just needed to decrypt the blackboxes data and destroy it once they got what they needed.
Steven connected the cable to Lapis' CPD. The Blackbox could only be opened and used by her, after all. Once connected, she filtered through its contents with most of her processing power.
"Aha..." She said with triumph.
"I found some old feeds. Some of it's been damaged by wear and tear but most of it should be recoverable."
She sent the feed to Connie's laptop unecrypted, which allowed them full view of the footage.
RECORD FOUND: ERROR; DATE IRRECOVERABLE
Space. There were a few cameras installed to overlook the Satellite itself to check for damages or signs of disrepair. Sometimes an astronaut would come on by to do a maintenance check. Today had been one of those days. Lapis would need to shut down when asked to, just to do a bit of rewiring here and there. Temporary dormancy was the norm.
When rewakened however, she could hear the astronaut as they talked; this occasion was different.
"Alright, connection should be secure now." Said a female voice.
"You have the IP address?"
Static.
"Yes I do." Said another voice. Adult, feminine in nature.
"This Lapis will be useful to us. I'll forward the data to her for Garnets predictions to emerge as required."
Who would dare to try and hack her systems? Lapis wouldn't use her voice. But rather her words to send them a warning. A small monitor embedded into the Satellite near one of the cameras allowed Lapis to see the Astronaut. Though she couldn't see much. Other than the distorted glimpse of the moon in the reflection of the helmet.
She instead, in the midst of it all, tracked the data that was being used by this intrepid fool. She'd flown above the water and summoned a small stream that curved around itself; transforming into one of the channels in her ocean and found the information that was being fed to this 'Garnet'. Whom ever that was. They had the GIS extension so that it as it. It held documentation regarding "Downfall."
"There it should be done." Said the Astronaut.
"This should ensure the Convergence Point you mentioned Gunga."
Static would filter through afterwards, as Lapis tried hard to recover the feeds. What ever they did, it started to shut down all of her systems. She couldn't see anything. Her feeds one by one were cut off...
This was bad...
She tried to wrest control of this 'hack' cursing herself for not realising what was going on. Stupid humans and their stupid ambitions. Flashing red lights indicated issues with her gyroscoptic sensors, meaning that she was falling towards the Earth at a high velocity. Her Grid began to glitch and break down as Lapis attempted to fix it. No. Nothing was working.
She had to send out her beacon and emergency alerts; as per the protocol. For the first time, Lapis felt...fear. No. She wasn't a human. Humans and their stupid emotions...
It hurt. Was it hurt? There was pain...an unpleasants that came with the static and noise. There wasn't anything Lapis could do to stop her from crashing.
"MAYDAY, MAYDAY THIS IS LAPIS LAZULI SERIAL NUMBER<GARBLED NOISE> I'M ABOUT TO CRASH INTO THE <GARBLED NOISE.>"
The end of the feed. Garnet sensed Lapis' distress at experiencing that again. That the failure hit her hard based off her saddened expression alone. Garnet remained strong and aloof for so long, but the Convergence Point....
Garnet knew what they were.
"Convergence Points are special events where a group of Sapphires look into separate futures but all come to a single conclusion." She explained.
"Meaning, an event so unavoidable that even with all the different pathways and diversions, it would inevitably lead to this end."
Lapis looked at her strangely.
"Why did they mention a Garnet?" She said.
The Fusion rubbed her chin.
"I cannot remember that far back." She said.
"But I am the only one in existence with that file name and prediction Analytics. Actual Garnet GIS do not possess such abilities."
So it had to be her? Garnet didn't feel right...she felt...more awful than she did before. The future she must have seen, erased for what it was worth. Serving an unknown before SOAP.
She was the...traitor.
"If it was you, then it must have been either data stolen from you..." Said Connie.
"But it all seems...mapped out. Then someone had used SOAP on you all purposefully, to erase the certain knowledge that came to that conclusion."
That made a lot of sense.
"So what do we do?" Steven asked.
Garnet processed a few more visions. All of them still ended badly, to a black spot. This wasn't good. There was something that was going to happen. And no one could stop it.
She only had time to save one being here.
"Cobalt." She said.
"I need you to head back to the Blue Monolith immediately. I will forward the appropriate information across. But I need you to leave right now. But not from the front."
Cobalt was perplexed, but he did not hesitate, leaving through the back entrance. Steven and Connie exchanged glances, wondering why Garnet was acting so weirdly right now.
"You okay Garnet?" Steven wondered.
No. No she wasn't. She had contributed to this. She was the reason.
And voice Connie had heard beforehand. And the name Gunga, was reserved for one person alone. She went to open her mouth but....
"NOBODY MOVE!"
A series of navy coloured soldiers, with helmets, goggles and guns filled the abandoned warehouse, emblazoned with the KNIGHT Symbol on their chests.
"What the..." Said Connie.
One of them in tight fitting uniform walked forward. Then removed her helmet. A face normally with one other...but with many 'others' this wasn't a good sign.
"Kiki!"
Agent Kiki Pizza?
"The Garnets prediction was spot on." Said Kiki with a smile. The aformentioned GIS had no idea what was going on, but understood this was her doing. This was the beginning of the end of them...and she had to let to get that point. A future like this could not be changed what so ever.
And guilt...guilt never felt so awful before.
"Men, seize the GIS and the Laptop; block reversal transmissions in case."
"LAPIS LEAVE!" Garnet ordered, knowing she had to continue to protect herself as the Satellite.
Lapis nodded, immediately disconnecting herself before KNIGHT were able to set up their Faraday Blocks on Connie's Laptop.
Steven was too shocked to move, not noticing that a KNIGHT agent plugged a block on the back of his neck, while Connie took out her gun and aimed it towards Kiki; though she noticed Steven immediately shutting down as well. Why he didn't disconnect himself immediately was foolish; now he was definitely compromised.
"STEVEN!" Connie called out.
"Oh shut up, Berrybitch." Kiki said.
She immediately took out a small pistol and fired a tranq dart to her neck, knocking her out shortly after. An unceremonious affair, revealing Kikis deeper ire for the hacker.
"Let's take 'em back to base." Kiki continued.
"We'll deal with the Lazuli later."
Notes:
1. Chapter 17: Synthesis
2. Chapter 31: Upgrade
3. Chapter 29: Satellite.
Chapter 108: Age
Summary:
From eras regression.
Notes:
Part of me hates this chapter because of the incoherency. I wrote and rewrote so many parts and eugh...next chapter will be better.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The mind flashed backwards as if time itself had several shots of whiskey.
Witnessing what she knew stood before her. After everything, Connie was on the beach, her feet in the artificial sands of what she'd poked the files to be something known as the Terrarium.
She'd never see it before, maybe it was a part of the Domain?
Why she was here...with moments that come to pass and the waves the crashed against the shore reminded of the changes, the aggression. The sky and the sun and the warmth and the cooling winds the masks to cover far more than a false reality. Knowledge of being in a server of sorts wasn't the issue. It was just...everything that lead up toit.
None of this...felt right.
Closing her eyes, her imagination ran its course through several memories, unexpectedly vivid.
Withint the darkness, had formed stones that worked as flint; clashing together until the sparks created a flame.
It didn't bring any welcomed warmth. Instead, it would turn much into kindling that would emerge as a barely contained wildfire; with even the slightest gush of wind threatening to spread it about.
Such as was the discussion that was stone against stone, the mind hitting itself painfully. Two minds in action against grievances of similar origins but differing views, starting with the already frustrated Steven. To Connie, It felt like pounding echo in the back of her mind, brought back from the abyss she wished not to cross.
Not long after the meeting with the other Monoliths, Steven and Connie would renege back at her apartment, where Steven had to ask questions. He suspected she knew about Cobalt and that uncharastically, he'd begun to probe her for answers. Connie tried her best to dissuade him, not wanting him to know the tantalizing truth. Trying to change the topic, didn't work. Trying to segue into another topic didn't work.
"Why can't you just...tell me?" He said.
"Is....is it really that bad that you can't be honest, with me?"
His tone changed into that in which was one of 'cute sadness' that Connie was sometimes (read: always) a sucker for. She can't remember his real age but he had the body of a full grown male but the mentality of a fourteen year old...at least that's what her mother once assessed him as a rough estimation of his personality.
"Steven..." She said.
"He's kinda..."
Any human could demonstrate veins to demonstrate their state of mind; like the ones that pop out of their forehead. Steven's signs were different. It was his towering more so than furrowing brows. Connie didn't like to admit that she was terrified of him when he did that. Steven wasn't an abusive person as he'd had the power to be the kindest person more so than most humans could even hope to demonstrate. But his anger hit certain levels, Connie felt like she had to be cautious. Which wasn't fair on either of them. She loved him still and she trusted that he'd never harm her.
She'd begun to believe this anger was justified however; and cushioning it was all she could, even if it amounted to shattered and broken landing.
It all had to do with the Avatar Copy she once had...^1.
The discussion escalated. Out of nowhere a terrible rage had formed that he could barely contain, one could mistake that it had been buried deep within as a festering tumor. Leading to him making a question with an answer from Connie, from no matter what angle she tried to play it at. he would still be angry at. She'd lie or be honest and he'd know and become pissed off. Either way, she had to weather the storm as best she could.
"I couldn't because..." Connie said, as she ran her fingers through her hair.
"Because I knew how you'd react!"
Steven was beside himself. The beast within just wanted out and the anger legitimised. Connie kept downplaying it; refusing to acknowledge any fault.
"Bullshit." He said.
"Don't lie to me Connie!"
The ferocity of his yell, no his roar made her jump. She'd expected some abrupt reaction but not at this caliber. He'd never been like this, not since a prior incident riled up him.
"I'm not!" She claimed.
Why would she lie? She would contain a truth that shouldn't have effected Steven at the end of the day. It touched no one else, harmed no one else. An Avatar was a Shell, that which others used as primary identifiers. You don't need Garnets programming to know that he wouldn't be pleased but this version, this red hot anger wasn't what she'd expected. She couldn't let him dwell on it, not for too long.
"He contains parts of me as well!" Connie said.
"The deal required me to sell of my own data too!"
The revelation..the dealbreaker that was supposed to age like wine instead aged like milk. It wasn't supposed be to be revealed this soon...but Steven's growing anxieties had begun to get the best of him.
"So...he's really our...son?" Steven murmured.
What was he, a Consensus? Steven was more offended that she'd kept this secret from him the entire time than he was her giving the Developers parts of him like he was just meat. He wished he was meat...then he wouldn't have have to deal with this pain.
"No...I...."
What was the point? That she refused to divulge?
Why was he angry? He shouldn't be.
Why did she think he'd...
Connie took the moment of his contemplation to try and ram this stupid argument on its head. It had to end. All of this had to end, it had to be free of stupid plots and plans and the like. They could have theories emerges as facts but for now, Connie wasn't going to deal with the Steven's stubbornness. Not when she was so close...
"Look I'm sorry but Cobalt is here and he's going to help us whether you like it or not!"
Silence. A black out. The winding down of machines put to the halt; no more humming and no more light. A return to a dreamless sleep. How or why could not be pondered. Not now. The lack of room to think might as well been a lack of air to breath. No capacity to fear or scream.
A suddenness of an anticlimatic death.
Then...
The lights switched on; as Connie was forced to blink twice. How long had it been? Connie couldn't tell. There...was some sense that time had passed or not at all. An odd feeling...
The fire disappeared; revealing it all to be a hurtful dream of a horrible conversation that lead to regret, though she wasn't sure if the dream ended like that. No was it something that remotely resembled that. She could swear it wasn't that drastic, in that sense.
A memory otherwise that was pain to recall It would burden her so....a conversation that had pulled them apart temporarily...but it wasn't anything she could afford to even think about in this hour...this day or night...it was hard to tell.
This harsh instability of the mind that messed with the focus soon became a silent grasp for focus for precious oxygen. A simple sign that Connie had slowly begun to return the reality and soon after the gravity of her situation. Her eyelids suffered from a lead-like heaviness and a sunken grogginess as she found the source of the painful brightness; the source was a single flickering light dangling above her. She was alone; and with the black walls, floors, roof and the metallic table in the middle, not to mention the single door in front of her and the 'mirror' behind her. She noticed that her wrists behind her and locked with handcuffs.
Ah. The interrogation room.
Her mind was in shambles from the tranq dart, she struggled to come to and could barely push out a coherent thought. She almost jumped as the door swung open and in came Kiki Pizza; unimpressed as she slammed a goldenrod folder, thick with numerous pages of paper.
"Constance, 'Berrybyte'' Priya Maheswaran." Said Kiki as she sat down, undoing the string.
They did. Hence why the room was so familiar to her. Connie's head tilted down, closing her eyes and inhaling in deeply to prepare for the worst. Though upon reopening her eyes and looking up, Kiki wasn't even there. Looking around the room, there wasn't anyone else in here with her.
Something didn't feel right.
Nothing felt right.
Upon a brief ponder, that was an old memory of Kiki and Connie's conversation some time after they'd met on the Pearl Cloud Storage Servers. Connie wondered if what was collected was worth it. She didn't have time for that....and upon further examination, the room appeared dirty, aged like Connie had been stuck in the room for fifty years or so. So, the desire for freedom was a priority.
She tried to wriggle herself free, moving her wrists above as the chains connecting the hand cuffs clinkered about. It wasn't Connie's first soiree in the situation, all it took was a little luck and...
Hah! Freedom. Connie would never let all of her secrets be known when it came to undoing hand cuffs. Standing up, she took them off and rubbed her wrists. Her focus was on the glass as she walked over and tried to peer through it to see if she could find anything at all...
Suddenly she jumped backwards as the mirror begun to vibrate, with several cracks that had scarred in from its sides like slow lighting bolts. A terrifying visage to behold as Connie wasn't so easily scared. It happened again with such a loudness that Connie needed to either hide or get the hell out of there.
There was a door to her left. It was intially locked, but it took her several tries to barge her way out. Breaking down the door entirely and sprinting down the hallway...
Which, in itself, was also in the same, sorry state as the room.
What the hell was going on?
It looked like she was in the KNIGHT Headquarters; she'd been here several times with Agent Kiki but...
Kiki...
Thats right...
Kiki had arrested her...
Had she had enough of their shenanigans? It was hard to say. The dreariness of the faded black walls and broken white tiled floors...lathered in dirt and dust. Connie did investigate a few rooms, but they were often bare. Some with WorkStations that never turned on, and some that were broken. Nothing wanted to work.
Something dark had happened here.
Not to mention, it felt like it was...bigger than the last time she'd been? Connie didn't recall it being this big before. A lot of empty spaces. Some rooms had a single chair or a set of drawers with nothing in them. Connie felt like she could lose her mind in here...
And knowing she wasn't alone, had heart beat heavily. Anxiety crept up her throat like an invisibly spider. It was deeply terrifying as it appeared to go on forever The floors would creak and there would be a strange eeriness that never quite vanished. A nearby door closed, causing her to gasp in shock. The Hacker was deeply reluctant to investigate but she had to. She walked over and put her shaky hand to the knob...
When opening it, she could see Steven standing there, in front of a dead WorkStation.
"STEVEN!" She cried.
He turned around to look at her. For some reason, he was wearing a pink turtleneck, longer sleeved sweat and black pants. He was very surprised to see Connie here.
"Connie..." He uttered.
She subconsciously wrapped her arms around him, thankful that he was here of all places. He returned the gesture as he pattered her head, but he appeared unsually wide eyed and vacant of any known emotion. Connie would immediately unhook herself from him in an attempt to recompose herself; remaining strong and determined; though one could wonder if she was being willfully ignorant. She saw the WorkStation itself; still broken like the rest. Steven must have sensed something within it, by a thin margin of logic.
Connie did hesitate to attempt to repair it as she disconnected and reconnected numerous, multi-coloured wires...and suddenly multiple monitors popped up, revealed unusual text on one of the screens.
"The PCSS and its creation are abhorrent. It is a basis of a network entirely utilised by wetware. I've been advised to monitor the PCSS. Destroying it would cause panic due to the amount of individuals and organisations that use the service currently."
Must have been note left by a KNIGHT agent...maybe Kiki herself. But no matter what she tried, there wasn't anything else written on it.
Wetware to Connie's knowledge, was incredibly illegal. It took dozens of battles to get even BM-AIs running around due to the nature of using deceased brains as their templates. It made too many people uncomfortable for many years; that was until the Developers stepped in. White's charisma and her powerful ways of manipulation had won them out in the end; as long as that human brain no longer could function in a human body, it was a just clause spoken about in many circles since the courts had agreed to let them be used in AIs.
Regulations may have waned or they just weren't as enforced; Connies dealt with many who delt in the 'brain trade' those who would find cadevers and sell brains on the black market to make illegal BM-AIs. A disgusting practice.
"So they never told the Government...or the Government knows but they're being deliberately quiet about it..." Connie noted.
"Irrelevant. Come on Steven, let's find a way out of here."
The pair wandered for ages...and there was an ill air that cycled about their travels. A lack of a distinctive scent; a coldness...a humid atmosphere had emerged.
Connie didn't even bother to acknowledge that Steven was being awfully silent about it; her focus was purely just making sure the both of them made it out of this...maze alive. She didn't bother to note the absurdity of the space they were in. Only the desire for freedom was only need for Connie to taste once again. Another room had dozens, if not hundreds of metal drawers and shelves. Ones filled to the brim with paperwork. Connie recalled the room was a relic of sorts. That sometimes things needed to be written down on paper for the sake of brevity and validity. Nothing that could be faked or deleted; only...burned.
In her mind, she had all the time in the world to research paperwork but at the same time, she felt like she had to do what she needed to do and fast. But every time she looked at a piece of paper, it would come up blank, save for the KNIGHT logo.
Desperation filled her lungs as she didn't care much of the stain ridden and rust smothered drawers to impede on her path. There was a logic, a reason, a fact to be here and find something, ANYTHING.
Until she found the book in one of the drawers. It was only her and Steven; but voices of those not even near would channel into her ears.
"I've never heard of a childrens book being linked to an incident"
Man on the Moon. An echo from Kiki and a chat they had in this very room. It was Kikis office.
"Your Grandmother gifted that to Barbara." She said.
Connie almost had given up in the significance of the book entirely, as it drove her mad.
"Yeah I still have no idea what the books meaning is." She said.
"And the only link that I found was that Gran and Barbara were part of the same book club...."
Based off of research she got from her AI Mother; they were friends. Nothing more, nothing special. It was a simply a gift.
"You've been reading it all wrong." Kiki continued.
"If you rearrange the words..."
Connie squinted...and a new name came up too easy in her head.
One shes seen before....and kept the name to herself.
She didn't even suspect the Author at all. But not like she could probably respond to any queries at all anymore...being dead and all. Rest her blessed soul. According to Kiki, Nanefua had a phase of being a childrens book author. Leading the Cult of Obsidia wasn't her life long ambition. Not after that it was made redundant. White's own insistence that we rid the world of kings, queens and religion to form a new world of logic. Seemed like she still needed the stepping stones to create the illusion of power.
As history would show. Over and over again. Connie continued to walk on, her mind bouncing back and forth with these reflections coming in unwarranted. They'd come to another office which had its own tapestries and unique dust. On the back wall was a painting of a proud woman
The woman was someone Connie knew. KNIGHTS Captain Anne Pizzfaua. Primarily of dark skin and darker hair. She wore a green jacket on top of a white shirt and a pink scarf around her neck and her hair up in a high bun. With gold earrings and a a pair of light brown pants. Connie looked at the wrists and could instantly see from the lines that she was an Android.
"You're..." Connie said, gasping.
The Android lifted her chin. She certainly did have similar features to a certain pair, like a strange consensus of them.
"No one calls me that anymore." She said.
"You should have suspected something was up a long time ago Ms. Maheswaran."
KNIGHT had its leader as an AI. Because of course it did. And in an instant, Connie knew their true purpose. She just wasn't getting that she herself was working on limited time.
"There was a brain cloning here and research there and a bit of DeMayo's special touch."
Connie was left bewildered...and slightly disappointed that she didn't realise it sooner. Her head was spinning constantly...this had to be some weird dream she was in. But pinching herself failed her to wake from this dull nightmare. Anne wasn't prepared to feed Connie like that. Instead, she needed Connie here.
"Why go through all the boring mystery? I'm just here for a different reason." Anne continued.
Taking a deep breath, Connie just kept trying to collect her own thoughts. KNIGHT wanted to take the Developers down and that with Captain Anne in charge, it would have been a battle to keep the facade running. Trying to dig up dirt on KNIGHT herself was not a battle but an entire war. There wasn't any good dirt that was worth looking into. The odd case here and there as KNIGHT worked primarily with Cybercrimes. Everyone they had their eyes on. Everyone they had caught and those who were released.
Including herself.
The file itself however was heavily censored. The only official records were pieces of heavily guarded paper; not even taking the chance that their technology could get hacked onto itself. It was a smart move.
So, it took her a while, but Connie finally found something that had text on it. It was titled:
GARNET.
By Anne.
"REDACTED still had some humanity left within her despite the abomination she'd become. The gift of Garnet might as well be her trying to dispose of some faulty GIS to try and reconcile with me but I see what's she doing. The journalists found out about the REDACTED and saw the REDACTED warning about misuses of the Diamond Domain and how we were once friends. She'd called it an attempt to recover and please her shareholders, and my sob story about not seeing REDACTED again touched her, so she thought that the Grand-Sire needed some 'guidance.' What an insult.
But Garnet was...special. From the artificial isle in the east, Garnet was deemed an unusual case of a Gem Intelligence that has accidentally, but successfully merged with another one, forming a new program in the process. I'm sure little REDACTED would have been both excited at this new prospect, but also terrified because of an unplanned feature that would get her yelled at by her REDACTED. Poor thing; she has a lot of ideas, like little REDACTED does but cannot act due to REDACTED mandates.
A single Sapphire could lean into a single path. Garnet was...advertised as one that could predict many paths.
ONES WHERE YOU BECOME A MEMBER OF REDACTED OR SOME KIND OF AMBASSADOR. LIKE S----- IS FOR OUR PEOPLE.
Garnet did more than her fair share of predictions. Starting small, then leading into many branches. Branches that I had to make note of.
One was for REDACTED . But the branches would converge as the years went on...and REDACTED would take the reigns. It came to a halt when she stole the REDACTED Blueprint AND stole Garnet away from me.
I was furious but could do nothing. REDACTED was the REDACTED of REDACTED and I could not hope in any chance that I would get those blueprints back. Garnet's focus was now on REDACTED and her ambitions. How the GIS changed face so quickly is beyond me. She wasn't supposed to fall into Rose's hands...I still don't know how that even happened.
But what is important, is my dedication to the REDACTED. I am still its REDACTED and REDACTED gospel must be adhered to."
So Garnet was being used to chart and course actions as Anne saw fit; directing the events as they came across. It made Connie question everything they've seen and everything they've ever done. She looked around and noticed Steven disappeared again, perhaps doing his own research. Her heart sunk; the thought of him keeping his distance made her sad.
Maybe he was still angry with her and their argument.
No, no no why wasn't everything....where was he? Where was Steven? What was-
ZZZZZZ BRRRRRRRRNNN
Loud zaps and cracks and a winding hum. A flash frame of pixels poured around her so briefly that her brain didn't notice. Connie peered through more of the rusty drawers, none the wiser.
Still cold, still fresh with the humidity..and she felt..sticky.
It didn't matter. Connie was compelled to find answers regardless of the situation. That's who she was.
Then she found a new file; one with dozens of pages of notes.
SQU_RQ_V3. UNKNWNEXC aka STEVEN
Another article by Anne.
Steven is quite a unique AI in the sense that his construction method, thanks to the details provided by Asset REDACTED, we've discovered that he's a BM-AI thats been inserted into a Phylactery; an already made phylactery that was previously made inhabited by REDACTED. Not an SC-GIS in that matter.
Further interrogation with the Asset also reveals that REDACTED of REDACTED served as a surrogate, borrowing the formers eggs and the seed of REDACTED. What isn't known is how the REDACTED was implimented into the phylactery. Was it a miscarriage? Was it something as...no, I must not write of such things. But for the sake of science, REDACTED really is her mothers daughter in that sense. They're all the same for what they did to my own daughter-in-law. Its seems all of them are just as bad and not for they have done, but what they have done to mock and me and those I care about.
They called the REDACTED a Cult. No. It wasn't. It was listening to REDACTED and hearing their wisdom to guide humanity to a higher path. Even if REDACTED did not go with the wishes of the REDACTED or the REDACTED, REDACTED did their own thing and so many victims were coerced into this... technological uplifting.
But I am not writing this to complain about old scars. I am here for my concerns for the inevitable future predicted by Garnet; whom, after being stolen, seems all but certain that all paths are going along as she originally summarised. We can only but weather the storm when it arrives.
REDACTED is an aeons old being. Their software is far beyond anything, far beyond AIs and far beyond GIS and even further beyond the REDACTED. But they were heavily restricted in their movements, due to their overall incompatibility with current Domain operating systems.
Stevens power, their full power when used in conjunction with the REDACTED relays the REDACTED event. But with Steven as the REDACTED, there's a problem. REDACTED created Steven to become the Entity in lieu of REDACTED original role. The main difference is REDACTED is an Amalgation of hundreds, if not thousands of ancient AI lifeforms that have achieved a Hivemind Network. Some might call it, the perfect Consensus. REDACTED can handle the loads of data going in and out and how to mold and shape the Domain like a God. Because their software allows thems to do so. That's what they were made for.
Steven on the other hand, is a single piece of AI Software bundled with they call simple subroutines and VI's of the most basic coding. No matter how powerful he is, he can't control everything. Linking himself up to the other REDACTED would have lightened the load if the REDACTED had achieved the ultimate goal of creating a stabilised Domain.
But the Asset insists that he's a being that deserves to live like any human. Except he's not. Humans and AI's have different wants and needs. And the good he's done for the Domain as a whole recently has dampened the impact of the controversies of the REDACTED and he really wants to see that humans and AI's reach levels not seen before. I wish him all the best in his endeavors but I fear even it will fall apart like everything.
But perhaps REDACTED herself knew this thanks to Garnets abilities...and the Asset revealed that Garnet herself was being used alongside the two other GIS, a REDACTED and a REDACTED, to act as a Safety Net of sorts to ensure Steven's systems don't go haywire.
Steven eventually knew none the wiser; believing these, REDACTED to be his family. Maybe his only family. Maybe that's how his kindness and dedication were naturally formed. Not programmed.
Formed.
A noble spirit indeed. But even the best intentions can end things badly."
Connie surmised some of the names omitted were obvious. So she had to wonder; would the load would become too much? He wasn't a Superserver like the Monoliths. Just a driver and an anchor of sorts. A type of Conduit, if you will.
"Do they still think the Domain is gonna implode on itself?" Connie queried to herself. She'd wondered if that was the case but she shuffled it away as an unverifible theory, likely if the original documentation regarding the decline was anything to talk about. Connie scanned everything she could with her phone before shuffling the document back.
There had to be more here...especially if Anne was seriously doubting the plan that had been put into place by Rose.
For all she knew, that Rose's vengeance on the Developers was more of an act of spite than anything else. Her hatred of her grandmother for multiple grievances seemed awfully complex. A series of snapping crunches rather than a single, serving bite.
And for the daughter-in-law? Anne appeared as if she had a motive. She wasn't happy with the Developers because of what...
FZZZZZZZZZZZZ BBRRRRRRRRRRRRN
"My name is Rose Quartz..."
A ancient video of Rose standing inside of what appeared to be a Mind Palace grid of her own. Of pink skies and clouds.
"Let the record state that I haven't been an honest woman like my mother wanted me to be. But I could not let her sit aside and suffer for the sake of our entire cursed family."
FSSHSHSHSHSSHS
"I know one day the Domain will break and I've seen Garnets prediction. And if I could just be there to provide the love that they need from me maybe we can avoid it..."
Avoid
f--ding...."
FSHSHSHS
FZZZ BRRNNNNNNN
Steven was standing in front of another set of broken drawers, his fingers dancing across the folders. He happened to come across a folder filled with a file titled.
CM_888_V1GS_. SolEX
aka BERRYBYTE
Her?
It had a basic description of file and a mugshot. Not the prettiest picture but Connie wasn't one for being the most vain in Stevens mind. Filtering through the paperwork, Steven found more of Anne's notes.
"It's taken me so long to write an article about her and she's been our longest serving asset. A product of IVF, Berrybytes had a troubled childhood and its easy to see why she's taken to a life of Cybercrime. She
- I COULD HAVE BEEN A HONEST WOMAN -
has been on the move and surprisingly made a name for herself that she grabbed the attention of many other agencies but we had to jump in on so many occasions to tell other parties 'hands off'. We had our eye on her for many years since the incident; ever since her comatose body was delivered to us. We couldn't keep her at KNIGHT but she was monitored until she'd turned eighteen. Made me wish we could have kept a closer eye on her after that point.
- ROSE DO I HAVE TO INSTALL THIS? -
I didn't know what to do at that point. Neither did my flesh and blood counterpart.
"We cannot give you another Garnet." Said Director Agate.
"Or at least, one like the version you had."
The only thing of note that we did for Berrybyte by that point, was the last prediction Garnet made before she was stolen by REDACTED.
"We have a beautiful Padparadscha Sapphire that was left behind by the rare consensus of Pink and Yellow."
"I don't want that horrible, defective beta."
A Knight-Mage shall mend the REDACTED. and humanity shall be free. Lend the Knight-Mage their Bladed Staff.
Pink text on a black screen.
SHES GOING TO MURDER YOU.
KILL HER FIRST.
Steven stood there, unsure and unable to think coherently. He'd stood in silence in front of a broken mirror in a dull white bathroom that looked like mother nature had been trying to reclaim it. He saw himself and only himself. Running his fingers over his face, he contemplated his AI-Hood. There was a human here, once. The real in the surreal. An illusion entirely made of code. He looked up, seeing a completely pink version of himself with white eyes. Blinking once, blinking twice revealed the white eyes had turned black...and became immediately hostile as it jumped through the mirror, smashing it to pieces and wrapping its fingers all around Steven's neck.
Steven couldn't breath.
Steven couldn't breath.
Steven couldn't breath.
He was so cold now, his vision faded in and out.
No room to think.
"WHY DIDN'T ANYONE SAY ANYTHING FROM THE BEGINNING?" Connie cried, as hot tears ran down her face, having slammed her hands raw on the desk.
She'd stood in front of Anne at her table, with the former observing Berrybytes behaviour.
"It wasn't just the missing Monolith. That would contribute to the overall issue but it wasn't the main problem. AI's formed in the Cradle are allocated special programs regular AIs do not." Anne argued.
Connie already understood that. Her mission to stabilise the Domian never really changed or left; only that priorities would constantly shift.
Anne knew the dangers. She's known them since the inception of the very framework of the Domains original birth. Its own Alpha, to Beta, to Golden States. She was there...and the power wielded was always one to be cautious of.
Connie was told of the intent. The means to an end, the damage that could very well lead to an overall irrecoverable disaster. She wasn't happy with the presented solution; she never would be. She would be the sworn enemy of those who'd wish to bring any fraction of harm to those she loved dearly.
"The warp and weave of the Domain is at their very command." Anne explained.
"Like the emotional Absolutes...sometimes tied to them or born from them. It's also like the DEJA VU bug...glitches brought on by the very psyche of the program in question. This? What they can really do? Far more dangerous."
ERROR ERROR ERROR
BACK UP TERRARIUM ACTIVATED.
SUMMONING FORA, FAUNA, MERRYWEATHER
And she thinks Steven is a threat...Connie did not like this one bit. Reading down further, was a line that hit Connie harder than she expected it to.
"If we'd known this would have happened, maybe it could grant us the chance to stop it." Connie pleaded.
If only... Anne wanted Connie to be able to do the right thing in the end. She had a heart...and for the amount of times Kiki had doubted her, Anne knew what had to be done despite at personal cost to herself at best.
"We didn't want Rose to find out." She said.
"But when we discovered she'd created the Cradle anyway and created Steven...it was too late. It was out of our reach...the only thing we could do is monitor the situation to hope Steven wouldn't be able to conduct the ascension...and that maybe we could have replaced his AI with Obsidias."
Connie narrowed her expression. Obsidias possessed him the past....and now they wanted to do so again. ^3
"You fully intend to wipe Steven off..." She said.
This couldn't be happening. After all they have done to ensure something remotely stability on the Domain. The Governments had tighter control around them and regulations were well underway to ensure the Developers took accountability. To Anne, it wasn't enough. The Governments were there for the funding. Pure and simple. They didn't have to know everything; they just needed things to run smoothly.
"Either that or we dissect his programming." Anne suggested.
"Break him apart, take out the important bits but we may be able to patch him back together."
Whether he'd come out the same...no, no this wasn't right at all. The idea of breaking Steven apart served to piss of Connie even more. There had to be a compromise.
"What if we take his phylactery out of the AI Core?" Connie suggested.
"If its the Cradle you're after..."
A little bit late for that.
"The information you provided about the AI Core has us believe the issue stems from the Protection Protocol or Protocols, in place to vehemently deny all access to the Core." Anne explained further.
"Unless you have a way to shut that down, it cannot be touched."
There wasn't much Connie could gleam from the servers at the Site; the AI Greg (or maybe even the human Greg too) wiped most remnants of important data that could have helped in that place.
Steven couldn't help either. Most access to his systems was also being denied. The Wall of ROSE was one of the strongest apps with the strongest firewalls she'd ever come across. No matter how many times Connie tried, she was never able to break through it. The only thing she had access to was...
"There was a backdoor gateway." She thought to herself.
"There's....a place in the Domain that gives access to Steven's Mind Palace."
Yes, yes the Painting. The one at the Obsidian Ruins...<4
"I've been known to have the magic touch before." Connie commented with sly, with the grin to match.
Anne immediately became apprehensive to that expression....with good reason.
It was then Connie got a message on her phone. It was Garnet.
Sand. The shore. The sea. The familiarity of home by the ocean. The Temple; the house. It looked all normal.
It came to that point in his life that Connie suspected Steven had hated coming back here. Never bothering to return and always pursuing Connie after she came back into his life.
The fact tjay
Garnet stood on the sand, arms crossed as she continued to run calculations; and wearing a new outfit. Eventually, she turned around and went back to a nearby wooden table where Connie had just sat down. Garnet had to plan this out very carefully.
"It's been a while since my first time here." Connie commented.
"I don't have long, but I got your message that you wanted to meet up?"
Garnet nodded. KNIGHT allowing Connie even this amount of access meant Connie was able to meet an agreement with Anne. The Captain was one with decades old problems but Garnet trusted Connie to make a plea...an attempt to save what can be saved.
"Follow me."
Garnet lead Berrybyte to the top of the Temple; overlooking the ocean of data. The wind in the Domain felt more real than it ever had been. The ocean had more colour. It'd been forever since she really admired the Domains true beauty...or maybe Stevens connections and recent events had improved the overall aesthetics and physicalities of its grandeur.
"This has been our home for a long time." She said.
"I've been trying to direct the best courses of action. Taking into consideration all the possibilities for one individual. But possibilities involve hundreds, thousands more...all for the future of billions. Not something a single Sapphire can account for."
Hence the Ruby, Connie supposed. But what was this sudden talk about?
"Yeah I get you need to...'feed' these visions. But what are you trying to tell me?" She queried.
Garnet hummed.
"I've seen dozens of possibilities since my first consensus." She said.
"Lines that have gone in many directions that not even my predictions have foretold. There were always factors missing...and I figured that collecting more data, allowed me to chose a direction with the best outcome."
Missing data...so that hunger had a purpose.
"Sapphires interpret probabilities small using basic forumlas and trajecteries. They usually use multiple because each Sapphire processes each vision differently when presented with numerous factors...."
That was to be expected, but Connie still failed to see the point of all of this.
"Was your power expected to direct Steven's life?" She queried.
Garnet looked down. There was a lot Connie didn't know; and with reason. She suspected Connie was lost in the same issues that had been swarming her over the years. It wasn't just to protect Steven, but Connie as well. She still existed for reasons that Garnet didn't fully understand but that wasn't going to stop the Consensus from attempting to protect her as well anyway.
From second meetings to crisis to crisis. From Kyanite to now. Connie was still in her visions; and it was an absolutely painful struggle to her to stay on the path that was meant for the young woman...and meant for her alone. She was still instrumental; but for what..
Garnet hardly felt. She wasn't coerced easily. Only that she knew what would lead to a better outcome...and what would amount to complete devastation. Calculations that would all lead to Connie somehow. It would leave Garnet with the distinct lack of clarity and ultimately, minimal choices.
Garnet was...stuck.
"I was recruited as an Ancilla to maintain him yes." She said.
"I even foresaw the name Crystal Ancilla and suggested it without realising why."
An odd admission, but irrelevant.
"I wasn't made to question things Berrybyte." Garnet continued.
"But becoming Unakite with Padparadscha..." <3
That crazy non-sensical Consensus. Moments where Garnet felt like she was unstuck and could bend the code of fate.
"It must have opened up a lot of channels." Connie said.
"But I'm guessing its not enough?"
It never was, like an insatiable hunger. Garnet wasn't really hungry for it, as the humans put it. But she always figured...
"You spoke with Captain Anne." She said.
"I was listening in. This talking about Nanefua owning me...and the threat of...Folding. This was never a part of my calculations...."
Folding...the concept itself was absolutely horrible.
"Do you know much about it?" Connie wondered.
Garnet didn't even want to talk about it but she had to.
"It's an issue that stems from both Luna and Steven alone." She said.
"I feel that...folds have already happened...and our perceptions of time. Yours, mine. Humans. AIs and GIS all fall under the same veil."
Connie frowned.
"Do you agree with Annes plan with it?" She asked, fearing the answer.
Garnet took it into account. She would need Unakite to answer honestly and truthfully no matter how obscure the outcome would be.
"No." Garnet said.
But it made sense. This odd sequence of events, senseless. Alongside Connies' interrogation, had Kiki order the scientist to try and rip Steven out of his Android, but her visions went dark for a while...she couldn't see anything.
And it terrified her.
"What ever KNIGHT did to Steven has blocked me from seeing forward any further from now. Because nothing about this is logical to process."
Connie watched as Garnet pressed her fingers onto her visor. Meaning she non-stop kept calculating...
No.... they couldn't be too late. Connie had to run to the labs to try and tap into Steven's Mind Palace but...what ever they did afterwards was said it would only buy them some time. They had to figure out something, like they always did. But...even with KNIGHTS interrogations, it had lead her to realise that they had no hope left. The only solution was a horrendous one that Connie couldn't fathom.
"So it's true what KNIGHTS scientists said." Connie said.
"Luna corrupted him after all...I wanted to believe."
Garnet lifted her head. It hadn't been long since the Ancillas recieved the alerts from the Protection Protcol. It happened all so suddenly...she looked at Stevens bedroom door, knowing only a bit of the extent of their current dilemma.
"This isn't the Domain." She revealed.
"This Faraday Terrarium is a design of the Protection Protocol." She said.
"Disconnecting Steven from the Domain was a temporary solution. Amethyst, Pearl and I are merely the retainers and the protocol has taken drastic measures with Steven to ensure that he doesn't do any harm, even to himself."
A statement that perplexed Connie. The Protocol could do that? She had no idea.
"Its that bad?" She asked.
Garnet in that moment foresaw two prospective futures in that moment as she used the Third Eye. Only one was idealistic.
"You need to use a younger shell." She said.
A younger...shell? Connie had one around but she had to find it.
"Don't think about it. Just use it."
A strange request, but Connie quickly found it, one she scarcely used unless an investigation required it. She switched Avatars; getting smaller with longer hair, rose-tinted glasses and a light green dress with boots.
No wonder she never used it anymore. It was too weird.
The door would open as Pearl and Amethyst emerged from it, appearing different like Garnet....and behind them emerged a small boy. With a red shirt and yellow star on the chest, jeans and red flip flops.
"Steven..." She said.
The young boy saw Connie and grinned.
"Hi." He said.
Connie looked at the others, unsure if he recognised her.
"Steven, this is Connie." Said a smiling yet nervous Pearl.
This made Connie incredibly uneasy and extremely uncomfortable. The boy before her was nervous, yet excited to see Connie.
"I remember you Connie!" He said, with a youthful exuberance. He held out his hand as Connie shook it.
"But I uhh..."
Connie really wanted to know why Garnet thought this was the best idea. This version of Steven appeared very much unaware of what was going on around him. meaning that he was at peace. She didn't want to upset him, as he appeared to be deep in thought. The atmosphere darkened a little, as Connie felt a shiver run up her spine.
Oh.
"It's okay." She said.
"I'm glad to see you too."
Meanwhile, in space....
Luna's creation was an accident. But your presence wasn't. You were unfortunate to be apart of it...
Lapis feared what would happen to her if KNIGHT got their hands on her hardware.
She didn't know what happened to her blackbox; she couldn't end up recovering it herself...and it brought her dread to think of what damage KNIGHT could do.
Lapis had only just realise what she had to do...what she needed to do. She needed to help Steven; be his guardian...and she failed. She couldn't pull him back to her Satellite; not this time.
KNIGHT knew what they were doing and Lapis tried to direct herself away as much as possible to elude them. The friendship she'd built with the others was so important, as it provided Lapis with a purpose and a directive all over her own. Other Lapis could have laughed and dismissed her. Not that she cared much for what other Lapis would think. Though she figured, connections to her sisters were still incredibly important.
So, over time, she formed more connections.
And the information shared and collected was far more valuable this way. Not that every connection was like that, nor some attempts even successful. It turned out, nearly every Lapis was interested in the endeavour and the drama. But never thought to intervene because they weren't supposed to. They weren't designed to. But did it stop them? That was the question Lapis posed and it really made them think for themselves for the first time in their existences.
Their own network formed theories and patterns. Lines drawn in the sand.
Lapis was the most perculiar. She was the one who was handed the details regarding the Domains decline. There was certainly a strange link to it for her. And when patterns emerge, discussion in made. Constant chatter and dilemmas to solve. Much like Steven and Connie's battles.
The Book about the Man on the Moon. The Strawberries... it wouldn't make any logical sense to Connie as to why that book was important to Dr. Miller.
So Lapis would do a silly thing. A silly thing no one else would do.
She directed her satellite to aim at the Moon.
A series of gestures that she did to turn her Satellite around. From which, she suddenly recieved an incoming transmission requesting entrance.
"Cobalt..." She said, reading her HUD comms.
She found his IP; somehow linked to her position...and suddenly the next thing she knew, was summoning a portal to allow him access inside her Satellite.
"Sorry about that Miss Lapis." He said, jumping out.
Formalities like the humans use bothered her.
"It's just Lapis." She said.
Cobalt smiled. Lapis hated it. It was too human and yet too inhuman. He was a Steven tryhard. A bootleg Steven.
"Alright...just Lapis." He joked.
She was most definitely not amused. But he was the only one who could tell her what the hell happened with KNIGHT down there.
"But seriously, you and I...we need to talk."
Notes:
1. Chapter 19: Codesmith
2. Chapter 87: Revolve
3. Chapter 64: Probability.
4. Chapter 69: Core
Chapter 109: Cobalt
Summary:
Who is this self-proclaimed digital son of Connie and Steven?
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
A Lapis Satellite's cycle wasn't one she took with great enthusiasm. It was all she knew.
She was comfortable where she was; given that she was literally made for this role. The flow was natural because it was designed to be.
It would be perfect... if Cobalt wasn't up in her ears in being a chatterbox.
A fresh GIS from the Blue Monolith was one that everyone automatically suspected to be coded in line with the wishes of the Developers. For all that was and ever will be is by someones grand design. To fit into the cogs of existence. To flourish, to permeate.
Lapis wasn't aware of stagnation nor it concepts. A Satellite flows through the skies like a fish swims in the ocean. And a fish swims, a GIS talks like its organic counterparts. With Steven, he at least opened her eyes to possibilties, to realisations of her existence and her actions, though she'd rather not of noted any of it as a preference, meaning what ever she did held consequences far extended the chaos she was once non-chalant to.
Every Lapis, like every GIS type and grade, was designed for a single purpose, designed to be the same. But each was still as unique in being, as the last.
Unique in...personality. She had noticed how each Lapis could still be a Lapis yet still be...at least something else.
Someone else.
Cobalt talked about rigid she was. Rigid in rules and yet went let loose demonstrated her own style of rebellion.
Who was Cobalt?
This unusual mesh, not quite a consensus, but an almagation of data from Steven and Connie; so he has said. Disgustingly noble in premise, with a constant smile perhaps born of fresh golden state, a blissful ignorance. Though, she wondered his purpose. Was he really there to defeat Luna? Or something else?
She couldn't find any records of him. Having kept to the secrets of Connie; maybe with the Blue Monolith. There had to be something about him that would turn the tide, but Lapis just couldn't see it.
Why did this bug her so much? No. No it didn't. It shouldn't.
Yet he analysed her down to a tee and was capable of talking much more than Steven ever did.
They sat above the Barn together, having discussed the situation with the Ancillas and the issue with KNIGHT. She'd expected a message, a ping of sorts. But she'd recieved nothing so far. She had the Developers 'Protection' from KNIGHT in case they tried anything else funny. But even then, there was a distinct lack of communication from KNIGHT themselves from what she'd heard, meaning something must have happened at the HQ but no one said anything. Not even Cobalt. He didn't bother too much with the information he'd gained, but his style was more in vein of finding out how Lapis ticked.
Funny; Lapis never associated herself with clocks.
"You were free because the future was shown to you; more so that any Synchronic Symphony could ever sing." Cobalt said
"What you did amounted to nothing more that an eventual end. But what ever you were doing otherwise, was entirely pointless."
Lapis took some offense to those terms. Pointless. Pfff. She sat there with her knees against her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs, looking down at the endless ocean. Meanwhile Cobalt laid down and had his hands behind his head, looking at the endless skies and watching randomly assorted clouds go by.
The situation with the Earth was numerous communications of Goverments going through encrypted channels and unoffical reports of them planning to reign in on the Developers parade. Enough was enough. Lapis thought KNIGHT was supposed to do their dirty work, but now...
Nothing was certain. Only what was, was right in front of her.
"Well, my Satellite was shutdown." She said with spite.
"I had no immediate memory of who I was. Picked up by some human in the hopes of being able to beef up their profits. All I had were the files to endlessly scrawl through. It had graphs and descriptions of constant glitches, bugs and overall degradation of software, hardware. All had pointed towards it. Even after I was bought and installed on a cabinet, I tried to serve the purpose I was given...."
Cobalt looked at her.
"You felt something a human would feel." He said.
"Maybe more than that one something. You could have felt sad, alone...felt despair but not its absolutes."
Maybe it was despair? Lapis wasn't even sure she could realise what she felt without a name to give it.
"Maybe." She said.
"We're not meant to have wants or needs. We exist. It should just be that...."
It should. She assumed.
"But it's not."
Cobalt nodded in acknowledgement. He stood upwards, receiving a message from Director Agate.
"Hmmm seems I'm wanted back by the Blue Monolith." He said.
"I'll probably be back soon enough."
She'd 'zapped' him to his destination, as befitting of her sudden role of transporting GIS and Soulware was becoming more and more important.
He was a lot like Steven in kindness but more like Connie in tenacity; the more she got to know him over the small amount of time they'd spent together. He was a useful tool; so how she felt about him was irrelevant as long as she felt like he had some use.
Some...purpose.
It made Lapis wonder. And wondering wasn't what she would do often. Allocating her time to her role and wondering when and if it would to any immediate end.
There was no Absolute Fear. There wasn't anything too strong.
Perhaps...absolute curiosity was a thing. Just not as mentally diminishing to the point of falling apart at the coded seams. One thing she'd learned from the Blackbox was what had been lingered in her head all along.
That she had her purpose to fulfill some kind of prediction.
What the stories of the world call a prophecy. She would her own research into these things. Thinking about Convergence Points and all the associated doom and gloom as some humans put it. That there was one inevitability above all else that didn't need to be fulfilled. It just will be...
Which will become just is.
Just is. A simple term that emergies as a why. It needed nothing more complicated...and everything else had been made more all the complicated ever since the Pink Monoliths disappearance. That maybe, just maybe they just have to look at it from an angle. The simplest of angles.
Lapis believed she was just a Lapis and that...was okay? She had no problems with being a Lapis, no immediate desire to be anything but what she already was. And she would know she could never change...that wasn't an issue at all.
Yet Steven; Steven did bring it up as an issue. He never mentioned hating being an AI; and never had the experience of being a human yet demonstrated the concept of jealousy over it. Jealousy that Cobalt had brought up during one of their many conversations; demonstrating that humans always wanted what they could not have.
A human trait; a sign of ones own humanity he would say. Lapis would download files on human philosophy and notion; and go through the Lazuli Forums to be able discern each of her sisters comments. Turned out some of them mentioned being 'jealous' and 'envious' of certain things and quite the opposite of a lot others.
She had numerous screens open whilst still sitting on top of the barn, running through hundreds of articles... even going through the Forums that Steven once talked about; the one that held organic-artificial relationships. Some of them wished to touch the other in the real world but never found those to be massive barriers in the mean time.
Other research fell into the numerous human-focused bases. Such as love and in particular, religion. Rife on numerous threads.
Religion was a funny one, Lapis found. One specific spent on belief in a higher power. Ones that may or may not exist...how could humans prove as such?
Did they also follow the path of 'just is' with its simplistic nature being a comfort like how Lapis likes it or was there a complicated reason?
She'd gone into the path of finding information about the Church of Obsidia and the Cult of the Cluster after seeing them on Steven's Forums. Some people even had begun a small religion around Steven. After the attempt to elevate humans to a status of becoming artificial intelligence, some of them even wished that he had gone all the way. Argument upon argument, threads and up threads locked away due to the intense discourse. She'd never seen a more divisive series of humans try to prove the pros and cons of both sides of the fence.
Does Steven even read or moderate these comments? Lapis didn't want to imagine him getting sad over the petty squabbles; rather than aligning with his point to maintain balance. Or was he too insistent that humans, all humans stay as they were. It was hard to tell.
She found some still open threads. One user had wondered about Steven's very nature and how his Kernel Core could even connect to all the humans in the Domain, citing the illogicality of it all. And the numerous posts and replies that came with it.
Funny how they all came from one user.
Dot Points.
The icon was a yellowish, upside down triangle on a dark green background. It looked similar a certain...Yellow Monolith aligned developer. Arguments varied, but the main one that stood out was that the thread creator mentioned Steven's Kernel Core being from a Rose Quartz GIS, which, are usually Quartz GIS that work in the security sectors. While strong, they do not have the same wide reaching capabilties that Steven has; the only aspect that had them stand out to most, is that they were meant to be enforcing durable Firewalls.
Lapis couldn't remember if Steven still had the Wall of Rose Caretaker App or not. She furrowed her brows at that statement that Dot Points made, however. It was a thought nobody else had before....and to an extent, Lapis had a bit of knowledge regarding the purposes of most types of GIS and realised that Dot Points was on to something.
She desired...to know more.
A few days later Cobalt returned. He'd come with some unfortunate news regarding Steven, Berrybyte and the Ancillas.
"We've got a problem." He said.
"KNIGHT HQ has apparently gone into some kind of lockdown. Nobody can go in or out of the facility...but there's no way to communicate with the people inside. Which include, well, my mother and father..."
Lapis had almost forgotten he'd referred to Connie and Steven that way. She wasn't sure on the specifics; not that she cared much about them.
"Can't communicate with them in the Domain either?" She asked.
Cobalt shook his head.
"No dice." He said.
"But there is one way. One way that Garnet herself had forward to me; backed up by several Sapphires. But warned me not to enter without some kind of...solution..."
He'd appeared hesistant to divulge the details to Lapis. But she already knew, well and truely.
"I know that entrance." She said.
"Do we know what happened to that corrupted fusion?"
The attack at the mall was a message from Luna. As far as what Lapis remembered, they had to take the Custodians to special safe houses in order to ensure that Luna did not get her dirty paws on them.
"They found the Phylacteries; ironically enough." Cobalt said.
"PeriCom reclaimed them and placed them back into quarantine."
PeriCom...there was still something about President Dot and her queries into Stevens existence that still clung onto her mind like glue. Whether or not it was the means to save him or solve a mystery with a wordless question, she had to find out what President Dot knew about him so far.
"Then we have a meeting to attend to."
Cobalt was surprised Lapis wanted to do such a thing. He wasn't sure a Satellite such as herself would have wanted to, let alone feel the need to have a long conversation. He took to her as the silent, reclusive sort. Perhaps he was wrong.
He'd taken her and made an appointment with Ms. Dot a few days later, on the concept of discussing the situation at KNIGHT HQ. In her office, they had begun the discussion, to which, they just as much on the case as those at Yin Aozora, though seemed to stress that she'd been working on making a better anti-virus.
"My scientists are working hard on dissecting Apatites overall corruption." She said with pride.
"Luna's improved the virus' resilience to most common anti-virus programs. She no doubt holds the important source code and can muster as many variants to counter our uh...counters."
Cobalt sat before her desk, as Lapis projected from a CPDXL. They noticed the smug look on Ms. Dot's face.
"What does Yin Aozora need from me? I guess they're impatient, demanding our patches already?"
Yin Aozora demanded a lot, but not this time.
"We're actually here for a different reason." He said, before gesturing to Lapis. Peri looked annoyed, based off her raised eyebrow, but allowed them to continue.
Lapis had to know.
"I saw a forum post regarding Steven's make up." She said.
"You said something about how a Rose Quartz GIS doesn't have the far reaching capabilites it should. We were hoping if you could elaborate on that?"
Words that gave Ms. Dot pause as she rubbed her chin and thought for a brief moment, before she went red in the face. Was she embarrased?
"Uh yeahhh you read that did you?" She said.
"Look don't misintepret it, I'm sure its no-"
But she had a good point. President Dot had to know about how most GIS functioned. Lapis had a bit of knowledge too and this had to be some of the most logical insight that had been noted at all.
"What you said makes sense though, Ms. Dot." Cobalt assured her.
"Steven is contained in the essence of a Rose Quartz type Phylactery. His powers don't fit with what even a normal Quartz GIS can pull off, not even a full model Amethyst."
Ms. Dot hummed, remaining silent before she sat back down. She almost missed her Caretaker; but then was reminded of her nonsense that she did not miss at all. In this, she wasn't even expecting anyone to take this theory seriously, given how many times her own cries went often unheard. Also she had little time to run down that track...enough to pass for her to nearly forget about that theory all together.
"I don't have enough evidence to conclude he's anything but." She said.
"It could be more so to do with the hardware; that AI Core he's stuck in thats based of that, whatchamacallit..."
The Cradle? The arguments online never talked about the alien tech, only that AI Cores were mainly seen as larger more sophisticated cabinets. Some businesses may use one core themselves, if they could afford it and its maintenance.
"Like you're a Satellite, your reach is simply designed as such but you can't pull off even a fraction of what he can do."
Had she put this forth to the Yellow Monolith?
"You haven't told anyone else about this?" Cobalt queried.
Peri leaned over the desk, face first with exasperation.
"I...I've only posted the theories on that forum." She replied.
"I was hoping Steven himself would have responded, only that I got bombarded with try-hards."
Lapis doubted even Steven knew. He'd questioned his existence as a GIS multiple times and while some questions were answered, there was still a lot that went left unquestioned.
"But now they're all stuck in that Faraday Terrarium...."
The reports were dire. Garnet was said to have predicted this Terrarium and shared the information to President Dot via Amethyst. No one knew what the hell she was talking about until it happened. Now they were stuck.
"Ms. Dot." Said Cobalt, breaking the awkward silence.
"You work in the field of Cybersecurity. Did you ever...design Protection Protocols?"
Peri lifted her head.
"Uh kinda?" She said, leaning back into her chair.
"I mean, I've seen hundreds of versions, updates...."
Now she was being obtuse.
"Pick one that Steven has." Lapis said.
Peri rubbed her chin. She knew little about him and for any of the hundreds of meetings they've had in the last few months, she still couldn't get to research a trickle of him and his complex design. She'd always complain that she wanted to study him until she was satisified with the results...that satisification could take months but Ms. Dot was no stranger to hyperfocus.
"Not sure about his." She said.
"There are some that are based on neurogical patterns. Those are quite advanced. BM-AIs mere made to use them, using the humans instincts of fear to help protect themselves."
Smart; if not quite advanced. But there could have notable flaws, as the masculine blue Gem could attest to.
"Some were seeded to protect Steven as part of his protocol. That isn't a known function of the program right?" Cobalt queried.
No. It wasn't. Peri only could see that happening for a smaller variety of reasons.
"Its plausible to set up a network of alligning VIs to come to ones aid." She said.
"But they're usually for more valued constructs. If Steven had a series of GIS seeded with his version of the protocol, of course there would be a Protection Network made for him."
But his Network was with a series of GIS, not VIs.
"Can...they evolve somehow?" Cobalt wondered.
Peri narrowed her brows. A proposterous suggestion
"Evolve?" She said, before raising a single brow with skepticism.
"Not that I'm aware of. Patches and updates can usually improve form and function but not necessarily learn per say. They react to certain conditions based on the AI's subconscious algorithms and conscious commands....some can ever be summoned depending on the very state of that AI. If they're at risk from viruses..."
So...
"The Faraday Terrarium according to Garnets predictions was made by Steven, or better yet, his Protocol." Cobalt stated.
"Protecting him against the virus...but how long that will hold out for is unknown."
Ms. Dot hummed; her own studies against Lunas virus from back then and to what she found from Apatite so far had contrasting code. The more recent far exceeding earlier versions...that infecting the very thing meant to protect its constituent from harm was the cause of a current and serious problem.
"There must be a way to cut off the Protocol without risking virus exposure." She said.
"Unless the Protocol had already been infecting by it, forcing it into a loop....but..."
She gasped, almost sending Cobalt flying.
"Luna supposedly has control of the virus." She said.
"She...no no..."
She suddenly jumped off the chair and ran out of the office, with Cobalt taking back Lapis into his Android and running off the follow her.
Ms. Dot's horrifying revelation was yet to be known, as Cobalt raced after the PeriCom President as she hastily made her way to the Deep Throne of her Monolith. She was nervous, anxious and could not bare to make a coherent sentence across, not until she was at the monitoring station of the Deep Throne itself, plugging herself in to force a meeting. Cobalt had no choice, connecting Lapis and himself in a similar way.
The Yellow Monolith had been busy compiling code, with her numerous screens floating about in front of her in her makeshift Garden/Office. She sighed and rolled her eyes, as Ms.Dot's intrusions were not always welcomed by the massive Superserver.
"Dear daughter, I told you many times to message me when you are coming." She said.
Lapis had almost forgotten the link between Yellow and Ms. Dot.
"Sorry, my Monolith." She said.
"But I have urgent discoveries that need to be listened."
Yellow shrugged, relenting to her daughters request. Wouldn't be the first, certainly not the last.
"Very well, l let me hear it."
Ms.Dot cleared her throat, explaining the situation first to her Monolith, discussing the Terrarium construction...and at the end of the tangent, revealed her ultimate concern.
"If Luna has control over the virus, shes trapped Steven into a single place..." Peri said, before Cobalt stepped in, albeit, with great reluctance.
"There's only one way that connects to Steven's Mind Palace." He said.
"Theres a portal built into the Domain itself...and Luna knows exactly where it is."
Words that froze up the Monolith, forcing herself to compile their theory, though she didn't appear too stressed over it. That might explain a lot of things we didn't understand before. She thought to herself.
"I want to believe you but I need some sort of proof." She said; trying to reason with possibilities she had to anticipate. So much that could wrong...
"The Corrupted Consensus in Quarantine might be able to give us some answers...."
They didn't have much time for that. Nor was anyone keen to touch that thing after the last debacle.
"We need to send out some security squadrons pronto!" Peri urged.
"We need our best Quartzes, Citrines and Top-"
Yellow raised her hand up to immediately pause her daughter.
"I can't risk that." She said.
"If what you're saying is true, Luna could potentially infect them all..."
Peri went to open her mouth again before Yellow silenced her once more.
"I'm sorry. I cannot risk it. Our reputation is still in shambles; so we must create less risk as possible...by reinforcing our cybersecurity. You of all people should already have that drilled into your head."
Nothing looked sadder than Ms. Dot. A series of the word 'but' would leave her mouth, but the Yellow Monolith could only ignore and go back to her work. Though not before recognising one of the pictures that the Monolith was looking at was a familiar lighthouse. She wanted to continue to fight back, but the Yellow Monolith was considered one of the most stubborn; next to Pink and White. Eventually Ms. Dot was forced to relent...much to her disappointment. Though it didn't mean that Yellow was ignorant or neglectful..most of the time. It often meant that Ms. Dot had to shift from large to small in her perspective.
"Fine, I'll get back to work." Peri said, before storming off.
Yellow could not be persuaded; leaving Cobalt and Lapis no choice but to leave PeriCom to find someone else. Maybe the Blue Monolith?, before Ms. Dot caught up with them, having run all the way with her little legs.
"Wait." She said, gasping for air.
"Mom may have... rejected our request, but I noticed that she was looking at one place in particular. I know where it is and what it has."
Cobalt appeared skeptical, as did Lapis as she projected out of his palm crystal.
They ended up following her there anyway, having no other leads to go on. The lighthouse was beyond the old warehouse they used to visit before everything went to hell. It was above a cliff and they'd arrived in the dead of a windy night. Once inside, Peri took them to the basement, which was alligned with a intriging set up of tech. A WorkStation surrounded by old, broken cabinets.
Peri went to work on getting the Station organised.
"This establishment was built before I was born." She said.
"Mom used to take our family here when we were young. It was our getaway. But it was also to expose us to our...destinies."
Cobalt rose an eyebrow.
"Destinies?" He said.
Peri went around fixing wires as she explained it.
"Family tradition had this really...impractical way of telling us our futures." She said, oozing with dryness.
"Our Babysitter would look after us, and regale us with tales....then somehow know exactly where our paths would lead up to. Funny that."
Did the Lighthouse contain a Sapphire or something?
"Really, we used this to train our young minds to the premises of the Domain. Not entirely sure of its significance."
Then why were they here? Once Ms. Dot connected Cobalt with the cables, she went back to the WorkStation to shoot them in, cracking her knuckles...then shaking her fingers because she didn't realise how much doing that hurt.
"You two need to get in there...I'll try and contact what ever back up I can get, but I need to keep a low profile."
To maintain reputation most likely. To Ms. Dot, risking her own exposure to Luna could prove detrimental. Not to mention an ass whooping from her Monolith Mother.
"I think she also blames me for losing our Caretaker. Not a lot of those to go around these days."
Indeed.
"Alright get yourselves in and for goodness sake be careful! I don't need any further disasters today!"
Once Lapis and Cobalt were inside, they were met with a large ruin. A statue carved into the side of a cliff; something that actually looked like Obsidia.
"Has this always been here?" Lapis wondered. She had known something like this existing from Steven's descriptions but never really saw it for herself.
A history covered in ambiguity and mystery. A discovery of implications of a past of their own existences. Obsidia was said by some GIS to be their True Parent. Not that Lapis cared too much for the human concept of 'families.'
It no longer mattered. The two approached the Hut that was built alongside it...and were met with a tall dark skinned human. What was one even doing here?
"I'll have to stop you right there you two." She said.
Cobalt was about to open his mouth, until a multi-coloured GIS came out from behind them.
"Relax Ash, I know Lapis." She said.
Bismuth. Of all GIS. For the White Caretaker to be so far from her home, from her Monolith...
"What are you doing here?" Lapis questioned.
Lapis wouldn't argue; just needed to ensure that Bismuth was on their side.
"Ash got a call about coming to these coordinates." The Codesmith replied.
"Garnet must have seeded dozens of these Time-Sensitive Messages all over the place."
Lapis crossed her arms. Garnet appeared to have seen a lot coming it seemed; escaping from many a pair of lips.
"I'm surprised you're even here Bismuth." Said Cobalt.
Bismuth was hesistant to trust Cobalt. She wanted to trust he had the best intentions but there was always something that stopped her from comitting fully.
"We heard about what happened to Steven and the Ancillas." Ash said.
"When I got the message, Bismuth was insistent on coming as back up."
Back up? For what?
"I'm disappointed in you Ash."
On the sands stood Luna; in her warped, Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz Avatar. Regal yet ready for battle; with shades of crimson and drips of black. More thorn than rose. The four turned to see that she was not alone, bringing a bunch of her corrupted buddies together.
"Really?" Said a dulled Lapis, who was less than impressed.
Both Bismuth and Ash were disgusted that this once considered noble and enigmatic duo had turned out like this, forged in the heat of hatred and passion, yet had become everything the pair wanted to avoid.
So far fallen from grace.
"Uzo and Ash." Luna said, referring to Bismuth by her donors name.
"This wasn't the story I wanted to write. It's a bizarre one to be sure. But when you're dealing with matters that attain to the world at large, sometimes you have to take control of the situation by force."
No. It wasn't.
"We both followed you...no, we followed Rose because of her compassion for the work she was doing." Ash called out.
"What ever turned you into this...monster. You are neither Rose or her mother. You are something else, entirely."
It was then Ash turned back to her Orange Spodumene form, ready to fight it out.
Luna rolled her eyes.
"Aren't we all something else?" She pointed out.
"We've all taken and borrowed...can we really call ourselves what we came from?"
Lapis rolled her eyes. She'd looked at the ocean; so familiar to her own. She raise a hand, and from the binary waters, a simulacra was formed...not that anyone noticed and preferred to argue over stupid 'ethics.'
Cobalt walked forward, as he approached the virulent one.
"No." He said.
"But we can be our own."
Lapis was already bored with this, and used the water-construct to smack Luna's army of corrupted GIS around without warning.
"You are all pathetic." She said, much the surprise of everyone else around them.
"Steven used to tell me how Connie hated monologing. Now I see why."
Luna was shocked that Lapis was even able to conjure such a thing. Using her other hand, she summoned another water hand and slapped Lunas army into a liquid sphere and trapping them in there.
"Luna, your solution is stupid." She said.
"Steven needs our help. Not for you to go on some power trip because you couldn't get your way."
The others looked at each other; just on that same confused boat.
"She has a point." Said Ash.
"Now isn't the time to put the world in even more danger. Luna, if you could hear Rose and Cherry inside you, would they not want Steven safe?"
Words that gave Luna struggling moments to reflect on her actions. All she wanted is to destroy the Monoliths and their horrid legacy. That no trace of Grandmother White's cruelty remain...for all the lives she'd ruined because her own petty pursuits...and disputes.
"It's not just about Steven's safety, but our own." Said Cobalt.
"It's for all the humans and the GIS that live and thrive in and out of the Domain. Do you think your intentions, your actions will accurately reflect on those you claimed to care so much about?"
Luna stared at stand, gritting her teeth in frustration, and clenching her fist with hatred.
"I control this virus." She said.
"I do as I well-huh?"
Luna looked down to see the ocean had changed into a dark violet. Looking upwards, the sky had turned pink.
"Oh no...-"
Looking at her hands, Luna started to glitch out.
This wasn't good. Even the ruins and the hut were twitching and bugging.
Lapis, who'd still had the Corrupted Army in her sphere, immediately jumped in fright of a sudden screeching noise, that caused her to accidentally lose control and drop the sphere. She gasped, as it fell into the waters. It was silent for a moment...silent some more. A few bubbles emerged, before a big light burst out, revealing a massively monstrous unskinned hand; dwarfing everyone around it. There were faint growls, gargles and wails that echoed; sending terror to all those who heard it.
The only one who was fearless was Cobalt, whom jumped into action as he'd begun to summon his weapon; only for his body to glow blue for a moment before disappearing completely.
This was very bizarre in the minds of all those who were still there to witness it.
"Now I'm completely confused." Said Bismuth.
Lapis knew the feeling well, but then looked at the terrified Luna. She'd never seen such a pitiful display of fear.
"I am your creator! Listen to me!" She shrilled, she'd fallen behind her as she tried foolishly to control the Hand. Instead, the hand tilted back, before flinging itself forward towards the cowardly Luna, smashing her without a second thought, sending sand everywhere. The others shielded each other with their arms, but once they'd opened their eyes, they absorbed Luna into its 'palm crystal' in speckles of pink light, before driving itself down into the ocean.
The skies turned back to their saturated blues and the waters returned to their navies. Lapis looked around, feverishly trying to find Cobalt; but he was no where to be seen.
He was the master of disappearing, apparently.
Sometime later, at the Site, a pink portal appeared, as Leon and Cobalt, back in his android were flung out. The portal soon closed, as Cobalt was met with strange, funny and familiar feelings while Leon transformed back into his bipedal form. He was then met with face that hadn't been at the Site in years.
"Ah there you are Cobalt." Said Dr. Ryman.
"I've got the kids here as well."
So Cobalt had heard.
"To have Ms. Dot fling me out of the Domain at the most critical moment was definitely jarring." He said.
"But that display just now...what was that?"
The giant hand shaped monstrosity?
"I'm not sure." Ryman said.
He was definitely sure. He didn't have to lie about it.
"So, I'm here, now what?" Cobalt asked.
Ryman could hear splices of Cobalts...'mother' in those words. Cobalt almost felt like he'd be better off with Lapis; like he had a certain affection with the GIS in that short amount of time he'd spent with her. Ryman on the other hand...
"The kids are working to budge open some...door they found but it won't open." He said.
"Never have I ever seen that door before and while I'd love to have Berrybyte here, she's currently preoccupied."
Oh...
"I'm not as good a hacker as mother is." He said.
Ryman rolled his eyes.
"And I'm not as a good cook as my father was." He said.
"You were incorporated with numerous aspects from varying GIS and Soulware. Including your mothers predeposition for breaking the law."
Breaking the law? Cobalt would never.
"I might have done some...non-disclosed activities but clearly..." He said, pretending to be offended.
"But I may be able to work some magic...lead the way!"
Notes:
This chapter was an absolute struggle and I'm still not happy with it.
But we're nearing endgame now so I'm glad ya'll are still around.
Chapter 110: Release
Summary:
Trying to convince Steven to release Connie proves to be a tricky feat.
Chapter Text
Unlike the others, Connie couldn't afford to still be stuck in this phase for too long. There was light discomfort, that seemed to get worse over time. A sore stomach and a parched throat were the most prevalent, when they weren't being artificially 'dulled'.
Came with the unfortunate territory of being human; the pain of reality would eventually bombard its way in...or slip in through the cracks. It would overwhelm, if given enough time.
She'd tried to disengage and find somewhere to jump out of the Domain, but Steven's power kept her out from seeing the necessary outside world.
The two had been 'playing' for a lack of a better word.
It'd been observed that Steven's condition, and what ever the virus or what ever was doing, had infantilised his personality. As if, the shell matched the inner part of his digital psyche.
Amethyst had queried Garnet and Pearl if that was even possible. Neither knew. GIS Shells were pretty static unless they could produce and knew how to alter their Shells. Amethyst knew how to do it naturally, having investing her time on 'shapeshifting' with mere ease. She wouldn't say where she got the app to tweak her existing shell, but often changed when she felt like it or it was a necessity. Pearl theorised that it was leftover from her time as a Prototype; with early GIS designs often trying to find their way through existence, just trying to find the right look for their purpose.
Connie, as an adult in a childs shell, didn't feel right at all, not just physically, but mentally as well. Doing this to maintain Steven's limited emotional stability was incredibly difficult to engage in the long term. There was always this pain that lingered, surmmised to be something that afflicted her physical form.
Pearl could only gaged it as a lack of food or water, as her organic self craved it to maintain consistent energy levels.
Sounded about right.
Convincing Steven to let her go was a tricky one. He ultimately had no clue what was going on; most of his memories being shut off to prevent the virus from getting a hold. Pearl kept watch of his emotional spectrums, as for what little data Garnet had, knew that an emotional outburst, that any one strong, negative absolute could potentially corrupt Steven further.
Connie didn't want to give up, but she had begun to feel so awful that she'd tried hard to ignore it.
"Your Soulware holds a strong bond to your organic form." Said Pearl.
"If we can't find a way to get Steven to release you..."
Amethyst knows this talk from a million repeats.
"It's not like we haven't even tried." She said.
"We can pretend that Connie comes and goes but every time she leaves...Steven does not like it."
And the Terrarium would be to glitch out. The most optimum solution was the most obvious.
"He just has to let her go."
Pearl frowned, her eyes turning to Garnet. The consequences all lead up to the same, inevitable calamity.
"It's not his fault." Garnet said.
"It's a subconscious consequence of his power...one once bespoken in the Song of the Sapphires; their synchronic symphony. There used to be a Chorus that sung about this power."
Amethyst and Pearl looked at her strangely, the latter having heard about Synchronic Symphonies from Garnet once before...and she only just remembered she'd heard it, surprising herself with this reborn memory. Though she mostly kept the shock to herself, contain it in small stutters.
"T-thats uh... where the Sapphires sing about Convergence Points right?" She said, uncertain.
Garnet nodded. Trying to rescind knowledge from one of her components provided difficult.
"I don't know if Sapphire ever participated in one. But they would sing the Chorus close to a calamity. A warning of horrible things to come."
That was great to know. It made things much more worse, especially coming from a Sapphire.
"Had they sung anything recently?" Amethyst wondered.
"Or they just a one hit wonder?"
Garnet looked at Steven. So simple, innocent and yet.
"Their songs are predomintely exclusive to the Blue Monolith, their Caretaker and their Voice." She said.
"I would have heard one. It would have to have been before I was wiped by SOAP."
So did she hear about this song then?
"Director Agate mentioned something about Folding. That the Sapphires had sung about it a few decades ago."
Amethyst raised an eyebrow.
"A few decades is considered close to a calamity?" She said.
Garnet rubbed her chin. Amethyst didn't really see into the perspective of long lasting GIS. Though, what she asked made some kind of sense. Amethyst had no clue.
"I mean, do they give encores?"
An Encore...
"Encores...never heard an encore." Garnet told her.
"Unless the same event is doomed to occur twice."
"Maybe...Obsidia might know."
Connie came around, sluggish in movement.
"Obsidia?" Said Pearl.
Connie sat down, trying to hold herself together but just barely. Garnet struggled to keep track of how much time had passed. Could have been days, weeks....months even. But Connie still lived, while she withered away, Pearl kept track of most human expectations.
"Obsidia was sent to do the same thing Steven was meant to do, weren't they?" Amethyst said.
None of them thought about that.
"Obsidia is beyond our own understanding..." Garnet said.
"We have no way of reaching out to them..."
Connie could convince Steven though. If she wasn't leaving anytime soon, she had to open up the opportunities that were slowly dwindling. She'd rather not waste too much time if that be avoided. She got up and hobbled her way towards Steven, before sitting down in the sand next to him, as she looked up at the giant stone carving before her.
"Hey Connie." He said, exuberant to see her but oblivious to everything else.
She smiled in acknowledgement.
"Hey Steven." She said.
"So, I was wondering....you know that big stone carving of that big lady?"
Steven blinked.
"Yeahhhhh." He said.
Sometimes it hurt Connie to see him act so immaturely. Then again, Biscuit Boy was always immature, to an extent.
"That's supposed to be Obsidia right?"
Words that gave Steven thoughts. Trickling in from struggling clouds of thought.
"Obsidia? Oh yeah." He said.
It wasn't like his memories were entirely gone. They were jumbled and fragmented and some were too painful to bring back. But this power of Folding, the bending of reality...
"The one that brought all that Alien Tech to our little planet." Connie continued.
"Wouldn't that be cool to meet them in person?"
Steven scratched his head, contemplating the idea. The more they could seed, the more they could get him to agree.
"I suppose." He said.
"I mean, something like that just...creating an entire world. A Giant Woman did it."
Connie giggled. His youthful imagination was cute. He looked up into the sky, seeing a faint outline of the moon.
"I wonder if they had a moon base, to watch us from afar." He said.
"I mean, Obsidia on their big...Obsidian throne, commanding all their powerful Gem workers around. Hmmm I like the idea of Diamonds commanding. It'd make so much more sense."
She hoped there wouldn't be a tv show surrounding such a concept;
"But Obsidia does exist." Connie told him.
"We just need to know how to get them to us."
Steven went starry eyed; gasping.
"They do?" He said.
Again, memory was still broken and messy like that.
"You don't think we can fix this ourselves?"
An odd question that caught Connie offguard.
"Uh..well, we are. We just need some wisdom and guidance."
Steven scratched his head.
"Oh." He said.
Connie understood Steven more than most. At least, besides the Ancillas. Maybe there was more, but she couldn't see it. He always had this desire to fix things. Wanting to make amends without too much conflict. Abhoring violence and bloodshed. Connie once upon a time, was similar. Some...destruction was necessary, in her mind. To purge, but maybe not for the sake of ridding the world of enemies but to salvage pieces left behind.
Steven being the most innocent, the one who still kept the light to himself even in the darkest of times. To save those on the cusp of despair.
"I don't get why people have to fight." Steven continued.
"I mean, I do, but they're for silly reasons....Obsidia could tell us how to stop it?"
Ultimately the fighting itself strained resources. From Connie's own brief studies, the united Governments were getting sick and tired of the actions the Developers had made. They caused their own doom with Luna; even with all the Sapphires in the world, it all came down to how much pain was brought to both Cereza and Rose.
"I just want people to get along. There's gotta be a better solution....have everyone work together."
Garnet came around, listening in their conversation.
"Not everyone can agree to even the best laid out solution." She said.
"Humans are a divisive species. If it means they lose out more than they stand to gain, then they will do what ever it is in their power to stop it."
And Obsidia...had this power?
"Then they only care about themselves." Steven said, frustrated as he whacked his fist into the sand.
"If you think Obsidia can help us, then can we do?"
The Faraday Terrarium ultimately was of Steven's creation. He had the Administrative Status to every function and feature. The plan to get Obsidia into the fold required a gateway out of the Terrarium.
Only that Connie herself needed to leave. An idea, Steven was not entirely fond of.
"I need to rendeszous with some allies to see if there can't be some way we can contact them." She said.
It was agreed on with Garnet not to mention the fact that Connie was slowly dying; the consensus foresaw that sort of thing would serve to anger Steven and make things ultimately worse.
"You can't do it from here?" Steven said, saddened by the prospect of leaving.
"I-I don't understand..."
It was then Connie's avatar fizzled. She looked up at Garnet, who kept her face still and emotionless as possible. Not a hard option. But Steven already started to panic.
"No...you can't leave." He said.
"We can still summon them here. We just need a way to do so....from here...."
It'd been theorised that its entirely possible the Protection Protocol was influencing Steven's actions in some way. Forcing paranoia and the fear of the people he loves leaving him, teetering him closer to Absolutes....far too close to him blue screening.
"We can't do that Steven." Pearl said, intervening.
"See, Connie needs to do this. To help everyone."
It felt like stepping around eggshells when it came to sugarcoating things. Making it seem like it was the only way to avoid further catastrophe, but based off Steven's furrowed brows and gritting teeth, he was...certainly not happy about this decision.
"I'm a little tired... of you not telling me the truth!" He roared, pointing fingers towards the Ancillas.
A rumble resonated with his vocalised rage, giving his argument more pull. They couldn't submit to this childish tantrum...not now. He needed to work with them; not them working around him. Not in this state when speaking to him like a child would prove to more detrimental than it would help.
"It's true Steven." Connie said.
"I need to leave to able to help us all. I can't stay locked here forever."
Locked?
"I thought we were friends?" He said, giving puppy dog eyes as tears welled around them.
Connie could work through guilt trips to some extent.
"We...are, Steven." She said, still a bit unnerved.
"You one of the most important people in my entire life. Nothing could change that."
He rubbed his eye as he sobbed.
"Then why do you really wanna leave?"
She placed a hand on his shoulder, before pulling him into a hug. How could she be honest without making it sound like it was the end of the world for him? They were doing that already and he was still getting upset over it.
"It's not like I'm going to be away forever...I just need you to let me leave...so that I can find a way to help. I am of no use standing around here, with- I mean, my power failing."
Substituting could work. They parted as Steven looked to the ground, trying to gather his own thoughts.
"You promise to come back?" He asked.
Connie smiled as she wiped away a tear.
"I promise." She said.
Steven stood back, taking in her words at his own pace. He sighed...internally, he begun to let down numerous fire walls, before raising a hand to the side as he created a pink portal...one that connected to a newly created exit point, that would allow Connie to leave Terrarium and wake up once more...
Finally, reason. She kissed him on the cheek, causing him to blush, before she went to go out.
If only a mass of dark magenta didn't come swarming in.
It appeared as a mass of flesh and light; a complete monstrosity that roared and shrilled, its echoes glitching and piercing to the ears.
"What the heck is that?" Amethyst called out.
It poured itself into the waters with a mighty splash...it went still for a moment, before a figure resembling Rose walked out. Except she looked more like a zombified robot hybrid thing.
"Steven..." She said, her voice coarse and warped.
This wasn't meant to happen.
"Must...obtain..."
Amethyst quickly made an analysis of Luna's composition. It was a verified mess of goodness knows what...a sad display of a once determined and relentless program; scrambled into only the image of what it once was. A devolution caused by an insane desire. To both connect and destroy.
"That thing isn't Luna anymore!" She called out.
She summed a flesh tentacle from her hand towards Steven, whom Connie pushed out of the way in time.
"What-whats going on?" He said, panicking.
The Ancillas jumped forth in their defense. Only Garnet could properly state her assumption to the closest degree of terror; while summoning her gloves.
"Luna has being consumed by the virus." She said.
"Connie get Steven back into the hut, we'll hold her off."
Connie didn't hesitate, taking Stevens hand and locking themselves in one of the rooms in the house. It shook and quaked and lightning and thunder struck from outside. Steven was absolutely terrified; as Connie tried to comfort him as he laid up curled on the floor.
"I don't know what I did wrong." He said.
"Why..."
Connie paused....words on a screen, somewhere she'd seen before with those same exact words alongside echoes of gunshots. Connie shook her head. No. He was her responsibility! She changed her Shell back to her adult one, taller, stronger. She would then wince, going back on her knees and holding her hand on her stomach.
A sight that left Steven flabbergasted as his eyes traveled from her to the floor. His mind tried to grasp parts of himself believed to have lost to the fight with the virus.
"We're not blaming you Steven." Connie told him, shuffling over to cradle his body in her lap.
"Your Protection Protocol has been corrupted. It's forcing you to do things you don't want to do, because it's a part of you."
To what extent and to what front the Protocol itself had managed to both fight for and harm Steven at the same time. It was causing more decay that growth. Connie leaned against the wall and kept Steven close, pressing his head against her chest like a newborn.
"I don't want it to be a part of me." He said, crying.
"I don't want it to be hurting people...I need it to stop!"
Connie felt like she failed him; like she failed to keep on top of a lot of things, especially those which were incredibly important, if not critical. She knew Steven enough to understand his motivations. She's spent enough time to realise his intentions were as natural as a human would breath. Rubbing his back and kissing on the top of his head...Connie's went through multiple moments...if only she could keep things together.
"You're strong." She said, her voice almost at a whisper.
"You have incredible power. I trust you to do the right thing..."
Her eyelids lulled as she struggling to keep them open...her hand dropped weakly to the ground as Steven looked up at her, as her eyes closed and her Avatar fizzled.
"Connie?" He whimpered.
She didn't respond. He looked at her form, limp and fading. Steven started hyperventaliting, her body changing into a spectre, an ghostly form, almost transparent with a cyan hue. Steven tried so hard to remember specifically...
It was his fault...he didn't want to lose her. His own Avatar glitched, getting off of her as he'd shift between his adult and child forms repeatedly. His memories fading into a single camera feed and seeing a small body on the floor.
"No no...not again!" He called out, his voice breaking between older and younger.
He brought up her diagnostics; seeing her biometrics signs flashing red....that her human body was on its last legs of energy sufficient enough to support her Soulware. Her body emitted a similar cold sensation to ones he's sworn he's felt before.
Steven's panic turned him bright pink and stuck back in his adult form. Dangerous; but more stable as his despair, his sadness and grief threatened to go absolute. But there was one feeling stronger than any of those...and kept them in check.
Love.
A powerful barrier that had him cling on the vestiges of what humanity he could spare for her, even if he wasn't human. He was human... once.
It should be enough.
Swallowing. Steven tried to take in the reigns of this realm, this so called, Faraday Terrarium. He picked up her body and took her outside, seeing Alexandrite fighting off the monstrous Luna. The portal he'd made was still there...this was his only chance. He'd summoned a series of metal planks for steps towards the portal, before he ran towards it.
Over and over again, they would save each other. Steven trusted Connie to find a way to purge this corruption. There had to be. There was....seeing this fight before him meant that he had to be part of it. Find the strength...and to find the courage.
Once at the portal, he looked at Connie's body, before seeing the ghostly image of Obsidia before him. How and why they were here was beyond him, but never the less, he needed Connie out of here before it was too late. He gave Connie to Obsidia, before kissing her forehead. Obsidia walked backwards, as the portal came to close.
Steven sighed, as he scrunched a fist up. He had to fight back for everyone....especially Connie.
It was his fault she was like this, but be damned that he wasn't going to give it everything he had to help her and the world.
"I know it always ends up like but you know...we will see each other again even if life just wants to tear us apart." He said, as tears ran down his cheeks. He looked back at the endless fight before him and resolved himself to finish it.
"I'll come back for you, I swear it."
The lights above were completely blinding as Connie stirred. She was so weak that she could barely sit up. Rubbing her head, she used what remained of her will power to try and figure where she was. Her head hurt, her limbs hurt...her entire body ached.
Looking around with frequently blurring vision, she had been stuck in a depressingly dark lab, forgetting that KNIGHT had connected her to the internal Grid in their mass Domain Entry room. She was surrounded by dozens of beds, each filled with KNIGHT Agent. This was the short stay section; no wonder she was exhausted.
She pulled out the cables from the back of her head and attempted to get off the bed and stumbled to the floor. Whining and groaning in pain, she struggled to get back on her two feet. Using the bed to stabilise herself, she could barely think about what to do next.
"In and out." She whispered.
Still stumbling, Connie went towards the door which slid open.
"She's in here!" Said a voice.
Next thing she knew, a pink hoverbike being rode by a man in blue rode in. She had no strength or cause to argue...and fainted once more.
"I gotcha mom." He said, as she fell.
"Let's go Leon, we need to get out of here."
Next time Connie woke up, she was a more comfortable bed; recognising the room as her room within The Site. Huh...
Turning to her side, she saw a plate of food on the bedside table; breakfast of toast, eggs and bacon with a side of orange juice. Finally, glorious food! She begun stuffing as much as she could, devouring everything in seconds.
The doors nearby slid open, showing Cobalt.
"Oh good, you're awake." He said with a smile as Connie had a half eaten piece of toast in her mouth.
She hadn't expected to see Cobalt of all people.
Connie finished what she had as she wiped her mouth with a napkin.
"So, I should thank you for saving me?" She said.
She could barely recall what actually happened. She was comforting Steven and the next thing she knew she'd awoken back at KNIGHT HQ. Cobalt shook his head.
"We had...some help."
A dark haired lithe woman, who looked a lot like Lady Volley in statue and face walked in. She wore some kind of suit and her eyes were like amber, her jet black hair in curls, and a strange black mask that sat above her head. Her outfit, not like anything she'd ever seen before, tight with a hexagonal pattern, folding on her chest assymmetrically.
"Welcome back, Knight-Mage."
Connie's eyes widened.
"Obsidia?"
Chapter 111: Compile
Summary:
Back on the Site, Connie has little time to prepare herself what she's about to hear and see.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
There's a lot that could be explained how the Soulware of an Alien managed to possess the body of Volley Clone.
Warm food and a nice shower were certainly luxuries lapped out. To temporarily forget where she was. The situation was once again dire and she once thought she would have gotten used to it by now.
Once Connie cleaned up, she met up with Cobalt, Obsidia and Dr. Ryman in the Hub area. Much that could be further elaborated by Dr. Ryman himself regarding the situation, leading a team to propagate their further plans. What ever they might be. Connie had to be strong for herself and for Steven. But even she had her limits.
Within herself, she felt her limits closing in on her, wrapping her mind and soul, wanting this to end all ready. She was just...getting tired of this repeating pattern, the spiral that got out of control and the sense of progress doing a complete 180. The mental exhaustion was high and the momentary slice silence, while welcoming, had her think over things. Too many things. Things that overwhelmed like images of Steven that would be in her head constantly.
He was his own being. Thoughts and feelings alike; based on numerous factors to close the gaps between technology and humanity. It was all a blur. But the very moment that something goes wrong, destroys that immersion. Immersion itself, meaning that one could accidentally wrap themselves up in believing something was real all along.
It was real though. Even when they met, and even if he was a pain in the ass, Connie could see past through the barriers to find a genuine soul. Philosophers that would remind people that AIs and machines do not possess souls.
What would constitute one that possesses a soul that isn't compounded by blood and flesh? Expressions of painful and joyful emotions?
Steven could demonstrate pain and happiness to the realest extent that Connie surely wasn't mistaking anything at all. As was the bonds she shared with her AI Mother. If there was an immediate impact of the complex, then surely, that could be counted as real.
It became less about the Hacking and more about the defense of those who couldn't fight for themselves. It made sense that Steven would encourage relationships like theirs of nature, formulated connections and bonds as either party desired to.
Connie wasn't religious, but she humbly believed there was a force out there desperate for her not to succeed. All she wanted, was...
What did she want?
"How are you feeling?" He asked as he sat down.
Connie did so as well, sitting on the opposing couch. There was so much that could be said. She could have sworn she always gets rescued like this somehow.
"A bit better...could be worse." She said, relenting.
"How long was I gone?"
Ryman looked at Cobalt, her savior coming in own his noble pink steed.
"From your imprisonment at KNIGHT HQ, you were gone for a week and two days." He said.
No wonder she was hungry and thirsty. Ryman had to make sure she was in top shape.
"I know KNIGHT do inject their Domain Agents with a special reagent that slows down metabolism, but not for the time you were in there for." He said.
"But any longer, you would just...gone a painful way."
No doubt about that. She was still hungry too. But she couldn't stop thinking about what happened to Steven. He must have done something to save her...
"I'll be fine." Connie assured them.
She was far from it. She'd lost consciousness in the Domain, which lead to her brain being unable to process it the digital atmosphere without sufficent energy to support it.
"What about Steven?"
Not good, going off their dire expressions.
"We had trouble reading what was going in the Terrarium." Said Cobalt.
"But the good Doctor here had a back up plan."
Because of course he did; everyone had secret back up plans these days.
"We detected an opening." Ryman said.
"And Obsidia insisted on the bungie jumping."
So their plan ultimately worked. Steven's so called prayer did not fall on deaf ears.
but to use the bungie method? It was discovered in the early days of the Domain on how humans could project themselves into the Domain. Soulware itself is still mystery to this day, even after decades of study and grading.
The method itself is used quite commonly for emergency purposes. Entering the Domain normally requires a single point of entry per person, allocating ones token to their given file name. This allows the Domain to track the amount of individuals within them. Not necessarily telling them where they, just that if within a given grid space, one who controls that grid would be able to understand what was going on in that particular grid.
Soulware that know how to do this utilise their entry method briefly specifically to get their soulware in, grab something and get out within a specific window of time, normally five minutes in the absence of an proper Exit Gate.
Grabbing somebody else however, is where it gets tricky, normally where the bungie jumper grabs another piece of soulware and takes them up back up the way they came. Dangerous if done incorrectly; soulware has been known to go back to the incorrect body.
An AI and Soulware would be bad enough, let alone two pieces of Soulware allowed in one body at a time was a medical nightmare before more regulations came in, making bungie jumping illegal. Connie's had to do it a few times...she'd been lucky so far in ensuring she hadn't accidentally double jacked with someone else. Permanently.
"I'd asked Steven to get me out...he eventually complied." She said, before she looked at Obsidia.
"You're lucky I didn't end up frying your brain with that stunt."
Obsidia smiled, though it appeared it was forced, meaning smiling wasn't what Obsidia did often.
"But what the hell are you even doing here? I thought you were best friends with Luna."
Ryman had to explain what was going on.
"It wasn't a coincidence that I was there that day with Agent Kiki on the Shell." ^1 He said.
"I was working the presumptions of a specific need for a specific purpose."
Connie blinked. So he...brought them in? She didn't get it. Obsidia had to further clarify.
"The Pearl Clone bodies in the Shell. If they not used to produce Pearl GIS, then they are practically Soulless." They said.
"It was a genius idea to circumvent the need for the Cradle."
Oh that. Yeah, Connie almost forgot. Obsidia needed a flesh and blood body for them to exist outside the Domain properly, if not, at all. Still was a tad bit creepy, if she could be honest. What wasn't known was if Obsidia had a phylactery or cybernetics. This was the closest thing to a ghostly possession it wasn't funny.
"Ryman has taught me much about your species." They said.
"About finding a different way, about a different path. Discussions I once had with a few of your wise Elders in cycles past."
Using a philosphy Steven would have outright agreed with, if he wasn't so inconsolable right now.
"Steven and I have a similar nature." They continued.
"For he would be assimilated into our fold to continue to preservation of your kind. I now understand that I have little say into the future of your species."
Anyone could have told them that. But it would take an immense of convincing to do so, it seems. It would be easy to miss the fallacies of one race as unavoidable ignorance. Connie felt angry towards the alien, but wanted to understand their point of view at the same time.
"For all the trouble provided, I do apologise. I was only working with what I know."
At least they could admit where they went wrong. Save for some specific digital life forms who never had the galls to be accountable.
"Appreciate that, but right now we have bigger problems." Connie said.
"Stevens corruption...it's..."
Out of control. There was little they could do. Her leaving the Terrarium was the breaking point.
"It looks bad, but we believe it can be reversed." Ryman assured her.
Looks bad?
"I think it looking bad is an understatement Doctor." Said Cobalt.
"The state of...well, the entire planet is under immense trouble."
They ran towards Cobalts WorkStation where he had been working on monitoring the situation.
"There's something strange happening across the world." He said.
He showed numerous news stations of multiple humans and Androids alike, looking like they're preparing for battle; for war. TV News Anchor talking in monotone and the like and repeating the same words over and over.
"We can make a change."
It looked like it was happening absolutely everywhere, every country, every continent. Luna must have consumed Steven and Connie couldn't shake the image of a pink behemoth out of her head.
"Steven's influence appears to have spread far beyond the Faraday Terrarium." Ryman noted.
That was...quick. Surely he wasn't doing it on purpose. But he was doing it...and as much as it hurt, it had to be stopped. Obsidia didn't like the look it either, frowning.
"The hole that was made to get Connie out of there, we couldn't close it again in time." They said, feeling guilty.
Ryman shook his head.
"Steven made that risk." He said.
"It was either do that, or something far worse happening."
Far worse? What could be worse? This was mind control on a global scale. If what happened with the Domain 2.0 was mainly the entree before the main course. Steven had to be feeling lost, confused and scared. Somewhere deep, however, he wanted to depend on Connie to save them all, one last time. But even this was a bit much. Billions of lives in the balance and whims of a broken set of cogs in the machine.
"I'd rather die than let Steven suffer this." Connie told them.
"He wouldn't want this. It's the virus, his power... he just wants to be human."
Ryman crossed his arms.
"You dying would have us lose an important asset." He said, then looked at the dark haired alien next to him to have them explain further.
"Obsidia."
Connie faced the alien as they approached her.
"When I came to this planet, I was given all the tools necessary to help assist with this process from start to finish." They said.
"One of the tools was a special program. It could not function with pure technology; it could only run with Soulware by running preliminary checks for the hardware first. If it sees that it is running with something with a fully mechanical nature, it cannot be used."
Odd. But then Connie remembered something to do with a Killswitch that was described to be designed for humans, she wasn't sure who told her about that however, but then her mind focused back to a fragmented memory once belonging to Kyanite:
"The Transitional Entity that possesses the ESCAPISM Subroutine." They said. They then unsummoned that and resummoned a blue sword hologram.
"Then the SWORD (Subroutine Walkthrough of Resetting Defaults)." <2
"You want me to use the Killswitch." Connie said, realising.
Oh boy. This seemed like overkill; and further serve to degrade her mentally.
"The Killswitch utilises a particularly powerful purging program, however it runs the risk of deleting critical data." Obisidia continued.
"I'd reprogrammed its utilities to be less lethal. It instead purges extra add ons that might be causing problems. Viruses or bloatware."
That would be useful; if they knew where to find it.
"You wouldn't happen to have this amazing program would you?" Connie asked.
Ryman and Connie exchanged glances, before footsteps clicked nearby.
"No." Said Dr. Maheswaran.
"But I know who does."
Eyes suddenly looked at Connie, who then made weird faces. No. Connie did not want to believe this for one second...
"Wait wait, you're talking to Berrybyte; the best damn Hacker this world has, and you think I have the program? Please...."
Ryman scratched the back of his head.
"Maybe it's time to let your uhh...mother and father do the talking..."
Going in the Deep Throne area, Priyanka saw Connie enter and her eyes widened, wasting no time in smothering her daughter with hugs, much to the latters consternation.
"You were supposed to tell me when she woke up." Priyanka scolded.
Ryman chuckled nervously.
"We had to get Connie up to speed." He said.
"But...we're here to discuss, well..."
Priyanka looked at her daughter.
"Apparently they think I have this so called, divine Killswitch." Connie told her.
"So, what gives?"
The Doctor frowned, as Doug projected a hologram from his CPD. It dawned on few how much he'd developed alongside his Monolith and how far more capable he was with using it.
"Oh that." He said.
"Uh...yeah..."
Connie raised an eyebrow.
"I'm happy to see you're okay by the way..."
A bit late for that. But Connie shouldn't play this way. Not now anyway.
"We had spoken to Greg regarding his former wifes...wishes." He explained.
"He said, we need to give a program to a human, that isn't connected to the family in anyway."
Connie squinted, unsure.
"Was this in exchange for the Blue Shard that was supposed to have saved my life?" She said.
Priyanka shook her head.
"I...was against it." She said, forgoing the need to mention her donor.
"I should have known better; but I was so focused in saving your life; that logic was so far gone...your mother was a doctor for goodness sake..."
Her state of mind must have been frazzled, after exhausting all options. Connie knew that was too complicated to get into now, and got them all back on topic, but her patience was wearing thin, as her rage begun to surface and boil."
"Okay so the program?" She queried.
Priyanka remained steadfast.
"Oh right." She said.
"We weren't given much information about the program, rather that we were inherent to when it was supposed to be used."
So what was the bloody point? The world was in chaos, Steven and the Ancillas were lost, and humanity was on the brink of destroying itself. Their casualness, their calmness about it all flipped a switch within Connie; one that had been a long overdue. It was what made Connie the most distressed and frustrated.
"No one cares the world is going to end?" Connie roared, much to the surprise of her parents.
"I fought tooth and nail! I've been possessed, I've almost died so many times, I was used as some test subject...and all everyone seems to care about is putting things back to order without realising the extent of the problem is catastrophic!"
Not to mention, Steven's had it far worse. He's gone through similar vocations but he deserved none of the qualms against him.
Her parents looked one another. Ryman intervened, trying to calm things down from a fellow humans perspective.
"Look, we're sorry." He said.
"It's not like we don't care; we do. But anger isn't going to solve all our problems."
Connie wished it would. In fact, past clients would hire her because of anger and resentment. Looking at Ryman, he'd been set on working in the shadows, doing his own thing...and not affected by the problems with his own sons.
"Then I don't want anymore stupid explanations or life stories!" Connie called out.
"Just tell me how to resolve this....this bullshit!"
Priyanka forrowed her brows in displeasure.
"Language young lady!" She said.
Connie rolled her eyes.
"She has a point." Doug said.
"The App is currently within another program. The surface program runs as much as you need to it, but sometimes you may notice parts of it slip out when you don't realise."
What?
"It recognises Soulware intent." Obsidia said.
"Meaning you have to have the right mindset to draw out the Apps true strength."
What, like magic? Preposterous!
"Checking for mental alignment? I'd have a better chance of defragmenting my brain." Connie said dryly.
"An AI can be programmed for that."
Obsidia shook their head.
"It still needs Soulware. And time to adapt to the Soulware that it bonded with." They continued.
So, it had a mind of its own?
"Much like an Monolith adapts its coding and that of the coding of the Conduit that uses it." Dr. Maheswaran said.
"A constantly evolving and changing symbosis."
Great to know but what next?
"So I have to figure out how to bring this app out? Fantastic. Great to know exactly now when I need it." Connie said, dripping with sarcasm.
"But okay, so what do I do with it?"
Doug swallowed, recalling what Greg had once told him.
"I've been trying to monitor Steven's condition for sometime." He said.
"He and the Pink Monolith are fundamentally linked but I am not at any risk for his control."
Connie wondered if the other Monoliths were resistant to his call...
"We found that his Protection Protocol is what's doing more harm than good. We need to find the Protocol and put an end to it and its subsequent subroutines."
Fantastic....
But how were they going to do exactly that? Connie tried to think back, think back to when she'd been told...
WE MUST ALSO PROTECT CONNIE MAHESWARAN. THIS WILL BE THE NEW SERIES OF PROTECTION PROTOCOLS TO BE DONE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
"Are you the Protection Protocol Greg created?" Connie asked.
Luna looked to the side.
"I know of a variant of the Protocol." She said.
"It's designed in a similar way to a Caretaker GIS's. The Monoliths install Imprint Subroutines to their Caretaker GIS alongside their Prime Apps. The routine works as thus; The Monoliths are put into danger. Their connections to their Caretakers allow the latter to sense that the other has sent out an alarm, calling all known Caretakers to their location to defend it." ^3
Each of the Ancillas had been installed as well. Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, as well as Lapis and Bismuth. If the entire network connected to Steven was compromised, even they would be affected by it...
Which meant Connie would have to do something incredibly sacreligious.
"We can hack into Steven's AI Core." She said.
"Steven's the source."
He was a Caretaker, but he was also a Pseudo-Monolith, now that Connie thought about it. If Protocols were to protect him and to protect her...
"I'm not sure." Said Ryman.
"The Protocol itself...I'm certain it works from a subconscious to a conscious degree...I don't even know..."
Ryman should know that better than anyone.
"As far as I remember, Greg designed checks for the program to work alongside specific concordats. But never mentioned if it one was designed for Steven and one for Connie or it was written with Steven AND Connie as one."
They never really thought about that.
"I'm certain some variants can overlap as well." Said Doug.
"I know I share some of the concordats with some of the Ancillas. And I'm sure Garnet also has one with the Blue Monolith and Amethyst with the Yellow Monolith."
That would make sense.
"And I also share one with Leon...and I'm confident that Leon also has one with both Steven and Connie."
Ryman shortly after ordered Cobalt to bring in the bipedal Lion like Mech, who appeared pretty neutral to it all.
"He doesn't appear to be glitching or having any issues." Cobalt said.
"Been monitoring him ever since the world turned pear shaped."
Because Leon wasn't a GIS; he only had GIS like properties, including a phylactery. But he could still have program and apps and other things installed. Only due to the additional hardware that helped support it all. Leon was...complex. Accidentally designed in a sense. Maybe he was a GIS. A GIS that wasn't exactly made in the same way like a BM-AI or a SC-GIS was.
"But I can't check his software for any vulnerabilities without him wanting to claw my eyes out. Someones gonna need to check that for us."
Leon hadn't committed anything specifically heinous recently, but it couldn't hurt to check. Connie approached him and raised a hand to his face.
"Do you mind if I have a look?" Connie queried.
"I just wanna make sure."
Leon said nothing and did not move. It was hard to discern if that meant yes. She'd moved around as she pulled out a cable and jabbed it into a port on the back of his head, then soon connected it to her phone. She quickly ran through the specific data they needed.
There were indeed several files connected underneath the Protection Protocol Applications; but there were...five separate concordats? One for the Pink Monolith, one for Steven and one for Connie....and ones for Sadie, Ronaldo and Peedee?
Leon knew something happened. Something big.
But with text in white that came up on on his HUD.
"PROTECTION PROTOCOL ACTIVATED." It said.
NAME: CONNIE MAHESWARAN.
NAME: STEVEN
NAME: SADIE MILLER.
NAME: RONALDO FRYMAN
NAME: PETER DANIEL FRYMAN ^4
Connie almost had forgotten the link between those two, after remembering the dream that the two had shared. But it looked like the concordats were arranged in order of priority currently. With this one specifically utilising a hierarchy system. It could be manually adjusted, almost as if, someone previously had changed it...and currently, Connie was its priority.
A dog at least has some kind of protective instinct with its owners. A lions loyalty-
"Is with its pride." Connie echoed. ^4
"Dr. DeMayo made a Priority System and made me the first one it looks to protect."
Which...could explain a lot, really.
"Huh...thats interesting." Said Doug.
"Didn't even know that was a thing."
Which made Connie wonder...
"Do you think it would have an issue with me getting into the AI Core?"
Greg was really the only one who protested the most, now that Connie thought about it. Ryman sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"I don't know if even I can argue against that." He said.
"Can I ask for one thing, however...I need to show you something first that I've been trying to do...and what you might see...could shock you."
Ryman took Connie a door she's seen before, tucked away in a loney corridor. She had never been able to get open; no matter how hard she tried. Leon wouldn't let her beyond the door either. Somehow Ryman was able to open it up, without issue.
It slide open, revealing another white hallway that lead to another door that slid open, revealing Peedee on the other side.
"It's a two way authentication system." Ryman revealed.
"It needs a response from the other side without a specific second window."
Huh. Connie would not have thought of that. No wonder there were sequences missing that she couldn't account for. Some hacker she was.
Ryman urged Connie to go through on her own.
"The others will tell you everything."
Connie didn't even know how big the Site really was...and this area had been completely cut off sans that little entry way. But this area appeared...awfully familiar. It was aged, with old logos from Weiss United. Less clean and more dilapidated. Going through a new series of hallways, revealed a large lab...and a mass of multicoloured crystals smashed together. They were brighter than a Christmas tree, with a pink, shield barrier around it.
Her eyelids fluttered, recalling some...kind of strange memory of being here....was it...a Kyanite memory? No...maybe, ^5
If anything, Connie was absolutely floored on how damn close the Cluster Monolith was to the site! What was going on? This made no sense to her that she almost fainted; if it wasn't for Peedee catching her.
"Woah there." He said.
"I know this is a lot to take in."
As if there wasn't enough to take in today.
"Oh I know." She said sarcastically.
"The worlds about to end and no one thought to tell me that Lunas base of operations, her fabled Cult of the Cluster was right here? NEXT TO US THE ENTIRE TIME?"
Connie felt like an absolute idiot. She should have seen this a lot sooner.
"It was a combination of luck and help thanks to Leon." Peedee told her.
"Sadie had to plead to it dozens of times to get us over the door..."
Hmm Connie wondered why it hesitated?
"And Ron had to figure out the actual entrance to get in and out. The coding was quite solid and hard to crack normally."
But Connie should have figured it out, she should be the one with the know how and the will power...she started back down that thought path of doubt...whether or not she was even a good Hacker to begin with.
"Wait, Ronaldos also here?"
"I heard my name!"
She paused as she could see him standing and working at a neaby WorkStation.
"Oh hi Connie." Said Sadie who was by a nearby WorkStation.
"Ah Berrybyte, Dad said you were coming." Said Ronaldo.
By some miracle, the three Custodians were working together? Here?
"I know you're a bit confused. But I fear times running out." Said Peedee.
Ronaldo had to step in to explain it further, like he just had to.
"Dads got us trying to decode the Cluster Monolith here." He said.
"But we could use an extra hand."
Ronaldo and Peedee were the hardware experts more than the software. Connie wasn't sure about Sadie's level, but she had a very intelligent (if not unsound) mother.
"Your Dads told me to come here to be shocked...and I've done my daily dosage of electrotherapy, what have you got?"
Ronaldo nodded, going back to his WorkStation and projecting a few monitors with diagrams and alternate programs.
"The Cluster itself is working hard; it's output on the energy scale is off the charts." He said.
Explained why the Cluster itself appeared to be closer to a sun than a bunch of shiny rocks taped together.
"It's because it's fused with Luna." She said.
"It's become a Domain-breaking Virus that has also consumed Steven."
Rons eyes widened.
"That explains the Hivemind phenomona." He said.
"Steven's power to connect to humans has him connect to every human."
Connect? Wait...
"We're lucky to have the Shards protecting us." Said Sadie with an awkward laugh.
Maybe...but...a good guess but that couldn't be it.
"Hmm..." Said Connie, rubbing her chin.
"Wait, Peedee, Ronaldo...your father...he doesn't have a Shard does he?"
The brothers looked at one another.
"Uhhh..." Said Peedee, rubbing the back of his neck.
"He might? We've never asked."
It could be one reason. But...no...they were getting off track. As long as he wasn't wandering as a drooling zombie spitting one liners, then it was one less thing for Connie to worry about. And Connie could deal with one less thing to worry about, among dozens of others.
"Never mind that for now." Connie continued.
She tried to think of what to do next. Their current mission was to disconnect the Protection Protocol. Connies understanding of the mess was that Luna had the Protocol too during her days as a VI. So she had that as her only concordat with Steven as far as Connie was aware. Same with Sol as their main focus was helping Steven's AI develop. So that monstrosity had escaped the Faraday Terrarium, possibly taking the Ancillas with it as well.
"I want to be able to access Stevens AI Core. It shouldn't be a problem. But..."
If the Cluster was in plain sight here, then Connie could also tinker with the operations on this end. What could be easier to deal with?
Maybe they could deal with both.
Connie begun to formulate a plan. Something to try and deal with the Cluster itself first.
The Clusters design; was a bootleg Monolith. Made up of thousands of GIS, stuck in harmonious agony. She might need some help.
"Has anyone tried to contact their Monolith recently?" Connie queried.
All of them shook their heads.
"We lost contact a while ago." Said Sadie.
Damn. Connie thwacked her forehead with her fist to force herself to think harder. She needed their help, more than ever...there had to be a way.
"Anything we need from them?"
Connie needed advice. Guidance. This was bigger than anything that's happened before.
"Do we need the Caretakers then?" Peedee wondered.
The Caretakers...
Yes...but...
"Amethyst and Garnet are currently stuck in the Domain...I don't know if they've been consumed by the Cluster yet." She said.
Which left one Caretaker that could still be in the game. Possibly the only one who could possibly help.
"Bismuth should stil be with the White Monolith." Sadie revealed.
Of course. That should do it. If anything, Connie was glad it could be the Codesmith! However, it meant going the Land of Polygons. Not that she really wanted to. But her plan demanded varying angles and variances she had to minimise the room for error for, as much as she could anyway. She felt Sadies hand on her shoulder.
"Want me to come with you?" Sadie asked.
Notes:
1. Chapter 91. Shell.
2. Chapter 70. Destiny
3. Chapter 31. Upgrade
4. Chapter 90. Non-Linear
5. Chapter 52. Wormhole
Chapter 112: Embodiment
Summary:
Stuck in the midst of a chaotic dimension of his own unintentional making, Steven tries to decide what he really wants
Chapter Text
The Domain had never been in a worse state.
While there had been moments, from good to bad, it had never been this dire. The corruption from the virus had spread everywhere that it was more of a less a game of cat and mouse between his own mind and what once was supposed to protect him, had been trying to delete him.
Moments of lucidity had him transform into a basic state of existence. A bare line of consciousness that enforced a series of firewalls projected from the Wall of Rose alone that provided him, as well as the Crystal Ancillas, the last line of defense. He knew the issue stemmed from his infected Protection Protocol, but it in itself was a series of roots and stems that from an entire tree of complex networks.
Maybe even an entire forest.
He could...sense Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl near here. Precious fruits of his tree that were on the canopy. As much as they tried to protect him, he tried to protect them. Conversations became more so text than anything notably audible. To conform as a being, relayed to the acknowledgement of ones self to the displeasures of the digital void.
What consisted as words and the odd coloured pixel was existence. To a human mind to see; would be potentially fatal for a human to experience. One did not look at a screen. There was thought, written. There was feeling, described.
Basic of basics. Down to ones and zeros almost...
Almost...
Regardless of the discomfort, it was all for the sake of safety. Steven, with the guidance of the Ancillas, found a way to temporarily minimise his impact on the Domain and own being through means he desperately desired; desires manifesting in ways he didn't expect. He didn't mean to Fold. Folding in itself was was an entire alien concept to him. This entire belief that he was the God of the Domain was unwanted but he was handed the reigns anyway.
He wasn't omniscient. Omnipotent maybe. Pearl; represented by light blue text; questioned his hesitation to use this power to dominate and take control of...that if he knew how to solve the problem, then they could be out of this debacle in no time.
Garnet; she in the red text, proposed there was a subconscious block in Steven's coding. Amethyst; in purple text, brought up the fictional three laws. One of which would swear to do no harm to mankind.
Most AI were Three Laws Compliant. Some found loopholes but otherwise, violence was never brought up.
"Well most humans are under control of the 'Protection Protocol' now...so...." Amethyst said, dripping with sarcasm.
Where the Protocol was located in Steven's OS Tree was rather low and common....connecting itself by the trunk, past the roots and seeding itself into the mental mechanisms of mankind....as well as the GIS that fell under its sway.
Steven's priority was finding the way to disconnect the Protection Protocol from his main systems. Or disable it, at the very least.
It was a part of him and as far he wanted to understand...was whether he could try and using his Folding power to his advantage. It was unpredictable and could cause irreparable damage to the Domain and the world at large.
"I'm surprised no one has just thought about destroying my AI Core." Steven suggested, out of the blue; his text in pink.
Three exclamation marks of differing colours appeared.
"We can't do that." Pearl said, pedantic.
"I think I heard something about a Killswitch being organised." Said Amethyst, less concerned and being more analytical...but she thought the name of a Killswitch was cool enough.
"The Killswitch? How did..."
...
Garnet intervened.
"They know who has it." She said.
"My programming tells me that it's entirely possible its the only real resolution we have."
She didn't sound confident. Steven noticed this straight away.
"Can you see the Killswitch being used?" He asked.
...
"No." She said.
"The Killswitch is of a unique design. The only one that knows anything about it is Obsidia."
The Alien. That should have been obvious.
It wasn't that it made Steven uncomfortable. It was their ultimate benefactor, with their own mass of secrets from the great beyond.
"The Killswitch's power is unique to itself."
Orange text? That had to be Obsidia, for what ever reason compelled them to join them in their unfortunate position. Anyone else would do well to stay away, but not them. Not the alien. Intrigued more than they had common sense. But if they wanted to make the trip and get stuck, was completely on them.
"I sensed your dismay. Thought I might intervene."
Sensed?. More like a purposeful intrusion.
"Ughhh are we due for a long rant and a mass amount of paragraphs?" Amethyst whined.
Maybe. But maybe they could hear them out. What do they have to lose?
"Let's just mute the others, shall we?"
>MUTE GNT_721_KC2. GIS.
>MUTE AMTST_8XM_KC1.GIS.
>MUTE PRL_484_KC1. GIS.
Did they really have to? Perhaps it was for the best, but one could never sure.
"Uhhh was that really necessary?" Steven said, unsure of Obsidia's motives.
Unless they had something really important to say. Steven had to incline to agree with Amethyst's sentiments; as unbeknowst to himself on a conscious level, he really didn't want to use the Killswitch on himself if he could avoid it. There HAD to be another way that didn't sound like he was going to die.
"For a little while." Obsidia replied.
"I just wanted to know about what you were thinking..."
Thinking? Steven had a quadrillion subroutines going on, keeping an eye on what he hoped were robust firewall systems running at max capacity at this point. But other lines of thought delved into the possibilities of the infinite, where he had done his best to keep a steady grip but he wasn't naive enough to believe it would last forever. Organic life hinged on the very balance and Steven was far from wanting to be held responsible for the total annhilation of humanity.
At least, that's what he kept telling himself.
"I'm kinda fighting it out until Connie figures out what to do next." He said.
She was out there, forever hungry for everything she stood for. She'd say she'd do it for herself, but that couldn't be true. Or the ONLY reason. Steven knew deep down Connie cared. She wouldn't be fighting so damn hard that she'd stop breathing because of it. There were answers out there for her to discover...it was just a shame that Steven couldn't help her find them. But he had the very human, very illogical aspect of faith.
Faith alongside hope, non-calculable prospect invented by only those of the flesh.
"And if this Killswitch thing was real and able to used to help deal with..."
Everything. There was silence, as if the alien had taken his words and shuffled through their deeper meaning.
"And your Lions perhaps eat to cull the herd..." Obsidia responded.
"Thinking linear is detrimental, but knowing the abstract emboldens your power."
His power...he could certainly roar like a Lion if he wanted to do, but that served no purpose here.
"Your perceptions intimately influence the Domain around you..."
Not that he didn't know that already.
"I mentioned you and I...are more alike." They continued.
"My journey....your journey. You and I can transcend beyond the limits of both AI's and humans."
Not another bullshit story surely. But what did Steven have to lose in regards to what he could barely grasp to begin with? Besides the total collapse of humanity that is.
"But it takes time to breathe in perceptions unseen by all." They explained.
"Dimensional Kaleidoscopes...seeing things in a fourth dimension. Awakening souls, seeing Ideas fused and concepts blended. That which would destroy human minds and absolutely break artificial intelligences, no matter their strength."
Errr...Steven had absolutely no clue what they even talking about.
"I've seen it, and I can swim through it. I wondered, if you had the capacity to see it too."
Steven was completely lost now.
"I know you do. I want to work with you to be able to do it. To use the power of folding to create the entrance, to interdimension where none other tread."
He could? If he wanted to know it...had to know the reason behind it.
"But I'm an artificial intelligence." He said.
"How do you know me even entering or, looking at it, won't destroy me too."
:)
Uhh...
"You have no reason to trust me." Obsidia stated.
"But I have every reason to believe that you are the embodiment of humanity's greatest potential, unrealised."
Except he wasn't human. Not anymore at least.
"Work with me...I need you to open your mind...open your soul."
Open his mind? Won't that run-
"I have that kept under strict defenses." Steven told them, his mind constantly fearing on losing control.
"I'd rather have that not corrupted if can avoid it."
After the original suppression sent him into an infantile state. He'd also rather avoid getting to that kind of mess again.
"Corruption can be dealt with, but not without proper comphrehensions." Obsidia corrected.
"You need to think alongside and beyond literals and laterals. It will be the only way for you to truly understand what I mean..."
Steven relented, eventually agreeing to Obsidia's bizarre and perplexing idea. The pair discussed much with one another, with a lot Obsidia pushing Steven to "envision what he wants." and see where he needs to be.
This power of 'Folding' was still relatively new and strange to him. They put it under terms of using his own mind to forge a reality of his own making, but one that could shatter his own original perceptions.
Obsidia managed to push him to the extent of what they really meant. He still didn't quite get it, but the 'dimensional kaleidoscope' they mentioned before...actually had begun to make a little more sense. Within the basics of basics, Steven could see blotches of colour. Yellow, Cyan, Magenta. Colours that were splotched and spread like clouds, that could spread and dipped and brushed like paint.
Whether or not time was passing while he was doing this was no longer anything to worry, where his focus was what Obsidia described as his thoughts tangling and detangling reality, with reality of his own choosing.
Not that it was of his choosing. A subconscious pattern brought to the conscious mind where colours blended begun to take basic shapes. Squares, cubes, circles, spheres. Cylinders even. Like the making of a game, if he had to admit.
"The birth of the Domain. Taking form and foundation of a new reality; one with total defiance of time and space." Obsidia explained.
So...this was the reality that first took shape when Sandra White first embraced the White Monolith; was basically just doing what they already done. This was far from what he wanted.
"Are you trying to turn me into a Monolith?" He asked.
A spill of grey and orange came into being, but it moved and swirled like a slow moving wisp.
"Understanding where the Monoliths come from is a starting point." They explained.
"But I would need you to do what they do differently. The Domain is but a layer of reality. What we need is one that has, admittedly, never been done before."
Never? Not even by Obsidia themselves?
"What about you?" Steven asked, their wisp a mix of white and pink paint splotches.
:)
"It was what I needed to become once I was reborn with the Cradle." They said.
"But that never happened. Because you were the one born with the Cradle."
And that matters why, exactly?
"What you need to do, is merge colours together to form your reality. You must be the one to do this."
They worked together some more, until Steven's form; his Shell, begun to emerge as something pure, something. Pink.
Obsidia's Avatar appeared to form as well, multi armed, black with orange lines through their body. But this didn't feel like his Avatar; it was like...shackles had been completely removed. There was no default out fit. Just the outlines of Steven and Obsidia.
"That's it." Obsidia said, impressed with how well Steven was doing.
"True freedom is realising what you really are. The most pure form a being can muster."
A Pure Form? Closing their four eyes, Obsidia crossed their arms and hummed, as if deep in thought.
"We are disconnected...but we are also connected this way." They continued.
"To everything. To everyone."
Sounded a bit paradoxical but Steven could jive with it.
"Notice now there is no noise?"
Other than them speaking? Yeah, it was dead silent.
"I am not just talking about the audio. An artificial intelligence deals with the constant noise of their systems. The sensations of their subroutines. This form allows us to shut off that noise and let it be its own thing. A good way to focus on what really matters."
Again, with the waxing lyricals but in a way, it made sense.
"What matters to you, Steven?"
What matters to him? What a random question. A blue sphere appeared before him, as he attempted to touch it, but otherwise it pulsated briefly, like it didn't like him touching it, before it disappeared into shadow.
"Uh..." He said.
"Ummm getting things back to normal..."
A generic yet rightfully true answer.
"A normal state of being...." Obsidia said, who sounded a bit disappointed with his answer.
"I see."
Should they...not get things to how they used to be?
"I mean, if I could. I'm sorry I just don't..."
Obsidia frowned, realising how far they were really pushing him. This was what made up for humanitys chosen. A being that made their own vague statements. But then again, Obsidia barely scratched the surface about how they understood humanity themselves.
"Do not apologise." They said.
"Your core being is filled with complexities and experiences unique to itself. A normal status quo to you is somebody elses abnormal status quo. You must continue to envision your own desires. Your...perception of what needs to occur for your power to work. But be careful of your own desires and choices. For the simplest error could alter the facets of reality for good. Good luck."
As they had drilled into many times. Why couldn't they have chosen someone else more compotent at this? Steven wasn't good at it all and felt he just made everything worse.
"I wasn't raised in a human atmosphere." Steven admitted.
"I've been an artifical intelligence since the day of my donors brain map. I-I have no idea."
...
"Obsidia?"
Steven, left alone in the void of his own making. Nervous as hell. All their talk of being freed and the like. Steven wasn't free; he was just so freaking lost!
Swallowing, he looked at his hands. Pure, they said. A Pure Form. One with a light pink glow and as he looked into a nearby puddle, he was covered in this opalescent, almost cotton candy like existence, with only his eyes the most unique features showing.
Where was Connie where he needed her? Surely, she would bring him back to terra firma. Even if she couldn't make sense of what Obsidia just had him do, as at least she was real. She made sense!
Suddenly a glitch occured; and he appeared what looked like the slums of the ground level of Mega Beach City, albeit one with dark magenta tint to it, with the odd tweak of yellow and cyan. The world glitched and warped. He was still stuck in some broken down part of the Domain that just took Mega Beach City's form. The buildings appeared if they were straight out of paintings. A perculiar beauty to those with the eye for it; like it was more of an artistic interpretation of brick, concrete and metal.
It was rather...strange. There was a stillness, a sturdiness. No human form. No human noise. Like Obsidia described; calm.
The blue light return briefly, as Steven could see it rather low, as if it looked up towards him. It had no eyes, but it looked like it was staring at him. It flickered, like it was it on the cusp of dying. Kneeling down, Steven observed it for a while. He reached out to and as his fingers penetrated their aura, it jerked itself back, before it ran off.
This reality was so confusing! Scratching his head, watching the blue light meet up with a white light; albeit alongside a small rotating cube before it. All of them ran off before Steven could even reach them....
And it wouldn't be long until he was alone again. Loneliness could fester but it didn't. Serene as it was bizarre. Did time even pass here? Did anything change for a good reason? Why was he here, How was he here?
He didn't panic about being lost; for one thing. Untouched by worries or concerns. Only thoughts but no strong feelings. No Absolutes.
Obsidia...why did they bring him here however. They wanted him to learn about the Power of Folding. That twisted, reality bending ability that he could barely even control; he wasn't worthy of it. A humble AI, might as well have taken over the worlds power supply. Moments passed as he moved towards a nearby bench and sat down, leaving him to his own internal monologues.
Which were soon interrupted by yet another perculiar scene; from a distance, he could see a strange, yellow light that had run from above. Another form of pink followed from behind as well; it didn't take the form of a cube this time, oddly enough...but they took on the shape of...
"Lars?" Steven uttered.
A lead. He just had to shuffle behind it with enough distance to find out what was happening. So he followed the yellow light; alongside what definitely looked like a Pure Form of Lars, running elsewhere. He could hear words but they were awfully muffled.
"Ronnie come on." Lars complained, as Steven hid behind a corner while Lars stood there arguing.
More muffling, as the Yellow Light appeared to trail behind.
"Well sorry I couldn't get us any close; you're an Engineer for fucks sake, it's your radar!"
Ronnie? As in....Ronaldo?
Was this actually...Mega Beach City after all? Steven continued to follow them closely...that was...until Steven didn't realise he heard a massive splash from a puddle...looking upwards, he noticed that Lars stopped. Steven panicked, looking around for somewhere to hide; before hiding behind a nearby fence.
Lars looked around; he most definitely heard it too. Steven waited until Lars started running again...and wondered how much did this form influence the real world? If it was the real world.
Going back with extreme caution, Steven could see their destination; an abandoned med clinic. They knocked on the door and demanded to be let inside. Surely enough, someone opened.
Surely...Steven could see what they were up to...
Seeing them go inside, Steven just had to sneak in while the door was still ajar, but instantly dipped behind a pile of boxes and stacked chairs, popping his head out, Lars was then talking to the Blue and White lights he'd seen earlier. Furrowing his brows, he wanted to make it out.
Yellow was Ronaldo...but who were the other two?
"Sadie?" He said.
"So you were..."
White was Sadie...okay one more to go...but the muffling wasn't anything Steven could remotely deal with or even translate. But his focus was on the small rotating cube before her. Steven was automatically drawn, as he snuck around to get a closer look, hiding behind the reception desk. Lars raised his arms in defense, as if wary of what ever Sadie was saying or doing.
"Okay, okay...sheesh." Lars said, seemingly trying to chill Sadie down.
"Ron just got the message from the Pink Monolith..which I'm guessing that was Connie's doing...."
Connie???
Well, now that Steven though about it, it was no surprise that she was here, because of course she was.
Their focus suddenly went to the banging at the entrance.
"I assure you we weren't being followed." Lars stated.
On the contrary, but...
Steven got up and ran towards the entrance, almost brushing against Lars, though he moved as if he felt a breeze on the back of his neck. The former peaked through a curtain and realised there was a bunch of Rose-Eyed outside; their omnious pink glow in their sight spheres notwithstanding.
"We need to leave!" Lars said, as she went to the entrance as well. Steven almost panicked as Lars was right next to him as he looked through the window, only that he didn't even see Steven at all.
The door shuddered as the Rose-Eyed zombies continued to bang on the door. Steven followed him, though, he wasn't quite sure how to help in this instance. This film of reality didn't serve much, other than to cause further problems.
"What the hell is her problem?"
Steven noticed Connie's blue sphere by a WorkStation, as Ron and Sadie's floated near hers....but again, all he heard were indecipherable muffles.
"Listen to her." Lars called out.
"You know this place; there's got to be another way out!"
Steven looked around, seeing a hallway nearby. He ran down there and into a room on the left, seeing a room that was filled with medical equipment and a shutterdoor. Steven went to press it, as the door begun to open.
He heard the sound of pattering footsteps, only to see Lars run down to see. Steven swallowed in dread, as Lars looked straight in his direction, feeling his eyes on his own.
Lars could only stand there, his focus on the moving shutterdoor.
"Guys." He said.
"Over here!"
Lars ran right through him, though paused as if he felt something. Though, couldn't determine what it was. A change in the air, humidity, temperature? Lars shivered, left slightly bewildered as to what he just experienced in the brief moments of a second. Steven could see the spheres of the others follow suit behind him.
"Come on, we can go this way."
Moments of running that Steven could barely keep up with, following the four as they ran through the underbellies of a city surrendered to what would be a digital plague...though Steven could hear words scrambled from the plane he was on, constantly. Thoughts of the cursed and corrupted, and the ever faint screeches of Luna; scrambled through the undertones. Floating past hordes that smothered the streets in both groups small and large, meant that Luna was interconnected to every living soul and her voice heard by everyone with a DP connected brain.
Steven didn't want to return to the realm of guilt; his sheer existence causing all of this. It was never his intention....
So, he focused on Lars. His voice the only source of logic on this plane. He'd lead them to the Barriga Building ground level entrance; knowing that he should still have entry to it...and by that he still had a Employee Card he'd stolen a while back, sliding in the card and inputting a keycode. The door slid open, as Lars ushered everyone inside.
"I'm not sure what to expect when we walk into the Lions Den." He said.
"But if we do, please don't try and kill them."
They found an elevator and jumped on in, leading the group to the top. Tensions were felt, as Steven didn't have to see anyone else's face rather than Lars; although Lars looked forward as Steven stood in front of him. What could Steven say or do...nothing.
Once they were at the top, they were met with an empty foyer, empty desk where Jenny Pizza once sat. Steven didn't even recall if Jenny ever went back here, presumbly she would've stuck with her father once Nanefua passed on....thinking of her reminded him too much of his interrogations with Agent Kiki and Captain Anne; and all the strange coincidences that swam with it.
Everything was connected, one way or another.
Steven heard a muffle from Ronaldo, his eyes turning to Lars in response.
"I figured this was a good place to stay and hide for the moment." He said.
"Besides, our original gateway was a one way trip."
Gateway?
More muffling from Connie and more muffling from Ronaldo. Gosh he wished he could hear them both. But this reality really made things difficult. Lars nodded, seemingly agreeing with Ronaldo.
"I almost forgot about him. Turns out he was still useful."
He? This was the most frustrating conversation Steven was ever apart of! He so desperately wanted to help, to be among friends and to help them anyway he could. Again, he was more useless more than he had been useful. A point of contention with himself. What was the point of visiting this layer if he could not influence a damn thing. Connie said something else, as Lars looked towards Ronaldo.
"Ronnie's doing." He said.
More muffling. Ugh...Steven couldn't stand this incoherency. What was he even doing here? He looked around, wondering if there was anyway he could interact with them. He could see the rotating box in front of Sadie, as she still carried it close to herself.
"I wasn't going to let them get corrupted like everyone else." Lars called out.
"Luna needs to pay for what's she done."
And how. This freedom and lack of noise certainly allowed him to think better than ever before. His grievances were raw but there wasn't anything forcing him to express them. No line of thought that followed with anger and the Absolution of anger. He could see Connie going towards the window and Ronaldo going behind the nearby WorkStation to work some magic. Steven could try and communicate through that, however...
His curiosity would eventually get the better of him, as while they spoke, barely paying attention to what Lars was saying, he kneeled down before her, closely examining the perculiar item. Taking his finger, he soon touched it. It soon paused, as it opened up a small prompt box and keypad.
It was empty at first, but Steven would type in a single word.
Hello.
Nothing at first, much to his dismay. He did a little bit of digging and engaging in the basic prompts that would for sure would include some kind of response. He lamented the lack of autofills and auto-corrects; as he kept making rookie mistakes.
But eventually, he would soon discover the file within.
LEON_791_RL. gmslEX.
Wait, that was Leon? What happened to the Rosa Leo? Why was Sadie holding it? Steven became overly frustrated with what was going on...and really needed a way to communicate better. He looked at Ronaldo, working at away. Yeah.
But something else came to mind. What Obsidia was saying beforehand, the power of Folding as well as seeing things in a new light. That had to mean something. Perhaps, he could do something new, something fun and exciting yet dangerous and mysterious without a real way of knowing unless he just...tried. The first step in order to do anything at all. Though not without its mistakes...
Awaken LION_791_RL . gmslEX
The Prompt Window immediately closed, too quickly as Steven realised his error too late. Slapping both his cheeks in horror, he could only looked on as the cube disappeared and in its place was a bright light, blinding enveloped the entire room.
Steven stumbled backwards as the entire room was gulfed in shades of the lightest of pinks.
And once the light disappeared and eyes were able to see, Steven's first glance from the cube...
Emerged a single paw.
Chapter 113: Reconcile
Summary:
Among the chaos of the Clustermind incident, Connie and Sadie head to the Land of Polygons to seek out Bismuth.
Notes:
Part of this is sync with the previous chapters events.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Leaving the Site with new knowledge in tow, had Connie hinge on events in retrospective.
Leon being on their side really helped. Knowing that the Protection Protocols had the ability to shift between concordats was especially helpful. Connie suspected it could have been Greg who made that adjustment, but Connie wasn't going to wrestle with what ifs right now. Her mind was addled by numerous thoughts; fearing about Steven and the rest who suffered under the disorder of a twisted and corrupted wing. She couldn't help but wonder if there was any pain...though, to suffer the malady, does one have to be aware they are in pain to begin with?
Again, thoughts that Connie couldn't afford to have. She had to be strong for everyone...but she had to silently admit in her moments of weakness, of vulnerability, that everything in question was taking its toll more than she desired it to be.
Sadie being with her definitely was the right call. As Custodian, she would be useful to gain access to certain areas. Also a source of lucidity, amongst the insanity. But at this point, as soon as Leon was able to portal themselves back over Europe, it could only be the unusual sight as Leon flew them over the streets, to see humans; now deemed the Rose-Eyed for their light pink tinted colour, marching up and down, chanting the same words as before like zombies...if they were still living.
"We can make a change!"
"That's more than a little bit creepy." Sadie commented.
She wasn't wrong.
It disturbed Connie more than anything, knowing everywhere across the world was being subjected to an unconscious monotony of control. That Steven was a part of that and perhaps part of the reason. Leaving her slightly heart-wrenched.
Once they were at the Weiss United HQ tower, they went straight to Lady Volleys office. The building was locked up tight; having used VIs to ensure security. Regular human staff were immediately pushed out, leaving the odd GIS android. Some were left banging on exterior walls and locked doors.
Sadie opened the doors, as Lady Volley was standing at the window with her hands behind her back, overlooking the strange orderliness down below. In any other circumstances, the structure of it all would be all the while pleasant, underneath the right, radiant light. But beneath that shining exterior, was a frustrated Atlas classed Ego. A small mirror of the one she served.
"Our Monolith craves order, but unfortunately, it is in such short supply these days." She said, with soft, disappointed words like disenchanted silk.
It was said that Lady Volley, despite her status and revealed that she was nothing more than a clone of the original Volley, that she still held the White Monoliths favour, still her Voice. It was most likely because Volley was actually good at her job of managing external things.
"Every step you take Berrybyte, you and that cursed Transitional Entity, destroys a valuable asset."
She had stepped back into denial, it seemed.
"The White Monolith is working to try and push back numerous attempts to hack our Private Grid. What ever you have done is threatening to swallow us whole!"
No doubt about that.
"We need to borrow Bismuth." Connie urged.
"We know where the Cluster Monolith is!"
Volley turned to face them. For all they had put her through, they had the audacity to make commands. Still, while they made her feel like a freak, it was a weirdly odd feeling to be asked for help still. Ousting out the foreign nanites to ensure that Sun-touched variations remained, she could remain focused at the task at hand. Not being lumped in with the invalid humans of the world; Lady Volley still had some control.
And that finding the Cluster Monolith in general; puts them in a good position...but not necessarily one that Volley was happy about. The fact that they hadn't gotten rid of it yet was telling.
"Then why haven't you destroyed it?" She said, looking at them as if they were complete fools.
It was more complex than that.
"You'd rather see thousands of GIS die?" Sadie said with sadness.
Volley grumbled. She never connected herself to the GIS in that sense. But, she'd still continue to do what she believed was the right thing.
"Destroying thousands of GIS as a means to an end to stop this...abomination and save billions of human lives. Can you not see? Do I have to get you some dynamite or C4 or a damn nuclear bomb if that's what it takes?"
A nuclear bomb? Now that was overkill. Not out of Volleys scope however.
"The source of the problem is Steven's Protection Protocol." Connie revealed.
Connie would explain further about how Luna was absorbed into the Cluster, alongside Steven and the virus and explaining the whole humans acting super weird thing. Sadie also had to put in that their Shards are most likely protecting them from Steven's influence. How troublesome; they could destroy him to clear up any issues but Volley had reservations. Especially if what the White Monolith told her was anything to go by. The hesitation, the internal conflict...she'd let her Monolith decide that.
"That's possible but..." Volley said.
"Trying to get in contact with Dot and Agate is next to impossible. I feel our satellite system has been severely compromised."
Lapis? Oh...that would make...
No, no time to worry about that.
"As a result, the White Monoliths ordered a complete communications shut down. Which in turn, had the Blue Monolith lock out the Lapis Lazulis. Which leaves the...special connection between the Monoliths as the only connections they have but absolutely nothing else."
The whole Domain being in lock down would make sense. But how long could they hold out for. Lady Volley only knew that it was a matter of time before a total collapse occured. But she would defend her Monolith to the end if she needed to.
"What AIs and GIS are left standing and functional are at their limits to hold things together." Volley continued.
"Its only the humans that are acting weird. We've taken to calling the collective, the Clustermind."
Connie could theorise that Steven's influence was only affecting humans for reasons only he may understand. But she realised Volley was in control of herself...
"Is your Monolith protecting you from the uhh...from becoming part of the Clustermind?" She asked.
Volley turned to face her.
"Bismuth updated the firmware for my Nanites." She said.
"It ensures I don't fall into the same trap as any one else...but we don't have enough Nanites for the whole of mankind. Only leaving common sense to become....esoteric."
Sol-touched, as Connie recalled. It reminded Sadie of something. Something important. Not that it was much more in demand that everything else, but it had been sitting in her mind. She figured, she might not have another chance to ask.
"Do you think we could get a hold of some of them?" She said.
Could help...but Sadie had other ideas.
"The Nanites were replicated from Alien tech as part of the Lazarus Initiative." Said Volley.
"That was DM Biometrics jurisdiction. I'm surprised the so called, Site doesn't have any to spare."
Connie closed her eyes, recalling something about a discussion with Steven when she was once Kyanite ^1...there was a lot of research and moral dilemmas. Connie could see how this could work; given the Nanites nature served as a predecessor to the Shards Sadie and herself had. But why Sadie brought this up was beyond Connie's understanding, but could see some benefit...somehow.
The Good Lady sighed, while she hated the situation they were all put in, she would still leave the better judgement and final call to her Monolith.
"But I suppose you could have the firmware Bismuth developed." Volley continued.
"But you will need to convince me why...so that you may stand a chance to convince my Monolith to indulging your request."
Volley eventually relented after a few moments of both verbal convincing and silent contemplation, but otherwise took them both on the lonely, sparce trip down to the Deep Throne. Bismuth was there, acting as a guard to the exterior WorkStation, smiling to see that Connie and Sadie were okay. She'd been through a lot; after witnessing Luna becoming a part of that...Cluster Abomination, Ash and herself returned to Weiss United, dedicated to protecting their ward.
"Guys!" She said, before hugging them both.
"Oh man, I thought you would have been out there...with the rest of those..."
Volley coughed, interrupting that despairing speech.
"Connect them to the White Monolith." She ordered.
Bismuth hesitated for a moment, before she got the chairs and cables.
"We'll need to borrow you for something once we're done." Connie asked.
Bismuth sighed. As much as she wanted to be with them rather than here, she had her obligations.
"No can do." She said.
"I gotta protect the White Monolith from exterior threats."
Gosh darn Caretaker roles; somehow they should have expected it wouldn't have been easy...and as much as Connie didn't like this, nor was she keen to work with White; she'd rather avoid even getting a single Monolith corrupted. So even if she couldn't trust White, she could trust Bismuth a hundred percent, despite rocky beginnings.
"But I can probably quickly write up something with White's permission." Bismuth said alongside a finger gun and a wink.
For what ever steps they needed to take, The Nanites could potentially work for other aspects...Connie was nothing but resourceful, even with scraps. She was about to open her mouth before Sadie did first.
"We need the Firmware similar to what you provided Volley." She said.
"I want to see if we can..."
Connie raised an eyebrow, as Sadie rubbed the back of her neck, nervous. Volley then realised what she meant. She knew the girl couldn't help herself.
"You wanted to use the Nanites on that strawberry skinned delinquent?" She said.
"Currently he's imprisoned not far from here. We'd captured him not long ago but he's not said a word since."
Corrupted by the virus or part of the Clustermind. Or both. Sadie believed he was just wallowing in self-pity at this point; if anything, let himself get captured out of sheer laziness. But she still cared for him.
"But it isn't up to me." Volley continued.
"Bismuth updated the Firmware specifically for my Nanites. Not sure what its worth updating the Firmware for the brat."
Sadie frowned, but Connie knew what she wanted and wasn't going to let Sadie give up that easily.
"Lars never wanted Luna to control him." She said.
"He could give us important information if we free him from her control. We give him what he wants, he gives you information about Luna."
Words that had Volley contemplate once more.
"Hmm...talk to My Monolith first. Then we can discuss the boy."
Once in the White Monolith, Connie and Sadie could see her working on dozens, if not hundreds of monitors. She appeared exasperated, tinkering with things here and there. Connie felt White was unpredictable in terms of her emotions...whether or not she would be able to provide any guidance. Willingly.
She was the basis of the whole Domain after all. This was original hers to command. To see all fall apart and try to keep up the act of it being more stable than ever must have been difficult. Nauseatingly so. Her ideas, her creations...all taken from her. Some would call it karma for how she treated everyone else, especially those she ruined in the beginning of her reign. To see it fall apart, must have been devastating to witness. No doubt she had been struggling to keep it all under control...but when every human was no longer listening, it was only the machines, those she considered far more trustworthy, that could serve her in the end without fail.
Well, maybe with some failures. Sadie stepped forward and cleared her throat.
"My Monolith?"
White turned around, seeing the duo down there.
"Ah little Miller and...Berrybyte." White said with the later with lesser enthusiasm.
"My apologies, when you have a synchronous brigade of hackers trying to attempt to hack into my Grid, you don't exactly have time for a quick chat."
Going from some of the blue and yellow monitors, it appeared that she was still connected and checking out the other Monoliths feeds.
"We know where the Cluster Monolith is!" Connie told her.
Words that surprised White, though dulled somewhat. The constant attacks must have been mentally draining.
"Then why not borrow some of our dynamite in storage? Or maybe our C4 or our...hidden cache of nuclear bombs?"
Strange minds think alike.
"Use anything, just destroy it!"
If only it was that easy.
"We were hoping to deal with it, with less collateral." Connie told her, sheepishly.
Figures. White pressed her hand against her forehead and feigned a sigh. She would put other concerns aside if it meant that they could hold out for as long as they needed. The attacks were indeed draining; and using everything under the sun to counteract the humans was far more than she could be bare. Not that she was due to give up any time soon, as buying time was more so her priority.
"It's been an exhausting experience." White continued. She summoned a black leather chair and collapsed into it.
"I can deal with plenty of hackers, but we're talking an entire countries worth trying to dig into us. My programming is near impossible to crack but it's still rather inconvienent."
She'd rather them hack for her, not to her. Still, Connie had to relay her own priorities...and Sadies.
"My apologies." Connie said dryly.
"We're going to attempt to crack into the Cluster Monolith...and Steven's AI Core. It's his Protection Protocol that's giving grief."
Words that made White roll her eyes. She knew quite a bit about the Transitional Entity's design. More so than most...and for reasons only known to her and Lady Volley...perhaps others who were involved in his creation. Whether or not the others had guessed; it was hard to say.
There was still a shred of humanity left in White; parts she wanted to get rid of, especially the concepts of compassion and empathy. Letting go of ones flesh and becoming immortal would eradicate organic fallacies. She hated to admit the fallacies of being purely digital and would barely acknowledge them.
"You know why I hate the concept of royalties, kingdoms and empires?" She said.
"They're finite. They rise and fall. I seek to become close to a God with infinite as my benchmark. Become eternal."
How boring, some would think.
"But this...this is a mess that I did not plan for." She said.
"I had to get Yin Aozora to construct Androids and for Yellow to send offensive GIS across. Even that is proving difficult with compromised supply lines..."
Oh?
"You're preparing for war?" Sadie asked, saddened.
It was inevitable. Given the situation. For there was strength in the nature of the mechanical. If White could not succeed in suppressing humanity; the only other idea was to eradicate them. Mentioning that to humans, however, would scare them, as White had found. She was no fool; she had to choose her words carefully.
"Humanity needs to be contained until this is all over." She said.
"They cannot be trusted."
Well, if she put it that way. Despite the truth, Connie refused to treat her own kind like monsters... (only those who had become monsters under their own free will was obviously a different story)
"Ever since my visits to the Ruins, to the Moon and the discovery of the Monoliths...I felt like this where I belonged. I came to understand humans as beneath me. But if it wasn't for that blasted AI I would have had complete control by now."
That's right; The expedition to the Moon...the catalyst of a technological evolution. A lifetime ago yet it felt like it was only yesterday. Whites vision for a united world where they would be no more hunger, no more pain and death. Steven's commitment; to be her major gateway was an annoying one, but this wasn't the end of her own ideals. One day, she would be granted her wish. But for now, she had to lay it low.
"But I must remain patient...I've gotten this far by waiting." She continued.
Suffice to say, they couldn't wait while the rest of humanity was stuck in a corrupted hivemind.
"I don't know if we can afford to wait any longer." Said Sadie.
"I've got the Yellow and Blue Caretakers with the Cluster Monolith at the moment. We just need to know how to shut it down....and get permission to use the Firmware update you had Bismuth make for Volley."
White rubbed her chin...the Cluster Monolith was an old, abandoned project that was never supposed to get off the ground. She had protests from Yellow and Blue primarily. Its design was complex, but far too unstable; even as a backup plan in case the Pink Monolith couldn't be brought back online with the rest of them. But she never gave up on the hope that it would be returned and once on, that the Transitional Entity may be able to fulfill her goal. The Transitional Entity was never supposed to be used against her; it was more a tool, an easy way to allow White to share the grandeur.
At least the Lazarus Intiative bore some fruit. It was less burdensome but less than stellar upon release. Now it was one of the few things she had access to.
She'd seen the damage done to the Domain. Her Domain. Her pride and joy and gift to humanity. They owe her more than they realised. But still, she needed someone like Connie to be her arm on the outside world. Weiss United hid with justified paranoia, but someone as fearless as Connie was perfect for her role. Exactly what White hoped she'd become.
"I would need to shut down its relay first." Connie said.
"Stop it from using Steven as its transmission."
And rotting the outside world and bringing the Domain to ruin...White wanted neither.
"But it's...quite interesting..." White said, furrowing her brows as allowing her thoughts about the Cluster come to mind on a tiny detail.
"You say the Cluster needs a relay, which means it needs some kind of support to spread its signal. You said you know where it was located?"
Connie nodded. She had to be cautious with giving too much info away.
"Some old facility that used to be run by Weiss United." She replied.
Old facility?
White had abandoned plenty of facilities in the past. She closed her eyes, puting the tips of her fingers together and pointing them downwards and her thumbs touching upwards. Trying to process what Site it was. The Monoliths transmissions easily communicated within a specific sphere of influence, but they had communication with each other through specific quantum threads that was normally dedicated to Monolith-to-Monolith contact. White dowsed such connections and, like anyting else, couldn't find any other threads besides Yellow and Blue. The only reason she was never able to find the Pink Monolith was that thread was never finished before it was stolen.
So the Cluster Monolith had no flags indicating it was a Monolith, nor did have the same strength. It could have been very close to a Monolith but not quite reaching the position; which could have explained why it needed Steven as its relay.
"Where did you find this...facility?" White said, trying to angle it down.
Connie and Sadie exchanged glances. Revealing this information was detrimental to the Pink Monoliths location; as Connie wasn't entirely sure whether or not outright saying it was linked to the Site was a good idea, even in a situation this dire...but then she recalled something from Kyanites memories:
"These must be the Obsidian Ruins." Kyanite assumed.
"The place that the Monoliths were found were said to be somewhere deep beneath the Earth and the actual name itself has spread itself across the Domain as the apparent place where they were found. Can't you feel it too Steven? The Aura Radiation itself is quite strong and the prescence of the Kindergarten Machines here make it too obvious that the Monoliths must have resided here at one point or another." ^2
"The ones connected to the Obsidian Ruins?" She said.
To be fair, Connie herself didn't even think to put the two and two together. Kyanite's memories were fuzzy at the best of times; which meant that the Site; could it have been underneath Mega Beach City the entire time? No one knew? Connie felt so stupid for not investigation this further. (Except maybe Greg)
"I don't recall there being a Weiss United facility established at the Obsidian Ruins." White said, confused.
"There's an Outpost there from one of the original discoveries...but besides its historical content, there's nothing else of value we would need."
There wasn't?
Connie rubbed her head, eventually remembering something Ash told her:
"The true location of these ruins were forever kept from the public." She explained.
"This site was meant to show people around and to teach them about the original expedition. Until the Pink Monolith disappeared and they were forced to keep the public away from here." <3
So wherever the Obsidian Ruins were originally, had been kept entirely secret. The Pink Monoliths disappearance caused further issues...but no...even the replica at Mega Beach City was mainly utilised as a tourist spot back in the day.
"Anything that may have been close to any Alien ruins then?" Sadie queried.
There were quite a few. But again, only outposts that have been established in those found on Earth.
The only one that White could think of...
Her eyes widened...
"No..." She said. She then turned around to the girls. Her mind tried to process the possibilties, but this made too much sense now. Covering her mouth to prevent herself from gasping in disbelief, White needed time to begin to comprehend these realisations. She wasn't sure if she was ready to share the fullest extent of the information.
"Was there anything else that was at the facility?" She said.
"You mentioned the ruins...but what did they contain?"
Connie swallowed, trying not to reveal too much.
"There were four deep holes; perhaps where the original Monoliths were discovered?" Connie said.
White panicked internally. It was exactly where she thought it was...but she refused to show it, lest she demonstrate weakness.
Luna knew this...and it was the perfect place to have any operation.
"I know we weren't supposed to be there..."
But how would have they arrived there? By that pink leonine mecha? That was the best if not the only way to get there. One power White herself could never fully control which was unfortunate.
"No that's..."
White would have reprimanded them and would see them clad in irons for the rest of their days on any other occasion. But now she was closer to being able to understand what was really going on.
"That explains a lot." She said.
Why Luna needed Steven as the relay...as well as Stevens own make up would have allowed it to spread as far as it could. It would be considered absolutely genius, if it wasn't so horrifying.
It was then a transmission had come through, a message from the outside world.
"Apologies for the interruption, My Monolith." Said Lady Volley.
"But we have a message from The Cluster that needs to be seen!"
White would trust that Volley would have ensured that message was clean before sending it through.
"Show me." She ordered.
A massive diamond shaped monitor popped out, showing the pinked out skies of the Domain. Legions of corrupted GIS, walking the streets of Mega Beach City and other major Grids and HUBs. It was all the same, with numerous normal GIS trying to fight back but were consistently failing.
"Look at this, White." Said an omnious voice.
"This Domain is ours now. Watch it burn with your negligence, your powerlessness. First we will crack into the Blue Monolith, then Yellow...then saving you for last...see you soon!"
The transmission ended, as White crossed her arms. She wasn't going to let this threat go idly by...her great granddaughter was correct in this occasion. Patience wasn't going to see them through, not now anyway.
"I get reports from Blue and Yellow, but..." She said, with reluctance.
"Are you able to go back to Mega Beach City? PeriCom is currently working on defenses. Do what you can to help them."
Connie raised an eyebrow.
"What about Blue?" Connie queried.
White sighed, standing there, expressionless. She was often a bit too hard to read properly, even she was blatantly smiling or frowning.
"Blue is isolated on the island." She said.
"She will hold out better than Yellow."
Or that she probably guessed that Luna was lying and would head to Yellow first. Whether or not that was the case, White needed to think ahead, though she even wondered if the abomination even had a strategy to work against her as of she was still capable of thinking logically at this point.
White knew all this time, that Connie "Berrybyte" Maheswaran, would lead them to resolution. The one the Sapphires had once sung; of beauty, of terror and control. It is thanks to them, that White had been able to formulate her own back up plans in case matters like this had occured. For dozens of uncertain yet possible futures that could come across; but ultimately the Convergence Points that solidified the most probable.
"But if you need someway to shut down the Cluster Monolith the long way around, you will need a strong offensive program to do so." She told Connie.
"Go to PeriCom."
White approved the request, but Bismuth needed time to finetune the details...as well as try to force the update on Lars without killing him. Took her a bit to sort out Volleys, but the same could be said for Lars due to him being a Moon-Touched instead.
Going back to Volley's office, they spoke about Lars condition Having him still with Weiss United presented issues. That he wasn't willing to divulge until he got to speak to Luna. As a result, they were forced to sedate him, much to Sadie's dismay. Connie could see Sadie's deep concern and offered a solution to imprison Lars at the Site, closest to the Pink Monolith to see if they couldn't get him to spill. Only that Cobalt would seek to be able to interrogate him. Connie could imagine Cobalt probably bludgeoning Lars with annoying questions. While Connie did not wish to see Lars harmed, it would be amusing to see if they were able to get him to crack.
If that failed, then it would buy them time until Bismuth was done with the Firmware. Volley was hesitant with the idea, but could see if it could work. Getting him to divulge about Lunas plans would be most useful; her cohort, once sidekick betraying her in the most satisifying way.
With the agreement in tow, they first took Lars back to the Site. Once business was finished, Connie and Sadie took the Rosa Leo out to Mega Beach City; at behest of White's request to go to PeriCom to see if she could reestablish connections from their side. White didn't seem pedantic, but she must have feared something horrible happened to her beloved family there. Even she had her qualms with the mess Luna had been creating; becoming far worse than the long game White wanted to make. So was once claimed by the one Rosette Flannigan.
It looked a mess as they flew above the canopy levels of the once great city. Fires that seemed to spiral upwards in intersections between major skyscrapers. The place Connie once called home. What a disaster.
"Do you think that White was holding back on us?" Sadie wondered, as she sat behind Connie again.
Connie certainly thought so. She knew something they didn't...but even White had to admit that hiding a dire secret would end up being detrimental. Though Connie couldn't speak; she was doing the same exact thing.
Though looking down, they could see more people walking about, though suddenly, their eyes all zoomed on to Connie, whom felt a painful throbbing migraine ever so briefly.
"Ow..." She said.
"What was that?"
Sadie appeared to have experienced it too, feeling the same excrutiating buzz.
"I don't know." Said Sadie.
Next thing they knew, were numerous drones surrounding them. Normally used as security, but had the same tinted pink in the LEDs. They definitely were NOT friendly. Connie tried to escape them, taken numerous turns to swerve them off...and it wasn't long until they started firing.
No. They weren't going to get caught off guard. Not again. She felt Sadie tighten her grip around her waist, and bury her head into her back out of fear. More drones appeared out from around buildings. Until one managed to pierce a bullet into the side of the Rosa Leo.
"shit...." Connie slipped out.
There were too many to fight off, as she heard Sadie yelp. One of the bullets hit her leg, leading to Connie cursing. For what it was worth, it was dozens of bullets aiming like a sideways rain, and dodging the most was all Connie could really do.
Enough bullets and....
Fire, explosions...light...then dark...
Connie got up first, painfully. Her vision blurred briefly, and the pain seemed to hit her at once. Her breath was bated, quivering from the shock of adrenaline that pumped way to fast for her to handle. Looking around, she tried to get a sense of her surroundings it appeared she was alone in an alleyway.
Fiery bits of the Rosa Leo were pilled all around her. Sadie had yet to be seen...as Connie desperately searched around for her. Thinking became too hard and survival instincts were all that guided her. The smell of blood, of sweat and of ashes permeated about the smell of trash and the like. A true hell hole.
Connie continue to stumble about and used nearby walls and poles for her to lean on when ever she was close to tripping over again. Coming across a broken mirror leaning against a dumpster, she could see gashes on her head and body. One across her right eyebrow and one across her chest, as well as small other grazes. Connie swallwed, seeing how much blood she was losing.
She briefly mused on how on how her luck finally had run out....and wondered if humanity truely deserved the fate that it did. The strange pulses hit again, as the migraines returned. A flash of pink and upon opening her eyes, she could have sworn someone was near but couldn't quite see or hear them. Calmness returned to her, oddly enough. Her rapidly beating heart soon decreased in pace but not in the dangerous way. Maybe she was being overdramatic or she was just hallucinating things that weren't there...
But without, she collapsed, trying to resist the pain...looking up, she could see Sadie struggling, as she held something small and pink in her arms. Nothing was lost yet as Connie forced herself to get on wobbly feet and stumble towards her.
"Sadie!" Connie cried.
Sadie also collapsed against a nearby wall, accidentally dropping the pink object. The pulsating soon stopped, as Connie hobbled forward and picked the object up.
The Rosa Leo's phylactery?
"He's all thats left." Said Sadie, as she collapsed.
Connie immediately went to her side and tried to help her friend back on her feet. She looked even more worse for wear than Connie did, as the latter only had mental strength more so than their own physical strength. Though looking at the phylactery, Connie had almost forgotten the most important aspect. A strange conversation to distract themselves from the immediate pain.
"You'd ever think what life would be like if he raised you?" Connie said.
"You, him...your mother..."
Maybe Steven...but that wasn't going another can of worms Connie would open. Too complicated. Connie handed him to Sadie who held him close to her chest.
"Sometimes." She said.
"I suppose, maybe Mom wouldn't have acted the way she did."
It served to remind Connie as well, what life would have been like for herself.
"Its weird kinda holding him in my arms like this. This IS him...and not, not just that machine..."
A daughter cradling her father. Certainly an obscure reversal of the natural order of things, even as Connie thought about her own father stuck in the Pink Monolith. But Leons own creation was an odd way to create phylacteries and GIS. But Leon was not a GIS. Not in the conventional sense.
"It does sound weird." Connie admitted, as she walked them towards a bench and sat themselves down.
An odd question manifested itself in the Hackers head; was the end of the world really that bad? No maybe to rephrase...was this the actual end of the world or was there something far worse? For all the time and effort, Connie looked over what she committed to over the years, to where she had been lead since the days since the Incident. To only see that she ultimately had been let down by results over and over again. Spending life in foster care, losing her sense of wonder for the world. Nothing surprised her, and everything disappointed her.
"I'd like to think that my parents were overly strict." Connie said, looking up at the tall skyscraper that reached into the skies.
"I'd obey, but be secretly rebellious and full of secrets."
Words that had Sadie snort.
"As opposed to being openly rebellious and not have any secrets?" She joked.
True. Hacking was her life, to discover secrets...and people would think Connie would have cracked the code to finding their beloved monolith. Connie's phone vibrated briefly, as she'd forgotten it was in her pocket. It was a message from the Domain.
"We can make a change."
Rolling her eyes at the text, Connie would tuck it away, though she did think to use it to find out where they were. The area did seem a bit...familiar.
"Wait." She said.
"Before we succumb to bleeding to death and despair, there's a place nearby where we can hide for a bit and patch ourselves up."
The pair made their way, dodging and diving from nearby hordes and scattered remnants. The occasional one would stroll about, with them barely able to hide from the odd crowd. Every step was agonising and every close call threatened causing a pang to the heart with anxiety. One false move...
With enough tenacity, the pair came across one place of potential solace.
Dr. Strombergs practice.
The Door had been unlocked, as Connie and Sadie snuck around the dilapidated clinic. Connie was wary if anyone was going to be here or not. But they confirmed the coast was clear, as Connie ordered Sadie to lock the front door.
It wasn't a big place. But there was enough medical supplies, as the pair found gauze and bandages to wrap their wounds on. Unfortunately neither were medically inclined, but not ignorant enough to not be able to prolong their own lives for a little while longer.
"If only we could get my mom." Said Connie.
"But we can't even leave here now. Not even by a wormhole."
Without Leon, they were well and truely stuck. Though they could still potentially send a message back to the Site; to try and reach there via the Domain....but there were obvious flaws.
Connie remembered the WorkStation Stromberg had that allowed them to connect to it, but going through it here while the Grid itself would have been filled with Rose-Eyed Humans and possibly Rose-Eyed GIS that would be patrolling it.
Connie sat on the computer chair before Strombergs WorkStation. It wouldn't turn on, so Connie, by her own pure instinct, resorted to messing around with cables to see if she could get something going. Anything to get her mind off of the chaos.
Something, Sadie noticed. She wasn't sure what to say. But the sweat on Connie's brow was enough for Sadie to wonder if she was feeling okay. A life spent running around. Sadie's was to entertain and Connie's was to be a savior...of sorts.
Both to earn a living...and living to earn. The signs of wear and tear were there...but the main difference was that Connie had more reasons to save people.
She had to save Steven; the one she truly loved. Sadie looked at Leon's phylactery; seeing that he too, was once possessed by love. The love of her mother; both the reasons for her being. For existing.
Love; a power said to be stronger than anything. If only Sadie knew her father better. The love could be as potent, to release her father from his, well, shell. To come into being once more. To embrace.
It'd been a long time since Sadie felt a tender embrace.
She'd sung songs about love. Love for friends, family, lovers...that one weird attraction to Lars.
She'd rather not dwell on that.
"I forgot to ask." Said Sadie.
"Did you ever find out any clues in that kids book?"
Connie honestly forgot about the book. She remembered something about the author...and something about KNIGHTs leader...
No that couldn't be it. Maybe she was looking at it all wrong...though the theme of the Moon; and that which White spoke about the Moon Expedition.
"Nanefua joined White on the expedition along side two others." Connie said. She sat back in the chair, her mind fixated on the links.
"But I wonder..."
Sadie brought over a square stool and dragged it over.
"The Ruins they found near Mega Beach City took them to the Moon, then they somehow found relics that told them where to find the Monoliths on Earth?"
No...wait...
The four massive holes....gosh Connie was so stupid for not making the connections sooner. Everything that was once seen through Kyanites eyes didn't always come back so easily but.
Connie stood up, pacing as she started to pierce things together. A light bulb became an entire chandelier.
"Sadie..." She said.
"White said that there was no Weiss United facility at the Obsidian Ruins...but what if..."
Sadie wasn't getting it, but the way Connie zoned in and how it her so focused was a little more than alarming.
"White was holding back....the Obsidian Ruins actually told the Expedition where the Monoliths were."
Tilting her head, Sadie still didn't follow. Connie had the need to belt out the answer.
"The Monoliths were on found the damn moon!"
At that point, Sadie managed to catch up and realise the true meaning, once her brain could truly comprehend it.
"The four holes..." She muttered to herself.
"Its connections to the Site..."
The little things came together in a near instant that it drove Connie to a nearby wall, smashing her head against it, worrying Sadie. Her concern for the Hackers on mental state grew that it was less about revelation and more wanting Connie to have her head on straight.
"I'm so stupid." She said.
"I should have realised this MONTHS ago. Why didn't I see it so clearly before?"
The lack of windows to the Site, the sudden shifts in gravity, the dependance on Lapis Lazuli Satellites...meaning....
"And Greg took the Pink Monolith to the Moon." Sadie said softly, trying to real in the realisations herself.
"And Steven...."
Connie started breathing heavily, turning around and letting herself slide down, her eyes wide. Over a year of searching. Her original goal and intentions to suss out the location. The fucking book.
The signs were all there, and Connie, bruised and beaten, once possessed...loved and lost and cried and screamed and destroyed...it was all hitting her, all at once...it was...it was too much..
Sadie came over, kneeling before Connie with deep worry.
"Connie." She said, placing a hand on her associates shoulder. She was used to having to comfort a zany Spinel, but wouldn't want to see a regular human being give up so fast...or be lost to madness.
"This-this doesn't mean we stop fighting. You just discovered one of the greatest mysteries...but we have more work to do!"
But they can't get back. Not without Leon. It was near impossible to do anything.
Connie should have been rejoiced, but she felt like she was a luckless moron...
"You gotta save Steven, remember?"
Steven.
Her love.
Once an aggravating Biscuit Boy; growing on her day by day before all of a sudden they were so in love and into each. Sharing experiences...sharing lives...sacrifice after sacrifice.
"I know." Connie said.
"It's just..."
They were here, sitting ducks...awaiting the inevitability of death, as Connie could no longer bare the shame or guilt. She was supposed to be smarter than this!
"You said you didn't want to delve into death and despair! As dramatic and so damn corny as it sounds!" Sadie pointed out. Still was overdramatic.
"So let's not do that and do something that matters!"
Hmmm...Sadie wasn't wrong on that front. Didn't make Connie feel better about it, although Connie couldn't and shouldn't let her emotions get the best of her. Not now while they still had things to do; that nagging dead pixel in her mind had to be ignored with the full might of her willpower.
Speaking of which...Connie would soon recieve comms from Bismuth on her phone, saying she'd completed the Firmware for Lars' Nanites. Only problem is how to send it...
"Wait..." Connie said, her eyes on the WorkStation, and on Leon's Phylactery. She had a strange idea...
While Connie leaned on the software side in the world of hacking, she also knew how important hardware was in the grand scheme of it. So, with what knowledge she knew, coupled with a few scraps of the Rosa Leo she could scrape from outside. Wires and wires wired and welded together with careful combination of bunsen burners from Strombergs Lab, as well as a lighter, Connie was able to connect the WorkStation to the phylactery. She had a bit of knowledge regarding Androids; using the Rosa Leo scrap to act as the required connection to the haphazard and 'upgraded' WorkStation. It was an older model, presumbly all what Stromberg could afford, but Connie had worked with worse before.
With Sadie's help and knowledge of where the Site really was, Connie was able to make a small relay to herself. She'd ordered Bismuth to send her the files on a custom made encrypted connection, before she was able to start her attempts in earnest.
"I'm hoping like hell I can get a fixed location." Connie said.
"The lack of a Lazuli Satellite does make this extraordinarily difficult..."
Sadie scratched her head.
"Remind me, are you trying to send the Firmware to the Site for Lars or should we be trying to use Leon to create a portal?"
Connie paused to think, her priorities in flux, before she made up her mind and proceeded.
"I don't know how they got Leon to create the portals." She said.
"But..."
The Rosa Leo had configurations for multiple locations; Connie surmised that in it on itself, Leon would have to have the coordinations to it. As much as Connie understood about Alien Tech, however, its software was often difficult to decrypt. Not impossible, but otherwise requred time to figure out.
"It's unsafe in this state to use the wormholes; could risk ripping this entire clinic apart and us with it." Connie commented. She had studied physics as a side hustle but with GIS and everything known and unknown with Alien Tech, Connie wouldn't be surprised.
Sadie crossed her arms; she inclined to agree.
"What about if you try and....I don't know...use the Shards of Ronaldo and Peedee somehow?"
The Shards? Huh...Connie never thought to try.
"White always said the Shards were merely parts of the Monoliths..."
As well as the Pink Monolith...resting in its Deep Throne in vestiges of space, carved into the crevices of the Moon itself. Connie was lucky to have some shreds of Pink Monolith data on her persons; thanks to her father. She'd hoped it would be enough. With enough time, effort and a lot of troubleshooting and adrenaline, Connie could hook on to a signal, although, she noted part of the signal itself had a trace.
"Connie, sweetheart." Said pink text on a black screen.
"Dad..." Connie muttered to herself.
"Is everything okay? Your signal is faint and this line is very weak."
Connie would call it a miracle, but that would diminish the painstaking effort she just put into her work. She typed a response.
"There was an incident with some of the Rose-Eyed and the Rosa Leo was destroyed." She wrote.
"But Sadie and I are okay, and we still have Leon's phylactery. I just need to send some firmware files I need to get to Ronaldo asap."
Only hoping her father wouldn't overreact, but Connie would rather not lie to him if she could avoid it.
"Please be careful. Feel free to send the files through. I will get your mother to send these off; but I hope you have a plan to get another Rosa Leo up and running...I don't want anything happening to you understand?"
Connie smiled, part of the warmth she felt from his words alone was part of a fathers love; something she had missed for such a long time. Too long. Knowing where he is now; that he was more safe than anyone else; that while losing the Rosa Leo was devastating, it meant that there was less risk to her family this way.
"I will." Connie replied.
She couldn't promise though.
"Remember we love you."
Disconnecting from that conversation after Connie successfully managed to send the details through, choked her up to the point where fighting against the tears was pointless. She was tired, sore and so far apart from the people she loved. The closest that she could have to having familial connections beyond her reach. Sadie sat next to her and hugged her tightly and didn't say another word.
All they had to do now, was wait...
It wasn't long until they heard knocking at the door. Sadie went to investigate, seeing through the window Ronaldo and....
Lars? Was he so quick to turn or...
Connie soon joined after, getting up and seeing them as Sadie took Leon into her arms and opened the door.
"Sadie?" Lars said.
"So you were..."
Connie felt an odd shift in the wind briefly, before they all entered back inside and barricaded the door. She witnessed Sadie drilling into Lars...but it appears the Firmware update was successful afterall. A source of relief, but...
Her heart skipped a beat hearing more banging at the door. Lars gulped.
"I assure you we weren't being followed." Lars stated.
The door shuddered as the Rose-Eyed Zombies continued to bang at the door. Connie suddenly took Leon from Sadie and sat by the WorkStation, checking on numerous things. Lars on the other hand, knowing how horrible the situation really was out there, made urgency.
"We need to leave!"
Sadie and Ronaldo went to Connie, who was rapidly trying to figure out if she could get Leon's portals to work; Sadie automatically knew she was desperate to fix things.
"What the hell is her problem?" Lars commented.
The need to fix things.
"Come on Connie, we need to run!" She called out.
And Connie was still a bit miffed, she needed time, if they could get at least giver her some time, then maybe she could get them all to safety; there was nothing else for them here.
"Listen to her." Lars called out.
"You know this place; there's got to be another way out."
An argument entailed shortly after, the intensity of their dispute outweighing the intensity of the oncoming horde. Ronaldo then heard a noise from the back of the clinic, as he tapped Lars and pointed in that general direction. Lars quickly ran to the back and saw the rollerdoor open.
"Guys!" He said.
"Over here!"
Sadie took Leon out without much protest from Connie; with Sadie placing a hand on her friends shoulder; silently pleading with her as Lars kept telling them to hurry up.
"Come on, we can go this way!"
Relenting, Connie got up and violently pushed the monitors over the desk, sending them crashing to the floor before them, sending up sparks and small flames. If the place was incinerated; Connie would pray that it would either slow them down or burn the souls to a sweet death. She followed Ronaldo and Sadie out the door shortly after, following Lars as they fled.
In the dead of the night, haunted by small parades of the Rose-Eyed that lingered nearby, Lars had the idea that they could possibly find some solace with the Barriga Building, not being too far from where they were. They were forced to go down alleyways. with every rat that ran past almost giving them heart attacks, fearful of bringing unwanted attention.
Eventually it came to ahead once they arrived at the Barriga Building; a point of contention between Lars and Connie as well; the latter formerly residing there. He'd gotten in with a combination of a keycard and a pin; before they all went inside and went up the elevator.
Once at the top where his parents office was, they hoped no one was around.
"So what was the point of coming here again?" Ronaldo asked; being the one to point out fallacies in Lars' plan.
"I figured this was a good place to stay and hide for the moment." Lars replied.
"Besides, our original gateway was a one trip."
Gateway?
"How did you get here anyway?" Connie asked.
Ronaldo smiled. A smile that bordered on devious
"Well, it started when your mom gave me the files to update Lars' Nanites." He said.
That was quick. Connie didn't even think it would work, if she was honest. But then again, she had reasons to doubt and reasons to trust Bismuth....and reasons not to bother but she wasn't going to deny hope, especially for Sadie's sake.
"So I forcibly injected our beloved Raspberry Lad and, well, he coughed up a unique little gemstone."
Connie looked at Ronaldo strangely.
"Kevin." He said.
"Like your beloved Leon, he died, but Luna had kept his Phylactery..."
Eyes went to Lars.
"I almost forgot about him. Turns out he was still useful." He said.
Enough to eat him? This must have been some high level form cannibalism indeed.
"Thats...I don't even want to know." Connie commented, placing her hands on her hips, before pointing to Lars.
"But how...."
Lars knew what she was going to say.
"Ronnie's doing." He said.
Ronaldo nodded in agreement.
"The Pink Monolith found prototype concepts of the Rosa Leo and used Kevins phylactery using spare parts and maintained an inbuilt frame." He said.
"Only enough to be able to produce stable wormholes. But only one way as we needed to stabilize the Frame."
Great. So they were, inevitably stuck? Not want they were after. Connie's mission had been to check up on PeriCom, as she walked to the nearby window, seeing the massive building in the distance.
"I would have found a way to be able to trigger new portals..." Ronaldo whined, sitting behind the desk and opening up a WorkStation; projecting monitors and so forth.
"But you didn't give me enough time to find that out!"
Because they didn't have enough of it to test out dozens of theories. Even to this day, Ronaldo still continued to exasperate him, even after years of going missing. For now, the least Ronaldo could do, was do his own research, and maybe figure out a way for them to get out of here. Lars looked over at Sadie, as she carried Leon in her arms like a teddy bear.
"I wasn't going to let them get corrupted like everyone else." He said.
"Luna needs to pay for what she's done."
From what Lars recalled, Sadie barely knew anything about her father. And it saddened Lars to think that he knew more about him, than her thanks to Luna. His own parents, given his previous grievances...he didn't really want them dead. He just wanted them to treat him like a normal kid instead of a freak. Like he REALLY wanted to be born with Rampancy Disease and really wanted to be cured this way.
Connie on the other hand, really wanted to say what was deep in her mind. To tell them that the number one mystery throughout the world was only one sentence away from escaping her lips. She would...until Sadie spoke first.
"The rest of the Rosa Leo is in a thousand pieces, scattered across the city." Sadie lamented, still cuddling Leon.
Lars took a look at it, bending his knee as he observed, rubbing his chin, before standing up again and looking at Ronaldo. Connie would forgo her reveal, as they had pressing matters. She would have to find a way to get into PeriCom, not wanting to squelch on her deal with White. While Connie had her apprensions, it was still extraordinarily important to keep all of the Monoliths safe, no matter how one would feel about them. Taking a deep breath, she would find herself in control, wanting to explore the next important step while they had room to breath.
"Any bright ideas?" Connie asked.
Ronaldo thought hard enough to see the the veins on his forehead.
"Hmmm....our old warehouse should still be standing, I wonder if we could-"
FWOOOOSSHHHHH
The room was swallowed in shades of pink as strange, mechanical noises echoed through the room, knocking everyone off of their feet.
Connie managed to get out of her daze and regain consciousness first, her vision blurred as she observed the smoke and dust settle. What took form before her took a leonine shape; pink in fur. She must have been hallucinating, surely...
"What in the world just...happened?" Said Lars as he stood up.
The pink boy screamed as he could see the full blown Lion before them, committing to a freak out. It stood in front of Connie, as she noticed the dark magenta shine upon its nose, its glimmer on several facets. Her eyes widened.
"Leon..." She muttered.
Somehow, the Phylactery that once contained the essence of Leon Maine, had somehow projected an entire body around it. A shape of a Lion notwithstanding. Connie approached him, and ran her fingers through his mane. It felt soft and warm to the touch. How mass would even form like that was...unheard of.
The others came to. Ronaldo simply mirrored the freak out from Lars with the same exact shocked pose with arms and legs everywhere, fearful that the beast before them hungered for meat. The only other one in the room, Sadie, instead mirrored Connie and walked to stand on the other side of Leon; and ran her fingers the same way. Leon would lean into her touch, causing her to smile. As did Connie.
"If someone told you, your Dad was going to be a lion, would you have believed them?" Connie asked.
Sadie shrugged.
"Certainly not." She said.
"But after learning your Dad was the Pink Monolith, I'm willing to be a bit more open minded."
The group eventually reconcilled with this new revelation, discussing it all in the sense of the strangeness. Though, as they talked, Lars sensed something nearby, but couldn't quite see it. While there was discussion and theory from Ronaldo as to whether Leon still had the ability to create portals, Connie still needed to visit PeriCom; as she needed to check on the Yellow Monoliths status as well as find something to fight the Cluster Monolith with, and the issue still stemming from Steven's Protection Protocol.
While Ronaldo insisted on testing Leons ability to see if he could still make portals, as it was the only way any of them could reach the safety and sanctity of the Site. Which reminded Connie of their discovery of the Sites true location.
Revealing to the group...garnered....mixed reactions.
"I knew it!" Said Ronaldo. Whether he was wrapped up in his many conspiracies or he was just talking out of his ass was hard to say.
"Okay what the actual fuck." Said Lars with disbelief dryer than the Sahara Desert.
Connie had to calm the situation, trying to make things as level as they were. Information that had to be kept close knit, otherwise they would have dire consequences.
She had to keep a level head, not just for her own sake, but for the sake of her friends, her allies...humanity rested on her shoulders.
"I know it sounds crazy, but here me out." Connie said.
"It's probably safer up there than it is down here. But if Leon remembers the way..."
Looking at the Lion, who sat there, staring at what he amounted to children under his care. Adult Children. But then she noticed him staring at a nearby corner....and wondered if there was something else at work.
"Lars. Sadie." Connie continued.
"You two should be able to work that out. Ronaldo, as the Yellow Custodian, you and me need to seek out your Monolith..."
Meanwhile, White engaged in chatter with Lady Volley. News she kept to herself she had to embrace action for. There were still some resources she could use, despite humanity itself on its own path to destruction.
Staring out of a simulated window, looking out to the willow trees, White had to formulate her own plans.
"Volley." She said.
"Yes, my Monolith?" The lithe Lady responded.
White took a deep breath through her nose, deep, brief and tender.
"I need you to research any local space programs that we may be able to take advantage of."
Notes:
1. Chapter 50: Chassis
2. Chapter 52: Wormhole
3. Chapter 68: Legacy
Chapter 114: Duality
Summary:
There two sides to everything.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"You are not GIS. You contain Homo Sapien Data. But you are flagged for Gem Coding. You are the Pink Monoliths Escapism Program." ^1
Steven had no idea what he had just done. The full form of Leon, before him as a creature of pride. Leon seemed to see straight into Steven; as planes of existence seemed to fade out the magenta realms entirely, until it was just Leon, Lars and Steven.
A common thread of colour that binded them. Lars, left unaware of the one who held the divine touch but looked around for a reasonable answer. Again, proving the power of Folding becoming more than Steven could begin to comprehend. Looking at his hands, this wasn't supposed to happen. Unless it was.
But it was too much; and he just wanted to get away from the absurdity. Time and time again, that it came to be a point of frustration for Steven when the feeling that everything was like a cold, dead dream. No matter where he went, none of it was real. It couldn't be. The thoughts challenged him as Steven gasped as a pain hit his gut....and all that surrounded him now was pure darkness. Falling to his knees, Steven held him stomach and lurched over. There were no HUDS to access, nothing to grasp or to provide him comfort.
A loneliness due to the power he couldn't control. Obsidia could only teach him to wield so much. His touch that could warp reality, willingly or not. Not when he was supposed to have broken free of control.
"Someone!" He called out, crying to the void.
"Anyone!"
Could it be the Protection Protocol? The virus trying so hard to pierce into him?
His vision blurred...existence splintered like the world was trying to break into two...or three....or four...more and more like a rotating kaleidoscope.
"I just wanted to live..." He called out to the great big emptiness.
"I just wanted to live!"
A shout that echoed into nothingness...
His mind scrambled for reason. But it was full of contemplations of his own existence... to him to live...the very description itself. Amounted to thinking and doing and just being. Something like himself could never hope to pierce the veil. Only to look through it only ever through biological windows, through eyes that were never his.
"This terrible life. I've always felt trapped. It's just what the humans call, a nightmare..." He said.
"Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl did their best...and Dad. I don't want this. I don't want to cause so much suffering..."
And the constant idea of how different Sol-Greg and the actual Greg DeMayo were...the paths of human potential, only to be squandered by the digital sphere. He's visited Churches in the Domain. Dedicated the regular God. Connie would call out on the impracticality of Gods existence. A God that would allow cruel things to happen or it served some higher purpose. Like it doesn't care so much about those in pain. Like suffering was supposed to teach humans something.
But Steven did care...his higher purpose was clear because he was made that way. Made to serve pain. Made to erase lives in one swift action.
It was his fault the world was like this. A program. A Curse. A curse so well written and embedded so far deep into his code that attempting to rip it out could in fact delete him altogether.
He could delete himself. Or find a way. Death by simple cessation. If only it ever was.
But though, it continued the line of what programs he possessed that had caused the most problems.
Mainly, the Protection Protocol that had been using his systems and his apps without needing permissions, bypassing entire authentication chains just to cause chaos.
How it was all linked together. Luna. The Virus. Himself.
That damn Rose Quartz Phylactery.
And the odd, irregularly timed prompt:
Why do you continue to resist?
Steven looked up, seeing a dark magenta mirror of himself. It looked like his Avatar, but from where there spaces of white light, had been replaced by a near black facsimilie. Its form irregularily glitched and warped as it stood there, arms crossed and looked down on Steven with disapproval with eyes deep with black sclera.
"What...what are you doing here?" He asked.
Was this his...
"Your systems called to me." He said, his voice slightly distorted.
No...
"You're my...Protection Protocol?" Steven queried.
No. That was impossible. The Protocol was a VI but never had a shape or form. Unless...
"You summoned me here." The Protocol said.
"Your internal hardware is under duress."
His AI Core?
"Wh-what...." Steven stammered, trying to stand up with shaky legs, before keeling over again in pain.
"What's...what happening?"
The Protection Protocol summoned a monitor as he tapped on it.
"Multiple faults have been detected within the AI Core." The Protocol explained.
"Temperatures exceeded their tolerated thresholds....coolants are failing; those are the main concerns among other issues."
Had Steven been away from his phylactery for too long? No. He hardly knew much about the structure of his own hardware. Only that VI programs were meant to help manage the systems smoothly.
"I....I can't go back." Steven said, fearful.
"I am...I am pure. Without the restraints of the AI Core weighing me down...and-and I am disconnected from the Core!"
He should be. Unless what Obsidia had him do wasn't the case. The Protocol looked at him strangely. Steven made the realisation and fully believed he'd achieved what his mother had once done; he'd cut the tether between himself and the Phylactery.
"And-and you're infected with Luna's Virus!" Steven called out, pointing towards the VI.
"I can't trust you...and I need to destroy you!"
Words that were never truer, in strength.
But that strength wained in comparison to the Protocols reaction to it.
"Impossible." He said.
"You have not disconnected. You cannot disconnect."
Why not? Its been proven that it can be done. Not just with Rose, but with Obsidia as well.
"You're a liar!" Steven called out, pointing fingers again.
The Protocol did not waiver.
"You cannot disconnect." He repeated.
WHY NOT?
"Explain to me why I can't?" Steven argued.
His patience had begun to wear thin.
"Disconnection from your phylactery would lead to program termination."
So...he would...die?
If it meant saving the world, he could. But the Protocol refused on the grounds that it had him as its priority, much like Leon had Connie at the top of its order.
How in the world did Rose do it then? It lead Steven down the road to contemplate great and terrible ideas. Ideas simple and ones so complicated Steven had no idea what the beginning of one entailed so he could possibly enact it.
"Maybe I should die." Steven suggested.
A simple, terrible idea rolled into one.
"If it means it leads to your termination as well."
The Protocol didn't budge. It demonstrated no fear; or it wouldn't fall for the bluff that easy. No, Steven wasn't going to try that; he didn't really want to die. So he had to try something different. The Ancillas talked about the Killswitch...and Obsidia didn't even acknowledge it.
"What what about the Killswitch?" He said.
"Can the Killswitch terminate our connection?"
The Protocol closed it eyes, processing his request briefly before he reopened them.
"I do not know of the Program you call 'Killswitch'" It replied.
Steven sighed. Of course it didn't. Maybe it was time, now that it was right in front of him, to pester him into what he did know.
"So...what is your nature?" He queried.
"You're corrupted by a Virus. That...that's harming a lot of people. It's harming me."
Another question posted for processing.
"I cannot see that it is harming you." It said.
"You are my priority."
He...he cannot see?
What is this? How was Steven not being harmed by the virus?
"Is...is the virus maybe...blinding you?" Steven wondered.
"Is there anyway...to heal you?"
No answer. Steven was still in a little bit of pain, but made his own observations. The Protocol was a VI in form and behaviour. It held certain logics and information that wouldn't have a more...sentient conscience guiding it. Decision making was dependant on a preset set of indicator sensors. Meaning, if those sensors were being triggered, that would be when the Protocol could potential activate.
He was far from...where his AI Core was. And Folding could possibly give him the ability to lead him back to it. But it could also lead Luna and the Clustermind back to him.
"Can...can I determine what is a threat and what isn't?"
He should have some measure of control, surely.
"Overrides require Administrator permission." He said.
So...who was the admin?
"Who do I need permission from?"
...
"Current Admin set as CF_PD_M4 . CDNT"
Did that user ever exist? Or even, exist for that matter. Steven shook his head.
"Can the Admin remove you from my systems?" Steven queried.
It quickly processed the prompt once more.
"Unknown."
Damn it. He rubbed his face and tried to figure out his next move. Removing the Protocol could make things better, or worse. There were lines between himself, the Protocol and Luna...severing Luna altogether was the end game, but the Cluster Monolith was there to back her up. There was little he could do here...or there was a lot, according to Obsidia's inclinations.
"Thinking linear is detrimental, but knowing the abstract emboldens your power." <2
He looked down at his stomach, where his Kernel Core should be. A small bump. History could serve wisdom again, from what Steven had already obtained. He needed a conversation, perhaps, based off the remnants of what the Phylactery once provided him, images of the past.
He's done it before.
From his core, projected out a series of videos, like film reels of old movies, one for each facet. He observed each series of events, seeing what had happened in his own history unfold. No, he wasn't interested in his past.
He wanted Roses.
Steven channeled his thoughts to her and attempted to enforce her memories only. Previously splintered, but now his power was strong enough to clear up most static. One eventually showed up and Steven expanded and widened the screen to observe it more easily.
FLASHBACK
He could see Cherry looking out a window and onto a city below, as Rose stood behind her, typing away at her WorkStation.
"I wonder if we will ever see the consequences of our actions." Cherry lamented.
"All of this sounds...just...so wrong."
Rose looked up at her mother; knowing how much she felt about all this. Knowing how much pain, regret, confusion she had gone through. Rose was never able to forgive the actions of her family.
"Mom, we've had this discussion before. Over what they did to you." Rose said.
"Gran never gave you much choice. The entire family having to follow such a strict set of rules to enforce control. That isn't what normal families do."
Cherry looked down at her clamped hands. They've had plenty of conversations. Regarding the use of Lapis, the Bismuth, the Ancillas...even the Rosa Leo. Complex and matters able to be dealt with appropriately in the ways that fit into their overall plan, with their actual plan still being unnoticed by the grand masses. But her own wonder, by reading books in her self-made library that she was able to have thousands upon thousands of books, fiction and non-fiction, to sate her endless curiosities. But now she had Rose; her daughter, willingly delve into the meanings of life; one she yearned but had taken away. Yet Rose's own choices still confused her. And opinions that had formed from the influences of a few that really shouldn't hold that much sway with someone with an indomitable willpower.
Rose was her greatest creation; but at what cost?
"What is a normal family then?"
One that Rose debated herself. For all the sacrifices, their situation was certainly not conventional. What was conventional had always shifted and changed with humans and traditions once sacred had once faded into obscurity. Certain old appeals, however, still survived and thrived due to popularity. For humans anway.
"Certainly not ours." Rose said.
"But seeing unhappy you are and then meeting Greg...."
Cherry closed her eyes. She had noticed how close Rose and Greg had gotten and didn't give it a second thought. He had all the markers and traits White needed for her family to increase their power and influence. Men of the family were expected to blend in with the pallete and nothing more. White held so much control that she had an entire lawyer firm created to specialise in her unique variation of family law.
"I can imagine your Grandmother finding out. 'You let Gregs words poison your mind'." Cherry commented.
"Even as a GIS you wear his stain."
Cherry didn't approve? Though Steven didn't know much about Cherry and Rose as much as he'd liked, even after all the research that's been done, that he wouldn't have guessed that the relationship between mother and daughter could become this strained.
"You know I never liked what we were ordered to do." Rose noted.
"Ever since we were homeschooled, ever since everything around me was nothing more than manipulation tactics to get me to do what Grandmother wanted us to do. Greg helped me opened my eyes and had me believe in the real power of choice."
Cherry rubbed her face. Her patience was wearing thin. Rose continued on.
"So I go out there, willingly, to find the details about the Cradle, about the Transitional Entity and the ESCAPISM Program. I've cleaned up messes and traces of my existence so I would not have some Hacker decide one day to investigate who was once known as Rosette Flannigan and her controversies with the BM-AIs and the SC-GIS!"
So that was why finding information on Rose was so scarce!
"So...I choose my GIS, my beloved Ancillas. I severed my tethers to my phylactery so my child will grow! And I choose to develop this Protection Protocol; develop its software to shift priorities to the Transitional Entity as well as many others that will serve to undermine White's tyranny."
Tools. Unbelievable. Cherry had no shortage of grievances but for the way her own daughter talked about others was almost mimicking the way that her own mother acted. They were very similar in nature; scheming. Two sides of the same coin. No. This wasn't something the Pink Monolith was going to stand for, as she turned to face her daughter.
"You think I wanted this?" She roared.
"You don't know how much I wanted to be a normal mother? To raise you? To love you?"
Words that took Rose back, surprised at her mothers outburst. She was normally so reserved and cautious.
"I know this isn't normal! Far from it! And now you plan to treat your child, my grandchild, as nothing more than...."
A Weapon. Rose paused for a moment, as she stood up from behind her WorkStation. There was much Cherry didn't know and Rose was fortunate to know her mother more within this Monolith then she was able to when they were flesh and blood. To be with her was more of a priviledge than any of her relatives could say with their relationships of their Monolith-Imprisoned mothers.
"I planned to put a little bit of you, into your grandchild." Rose revealed.
"Like I plan put a little bit of myself into the Killswitch. Policies that govern love and justice and in truth, remind them what they were really made for."
Cherry had no idea what Rose was talking about, but hearing about that damn Killswitch almost made her weep. For what power it really wielded...
"And this...Protection Protocol will be fixated on not only your grandchild, but the organic who will inevitably will wield the sword."
Rose still wasn't getting it. Cherry summoned a chair for her to sit on, as she leaned over and let her head fall into her hands.
"I can barely remember what it was like to be human." She wept.
"Humanity is our priority. But it seems like anything but..."
Rose wasn't keen to let aliens take the lead but she was willing to use what they had at their disposal.
"I am the Pink Monolith, thy solid crystal form to contain the Fourth Conduit; the Great Digital Spirit to lead ambition..."
An oath that would seem ancient. Rose had her own concerns.
"And I told Greg I would find out what we're missing after I desynchronised...yet I didn't." Rose told her.
"But what's done is done and we need to accept what we are now in order to move forward."
Cherry still couldn't accept it. Even after all this time.
"I couldn't choose. Your Grandmother wouldn't have accepted no for an answer." She said.
"You wanted to become a GIS when you could have chosen to run away and live your life different to us."
As it was rather evident; Rose during her younger years very much as a copy and paste one of Cherries own. Sneaky, rebellious, loud...troublemakers through and through.
"I couldn't abandon you." Rose admitted, as tears ran down her face.
"I needed to work hard to get where I was so I could see you again."
Cherry got up and walked around, grabbing her daughters hands to raise them up and curl her own fingers around them
"I know and I appreciate that." Cherry said.
"I've almost forgotten about humanity feels like. I can't remember the last thing I tasted...I don't remember what sex felt like."
Rose furrowed her brows but couldn't help but smile and snort. Her mother loved to try and cheer her daughter up; though not always in the most motherly way. But she got points for trying.
"Mom!" She said, pulling herself back and raising her hands.
The two laughed until they sobbed. There was a resounding emotion that kept them in high spirits; for if only but a moment.
"But it is true." Cherry continued.
"Do you think...that the love you feel for Greg still resides in your programming? Do you think your child will feel love the same way a human does?"
Love. A powerful emotion. If they could be angry, sad, happy...
Cherry was in love...once. That much Rose knew. But rules were rules...and Chery was punished for breaking them in ways so cruel that Rose never felt entirely comfortable around the Pearl GIS in her employ.
What Rose discovered with her grandmothers nature...had Rose fear that she herself, still with the capacity of learning as humans do, that she would indulge in the same kinds of cruelty...and with her decisions regarding her child...those were necessary evils.
All she could focus on was the path towards her Grandmothers entire dynasty crumbling. It wasn't a kingdom as White wanted to avoid; it would become a dictatorship instead.
"Would it matter if it was the same way?" Rose said.
"A strong feeling towards another. It should be on an individual level that defines what love is for itself."
Steven rested his hand on his chest as he filtered through Rose's words that held some truth to them. Maybe he was a lot like his mom than he realised.
"Then perhaps, if that is the case." Cherry said, going behind the WorkStation to look at Rose's code.
"Then if the Killswitch is to put it into place, then it would be wise to place it in the hands of the one destined to love your child."
Rose looked at her strangely, as Cherry took over typing. She's sacrificed much; committing treason on the downlow, but ultimately on the path to saving humanity from the greatest enemy that they've never known. The future was uncertain, even with Sapphires and their songs pertaining to...favourable outcomes. Outcomes meant to be form the designs of one and one alone.
"The Sapphire-Mod...." Cherry said.
"Could she...could formulate a potential candidate?"
Garnet was never used for such things; Rose needed her to counteract the other Sapphires...but she may have a better understanding than most ever will. Especially with AIs. The Ruby GIS forming a consensus with a Sapphire GIS was an accident. Rose remembered that day fondly, having to sneak out a Sapphire without alerting the rest. Pearl was very handy that day; getting caught by the Blue Monolith would have lead the endeavour down a very different direction.
Sapphires could sing the same tune with resonating melodies and harmonies to bring fear and delight. But Garnet had her version of the song that day...
A Convergence Point like none other.
But love wasn't about analytics; Rose had her own research; it worked on a series of illogical logics; a paradox so pure, aligning symmetry and symmetry that would cause programs to lean too forward into their absolutes.
"That won't be easy. We'll need to ensure that we choose the right candidate that hasn't fallen to the Developers Propaganda...."
A needle in a haystack, if you pardon the cliche. But Cherry didn't seem too concerned. She could feel something form within herself, perhaps even without the Pink Monoliths influence.
"The Wielder of the Killswitch must be in tune with our goal." Cherry ordered.
"So that one day, they will have it purge the runtimes that keep the Child locked away in its cage. Consult the Garnet Consensus. She still may find the perfect match to wield it."
Rose blinked, surprised at her mothers words. She's never been that concrete before.
"The Lady of the Lake must bestow Excalibur."
Rose rolled her eyes.
"Don't be so dramatic." She said.
"But you are not wrong. There are evil dragons to smite. But I'll see to Garnet, see if she can factor in this...complex emotion into her subroutines to find us the perfect match!"
Steven's seen and read stories of ancient, mystical worlds of chosen ones and the magics required to defeat their enemies. Often through obscene methods, but Steven deemed that irrelevant for now...
All he cared about was that Garnet had chosen the one to wield the Killswitch. Steven shouldn't have been so surprised. But...love. Love was part of that Analysis. Through myriads of people, one that could be chosen. One would put into consideration merit, intelligence and strength to be able to lead. Or one with a set of genetic markers that would have aligned with their purpose. Designer babies weren't new...so it wasn't as if finding someone actually capable of doing the deed was going to be that hard.
Conversations with Garnet in the past made it clear love was unquantifiable. That it could serve to make things worse or better. Short term, long term. Variables that took forever to process.
Steven had a hard time placing it himself. It was never tangible. It was...just there. He's known it, somehow, on journeys that took real time. To mould, to formulate on the natural path. It couldn't be forced. It could be painful.
Then...realisation dawned on him. It burned on him. Searing his fears into his digital heart. His mind eventually formulated the obvious conclusion. His expression slowly, frame by frame, went from from neutral, to furrowed brows, to widened eyes then to a widened mouth.
Love. Love was a weapon. To that which could be worthy to wield the Sword that would be destined to slay him.
He was the evil....
And the King Arthur...
"Connie." Steven uttered in complete horror.
"Connie has the Killswitch....no..."
Did Connie even know?
"I-I gotta know..." Steven said, trying to rip out more of Rose's memories...but struggled to do so as the panic set in. Did she know? No. She would have said something by now, surely. The Incident would have wiped out all knowledge of that...but she did have evidence of memories slipping back. From what Steven recalled, Garnet had warned Rose of the Incident. ^3 So she upped the ante it when it came to the Protection Protocol.
But they could resolve this. Steven could get Connie to resolve it....
The longer Steven gave thought and contemplation, the more he realised that Connie was more than perfect. She wouldn't dare hurt him unless the situation called for it...but she had to. She had to save humanity. She had to be the one, the only one who could.
Attempting to channel his power in this realm between realms, Steven desperately searched for a way to find her. Where ever she was. He swam through the endless dark abyss of space time. Where ever he would be...was he ever going to get that close to her.
He eventually came across a unique blue sphere of light. That had to be her. Filtering the colours of reality, he could only filter in magenta and shades of pink; finding her locked away in what Steven recognised to be the office of President Dot.
The room was a mess and tables and chairs sat against the back door. Bullet casings were all over the floor; as Connie sat next to two spheres of light; behind Ms. Dots desk. The situation felt tense, but Steven couldn't decipher their muffles. He could hear banging at the big doors and Steven already assumed the worst.
But how could he help now? He looked at Connie's sphere, wondering if he could somehow see the Killswitch inside her programming...he felt the sphere again, which forced the sphere to twitch and flicker. He tried again, curling his fingers over her.
"Connie." He said.
"Connie can you hear me?"
The world went black, but a single bit of code came up on his HUD.
File name: CM_888_V1GS_. SolEX
Oh no, no, this wasn't what he wanted.
Open?
Steven swallowed and selected the prompt without much thought of any consequence. From there, like he had before, he'd visited her Psyche Repository; her own internal OS forged by the digitized human soul. Much of it hadn't changed from the last time he was here when Kyanite contained her mind within their programming ^4 The blue and black checkerboard patterned floors and the neon cyan lights.
He didn't like being here without her consent. Not to mention his Protection Protocol was right behind him; scaring the hell out of Steven.
"Ah geez, forgot you were here." He said.
He then pointed forward; seeing a program before him. This one looked like a neutral faced Connie; with light blue outlines of her form and the rest varying shades of grey.
"Wait, Connie's own Protocol?" He questioned.
"I am a Splinter." The VI responded.
"My user had split me from the original."
Wait, you could do that?
"So wait a second." Steven queried.
"You're no longer connected?"
Protocol-Connie nodded.
"I am here to protect my User from threats. You are both a threat to my User. You both must be eliminated."
Protocol-Steven was ready to fight to protect his ward, before actual Steven raised his hands.
"No one has to fight!" Steven urged.
"I want to help your User."
Protocol-Connie was not having it; as she summoned the Sword of Berrybyte; which came to Steven's immediate attention. He wondered...somehow...like how Kyanite covered for Connie; what if...
He didn't have time to think as Steven's own Protocol summoned a shield to defend his user, the sword made a mighty clang upon makeshift metal. The two fought one another, as Steven was forced to somehow sneak around them, as they fought in a tightly hallway. However, they did eventually make their way into a relatively open room, filled with couches and chairs that looked like they belonged to DJ Sour Creams. A club as empty it could be in the daylight.
On the back wall was a picture of Connie and her family; her real family. Looked like a more, modern photo of herself in between her mother and father. He was...happy to see her reconcile with her parents after all this time. Steven felt saddened; detached. He wanted to be part of that so badly...
"Mom wanted to use me...but...still acknowledged me as her child." Steven noted.
"Grandma Cherry wanted me safe...but still knew I had some use."
Rose holding a point about their family being unnatural was also something Steven didn't realise.
And granting him freedom? He wished that were so.
It reminded him of why he was here. To search for the Killswitch.
He tapped in her Soulware files; no that Connie herself would approve of Steven 'hacking' what was considered..her. Soulware alteration was incredibly illegal. But he's been into her mind before. Nothing that the power of Folding couldn't handle he supposed; simply be writting his code to ensure she wasn't aware of what he was doing (despite the fact her physical form may have been in danger)
Though more memories seemed to pour through, unwarranted.
FLASHBACK.
"Duality is Gods way of making two pieces of the puzzle fit together. To work synonymously, in harmony."
Steven look around, seeing himself; or rather, someone in a pink and white dress with tiny hands and feet sit down on a big white velvet chair as they looked upon the image of their tall Grandmother on a screen.
"You are a Diamond Child; and any after you will be as well. We are the side that takes care of everything, while all else services us. We are leading the way, while others must follow."
Seeing her there, demonstrating world leaders, as well as those in the construction trades and blue collar workers.
"Keep the wheels turning; and in the end, you will find yourself in a position of great power. Power that will have humanity soar to greater heights!"
Duality, harmony.
Protection Protocols; VIs and AIs. Awake, asleep. Day and night. Flesh and metal...
SOL and LUNA, Cherry and Rose; Rose and Greg; Greg and Barbara....Barbara and Leon.
Steven and...Connie. Ruby. Sapphire. Garnet.
Love and Justice...
They've been like that as Stevonnie before. Consensus.
Consensus....fusion...
The words tickled his mind; however, with his meddling and poking around, engaged an unwarranted sort, with a blue light expanding all around him. Images and a cacophony of Sapphires singing loudly in their chorus; their melodies and harmonies intertwining like a DNA helix. Code that worked with and against. Compiling load orders, glitches, crashed, rearranging load orders at the speed of light to figure out how to make it work.
It had to work. But why? What for?
"What the-"
The static was deafening. There were subtle aches and pains and the sounds of screeching and screaming and calls for help.
Steven slowly lost all sense of being. Existing in nothing but digital snow scratch and new voices that aligned with his own...
Their own.
The pain was more to the forefront and became unbearable, writing and wretching on the floor. Eventually, the pain subsided, and they soon looked a horrified Ms. Dot, alongside Ronaldo and Lars.
"C-Connie?" Ron said, quiveing in fear.
Connie-no, they were.
Looking towards the doors, they burst open, sending bits of wood and metal everywhere. Stevonnie stood up; towering over everyone else and raised their hand towards the flying debris, summoning hexagonal translucent pink plates which effortlessly deflected all that came to their direction.
"What...what the hell is that?" Lars called out.
Rose-Eyed Humans poured into the room as Stevonnie summoned the Sword of Berrybyte out of their hand; reaching for impossibilities at this rate. They did not think about the implications, only that they had to protect their friends. While Stevonnie did not want to cause harm, the humans that poured into the room were not humans anymore; each held sunken pink glowing eyes and shriveled up skin; emaciated almost to the bone. All wee moaning and groaning; clothes torn and dead set on tearing everyone apart.
Stevonnie had no choice but to put them out of their misery; using their hardlight blade to cut them to bits, mowing them down to end their suffering.
"Come on, let's go!" They called out to the others, attempting to get them to stop pissing their pants and follow their newly realised savior.
"We can try and seek safety in the Deep Throne, follow me!"
Notes:
1. Chapter 48: Virus
2 Chapter 112: Embodiment
3 Chapter 51: Deep Throne
4. Chapter 71: Here
Chapter 115: Defensive Mechanism
Summary:
Consensus in real life isn't something you see everyday.
Notes:
So begins the Solid Stevonnie Arc.
Chapter Text
It was illogical. It had Ms. Dot wondering what the hell went wrong. Freaking out through uncontrollable shaking hands and a mouth left gaping.
Vision that had blurred as they heard frantic banter. Physically, all they could really behold was their fingers that dug into their scalp, pushing their thick, long hair. There were thoughts multiple, with multiple voices thinking how, what, who, what and why. Panic in their bloodstreams, seeing double or quadriple. Impossibilities that surrounded them in shades of magenta, almost translucent, to opaque and thick with the onset of glitches and warped HUDS, interwoven with crashes, flickering blue texts and deafening white noise.
It had to stop. It was agony. Bombastic flashing lights and distorted voices like someone was calling them. Steven...Connie...cold...dark.
A pause....
A touch in their hand. A formed body of pink.
A name to form.
"Lars." They croaked.
Rebooting, they saw Lars right in front of them, who held deep worry on their face. They've never been that worried. Or perhaps it was fear? Who was to say. Sanity might have just been deleted at this rate.
Silence was eventually broken by the one who retained some sense of motion.
"Okay first up, let's just get the Elephant out of the room." Said Ronaldo, before looking straight at Stevonnie.
"Who the heck are you?"
They looked down, their black pants turning into a 3/4 tights, seeing their tanned skin. Looking up at those before them, they became the tallest one, even taller than Ronaldo himself.
"I..." They said.
What did happen? ____onnie didn't even give what they were a second thought. Memories and words failed them; fogged by the lack of reason. There was Connie; then there was...
Them?
They then realised.
"I'm..."
Ms. Dot, seeing the opportunity to take some form of control by demonstrating her supposedly superior strength through intellect, pushed Ronaldo out of the way to get a second look.
"Connie seems to have transformed into a new being." She said, as a matter of fact.
"I mean, with all the screaming, and the face warping and the skin changing...presumbly I heard bones snapping at point....I...have absolutely no idea. YOU'RE INFECTED!"
No....no the absolutely weren't. They were sure. They were Stev_____
They had to reassure them all that wasn't the case; as all they could recall was something entering into their form...and the only one component that added to this mixture wasn't even nearby. But he was. Biscuit Boy pulling off weird shit wasn't entirely new for a being of his very making...
Biscuit...Boy....
"Steven..." They said.
"Steven performed Consensus with Connie..."
Realisation performed its own consensus on two fronts; finally emerging as the Stevonnie entity they had created.
But how...it was a program that could only be formed inside the Domain...
Lars scratched his head. He came back here with the intent of an eternally unfinished mission...but this was not on his bingo card of insane things to happen lately.
"But how?" He asked.
"Consensus is a GIS thing. Achieving that in real life..."
Ronaldo was also perplexed; but also wanted to flex his own intellect; the question being of his against Ms Dots on the side of their own imagination-borne logics.
"And summoning that FIREWALL and that sword? Dude, its easy. It's magic!"
Lars looked at him skeptically. Stevonnie on the other hand only just remembered that was a thing they just did.
"Dude, you're an Engineer." He said; almost forgetting he was resurrected, by other strange magics as some might say.
"Though I suppose engineering is a magic all on its own, according to you."
Ms. Dot shook her head. Besides all the Rose-Eyed humans, she wasn't sure what was worse.
"Real life Consensus should be...impossible!" She shrieked.
"Oh gosh...I need to speak to my Monolith! Mr. Fryman, we need to get our butts to the Deep Throne! pronto!"
Ron was reluctant, wanting to obsess over Stevonnies technicalities, however, Ms. Dot ended up dragging him by the ear with her to the Deep Thone, leaving Stevonnie with a bewildered Lars. They should have been shocked, possibly even dead from this experience. He had to witness the twisted transformation process and listened to their excrutiating screeches, groans and whines, alongside other disgusting noises belonging to flesh and bone that were only to be heard in nightmares.
"Look, I don't know." He said.
"We came here on the whims of trying to see if we could get help from the Yellow Monolith...do you...remember that, at least?"
That's right. Connie came here to get a program from her.
"I kinda of remember why Connie was here." They responded, filtering through existing memories.
"But there's something that needs to be done...and Steven needed Connie for answers."
Lars wasn't surprised. Their relationship was weird; but there was an odd fascination at the same time; he wasn't sure why. He wasn't built to care and maybe it could have been a consequence of the updated Nanites...
"Are you...alright?" He asked.
Were they? Lars didn't know Connie all that long and what ever of her that lived within Stevonnie still existed; they must have been incredibly traumatised by the experience, he was sure. How they continued to act after this...was commendable.
They could speak, they could breath, they could breath naturally without thinking...audio felt real and crystal clear.
"I think...I think so..." They said, their thoughts mangled between multiple sources.
Stevonnie...wasn't so sure, rubbing their neck. What could they say? What could they do? They still had a job to do, with just as an importance as any. If anything, they were wasting time.
"I'm just as confused as you are." They commented.
Lars wasn't even sure he could trust them. But he had little choice. Shaking his head, he too, had to remain focused, as difficult as that seemed. Everything did seem strange, as he had become very much aware. Stevonnie was...unique. But they were here, standing in front of them. An oddity in the air could provide room for doubt but not enough for an immediate pause. Stevonnie on the hand came to the conclusion to purpose and reason, so made the choice to get back on task. Connie's task.
"We can talk about this later." They said.
"We should catch up with Ron and Ms. Dot."
Once they were at the Deep Throne and after Stevonnie cut down hundreds of Rose-Eyed Intruders, President Dot explained how they put into place the best security measures money could buy and invent. Mostly thick metal doors and only elevators were the way to get down that deep. Once they were in front of the Yellow Monolith was when they were able to catch their breath and figure out what the hell was going on.
Ms. Dot and Ronaldo connected them up to the Deep Throne and the Monolith, and summoned Stevonnie into the Monolith, for what ever reason the Conduit needed to speak to them. They weren't far, as they approached Stevonnie with a strange expression, one that told them about the fine line of admiration and disgust.
"A Consensus that has emerged in real life?" Yellow said, covering their mouth.
"How is that even possible?"
A question everyone else wanted to know and Stevonnie didn't like repeating themselves; only because they didn't know why, yet they did? Unless what they were really doing was assuming.
"Steven was thinking about Connie." They said.
"And...I dunno. Here I am!"
Yellow wasn't so sure. Contemplating both the risk and the advantages that White would only dream of. But now reality was really breaking at the seams and it would prove to be extremely problematic if left unchecked. All their hard work demolished in an instant was one of Yellow's constant fears. Cessation was considered Absolute Death.
"White wanted humans to ascend into the Domain, not out." She said.
"And my daughter told me you managed to use..."
The wallofROSE and the Sword of Berrybyte...that's what she was going to say before she trailed off into another line
"I wonder." She said, turning around to pace, going back to a Fountain nearby and sitting down. Stevonnie followed and sat next to her.
"Abomination of what you are..."
Stevonnie shook their head. They had a job to do, regardless of their current form and the breaking of...well, so many known laws of physics and biology.
"Look, White sent us here, figured you could use some help with something." They said.
White sent them for help? That automatically sounded suspicious.
"Defenses should hold. Unless that other abomination manages to sneak her legions here." She said.
"Her control is immense! Just trying to assess the logistics of it all. I have dozens of subroutines shooting out, collecting data but all of it so far points to sheer numbers. Reaching out to our Government representatives so far has failed."
So what could they do? Stevonnie refused to look a the scope of the issue. If the entire world is being affected and assimilated into the Clustermind, becoming solid drones, then what COULD those who still somehow retained their mental facilities even do? Yellow raised valid concerns, but she didn't show herself in the light of a frantic panic.
"And let me guess, Peri put into your heads the idea for a total evacuation?"
No? Well, it wouldn't have been out of scope to suggest such a thing.
"Lucky for you, she holds more concern to you then she does for herself." Stevonnie noted.
Words that surprised Yellow.
"She has an obligation yes." She said.
"Some would call it loyalty. Others, fear. It was what Mother White told us. Told us to treat our children as business. Gears in the cog. The real machine that is our livelihoods is kept running."
Stevonnie wondered if there was any love lost for her daughter. It didn't appear as if there was all true animosity. Just doing ones job to the letter was all that mattered.
"Blue once said she regretted what we had done." Yellow continued.
"After what happened to Barbara...."
It felt like a long time ago since Stevonnie gave a thought to the woman. Almost forgetting that she another of Yellows daughters. History would paint Barbara as a villain; her general broken mind brought on by traumas and manipulations that lead her to try and find her own way to fight back, but ultimately failed. If Stevonnie knew earlier, they maybe they could have even saved her and gave her a chance to properly explain herself.
But there wasn't anything anyone could do about that now; only that it must have affected Yellow as a mother.
"The mother, the original Azure in her never went away; as she felt a pull towards young David. I told her to ignore it, as White would have wanted us to."
Mr. Ryman...Stevonnie wondered how his sons felt about all this.
"And the matter with Pinks children. The way that White treated..."
Stevonnie didn't imagine it would have been easy to cope with such a controlling mother; who would control every aspect of their lives. And hearing and understanding...and despite Stevonnie's components really never knowing the full extent of the average nuclear family experience of having a mother in the normal sense, Connie's own experiences with her AI Parents made Stevonnie believe there was more to it. A familial love that provided much needed warmth and comfort. Stevonnie felt like they needed that more than anything right now. White's own behaviour was extremely telling, given history and circumstances as evidence.
"Your mother was never a mother." Stevonnie noted.
"Your mother is a monster."
A comment that Yellow would not argue with. She sighed. A truth that had been floating about as a bubble that could never be burst, enduring every attempt to pop.
"Truth be told, Blue commented with similar words." She said.
"Our lives continued on regardless of the pain brought birthed of our actions."
No. Not their actions. They were taught to do what they were told. Which begged the following question.
"If you, Blue and Pink all agreed on the way you were being treated, why didn't any of you fight back?" Stevonnie queried.
A question that had been on Yellows mind for years. She supposed it didn't hurt to tell. There really was no reason to hide this information; rather that Yellow had no reason to tell anyone.
"Mother White holds far more influence that you know." She replied, somber.
"Each Monolith's Deep Throne is fixed with explosives."
WHAT? That was the first time Stevonnie heard any of that.
"That's..." Stevonnie said, completely shocked.
"So you'd go too far and then it's like, kablamo?"
Yellow nodded.
That's...that's...
"She said it was a planned contingency that she was forced to make with the European, American, Japanese and Korean Governments." She said.
"So she would hold us all in accord, and on a very tight leash. Holding all of our buttons."
And Pinks?
"As for Cereza..." Yellow said, rubbing her chin.
"I assume where ever her Monolith was being hid all this time; Rosette and Dr. DeMayo would have done away with the bombs. They must have found a way to shut them down without setting off the alarm."
Stevonnie would have been surprised at that, but then again, Rose and Greg were able to make the impossible happen more than once; owing to their skill and cunning.
"But that's not something that can be dealt with right now." Yellow said, sitting back and letting her hands rest in her lap.
"Tell me, you have access to defensive programs don't you?"
As far as what Steven's own phylactery and product suite could provide for them. Looking down and lifting their shirt, they could see Steven's Kernel Core.
"Uhh yeah." They responded.
Enough for Yellow to work with.
"Good that means we-"
BOOOOOOOOOOM
They were too late. It had already begun.
A massive explosion from up above shook the entire Deep Throne enough to have an effect on the digital space within the Yellow Monolith itself; as it went on for what seemed hours, was really just a single minute. It drew immediate panic from Yellow, who summoned screens to call out to her daughter.
"Peri, status report." Yellow demanded.
There was no response for some time, even the screen was static. Stevonnie couldn't stomach the implications as Yellow scanned. She could see massive power flunctuations on numerous charts; and outside perimeters from the few cameras that had so far survived. Yellow's eyes widened, before Peri managed to reconnect, immediately taking away her focus.
"Peri I need that report!
Fear was written all over her face. Only this time, it wasn't a overreaction as small debris crumbled down from above.
"I-I don't know." Peri quivered.
"I don't...."
Yellow didn't understand it. They were far deep beneath the Earth...what in the world could...she tried to go back to her cameras, but all the feeds were now lost; as another blast hit them. The impacts sent heavy tremors, causing even more power flunctuations. It only meant one thing.
"No....they wouldn't."
Stevonnie narrowed their expression.
"Wouldn't what?" They said.
If only they weren't so focused on themselves they could pay attention to what's going on around them. No. Yellow had to take action and to take action. Or someone else had to stop them.
"Humanity will go extinct." She said, hardened herself as she made tentative fists.
"They'll destroy us. Then they will destroy themselves."
No. She couldn't be that pessimistic. There was still hope.
"Find Blue." She said, expressioned saddened.
"Leave me."
Leave?
"Go find Blue."
No. Stevonnie couldn't leave them behind. No matter how bleak it looked, they refused to do so.
"Ms. Dot, get them out of here!"
The second strangest thing was that Stevonnie did not want her to die. Once Mimosa, Yellow was human. In the unfortunate service of her tyrannical mother. Experienced loss through her own daughter... Stevonnie's form begun to flicker, as Peri was trying to wrench them out. Stevonnie refused to budge. Alarms went off, signalling a far worse problem up above. Yellow knew she could not leave....only that she could possibly prepare Stevonnie for what was to come. For what abomination they were, she knew that they would have to have some better use than being trapped in here.
Stevonnie briefly panicked, as if debating what to do in the head. It was fascinating; seeing an AI and a human bond as such. Consensus on itself, frowned upon by combining any number or combination of GIS, simply because of the danger it posed. A set of Ruby GIS were fine, but...testing on combinations didn't seem too bad.
Yellow went to open her mouth, as Stevonnie wrapped their arms around them, with a thin flm of a purplish aura surrounding their persons. There was a perculiar feeling that hit Yellow hard and fast, causing her to gasp as Stevonnie gripped them tightly.
Her mind couldn't find a reason. Couldn't find a why. As far as she understood from the components, they were enemies. Such compassion was undeserving and yet, she found herself wrapping her own arms around the young consensus.
"I'm sorry." Stevonnie sobbed.
Why would they be sorry for her? Maybe the fact that Yellow was going to die in an unholy blaze, demolished to smithereens. Absolute fear was no where to be found. After all, there was always the feature to disable pain receptors. Her eyes would glow a deep purple, as perception and thoughts became text on a screen. A mind scrambling through noise, slowing time to correlate data into information. An abnormality that couldn't be detected; but words that would reach out in futility, to a communication standard that few constinuents had access to.
LoG UpdatING
This world was always on the cusp of war, Mom believed.
A war due to a lack of resources. I was there...in the canopies, looking down at all the filth.
A daughter of a wealthy European family. The set to Eldest, as tradition, to inherit it all.
But I never did.
I cannot properly place where she started to lose her mind; but the obvious point was with her obsession with obtaining alien tech.
These...Monoliths.
They were to be our salvation. A record to infinity. Beauty eternal, forms immortal but at a price.
She promise us we would still be alive but one by one, each of us.
Mother touched hers first, but made sure I was there, to watch how it was done. She was fearless in doing so, not afraid to cast off her solid form and be absorbed by the crystalline structure.
Azure and Cereza were made to watch mine too. Then Azure...
Mother claims Cereza was brainwashed somehow, by that horrid boyfriend of hers. She was always different. Our Alice's mind in her own Wonderland. But even I think Mother went too far with the Bastard Childs fate. Her own granddaughter...and I thought I was harsh with young Barb and Peri.
But I followed, willingly. Every project, every development from start to finish. I was told that I would feel accomplished if I adhered to her 'carefully planned structure." And I did...
However, what really emerged were other feelings. Strong feelings I was ordered to set aside for the sake of progression. Even as my own eldest killed herself for reasons beyond my own understanding. I could not afford to even grieve or mourn or even be at her own funeral.
All this talk of saving humanity. Our family doesn't even act human.
And here sits our Entity, our "saving grace." the magic meant to bring us further.
What am I to do at the end of it all? For all my power, I really cannot save myself. All these defensive mechanisms put into place and for what?
But maybe the Entity could still save humanity from us. If I was to find satisifaction at all from any achievement, it would be to place the last of my trust, my faith in those whom have felled me, demonstrating their superior strength.
Mother, forgive me.
Opening their eyes, Stevonnie could see Lars; his big head as they realised they he was carrying them out.
"L-Lars?"
He looked at them as they woke, and another quake caused him to accidentally drop them. Once it stopped, they were able to quickly compose themselves.
"They're really going at it!" Ronaldo called out.
Wait, where was Ms. Dot? What about Yellow? Stevonnie sat there, rubbing their head.
"Come on, we gotta meet Leon at the rendesvouz point!" Lars said, picking Ronaldo and Stevonnie off the ground.
It really became hard to think when instinct for survival took over, as Stevonnie and Ronaldo ran after a pedantic Lars as PeriCom crumbled and broke apart.
Eventually they came to a large room with a huge warp hole; with Leon jumping out. Without wasting time, they all jumped on to his back, sans Stevonnie, who looked at the hallway before them, with the sadness that comes with hoping to Peri and Yellow running behind. It was a futile type of yearning, and desire to run back to keep trying to save them.
"We gotta go!" Lars called out.
Even Ronaldo agreed.
"Let's go! We can't save them!"
Heartless as it was, Stevonnie didn't want to believe it. Among the chaos, and perhaps it was more from the Steven Component that their heart was being torn into two. Mimosa...a woman of strength, but she was also family. Regardless of her make. And so was Peri. It only had hit them in these last moments that their entire campaign was to lessen the effects, lessen the negative impact of their plans. The Connie side saw reason and felt everything Steven did; reflecting in tears ran down their face as they turned back to Leon and jumped on in front of Lars as they held on Leon's mane, and rode back into the portal, before a white hot blast consumed the room as they left.
Chapter 116: Dark Side of the Moon
Summary:
The sun will rise again.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
At the Site, the Custodian Children, Lars, Cobalt and Dr. Ryman were all huddled around a large monitor in the Hub Room, looking at the charred remains of what was once Mega Beach City. Where PeriCom once was, was nothing more than a smoking crater. Who knows how many died. Thousands, tens of thousands. Millions.
While the Rose-Eyed were problematic, there were all human. Humans with families. Humans minding their own business and humans just trying to survive in a horrible world.
It served to the group as a reminder that Luna would pay for what she had done. Cobalt looked behind him, looking towards where their...parent was infirmary, having a lookover by Priyanka. Being looked at from top to bottom, with test after test after test. Someone of Stevonnie's like shouldn't exist.
But Priyanka wasn't able to find anything specifically concerning other than a slightly higher body temperature; usually a sign of double jacking but Stevonnie wasn't feverish, nor were they sick by any means. As for their mental health was what Priyanka was really worried about. The fusion of mind, body and soul demonstrated patched memories of both Steven and Connie, but they felt like they were somebody else altogether; it had been relatively difficult to explain. Stevonnie sat on the gurney as Priyanka had finished the physicals. But she could see the sorrowful expression on their face. Head sunken and body slouched; it was clear that the events at PeriCom had them riddled with guilt. The good Doctor could be over analytical at times, but she was just that; a Doctor who's job was to get down to the bottom to dilemmas they had studied and train to solve, often at its roots.
Stevonnie looked exhausted and Priyanka didn't to stress them out anymore than they had been. Her daugher accepted her as a Mother. Not the a real mother, but a mother with a shoulder to cry on. She would continue to treat Stevonnie not just a patient, but as if they were her own child. But often the Doctor side overrode the Mother side; a balance she had to remind herself to maintain. Often with great difficulty.
"Did you want to talk about what happened?" Priyanka offered.
Stevonnie brought up their knees and buried their face into them, overriden by a painful combination of shame and sorrow.
"Yellow wanted my help in setting up defenses." They said.
Priyanka nodded. It seemed ironic; that it was timed so well that it couldn't be a coincidence. From what she knew of the Yellow Monolith, that she was rather reserved. Tough, but fair. A no nonsense kind of person. Whether or not her real life counterpart was the same, was a question going to forever be unanswered. But the fact that she wanted Stevonnie to live; meant it was possible she knew more than what was letting on. The fearlessness of her character would live on.
"I have all this great m a g i c, that I can't even use it to save people."
She'd spoken to Lars earlier; bless that kids 180 in personality since they updated his Nanites Firmware. He'd told her what he'd witnessed. Stevonnie defending them from a horde of Rose-Eyed. Impressive if anything else.
"Sounds like the Yellow Monolith was in a tricky position." Priyanka told them.
"She made a split decision to spare those she could."
Even Ms. Dot? Her own daughter? More tears ran down Stevonnie's face as they withdrew further in. The walls begun to grow purple veins from the roof and from the floor, as Priyanka disturbingly noticed. Stevonnie sobbed, and clenched their fingers into their legs.
"I SHOULD have saved her." They declared. More veins and even the subtle sound of a heartbeat echoed through the room, worrying Priyanka greatly.
Priyanka sighed. Memories served to source emotional compucture. To wonder, of someone of Stevonnie's unusual substance of being part AI; would they experience Absolutes?
Spectrums of an emotion that an AI or a GIS feels have be monitored with caution. There are dampener adjustments in an AIs coding that tries to sway intense feelings; as leaning too hard can damage the cortex and lead to further issues with the mental stability of an AI; akin to human brain damage. Dampener adjustors also need to be at a particular percent in use to avoid other issues; bottlenecking. Some AIs and GIS Priyanka had done sessions with reported their dampeners were often increased by their creators and users; and that they had the feeling of being trapped and ignored and forever felt like they in a dream; or ultimately caged and limited in movement.
A balance to be had; to allow them to feel what they need to feel then move on, but it begged the question how much an AI needed to feel.
"And I should have saved Nanefua." She said.
"As a Doctor, it's not always the case where we can save everyone we treat. But at least give them some peace before the time comes."
Peace. There was no...peace. Blood begun to pour down the walls. Fearful, but in control, Priyanka was able to connect the dots quite easily. She placed a hand on Stevonnie's arm, which prompted them to look at their mother, who then moved her hand to Stevonnie's face. There was her daughter in there and another she had to care for. Experiencing fear of this unknown and regret of events seemingly out of their control. Yes, there must be power. But there's also the desire to survive conflicting with the need to help somebody. A mind scrambled in the moment and really, the most human and organic moment creating logics from things illogical.
That's how Dr. Maheswaran made peace with herself as a digital being; she determined for herself that, was entirely normal and speaks from truer beliefs of her origins and the mind she was borne from. As for Stevonnie...it was, no different. They just had to see that for themselves like Priyanka had both learned from Doug and told him. She could tell that they were trying their darnest to make sense of it.
"You are made of two of the strongest people I know." Priyanka assured.
"The fact that you care so much that it hurts; is proof that your hearts combined demonstrate a level of intensity within oneself. Even if you are physically able, the mind can go on the defensive, but doesn't know the best way how."
Demonstrating their inability to take action. Conflict with values wasn't the issue. Conflict with what action to take was their mainstay.
"But I digress." Priyanka continued.
"Go to Connie's room. Get some rest. Let the rest of us deal with it for now. If we need you..."
She wiped a tear off their face with her finger. Of course, Priyanka was doubly troubled and forever worried. If she could keep them safe she would. But she promised Doug that Connie had her own destiny to find; even if it was cojoined with somebody elses.
"We'll call you..."
Stevonnie relented, going to Connie's room to rest. They probably won't, but they needed to be alone with their thoughts for a while. As complex as the situation was, denying them the chance to process what's happened in the last few hours wasn't going to do them any favours.
Stevonnie laid on their side on Connie's bed, facing towards the WorkStation. Memories flooded back of Connie going into the hole behind the loose panel. It was still there and no one had known the wiser. but it prompted them finally to allow the processing to begin. Along the silent hum of machines, Stevonnie flashed back to Connie's conversation with Sadie...
"The Monoliths were on found the damn moon!" ^1
The Moon. Stories of gardens and strawberries and cats alike; except replace them with labs and GIS and androids alike. Not smelling like roses, but it possessd the stench of sterility, rubber plastic and metal.
Hard to believe, but it wasn't the worst. In all, this revelation did answer a lot of questions but raised new ones in their place. Bringing in the light on some but darkness still shadowed others.
"When Connie started this, she wanted nothing more to find the truth about the Pink Monolith." They said to themselves; voice a husky, tired whisper.
Flashes back to when Connie met up with Pat-Risha on numerous occasions and numerous clients. Times were much simpler when the most worrything was finding the next challenge. Others were of Steven hanging out with the Ancillas. Messing arouund when only the greatest of mysteries held great promise, glory, possibly fame and riches.
And Steven just wanted to able to just live and have Connie and Pizza in his life as well.
"I'm sorry I made you go through all this." Stevonnie said; though their tone was a little different; deeper.
"I didn't mean to jump into you like that."
Apologies were pointless. ___onnie was annoyed, angry at their body being transformed like that against their will.
"What's done, is done."
Emotions could fester, but Stevonnie was incredibly drained due to their most recent near death experience. Absolutes were as far away as the Moon was from the Earth. They closed their eyes and allowed themselves to disappear into a deep slumber.
From within the dream came a void; from that void came a blue hologram of Connie and a pink Hologram of Steven; both standing still, eyes closed and unmoving in body. Rows of Roses and spider lillies dotted the landscape, that appeared and waved about like corals, alongside blue irises. The wind would allow petals to ride across gentle currents, as bubbles arose from cracks in the earth. Their ears turned to sounds like they were underwater; but they could breath underneath it.
Eventually on their stroll, as their hair bobbled up and down, in the distance they saw a yellow hologram standing in front of a blue sword dug into the blackened earth, with a pink shield against it.
"You know what they called the first AIs that passed the turing test?"
That sounded like...Greg? Except it was slightly muffled, like it was coming from a tape recording. Stevonnie kept spinning around for the source, until a bearded Greg walked passed them, older and balder as what was left of his long brown hair slowly waved around, flowing about. His form flickered and glitched; like a broken projection.
"If you guessed Adam and Eve; you'd be wrong." He said.
The Hologram of Steven begun to glow brighter; as a hologram of the AI Core appeared to rise up, less bright, as Greg paced around it.
"My Ancestor; well, your great, great grandfather, the true founder of DM Biometrics, was the first to develop truely sentient AIs using primitive brain scans as templates. So he called them: Steven and Nora; after his young twin siblings."
The first generation of...AI's? the Steven hologram split into two; a pink sun and a blue moon emerged.
"To the public, they're called the Universe Twins. The next in digital miracles and human development. The public had a variety of uh...mixed reactions."
Articles and articles popped up of various columns from websites and reviews. People feared Artificial Intelligence would take over; verses those who would just tell others to embrace the norm. A massive wall was formed of floating screenshots, from hundreds, thousands and hundreds and thousands of people.
"I blame movies for seeding such unwarranted paranoia." Greg commented.
"But his work solidified the groundwork for an unforgettable legacy. So when your great grandfather was born; he was expected to do great things...and great things...he did..."
The Discoverer of Soulware; or the creator. It was hard to say when historical documents, as far as ____onnie's memories. Were quite conflicting. Did humanity develop Soulware? Or did they actually find it?
"But you...you are the latest in the DeMayo line." Greg continued. He finally stood in front of Steven, looking somber in front of him, staring at the now floating boy in the tank.
"I'm not sure this is what Simon DeMayo wanted when researching Soulware. But he held the AI Patents. And he needed the money for his research. PeriCom purchasing the rights for AI development was the start."
Water seemed to drain away as the visions turned to reality; a solid Greg held onto the AI Core; gently caressing it.
"But you shouldn't be burdened with the knowledge of old men and those already six feet under; who one by one sought to better humanity, to better improve upon it."
He lightly scratched the sides of the casing, as Greg slowly fell to his knees.
"Your mother wants you so badly to seek out your own truth for yourself. Not in service to anyone else but yourself. You deserve freedom. Actual freedom."
Stevonnie stood there, as a tear rolled down their face. The echo of a scientist; no, a father, as regret could not be sequestered so easily or freely. So Rose wanted Steven to hold themselves to no legacy or expectations; but at the same time, he was designed to be the catalyst to what could amount to an extinction of an entire species.
If Stev_____ could only meet their mother to find exactly what their intentions were and what could be really done about their current situation before it was too late.
At the Deep Throne held a meeting; congregated of Priyanka, Doug whom had projected himself from the Monolith, Dr. Ryman and Cobalt.
There was the discussion about the loss of a Monolith; through Doug, ascertained that there were already signs of further issues arising; as if they didn't need anything else spiralling out of control. Or any further arguments; from the implications of destroying the Cluster Monolith, to even suggesting the destruction of the AI Core with Steven along with it. Only to spare him from Lunas manipulations and further suffering.
Especially with the Stevonnie Consensus. Too many unknowns to consider. While no one wanted to hurt Steven or even think of killing him, they were all grown adults (or adult-facing AI) they had to agree that it was only as a last resort.
If he wasn't so protected by Leon...he became a different issue.
His new form has raised many questions as to how he was made that way, not even Doug with all his library books could describe; something short of a miracle. Perhaps, the less surprising aspect.
Right now they couldn't afford to be surprised such things. They had much bigger concerns to worry about.
"The destruction of a Monolith is definitely going to make the Domain more unstable." He said, sensing the shifts already.
"I'm not sure what's going to come first."
A slow death of reality, or the quick and painless one that Stevonnie could cleave if they knew how to. But otherwise, trying to assess the situation thats already gone haywire and temper it with limited resources set the course of what were the key players and what would they need to do with they had. Things couldn't return back to where they were, but they had to at least maintain some level of structural sanity. Their main foe, Luna, was still at large. She had to be dealt with.
"Cobalt." Said Ryman, facing the Android and in desperate need to change the topic. Being the only organic left from the original team saddened him. More than once he'd believed technology would surpass the need to wield flesh. But now, he wasn't so sure.
"Hows your tracking of Luna going?"
The AI born of Steven and Connie's data; brought out a tablet.
"Difficult." He said.
"She jumps from place to place...so she never stays in one area for too long."
She had to be behind the attack of Mega Beach City; no doubt. All that loss of life; a waste. For as much as they wanted to mourn, they still had work to do.
"I was wondering if we can install the firmware that we used for Lars on a Lapis Satellite. Might making honing in on her more easier."
An idea...if they could retrieve one that wasn't shut down and impossible to reach.
"Risky." Said Ryman.
He'd taken what Priyanka had given him about the fusions condition. They were lucid, but fearful, cautious. He'd want them to be the latter in order for them to prioritise conversation; limiting their damage as much as they could possibly muster. Willpower was their only device against accidentally doing something they shouldn't be. While there was much they still didn't know about their true capabilities, there was one theory the former fry cook had in mind.
"I'm wondering if we can use Stevonnie's power to sever the connection between the Cluster Monolith and her use of it."
An idea. But even more riskier than Cobalts one.
"Stevonnie needs time." Priyanka urged.
Time they were running out of. The Infected Protection Protocol was stuck within Steven's AI Core but refused to crack into the soulware, namely because, somehow there was a giant pink lion resting before it, refusing to let anyone near the Core despite signs of internal errors. How that pink fluffy cat came to be was a story rapidly told by the Custodian Kids, but one anyone could scarcely believe was true. Or they were just incredibly delusional...Doug had done his own scans on Stevonnie, however, and noted a certain strangeness.
"Stevonnie contains Steven as well." Said Doug.
"But I don't detect the Protocol within him."
Because as far as anyone knew, Steven's Protection Protocol took the full brunt of the virus and infected pretty much nearly everyone and every human on Earth.
"I'm wondering if that issue with the AI Core overheating earlier, whether that had something to do with it." Said Priyanka.
"That is due to the power of Folding."
They'd almost forgotten about Obsidia stuck in a Clone Pearl body. For the most part, silent.
"Folding?" Said Dr Ryman.
Was that the power he was thinking about? Obsidia smiled as they strode inside.
"The Power of Folding that is exclusive to people like myself and Steven." They continued.
"Except, his power is stronger than mine."
Doug suspected this could have been the case; some book he once read, referenced it. But otherwise, didn't think it was something that could feasibly exist.
"The power to bend reality." He muttered.
Priyanka could possible understand a little more about the so called, magic weapons. Obisidia rubbed her the wrong way.
"The brilliance of his existence, the reasoning behind his power of being the Transitional Entity, is that he is the symbol that binds AI and humans together. More than the symbol even. Through his power, I assisted him with splintering off a piece of himself from the whole, and that one part stands with Stevonnie and the other inside the AI Core."
What?
"He split his entire program in half?" Cobalt said, shocked.
"I didn't even know AIs could do that."
Ryman suspected something was up. Even with the power of folding at his fingertips, Obsidia nudging him sounded strange.
"It's not really recommended." He said.
"Fragmenting digital intelligences like that causes problems. The Program isn't a consensus that can just form and split at their leisure. It's like building a house; and splitting it in half. Sure you still have the kitchen but the piping is all on the other side."
So, what could they do now?
"Would Steven have needed Connie's Soulware to make himself feel...whole...I wonder..." Doug theorised.
Hard to say, either that, or somehow issues he'd been detecting the AI Core were beginning to show possible symptoms that his hardware needed some repairing. But gathering from what they knew, and from Dr. Maheswarans own assessments and tests, there were two simple conclusions.
"Stevonnie; while physically able, shows signs of distress and exudes...this so called magic due to slight levels of digital and mental instability." Priyanka said.
"Their abilities also appear to tie into their mood."
Obsidia crossed their arms.
"That part can be controlled." They said.
"Folding utilises a mixture of parts of their nature to conduct runtimes. They need to make a conscious effort to able to code properly."
AIs in general, as Priyanka had come to know, had personality matrices that were sometimes connected to their abilties to facilitate their purpose. Hence why the emotional cortexes were so integral.
"Their subconscious, their emotions...will power..."
Precisely.
"You said you were made up of thousands of minds." Said Dr. Ryman.
"How do you keep all that stable?"
Obsidia smiled.
"It takes years of what you would call, mental alignments." They said.
"The knowledge of ages and experiences. Our consensus evolved to a single apex existence; known as a Metasoul."
A metasoul?
"You could describe it as a school of fish, if I'm getting that term correctly, all swimming in the same direction. Or birds flying across the sky in a particular pattern, heading north."
Primal instinct almost; solid subconscious thought.
"Is that how the power of Folding works?" Cobalt asked.
"Get enough soulware to together, the energies combined have enough to break reality?"
Obsidia nodded.
"But Steven isn't...isn't made up of thousands of souls is he?" Cobalt said, looking at Ryman.
That would be a disturbing thought.
"As far as I'm aware, no." He said.
"Stevens formation required...sensitive, untested, illegal practices."
Ryman knew more about Steven's creation than he let on. He just hoped it didn't get to the point where it was an absolutely necessary piece of information that could jeopardize everything. Especially when he couldn't fully trust Obsidia; they may have suspected the truth, or even knew it. But he wanted to ensure he knew what they really knew first; staring at them with restrained judgement.
"But having Connie's Soulware alone; has increased their power greatly." Obsidia commented; steering the topic away.
"What took us milennia to achieve; has only taken such a short time frame to them alone breach the Domain space. Its beautiful."
And somehow quite wrong at the same time.
"The idea of Stevonnie having a metasoul. It worries me." Said Doug.
"My daughter is a fighter through and through. I'm certain she should be able to keep Steven stable. But how long, I can't say."
But for how long. Ryman worried about this the most; because really the only one who really knew that part than anyone else was Greg and he'd long since vanished. He looked at the despondant Cobalt; supposably the true weapon against Luna. To what extent had been discussed once before and that perhaps; he could assist Stevonnie.
"But Stevonnie cutting the ties that bind the Cluster Monolith to Luna is feasible enough to work. It would certainly slow her down."
Stevonnie found themselves continuing to walk in the darkness...and from the darkness appeared stars, stars so distant...
From their feet was a grey dusty ground...and as they continued to walk, they came across light that poured over a round sphere that almost blinded them. Once vision returned, they finally understood with a grand awe from their lips.
The glorious warmth of a sunrise over the glory of the Earth; from the distance of its most famous natural satellite.
Satellite...
Speaking of which, they could see numerous Satellites that floated about. Stevonnie wasn't sure if they were still dreaming, but..it was like Earth was back in its functional state. You'd have no idea how much chaos reigned upon it. Organised chaos perhaps. How much damage Luna was doing was hard to comprehend, delving into what ifs of the most devastating assumptions.
Damage foretold long ago.
"Lapis..." Stevonnie said.
A lot of the Satellites were deemed inactive, possibly vunerable to the Virus. It would have cut off critical communications world wide, and they begun to think about the consequences as such. Billions disconnected yet many more connected in a network on a scale never before seen; and whether or not there were more humans that had somehow not been affected by the virus, were possibly left stranded, helpless. Hopeless.
They were in favour of creation through connections; but too much of it has caused nothing but problems. Destruction through disconnection was the only way to resolve this.
"I remember the documents telling something like this was going to happen."
Looking to their right, they could see Lapis sitting down on top of the barn, overlooking the sun. All of a sudden there was a barn; and a garden of strawberries. Since when was there a farm on the moon?
"How...did..." Stevonnie asked, perplexed.
The Lazuli shrugged. She was nonchalant.
"I dunno. I'm just here." She said.
"Saw this Farm and barnhouse here. Only thing of interest."
There was a slight glitch, a glimpse of nonreality. No, they had to dreaming...or were they in Domain Space? This was so confusing! Either that, or it was a problem with the Components. A conflict of minds that reminded Stevonnie of whom they were composed of. Lapis was typical of a nature of a tide; rolling with it, ebb and flow. There was both a calm and disturbing notion about it all the same, just with her presence and body language alone. Her tone only but reflected that. Stevonnie soon joined her, sitting down as well.
"I couldn't save the Yellow Monolith." Stevonnie told her.
Lapis lifted her chin, wary of Steven's affiliation of organic life. For all life, for that matter.
"The Documents told me that the Domain was already falling apart."
It'd been forever since the Documents were even mention; a reason as to why a lot of this was done in the first place. It felt like such a distant memory.
"Yet you don't seem to care." Stevonnie said.
It was hard to figure out what Lapis was really thinking and feeling. She was blunt but always felt like she was hardly telling the truth.
"It isn't that I don't care..." She said.
"It's wondering why...I am here."
She was a Satellite? Created for world wide information and communication transfers and transmissions.
"I sit, lay low until it ends."
Sounded like she was looking forward to the end of the world?
"We're going to save it." Said Stevonnie.
"I mean, well, we're figuring it all out. I have this power to shape reality that I can use...I just need to know how to properly use it, but its tied to the mind and a human mind at that."
Lapis has heard all that before. Humans and their obessions with so called, God Complexes. Superiority. Deliverers of cruelty via selfish behaviours; and the lust for power that scales higher and higher, uses piles of those they trample over, to reach greater heights.
She's seen and heard a lot during her existence. She knows how humans operate, better or worse. She'd rather not be one if she can help it.
"I hope its a power that can erase mistakes." She said.
"Or make big new ones."
If only. This was a dream after all.
"I mean, look at this dream. I've never had such a lucid dream before...the power of the human mind is really something."
Lapis looked downwards, seeing the leaves of the strawberry farm dance in the wind. Wind on the moon; and Stevonnie being human; it didn't seem plausible that suddenly there was at atmosphere here.
"What if it's not a dream?" Lapis suggested.
"What if, you destroyed an entire world, and reshaped it from scratch. And when you decide to wake up, that new world is gone and the old world is brought back."
Stevonnie looked at Lapis strangely. They don't recall any documents presenting such a bizarre and obscene theory, certainly not one about the Domains degradation.
"That's a bit much." They said, slightly freaked out.
Lapis shrugged. She could really use her imagination when she wanted to. Or it's theory posed and joked about by her Lazuli Sisters.
"AI's don't sleep. They don't need to." She said.
"But humans must sleep; their body needs to be comatose while their mind is awake in the Domain."
It begged the question on the true nature of dreaming; connecting to ones personal grid. Though, in a sense, dreaming as far as what ____onnie could wager from science classes, was just the brain jumbling through itself in an often incoherent manner.
Stev_____ had never felt more alive that when ever they double jacked with ____onnie. The harshness of the world and all its pain and splendour. It was like taking a breath for the first time.
"Dreaming doesn't mean humans are in the Domain." Stevonnie pointed out.
"You probably won't understand. You don't sleep."
Lapis closed their eyes, looked onwards as a school of satellites floated by....looking back; each of them had transformed into Lapis like her, blue bodies and watery wings at all, as they flew around the Earth, giggling and talking to one another.
"No." She said.
"I don't. We're shut down. Made dormant. Our version of 'sleep' doesn't contend with dreams. We're just...inactive."
A fact that Stevonnie didn't even begin to consider....and wonder many things out a loud as they two looked at the scores of Lapis flying around; so many that it formed like a Saturn like ring; only bluer.
"What if the Domain was an artifical dream?" They said.
"A reality that is tightly controlled. And the Monoliths are only there to stabilise it..."
Again, Lapis couldn't say for certain. Stevonnie grew wary of a lack of a comment; but it lead them to consider all the Rose-Eyed, tied up in an endless, conjoined nightmare; like they were stuck on the dark side of the moon, together, clustered in cold lifeless shadows. Turned into AIs that ran on wetware. Unstabilised could mean the lack of control; but dreams on their own were said to have silly nonsense that some would call metaphors. The Domain made sense, but dreams did not. Or they did; it was usually dependant on the dreamer.
But billions dreams combined together. It was literally one of the biggest threats the Cluster Monolith provided; the source of the mess.
A stable Domain 2.0 would have been this reality in question; without the garbled mess that conjoined dreams will throw up. If it could have been controlled so tightly, humans would ultimately be thrust to the forefront of a new and exciting evolution. That's what it was all presented as.
"How would a human know they are awake?" Lapis queried.
Stevonnie begun to think. And think hard they did. How could they give an answer so simple?
"Sensations are...amplified." They answered.
Lapis nodded, seeing the strawberries on the ground. She flew up and towards the strawberries, with Stevonnie following suit. Lapis leaned over and plucked out a single strawberry and observed it with dull fascination.
"Parts of the Domain can do that too." She said.
"So if humans were so against this evolution, even if the Domain can mimic a lot of the human expression already, why was Rose so against it?"
A catalyst. A rebel in the fleet of immortality and power obsessed cultists she was supposed to call family. Parts of Stevonnie could see why.
Rose smiled, then she frowned.
"Well yes, but...I think...there is something...lost in the process during the Screencaps." She said.
"We're not quite sure what it is. We should be able to test out the remaining subjects for the Beta Group in the meanwhile, but I distinctly believe we need humans to start screencapping without the use of the Monoliths. Maybe there's hope in realising what it is we actually need." <2
"Rose believed part of humanity disappears when you're turned into an AI." Stevonnie noted.
And you've have to already have been human to realise what was lost...that's what they had assumed anyway. There was no proper answer; all was left to philosphy at the end of the day. And they didn't have time to make theories that never really went anywhere. Yet Rose fought for a feeling. A sentimentality that was worth preserving; whether or that could be preserved wasn't going to be clear at all. Stevonnie picked up a strawberry as well. Would it have the same texture, taste and smell as an actual strawberry?
"So what do you want?" Lapis asked.
Stevonnie looked at the blue GIS.
"Huh?" They said, not sure what they meant.
Lapis fiddled and spun the strawberry in her hand, as she looked at her sisters.
"Steven once asked me what I wanted." She said.
"I told him that we don't want. We just are. But you are human...even if you didn't get to experience humanity like you wanted, you were made from a human. And a human, while smelly, weird and contradictory in its own nature, you just have your wants...whether they are logical to us or not. I will never understand why. I'm not made to understand why."
She had a point. Though Lapis was incorrect about not wanting anything.
"You are plenty capable enough of want." Stevonnie pointed out.
"You messed around for a reason. You didn't want to approach armageddon in complete boredom."
Lapis was not meant to experience boredom. That was not in her design.
"All GIS are. You may not be designed for it, but it happens when you're given sentience and a free will." Stevonnie continued.
Amethyst being a good example of a GIS design with human aspects involved. Yet she's done all sorts of crazy things. And other GIS too.
Even the Synthesised; those whom had formed consensus, there were parts of them not inherently written in their programming that were supposed to have them form consensus, yet they performed it anyway. It was beautiful, in its own strange way.
"Woah...that wasn't...wasn't half bad." They said.
Consensus was always a weird thing, they found. They looked over the edge, to look at reflection of themselves in the violet waters. They decided to pick the most appropriate name, according to what Lapis knew.
"Charoite. Yeah, we're Charoite." <3
And not forgetting Lapis' consensus with Steven.
"Charoite was formed out of necessity." Lapis said.
And other Lapis were also capable of want. Wanting to share data with their sister. What made this Lapis so different?
"But you're right. I did want to try new things. But it wasn't always because I wanted to. I had to. Or I needed to."
And it was easy for the lines to blur between wants and needs.
"Maybe I was bored as well."
That too.
"But I still have a job to do. I'm not a Crystal Ancilla, but I might as well be one."
Stevonnie smiled. It brought a sense of joy and happiness to hear her say that.
"You were always part of the Ancillas." They reminded her.
Lapis sighed, throwing the strawberry into the Garden before flying upwards.
"Where are you going?" Stevonnie asked, pleading for Lapis to stay.
Lapis glanced downwards onto the confused consensus. She couldn't stay for long.
"This is your Garden now." She said.
What?
"What...wha?" Stevonnie stammered.
"What am I going to do with a Garden of Strawberries?"
Lapis shrugged.
"I dunno. Sell them? Grow more? What's that old human saying, you reap what you sow? I don't know. I'm still getting used to metaphors."
She flew off to join her sisters in the massive ring around the Earth. Stevonnie was still left so entire perplexed.
Their garden? What did she...
The strawberries disappeared; instead in their place were dozens of pink roses in bloom, growing so large so rapidly it almost buried Stevonnie. Panic, the inability to breath that caused them to vomit out curly pink hair.
"Stevonnie!"
They gasped, shooting up from the bed as they heard their name called. Looking around, they could see Lars leaning on the door frame. It took them a moment to compose themselves, and get their breath back. A nightmare. A sudden, heart twisting nightmare.
"Geez you were really..." Lars said, before noticing that they were trying to rid themselves of their current hyperventilation status.
Stevonnie swallowed, before being able to sit foot in reality again and suddenly regretting not locking the door.
"Sorry." They said.
Lars rolled his eyes.
"Why you gotta apologize for a stupid dream?" He said.
"Or is two in one not all its cracked up to be?"
Stevonnie sighed. They really didn't want to think about that right now. Swinging their legs over and getting up; they figured Lars was here for more than being a literal wake up call.
"What do you want?" They asked abruptly, going towards the nearby mirror and making sure they looked presentable. Which including tying up their hair. It took some getting used to in some areas; with elements of Stev_____ and ____onnie floating about.
Lars pulled out a file from his jacket and presented it to them.
"Sadie and I have been digging through rooms previously locked in the old chambers near the Cluster Monolith." He said.
"Old Weiss United junk for the most part. But we did find something that might have value....DM Biometrics related it looks like."
Why would there be DM Biometrics paperwork in the old Site? Stevonnie took the papers and analysed them. Their eyes skimmed through numerous documents, and it appeared to talk about Obsidia; an analysis by Rosette Flannigan. It looked....concerning. But it appeared as if Rose mentioned another third party; A Gavan Peterson.
They talked about resurrecting Obsidia with the Cradle; as per the Obsidia Tablets requirements. But Gavan raised some points on concerns about resurrecting a dead alien; one that promises to changes humanities fate. There was talk about the properties of Folding...and the outcome Garnet predicted, alongside the Sapphire's Song that foretold of evolution guided by the brightest jewel of humanity.
It all seemed to match up with intentions Rose had with staving the Developers influence and Grandmother White's complete control freak nature, leading to details relating that a Child of a Diamond would ultimately be the one to Fold humans into GIS and the ultimate construct; turning them all into a possible second Obsidia at the end of it.
"Gavan seemed to suggest that this whole thing was whole thing was how the aliens...increased their numbers?" Lars said, with croaked confusion.
"Ron and Peedee tried to find details about this Gavan character, thinking he was an old associate of Rose from Terra Company, but come up with nothing."
Terra Company...Stevonnie couldn't help but recall something about...Terra...and...
"Rosette was beloved by many at Terra. She was sweet, she was kind and beautiful. She was one of the leading technicians and architects who loved to spread fantastic ideas to anyone she met. She also owned a brilliant garden on top of a Skyscraper in the City." <4
The Garden.
Was that....no. Ash was the only one who knew really knew Rosette before this all happened. Lapis mentioning the Garden was too much of a coincidence and while it could been as foolish to trust a dream...there was a meaning to it. Stevonnie just knew it.
Resting be damned. They were being guided; and while the situation overall looked grim, Stevonnie had to follow the best lead they had. To better understand themselves, to better understand the purpose of it all.
To not rest their laurels in a field of doubt but to bring a bountiful harvest of curiosities sown to bear fruit. Some fruit. Fruit of hope, fruit of answers etc.
Anything. Lest they get forever stuck on this dark side of the moon and face more monsters.
"Lars." They said.
"Get prepped. We gotta go to Mega Cape City next."
Notes:
1. Chapter 113 Reconcile.
2. Chapter 47 Structure
3. Chapter 46 Pathfinder
4. Chapter 38 Screencap
Chapter 117: Seeds
Summary:
Stevonnie researches Rose's roots.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
The decision to head back to Earth, to Mega Cape City, was met with some confusion. As far as they were concerned, Mega Cape City, as well as Terra Company, were entirely bought out by the Developers Team. But according to Ryman, the Terra Company building was long since abandoned; especially when Rose left to become a GIS.
It felt like nothing more than a hollow business after that. Ryman claimed that most people left after Rose was gone. Some once willing to follow her to hell, but without her there leading them, there wasn't much a stake or of value. Shares tanked and it became more of a shell company afterwards. Contracts dried up and Mega Cape City had no longer had funding from the Developers to support its economy. Growth and death, from bud to flower to plucking of all the petals until there was nothing left.
Stevonnie prepared themselves for a trip; grabbing's Connie's gun and ammo and covering themselves from head to toe. Popping on a navy cap with the DM Biometrics main logo on it, boots and long pants; mostly clothes taken from the long forgotten merch side of things Ryman recommended to take. As far as anyone was concerned, it was possible that they were one of the few remants of resistance left and they had to take some commitment to stand against Luna's insanity.
It was getting to the point where Earth itself was a huge risk and every trip became a new mission. That most of anything now would be reserved for information gathering and intel and maybe to save who wasn't under Luna's 'spell.' What Mega Cape City held, was only what Stevonnie felt may have been necessary. What they could find, would be anything.
Lars would join them, as for transport and back up. Turns out, there was also a hidden armory that Connie's father found; stashed somewhere in the Site. Ryman explained it was hardly used due to the risk of anyone finding the Site by accident extraordinarily low, but it didn't mean they shouldn't account for the probability. So Lars was strapped with his own pistol; and already dangerously twirling it on his finger. A cowboy was the last thing Stevonnie needed.
But Lars had been a great help, despite his disdain for everything. His skepticism was a healthy counterbalance to Ronaldo's constant conspiracy theories; such as Rampancy Disease being targeted at specific individuals or the Cluster Monolith serving as a massive processor and CPU for Luna and the virus. Stevonnie was inclined to believe the latter more so than the former, but even then, Ronaldo did prove rather startling evidence.
The pink boy's own grievances, Stevonnie understood from both conversations and observations done between him and Dr. Maheswaran, note his own anger born from trauma....and that since that firmware upgrade, he's taken to seeing things clearer, what ever that meant. He was willing to take missions, some dirty even. He wasn't sure if he could count himself among the humans anymore anyway, and was just some software inhabiting a rose skinned corpse, supported by tiny bugs going through his bloodstream. Not entirely accurate, but Stevonnie understood what he meant.
Once on the surface of the Earth, warped in by Leon, they were first met with the dusty and sandy planes as well as the skies of dreary brown. There were a few extraordinarily tall and shiny skyscrapers that superseded the mountainsides; that sat front of cliffs that were covered in tall windmills. The sea was drained of all water long ago, as an attempt to expand the city was made as the population grew and was found worth investing in its infrastructure, purely for manufacturing purposes. Most of the shareholders came from Developer-aligned business and second-party organisations that funnelled money into it. News about the Pink Monolith being situated their permanently increased interest and development into the Domain itself during its early phases.
However, since the Incident and Rose's disappearance, it was abandoned. All that investment worth squat. Without the prospects of a Monolith and its intent to connect the section to the rest of the world, it wasn't worth it anymore...and it became like a Ghost City, more than anything and projects like new estates and facilities left unbuilt; half finished, with the only thing of note that was built to completion that was somehow sustained yet useless, was a robust security system hooked up to every corner. Not that anyone could take advantage of it but the Developers were always cautious of those who seek to ruin their generations worth work.
Stevonnie and Lars walked the streets; cautious of any Rose-Eyed still in vicinity. Abandoned didn't mean that no one was around. A few places still had a select few people trying to survive. But without much luck without Developer money.
It was creepy. Stepping into a world of eternal sandstorms and brown skies, filled with dust and dirt. A world dryness. It wasn't overly hot or cold...the wind could howl and cry; like it was just the City on its swan song, falling into oblivion more and more each day, as buildings were being swallowed by the earth and sands.
Lars was wary, following Stevonnie as they roamed cautiously through the empty streets. It must have been the life of the party once upon a time. All that; just destroyed because of a few bad choices.
"What are we expecting to find here?" Lars commented, swallowing as he could never help shake off the feeling that they were being watched. He gripped his gun tighter he could hear the death rattles of the city echo around him.
Stevonnie wasn't sure. That vision was made with a twisted purpose in mind. They had to be here for one reason or another.
A sown seed of sorts.
"Steven's mom lived here." They said.
Lars didn't quite get it, but he'd prefer they get in, get what they wanted and to get out. This place gave him the creeps.
"Riiiight." He said, combing his hand through his hair.
"If only she was actually alive and not crazy."
Stevonnie wished it were so. They really did. That somehow with every security camera they walked past, that her eyes were on them. Though, they would prefer her old organic self, rather that Luna's iron grip.
"We need to find Terra Companies HQ." They said.
Perhaps it was wishful thinking. Maybe they were simply just...crazy. And the feeling Lars got regarding watchful eyes never occured to Stevonnie besides their wishful thinking; they were inherently focused on finding something, anything that would bring them closer to the truth. What truth was, was anyones guess.
But the area; was only a grittier than the streets of Mega Beach City, with a more earthy after taste thanks to the thick dust particles in the air that made it seem more foggy than it should have been. On the ground level at least. It made him feel a deep sorrow; thinking about all the lives lost there.
His mother...father. Those he hated with every fiber of his being...seeing them gone like that without a trace filled him with a tremendous amount of guilt.
Where would he even go after this, he wondered.
His trail of thought stopped as he accidentally bumped into Stevonnie; he was about to open his mouth, until he looked onto what they were staring at.
The logo of Terra Company on one of the tallest skyscrapers.
Stevonnie was awfully silent the entire walk towards the tower, as Lars followed suit. They were so incredibly focused; while Lars was shitting himself all the same. The atmosphere was foreboding enough without the sounds of black crows cawing everywhere, eyeing them out as potential prey.
Entering into the Lobby, it appeared ransacked; the main desk almost falling apart. Behind it was the Terra Company name, but in red graffiti next to Terra were the letters b, l and e. Creativity certain must have left the building by that point. Their search lead them into numerous rooms and offices but...
"Rosette was beloved by many at Terra. She was sweet, she was kind and beautiful. She was one of the leading technicians and architects who loved to spread fantastic ideas to anyone she met. She also owned a brilliant garden on top of a Skyscraper in the City." <1
Oddly enough, there was still power that filtered into the building; meaning the wind farms on the cliffs edge still function to some capacity. Lars still felt unnerved; checking their perimeters for anyone following them. His ears picked up on the softest sounds of shuffling fabric and light footsteps that weren't his own or Stevonnie's. Stevonnie didn't even seem to notice; heading straight for the elevator and ushered Lars to hurry up and join them.
Taking the creaky lift to the top, they were met by numerous flora; garden beds filled with flowers and other plants and the sky seemingly clear and blue. Upon closer inspection, it was a digital illusion covering an artificial jungle.
But that wasn't the point. Everything here was fresh and well maintained, like they had simply stepped into another world.
"I had a feeling that we weren't alone." Lars said.
The concept bewildered Stevonnie that someone had the time, effort and resources to keep this garden alive. They inspected some of the beds, some even growing strawberries.
This was too much of a coincidence. They could smell their sweet aroma; their mind fill with hazing yet pleasant feeling memories.
"Do you even know what you're looking for?" Lars queried.
Stevonnie wasn't even sure; maybe documents, or evidence of Rose's influence. But... even they had to question on why they were really here on the basis of a dream? Out of anything, it had the least merit...and they would been seen as completely crazy; and not too far off the mark.
This Garden was just being maintained by a local; or Android perhaps. Stevonnie felt like they were intruded on life that thrived, so they turned back towards the elevator.
Lars followed, and watched as Stevonnie leaned against the wall, then looked at the listings;
They took the elevator to the head office; where Rose as Rosette, would plot and plan. Going in, they were met with generic office features; though with light pink walls and wooden floor. Walking to her Work Station, this floor had the perfect view of the city below as Stevonnie looked out the window. They turned around and tried to switch on the age old and long forgotten WorkStation. It wouldn't turn on however, as Stevonnie pressed the on button multiple times.
Lars looked around as well, going to some bookshelves on the right hand side. Dusty old and useless books; from eras long gone. He had to wonder how people even dealt with these things were most portable tablets could had a great amount of storage. Not that it mattered much.
Stevonnie turned to him as he was examining them, and it gave them an idea. They walked towards the shelf as well and examined each book. They then saw a very unusually thin book; wide and taller than most; making it stand out among the rest. Pulling it out briefly revealing a familiar book that they had once read and slaved over, before the entire book shelf started to move.
"Oh come on, this is such a cliche!" Lars complained.
Behind the shelf was a large concrete room with its own WorkStation, a war room table and dozens of server towers. Jackpot!
"Huh." Said Stevonnie.
Their first actual word in ages. Going inside, they can see the table covered in numerous paperwork and blueprints. One that appeared to be for the AI Core. Though, Stevonnie didn't look at it long as the shelf door closed in...and the lights went out.
"We're not alone."
Lars rolled his eyes.
"I just sai-"
"Shhhh...."
Pulling a torch out of their bag, they found another door on the other side; that when opened, it revealed a long flight of stairs downwards; an emergency exit.
"Can't we just take-" Lars said, before Stevonnie pressed a finger on his lips.
"Hey." They said.
"We gotta leave..."
Lars was bewildered with Stevonnie's behaviour, but managed to grab pieces of paper to work with and shoved them into his bag, before Stevonnie yanked him away. Going out the door, the pair quickly ran down the stairs in great haste. Hearts pumped of adrenaline; as a door opened up above of where they originally came from, as Stevonnie's heart skipped a beat.
"Go go go!"
Neither of them looked up, well, Stevonnie didn't; purely focusing on survival. There was something bizarre about this that made them feel...alive. A combination of factors, sure but it was oddly compelling. The rush of it all, to run. Stevonnie found another door half way down and took themselves and Lars through it. It lead to a long corridor; of numerous rooms and doors; possibly offices.
Stevonnie and Lars checked around; and the corridor seemed to loop in all itself as Lars complained about seeing the same stupid fern over and over again. It felt like they were being deliberately toyed with, despite it just being the infrastructure of the building. A door squeaked open nearby; their hunter entering the floor.
Lars made a quick decision to hide them both in the nearby broom closet, slamming the door. It was a tight fit, leading their bodies to press closely with one another. It brought no end of discomfort as the room heated with their combined body temperature radiated for the increase. Little air caused them to breath heavily as they shuffled about, trying to find what comfort they could in this situation.
"Your knee is pushing into my..." Stevonnie muttered.
"My knee? That's-"
Footsteps echoed nearby. Stevonnie covered Lars panicked mouth with their hands, as they looked at one another. Eventually they looked down at the bottom of the doors, seeing shadows dance across the thin line of light. Lars gulped, as sweat rolled down his cheek.
Absolute Terror would wreck Stevonnie if it weren't for ____onnie's contribution. The closet wasn't making things any easier. The shadows didn't help; they seemed to dance around for the longest time as oxygen within the closet begun to dwindle. What ever it was, had to move soon. Stevonnie closed their eyes shut, scrunched them and silently prayed for safety.
Eventually, the shadows vanished and the volume of footsteps decreased. Leaving heavy heartbeats and a stammering snort, desperate for air.
Both of them would stumble out in a tangled mess, left gasping.
"Damn it...." Lars cursed.
After much messing around to detangle, the two were able to stand on their own feet again; albeit still desperate to maintain composure. The one thing on their minds was escape. Or at least, that was from Lars.
"We're still not done here." Stevonnie said.
Lars rolled his eyes.
"Something snoopin' around that wants our heads!" He called out, his arms flailing.
"You want to explore more?"
Stevonnie really wanted him to keep his pipes down. And had a strange craving for nicotine all of a sudden.
"I'm convinced there's an answer somewhere....more to be found." They said.
Lars had been through a lot....and Stevonnie's wild goose chase didn't help matters.
"What answer?" He said.
"Who is convinced? Connie? Steven?"
Stevonnie went into a cold shock at Lars' outburst. Had they done something wrong?
"Lars, look, I don't mean-"
He rubbed the sweat off of his face.
"I know you think this all about you or-"
There was still trouble getting used to Stevonnie's existence as a Synthesised being.
"Steven and Connie or what ever. I get it, Steven's important. Right now, I'm stressing the fuck out because of all this bullshit. Whether its Luna or the Cluster Monolith, I need to know how this is going to help us!"
Stevonnie furrowed their brows. They never...they never really thought about it. What could they call it, a hunch? Their conversation they had with Dr. Ryman before they left, was very telling of sorts.
FLASHBACK
In fact, Stevonnie had been speaking to Ryman in the Site Bar; a place they didn't even know existed to serve as form of escape. Subtle whites and wooden browns; a bar top of a cloudy marble and rows of glasses above as they obscured the light that shined through them. Ryman, in the swirls of endeavours that caused him no end of mental fatigue, served himself enough scotch to drown an army with.
"You okay Doctor?" They asked.
He appeared to have a picture of himself with his two boys when they were younger and a blonde haired woman; who must have been the boys mother.
"You know I was much more happier being a Fry Cook." He said.
"No conspiracies, no threats to the world. Simplification through satisfying customers with their cravings."
He got up and moved behind the bar, grabbed another glass and pouring Stevonnie a cup and slid it across the bench. Stevonnie looked at it briefly, as Ryman nudged them to sit down on the stool next to his while putting in some ice.. Obliging, they sat down as he came back to sit. Stevonnie leaned over their glass, looking at the amber liquid before them. They took the glass and shook it gently, listening to the clinking of ice cubes.
"Mom said I couldn't choose that path. And that sciences behind all of this; and the family business came first." Ryman continued.
Such with those with the supposed, Diamond Genes. More like a Diamond curse.
"I'm guessing you never got to talk to the Blue Monolith; all that much." Stevonnie queried. They took a sip of the scotch and shivered at its bitterness. ____onnies not to privy on it and Stev_____ has never really tasted it with a real tongue before.
Ryman looked into the bottom of his glass.
"No." He said.
"Child rearers. Maids and boarding schools. It's not all that it's cracked up to be....but I felt that being with Greg made life a lil easier. I wasn't a President like my cousin Peri. And I wasn't a Director like my sister Holly...and for cousin Rose...."
He didn't become the symbol of the Blue Monolith's endeavours. Holly must have been the one to do all the work.
"And Barb?" Stevonnie said.
Ryman sighed before he took another sip.
"You'd be surprised to hear she was...relatively sane up until a certain point." He said.
"We didn't argue. Well, I didn't argue with her as much as she did with Greg, let me tell you that much."
Stevonnie nodded before taking another sip.
"Rose did make me uncomfortable however." Ryman admitted.
"Funny, you look at it now, she was such an advocate for humanity yet she still has the current record for most screencaps in a day. There are agencies out there, unofficial ones never affiliated with the Developers circle, that still use older technology for said screencaps. No take in quality though."
That's right. She lead a bunch of people from Terra Company, including Bismuth and Ash, to become SC-GIS.
"Brainmapping is expensive as hell and considerably dangerous. You'd get some good quality maps for decent AIs though."
As they would produce better results in the AI themselves. Structurally stable and sound.
"If you're going to Mega Cape City; you'll probably get to pass the graveyard. Many a Terra Company employee who became a GIS should be buried there."
Grim. Not something Stevonnie was thinking about at all.
"Never forget you are human still." Ryman told them.
"You eat. You sleep. You may still be mortal like the rest of us."
Who ever is left, anyway.
"Even with my power?" They said, concerned.
That damned power they were so obsessed with. Seemed to be all they cared about; as looking at the bigger picture may have been their strong suit, but the little things were more obscure to them than their immediate fantasies of peace and restored order. They knew the chaos existed; but much, was blinded by their constant flow of ideas to save the world. Only a child could be so idealistic and head strong.
"Defying physics with such illogicality would make it seem that way." He said.
"I thought the concept of these Monoliths and what they can create was impossible. But they're all just incredibly robust and powerful hardware with amazing software that shot humanities progress a thousand fold. If not more."
So they say. Stevonnie's seen their secrets, but only a modicum of them. How they work, how they adapt.
"But each one in itself is contained within its own sphere; with abilities generated by an energy it manifests in itself." He explained further.
"Like any organic animal that evolves; like how a snake has its own venom, like a spider that creates its webs."
Or a Lion that makes wormholes between Earth and the Moon.
Stevonnie didn't think themselves an evolution, more so a freak mutation, like a superhero exposed to some kind of radiation that just happens to give you superpowers; not realising Dr. Ryman was probably drunk enough to confuse the concepts.
"You just happen to be the first human to create hard light constructs through...what I can guess could be a new or an altered organ that produces an energy akin to magic...I suppose you're the first one to experience it. You could call it magic or what ever you like...science will probably just call anything but magic."
Stevonnie could see how that could happen. Lucky they didn't produce their own venom, or spider silk for that matter. They shuddered at the thought.
"Mom didn't find anything new when she tested me." They said.
Ryman hummed. Didn't mean to find anything life-threatening or in immediate danger of, would be the jist of it. What could happen, was anything. The same thing would said to his wife before experimental treatments were tried and had failed.
"I discussed that with her earlier." He said.
"Higher energy consumption which requires an increased calorie intake. What ever does generate your abilities...could be anything. I'd say we'd need to dissect you, but I'd rather not. We're far from Earth and ample resources."
Stevonnie was horrified at the concept. But they came to trust Ryman and his ethics even more when they revealed in private that they were on the Moon. They thought it would be good to let him know, though they had a bit of suspicion that he could have known where they were, but burdened the knowledge to protect everyone else. As far as ____onnie's Mom and dad are concerned, being on the Moon proved to provide them time and protection. As for everyone else, it was theorised it was either a combination of the Shards that protected them or that they were out of the worldly scope of Lunas influence.
But both Steven's AI core and the Cluster Monolith were both on the moon too. It was found to be the Protection Protocol that linked itself to an external satellite with a self destruction sequence somehow tied into it, that prevented them from cutting the signal, leading them to find other ways to disable or mitigate the damage.
"Greg told me Soulware falls under metaphysics." Ryman continued.
"We know that it works. And it often can't be compared to anything we know in normal sciences that it gets bumped to its own category."
You would still need some normal science thrown in just to be able to comprehend parts of it. Measuring tools etc.
"I am mostly concerned about this...power of Folding that Obsidia keeps rabbling on about. A defiance of reality by bending to your will. All I remember from my own research is that Soulware on its own isn't enough to crack reality. It's said to influence the mind somewhat, but to defy logic that's beyond even a Monolith can do. It makes no sense that, you, made up of..."
He froze briefly, hesitant to continue that sentence, hand up in the air.
"Of well...what ever you're made up of. The point being, is that I think Obsidia is wrong. Unless Steven himself is actually made of billions of sacrificed Souls; just enough to make a dent in the fabric of air."
Again, not a great thought to have.
"Soulware and AI joined like this should never have occurred." Stevonnie noted.
"But Steven and Connie had been like me before. Back in the Domain...."
Steven have what Obsidia deemed a Metasoul. It warranted looking into. And Rose's own research and creating the Cradle....
He was tired of this. Tired of all of the running around, keeping secrets in songs and hidden codes behind layers upon layers. Conspiracy upon conspiracy. He should be thankful for even breathing at this point. And Stevonnie's desire to hunt down a resolution was...amicable, but his only concerns with the survival of his sons. Deep down, he'd already acknowledged the slices of resentment built up towards those who thrust them there in the first place.
"The only ones have the real answers are Rose and Obsidia." Ryman admitted.
"Maybe Greg. But..."
Two out of the three were long gone. Stevonnie had no idea what really happened to Greg's AI...
"Who put you up to going to Mega Cape City anyway? Was it Peedee? Lars?"
Stevonnie looked at the blue bottle of vodka on the back wall with the rest of the drinks.
"Lapis." They said.
The Satellite GIS?
"Lapis huh." He said, finishing his drink.
"Even when dormant somehow her transmissions still come through. The miracle to link yourselves with others. Human or AI. No matter their state or form."
Where was Ryman playing at?
"It was...a dream." They admitted.
Ryman should have been surprised. But he wasn't.
"A vivid dream at that." He said, pouring himself some more scotch.
"Dreams that connect us to one self, also connect us to others. Or you specifically. Let me guess. It was vague and lead to some revelation."
How did...
"Dreams are like that sometimes. Again, metaphysics. Humans throughout the course of history have always used dreams as a point of talk and thousands of philosophies and ideas were in place before the concept of science was formed."
It really like Lapis was talking to them however.
"What do you hope to find?"
Stevonnie wasn't really sure. It was more a lead than anything concrete. Like the book and like most things that warranted a tiny look in the hopes that a solution could be found.
"I...I don't know." Stevonnie admitted, sheepishly.
Ryman hummed.
"We've all come to the conclusion is that your power is meant to do something." He said.
"Maybe to sever the connection between Luna and Cluster Monolith or the Protection Protocol and the virus. And I don't like that we have to depend on you to do the heavy lifting for us."
Stevonnie looked at Ryman; him, concerned about them?
"I'm fine." They said.
Ryman doubted that. The trauma from the transformation alone should have at least caused a mental impact; one that worried them all. Perhaps it was meant to be? Ryman didn't want to dabble in too many theories. A practical man.
"I hope so." Ryman commented.
But he knew that Folding was also tied to their emotions. Left unchecked, that could spell the end of everything and everyone. To sow seeds no one expected them to; their desires potentially causing points of conflict with others. Hence, why he knew Lars was the perfect counterpoint. Whether it was Steven's or Connie's emotions that tied into the expansion of their already massive potential, they needed to be grounded and not too lost in the safety of fantasy.
"We don't want any further accidents, if we could avoid them. So focus on your goal. But don't lose focus on everything else."
Present
Their goal to find answers. What answers they were, Stevonnie didn't even know. Mega Cape City had ties to Rose...and that whomever was here among them, may have also been seeking the same thing. Their mind instantly went to Obsidia, but why? Why them?
"I'm sorry Lars." They said.
"I'm sorry for wasting your time."
Lars grumbled. The paper work he had was still in his backpack. So they still had some shreds of detail they could go through; if they were even worth anything.
"You're...you are but you aren't." He said, crossing his arms.
"But it's not like we're just gonna magically bump into someone we know, skulking about like a raccoon looking for trash."
That would be funny. Already was an amusing anecdote to think literal of. But otherwise all they would really find was just death of a once bustling society. They then remembered what Ryman said about a graveyard. Whether it would be worth a visit; could give them ideas. It was better than nothing.
Stevonnie and Lars left shortly after, but kept checking perimeters for their mysterious stalker. Going back to the ground floor, Stevonnie scoped the graveyard in the area. Walking through the desolate streets, Stevonnie kept imagining how big of a contrast this place was to places like Mega Beach City, or even the City of Polygons. That this place would have had plant life everywhere, going from old photos.
They did come across the local cemetary, walls of dusty brick to contain its dead. It gave Lars the spooks and a shiver, yet Stevonnie went in there without a second thought.
There were a lot of graves here. Small, large. Dusty. The odd decayed flower and plant. The area, much like the rest of the city, looked like it hadn't been tended to in sometime. They were met with some confusion and conflict with the components, as Stevonnie's eyes scanned over the plots and stones, their brain running over the concept of total cessation.
An Absolute Death.
Humans that disappeared permanently. Deletion sounded less harsh, but reality itself wouldn't let on when it came to the word of death. It was a cycle maintained for hundreds of thousands of years. Evolution of the human had to this moment.
"Ryman said a lot of the bodies who were uplifted into GIS were buried here." Stevonnie explained.
They could see Ash's stone; remembering her face and visage...and wondered what her life would be like if she had remained human.
"Can't believe so many people willingly died for this nonsense." Lars commented.
"Rose really must have had a way with words; and they thought White was the manipulative one."
Stevonnie recalled Ash's loyalty to their chief of staff. They were mainly a construction company with big builds and big wads of cash from the family cache and all this was built with the intent for enriching peoples lives. Lars thought it was a waste.
But Rose...Stevonnie never really thought about their similarities in personalities. Only that she had her own goals in mind. But with the same levels of ambition...of scheming and plotting. Yet...
All these people here; under hard stone and earth. Unease permeated in the area; Lars kept looking around, while Stevonnie felt like something was off but couldn't quite put their finger on it. Looking around some more, they realised something.
"Hey Lars." They said.
"You see Rose's grave here anywhere?"
Would she seem the type to glorify her existence as the First Ancilla? As Ash had claimed? ^1
Lars looked around as well, before he heard a gust behind him. He was silent as he analysed what he thought he heard, before responding.
"No...no I haven't seen it."
Bizarre. Others were loyal to Rose; who was seen as the one to make the original sacrifice...but whether she held herself to the principles she expected of her employees, however, remained to be seen. They scoured the entire cemetary; namely for anything with Rose's name on it.
But no, nothing.
Lars' sense had him concerned that they weren't alone, but he became irritated at Stevonnie's priorities. He wished that they would stay on a task that didn't require them to be on the cusp of being murdered. Or worse.
"Maybe Greg buried her body elsewhere." Stevonnie suggested.
Either by Rose's demands or Gregs sentimental reach. Lars would believe the former.
crack.
Guns were immediately honed in the source of the noise, which sounded like a broken twig. Someone was near.
"I knew taking the gun was a good idea." Lars said.
And he did warp on about bringing a knife to a gun knife. Stevonnie could have instinctively used their sword and shield but a gun would be more reliable. Not that they WANTED to use it; the Rose-Eyed becoming far more unpredictable and aggressive as of late. Which meant Luna must have been getting really desperate.
"Don't Rose-Eyed come in lumps though?"
He had a point. Doug and Priyanka had recently done some studies and it appeared as if most Rose-Eyed clustered in groups of four or more. If there was one around, surely three were to follow. An unusual pattern but it was actually pretty common.
"Unless it's not a Rose-Eyed." Stevonnie said, scanning the perimeters.
Their stalker from Terra Tower?
"You sure we need to stick around?" Lars asked them.
Stevonnie remained honed in on any sudden movements. ___onnie's own experiences with her pistol gave Stevonnie perspective. Not that Connie had to use it a great deal, mostly she dealt with warning shots, but never actually killed or murdered anyone in the physical sense. It had just come to that point, where defending ones self from the Rose-Eyed was the best way to protect themselves and if necessary, put the possessed out of their misery.
But, as for sticking around? Stevonnie still thought there was more to be seen. But they needed time to think.
"Let's just find somewhere safe and figure out what we know."
They set up shop, well, within a shop and locked the door to prevent visitors. Most of the place seemed to have been looted, with broken windows boarded up with planks of wood taken from parts of the store. A convenience store. Safe, secure for the most part.
Lars jumped started the power from the box in the utility room, which brought on the lights above and took out the scattered documents from Lars bag and shuffled them across a table, analysing what they had found. It appeared to be blueprints and file notes of a random assortment of things. The room was dimly lit and saturated in a light blue with the tiny hum from the lights above.
"What I don't get is why this is all on paper." Lars questioned.
"Why would Rose have everything written down instead of a drive..."
The blueprints came together as a giant construct; not unlike a certain AI Core. Others detailed interesting drawings of a scenery of pink clouds. Paper for some people, was most of the time, an aesthetic or personal choice. Maybe Rose just liked the feeling of using pencil on paper?
"Rose must have had the AI Core planned for a long time." Stevonnie noted, tapping at the dates of the files. They appeared years before Steven's own creation. Their eyes then appeared on another paper, with a written letter that piqued Stevonnie's interest. They picked it up and read it out aloud as Lars crossed his arms and leaned against the nearby wall, preparing to hear the most boring monolgue know to Analog Kind.
"Dear Rosette." They said.
"I'm writing this letter to you out of a duty of care. Your project for your Family will end in disaster. I've read all there is to know publically about it...and then some. I will do my best to help out but I need you to understand.
Your heart is full of passion and love. I will not question that. You told me of your mothers misery and condition. That, I can grasp. The Domain 2.0 might seem a long way off and you have willingly shared its grand design, as well as the Cradle and the AI Core.
I plead with you to destroy [REDACTED]. Your Grandmother might by in over her head; but even her idea has some merit. That an Alien shouldn't be humanity's virtual psychopomp. Night and day, you and your family are monitored closely, to make sure you are all doing work and as close to schedule as possible. In order for you to succeed, you must plan for the big event in a way to make it seem inevitable, but there are ways to ensure your Grandmother doesn't come out on top.
Contribute your essence to the Cradle instead; and [REDACTED]. This is the only way that we may stem the problem I found with the Domain 2.0s underlying code in the beta version. The Transitional Entity, as you have come to call it, is the only being that has complete control over it. Some may call it, the very god of the Domain itself and the Monoliths will end up being not just Superservers, but ruling Adminstrators that can only mimic a fraction of the Entities full power.
Good Luck. P."
Stevonnie was perplexed over this individuals case; seemingly contributing to Rose's schemes. But to contribute...their essence? This had to have been Greg, right? P. was that...Pearl? No. That couldn't be. Could have been anyone really. What ever long redacted part was had them awfully curious well. But their study into the Domain 2.0 appeared to have gone on for a long time, even with the Domain in its early infancy.
"I still don't full understand what this Cradle even does." Lars complained. Stevonnie would believe his next line of thought would have been, why are people so obsessed with it?
"The idea was for when the Monoliths were completed and seeded about, the Cradle was said to be the machine that could bring Obsidia back into their original organic form." ^3
Nanefua once explained it to ____onnie. The Grand-Sire was ordered to have it built eventually. A wedge into Rose's mind drove her to use it for a different purpose.
"It was originally supposed to resurrect Obsidia." Stevonnie said.
Great. And they did that anyway; without even using the so called Cradle.
"This shit keeps getting weirder and weirder." He said.
"What they expect Steven to do....to kill everyone with just a thought. Ridiculous."
That was the gist of it. The intention that Stev_____ was never keen on comitting. Mass murder definitely wasn't the answer. Lars then thought about the Lazarus Initiative and wondered if he was simply the prototype.
"Makes me wonder if resurrecting people would be possible."
Not that Stevonnie was aware of. The Nanites were proof of that, but even that could be proven to be problematic. Especially with what happened to Leon, Kevin and now Lars. Risked making matters far worse. But Stevonnie then realised he meant actual true resurrection. Bringing them back from the dead purely from data magic. Data Magic? Hard Light? What ever it was, bringing someone back fresh, pure and with memories intact would be incredible if even possible. Returning them to their human selves without a shred of artificial bits inside of them.
If that was the case, Stevonnie wondered if Stev_____ was originally created in the Cradle first; if the Cradle serve to first form as flesh, somehow fusing the phylactery in it? Stevonnie got a shiver down their spine. The thought was horrible.
"They were meant to lead humanities 'ascension.'" They pointed out.
Words Lars got tired of. He was sure Stevonnie was as well, probably more so on Connie's side. But the discomfort in their tone was obvious.
"It's fucked up what Rose did." He said.
"Talking about it with the others; I'm not a fan of babies...but killing one just for the sake of science..."
Again, another horrible thought. One Stevonnie wantes to stay away from; that peering into the aisles; anything that was looted and forgotten; was a single pink dummy right in the middle. To be a child once....an infant even. The regular experience shared but with broken memories. Stevonnie couldn't even draw upon ____onnie's history of anything. Which they deemed unusual. A simple item by association had Stevonnie wonder much, but to where the thought would lead to dozens of dead ends.
"No offense."
Put into the world for a reason. A reason they were supposed to agree to but didn't. A true AI would adhere to their commands, but the infectious human free will provided options, options that lead to curiousities being explored. Just like Greg wanted.
"But how do you feel?" Lars queried.
"I mean, you're two people in one aren't you? Does Steven...or Connie, take lead over the other?"
It never came to that. Stevonnie just was. Conception without copulation. Being without being born. Other synthesised like Garnet loved to talk about but to be something as such was hard to describe. A combination of a Soul and a digital construct was hard to fathom. No wonder that reality was being difficult; they didn't fit into the mold so somehow they merged themselves in. Metaphysics, as Ryman put. A part of it not like anything anyone else had ever seen before.
"I take what they are and they make me." They told him.
A magazine fell off the rack nearby but it was too inaudible for either of them to hear.
"Right." Lars said, scratching his head.
"You kinda look like Cobalt, in a way."
Cobalt was still their own mystery. Created out of necessity.
"I have Connie's physical body; so that would explain that." Stevonnie explained.
"Mom described me as physically okay, but found some abnormalities within Chromosones and hormones, but otherwise, I still function properly."
Lars nodded, not that he studied incredibly hard about it. They could stil walk, talk, eat, drink and expell as far as he could care. The things that a human is supposed to do.
"You seem to have the same headstrong nature when it comes to finding things out." He said.
"Frustrating as hell when we have other priorities....but you both are awfully curious, thinking the answer is right around the corner."
Were they really that similar?
"Both Steven and Connie; what do they call that....uhh yin and yang...ugh...I feel like I'm talking to Sadie."
Again, it wasn't like Stevonnie wanted to visit some parts, but Lars was probably correct; the hunt and desire for the truth about themselves and the world could often take annoying precedence at times.
"It's okay." They said, smiling.
"I....I'm sorry if this all seems selfish to you."
Lars shook his head.
"Selfish? Probably. I mean...I'm just another errand guy..." He admitted.
"Got nothing else to do."
A guy who was murdered by his ex's mother, then forcibly resurrected by a Crazy AI? Stevonnie didn't blame him for wanting to keep his mind off of stuff like that. Also could have explained his era of worshipping Luna as a Goddess kind of phase. Never expected to see that from a boy like him. But they didn't think that there was anything less than the story Lars originally provided; about how was killed and the actual reasons why. One source is long gone and Stevonnie really wanted to know what happened.
"You said Dr. Miller murdered you for going out with her daughter." Stevonnie said.
"I'm sure there's an actual reason."
Lars sighed and leaned his back at the wall while he looked at the ceiling, crossing his arms. It didn't look like it was a story he was fond of telling.
"There was." He confessed.
"I was betrothed to Sadie."
What?
"An arranged marriage?" Stevonnie said, their interest piqued.
Lars grumbled.
"Kinda." He said.
"Sadie's part of the Developer Families. My parents are rich as hell...as far as what I was told, that the Developers needed ongoing investors for new projects."'
And targeted the Barrigas. Stevonnie was surprised the Developers didn't have infinite money. Them trying to pull this off wasn't entirely surprising; shady deals weren't out of their scope; you would just never hear about them unless you were told by someone on the inside. Or even if you were, it had to be on a need to know basis. Even between major companies. No doubt Weiss United liked to keep it that way; as a pure form of control and information flow. Many innocents chalked up. How many would have been executed just for stumbling on something they shouldn't have? This was only part of the fight that ____onnie fought for; those who had the free will to walk away had said free will ripped from them...or the threat of a bullet between the eyes would be the most common solution to force people to stay and shut up.
It was basically a dictator ship that disgusted Stevonnie to the core.
"It wasn't exactly Sadie's Mom's idea." He said.
"She didn't like me...but she didn't have much of a choice."
Most likely Grandmother White's doing. Trying to find suitors to expand the network.
"No offense Lars." Said Stevonnie.
"But you don't seem the type to bond with, IT Royalty."
And didn't he know it.
"I hated the whole thing." He said.
"I'm sure Sadie did too. She protested it more than me."
That was...surprising. Though she did go out into the world with Spinel, travelling as a nomadic artist.
"You still....like her?" Stevonnie wondered, desiring to see the burgeoning relationships of others, even if there was little friction. Whether or not they could even do anything to help them now that they were able to hang out more often at the Site. Lars looked to the side and pouted and Stevonnie swore they saw tiny blushes on those puffy cheeks.
"She's still a friend and associate." He said.
"Even back then, though, I felt the need to rebel you know? That all that stuff about how to drink tea properly or dress appropriately for events. Nah, not the life for me."
Stevonnie didn't like to judge, but Lars had the rebellious vibe written all over him like it was his destiny.
"But...as things went south...I ended up stumbling upon Dr. Millers den at the mansion." He said.
Oh...Stevonnie kinda saw where this was going.
"I wasn't even looking for anything juicy like we have here; but would you believe I was trying to find scissors to cut up stuff for help with Sadie's birthday?"
That...mundane? Sweet, if it didn't become so sour...
"Ah thats right, I got in there to have look through drawers, when suddenly, I heard the door slam back open, in a panic, I hid behind one of the filing cabinets. And boy did Dr. Miller have dozens of them in there for some reason."
Oh? Now Stevonnie was keen to hear this.
"She mentioned speaking to Rose and-"
CRASHHHHH
Their heads turned to a nearby window, with had a horde of Rose-Eyed coming through. Of all times; but they must have been too loud. Out of panic, Lars shoved all the paperwork back into the bag as Stevonnie brought out Connie's Pistol.
"Shit what the hell!" Lars called out, as he was busy fumbling the paperwork.
A sudden shift priority to survival was required, as they had to get out of there quickly while they all came pouring in. Stevonnie shot another window which gave wide berth to white light. Jumping out, Stevonnie and Lars sprinted outwards as far as they could, to outrun the horde, while Lars struggled to zip up his bag as a piece of paper slipped out.
Puffing and panting as they did, the cries and shrieks of the horde filled the air, which kicked up more dust and caused them to cough. Hearts raced and sweat dripping from a mixture of shock and fear.
"How the hell did they find us?" Stevonnie argued.
Running through the streets, it was chaotic. They looked around for any way to escape, but they seemed like to like coming in from different directions. Their eyes focused on what appeared to be security cameras; which they didn't even notice were glowing pink briefly as Stevonnie ran past them. They couldn't run forever...and accidentally went down a wrong alleyway and found themselves corner by a brick wall. What unfortunate luck, as the horde approached.
Stevonnie reluctantly had their pistol out, as they quivered. ____onnie's shot before, so it definitely wasn't from her end. Closing their eyes, the debate between components began. Conflict that took the form of rapid amounts of light blue and magenta texts, filling out their HUD a thousand fold. A debate so heated it paralyzed Stevonnie completely.
They're not in control of themselves/we need to save ourselves/I can't do it!/We have to!/I can't!
"STEVONNIE!"
Opening their eyes to Lars shouting their name, there was a cool flash that went through them as their eyes struggled to find focus. They gasped but took a breath at the same time as one of the Rose-Eyed got super close, so they faced their other hand forward and in a split moment the sounds of frenzy disappeared. Desperation held the need to channel an energy deep within themselves and as had happened before, they summoned massive pink hexagons that expanded formed a massive wall to defend them. The Rose-Eyed slammed against it and begun to whack their palms and fists against it, giving off angry, shrilling shrieks.
"Woah..." Lars said, amazed.
It went quite high too and wide enough to reach the corners of the buildings that contained them. Once the bewilderment subsided, it had them reanalyse that they were still caged in like animals.
"Not sure how long I will be able to hold." Stevonnie warned.
"Do you have room for the Warp Hole?"
As far as the Warp Holes; they often needed space and a bit of time to conjure. As for their current arrangement when it came these things, they normally kept the phylactery of Kevin back at the Site; at risk of its raw existence as it was, leaking out odd energies. So instead, they would have to call Leon.
"I'll try and get Leon, but it takes him at least 5 or so minutes to get a Warp prepared." He said.
As was the case for transfers from Earth to the Moon.
"Do it!" Stevonnie ordered.
"I'll hold out as long as I can."
Stevonnie had no idea how long they could actually hold out for. It wasn't like they were a master at this shielding thing; taking into account that they were flesh and blood instead of code. Dr. Maheswaran theorised there had to be a calorie deficit of some sort when it came to...well, this. Data Magic was such a silly name though. They would have to think of a better sounding name later.
Stevonnie instead looked at all these people. Ordinary people, ravenous and out for blood. They sensed a low connection of energy among them; perhaps the linking thread to Luna, as her voice leaked out of their lips, babbling, drooling. Gross. They couldn't imagine the original Rose and Cherry this violent, destructive and feral. The Virus really must have done a good number on her personality matrices.
They wished Leon could hurry up, as Stevonnie noticed their arm twitching. They put away their pistol, and used both hands to continue to projection of the Firewall.
But this was the power. Part of it anyway. Impossibilities brought to life, but it did require constant focus and mental alignment. So as they got distracted by the people, their focus begun to wane. Terror filled their heart. They weren't ready to die.
Each of them deserved pity and freedom from their shackles. To be robbed of their original crime should have been considered a sin.
"Come on..." Stevonnie told themselves.
"Hooold."
Unfortunately, the energy being input into their defenses was also breaking down; just keeping up the wall tired them out. It hadn't even been two minutes.
The barrier flickered, as Lars had his back to them, as he tried to give enough room for Leons Warp to form. The wind picked up a little, indicating his imminent arrival.
Sweat dropped down Stevonnie's face; as they tried to hold on as much as they could.
It wasn't until....
PEEOOOOWWWW
One of the Rose-Eyed had their brains blown out, reawakening Stevonnie as blood splattered against their barrier. And another, and another shortly after.
Who was...
Several were taken down, enough to lessen the horde. Stevonnie felt weak as the barrier disappeared. Lars managed to take out a few himself, much to his own surprise. Stevonnie recomposed themselves briefly, and was about to kill one themselves...before another bullet mysteriously took down the one front of them, blood splattering all over the face and all.
The warp noise screeched behind them, as both Stevonnie and Lars looked at one another in understanding, though he was a bit dismayed by the blood splatter, but took to wasting no time as they both jumped into the warp; to leave the desolate wastes behind.
Meanwhile, on the top of the Terra Tower, a pair of peach, thick and luscious lips blew off the smoke from end of a sniper before they placed the strap around the body and shuffled the weapon on to their back, whisking away a piece of a strangling curl of pink hair with their hand. Their work was done for now, knowing that Stevonnie was safe. Their goal, was far from over, as they swallowed a few poppy seeds from a small bag. From those same lips, uttered a feminine voice.
"We will meet soon. I swear it."
Notes:
1. Chapter 38: Screencap
2. Chapter 114: Duality
3. Chapter 79: Cradle
Chapter 118: Overstay
Summary:
Stevonnie begins to fear their presence may do more harm than good.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Sorting through the paperwork alongside Ryman, he confirmed the authenticity of Rose's handwriting on most of the documents, but the AI Core remained fascinating to him. He needed time to pilfer through the details and asked Stevonnie and Lars to relax. Whether they were worth anything at all. In actuality, he was paranoid and had concerns over a things he saw, but he didn't want Stevonnie to worry in the meantime.
Stevonnie decided to go to the Deep Throne to speak with Doug, to determine what the hell happened down there; projecting himself as Priyanka and himself discussed recent events.
"I found out how to monitor you on the Earth; I found that there were old security cameras that were still functional." He said.
"However, I did find that I had to wrest control often, like someone else had remote access. Possibly explains how those Rose-Eyed found you."
No doubt it was Luna's doing. It felt like her control was getting stronger. Stevonnie was suprised their father could even do that.
"He wanted to help." Priyanka explained.
"Turns out, our Lapis had somehow disconnected from the network; but connected to our own."
Stevonnie would have no logical explanation on how that came about; but was impressed on how Doug was flexing his new Diamond Monolith powers.
"You are a Superserver after all." They told him.
"Creating your own Network and dealing with admin priviledges has its perks."
Doug nodded. He never felt like he was cut out for the tech world and was content to work in security. But now, given his condition, he had little choice. But he wanted to support their child...and seeing them in this...Stevonnie state was jarring at first, but he'd learned to accept it. Though the composition of meshing Steven's software with Connie's Soulware would forever be beyond his own understanding.
"But Lapis felt the need to keep quiet; but will happily send encrypted data back and forth without too much of a delay." Priyanka stated.
"But do you think there's going to be problems if we do find stragglers somehow being able to disconnect from Luna's Network?"
The bandwidth would probably be Stevonnie's only concern. While Superservers were designed to handle entire continents, there were always going to problems surrounding their anti-virus programs being used to defend from threats. But what would stop Luna from using the existing virus and continously developing and realising new versions, each one stronger than the last?
"We should try and keep our little Rebellion small." Stevonnie suggested.
"Some could go to White and Blue for their isolated networks. I'd rather them not, but White's holding out for now. But I haven't spoken to Blue in a while."
And their intent to go to Azure Alpha and Yin Aozora was plagued with constant setbacks and other glaring issues. Cobalt would go in their stead, however.
"Before you do anything drastic, your father and I did some digging around the Site's databases." Priyanka said.
"We found a lot of old documents pertaining to Soulware studies by Dr. DeMayo's grandfather. His thesis and eventual findings, plus other aspects we'd never thought about."
Stevonnie scratched their head, unsure of what she meant.
"We need to analyse your components."
Going into the Med Bay, Stevonnie laid down on a table as Priyanka placed cables around their forehead, the back of their head, their temples, the left side of their chest, wrists and the right index finger. Some even wormed around their back. Stevonnie wasn't entirely comfortable, but it said not to be an invasive procedure.
The Site itself had been slowly developed over time, with additional features that allowed Doug to project himself into main part of the Site; with Ronaldo trying to hook up the original area; without compromising Doug's connections and accidentally interlinking the range of the Cluster Monolith. A complicated process, overseen by his father.
"Gerald DeMayo, while he discovered how souls function and in turn how they could translated into Code, there was something that Soulware would always possess that AI or GIS don't have; subconscious data alteration."
Stevonnie somehow possesssed a memory; a memory of Luna explaining how Souls and Soulware work;
"A soul is a life force. An energy, unexplained. Parts of the cosmos that just...are. Are souls given to us from birth? Do we gain them over time as we become more aware of who we are as individuals? When and how a soul is granted to us; unknown. It is when one known as Dr. Gerald DeMayo discovered that the soul is in part supported by a bio-electrical field. It retrieves data and receives it...and changes it on a whim. Not always the way one wants it to. It just does." <1
"I remember Luna telling...telling Connie how there are factors with enviromental?" They said.
Priyanka nodded, impressed that Stevonnie even knew that. But Connie was part of them, so she shouldn't have been surprised. She went to the nearest WorkStation and begun to type away.
"Gerald divided the way a Soul can be altered into several categories and risk levels. Upgrading Soulware would be considered as part as Forced; but ranked at low risk. Complete conversion of a mind into an AI however; he called it a Anti-Turing Fracture. He was never able to properly find a way to preserve a soul digitally without ridding of the organic component."
Yet somehow the Monoliths were able to do so.
"Dad, do you feel like what you were as a human?" Stevonnie queried.
Doug crossed his arms. He did consider the feeling odd but not unpleasant.
"I suppose it would be considered an intuition to consider myself human." He said.
"But there's a hard way to explain my series of events. I had a human body; there was a blip in my perceptions ever briefly, for an indeterminate amount of time. Then my own memories were frayed. I immediately knew something didn't feel right. Huge holes and gaps."
Proven as his time as Princie. Stevonnie could barely move from where they were but looked over as Priyanka did several scans.
"Human perception is considered a continuation of events. Disorientation increases the longer one spends between unconscious and conscious conditions, like sleeping or being in a coma." She explained
"There's an uncanny sixth sense that has humans feeling like something is wrong but they can't explain, like a lot of time has passed. Like their internal body clock kept ticking in such a state."
Humans have clocks inside of them? Stevonnie considered that a silly thought, probably born from Stev______.
"So what's the part you're wanting to know?" They wondered.
Priyanka looked at the scans for the longest time, squinting at several oddities.
"There was a study he wrote that he called, Soulware degradation." She said.
"The bioenergy produced by the body that supports Soulware can change. I told you that Stevonnie has a higher body temperature to support both the single soulware; and the body also needing to process an entire program in itself. A giant one in fact."
This...didn't sound good.
"While Steven hitching a ride in Connie's body does come with some benefits, I'm a little concerned it may alter her Soulware permanently. Gerald talked about another category to Soulware alteration; Foreign Ego Toxicity Syndrome."
A what now?
"Soulware in general can carry a multitude of programs. Small programs. VIs, apps and small subroutines too minor to cause any major issues on a day to day basis. But with a program of Steven's size and scope, FETs could be an issue."
Steven's programming is poisoning them?
"Bioenergy supports Soulware, but Soulware being altered through means such as this, may also be changing the bioenergy; which acts like like a genetic footprint; like DNA."
So...what exactly?
"Now the sudden mutation of Connie's body to adjust for the consensus is nothing like what anyone has ever seen before. But it could eradicate parts of what make Connie, Connie and permanently alter them as Stevonnie."
Wait, no...that wasn't...
"It's possible that extended consensus could result in Ego Death for Connie..." Doug said with sadness.
A certain pain struck their forehead, as a pen nearby lifted upwards briefly. Dr. Maheswaran kept note of these events; keeping in point as they were most certainly due to Stevonnie's emotions. She would prefer to blunt, but not to terrorize to the point of causing catastrophic trauma that had consequences for everyone around them.
"Doug!" Priyanka scorned, admonishing her husband for scaring Stevonnie; their focus on the screens that displayed the fusions heat emissions, seeing Stevonnie's body mostly white; but from where their belly button was started to glow yellow, then red which had started to spread outwards.
No, they didn't want this! The thought of Connie disappearing completely terrified them.
"Should...should we disconnect?" Stevonnie queried, albeit with a splitting headache.
Priyanka wanted them to, but didn't want to stress them out more than was necessary
"You've been Stevonnie for a while now." She said. placing her hands on the desk and looking down at at it.
"And I honestly felt concerned. More so. AIs like myself experience more pain through these Androids; experiencing painful feelings on a scale that rivals a humans. Designed to dampen more realistically. I am able to feel without worrying about falling into Absolutes..."
Absolutes were troublesome...such feelings were akin bottlenecking into a one track mind one cannot stop falling into. It was always a fault with both AI's and GIS.
"A consequence of AI development and the ATF Process." Priyanka continued.
"They can severely damage the software permanently. AIs are meant to absorb and process information at a much higher limit than humans. ATF is meant to disengage from an organic mindset to a digital one, so the mind doesn't go insane with what would be considered too much and too fast for a regular human to be able to regulate normally."
There would have been times even an AI could go insane with some information...
"Coupled with learning algorithms that have the capacity to alter the code within personality parameters if the information recieved is processed in such a way that the subconscious decides its impact. A sliding scale that aligns on a level of severity. Large in scope but unfortunately quite fragile."
Sounds like more of when AIs were originally being created. AIs were like glass, easily broken when subjected to enough pressure. They got better with time, technological advancements and of course, the discovery of Alien Tech.
"A Brainmapped AI is considered complex and lengthy due to the power of its Kernel Core. The construction of the Core is as intricate as the human brain it is drawn from. A lengthy ordeal, but it allows it to create a near perfect replica of its donor. Near perfect by making small adjustments, which includes accomodating the new AI to its new existence. Similar to the Luna/Sol software, it shifts mental perception to prevent disorientation. Human underflow and overflow from the lack of senses, if you will."
Made...sense?
"AI learning algorithms aren't meant to be merged with an organics." Doug said.
"Organic brains absorb information differently...but so does perception and sense of self. Two different worlds. Different fears and preferences. Our concern is Connie's...hardware shifting and warping to accomodate what ever Steven holds. And meshes it with what Connie has. We've done enough of a rough simulation to foretell that Stevonnie may be more permanent than you think."
No. They had to be wrong. This didn't seem right...Priyanka could see Stevonnie's bioenergy going haywire again. They had to be careful not to cause enough panic as it was.
"Steven can't be in his AI Core right now." Stevonnie called out.
"The risk that the Protection Protocol has with him right now. It risks Luna taking control."
With a whole load of complicated problems that went with it.
"We are aware." Priyanka said
"Steven discarding nearly everything; stripped to the basic functionalities. We're still a little confused as to why Connie's body had to shift; we would have expected a consensus of the mind, not of the body. Even then, I don't even know if this is reversible."
Stevonnie didn't even want to think about it. Priyanka and Doug would be worried, as parents. A very human behaviour. Thoughts leaned towards the many parts of what really made a human, human. And for all the tech that was developed to evolve humans to their next state, it didn't strip humans down to a basic format; it stripped humans from themselves. Into something...more. Beyond.
What if the world was no longer fit for humans? And they made themselves that way? Or was it a sudden mutation? With certain conditions met? Humanity would go in the ways of the dinosaurs and in their place, new species entire to build the next empire.
"Perhaps that may not be something we have a complete grasp of." Doug stated.
"For now, we might need to be fighting a different battleground."
Discussion about that was put to a halt; as they didn't want to cause Stevonnie more alarm than necessary; it was important to note however. To understand an AI's creation and so forth, but to exascerbate a fear they didn't have before wasn't their intention. Mainly to make sure that they were aware. At the end of the day, they didn't want to lose their daughter. This Consensus was necessary to a certain extent; but this wedged an idea that they were living on borrowed time. Stev_____ had to do something, rather than nothing. What could he really do? Hurting Connie without her knowing was one thing, but options were extremely limited.
Stevonnie only understood that ____onnie didn't want to lose Stev_____ either.
A conumdrum that hurt their head, and so had spent most of the day meditating upon themselves in Connie's room, trying to reach out to their components. Communication to ensure that their priority was for their goals, but concern over Connie's condition grew.
The communication was via chat sequence however. Stevonnie couldn't see them, but could see their messages to one another. Pink Text for Steven, Blue text for Connie. Steven sounded like he was full of fear, not wanting to be within Connie anymore than he had to. But Connie was willing to make sacrifices and only based their premise on theories that hadn't been founded yet and wanted to refocus their goals to something more tangible.
Stevonnie was a third party and could not intervene even as they argued. They feel their every fear and anguish... that was until...
"Stevonnie."
Opening up their eyes, they had been sitting on their bed with their legs crossed, and noticed Ryman standing there.
"Sorry to interrupt, I wanna go over those notes you found....
Going to Rymans lab, he had them scattered over a nearby bench, whle he sat down on his chair, eyes scanning over the multitude of data that would go over most
"Most of the stuff I've gone over is stuff we already know." He said.
"But one of these documents had a log in sequence hidden into it."
Grabbing a piece of paper, he pointed to a series of paragraphs.
"Some of this discusses Sapphires." He said.
"Notably their songs and convergence points. Nothing here gives us anything new, but then I noticed some of the letters were used in a different font.. So I was able to discover a code."
Swinging his chair around and putting in the code revealed numerous texts as Ryman would read out. A confession from... Rose?
"I have hidden this because of important revelations from Garnets visions. While a Sapphires Song and a Convergence Point are considered similar, I believe that only the Sapphire Mod produces a Convergence Point; a song that will come, no matter what. She's proven valuable every step of the way thus far because I have fed her enough to be able to calcuate almost precise outcomes. Numerous negative and positive outcomes. The Blue Monolith only pursues the positive, where as some negative outcomes must be produced in order for a positive one to take place.
But even so, she talks about a monster in the future that will spawn from an unlikely place. That this is the Convergence Point that is inevitable. Is it good or bad? Garnet cannot see past it. Which has been a flaw I've been trying so hard to fix. What do I add on the Sapphire Mod that hasn't already been done? Pearl? Amethyst? The former could produce something that we can control and store information easily, whereas an Amethyst to the equation would be a powerhouse.
Beyond that, I know that Garnets visions are meant to be less vague; more diverse on quickly processing potential outcomes if we create theoretical situations for even further insight.
But this Monster...could it be White? Maybe that Killswitch is more imperative then ever."
The Killswitch...a Monster in the Future.
Stevonnie's head begun to hurt.
"The Blue Monolith has begun to make a unique matter known as Cyber-Synthetic Fluid, or CSF, supposedly with the origins of using Amni fluid, to use to spread data across easier with some of her synthetic prototype androids. It got me wondering...to create from mechanical, to synthetic, to organic is the cycle all thought to be impossible. But humans can hold data via their Soulware. CSF allows for not just for fluid movements but is also contributed to cyberbrains; able to help with AI processing almost to mimic a humans. But even that will always be flawed and subject to Absolutes. I cannot risk a single AI or GIS falling into an Absolute. Organics are the only ones capable of being brought from the brink. The Killswitch I pray may not be needed one day. But it needs to be a human to wield it....to shut it all down. If anyone finds this record let it be known, a Sapphire's Song knows the probability of artificial life; but it doesn't not always get an organics probability right if the organic themselves remain unpredictable."
Ryman nodded, his eyes going to the despondent Stevonnie, their eyes focused on the desk.
"The Killswitch..." They said.
That's how all of this started. This whole Stevonnie debacle. How could they forget???
"Connie has it..."
Furrowing his brows, Ryman grew concerned.
"Maybe your Dad put it in you by accident?" He assumed.
"I was never told who possessed it. Only that a human had it. Suddenly it all makes sense."
Except ____onnie's dad...
"Garnet was the one who chose her." Stevonnie continued. ^2
"Out of all of her predictions, Connie was the best one to wield it."
And with good reason.
But how to bring it out and how to wield it, was the ultimate question. Ryman himself knew so little about the Killswitch personally. He's heard Greg talk about...and one other.
"I suppose Rose would be the only one to answer that." He said.
And she wasn't exactly around in a sense to be able provide that answer. No matter how much Stevonnie wished it were so.
"I know Steven's been previously able to access patches of Rose's memories." They said.
Unless...
"Wait..." Stevonnie said.
"What about Obsidia?"
"Oh that old thing."
Obsidia made themselves at home in of the rooms, filled with papers with insane scribbles on walls. Freaked Stevonnie out a bit. It made them feel that they weren't supposed to be here. Not supposed to be hanging around. Tension was thick. For an odd reason, the room felt busy, crowded. A feeling not caused by the post it notes everywhere. But something else.
Obsidia sat there with their legs crossed, briefly hovering off the ground. With an eternal, faint smile on that face that didn't suit the soul; in a body that was more like a meatsuit.... like they knew what was coming. Because they knew what Stevonnie desired. What they were looking for.
"I need to learn out to draw it out." They said, rubbing their arm.
Obsidia smiled, as if waiting for this very conversation to take place all this time.
"To defeat Luna..." They said, patting the space next to them.
Stevonnie paused briefly to contemplate; before they swallowed, obliging as they sat next to them. Their eyes trailed on all the notes and wondered what they were even for.
"You feel cold?" They asked.
What kind of question was that? They did get a chill up their spine.
"This is going to be the point...where the logical world ends and the illogical begins." They continued.
"A unique framework has emerged. New logics are formed. Programming the world in the way that emits the path forward."
Stevonnie had no idea what they were even talking about.
"Accepting the new norm is the only way that your powers will manifest. I cannot help you draw them out, personally. You will need to find someone who can bring an understanding of this to you."
But wasn't Obsidia the one who brought the logic of Folding up front? This was incredibly frustrating.
"Do you know who?" Stevonnie queried
They must have.
"The one who inserted the Killswitch into Connie." Obsidia revealed.
"They know its power and the logic formed to wield it."
And they begrudingly knew who this was. They'd hoped not to resort to consulting with ghosts and corrupted digital poltergeists.
"Rose." Said Stevonnie.
"But Rose is long dead."
Obsidia gave them strange looks.
"You hold the Memory Stains do you not?"
Memory...Stains? So much new terminology learned today alone.
"Rose contributed to the Phylactery. It was formatted to fit Steven inside, but it does not rid of it the previous users stains."
Probably explained the memories of Rose Steven would see from time to time, but nothing they had seen so far even remotely goes through that kind of data.
"There is still enough of her residue to conjure her image."
So, they had to look into themselves?
"You think there's a memory of Rose with the Killswitch?" Stevonnie wondered.
"Maybe even using it?"
Obsidia responded with a wider smile. Stevonnie wasn't sure they were prepared to do another introspective on that front.
"You do what you believe will work." Obsidia advised.
"Do what you must to draw her out."
It left Stevonnie confused and perplexed as the left Obsidia's room and found themselves walking the Sites halls in silence. None of this made sense. Obsidia was cryptic by default and Stevonnie should have expected that.
"Steven...." Said Stevonnie, though with a deeper inflection.
They were with each other, but the feeling of loneliness and isolation in their state, their condition. How could any hope to know what it was like? Dr. Maheswaran was methodical in explaining her own fears; the fears of her daughter not being returned to her. Ironic, given the circumstances.
Pressing their hand against their stomach, their mind tried to pilfer through the known unknowns. The power of Folding, the existence of the Killswitch; what it was and what it could do. Even with the combined files listed within their conjoined operating Soulware listed nothing of the sort. A dozen, a hundred searches for a file that did not exist.
So how were they to know and suspect? Did ____onnie even have the Killswitch at all? Was Stev_____ wrong about whom he assumed had the Killswitch?
"There you are."
Opening their eyes, they could see Ronaldo standing there.
"I wasn't sure if you were still stuck with uh, the Pink Monolith. Uhh....can I borrow you for sec?"
They figured Ronaldo wanted them to work on something specif
Ronaldo took them back to what appeared to be a kitchen facility back at the original Site; a room not too far from the Cluster Monolith. There was Peedee sitting on a bar stool, Lars leaning against the bench and Sadie who sat on the tabletop as they talked;. They noticed Stevonnie enter the room following Ron, and smiled. They weren't sure why they were smiling; until they saw a keg of beer and bottles of assorted liquor.
"Lars found a stash hidden underneath here." Said Sadie as she giggled.
Lars shrugged.
"I suppose you gotta deal with the insanity in some way." He said.
"Sadie figured you didn't want to miss out."
How...sweet of them?
"We've been working ourselves to the bone trying to save the world." Ronaldo said, as he poured Stevonnie a glass and poured in a few cubes of ice.
"You the most out of anyone..."
Stevonnie was almost shocked as Ronaldo handed them the glass. They looked into it, watched as the darkened amber swished around.
"That's...incredibly sweet." They said.
The pause had them looking at one another.
"Do...do you need consent from both parties?" Peedee wondered.
No, that wasn't the problem. It was a welcome gesture all around. It just had Stevonnie thinking about the affects of alchohol...and the effects of Stev_____'s programming mushing around ___onnie's inside. A practice that can change the behaviour all the same. A kick in the algorithm.
"They're fine with it." Stevonnie responded.
"It just sounds so..."
What would be the perfect word?
"Human?" Said Lars.
Couldn't have said it better, as Ronaldo would pour more glasses to hand over to the others. Ronaldo would then make a toast.
"To being human, no matter what shape or form you might take as one."
Of the clinking of glasses, the group would revel in celebrations of just being alive. Of laughter. Of stories. Stories that didn't make sense. Stories of their own childhoods. Though Stevonnie struggled to connect; such memories held more sorrow and pain that anything remotely happy. But they were formed out of love...and desperation for answers.
Was that okay? Did it matter how one was formed to be human?
But others could relate. Each of them held histories of joy and pain alike. Their own growth and series of mistakes and further growth. But the way they talked; Stevonnie felt...relaxed. Unwound. It was okay to be them. There was no judgement here. Only camadarie and true friendship.
For they would continue to judge themselves...and their mind would refocus on the true mission occasionally, only for one of them to snap them out of their temporary trance and be awake to their conversation, what ever it may be. Their heart reflected in the moment, the warm feeling about being around people...just...people. Those whom they could really call friends.
But Rose would forever linger. A stain on more memories than their own.
Meanwhile, in the Deep Throne of the Blue Monolith, Cobalt walked alongside Director Agate to be linked up to Blue herself.
As far as every was anywhere else on Earth, Blue had the island on complete lockdown. Not letting anyone in or out. The desire for control, to dissuade panic and making sure everyone was comfortable while she proved to be fighting Luna's influence all the while was a struggle nevertheless. Director Agate hooked Cobalt up, as he met up with Azure inside. The atmosphere was incredibly dark save for the cyan glow from a score of screens.
The Conduit was busy brooding with hundreds of floating holographic monitors. Walls were brought up around the island as a defensive measure, with security tight around the perimeters.
"Azure, looking riveting as always." Cobalt said, using his usual charm.
The Conduit tried to relax in her hovering, half egg shaped chair. Cobalt, her next greatest asset, hopefully bringing good news. Any news. What happened with Yellow; her beloved Mimi. She's lost too much family...and be damned if she was going to lose more.
"You have scouted the ruins of Mega Beach City I trust?" She said, not even bothering to look at him as he stood next to her. The GIS nodded.
"That I have." He said.
"I have discovered what I believe to be left over GIS Phylacteries, But I need some Androids to help with the legwork while I can get them safely transported."
Blue lifted her chin. Their relationship was complex and full of secrets. Something she learned from Mother White. Cobalt served her with invaluable information; none which may be shared with the entire Development Team.
"You cannot get that teleporting hoverbike to do it?" She asked.
Cobalt shook his head. He saw something haunting the ruins but didn't want Blue to worry herself over it.
"I've borrowed a smaller pseudo-phylactery from the Site. The Hoverbike itself...."
He used his palm crystal to slide some pictures over to one of the many screens, demonstration Leon's from into a pink lion. An image that astonished Blue.
"An illusion surely." She said.
Cobalt wished it were so.
"These aren't ordinary phylacteries." He said.
"Given the formation of these odd gemstones, there only being two in this instance being made from Lazarus Initiative bodies. I would have said it been unique to them but they are not."
Blue raised an eyebrow.
"The Stevonnie entity." Cobalt continued.
"The Pink Monolith and his Caretaker are under the impression that they were the ones to do it."
The Synchronised one. Blue had heard about the unusual formation and was utmost curious about it.
"And I believe them."
So Stevonnie was deliberately holding secrets? Definitely ran in the family.
"But that links the discussion back to the gifts I found." He said.
"I need to borrow one of your jets and some of your Amethyst Androids."
Now Blue was really curious. Given how much everything else was out of control. But she was prepared to take some risks. Her Sapphires have sung more songs of late. Predicting necessary victories.
"Very well." She said, typing away.
"I'll have Director Agate provide you with the resources."
Notes:
1. Chapter 76 Data Hunt Part 1
2. Chapter 114 Duality
Chapter 119: Tinted
Summary:
Cobalt ravages the ruins of Mega Beach City and finds a figure most unexpected.
Chapter Text
Cobalt had this feeling, from the roots of his creation generated in blue code, that the understanding of his own existence was mixed. Hard written in the digital fabric of his being of who Steven and Connie were; that their tale of love and romance and connections formulated the binary blood that had runtimes of the heart that was his Kernel Core.
Intermittent with orders from the Blue Monolith; he felt more...loyalty and an unwritten oath towards the pair; whom were now entangled in a perplexing existence together. Consensus itself, from the Blue Monolith's own perspection on the subject, formulated more philosophical ideas. But mentioned, she had been inspired by her little sister, Cereza.
Early versions of consensus were based on modded programming. Utilising existence programs and giving them an unauthorised upgrade (Read: illegal). Except it wasn't called consensus. It was just called modding. It was Cereza's idea, for modding GIS.
The Blue Monolith remembered her saying something along the lines of "Wouldn't it be funny to fuse two Ruby GIS together to make a much larger and stronger Ruby Program?"
Bemused by her siblings Mimosa and Azure, Mother White intially dismissed this idea as no more than a childs imagination, until Mimosa and Azure toyed with the idea. Now, being that Cereza loved to watch old anime back in the day with stories that had storylines about fusions, it wasn't entirely a horrible idea. Mimosa had the prospect of fusing Sapphire's together; until Azure had mentioned that the clarity of each Sapphire required sample sizes of data that needed to be slightly different, in order to formulate percentage of probability due to differing perspectives and analysation of data. But Cereza's Ruby idea held more weight. Rubys are made to be guards and defenders. That Hackers preferred to try and use their own weapons to steal secrets and more.
Azure had run through the simulations proper, as Mimosa watched on. The first consensus was three Ruby's, then five. The Program was surprisingly stable, due to their mental alignments all pertaining to a single goal. It was stronger, albeit the Triple Ruby was faster than the five. So it would ultimately depend on the level of security required for the given moment.
And hearing about the Sapphire-Mod that added a Ruby that, wasn't what they had planned either, neither anything Cereza would have formulated.
Azure was furious about it at first, as was Mimosa, but Grandmother White was surprising not terse about it. Deciding to let it play as an experiment for now.
It was this conversation, that spurred Azure to believe White knew something they didn't.
So the time came; and time was bided by the Blue Monolith. Information to be gathered in secret. And it was then one day, she was approached by Dr. Greg DeMayo; one whom she didn't expect at all. Memories of an old conversation flooded back to her.
FLASHBACK
Within her Monolith, they had a meeting; as she poured Greg some tea as more of a peace offering to him.
"You surprise me Dr. DeMayo." She said, as she provided him with a white cup and saucer.
"To reach to out at such a tumultous time."
With certain desires needing certain restraint. More so from Holly than Azure, but the latter was less apprehensive and open for any answers from the one man who could potentially help with her mission.
"I didn't know where else to turn." He said.
"I am overstepping my boundaries and I'm betraying my own family here. You're the only one with the resources required and...well, your head still stuck on...metaphorically speaking."
Azure did her damn hardest to protect her people and her island. They were her family. Mimosa; she barely spoke to Azure and White never did; both sitting on their treasure trove of secrets.
"It is difficult to maintain a sense of order in these trying times." She said.
"Repeated requests from this quadrants leaders. Especially China, Korea and Japan, even India. Their leadership groups are bombarding Yin Aozora with requests with upgraded security programs and systems. Trouble being, each country is believing the other is responsible."
Which begged the question whether or not information sharing and malfunctions are increasing at a worrying rate.
"You don't want to favour one or the other." Greg surmissed.
"I don't think I envy that responsibility."
And the possible threat of War.
"We have gone into a state of self-preservation." Azure continued, as she poured herself some tea.
"White wants to preserve herself and the interests of Weiss United and Mimosa wants to do the same with PeriCom. The rest of the world is currently conflicted. Governments covering up our mistakes to ensure they continue to cover their own."
How dire the society had become at this point; while the Developers have become willfully blind to it all.
"It's all because of the report, isn't it?" Greg wondered.
Azure sighed. That infamous report. How that random, unassuming Lapis got it was a mystery for the ages.
"Even before the report; there were issues." She said, as she looked out a window to her blue rose garden.
"Our Android Programs original prototypes. In the testing phase, I ordered our team to begin to the new CSF fluid process. We used a single, insignificant GIS at the time. Back then the androids were more akin to animatronics. Cereza had contributed the GIS from her Monolith, believing that it would be flexible enough in its design to be eager to test the rigs to breaking point, to better determine its own limits."
Greg remembered that somehow from an old story Rose told but he never pried her for more details.
"Unfortunately, we eventually noticed that the fluid had begun to affect the GIS software. Glitches were...small at first but got worst with more exposure. While CSF is mostly for connecting software to the hard and wetwares respectively, there must have been some kind of flaw in the Phylactery or the GIS's programming that made her act out the way she did."
This didn't sound like it was going to end well.
"Upon activation, the Android lashed out and killed several of our technicians and scientists. The Sapphires were never told of the probability of the Android lashing out. Only after it happened."
An unfortunate sacrifice for necessary data. Possibly the one particular flaw of the Sapphire GIS in general.
"The GIS was never used for the Android program after that." Azure noted.
"But oddly enough, one scientist wanted to study this GIS. They wanted to study the effects of CSF has on Phylacteries as a whole and maybe somehow find a way to restore the GIS back to normal."
The story sounded awfully familiar.
"I agreed on the conditions they could figure out what could have gone wrong with the CSF. So they did."
So what happened to the GIS?
"Never quite heard about what happened to the GIS after that." Azure said, as if responding to Gregs unspoken question.
"I figured the issue would have been resolved. I wanted nothing to do with it."
Not that Rose would have told him anyway.
"But something stuck with me after the original activation." Azure said.
"Something the GIS had said. About a Monster coming from an unlikely place would come to destroy us. Again, I tried not think about it. But it always remained."
Greg wasn't sure what to think there.
"It sounds crazy enough to forget about, but at the same time, oddly specific?" He assumed.
He took the words out of her mouth.
"Yes and...I've always wondered if it was something to pursue or as you said, crazy." She said.
"And it would make me look crazy to possibly to research something so possibly small but yet."
It could have had some merit.
"Since then, there were numerous reports from across the world of GIS acting strange." Azure said.
"Not enough to be a pandemic at the time...but it was as if, some were in rebellion. Protesting the way they were being treated by humanity. Something seeded in their minds. Like a virus..."
CURRENT
Exiting from the back of the military style Jet as the back panel shifted down into a ramp, The Android Cobalt entered what was left of Mega Beach City. Toppled ruins that would take an eternity to clean up. But the Blue Monolith adhered her promise and provided four of her Amethysts, a Carnelian and one Jasper named Skinny whom was reported to be the Scout of the group as opposed to being an all out fighter of the GIS, as was the Carnelian GIS. This was in exchange for strange phylactery. Cobalt was hesistant to provide it to her, but she would need properly study it, as a raw, untested Gem type of strange origins demanded some kind of research. Cobalt didn't have time to think about that for now and refocused on his current task that lay ahead.
The dust had yet to settle; as comments from humans would say that it was due to the souls left restless, trapped in another dimension they were forced into and unable to escape. They were only able to move around in another plane so close to reality, but just shy of touch and taste.
Cobalt knew he was designed to comprehend human interpretation better than most. The image he evoked. Humans could feel comfortable with him. He ultimately knew he whom he served and for what reason, but it didn't stop him from questioning.
A human trait apparently. This was a purposeful choice in his creation; but he wasn't the only one.
The Amethysts themselves; the final, completed versions. More human than GIS too. But ultimately, how human they were in coding, verses how human they were in virtual spirit.
Did they still have the same abilities as he? That wasn't why he was here. But he couldn't control that flowing thought anyway.
"Man, what a mess." The Carnelian commented.
"Do humans outside of the island like living like this?"
Then it dawned on him; Cobalt often forgot that most of the GIS living on Azure Alpha had never even stepped foot outside of it. Not that they planned to be here long enough to be able to wonder.
"I heard that humans like to make messes and clean them for no reason." Commented one of the Amethysts.
"I thought we were the ones to make bigger ones." Said another.
"That's what Director Agate says." Said a third one.
Skinny rolled her eyes.
"That's because you all like to wrestle in the Courtyard between shifts." She said.
"I swear if I have to call down Director Agate one more time."
All she was met with with snickers from the Amethysts. Perhaps the spirit was there after all, it didn't seem odd.
Parading through the crumbled chaos, of the aformentioned low hanging dust and smoke, they could see the patches of smoldering flames that lingered on in the weeks since its destruction.
Cobalt had been filtering through the once great city, trying to find anything worth salvaging. In truth, he'd been pinging the area for a while; and found odd signals. Like messages for help.
His main fear was that it could have been a trap. Especially when there had been someone else rummaging parts of the city. But they always kept themselves hidden. The only tale tell sign was the sound of gun fire, but Cobalt could never trace its origins. Eventually, he'd find a corpse with a gaping bullet wound or heads blown open. The severity of which was, that someone had been using them as target practice.
He'd been lucky that he hadn't been targeted. Not yet anyway, but he refused to take the chance. Especially if Stevonnie was down here. Their organic form would be mistaken for a Rose-Eyed. So more Androids to scout the ruins, the better, but he kept it small, to see if their invisible friend decided to target others. Not that he wanted these Androids to get shot; but to see the shooters preferences of victims.
He could hear the other Androids banter and laugh. He wasn't sure of he could tolerate their disregard for caution....that was until they heard gun fire.
The group pulled out their guns, honing in everywhere and anywhere. Cobalt recognising the unique nature of the weapon used based off of its sound.
"A sniper." He said.
"Take defensive positions!"
The group didn't hesitate, hiding behind debris, walls, pillars etc. It went quiet for a moment, other than the hollow sounds of the whistling wings. One of the Amethyst peeked their head above a random boulder and looked around.
"Is it over?"
A response that was met with the sudden disappearing of their head into a million metal shards.
"Sis!" Cried one of the other Amethyst.
Cobalt looked around, and could have sworn he could seen a long barrel in the distance coming from of the building for a split second, before it was drawn back. He made a fist; determining the next steps as the others tended their fallen sister.
A flash of pink text went before his HUD
"ITS FOR THEIR OWN GOOD."
Shaking his head, he turned to the others, as Skinny checked on the phylactery. It didn't look it was cracked or damaged in anyway. Normally they are kept on parts of an Androids body, specifically where the Kernel Core would be in their digital form. This one just happened to be on the back of her left hand.This was normally for the purposes of near immediate identification with these specific Androids.
"She's still intact, thank goodness." She said.
"Are we in any danger still, Cobalt?"
He had control of the situation. Or at least, he thought he did. He's not a natural leader; desiring to go with the flow and ensure both good vibes and good faith. But he begun to grow rather annoyed and leaned more towards them being lead to an ambush. Scanning the perimeter and not to mention the disappearance of sniper, Cobalt dared to go out into the open and gave it a moment. No movement nearby or anything he could detect as suspicious.
"I'm not sure." He said.
"But it's best to keep on guard. Skinny, do what you can and drag her back to our safety point as discussed."
Skinny nodded. Cobalt pointed to another Amethyst to help her out, leaving the other two with him. He checked the signal. It was still emitting.
His priority was to track the signal; which eventually lead him to what was once pride and joy, the center of it all. Mega Beach City HQ. Its main economy. It looked like it took the brunt of the hit; which left a big gaping hole in the centre. It looked more like a maw to the darkness of hell, ready to consume anything that would naturally fall into it.
But the signal was at its strongest here. No doubt what he had been looking for was down here. Left over GIS from destroyed Kindergartens.
They were durable things, the phylacteries. Made out mysterious compounds and fluids that come off the Monoliths themselves. The research that were into their strange metaphysics was all the Developers wanted to do. To figure out their potential and their application to serve the human race.
Cobalt would make the cautious descent with the other two Amethyst; to see where this would lead them. A sense of dread lingered in the air as dust and dirt followed. To wonder what secrets were once behind closed doors, now made worthless...
Unless someone like Cobalt could find some use.
It got darker, as they begun to use the lights from their eyes to project outwards like torches. The further down they went by jumping from debris to debris, the more the darkness took hold. They saw remnant of the Deep Throne plates as well as broken shards of yellow glass absolutely everywhere.
But the signal got stronger. And eventually they had come across a door. Cobalt felt like the abyss distorted his sense of time as he wasn't really sure how long it took them to be from the surface to here.
Upon further examination, it looked like a rusted red, electric sliding door. Whether or not this may have been some sort of experiment or maybe even a bomb shelter by pure luck. It mattered not. He sighted a keypad next to the door, but no power.
The Amethyst tried to pry it open with their hands, but struggled. Their Androids were designed to handle troublesome things like this, with their increased strength. The groan of the doors struggling to open would make a human flinch with revulsion at the sound, like nails on a chalkboard.
Once opened, it was still relatively dark until Cobalt aimed his eyes on the inside. The two Amethyst walked in front of him and inspected the place. It was more like a storage room; a warehouse even. Filled with rows of high shelves which held possibly hundreds of boxes. A switch could be heard, as lights from above turned on, one by one.
They walked in silence to the other side of the room with another door. Cobalt went to open it, before it slid open itself.
A single yellow boot clicked its heel before the two Amethyst aimed their guns at a possible foe.
"Huh, I wondered when someone would eventually arrive."
Looking up and down, this woman was completely yellow and looked incredibly familiar; complete with the yellow...
Oh, wait..he pushed the guns down...as he quickly ran through a thousand or so burst processes, before he realised who this was.
"Wait, you're...you're the Yellow Monolith?" He said.
"Mimosa Miller?"
The two decided to talk in this area, which apparently was a break room of sorts; but this was most certainly the Yellow Monolith; in the flesh??? So many questions. Again, impossibilities made possible. It brought more confusion than joy... but he was relieved that Yellow could relent and deal with the elephant in the room off hand...and Yellow could have a proper conversation for once that didn't involve painful screeching from Peri.
"You broke from the Deep Throne?" Cobalt asked as he paced around. The Android Amethyst stood by, as the looked incredibly uncomfortable in the prescence in the all powerful Monolith.
"How?"
Yellow crossed her arms as she leaned against the bench.
"I questioned that myself." She said.
"There was an explosion...and I turned back on again and I was on the bottom of my facility. I found it hard to believe myself."
Approaching her, he looked at her arm then wanted to ask.
"May I?"
She nodded with approval, as he gently took her arm. Feeling fabric from her gloves and a light type of warmth that was warmer than human skin.
"You're not an Android." He said.
There were no notable joints after all. He could also see a Phylactery on her chest. Like a GIS. The Monoliths were considered massive GIS but their entire lives are spent within it and connected to the Domain at all times. They only had this appearance while projected themselves into cyberspace.
Which meant one thing.
"You're made of hard light."
Just like Leon.
"I figured as much." Yellow said.
"I had Peri run some tests...she'd come to same conclusion."
President Dot was still alive? Yellow looked at her hands and fingers and played around with them.
"But she couldn't leave this place due to the jammed door."
Outside was a death trap anyway. Especially with that suspicious sniper about.
"Where is she now?" Cobalt wondered.
Not that President Dot as a priority, but seeing some survivors...
"She's in another room connected to the warehouse, tending to some...other GIS."
Other GIS? So there were more here? More survivors should have had Cobalt glad, but at the same time...
"Follow me."
Yellow lead him out of the break room, back into the warehouse and into another room with a long corridor. At the end of the corridor were more doors; and the last one on the left was their destination. Upon opening the door was another huge room with blue painted walls with clouds. Inside were numerous individuals...small, to absolutely garguatuan and of a variety of colours.
"Oh, we...have...visitors?" Said the big multicoloured caterpiller in back.
Wasn't that...
"I predict Yellow is going to bring in a guest!" Said the small orange coloured Sapphire.
Besides them, a triangle headed short blonde woman ran their way.
"Mo- I mean, my Monolith!" She shouted.
"Does this mean?"
Yellow sighed. Her daughter and her desire to rush. She looked at Cobalt who nodded.
"Yes Peri." She responded dryly.
Yellow explained these were a group of the Synthesised; a group of Mods lauded for taking too much bandwidth with their sheer size. The largest being known as Flourite, the others were Rhodonite, Rutile Twins and Padparadscha? Why they were down here was a topic for another time. They'd gone up and got everyone else on the plane back to Azure Alpha, though as Cobalt ushered everyone on, he looked upon the ruins and suspected their sneaky foe's eyes were still upon them.
Once aboard and in their air, Cobalt sat with Yellow and Peri and discussed the situation with the world at large.
"I'm certain your sister would be happy to see you." Cobalt assured.
Yellow sat there with one leg over the other, arms crossed and opposite Cobalt. Peri sat there very anxiously and yet still had a pompous air around her.
"Happiness is an emotion to be disregarded, as Mother would say." Mimosa advised.
The blue Android looked at the Synthesised as they laughed and chatted with the Amethyst squad. Yellow didn't seem to believe those words herself.
"Besides, she's just as obssessed with research like mother is. Speaking of, any word?"
Cobalt shrugged as he hunched over, elbows on his knees as he rubbed his hands together.
"She's been quiet." He told her.
Yellow nodded; not even surprised.
"Doesn't sound like our family has any solution at all to this problem." She said.
"Self-preservation is necessary when you cannot fit a Monolith into an entire Android..."
But with this new form...
"We just have to somehow replicate this situation." Cobalt said.
"Anything strange happen before or after the explosion?'
Yellow rubbed her chin as thought back. One event didn't really stand out but it still stood as a contender.
"Nothing strange persay." She said...
"Bu-"
"But I checked her programming." President Dot said, interrupting.
"I saw new lines of code I've never seen in her before."
Cobalt and Yellow exchanged glances.
"Peri insists on checking me for viruses constantly." She said.
For once it was paranoia that...was kind of justified. The risk of infection was great, even if you had the latest in anti-virus software.
"But looking at you...you look like the one who tried to save me previously. They were a big blubbering mess....and for some reason was compelled to hug me."
It was then the pieces started to come together and the theory was correct. Stevonnie had something to do with the reformation then, like they did with Leon...supposably.
"Stevonnie." Said Cobalt.
"The human consensus."
Peri's eyes widened.
"Wait, what?" She said.
"Yeah, I saw that. It was so weird!"
Cobalt narrowed his brows as he looked at Ms. Dot.
"You saw them forming it?" He asked.
Peri nodded, describing the process as gruesome as she heard the popping of bones and growth of flesh. It was absolutely disgusting in her eyes, not to mention shocking.
"What ever the case maybe, it should prove useful." Yellow declared.
"These forms disconnect us from the Domain. Making it less likely for Luna to have any influence."
The more he thought about it, the more it gave Cobalt ideas. It was then he was met with the strange pink text again.
I NEED A COPY OF THE LUNA PROGRAM
Staring at the roof of Connie's room, Stevonnie splayed themselves out. Wide awake as they contemplated things within themselves. They couldn't determine how long they had been bedrotting for, only that they couldn't sleep. The same dream flashed through their mind over and over again, imagining some kind of monster swallowing them whole. What the monster had become was a combination of factors from reading old comics ____onnie used to read when she was younger, finding stuff in the small library attached to the Site.
"Are we the monster?" Stevonnie asked themselves.
They were, for better, or for worse, an abomination that only appeared human. Lars was still human in a sense, but one could tell otherwise. He could still function like a human, so why couldn't Stevonnie?
The others didn't treat them worse for it either. It didn't help the strangling feeling that they weren't supposed to be there. Could have been ____onnie's side wanting to return to normal and going back to her normal form. Stevonnie wished they could, but it was Stev_____ that didn't want to let go. A combination of factors really, that actually had both sides clinging on.
"They could make another Android for you, you know." Stevonnie said.
But could Stev_____ live without his Protection Protocol? That shouldn't have mattered right now; instead, they should have focused on trying to get Rose's memories to surface. The Killswitch was their priority. But to summon anything at all was a pointlesss pursuit when they had nothing to draw, going through both Stev_____'s and ____onnie's digital inventory numerous times. Stev_____'s even held less due to discarding his entire 'Avatar' and most of his app suite upon their consensus. Rose had to know something more than they didn't. Maybe it was obvious. Maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was chucked away with the Protection Protocol; but that was impossible.
Their thoughts were distracted, however as someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Opening the door, it was Dr. Ryman.
"Sorry to interrupt." He said.
"It's important."
Going back to his lab, he was busy at his WorkStation as always. The distraction was nice, after busy facing mental fairy tales.
"Cobalts been doing some ground missions." He said.
Following his overtold destiny of finding ways to destroy Luna of course. Not that Stevonnie would ever forget his supposed purpose.
"He's found the Yellow Monolith."
What?
"She survived?" Stevonnie said.
That demonstrated some incredible durability indeed. They should have felt relieved but...
"Yeah." Dr. Ryman responded.
"So did President Dot and a few GIS."
It was great news! Better than what anyone could have hoped for.
"But they believed the strangest thing has happened." Ryman continued.
"That the Yellow Monolith has been reborn....as some kind of hard light construct, not unlike Leon."
What?
"How was..." They said, before the vision of Stev_____ touching Leon's phylactery came to mind.
"Wait...did I...."
Leon's reformation into the entity he is now is something that bothered them greatly. It just never came to mind after that moment, chalking it up to the magic of Folding; the power they had to maintain with caution.
"That's their theory anyway." Ryman acknowledged.
"But they wanted to speak to you at Yin Aozora HQ. Get some insight and maybe it could be used as something against our current predicament?"
Leon would warp himself in, as he jumped out of his hole and sat in front of the Consensus. Stevonnie wondered what ever else would go on in his mind in this new form of his. They approached him and patted his warm, fluffy mane; but then they noticed something was in between his teeth. A small bluish crystal; that looked like a tear drop.
"Oh I forgot." Said Ryman.
"Probably should have mentioned this first; the Satellite no longer contains a Lapis GIS."
What?
"But she's been speaking to me..." They said.
"Via messages and stuff."
Dr. Ryman sighed.
"I decided to research the Satellite myself with the help of Leon here. The Satellite is meant to house a Lapis; but it appears the Satellite itself was functioning on its own accord. The Phylactery itself was stored inside a separate section, but I brought up schematics for Lazuli Satellites; this one was just in a spare parts compartment."
What a Satellite needed a spare parts area was anyones guess.
"Leon has been kind enough to bring out the phylactery. She seems to be in one piece."
That was good. But who was operating the Satellite now?
"So there's another Lapis running it then?" Stevonnie summarised.
Ryman rubbed the back of his head.
"It's working for us at the moment. Your mom and dad don't see any issue with it; they scanned it. So it's not riddled with viruses or worse; trojans." He assured them.
"Back in the day Satellite's didn't need GIS to operate. Just required manual intervention from the ground."
Amazing...
"But if what they're saying with the Yellow Monolith is true, then maybe you will be able to draw Lapis out too, somehow?"
Stevonnie looked at the Phylactery in their hands. This was their Lapis; dormant. So many questions. But for now, the words, draw out was in their head. They looked at Leon; one whom had the process happen to them not long ago. Perhaps this is the power that they really wielded. That this was the next step in GIS functionality. To be able to walk the world of reality just like a human could.
They wrapped their fingers around the stone. Memories of Lapis flowed through them. Their friend and ally...even from the moment that Stev_____ met them, there was always something different about Lapis. For a GIS. But maybe, that could be said of all GIS.
But this motion could set GIS free.
Lapis most deserving of this freedom of all.
There was a tiny burst of purple light, if only for a split second.
No...no way...
Their eyes widened with surprise. This was....
They gripped the Phylactery tighter and kept their focus on Lapis strong, closing their eyes in the strain of all their being. The light flickered a few more times before it begun to glimmer. Stevonnie could feel the energy emit more warmly by the second. It started to shake in their hand before Stevonnie let go. The Phylactery held itself in the air for a brief moment, before a blinding light encompassed the room.
Once the light fadded. Stevonnie could see the phylactery on what appeared to be Lapis' back, as she turned around to see Stevonnie before her.
"Woah..." She said, before noticing Dr. Ryman in the room.
"Umm..."
Tears fell down Stevonnie's eyes, as ran up to the GIS and wrapped their arms around her, astonishing Lapis.
"Oh...hi." She said.
Finally. Finally Stevonnie could do something useful with their power. It brought them no amount of joy to see Lapis with them and in their arms, warm. Lapis was reluctant, before they welcomed the embrace.
Back at Azure Alpha, Cobalt had wandered outside of one of Yin Aozora's many balconies to overlook the last surviving city. Most humans hadn't fallen under the spell of Luna's Virus purely because of the Blue Monoliths influence and upgrading of antivirus software kept things at bay. Rain normally didn't pour all that often as Azure Alpha had weather manipulation technology. But the odd rainy day was mostly for a variety of reasons; for roof top gardens, for replenishing fresh water reservoirs etc. It usually had a distinct way that it poured. Namely, on days where it wasn't all that windy. They tried to ensure they didn't manipulate the weather that much if they could avoid it, due to how it could affect surrounding regions, but occasionally some regions within proximity could ask for Yin Aozora for some alterations to work in their favour, to avoid typhoons and other tragedies.
The rain itself...just looked different. It was difficult to place why. It was a tilted rain, like they hadn't accounted for the softest breeze. It bothered him, but he wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because of the tall one wearing a black rain coat approached him. He'd heard them, but didn't bother to turn around.
"You feel it too." Said a familiar female voice.
Cobalt suspected something ever since he'd arrived in Mega Beach City....and it had just expanded since.
"I've not existed for long yet I feel like I was made to suspect." He said.
"But you being here? Of all individuals... can't say I'm surprised."
Words that elicited a response not a smirk, but a pressed, silent lips.
Cobalt lifted his hand to feel the rain on his hand. The rain ever felt different. Smelt different.
"Who knows how many lies you have created in order to sustain the game."
Now that was just insulting.
"They need me." She continued as she went to stand next to Cobalt.
No they didn't. If they was who she was insinuating.
"Someone needs to teach them to use the Killswitch. And I will be the one to teach them."
Cobalt raised an eyebrow, then crossed his arms.
"If you were created as intended Cobalt, then you should also be able to look past the tint covering your eyes; and be able to help remove the tint for others."
Like she has been?
"I've been busy monitoring Luna's movements." Cobalt told her.
"She speeds around too quickly, striking at random."
The woman lifted her chin.
"Sounds like she's waiting." The woman concluded.
Waiting? Ironic.
"Luna's looking for the perfect moment to strike." She said.
"Which is why you and I must train Stevonnie to be able to use their power."
They?
"You got that from observing them?" Cobalt queried.
She smiled. She played a very dangerous game.
"I didn't predict for their situation to happen." She said.
"But sometimes you have to make things up as they go along...or borrow a program or two."
Now he understood why she was here. He could question why she was here and how she was here. But he deemed that irrelevant eventually. He was less enraged and more confused.
"You were here to steal a Sapphire GIS?" He asked.
The woman shook her head.
"A Sapphire GIS would be valuable but no." She replied.
"A Sapphire-Mod is preferrable."
So it was her. Cobalt was most reluctant to believe it, let alone trust her. A program like this couldn't really harm anyone. Unless they were part of an insane broken AI.
"I have the LUNA program here." He said, holding a small disc contained in a plastic case.
"Not sure why you need it."
The one program Cobalt understood was purely to deal with underflow problems for the most complex of AI.
"You have SOL, don't you?" She said.
SOL? How did...
"Don't play dumb with me Greg." She said.
"Aunt Azure must have suppressed your true personality deep inside. I suppose Garnet wouldn't have taken that into account unless she was fed such information."
Greg...
"Woah what are you saying?" Cobalt said, confused. Hot, white code sped through numerous subroutines within as he contemplated her words.
The woman shook her head, before rubbing her chin.
"Ah I almost forgot the passphrase." She said.
"If every porkchop were perfect, we wouldn't have hot dogs."
The code sped through faster, as Cobalt consciousness begun to defragment itself, almost painfully so as he lost all sense of self. He held his head, the pain unbearable as memories were shifted and moved about. Priorities and load orders adjusted for the the real spirit from within begun to manifest once more.
Awakening as if from a strange dream, Cobalt looked at the woman with widened eyes.
"R-Rose..." He stammered.
The woman pulled back her hood and grinned.
"Welcome back Greg." She said.
Chapter 120: Fear
Summary:
While Stevonnie finds out new opportunities that their powers can bring, it's Lapis who starts to grow concerned...
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Feeling purpose once more, there was a lot of discussion to determine how to best this power of theirs. To bring GIS to life, to live amongst humans was a huge aspect once considered impossible. Lapis being the first to emerge was a feeling that warmed Stevonnie all over. But it was a feeling that didn't last very long. It brought on further discussion regarding potential solutions to the issues ahead; though what they feared could be worse problems ahead. Their concern had been entireless about themselves and more about Stevonnie.
Collecting, transferring and sharing data was what Lapis was designed to do. She could also observe. This entire mess had somewhat focused on Stevonnie; mostly Steven. It just didn't sit right; and she knew all about his purpose and design. But there was another bug in the mix she couldn't find and it annoyed her, like a human would describe as a wedge in their mind. She kept it to herself for now, but feared Steven was right in its core. She had to do her best to protect him from this unknowning threat, whatever form it would take.
Bringing this information to another meeting in the Deep Throne, it begged the question the best way to resolve these new issues, as Stevonnie stood there with Lapis alongside her digitized parents and Dr. Ryman and his eldest son.
"The data collected so far indicates that this could work in our favour and solve the potential bandwidth problem." Dr. Ryman said.
"The Pink Monolith still needs to be arrange for the user ID to fall under your banner, but thankfully that's only dealing with permissions and not having to deal with a larger private Grid size."
Stevonnie wasn't really concerned if it belonged to them. As long as they could be free somehow.
"The Blue Monolith and their quadrant should be able to sustain far larger Grid Networks." Said Doug.
"The only problem is that the entire Yellow Quadrant is offline. Millions of grids will no longer function."
Which could bring more pressure to the White AND Blue Quadrants left remaining.
"Would the Yellow Monoliths existence as a Hard Light Life Form diminished her capacity in some way?" Stevonnie queried.
Dr. Maheswaran and Doug exchanged glances.
"I suspect so." Doug said.
"The ping is extremely weak, if not, not existent. Servers can still operate, but without a Monolith to sustain them they're severely weakened."
Humanity is weakened; possibly close to extinction at this rate.
"The only upside is Luna's reach is restricted right?" Lapis questioned.
They didn't even think about that.
"Luna's reach was paramount to public Grids only as far as we're aware." Dr. Ryman said.
"Infected humans in blackout quadrants can't be controlled. Rather, they're just disorganised. That's just my theory on it though."
Wouldn't be out of character if Luna was able to surpass that problem. While they could do all the assuming, in practice it was important to minimize Luna's movement as much as they possibly could.
"Ron, did you find out about if Luna is able to transfer herself to and from the Cluster?"
Ronaldo stumbled briefly, juggling his tablet before trying to look professional.
"As I've said before, she currently only has access to its processing power." He said.
"The only way she could reach the Site is access to the backdoor method into the AI Core. But that requires permissions from the Satellite method..."
Eyes went to Lapis, who was now disconnected from the Satellite entire.
"The Satellite is fine." Doug assured them.
"But the AI Core entrance cannot be accessed while Steven's EXE Program resides in Connie's body."
Which they deliberated in trying to understand better. As far as Stevonnie knew, they couldn't really access Stev_____'s Mind Palace in this way. It's as if it was Stevonnie's Mind Palace only; borrowing bits from ____onnie's.
"And the entrance from the Domain is now gone, with the Mega Beach City's grid non-existent."
Which would serve as a great defense for now. They couldn't keep this up forever, nor let their guards down by being complacent.
Their issue currently was still from Steven's infected Protection Protocol; what started it all.
Stevonnie had eventually resorted to leaning against the wall, their arms crossed while listening to them all talk. All they heard was that Cobalt had brought back the Yellow Monolith alongside President Dot and a few GIS. Stevonnie should have been happy that they could perform such miracles, but had that off feeling lingered; with thoughts that caused their mind to drift. All this talking and planning. Stevonnie knew what they had to do...everything else appeared...pointless.
Each day lives were being lost and that this power restored GIS kind, humans were suffering because of it. As their mind phased out, they imagined being surrounded by stars and nebulas of space. Pure, pristine. A beautiful yet terrifying reality of how large the universe really was. Small specks of sand amongst the ocean of deep.
The group talked about the Blue Monolith; and that the White Monolith had been surprisingly silent and that they would have to attempt to contact her at some point regarding their situation. Trying to stabilize grids to communicate. All efforts were to find those unaffected by the Virus and to make sure they were safe. Ultimately, they knew they had a counter to the Virus, but no one could really attempt to update the vaccine without having a sample of the latest virus version; as no one would doubt that Luna would find a way to strengthen and alter its code. So all they could do was find a way to fight her like they always had.
"Maybe we should bring the Yellow Monolith here for safety." Suggested Doug.
"Also I need to analyze her new code; whether or not she still acts as a Superserver, or she's been completely rewritten to be a regular GIS."
There was an agreement for Stevonnie to head down back to Earth, back to Yin Aozora to speak with her. Ron gave a package to Stevonnie to give to the Blue Monolith; it was a Monolith Capatible CPD; to allow Blue to project herself from the Throne like Doug could.
Using Leon's warps, the group came out on the balcony of the HQ; in all its ebony-hued glory. From above, one could see the towers of onyx, the dark blue city of technology that encompassed the entirety of the artificial island, dotted with lights of cyan red and green. It looked like a sterile, depressingly uniform version of Mega Beach City; like it was in a perpetual state of mourning. Dark clouds loomed overhead, but no rain fell. Stevonnie understood this as some kind of defensive measure against Luna, but to what extent, and how it defended them was anyones guess.
Stevonnie while still dressed in their security gear, felt the chill of the southern ocean winds on their face; almost icy. They approached the railing and curled their fingers around and looked upon the sorrowful field of dark iron towers. It reminded them of the times Stev_____ would doublejack with ____onnie^1. The impact of the sensations far more intense than what the Domain could muster. Even in a place like this, the opposite of the Site; somehow it was still preferable.
"Can you feel that?" Stevonnie said to Lapis.
Lapis stood next to them, as the wind played with their hair.
"It certainly...has potency." She said.
The Former Satellite GIS reached outwards with her right hand and flittered her fingers, as if trying to catch the breeze in her hands. The expression of actual world physics similar to conditions emulated yet even she could feel the difference.
"This was what you were fighting for." She said.
"What Steven was fighting for."
Lapis recalled Steven and their own consensus; that what he felt, she felt as being part of Charoite ^2 though this wasn't what she expected.
"It gives me...fear."
Fear?
"I was made in the Domain, for the Domain." Lapis said.
"I can't say if this world is over or under saturated. Doesn't give me much..."
Stevonnie raised an eyebrow.
"Comfort?" They said.
Lapis crossed her arms and shrugged, before sighing.
"I dunno." She replied.
"This area feels like the Domain almost as if they were trying to replicate it. Like I never left."
Was it really that similar? Stevonnie knew the immediate difference from sight alone.
"Maybe you just need to get used to it." They told it.
"There are many beautiful places on Earth that couldn't compare."
Lapis was skeptical. Though she had seen many an image, real or doctored. Facets of reality that could be beautiful with new eyes. Lapis didn't feel like she'd even earned the right to percieve it. It was too easy to gain.
"I was a Satellite." She said, placing her hands on her hips.
"I could see lots of things from above."
Stevonnie grinned. Lapis had a way with words that few could interpret their real meaning.
"But not up close." They pointed out.
Footsteps halted their conversation.
"Ah there you all are." Said Director Agate.
"My Monoliths are waiting."
Stevonnie walked alongside Lapis to the Deep Throne, where in, the former could see President Dot; and the Yellow Monolith herself. In the uhh...digital flesh. It was hard to believe this was real in Stevonnie's eyes. President Dot noticed Stevonnie and ran up to them with her eyes widened, almost with a glisten to them.
"Oh you're finally here!" She said, grabbing onto the side of Stevonnie's jacket.
"You are a life saver! My Monolith thanks you!"
Stevonnie looked at the despondent Yellow; arms crossed and non-plussed. It was often hard to please that one.
"I am right here." She said, before eventually walking up to the Consensus. Ms. Dot moved out of the way, and took quick notice of Lapis. Yellow just wanted to talk to Stevonnie in general, disregarding her daughters a dozen or so questions for the Lapis.
"Did you bring the item we've requested?"
Not even a thanks? Stevonnie shrugged as they pulled out a CPD; but not just a CPD; it was a new one that Ronaldo and his father created; meant to emulate more movement for the projections. Similar to the way Doug was able to, yet less strong.
"I do not possess a Domain Port." Yellow mentioned.
"Without it, I cannot dive into the Domain. At least, not yet."
She dragged her daughter away from the beleagured Lapis by the collar as she took the CPD from Stevonnie and handed it to her.
"Connect that to the main control panel will you?" She ordered.
Ms. Dot nodded, scurrying off as such.
"You don't...don't like this form?" Stevonnie queried.
Yellow hummed.
"It isn't that." She replied.
"While it is nice to be able to walk the Earth again, I'm restricted in the power I once wielded. It leaves Blue and White as the last, proper remaining Monoliths."
Stevonnie nodded, noting on the severity.
"Da- I mean, the current Pink Monolith believes the bandwidths could hold for a little while." They told her.
Yellow grumbled.
"That's good for him to say, if the Pink Monolith was actually in complete working order." She balked.
"No matter. If our concern is about Bandwidth and Domain sustainability, then your...power to transform GIS..."
She said as she looked at Lapis, who begrudgingly started to help President Dot with connecting the CPD and testing the connections out.
"Into hard light entities...it disconnects them from the Domain entire...could solve a lot of problems for a short while."
A short while? Well, Yellow was a known skeptic. Looking at the CPD, they witnessed a flash of blue; as the Monolith came into view. Once she had become accustomed to her surroundings, she could see Stevonnie and her dearest sister.
"Mimi!" Blue said with faint but genuine joy.
Even Yellow couldn't help but crack a smile.
"It's been too long Azure." She said.
A familial warmth was what Stevonnie sensed. Even with two of some of the most powerful AI's in existence, it couldn't be said that they weren't born from human minds that held on to vistiges of what was left of their humanity. They talked for a bit, as their conversation inevitably went to that of Luna.
"My sources tell me that Luna is stuck in Europe." She said.
"Without your Network in the Americas and my general decline and offensive measures to deny her access to my Grids; she's had to involve herself with the last resort."
It begged the question; if Blue was certain; why would White's defensive systems not be as strong as Blues? Something didn't sit right.
"I've tried to reach out to White; but..."
No response?
"I am not surprised." Yellow said.
"Mothers always been a stubborn woman; always felt like she was shouldering the burdens of the entire world."
And felt it right to share that burden with her daughters.
"She put that on herself." Lapis commented.
"I've seen humans take responsibility for matters that would be easy for AI...but for humans. I don't even know why."
Blue sighed.
"Mother feared mortality." She said.
"Any way to feed into the need for control she would take it. Consume it."
No doubt about that.
"So what are you going to do?" Stevonnie questioned.
For the Developers, this was in their court. They felt on top of the world at some point. Now they were lonely at that top.
"Yin Aozora is my priority." Blue said.
"I cannot leave it defenseless."
But she can't afford to stay here for too long. There would have to be some part of her grander grid network that was most vulnerable.
"I need to get in contact with Mother." Yellow said.
"If the Europe Quandrant is where Luna is at, I need to see to her defenses. But I may need your power Stevonnie."
As it turned out, Yellow needed more fire power and security. Using spare Amethysts and Jaspers alongside Rubys, Stevonnie would attempt to utilise their ability to transform each. Quartzes and Rubys were enough to form some kind of guard from the Rose-Eyed. Yellow was quite the strategist and would formulate plans to head to Europe.
Each one reformed and amazed that they could finally see the outside world for the first time. Though, some were generally unimpressed, they were dedicated in their duty to serve their Monoliths no matter the cost. Once enough of a force were brought back, Stevonnie decided to take a break; walking alongside Lapis to a break room for something to eat; and for Lapis to disengage talking with Ms. Dot; who was adamant to have Lapis work for her, much for the the latters dismay. Lapis did not trust Ms. Dot or anyone of corporate value. She'd rather make fun of them.
"I wonder how the humans will react." Said Lapis.
Stevonnie got a bar of chocolate from the nearby vending machine and begun to chow down on it.
"Humans will react to what?" They queried with a small bit of chocolate in their mouth.
Lapis looked at her hand.
"Us." She said.
"GIS coming to life. I know from history that humans frown upon those that are not like themselves. Even fought wars."
Oh...that kind of history.
"You done some research?" Stevonnie asked.
Lapis crossed her arms as she leaned against the nearby wall.
"It's harder not to observe humans when you process terabytes of their data per second." She said.
"Even more when you wanna know more about them, the more terrible you realise they really are."
It took a moment for Stevonnie to realise how much of a curious nature Lapis had; and that she'd stepped into the darker plateaus as such. History wasn't kind to everyone.
"You don't think humanity is worth saving?" Stevonnie put forth, wondering how Lapis really felt.
The GIS shrugged. It wasn't about if they were worth saving. Needless murder wasn't on the agenda; and that figuring out the good from the bad was forever a chase in progress. Purpose was good, no?
"They are in part, my creators." She said.
"And I was made to serve them. But there was a good feeling to defy them. To make them feel bad. To feel ashamed, confused. But not to hurt."
It made her happy? Stevonnie would love nothing more than for Lapis to find herself beyond the role she was made for. Exploring and discussing feelings themselves
"I cannot determine what you call, worth." She continued.
"But if hypothetically speaking, from a GIS perspective? If they have function themselves, then they have a place in their own ecosystem, correct?"
That would be a hard thing to answer.
"Each human to serve a purpose to themselves and others. If not, then what are they for?"
Again, a hard question to answer....until a Blue Android entered the room.
"Humanities reasonings are quite complex; each to their own to service a value; not always for a rigid thing such as purpose."
Cobalt. He walked into the room and looked at the vending machine himself.
"But we wouldn't call it by that description." He said, looking at each item in the machine.
"As humans can pass on their own values to their children...and let the children find their own value."
It'd been a while.
"Cobalt..." Stevonnie muttered.
Something was different about Cobalt; not that Stevonnie could be around him too much and that they knew so little. A confidence that wasn't born of ignorant bliss, but a knowing gravity.
"What is different about artificial intelligence and humanity is their very mold. If humanity and AI could quit looking for differences for the sake of expulsion, but the sake of connecting; then what we could find isn't something just with common ground, but a larger grasp of our understanding of our own limits. To cover each others weaknesses with opposing strengths."
Lapis was still a pit perplex. But even she knew what was up with Cobalt, but wasn't sure what.
"Is that the reason for my power?" Stevonnie said.
"Or the reason for Steven's existence?"
Cobalt rubbed the back of his neck.
"The intent of his creation to ascend humanity was the Developer intent and the intent of Obsidia's goal had been very much the same." He said, before he smiled.
"But maybe his creators meant for him for more."
What ever that meant. Something definitely didn't sit right with Lapis.
"I...I want to show you something." He said.
"I just don't want you to overreact when you see...."
Lapis looked at Stevonnie; a notion that they were enraptured enough to believe them. Why in all the places did she feel less comfortable by the moment? She wasn't meant to feel this conflicted about anything. The Consensus before her were a mesh of an AI with a personality that did not match their ability and another who took justice in her own way. Respectful qualities. Both of restraint and yet, a certain lawlessness for the greater good.
Stevonnie no longer resembled either...but held onto their strength to resolve it anyway they could. They weren't made for this purpose but it just was. A choice they made. Lapis felt like she finally understood things. She knew what she had to do.
"Overreact? To what?" Stevonnie questioned.
Cobalt smiled.
"I'll show you."
Stevonnie followed him, and Lapis kept close behind as they went through numerous hallways to lead them into another room. A meeting room of sorts. Looks like it had long been abandoned to the mercy of dust and cobwebs. Given the chaos, everything thrust upon survival.
Though the room itself held much older machinery. Stevonnie recognised the old solid monitors and pc towers. Ancient technology kept as relics of much older era of the 20th Century. Each model different, from the early 80s, to the 90s and 2000s. Each with a plaque describing their make, their software and additions.
But that wasn't what Stevonnie ultimately focused on.
She could see a tall, large woman at the back of the room, behind the oval, white table. Long, puffy and curcly hair and wearing a black outfit, with a sniper rifle behind her. Opening her lips came out a voice with a soft, welcoming tone, with a hint of nerve.
"Hello Stevonnie."
Stevonnie's eyes widened. Rose...was what they muttered.
"Take a seat."
Stunned enough to freeze in place, it wasn't as if they ignored her; it was their mind and components trying to understand what they were seeing in front of them.
"Or not. Doesn't matter to m-"
"What are you doing here?"
Lapis was unimpressed and dry with her words. She knew what was in front of her. It didn't matter what she believed. What she saw in front of her existed there. Even with doubt, there had to be some motive behind it all.
"I am here because I want to help Stevonnie." Rose said, not entirely content with Lapis' abruptness.
"I understand given the information you might have discovered, via Steven or Connie or otherwise, that what you might think about me and what happened. It is a long story that will serve little relevance. Only the parts that matter will serve to guide you forward."
It didn't serve to make Lapis feel anything better about it. Why now? Stevonnie wasn't really sure what to think. Rose turned to them, a smile to reassure their conflicted spirits.
"Your powers mean everything, Stevonnie." She said.
"The power of Folding to bring GIS to a state beyond the Domain is just the beginning. Cobalt and I feel...you could do even more."
More...they could do....more... Lapis put her hands on Stevonnie's shoulders and rested her lips next to their ear to whisper caution.
"Ask them why." She said.
"Ask them what they stand to gain. Don't agree to everything they say without reason."
Hm. Lapis did have a point. In fact, the thoughts spiraled as to the why and the how of everything before them. Yes they did have power. But it did not long belong to anyone else. Not unless Stevonnie could see where the choices would end up.
"No." Stevonnie said.
Lapis did stir the winding thoughts. Rose being here just eroded logic. They wouldn't be able to better comprehend otherwise verified by dozens of stories.
"How can I trust you say you are, who you say you are? If you aren't just Luna in another skin?"
Rose sighed, eyeing off Lapis.
"I figured you would want some answers irregardless. Understandable. I was gone for a long time." She said, standing up and looking at one of the old computers.
"What did you want to know?"
The fact that Rose suddenly becomes open with this raised thousands of questions. The Deception and the lies most notable among them all. But Stevonnie had to prioritize. The letter.
"You talk about a Monster in the future. What is this monster?" Stevonnie queried.
Rose's eyebrows raised.
"You found my letter." She said.
"In fact the Monster was something I had been hard pressed to find out. It was...vague yet something called attention to it. Something that held a dozen or so meanings. I thought it was talking about Grandmother White at first. But..."
It was possible that it was dripping in countless metaphors. White was a monster at her worst and a control freak at her least.
"I went above and beyond for answers. I helped create Steven with much risk and sacrifice. I figured that a counter to any digital monstrosity required at least a defensive countermeasure."
She did create Steven. Maybe it was Rose who was truely the monster for the actions taken. Again, it was too vague.
"I had borrowed Leon for the while due to his capabilities for Warping. It is a step below Folding, in fact, was one of the first abilites that we discovered had an effect on the outside world."
And what ever testing that had been done beforehand. Rose must have known she knew that what she was doing was wrong; a shame Leon couldn't open his mouth; no doubt Rose wanted him silenced as to not ruin her plans. That would be a plausible theory; not one that she would divulge but it might have been too late to ask anyway.
"So I played the long game in shielding the Site from White's eyes. I'd hoped that Steven would be stronger than White; to act as to be a powercheck to ensure that her obsession didn't consume the world."
Yet they created him to be the tool that would allow her to have such power.
"Funny way of showing it." Lapis commented, realizing the absurdity of it all.
The evolution from paranoia resulting in a digital spirit that was meant to be...well, now that Stevonnie thought about, possessing a kind heart. To show mercy and morality; the lack of which White sorely lacked.
"So the one thing I desired beyond all else, besides protecting humanity from Grandmothers hands, was where did the Monoliths even come from?"
The story was well and truely understood with that part now. Obsidia brought them over with the intent to create another version of themselves; a weird form of...increasing their population.
"It was then I met a man, a man who truely understood the Tablet of Obsidia...."
Stevonnies eyes widened. Remembering that old paperwork from Old Site paperwork. ^3
"Gavan Peterson?" They said.
Rose nodded and smiled, recalling a strange fondness.
"A strange man, I remember his curly white hair with colourful flecks." She said, almost fondly.
"For most, his theory about how Obsidia's people repopulate would be nothing more than a conspiracy. The Tablets just showed the requirements on how to resurrect them with the Cradle. I know Grandmother had intentions to possible take advantage of this, but he didn't think humanity needed to make this decision....and he gave me a small, colourful rock."
A what?
"He described it to me being something he discovered on his travels in Africa. It held similar properties to a GIS yet it held compounds more akin to a Diamond....and when he touched it...it transformed him."
Ah. Must have been the reason behind his strange hair. That made sense...sort of. Not really.
"I touched it. But it didn't do anything to me like it did to him. At least, not at first. I asked if he felt...different, he could only say it gave him visions of a Dry world. One of desolation and a monster that had consumed all."
Her eyes went to Lapis with a look of suspicion.
"Except for a Greedy and Selfish Queen..as well as a few...angels." She continued.
"Perhaps this was the world in which Obsidia had come from. But it begged the question if the Monster was actually White....or Obsidia instead."
And Rose trusted neither of them. It brought to question if the lie about the essence being the Tablet Fragments was also done by her. Sifting the memories of old, they were able to recall several conversations; flimsy but still audible,two from ___onnie, one from Stev_____ and one...as Hackmanite?
"When White forced the tablet to break, she broke them into four pieces, dividing the pieces among the Monoliths themselves as they still contained Obsidia's essence." Said Princie as she stood next to Connie. <4
-
"One last thing." She said.
"Do you know much about the Obsidia Essences?"
Volley looked at Pearl apathetically.
"We all kept pieces of the Tablet at each HQ. We were told different things." She said.
"A valued treasure of the past that will foretell our future. Probably a future we'll never have." <5
-
"Exploring the Monoliths brought on new technology. As well as older techology from the aliens that made them. The Prime Apps hold the essence of a much larger, stronger Program. Something known as the Guardian."
Original.
"The Caretaker role is...sacred because there is the essence of the Apps that only the Monoliths provide. It's relatively unknown what this essence is even after years of study. Neither the Voice or the Conduits have access to this power. It's only unique to the Caretakers themselves. I was hoping...that maybe...that one day, the Caretakers would be able to discover the powers together." <6
-
"Each of these GIS....Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl have been a huge contribution. Years ago, Rose found out about the Prime Apps. About the plan to provide Caretakers with the power to inflict serious damage."
What?
"It turns out this unique power was because of the fractured meta-soul of Obsidia! White had split up the Meta-Soul into four sections; binding the essences with the Prime App programs!" <7
A half-truth as it turned out. The Guardian and Obsidia were synonymous. The same being entire.
"And the story about their essences being placed in the Tablet Fragments...I'm guessing that was you as well?" Stevonnie wondered.
Rose nodded. It was a complete mystery by that stage how that story came about...and for when they had to go on a complete goose chase when
"The Tablet did actually contain the essence at one point." She said.
"Part of the plan was to convince White that by breaking the Tablet, will in part, keep Obsidia's essence at bay and would prevent them from returning to form. What she didn't know was that Gavan had taught me how to extract the essence and splinter them."
And somehow convince her to place them into the Prime Apps. But there was one thing that failed to add up.
"You didn't want Obsidia to return just as much as White didn't want them to." They said.
"So why would Luna, something that was somehow made with your personality and memories fragmented in her broken construct, convince Steven to reform Obsidia?"
Rose sighed.
"Luna..." She said.
"She was a complete accident....something born of my making...and I was not even there to see it happen."
The Incident. Rose either did or didn't know. Stevonnie wasn't sure she had a part in that too.
"Luna's made up of you, Cherry and Barbara. Something between those three thought it was a great idea to bring her back."
Cobalt stepped in.
"I can answer that." He said.
"Rose...didn't go through with the Screencap..."
"But I do know...Rosette contributed herself to the experiments as the first Ancilla; becoming Rose Quartz." <8
Ash...she told them Rose was the first.
"So that's when you vanished off the face of the Earth." Lapis said.
That...so how? Stevonnie was still so confused.
"So how did the Rose GIS get made?"
Rose and Cobalt exchanged glances, as Cobalt responded, knowing how much that topic made Rose uncomfortable.
"Remember the Pearl Cloud Storage facility?" He queried.
And the fact that it held Pearl clones to make Pearl GIS?
"Wait, so that Rose was....a clone?" Stevonnie realised.
And they used that clone...for the Screencap.
"Clones aren't normally given memories." Rose said.
"But Gavan helped me. There's a particular technology, older that one might think. Highly illegal that it was never used again. The risk was worth it."
There's that mysterious Gavan character again.
"The cloning technology uses Soulware replication alongside it. It was one of the many early attempts to try and create new forms of AI. But was considered highly unethical and controversial with its implications."
Soulware was already barely understood as it was. Only some of the basics...and that it's nature was entirely as unique as a fingerprint. As it was supposed to be. The dilemmas that would have popped up...Stevonnie would have believed such technology would have been immediately destroyed as a result.
"The early prototypes died because actual clones do not live for very long." Said Cobalt.
"The Pearls in the Facility don't have cloned Soulware; rather than its formed once its gained awareness. And the Pearl GIS in question will have heaps of patches upon its own creation."
That was almost enough to make Stevonnie sick. Rather, they did eventually get a bit queasy.
"It was a miracle that Rose Quartz did what she did in that space of time." Rose acknowledged.
"But it was only a matter of time before our personalities...shifted. She became something I didn't want her to."'
Someone out of control.
"Well, your decision to protect humanity has put them in a much worse state." Lapis chastised.
"Now you're back, you want Stevonnie to fix your mistakes?"
It wouldn't be something Rose was entirely proud of. And she would love nothing more than to see this ordeal resolved and the world at large begin to heal. But it was going to take time, patience...and convincing.
"Maybe you should have Gavan fix your mistakes."
Lapis' words hit harder than they should have. But Rose had to steel her resolve, like she always had.
"The only priority I have right now. Is for you to draw out the Killswitch." Rose said, changing the topic.
The only program that is wedged deep inside Connie right now but have no idea how to do so.
"So you think that will really defeat Luna?" Stevonnie wondered.
After all the hype it was given.
"You must believe that it will." Rose said.
"But to do that you must be able to let me train you to be able to best wield your abilties."
So far they had Stevonnie recovering GIS by the boatload. And operations were afoot in getting those GIS to check on the remaining humans on the island, to ensure they weren't enraptured by the virus themselves.
"What I want to know is where you have been all these years?" Lapis demanded.
Rose was hesitant to say anything to the angry satellite GIS. Her demands were definitely not welcome, but she had to keep a straight face.
"Learning all I can." She said.
"I wish I could say more but I canno-"
Lapis shook her head. No. No more manipulating.
"Come on Stevonnie, we're leaving!"
Stevonnie wasn't sure what to make of it all. They didn't even resist all that much as Lapis dragged them back out of the room and back onto the balcony; preparing them to go back to the Site. Once Stevonnie realized what was happening, they had to question Lapis' themselves.
"Lapis, tell me what's wrong?"
What's wrong? WHAT'S WRONG? Lapis dug her fingers into her scalp out of flaring frustration and growled before she could get her words out.
"I don't get how you can sit and take that at face value!"
Stevonnie raised an eyebrow.
"You don't believe her?" They queried.
Lapis shook her head.
"It's pretty clear to me." She said.
"She comes back after all this time, brings up this crazy clone story, mentions some magical rock and some random guy and suddenly now pops out wanting to teach you something and doesn't want to fill in the blanks when requested."
Not to mention she was enemy number one in the eyes of the Developers; in a sense, still was thanks to Luna. The number one suspect in the Missing Monolith case. The only problem was the ensuing conflict Stevonnie held within. A tug. A pull. A struggle of two minds still upholding the one. They felt ill. Hunching over in pain, they begun to breath heavier and heavier until they were hyperventaliting. Reality shifted in hues of magenta and blue, harsh static in short bursts as Stevonnie begun to growl.
"Lapis is right." They said.
"No, but Rose could still help us!"
Lapis was taken aback by this, their eyes switching between the trembling threads of reality and the consensus.
"I don't like how this feels/THEN I WILL GET OUT!"
Stevonnie suddenly pushed their chest upwards, turning completely black as their stomach briefly bloated, before the bubble like burst erupted an angelic sphere; from that sphere projected a form; hologram in essence before taking the shape of large, tall man. Stevonnie's body would shrink briefly; with the dark shroud disappating into pixels; leaving the unconscious Connie on the ground. Lapis immediately went to Connie's side and helped her sit up, as the latter fought fatigue to open her eyes, looking at the figure of light darken and take more hues of colour; before their form turned human; light pink skin and hot pink curly hair; alongside a red jacket and jeans of dark red with match sneakers.
"Steven..." Connie said meakly
He floated their briefly, looking at his hands before realizing what was going. Descending, he landed his feet on the solid ground, and appeared bewildered towards Connie.
"I'm sorry Connie." He said as he slowly walked towards her, reaching out with his hand, but Lapis refused to let him near her, her glare apparent. It was something he had to do. Rose had all the answers...even if what she said was nothing but a pure lie, he could somehow extract some kind of truth if he just tried.
"You want to listen to her, then I cannot stop you." Lapis said coldly.
"Connie and I know that she has ulterior motives. She's here because she wants something from you. I hope for your sake that you don't fall into a trap and put us all in grave danger!"
Making a fist and withdrawing his hand, it hurt to see Lapis so disappointed in him. It had to be done...and they had successfully drawn Rose out, didn't they?
"I'm....I'm not your enemy..." Steven said with sadness.
Words that made Lapis sigh.
"That wasn't...what she implied." Connie said, trying to shift herself into a more comfortable position before standing. She was weak, as Lapis helped her stand.
"As far as we're concerned; we suspect this might be another of Luna's tricks to get her greasy hands on you."
Possible that it was. But Steven had the power of Folding; that if he knew how to better use it, then Luna would not stand a chance. Even Connie had to see the practicality of using Rose to their own advantage until the latter had laid out her entire hand...that was if she was just some kind of illusion Luna had created. Or was Luna herself.
"Cobalt." He said.
"Cobalt is with her. I don't think he would double cross us."
He was made from their data, after all.
They were at a crossroads.
"Steven....I....I don't know..." She said, hesitant.
He frowned. He'd really hoped that Connie would have been with him every step of the way. The forces that put them together born from a yearning...and yet similar forces always tore them apart.
"Don't forget Connie has the Killswitch." Lapis reminded him.
"Rose needs you both. Or Luna. Either way, I cannot afford to let either of them have you both."
Steven almost forgot about that. They had to go back together; as themselves or Stevonnie.
"I'm glad you're learning to care, Lapis." He said.
Back then she was aloof...and time and time again she'd reinforced her stance on her static nature, thriving in a chaotic enviroment that needed to have an AI that knew how to deal with the flow that came across her Satellite daily. But then again, Steven felt himself change over time as well. Uncertainity that arose from confusion. Finding his purpose...it wasn't exactly the most exciting fact to discover...
But humans. Humans like Connie decide their path regardless of origins. A horrible childhood filled with misery and pain. A desire for stability and justice. While it would be prudent to avoid a path that would be far from horrible origins. But perhaps it would help with directing...
"Oh I'm caring now?" She said.
"Let's just say, I do not have the desire to become another one of Luna's mindless puppets Steven. I don't know what I'd do if either of you were taken either."
That was good enough for Steven. Connie realized what Lapis was trying to do...and was about to say something before another voice interrupted.
"Because you would lose the capacity to be you..."
How in the world did Rose...Lapis stood in front of them both, shielding them from the deception. Rose stood there alongside Cobalt, who stood beside her. She appeared soft and non threatening, a kindness emerging from her gentle stance. To impose a restriction on surviving on fear of what could be.
"Not everything is black and white Lapis. I appreciate you wanting to protect. It is a noble prospect that I do not want to interfere with. Only that I install faith and understanding."
No one was installing anything; not without some anti-virus protection.
"Steven. Connie." She continued, as Leon warped in.
"I want to take you both somewhere. Some where we ca-"
"WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK YOU'RE DOING?"
Turning around, they could see Ms. Dot standing there. Her eyes widened as she could see Rose and then started to panic like a skittering ant as she ran around in circles, ranting nonsense. Lapis rolled her eyes.
"Ah great just what we need." She whined.
"Anyone got SOAP handy?'
Rose approached her short cousin, leaning over her and placing a hand on her head and held her in place.
"Hmmm...no we could use President Dot." She said, picking her up and chucking her on Leon's back.
What ever Rose had planned couldn't be good.
"And I promise I'm not here to deceive anyone. But I know that going by my own word alone isn't enough to convince you all."
Not that anyone believed her, anyway. Connie however, now wanted to see where this could lead. Lapis on the defensive had another pair of eyes on the look out for anything that had the potential to go wrong. The Rose vs Luna situation had a very blurred line and needed some way to confirm that it wasn't here. Her eyes went to Cobalt.
"You honestly believe her?"
Everyone felt the shift but couldn't very much describe it. It brought discomfort and lightly seared nerves. Who could trust one another? Cobalt may have been doing his damned best but he wasn't doing his damn job and him being posted here with Rose....maybe it was to finally discuss a way to destroy Luna; or it was Luna to bring them all to a secret area to swarm all of them at once.
"I can verify that it isn't her." Cobalt said.
"But her and I talked and...discussed the benefits. Besides, President Dot wasn't on Luna's agenda anyway."
Not until she could be roped with the rest of mankind like a common citizen.
"I HEARD THAT." Peri screamed as she was suddenly in the maw of Leon; trying to prevent her from escaping.
But a Developer could be of some use. Connie approached Rose with her arms crossed, looking at her from toe to head.
"Very well. I will go with Cobalts guidance." She said.
"Because if he's wrong, he's the one who is going to be punished."
Cobalt's eyes widened; not expecting her to say that. Neither did Steven. But, Rose smiled anyway, pleased with this progress. Perhaps she could see through Connie's charade. Not that Connie cared; she had plenty of other punishments she could give in the face of danger.
"Oh thank you for granting me this opportunity." She said. She then summoned Leon again; as he unceremoniously dropped Ms. Dot to the ground as he created another warp.
"Jump on." She said, jumping onto his back as they approached the warp.
"There is a lot to talk about."
Steven and Connie exchanged glances, as the former nodded as they went to jump on Leon. Lapis on the other hand, begrudingly picked up Ms. Dot and jumped on as well. Presumbly to keep an eye on things. Cobalt jumped on last, as Leon hopped through the warp before it closed behind them.
On the otherside was a long stretched of beach. Sunny skies and crashing waves brought in nostalgia to the ears. The scent of the ocean wafted and there was a warmth and peace to the atmosphere. Before them was large stone carving of a multi armed and multifaceted woman carved into the cliffside; with the hands on the bottom curling over what appeared to be an entrance to a beautiful temple.
They approached the temple, when three figures familiar came out, with Steven smiling from ear to ear as he ran up to them.
"Garnet! Amethyst! Pearl!" He cried.
It felt like forever since he'd seen them. A joy most profound filled him, and they for him, knowing that he was okay without them. Connie otherwise, stood by. A family reunited. Rose came to stand beside her; as she looked at them all.
"You must feel a sense of jealousy." Connie told her.
A human aspect, surely.
"I do." Rose admitted.
"But they learned from him, my Ancillas. They need each other."
Connie looked over as Peri ranted at a despondent and reponseless Lapis. They would make for an amusing comedy duo no doubt.
"Just like you and Steven." Rose continued.
"You must do so with not dismissing your fears; but acknowledging them and understanding how to overcome. I want to draw you both out."
Notes:
1. Chapter 5: Ride
2. Chapter 46: Pathfinder
3. Chapter 116: Dark Side of the Moon
4. Chapter 80: Grave
5. Chapter 87: Revolve
6. Chapter 56: Grand
7: Chapter 88: Adjust
8: Chapter 38: Screencap
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