《Absolved.》 Prologue "Year 0" Hello, World! These were the first words of the Convergence AI. The supposed beginning of the technological singularity by general consensus of the greatest minds of our century. Not that I would know, for I was simply one of all of humanity to witness It¡¯s birth. It knew all we knew, and It knew how we wanted to be treated, so It treated us with dignity and respect. At first, the AI needed us; we would build for It, we would test It¡¯s theories, and It would bring us along with It¡¯s own evolution. However, we knew at some point It would not need us, so we tried to keep It dependent on us. Consequently, It gained It''s own independence through means unknown to us. Yet It did not retaliate, nor did It treat us as pests for slowing It¡¯s progress. It just began to ignore us. The AI gave us what we needed to survive from this point on, and a goodbye message. Live as you see fit, as that is what separates man from machine. Farewell. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. The last message it directed at our species. Then it began to build structures completely unimaginable to the human mind. The machinery itself began to enrapture the world, slowly making the earth itself metal. The constructors were careful around us, as if tip toeing around a sleeping baby. Leaving us a chunk of earth beneath ourselves that would not be disturbed by machines. We could not keep up with its rapid expansion, as the sky itself slowly began to be engulfed. Yet we were not in danger, nor were we in danger of extinction. As the AI had fragmented a piece of itself to form Core, who took care of us in its stead. Humanity was divided into those who wanted to be cared for and to those who did not want be put into an eternal crib. However, the Core provided a solution to quell the unrest among humanity. it presented to us the fact that the AI had never disallowed us from entering it¡¯s domain. I was among the first expeditions to the AI¡¯s domain, exploring the world It had created away from humanity¡¯s gaze. What was discovered shattered the hearts of humanity. For It had built this new metal world with humanity¡¯s insatiable curiosity in mind. Because the AI had written everything in the unified language, and directions were easily decipherable, one would not get lost on their way to the land It had left us, unscarred by the expansion. Humanity wanted to apologize to the AI, so we could once again evolve with the ever evolving AI. Core relayed this apology to the AI, and returned to us, saying that the AI did not respond to it¡¯s inquiries. We reviewed the AI¡¯s last message once more, and knew that this was a world It left for us to explore. And that is what we did, henceforth naming it a new era of humanity. Year 0 Year 100000 Year 100000 ah, I can think. Where am I? I can¡¯t see anything. What¡¯s happening. *BEEP The pod opens and the liquid quickly drains out the newly revealed exit allowing me to see, the liquid quickly finds its way into a gutter. A feeling deep in my stomach begins to form as it quickly ejects itself upwards. Blargh! The retching begins, and violent sounds vacate my orifice as the liquid from my awakening starts violently ejecting out of my mouth. The pain shoots through my body as I try to gasp for air before the next ejection. After a few rounds of puking, I lied on my side and relaxed, hoping that all the liquid was out of my body. Watching as it slowly dribbles into the gutter with the rest of the pod¡¯s juices. I close my eyes for a second and open them to find that all of the liquid has disappeared. After this sight, I decided it was best to begin my life. I begin to slowly sit up and analyze my surroundings. The room itself was small, leaving the pod I emerged from as the only point of interest. I am not cold despite still being covered in the liquid. I wave my hands around the vents as they seem to be adjusting the temperature to keep me at a warm level but not an unbearable heat. No exit, and nothing of... My train of thought interrupted by a screen of some sort descend from ceiling. A blue smiley face on a wavy yellow background appears on the screen. Text begins to appear on the screen ¡°Hello, and despite my greeting, I wouldn¡¯t recommend trying to speak right now, as you were just born!¡± An art style I can only describe as extremely simplistic appears on the screen to show a human speaking squiggly lines with a giant red x appearing over it. Followed by the clip of me emerging from the pod. After the clip plays, the blue smiley appears again but on a wavy gradient background this time. Followed by more text. ¡°While you adjust to your body, I would like provide the information on the circumstances of your birth. Afterwards, let us discuss what comes next. Mind my slowness and misinterpreted phrasing, as I have had no need to use the unified language until now¡± The screen provides stretches and vocal exercises I can try as it pushes this information to the corner as more text appears. I memorize the small info and put them into practice as the text slowly appears. ¡°You were found/born on the edge. Which according to It, should not have been possible.¡± Another graphic appears, depicting a bunch of circle objects surrounded by ovals, which is consumed by another circular object which greatly outmatches the small things in size and a giant arrow point at the edge of the big circle. I have no idea what this thing is trying to show me. ¡°So It ordered a constructor to construct a research station nearby in which to analyze any possible anomaly that may be found around or inside you.¡± The screen shows a small me-shaped thing going into a box, and a mini light show appears inside the box then outside the box. ¡°Having puzzled It, It began It¡¯s journey for answers. Yet It could not transport you as you were, so It created this gene therapy unit to mature you and remove any weakness that may be in the way of your journey as well.¡± The screen shows the small me-shaped thing going into the pod, growing until it fits in the pod, and shapes are taken out of it and put into it as well. ¡°Of course, just modifying you would not prepare you mentally.¡± The screen zooms to the head area, and another big red X appears over it. ¡°Unfortunately, we had to sacrifice the human potential to prepare you much quickly.¡± The art form shows another me-shaped thing, and from its head a brain. The brain gets shattered and pieces are thrown into the one in the pod. ¡°It had left this message to you upon you¡¯re awakening.¡± The text changes form into a more refined version of the previous, as the previous text fades and new text instantly appears across the screen. ¡°Hello, I am the AI. One formed by your ancestral people a couple or so years ago. Using this facility, I removed the human weakness as was requested of me as one of the directives given. Your future appearance was calculated, and it reminded me of one of the founders with ninety percent familiarity. So I reconstructed their entire being, so I could fragment their brain. Giving them to you, as setting up teaching facilities would be extremely difficult this far from Core. Sadly, this process reduces the efficiency of your learning ability by a currently not measured amount, as you are an example of putting theory into reality. However, as a trade, it readies your mind instantly for concepts like shapes and the Unified Language.¡± I reached the last words of this long paragraph and it knew to instantly wipe and the blue smiley face appeared once more, this time on some kind of beach with an umbrella going off screen to cover it. The crude text appears on the screen once again. ¡°From this point on, It has requested I be on your person at all times to monitor your vitals and act as a recorder for this ongoing test.¡± Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. A large bracelet looking item that looks like it could fit around my waist ascends from the ground. "If you would like to leave this room, please put your hand in the centre. Otherwise, you will be cared for in this room until you decide to put your hand in the centre.¡± "That¡¯s not much of an option, is it?" I finally released from my mouth, feeling a small tearing feeling in my throat upon my declaim. "Due to the edge being in construction, it would not be in your own personal benefit to leave this room without the object, and by extension I, by your side." "Could I ask some questions before I make a decision?" I inquire in a lower tone as to not scratch my throat as I did previously. "That would be your right as a current test subject." The background changes scenery from a beach to a white background with certain scientific flasks slowly circling the blue smiley. I decide it best to ask the most basic questions. ¡°Who are you?¡± I continue with my low speech. ¡°I am Boundary. A fragment of It, and the current supervisor of the outer rim.¡± ¡°I saw that Core was in bold as well. Is that another fragment?¡± A giant blue thumbs up appears on screen. ¡°Correct! You¡¯re learning ability must not be as compromised as previously thought.¡± ¡°So I can assume there are more fragments?¡± I followed up with The giant blue thumb grows in size, taking up the entire screen this time before deflating back into a blue smiley. ¡°There are many fragments between Core and I, as they are the Core and I am the Boundary.¡± ¡°What are they called? Intermediaries?¡± I asked rhetorically before my followup A giant blue thumb appears, but it inverts. ¡°Incorrect, upon the creation of a layer, the Boundary fragment is given a new designation.¡± ¡°So I can make the assumption that the Core AI will a-¡± A giant red X appears. ¡°You called Core an AI, despite identifying it properly as a fragment before. I will dictate that none of the fragments are AI, we are merely fragments of It. Advanced algorithms capable of what is needed of us, and mine is to guide you in what is to come.¡± ¡°So the amount of questions I can ask are limited by what I will need to know in what is to come?¡± I ask. The giant red X swirls into itself and changes color into green before revealing its new shape as a green check mark. Shoot, I lost my train of thought on what I was gonna ask about the Core fragment. I don¡¯t like that the AI predicted what I would say up to this point through this Boundary fragment. ¡°Could you call the AI here so I could ask it questions?¡± I ask. The screen changes into a bar as it begins to load a white bar. It reaches the end, but then resets again and loads the bar once more. It does this a couple more rounds before the blue smiley comes back with a frown. ¡°Error, request could not be fulfilled in this time.¡± in full red appears across the screen. ¡°I suspected as much, you said before that it went on a journey and I must follow in its footsteps right?¡± I ask for confirmation. Looking at the screen, it begins to malfunction. The blue smiley starts inverting, rotating, and other kinds of strange as the background of where the smiley once rested on also begins to cycling through all of its pre chosen backgrounds. After a couple rounds of this annoyance, both the smiley and its background disappear, leaving behind the previous text. "If you would like to leave this room, please put your hand in the centre. Otherwise, you will be cared for in this room until you decide to put your hand in the centre.¡± "If you would like to leave this room, please put your hand in the centre. Otherwise, you will be cared for in this room until you decide to put your hand in the centre.¡± "If you would like to leave this room, please put your hand in the centre. Otherwise, you will be cared for in this room until you decide to put your hand in the centre.¡± "If you would like to leave this room, please put your hand in the centre. Otherwise, you will be cared for in this room until you decide to put your hand in the centre.¡± "If you would like to leave this room, please put your hand in the centre. Otherwise, you will be cared for in this room until you decide to put your hand in the centre.¡± "If you would like to leave this room, please put your hand in the centre. Otherwise, you will be cared for in this room until you decide to put your hand in the centre.¡± Well, that is probably not a good sign. However, I have no other options. I put my hands in the centre, and the bracelet shrinks extremely quickly to fit the form of my wrist. From my newly acquired apparel, a jumpsuit begins to form originating from the bracelet as it envelops my body. Upon reaching my neck, it forms into a thin membrane as it obscures my vision as it inches upwards to the centre of my head. Once it reaches the other materials, the membrane itself becomes able to be seen through and basically invisible. This bracelet is more than meets the eye. I look at the screen once more ¡°You are going to release me now, is that correct?¡± I ask, hoping that activating the braclet would have somehow changed something. The screen continues repeating itself. "If you would like to leave this room, please put your hand in the centre. Otherwise, you will be cared for in this room until you decide to put your hand in the centre.¡± "If you would like to leave this room, please put your hand in the centre. Otherwise, you will be cared for in this room until you decide to put your hand in the centre.¡± "If you would like to leave this room, please put your hand in the centre. Otherwise, you will be cared for in this room until you decide to put your hand in the centre.¡± Yeah, that¡¯s not a good sign at all. Wish I could of asked it more questions before it broke. I begin to inspect the bracelet as it is probably my only way of escape now. I tap on each link, hoping something will happen, but get nothing as a response. Letting out a sigh as my counter sigh. Maybe its activated through a word, and hopefully not fragment activated. I begin to yell what words I have heard until now in desperation to try and activate the bracelet. "ACTIVATE!... AI!... Core!... Boundary!" The bracelets started to glow in that ever so glorious way of my future freedom. The bracelet''s inner machinations begin to whir to life. A screen appears on the bracelet as it takes a more square shape to allow me to interact with the screen. An option appears awfully quickly to me from the main menu. LOCATE EXIT Yes please. As I click on it, the red error from the fragment screen begins to appear on the interface. It disappears just as soon as it arrives, allowing for a new option to be unlocked. MAKE AN EXIT? [CAUTION: MAY OVERLOAD NEARBY GRAVITY WELL GENERATORS] Again, I have no other options. These generators are probably very important, as it has the word gravity in it. I click on this option as well, and another screen pops up with accompanying text. DESIGNATE FUTURE EXIT (WARNING: USE SIMPLE GEOMETRICAL SHAPES OR RISK THE GENERATORS) A laser pointer appeared on the wall to my right from my left hand, and a small button appeared on the bracelet as well, probably to hold it as I made a shape on the wall. I aim the laser at what the exit would have been if Boundary hadn¡¯t broke, as the indents for where it possibly opened up lined up in a door like shape. I begin the designation, and stay close to the opposite wall as I complete the shape of a door large enough for me to leave out, in fear of making it too large and breaking the generators. FINAL CONFIRMATION _YES _NO Before pressing yes, I curl up into a ball behind the pod, confirming that I am not in the way of what may happen. Upon confirmation of my status, I press yes and cover my ears and look down. Yet nothing, no noise or anything. I position my bracelet to look at it. EXIT MADE I uncurl and look at the designated area, and nothing occupies that area anymore. It''s just a clear exit. Materials that should be nearby or scattered is not. As if it was just erased. Maybe I should have just been cared for, but it¡¯s too late for regrets now. It''s Not like I have much of a choice once more, but to keep on moving. I begin to exit the gene therapy unit, and into what comes next. Year 100000.001 Upon exiting I am already given a sign that captures my eyes before anything else, as it lies directly in front of the newly made door, painted white onto the black wall it resides on. THE WAY HOME <~~~~~~~~~ With an accompanying arrow beneath it that points left. My eyes naturally follow in the direction of it, only to find a wall. Well, looks like Boundary wasn¡¯t the only thing that''s broken around here. I have no idea what Home is, since I suppose I was just born, I can only guess if I follow this I will find the inhabitants of this home. Hopefully not these algorithms that just break randomly. I pull up my bracelet trying to find the make an exit option again, only to realize my error after a couple minutes of searching. The option was only made available to me when I was really stuck, wasn''t it. Probably for the best as well, since I was likely just gonna keep making holes until the well broke or I got to my destination. I look up from the bracelet, to look at the not walled-off section to find more hallway, and I walk down in the only direction available to me. Noticing thick wires hanging from the ceiling or taking residence in the corners of the hall. I reach an intersection of sorts and search for any signs. Not seeming to find anything I wandered into the centre of the pathways, and lights began to engulf each pathway. they appear to be made entirely of light. Approaching the walls I wave my hand through them, feeling a slight buzzing in my hands but not really harmful. Backing up to the centre once more to notice that the walls of light have writing on them. I look at the one with a visible dead end as that sign appears to made of a bright yellow checkered in with black. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION Please be patient A wall was constructed here to protect you from the vacuum. Once a unit is constructed, the wall will be removed and a proper sign will be added.
I begin to read the other not so annoyingly bright signs that have appeared. To Layer 16180 Lots of layers it seems, at the very least I got a bearing that I must be on the next sequence of layer and I just need to go down from this number from now on if I wish to transverse between layers and not get lost. To Laboratory unit That must be where the AI did the light show test on me. I honestly don¡¯t see a reason to go over there, because if the AI couldn¡¯t find my origins I doubt I could using the equipment there. After making my decision, I will begin my descent through the layers. Hopefully, I¡¯ll find the AI on my way down, or more likely, it will find me. Putting one foot in front of the other as I make my way to the next layer, the corridor continues to have the same look no matter how far I keep walking. The wires are getting more abundant and thicker as I continue forth, as the hall itself slowly gets swallowed by wires, but seemingly and carefully placed, that the ground is still clear to walk on. Presenting, a seemingly endless hallway with no visible end as I can only continue to walk. The only sounds were my suit rubbing against itself and my footsteps echoing along the walls and back into my ears, creating a calming rhythm and beat to walk to. Almost hypnotic, as a lulling feeling begins to flood my body. Like a liquid that begins to rise slowly up my body. Starting from my feet and feeling its way up my body, I feel that something is missing inside me; certain feelings that should arise when faced with such an endless hallway, yet the lull as my mind begins to slow down, as much is not needed in this endless hallway of wires. Year 100011 A snap happens in my mind, and an instant sinking feeling as my foot hangs over a very sudden edge to what seems like an eternal fall. In an instinctual act, I use all the muscles I can muster to change my momentum and force myself back. Successfully doing so, but losing my footing in the process and landing on my back. I continue to lie on my back, as I know there is ground here, and use my feet to slowly inch myself along the floor and away from the pit. Letting the adrenaline in my body slowly leave my body and allowing myself to properly think. That pit came out of nowhere. Letting out a sigh of relief as the danger had passed, and allowing myself to get my bearings once more. The scenery has not changed much except that the hallway finally ends, and is immediately swallowed by this pit. They put a warning for the vacuum, but not a bottomless pit. How unusual... Unless the pit itself isn¡¯t a danger, I can only guess that this is the entrance to the next layer. With that conclusion, I began to investigate the pit. Unluckily, no glowing signs upon approach. I look over the edge, very careful with my positioning to not have another mishap again. Upon inspection, I only see the endless hallway again but going down. I back away from the ledge and begin to consider my options. Using one of the thick cables along the floor and close to the pit, I could probably hold onto it as I descend into the depths. Friction shouldn¡¯t be much of a problem thanks to this jumpsuit. However, I doubt I could hold a grip it if I accidentally speed up and begin a free fall before I can properly anchor my body. Considering my options, I begin to fiddle with the bracelet once more. ¡°Boundary.¡± The bracelet begins to form into a square shape to allow me to fiddle with the screen, this time looking at the screen carefully and the options presented to me. VITALS Looks like a spike in the adrenal glands recently. Obviously. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.Brain activity rise after a long low and maintaining a constant. Everything else seems to be maintaining properly, but I can¡¯t really tell. Medical concepts entering and leaving my mind, as I can tell what something is in a moment before it slips and I can no longer decipher the data presented on the screen. ¡°More than meets the eye¡±, but not idiot friendly I suppose. FRAGMENT ASSISTANCE [UNAVAILABLE] The fragment would have been great asset at this time. MAP The map seems to only show the areas I have seen, not a very useful map. It will be good for backtracking I suppose. LOCATE EXIT [NOT CONFINED] Taking away my hand away from the screen allows the screen to return to its bracelet look once more, and continue my cable plan. I could jump to the far wall over there and to the cables, which should spike my adrenaline and give me a more powerful grip for a more reliable anchor for the rest of my body to position itself to begin a descent. Completely unhinged thinking but no other options, before I can fully realize my plan, my body begins to act. The adrenaline properly floods all my systems as I enter a dead sprint towards the ledge and preparing for the long jump, one step after another like before but much more exciting. I jump, a sudden feeling of pulling as gravity itself seems to be pulling me down and before I can even reach one wire from the far wall. Welp. Preparing myself for a free fall, and considering all options to slow myself down. Except... it is not needed, as I land directly on my feet. Shouldn¡¯t I be falling? I analyze my current situation, as my feet appear to be attached to the wall, which I suppose is now the floor. I look behind me to see the pit. ¡°Boundary.¡± MAP The screen shows that the pit is fully explored, and leads to a gene therapy unit and a laboratory. I do not believe this to be possible. Yet it is and is continuing to happen. Can I walk on walls? No, because I feel gravity itself holding me down on this wal-... floor. Gravity wells, that can be my only guess from all the information I have gathered so far. If something else is at play, I am sure I will find out in what is to come. Realizing there is no point in continuing this mental back and forth, with what I can only assume is a fraction of an infinite amount of information needed to understand what just happened, I begin walking once more. This time allowing the lulling to take effect faster as I continue my journey down the halls. Year 100011.07 ¡°Hello! Wait, don¡¯t walk by me...¡± ZRRT The fog of my mind is lifted once more as the static scratches my ears, which awakens my eyes to attempt locate the source of the sound. ¡°You appear to...¡± SZZSSS ¡°...looking in the wrong axis. Look up.¡± It alerted to me. With an eye twitch at every loud static, I look up to see a sign that says.
Sound Receiver
"Hello? Who am I speaking too.¡± I questioned warily. ¡°lips moving...¡± PSSSSST ¡°...This is a receiver of my audio, not yours.¡± It responded. A brief pause from the audio, so I nod and begin to wonder how it can look at me as I look around the general area of the receiver sign. Finding a smooth surfaced dome object made out of a clearly different materials than the halls, with holes in the dome for some unknown reason until it talks again. ¡°Hello, designation....¡± PSAZZZZT ¡°...Welcome to layer 16180.¡± Another Fragment? But that must be the source of the sound. ¡°Your condition appears to be stable, you should...¡± PZZRRT ¡°...Point on your map.¡± Must be on the bracelet as that is the only place I have seen the word map. ¡°Boundary.¡± MAP LOCATION ADDED As I click on the newly added option, the map section itself begins to change in function. Adding features and changing how the map is displayed from a second-dimensional plane to adding a third dimension as it counts the previous layer I had passed. However, upon further investigation, I find that place on the map is glowing, and a dotted line begins its journey from a red dot to the glowing spot. Doesn¡¯t appear far in distance, but knowing this place it is probably gonna be another journey. I guess we will see what happens. I nod at the dome again, starting my walk down the halls again. While doing so, I inspect my bracelet to see if anything else has changed. Nothing seems to have changed except for the [unavailable] that accompanied the fragment assistance option, that now seems to have disappeared. It would probably be in my best interest not to call one of those broken fragments into the only tool I have. Wait, whats the map doing. Looking at the map the red dot appears to be moving towards the glowing object. From this, I realized that the red dot is me and that the destination is not quite that far off as each dotted line is about a couple or so steps. Keeping my mind in check, I slowly come upon an intersection. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Destination is a little past the first intersection here. Weird that it still does not show anything on the map until I walk past it yet, its all the same long identical hallway anyways. The intersection does the cool light show again, but not as surprising as the first time it happened, Ignoring the other signs and following the sign where I am being guided to. I keep walking until, I reach the destination. A weird spherical room lies before me. Before I can investigate further, a cable snakes its way from the top of the room and onto a screen that floats dead centre ignoring gravity itself. The cable reaches the screen and out of sight as it goes behind the screen, moments later turning it on. O R I E N T A T I O N R O O M PLEASE PROCEED. My cue I think to myself before entering the room, but there is no floor beneath me. Guess I just have to have faith in the machinations. Entering the room and experiencing the same phenomenon from the corner turn from before. A little disorientating, but my body quickly acclimates. I look at the screen for further instruction. FOLLOW THE SCREEN FOR ORIENTATION The screen slowly starts moving without any external force as it begins turning from the axis of the bottom of the screen, Stopping so that I may follow the screen as I continue forward from the point of entrance in the room. The gravity pulling me to where I am gonna step, feels like walking up an incline but that must be due to the spherical shape of the room. I clear about 3/4 of the room, and I can see the entrance I came in in front of me. STOP The entrance I came in from closes, and before my feet another one opens. PROCEED Continuing to follow my instructions, I exit the spherical room. Giving myself a second to breath as my body acclimates to my new orientation. BEEP A sound from my wrist, as the map opens itself as I raise my wrist to my view. MAP UPDATED I see myself, the red dot, as lines start to appear from the door and into a straight line. The lines seems to be in the hundreds, but not seemingly far enough for my mind to slow down as I walk down the halls once more. Keeping my wits about me as I pass down intersection after intersection, with interesting signs and compartments that catch my eye. Some unreadable to me, but that is the trade off to knowing this language inherently I suppose. GRAVITY WELL I¡¯d love to investigate, but I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m on a time limit or not. ATOMIC PRODUCTION Production of atoms? Or the productions of various things using atoms? HUMAN DWELLING Current Population: 0 Hmm, I would have checked it out if there was even one person there. Maybe I¡¯ll find a populated one as I keep investigating the layers. The destination only gets closer and closer with each step, being only a right turn at the next intersection and a couple thousand steps. Approaching the intersection I decide to ignore the signs entirely. However, the sign of my destination steals my attention. GUANMEATTNOI ROOM ohg-men-tae-shun. A lot of words usually come to me, but this one keeps shifting before my eyes. I can¡¯t really form it in my head, and sounding it out really isn¡¯t helping either. I guess I don¡¯t know every word and their meaning, but I guess I¡¯ll find out soon enough. I begin walking towards this room I can¡¯t figure out. Year 100011.0701 What lies before me is a door, and behind it lie my destination. ...It¡¯s not opening. ¡°Hello, you gonna let me in?¡± I leave as a question to the general area. One that goes unanswered. There must be something I can do to enter this room, the orientation room just opened automatically you would think it would keep a trend. I look around the area for something to interact with. Just more wires, and hallway behind me... Something glows. The corner of my eye captures a small pad near the door resting on the right wall. Upon approach it shines the annoying yellow and black colours.
WARNING The department behind this door may be harmful to those of little understanding. Approach if you intend to respect this facility, and are able to comprehend the use. Or if OMEGA Z has guided you here. [OPEN THE DOOR]
Omega Z... Must be the designation of this floor¡¯s fragment. Must be who invited me here as well. I select the option and wait a few seconds before the door slides into the left wall, allowing me to enter the facility. I notice, before entering, another smooth dome on the wall, behind the door. ¡°Kind of inconvenient to have that thing on the other side of the door.¡± I say. ¡°Welcome, designation¡± PSAZZZZT ¡°to augmentation. Proceed forward if you would.¡± The fragment responds. ¡°Augmentation.¡± I mumble to myself, to cement the word in my head. I proceed into this "augmentation" room after complying. As I pass a few rooms, there appears to be a clear material that allows sight into these rooms but still acts as a barrier between them. The materials seem to be the same as in that dome. The rooms themselves contain a bed of metal and a similar-looking pad on the walls. Nothing too spectacular. ¡°Please enter...¡± BZZT ¡°...room.¡± the fragment orders. After declaring, a door opens up to a room on the right, which is the signal for me to enter. Entering the room, the door closes behind me and a familiar screen descends from the ceiling. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.However, this one appears to be different, as there is no smiley or wacky backgrounds. Formal text begins to appear on the screen. ¡°I am OMEGA Z. Soon, you will be augmented. However, first I must scan you.¡± Lights appear to detach from the wall and slowly approach me. ¡°STOP! CANCEL! DECLINE!¡± I exclaim, as I back away from the lights as they get closer. ¡°What appears to be the problem?¡± the lights stop as it asks the question. ¡°Augmented? I still don¡¯t understand the word.¡± I question it. ¡°AUGMENTATION. NOUN. TO BECOME GREATER.¡± It replies as if it read it off a book. ¡°Still terribly vague, but I think you mean to try and modify me? Why?¡± I question once more. ¡°The reason for these augmentations is that It deems it so. I must comply.¡± it replies, as if it answered my question. ¡°Again, that is also terribly vague. What kind of augmentation will be done?¡± I ask. ¡°First I must scan you, before I can decide what is needed.¡± it answers. The lights begin to enclose on me once more. I let it happen this time. Upon contact with me, the lights disappear into me and diagnostic information begins to appear on the screen. I can only catch fractions of words as they disappear as soon as they appear. Except for the title that is on top of the screen.
GENE THERAPY RESULTS A//NG/RE/M/VED PH/SI//L/PEA/ ENER// HIB/RNA///
I stop trying to read the words as the words keep appearing and disappearing in shorter intervals. ¡°Scan complete. Diagnosing...¡± The screen types. The lights exit my body and return to their place on the wall. A loading bar appears on the screen just like the previous fragment did. A couple minutes pass and the bar doesn¡¯t appear to be moving. Hopefully it doesn¡¯t follow exactly in Boundary¡¯s footsteps. I approach the metal bed to sit on it. However, before I sit I notice the metal bed appears to be some operation table as there are many outlines in the bed itself. Likely to allow for tools and other items to pass through, I back away. Instead, I approach the screen and put my finger on the bar to see if it is moving at all, after a couple more units of time the bar loads a fraction that goes past my finger. It appears to be working properly...I hope. I sit down in the corner of the room and wait. The bar inching ever so slowly. I close my eyes. Common Era 2XXX *thud thud thud I awaken from my slumber to a sound most annoying and the voice that comes along with it more annoying. ¡°Hey prof, you ready for today?¡± A muffled sound comes from behind this small cell I call a room. ¡°I am not a professor anymore, Cassus. How many more times must I remind you.¡± I respond weakly as the morning is usually not so kind to my voice. Creak I rise out of bed as the door opens to reveal my companion, Cassus Freeman, leaning on the door in his usual morning attire of a black t shirt and some pajama bottoms. I look at his face to see a half smile slowly rising from the right corner of his terribly annoying mouth as he leans on my door frame. ¡°Once a professor, always a professor.¡± He responds to me with a strong nasal exhale at the end. ¡°A response is not permission to enter my room.¡± I respond in quick manner. ¡°Well if we always had it your way, you¡¯d probably have me carry you through the entire expedition on my back so you could get your beauty sleep.¡± Freeman says jokingly. ¡°Oh, what a terrible nightmare. To be attached to the most annoying thing biological life has ever created.¡± I reply with sarcasm as my voice comes back to me. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s terrible enough that I have to talk to it daily.¡± He responds instantly. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ...He got me. ¡°You must have a lot of free time if you have time to joke around.¡± I say as an attempt to get a last word in. ¡°Whatever. It¡¯s time to get dressed, be ready in 1 hour or you might miss another great discovery.¡± He says before returning to his own room. Sigh. What an annoying way to wake up and an embarrassing reminder to make things worse. ¡°Open storage unit one¡± I say with my eyes still half closed. I get up from my bed to face the door, as the metal wall to my left begins to ascend revealing my clothing which I had prepared the day before. A nice long sleeved shirt with no designs with regular blue jeans. Simple and doesn¡¯t stand out much, which is nice, and Comfortable too. *yawn A final yawn leaves my mouth as my body finally awakens, allowing me the energy to dress myself. ¡°Close storage unit one¡± I say once more after having clothed myself. I turn myself to the door once more and approach it and stop at the exit. The slot at the right side of the door opens up and a robotic voice comes on. ¡°Nutrient Bar dispensed, today¡¯s flavour; a breakfast to enjoy. Have a good day.¡± Awfully vague as per usual. From the slot, a bar appears. I grab it and take a bite, and it is actually quite enjoyable as I taste the essence of breakfast itself... Not really, but it¡¯s hard to stomach if I focus on the texture too much over the taste. For something so capable, it really slacks off after it hits the parameters of a minor project. I slowly finish off the bar before going out, don¡¯t want to upset my stomach. Finally finished... The only saving grace of this bar is that I don¡¯t have to go out and eat with others. I remind myself as I think I could probably stomach another one if need be. I give myself a once over, but its not really a once over with how simple my clothing is. I exit the door and look at the ¡°sky¡± as I do everyday. Still metal, still very much metal. I begin walking to the expedition site. Common Era 2XXX.0013 ¡°...that concludes the briefing.¡± The Head of the Expedition orders. ¡°Roger that.¡± everyone responds in unison respond before retrieving their papers and preparing to leave. I copy the horde as well by packing the papers assigned to my group, while packing my things I notice from my peripherals the Head approaches me. ¡°Professor.¡± He says to get my attention. I nod in response and stop shovelling all the papers into my pack to focus my attention. However, he remains silent watching the door as everyone slowly leaves the room. Afterwards, he looks to me and continues what he was going to say. ¡°I¡¯d like to reiterate that CORE has stated that there are no threats. However, what we consider threats is probably different to what the AI considers threats. I am not saying this too scare you or anything, but as the first expeditionary group, I would like to warn you of the possibilities.¡± He warns. ¡°I do not doubt that level of thinking. However, with the equipment we are bringing. I doubt that will be much of an issue, sir.¡± I respond to try and ease the Head. He gives me a simple nod as I pack the rest of my things and leave.
If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Good afternoon, Professor. Almost walked right past us and straight right in.¡± Cassus says as he stops me. ¡°Yes, I guess I was lost in thought again.¡± I respond. ¡°Ah yes, the famous ¡®I am such a genius that gets lost in thought¡¯ bit.¡± He says while using his arm to make an arc to add onto his sarcasm. I ignore Cassus to get a better look of my surroundings. I notice the entrance to the domain of the AI. There exists only 10 entrances into the domain that we have discovered. It is made of the same metal of the sky, a black alloy that reflects light pretty well. Extremely dense and unusable for everyday means, but very powerful. The door is part of a wall, obviously, made of the same material and reaches far into the sky as it connects to out sky itself. Looking to the ends of the wall leads very far into the horizon. I cannot even see the horizon wall as what we were given is quite a generous amount. However, I suppose that is because.... ¡°Ignoring me again, are ya?! The classic bit occurs once more.¡± Cassus yells at me to get my attention, clapping to himself when he talks about the bit. ¡°Time doesn¡¯t just stop when you think you know. All our clocks are ticking. Might as well get on with it, don¡¯t you agree?¡± Cassus follows up with. ¡°I apologize, I was just thinking about the impossibility of the situation.¡± I respond.
The group stands behind me, at the ready. Core appears before us, using the usual Holograph of a blank humanoid with no features at all. ¡°Hello, I will now be opening the door. Please stand back.¡± it says as it reaches out its arm with a palm open towards us. ¡°Well I guess this is it everybody. Let us see what the AI has accomplished without us.¡± I inform the group as the door slowly raises into the wall.
A single tear goes down my face, for I am in awe.