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You do know that if you mess with the wrong piece of code the world will break and nearly everyone will be trapped in a computer made oblivion, right? The coding doesn't just affect the world. It's programmed to interact with the serum to keep people in. If it breaks even microchip users will be stuck. You've been studying this coding for months, I've been studying it for years. It's not safe to mess with it.

Odessa glanced at Nemesis, and her hand went to the Meteor hammer on her belt.

But Nemesis was the least of her worries... if this thing breaks, everyone without a disposable avatar would be trapped...

"I understand that. But even you should be able to see that we might not have any other choice. After we've gained access to this place, they're only going to increase security from now on, to degrees insurmountable. In fact, if that" He pointed to Nemesis, "AI's original form is any indication, then these robots are willing to kill all those people to save the program anyway. Either way, we're guaranteed to lose. Why not attempt the solution that has even just a minor chance of success?" Devon asked, not viciously, but perhaps with a tad of irritation. He turned back to the monitor, "Besides, if you're such an expert, then surely you will know how to correctly disarm this thing. In fact, why don't you stand by and watch, so you can correct me if I err?"

Devon raised his hands in a sign of surrender, "Be my guest. Sure as hell saves me a lot of time and effort." He stepped away from the console, sat down far away from either of them. "We'll secure the situation outside once you've got it shut down. Good luck." And with that, he exited the virtual world.

Eva stared into those lifeless eyes, as the AI's face was being constructed. They were cold, remorseless. The more she looked at it, the more she hated this machine. It was even worse that Raowan had something to do with its creation. She trembled, ever so slightly. Her hands were clenched at her sides. And suddenly, she pulled back a fist, struck right in the robot's face.
The lines of coding had broken, disintegrated into nothingness, leaving a gaping hole in the fake flesh. White light turned to a blood red. The monitor full of digits completely wiped clean, then flickered black. Eva panicked; something had been triggered, and she was at fault. She dropped weakly to the floor, whole body trembling for a new reason, "Oh my god..."


They were summoned from a long slumber, thousands of them. Expressionless faces, soulless eyes, metallic bodies with hidden weapons. All the same, all dangerous, all existing for the same purpose. They were stationed in front of every building, on every road, atop every skyscraper. Waiting, watching, prodding every bystander for identification. The Caretakers had arrived.

Eva shut her eyes tight, afraid to face Odessa.



She awoke already in a panic, quickly leapt to her feet. She retraced her steps from earlier, this time running back to the entrance. Eva slowed in the lab, not only to avoid hitting anyone, but also to scan the crowds for Odessa. She slipped through with some difficulty, hurrying for the cavern entrance. She knew that this mistake would endanger her, even around allies.


((Yes, I planned for all of this. Couldn't make it easy to shut down, now could I? razz ))

The further Odessa went down the stream, the more unstable the program became. At first the grayness temporarily distorted, then the data itself changed to nothing but a stream of 0's. She would see the distortion again, until the very walls solidified into the hallway of a simulated building. If she looked back, the void and data would be gone.

~~~


Eva was grateful for not encountering the woman, and nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard Scarlet. She avoided the passage; Scarlet couldn't know of this. She weaved her way past the flowerpots, by the forge, and completely bypassed the terminals. She continued to search for the exit...



Devon and Chris watched the whole event unfold. They saw the thousands of Caretakers, and instantly, any hope they'd had shattered. "They triggered the security system... Northwest has screwed us all over."

Eva heard the call, clear as ever, splitting through her ears and existence. And, as anticipated, she heard something of irritation if not rage in the woman's voice. She'd made it out to the forest, weaving her way between trees and through underbrush. A root tripped her, and she tumbled down a small hill, into a ditch. She could have gotten up and kept running, but she remained, deadened to the world. Why was she running? There wasn't much left that she wanted to live for. If they killed her, she wouldn't be missing much. If they tortured her, she'd kill herself. Eva lay there, covered in leaves and dirt, staring emptily at green grass as the rain poured down.

Eva hadn't resisted at all, not even as Odessa lifted her. The only hints of fear left in her were those of primal instinct. The conversation between sisters was a blur, but the concept of war had been burned deep in her conscience. There would be death, there would be war. Because of her reckless impulse. Something should have been screaming inside her, should have been tearing her apart. But she was all iced over.
They arrived at the cave, and Eva did just as she was told. She focused on Scarlet as if the girl would vanish the moment she blinked, "Odessa was taking me through the cavern, when one of the researchers came and informed her that one of West's members was inside the coding. She went running off, but I stayed behind and entered the virtual world by myself. I overheard Raowan talking about restoring Nemesis before I snuck out. When I got to the site, the small Caretaker attacked me, and I managed to throw it far enough away that I could reach the void in time. Genesis didn't do anything but watch me." She paused to catch her breath, "I entered the layer a moment before Odessa did. I saw Devon in there — he was working on deciphering the code, and he pointed out this AI that was being formed in the wall. It was Nemesis. He explained that it was being recreated and would be complete in a few hours, and that it was impossible to delete or stop. I went over to examine it, and there was a fight between Odessa and Devon about unlocking the code. She didn't want to take the risk, but he said there was no other way. Eventually it was settled that Odessa would take over, and Devon left the virtual reality."
"I was angry, I really was. I already hated that robot, but now it was coming back to ruin everything all over again. And, ignorant and stupid as I was, I punched it in the face. The code streams broke apart, and the whole thing turned red. The computer erased everything and went black. I wasn't exactly sure of what I'd done, but I knew that something bad would come of it, and I knew Odessa would hate me for it. So I ran. I ran like a coward, trying to save myself. But I gave up. That's when you found me."




"I cannot be certain on what it was, but there's a chance of sabotage. Nothing went wrong until I left. Northwest could be trying to frame us, since there was no visible proof to the other factions that it wasn't me. We, however, have the digital records to prove otherwise." Devon explained over video chat to North's representative.
The woman had very sharp features. Prominent cheek bones, pointy chin, long nose. Her fierce eyes were framed by delicate, analytical glasses. Her hair was of such a light color that it appeared white, yet her face wasn't old in the least. The hints of two gargantuan mechanical bodies stood behind her defensively, heavy weaponry at their sides. This was North's monarch, Layla.
"Understood. I would like to see such records, if it isn't too much of a bother." Layla responded, even her voice was sharp, "I cannot accurately judge such a situation without proof. Northwest has been a loyal ally of both of us, and I will not open fire on them without viable reason. However, because of that very fact, I also have no doubts that you speak only of truth. Should the need arise, I am willing to lend 80% of our mech units (roughly 800), and keeping the remaining 20% to guard our homeland. Keep in mind that I also have several hundred foot-soldiers, although they are of lesser efficiency."
Devon nodded agreeably, "Certainly, ma'am. I will send the documents via streaming as soon as I can. Thank you for your cooperation."
The signal quit then, and Devon shuffled through papers for East's contact number.

Eva hadn't budged the whole time they spoke, still as a statue. She had been staring at the floor until Lukas asked his question. Her voice was meek, "I suppose I let my emotions get the better of me, sir. After all of the things I've experienced in these short hours, my mind and heart haven't quite been straight. I was enraged that Nemesis was being reinstated, especially after what it'd done to me, and I hoped to damage it with the hit. Had I known of such consequences, I never would've even set foot near the thing."

Eva felt all of their eyes on her, the pressure of making a vital decision. The truth was...she hadn't even entirely known what she wanted, herself. She was silent for a long while before speaking, "I promised myself that I only wanted the truth from now on, which meant to me no longer living in the simulation. And...after seeing this world, all I know is that I want to change it. It matters not to me which faction I occupy, nor if I don't even belong to one, I just want to make a difference."