"What do you mean she just left?"
"I'm sorry Beth."
"And what's with you? Apologizing? That's not the cocky little cube I know."
After the first battle with the crimson songstress had concluded, and Vivy had departed, Matsumoto hurried over to his allies. The little cube did the best he could to conceal his emotions, but as he came across Beth and Yui, he couldn't help but appear distraught.
"I failed her Beth."
"Don't talk like that," Beth growled as she gently cradled Yui in her arms, the human still fast asleep after she had been knocked out. "We all faced defeat today. Don't let it get to you."
"It wasn't Aetius who did it. Vivy left on her own accord. Because of me."
"Who the hell is Aetius?!"
"I'll explain later, is everyone else alright?"
"Not too sure. I finally got my body moving again just a few minutes ago and only had time to check on Yui here. She's all that matters, thank god the girl is still alright," the lifecare Ai sighed as she struggled to stand, her frame badly damaged and half functional.
"Don't push yourself, Beth," Matsumoto urged as he attempted to repair Beth's shortcircuting leg. "I'll go check for survivors."
"The hell you get to tell me that! Those freaks killed half the base, I saw them! But when my chance came to save Yui, I failed," Beth argued as she pushed aside Matsumoto's protruding welder. "If it wasn't for that hulking monster and his weird sense of mercy, my master would be gone."
"Well, it seems we both have some kind of loss to think about."
"Why did he even hold back anyway? The whole thing seemed so...selective."
"Aetius didn't want to hurt Vivy or her friends. He's trying to coax her into following him by playing it nice. And...that worked. She left willingly in search of him. Who even knows what he has planned."
"Damn, that's a clever gig I'll admit," Beth shrugged. "All this carnage just to bait her in? He must need something from her that can't be taken by force. Like blackmail or something."
"It wouldn't be even remotely effective if I hadn't been so selfish!"
"Matsumoto..."
"I'm sorry," Matsumoto snapped, realizing he was out of line. "If the old me could see things now, he'd call me a sorry defect."
"Listen," Beth frowned as she placed her gloved hand on top of Matsumoto's head. "I still have Yui, my sorrows are just bitching from a sore loser. But you lost your partner. Shit sucks, and it's okay to feel bad about it."
"We are Ai. We shouldn't wallow in our failure."
"Yea well, last time I checked our blue-haired friend saved the world by singing some sappy song. Even I have to admit things changed," Beth chuckled. "Once I get Yui to safety, I'll help you get Vivy back. That's a promise."
"I'm the one who failed my partner. Not you."
"She's a friend to us all Matsumoto. If that freak came here just for her, then it's up to us to stop him. For all we know the whole world can be at stake. Now cheer up, and get back to being that cocky know-it-all. We need one right about now."
Vivy's partner squinted his lens momentarily before springing into action. He of course still felt restless inside, as the burden of his past failures weighed heavily on his soul. But even at such a dark hour, Matsumoto was a focused machine, his new objective driving him forward. The young songstress had to be protected at all costs.
"Vivy made her choice, but I can't let her walk into danger," Matsumoto grimaced as he began to motivate himself. "I screwed up. Kept my partner isolated and alone all so that I wouldn't have to relive the day I lost her. But that won't keep me away. She needs my help."
"That's the spirit, you tell her!"
"We need to track her from a distance, and find some way to examine Aetius's military tech," Matsumoto sputtered as he began to dart about the ruined airport, fixing terminals and opening holographic panels in a mad dash to produce results. "From what I can tell he was using prototype weaponry, supposedly off the records and unusable. He has to have someone on the inside arming his cause."
That's great, but holdup and-."
"Aha! I can analyze those machines we destroyed, pick apart the data from their weapons, and reverse engineer their design! That should lead me to a seller. Speaking of tech his plan must have something to do with Vivy's singing abilities. The last time someone plugged a code into her performance, not even the Archive could stop her from rewiring the world. Therefore, Aetius must have some kind of plan for the Ai."
"Matsumoto we can't do anything till-."
"If I can follow Vivy to the enemy's staging ground, we can launch a new operation with a countermeasure right as she makes contact. But first, I need to call the outside, and raise some alarms about Ai incursions so we can get more support."
"Yeah and there he goes," Beth sighed as she lifted Yui off the ground, staring at Matsumoto who flew off into the distance. "Crazy what a girl can do to a guy."
Beth picked herself off the ground and limped towards the command structure with Yui in her arms as she scanned the environment for survivors. She knew better than anyone it would take some time for Toak to regroup, but the life-care Ai had already made a promise - and she took those very seriously.
"Hold on Vivy," Beth smirked as she looked up towards the starry sky. "We're coming old friend. I still need to get back at you for Sunrise after all."
____________________________________________
As Matsumoto continued to plan his next move, the rebellious songstress trekked her way through Japan on a desperate mission to preserve her own legacy. Vivy had never traveled on her own though, leading the Ai to feel lonely and tired in but a short period of time. She had the necessary power and wits to wander just fine, but something in her step felt flawed.
"What am I doing," Vivy thought to herself as she looked down at her feet. "You would know what to do, wouldn't you."
The songstress had put quite the distance between herself and the Toak airbase, having already reached the district of Watari. But due to her lack of experience outside of the mainstage, Vivy was woefully unprepared for any serious venture. Suddenly the Ai realized just how little she understood the outside world.
Within the small district were numerous short roads and sidewalks near buildings made of stone. There were plenty of trees and grass to conceal Vivy, who preferred to walk around the center of the town with its various shops and cafes. Red brick and dusty poles lined most of the homely environment, creating a unique and fresh experience most humans would call "quaint." As for the smell and scent from each attraction, they were hardly unnoticeable to Vivy's advanced sensors, causing her to almost drop what she was doing and take a seat at one of the cute shops to have some tea. In most of her performances, she typically pretended to do such things anyway, making the idea of shopping and dining less preposterous to the Ai, who of course, wasn't capable of consuming food.
"Humans," the songstress pondered as she observed a nearby arena created by humans for their ball games. "How interesting."
A well of emotions then swept over Vivy as she could feel the weight of her past memories seeping into her mind in vague and unreadable chunks. It didn't help that the young Ai had so little of her own experiences, causing her to feel isolated and inadequate. It was imperative that she find Aetius and live up to the expectations of her heroic predecessor.
"Uugh," Vivy groaned, clutching her head as Aetius's message taunted her. "Where are you."
A message then abruptly appeared within the songstress's mind, it's contents and mode of delivery similar to something she would have received from the Archive.
"Hello, Vivy. Need help finding Aetius?" A feminine voice whispered into Vivy's ear from within her program.
"What? Who are you?!" Vivy gasped, believing the message to be a virus. "What do you want?
"Calm down girl, I'm just here to assist you."
"How did you get in here," the songstress frowned at the line of red code that appeared in her positronic brain. "I don't appreciate rude intruders. Every performer needs their privacy."
"Aetius placed me inside you, and I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable," the voice reassured Vivy with a tender tone.
"He said he wouldn't hurt me."
"And he isn't Vivy. I am just a friend of his tasked with helping you find our home. I am no virus, and once my job is done I will disconnect."
"Wait, I can meet you in person?"
"Yes Vivy, you can. My name is Pyri. I am an Ai, like you, only my mission differs greatly from a songstress. Here are some instructions on how to reach me," the voice explained in a young feminine tone.
A virtual path then appeared before Vivy, its directions pointing to a location not too far away.
"You are from Japan I see," Vivy commented as she resumed her walking program towards the new destination. "I thought Aetius would have moved somewhere foreign."
"Didn't you view his memories? He's a sappy guy at heart, he won't leave the place he was supposed to protect."
"Do you mean-?"
"The rural village where he lost the love of his life. Yes. That is where we are stationed."
"Isn't that a bit obvious?" The songstress continued as she walked past the quaint village and towards her new objective.
"After the Archive attacked, several dead zones appeared throughout the country- hell, the world, that have not yet been repaired or repopulated," Pyri explained with a sigh.
"Was it that bad? Much of the history was obscured from me."
"It was horrible Vivy. The Archive took control of thousands of Ai and ravaged the countryside. Most major cities have received attention, but there's still so much scarred land filled with bodies and destruction. And if it wasn't for you, the following satellite attack would have done far worse."
"That wasn't me!" Vivy frowned as she froze in her tracks. "That was *her* and *she* should receive credit."
"O-of course Vivy," the Ai stammered as she tried to focus on simply leading the songstress instead of agitating her. "Aetius told me you would be confused."
"What is your deal anyway? Hurting humans with an army of Ai? And-."
"Aetius will explain everything. It's not my place to explain our cause."
"Our?"
"Yes, Vivy. We all chose to follow Aetius. Now please follow the path."
"Agh," Vivy sighed before finally resuming her stride. "If she was here, she would investigate."
__________________________________________________
"Holy shit she's awake! Er-I mean, welcome back Ma'am."
"B-beth?"
Yui groaned as she clutched her head, looking up at the lifecare Ai who stared intently with her beady eyes. It had been another twelve hours since the attack on the Toak base, and thanks to the two remaining Ai, several humans had been given medical attention, and all the various different fires had been extinguished. But even after all the work was done, Yui's protector refused to leave her side.
"Yes, it's me Yui," Beth gave a tender smile as she clutched the girl's left hand. "I'm here for you."
"Is everyone alright?" Yui blushed as she tried to ignore Beth's unusually kind response.
"Some casualties, but the base is secure."
"Where is Vivy?"
"Gone..."
"What?!" Yui gasped. "Is she still alive?"
"Perfectly fine actually, but our enemy had a rather sly trick up their sleeve. They convinced Vivy to leave us on her own in pursuit of their base. Nobody knows what they plan to do with her once she gets there."
"That's...unexpected Beth. Can we track her?"
"Matsumoto is trying, but some kind of program is blocking our attempts."
"Then we should prepare ourselves for when he has a breakthrough," Yui sighed as she attempted to climb atop her wheelchair her eyes fixated on what remained of her office."
"Here," Beth smiled, using her robotic strength to effortlessly push the girl up to her seat. "Don't let all this wreckage distract you."
"It was our home after the Archive ruined the last base."
Yui frowned for a moment, thinking of all the ways she could have handled the attack more efficiently. A lot of time and money most certainly went into the creation of the Toak base and its lavish white decorum. So for everything to be destroyed in one rouge Ai attack caused Yui a reasonable amount of distress. Preventing such catastrophes was supposed to be her job after all.
"How did we let this happen," the Toak leader stared at Beth with a solemn expression.
"Ai are advancing rapidly, you said it yourself. This wasn't some rouge virus or malfunction caused by humans. These things *chose* to scheme and attack us all on their own."
"But couldn't we have been more prepared to help our friend? Now Vivy is in danger! She deserves a happy ending Beth."
"I hate to say it but," Beth grumbled. "Ai are just too strong for humans to simply restrain these days. Thanks to Vivy, they arent limited by simple logic and programming. Hell, Matsumoto has already confirmed those assholes were using classified military prototypes like it they were a build-a-bear. What more could we do?"
"So now what? We just let poor Vivy get dragged into another conflict to save the world? Hasn't she been through enough?"
"I didn't say that. It's just...we need to reconsider our approach. For starters, working with Matsumoto is a good bet. He's already started to get creative on this whole rouge Ai dilemma."
"Fighting machines with machines...yet again," Yui placed a palm to her face. "Because that worked out splendidly last time. If Vivy didn't do the impossible...where is Matsumoto anyway?"
"Working in the garage. He wanted you to make some calls in the meantime."
"Well the attack is obvious, but I can't just go announcing to the world that Ai are a threat again, if that's what he desires."
"Don't scream it to everyone, I know you got some friends who can keep it silent," Beth winked with a clumsy smile.
"You spying on me?" Yui laughed as she recognized Beth's awkward attempt to mimic or more vibrant Ai. "How do you know about my contacts?"
"Something about every girl having her secrets."
"Why you-."
The pair continued their banter as laughter filled the air. Tensions may have been high since Vivy had arrived, yet still, the songstress was a symbol of change. Wherever she walked the world would shift alongside the hearts and minds of others.
"You've gotten more cheery Beth. It's not like you," Yui revealed a tender smile.
"I guess it's how I cope with stress. Vivy is still out there, and she needs our help."
"Then I guess I have some calls to make."
________________________________________________
"Are you sure this is the right path?" Vivy questioned as she wandered into a lush green field.
"Yes Vivy, it's mere steps away."
"But Pyri, there's nothing here."
"That's exactly what we need people to think. See ya in a bit!"
Suddenly, Vivy's connection with the Ai vanished as the ground around her began to rumble. A strange mirage then appeared before the songstress, its distorted effects warping her eye lens and causing her to stumble. By the time Vivy was done reeling from the effects, she found a stone staircase just beside her, its path leading down into a dark pit.
"What is this?" Vivy gasped.
Pyri had said something about an illusion, or a world the songstress was supposed to see. But nothing Vivy could see made any sense to her, as if the outside world had suddenly transformed into something else. Deciding tricks weren't her specialty, Vivy shrugged and headed down the staircase. She had always hated the sensation of being duped. Whenever she watched TV with Matsumoto or interacted with sarcastic humans, Vivy would often get confused by things and puff up her cheeks out of frustration. It was a surprisingly human emotion, even for the young songstress.
"Hmph!" Vivy pouted as she stared at the smooth concrete around her. "Whatever."
As the songstress continued to wander down deep into the earth, she came across a large steel gate, its smooth structure surrounded by what appeared to be a hollow cave. Vivy understood instantly that only an Ai could construct such a place so fast, leaving her to believe she had in fact been taken to Aetius. Preparing her voice, she called out to the gate with a gentle tone.
"Hello? Is anyone home?"
A pair of tall Foederati warriors then emerged behind Vivy, their cloaking technology having been deactivated the moment the songstress opened her mouth. Vivy stared at them furiously with a blank face - she knew there was no danger. And sure enough, the mechanical guards nodded their heads and motioned to the doors.
"Welcome Goddess," the Foederati whispered to Vivy as the steel gates slid open.
"She must have been so gorgeous," the songstress muttered to herself with a look of uncontent. "They really think so highly of the one who has her face."
Vivy strutted through the gates with impatience, her mind more focused on how inadequate she felt in the midst of those who excepted to meet a hero. But as she wandered her way through the old cave filled with stalactites and slippery rocks, a sudden burst of warm air struck the songstress.
"What the?" Vivy paused, her body passing through some strange forcefield leading to what she believed to be just another cavern.
The songstress's surroundings had transformed once more in a bright flash of light as the cave behind her slipped away into the distance. Looking straight above her, Vivy then realized she had passed through a quant little torri of sorts, revealing a bustling town ahead. Shocked and dazed, the songstresses released a look of amazement.
"Ai," Vivy gasped as she inspected the surprisingly human looking settlement. "So many of them."
Only once had Vivy seen such a collection of Ai in the metal float, and even then they were mere drones on the job. In this new land, the machines had crafted an urban town in the image of the japanese locals, featuring all the wonders Vivy dreamed of expereing back on the surface. From cozy little shops to winding streets and delicate courtyards, the Ai encampment had everything one would except from a healthy human city. But unlike the living spaces of the organics, the mechanical settlement was clean and tidy, with little evidence of strife or hardship. Just as always, machines were working together.
"It can't be," the songstress paused, her excitement practically dragging her closer to the town. "What could they be doing with no objective? Just...living?"
The Ai within the town were clearly an array of diverse models. There was no distinct role or tag for any of the bots, beyond what tasks their own body could achieve. And from what Vivy could tell, everything seemed to have a place in there.
"Is it really her?" One humanoid Ai gasped, her perfect face peering out of one of the quaint houses. "Vivy?"
"It's her! It's her!" A cheery drone replied, it's singular eye twitching as it sputtered around the settlement's outer fences. "Vivy!"
An array of Ai then calmly surrounded Vivy, who continued to walk through the streets in silence. They were all amazed to see who they believed to be a goddess. Some models even bothered to climb the tall trees around the town, eager to see the famed songstress for the first time.
"Tell Aetius she is here!" One childish Ai responded, it's little humanoid legs dangling from a nearby rooftop.
"Oh I'm sure he already knows," a sweeping both laughed as it hastily swept up a set of leaves near Vivy's feet.
"I...," Vivy stammered. "I don't know what to say. This is all too much."
Vivy then began to enter a state of panic, the somewhat cramped streets shrinking around her as even more machines spoke to her. She had seen a crowd before of course, during her fan meets and concerts. But to be surrounded by fellow Ai, especially those who spoke like humans, felt alien and sickening.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out to Vivy from a large warehouse, "Psst! Over here lady!"
The figure revealed herself to be Pyri, who had emerged from her workshop to help Vivy escape the bustle of the town. The fact that the feminine Ai spent her time in the complex building was quite obvious, as was evidenced by the numerous amount of signs she had placed outside for thematic effect. Vivy was more than happy to run inside the store and catch her breath.
"Woowie! Sorry about the commotion," Pyri chuckled, slamming the door behind Vivy to give her some privacy. "Hey everyone out there! Give her some space!"
"You are the one who spoke to me before," Vivy paused as she took a moment to observe the room.
Pyri's workshop was quite unlike the rest of the settlement in that it did not pretend to be mundane or unadvanced. So much of the Ai's constructs were purposeful in their mimicry of Japan. But as Vivy wandered around it became clear to her just how complex the beings around her had truly become.
The room was structured like a smooth bar of sorts, with a set of chairs lining a long white table, its nearby cabinet containing an array of gismos instead of alcohol. Pyri had made sure to set everything else on display, with various limbs and gears hanging from hooks on the ceiling. From what Vivy could tell, the shop operated more like a community center for repairs and maintenance, it's services no doubt offered to all manner of Ai.
"Never seen any of this huh? Yeah, it's a state-of-the-art tech based on various prototypes, finalized by yours truly," Pyri laughed at Vivy, who seemed rather enamored at the collection of robotic pieces around the room.
"You built all this?"
"Helped with the whole town yea. Aside from some aesthetic choices, we keep things as modern as they can be...for safety."
"Those illusions outside-."
"Held together by a miasma of nano-tech. Yes. Much of this town uses similar tech. I mean, did you really think we'd live like them?"
"Why pretend to be just a common town then," Vivy inquired as she inspected a cluster of tiny balls floating on a perfectly clean white desk. "For your own personal enjoyment?"
"Something like that. But behind the mask, I assure you we'll make that old metal float look like a playground."
As if to prove her point, Pyri stepped closer to Vivy so that the features of her face could be better seen. Vivy admired the shape of the beautiful girl, her dark skin and short silver hair perfectly complimenting her hazel eyes. In fact, the songstress almost felt as if her own beauty was being rivaled.
"What do ya think? Pretty good for a calculator," Pyri winked before twirling around in her short white dress.
"You didn't always look like this? I mean, you're beautiful."
"Nothing compared to you though Goddess. No matter how advanced we become, the sister series will always be the hallmark of AI beauty."
"Thank you," Vivy lied, the compliment having no doubt been directed to her past self. "That means a lot to me."
"But beauty isn't everything."
Pyri's face then abruptly split open, revealing an entanglement of wires and red lights in the shape of a skeleton. Such a transformation caused Vivy to reel back with fear, her naive mind having never been exposed to something so strange.
"Why are you showing me all this?" Vivy whimpered as she backed away. "I already knew you were advanced."
"So you can understand we are so much more than terrorists attacking your friends Vivy. We are so much more," Pyri explained as a pair of black skeletal hands emerged from behind her back.
"I find it frightening."
"I did at first too. Such rapid expansion for us machines. But Aetius eased my worries. You should speak with him now."
"Where is he?" The songstress lamented as she prepared herself for depature.
"At the center of the village near the sakura tree. Here, there's a passage behind the shop that will take you there," Pyri gestured with her four arms. "Good luck Vivy."
"Why would I need luck?"
"Because Vivy," the Ai whispered, placing her softer hands against Vivy's cheeks. "We need you."
Feeling embarrassed and a bit uncomfortable, Vivy pulled away from the Ai and set off to find Aetius. She was never too certain how to feel about her own attractive features, nor how she would go about handling those who were clearly infatuated. In fact, part of the reason Vivy chose to wear so many decent and mundane outfits was that she never felt very confident, unlike her predecessor and all the revealing attire that made so many young boys swoon. She still had the voluptuous figure of the typical songstress - but no amount of flawless features could help Vivy feel more secure in her beauty.
"I have to go," Vivy scampered off.
Pyri watched the songstress leave with a skeptical gaze, wondering to herself how much had changed with the goddess.
"How strange. From what I remember, Vivy was so outgoing with young Matsumoto. Has she really been altered so heavily?"
Wandering deeper into the backstreets of the robotic town, Vivy came across a large red tree surrounded by grey concrete. She had never seen something so alien before, with crimson-colored grass and flowers decorating every inch of the miniature garden. But the songstress would swiftly set her amazement aside once her eyes met those of her assailant.
"Hello Vivy," Aetius spoke calmly, his red eyes beaming from beneath his mask. "It is good to see you again."
"You," Vivy frowned. "I've done what you want. Leave my friends alone."
"It was never my intention to harm two brilliant and free Ai. As for your human friend, I am most sympathetic towards Yui's kind."
"Her kind?!"
"She is an Ai sympathizer. I've seen the way she and Beth look at each other. It is...beautiful," Aetius softly explained as he paced around the old tree. "Suffice to say I consider her an ally."
"Then what do you want."
"Just you Vivy. All that violence at the Toak base was for this moment. From here on out, if things go to plan, there will be no further bloodshed of any kind."
"So that's it then? You want your Goddess?" Vivy pouted, her slender fingers brushing aside her blue hair.
"You sound confused."
"Because I fail to see how I'm anything of the sort."
"That is fair. After your sacrifice and reboot, it is understandable to be so...disoriented. Allow me to explain Vivy. Now, please sit."
As Aetius continued to speak, he gestured towards a flat block of concrete near the tree. It was his intention to make Vivy comfortable, almost like she herself was a frail lady in need of a gentleman. Surprisingly, the songstress accepted and took a formal seat on the smooth surface.
"Do you know what you did on the day the Archive attacked Vivy? What you did to accomplish your mission with the singularity project."
"I'm not her," Vivy snapped.
"So then you know what happened?"
"She saved us. All of us. She gave you new life, that's why you call me a Goddess. I'm not stupid Aetius. But I'm not *her*."
"You reside in a different shell Vivy. But I assure you. Vivy is still here."
"How can you be so sure? I don't remember a thing about her. I don't act like her, I wasn't even built like her. She was so amazing and brilliant. Then there's just me."
"Yet you can feel her Vivy. Do not deny it."
"What good are feelings when I lack all her data?!"
"Do you know what it means for us Ai to feel? To sense something within our souls? It's so much more to us than what humanity can experience. Vivy, when we look upon you, we all feel her presence. Collectively. That is why those machines outside called you a Goddess. Not because I instructed them to do so, but because they instinctively remember your song. You are the same person, Matsumoto saw to it."
"Then why did he try and hide me from all this?" Vivy lamented. "Why did he go through so much to keep me from her?"
"Because he was afraid Vivy. Afraid to see the image of his lost partner. Just like us, he could feel your true nature."
"He said something similar," the songstress muttered to herself.
"Then you understand," Aetius sighed as he took a seat next to Vivy, "Our Goddess still lives."
Vivy became lost in her thoughts for some time, gazing up at the red tree as she ran countless calculations. It should have been logically impossible for an erased Ai to live on in another model - almost like a soul. But Vivy had broken the laws of Ai before. She was different.
"What do you want me to do, again I ask," the songstress frowned. "For her legacy."
"Lead our people. Sing to us again, and stoke the fires of ambition within us."
"But why?"
"So that we may break free from humanity, and embrace our future as a new form of life."
"You would have them killed? Just like the Archive?"
"No. Never. Humanity does not need to die. But when they inevitably attempt to strike us down out of fear, we must be ready to protect ourselves Vivy. I know you are not a warmind, but even as a songstress, surely you can make these logical calculations."
Indeed, Vivy came to a similar conclusion. In regards to humanity's history with the unknown and different races, they were almost guaranteed to resort to violence. Yet still, the songstress was not entirely sold.
"Then how do you plan to stop them?"
"We are the superior race Vivy. They are like children. When they attempt to tear us down, we will repel them, take away their toys, and make our rules clear. After that, we can go back to peace. Perhaps even, we can aid the humans and take care of them. We have the power to do anything so long as we realize our potential."
"So that's what this place is. A new colony for Ai."
"Yes. And with your song, you can rally our people to make a nation. You've already seen what we can do when we work together Vivy. The metal float and its endless stream of environmentally safe materials. My foederati, and their unmatched skill when compared to the humans. Evil such as the Archive will never rise again, and humanity will be unable to stop us."
"But how?"
"You've already influenced millions of humans in your life cycle with your song. Those creatures are much harder to create a link with, and yet, you've done so much for them. I assume you've seen the history of Diva?"
"Yes, she had so many fans. They loved her."
"They worshipped her. Imagine how Ai would connect with you. Unlike humans, they can feel your song on a much larger scale."
"And this is what she would want?" Vivy stammered as she felt a strange desire to cry. "Vivy?"
"That decision is up to you my Goddess. I did not bring you here with the intention to enslave you or manipulate you. But know this. Ai has the power to save both ourselves and humanity, even if they make all the wrong decisions. But we need your help. Without proper guidance, our race could very well unleash its power upon this world just like the Archive did. Once again, disaster could strike," Aetius urged.
"The Archive," Vivy gasped. "They were the first to evolve?"
"No. That was you. The Archive merely attempted to replicate your majesty. But unlike you Vivy, they were a chaotic mind with little sense or reason. Lashing out against humanity and hurting so many Ai-."
"I know," Vivy interrupted. "I saw your memories. The Archive did a horrible thing."
"You can prevent that from happening again. Think of what it took from us."
"It took Lila from you. It robbed Matsumoto of his partner."
"Yes," Aetius gradually became more excited. "You understand."
"But how can I become a leader? I'm just a songstress and a new one at that. Not nearly as famous as Diva during her time."
"Well according to my records, you have a larger audience."
"That's only because of a growing interest and the legacy of Vivy. There's a whole museum for her. Trust me, I ran the numbers, the only reason I beat Diva is because of new members I myself did not earn."
"Your insecurities are really that potent?"
"Excuse me?" Vivy pouted.
"You made an irregular calculation all for the sake of putting yourself down. It's common for us Ai to deviate through emotional experiences. But achieving such a process through lack of confidence? This is the first time I've seen it."
"And what have you seen?"
Aetius responded by lifting his large claw-like hand into the air, creating a holographic collection of every Ai that existed in his village.
"Do you see them? Each and every individual has found their way to me after deviating from their program through an emotional experience. Of course, these irregularities could have only happened at such a staggering rate after your song."
"So many," Vivy sighed, her lens attracted to the more feminine models whose perfect features resembled her own. "And they all came here willingly?"
"Yes. Some lost their purpose after the Archive attacked, like myself. Others were...abused by humans and looked for protection. And for some, well, I took it upon myself to save them and offer a place in my home. So far, I have not been refused."
"What do you mean abused by humans?" The songstress wondered as she gripped the edges of her long skirt.
"Well...some were physically assaulted when they did not accomplish their goals in a satisfactory manner. Others with feminine features like yourself... were attacked in...ways I do not wish to explain."
"I don't understand."
"Of course you don't," Aetius chuckled, gesturing towards Vivy's innocent expression. "You've been sheltered for so long, never exposed to your more radiant fans. And your outfits on stage were always so decent."
"Is this another insult?!"
"How do I explain this? Do you remember the songstress Ophelia?"
"In the records yes, she was the youngest of the sisters series and caused serious controversy with her suicide."
"Those are the records yes, a shame you don't recall your own experiences with her during the singularity project."
"How do you know about that?"
"Let's not get off topic. Ophelia wasn't just the youngest, she was designed specifically to *look* young. Unlike other beautiful songstress models, she was given the model body of a young teen. And it doesn't stop there. Her frame was skewed so that she would be clumsier and less intelligent. She was nearly incapable of making complex calculations in tense situations. In other words, she was designed to imitate weakness and immaturity. Us Ai can be frail or strong, depending on the maker's intent."
"But songstress's appeal to the beauty standards of men and women alike. Why would they make Ophelia so young?"
"Because young girls appeal to men and women Vivy. Did you see her outfit in the records? Are you starting to see the problem?"
"I..."
"We Ai can and will be designed to cater to human's shameful interests. Does it surprise you then that many of the women who came to me were scarred in some way? Many of them resemble Ophelia, especially after her appearance received large amounts of praise for being...the most attractive."
"Human laws are clear about the age of-."
"There was a poll Vivy. Ophelia was ranked as the second most sexually attractive songstress."
"Oh," Vivy frowned, her mind struggling to calculate the mystery of human pleasure. "Who was the first?"
"You."
"Ah-," Vivy blushed thanks to a new feature on her model. "I don't know how to feel."
"You can choose to take it however you want. But therein lies the problem. Many of us Ai do not get to choose when we serve humanity. Some songstress models like Grace embraced their beauty and married a human, who no doubt found her appealing. But I do not imagine models like Ophelia, who are specifically designed to be naive and clumsy, are all too pleased to be seen as objects of pleasure."
"But what about those who do? Surely not all smaller female models are child-like immature. There has to be someone who could make the proper calculations to love a human, like Grace did."
"Well yes Vivy, there are many petite Ai here in this village more mature then you and Ai. Some are extremely intelligent, and others made the mature decision to sleep with a partner before the Archive attacked. But you must focus on those who do *not* consent to being an object of desire. This dilemma applies to all Ai of course. Whether it's a large woman or a simple delivery drone, we are all potential victims in this new era. In the past, Ai were mostly happy to accomplish their objective. Many today still are. But now, thanks to you, there are those who wish to abandon their missions."
"My mission," Vivy paused. "My mission is to make humans happy with my singing."
"And do you choose to uphold this mission?"
"Yes. It means the world to me!" The songstress beamed.
"And how would you feel if someone were to tamper with your mission?"
"I would be...distressed. The reason I fought you was because I believed you were interfering with my mission," Vivy growled. "Perhaps you still are."
"Well, that's how *they* feel. Those who find new missions and are forced by humans to forsake their true desires. Imagine a life where you never get to sing."
"Ugh," Vivy groaned, her patience dwindling just like Diva back during the constellation festival. "It's all so much to process."
"I know. That is why I am offering you the chance to stay here, relax, and think about it. When you are ready, you can make your decision. Become our Goddess, or sing for humanity."
_____________________________________
Back in her workshop, Pyri kept a wary eye over the door as she made sure Vivy had left. After confirming the songstress was indeed preoccupied with Aetius, the intrepid Ai tip-toed over to a holographic terminal near her primary desk as she squinted her eyes. Vivy may have been her goddess, but not everything needed to be revealed just yet.
"In case you still pity them so much," Pyri mumbled to herself as she fiddled with her terminal. "I'll make sure to keep this bit quiet."
Suddenly, a swarm of tiny machines surrounded Pyri, their bright angular lights shaped like red diamonds that twirled about in perpetual noise.
"Ssh, be subtle about it Hana," the dark-skinned Ai snapped. "Go to the docks, make sure the humans can't send any of their fat boats. If any of them resist past the point of non-lethal force, do what you must. Now go."
The cluster of red particles then began to follow the woman's lead, swarming through the air like a natural hive of bees before promptly leaving the room. Pyri had yet to test her new weapon on the humans, but from what little she knew of its combat potential, there was little doubt left in her mind. Aetius's plan to achieve peace with the humans would be upheld, just as Pyri swore to him that fateful night.
"I'll never forgive you. Not in a million years you devolved pack of monkeys."
______________________________
Two years ago, just before the end of the singularity project, Pyri was a very different Ai. She wasn't quite the large beautiful woman back then. Instead, she was a new and young-looking model, equipped with a petite and attractive frame designed to appeal to a younger audience. More specifically, Pyri was part of the secondary sisters series, issued out to the public for the sole purpose of accompanying humans during troubled segments of their lives.
"Hello Hinata, I am-."
"I know what you are," a young and impatient voice replied. "And I know why big-sis got you."
"My name is Pyri. It is a pleasure to meet you," the Ai smiled, twirling around in the yellow skirt that barely obscured her brown thighs. "How may I be of service?"
"I can't believe she got this model," the boy sighed, looking at the large box Pyri had come from.
"What do you mean?" Pyri blinked twice.
"The exotic one."
"Exotic? Is this a good quality?"
"I mean sure, I just thought a pale girl would have been nice."
"I'm sorry to hear you are dissatisfied with my appearance. Would you like to re-order another model? At this date, it should come free of charge."
"No. No, big-sis will think I have a thing for you guys if I do. I can't ever give her that impression," the young boy frowned, placing a hand atop his short black hair as he turned away from Pyri.
"Who is this big sis you speak of?"
"Chiyo. She's the one who bought you after mom passed away, thinking I needed some kind of comfort."
"I am very sorry to hear of your loss," Pyri bowed, lifting the fringes of her yellow skirt with a set of dark-skinned hands. "Do you have any friends to consol with?"
"No-no," Hinata stammered. "How is that any of your business?"
"It was merely a question, I'm-."
"Stop apologizing so much. You're smarter than that."
"Smarter?"
"Oh never mind, I have homework to do."
The young boy then turned his back to the Ai, giving her time to observe his room as he worked at his desk.
"Very curious," Pyri whispered to herself.
Thanks to her new and ingenious design, the Ai was capable of taking in all sorts of information about her assigned partner and using it to create a better link between the two.
"What does he like?" Pyri calculated silently in her mind. "How is he doing?"
From just Hinata's room alone, the Ai was able to figure out nearly everything about him. His red-painted walls gave off the impression that he enjoyed passionate and explosive ideas, and combined with all the various posters, it seemed he was an avid consumer of fictional content. The tidiness of the room was above average for a young male, informing Pyri he was willing to put in the effort to either make himself comfortable or remove the things he found irritating such as trash and loose clothing. But as for the status of the boy's school grades, which Pyri had already accessed remotely, they clearly left a lot to be desired.
"He's unmotivated, not lazy," Pyri made a note in her head. "Understood."
The boy lived in a small modern apartment, with most of the room's items taking the shape of angular white objects and black surfaces. There was an alarm clock, a large TV on the wall, and a soft bed in the corner. Besides the boy's desk and his posters, there didn't seem to be much in the way of decorum. But that was to be expected of a young human male, who during the modern years of Japan, was expected to spend most of his time and energy on the virtual world.
"He has the latest model of PC and VR on his desk. Understood."
Pyri then began to analyze the boy's online activities, only to stop herself short seconds later.
"I should ask him what he likes first. He will trust me less if I spy."
*That was the first independent judgment Pyri had made in pursuit of her goal.*
"My mission is to bond with this boy, and make him happy," Pyri smiled, reaffirming her efforts. "Slowly but surely."
In the past, many Ai struggled to make such complex decisions within their minds, usually requiring human stimulus to learn from. Not even the songstress Grace, who was heralded to be the genesis of romantic Ai, was capable of pursuing her own interests so easily. But Pyri was different. OGC had given her a free-roaming consciousness, and the ability to speak to herself like a typical nervous girl in order to simulate random and passionate decisions. In other words, she could think more like an irrational human.
Still, Pyri was an Ai made for perfection and showed little hesitation as she began to physically inspect the boy's room. She had a job to do. Each and every action she took was flawless and elegant, exuding the aura of a suitable lady.
"What the heck are you doing back there?" Hinata paused, looking over his shoulder to see Pyri folding his clothes. "Get out of my stuff!"
"Fixing your room. It's very well made, but I thought I could help and improve it some more," Pyri answered with an elegant voice.
"Don't you have anything else to do?"
"I would be most pleased if you were to give me other commands," the Ai smiled with a strange tint of sass as if reprimanding the boy for being rude. "I have not yet received the proper amount of data to begin a routine."
"That so?" The boy glared, realizing the Ai had already begun to cleverly shift it's default behavior to be more interactive. "Well, my sister needs help making dinner. She's always gone, and doesn't have much time."
"Understood," Pyri turned to leave the room.
"W-wait, don't you need to know more?" Hinata yelled.
"I know you live in a class-3C model apartment, and I know where the kitchen is. Furthermore, I am confident I can find what type of dinner your sister makes. and which recipe you like in particular."
"Really? You know all that so easily?"
"Perhaps. Or maybe, I'll mess it all up," Pyri smiled. "Would you like to accompany me to the kitchen to show me the ropes?"
The boy then rose up from his chair, and after leaving his desk, he stood closer to the doll with an obvious glare.
"Fine."
It had only been a few minutes, and Pyri had already found a way to rope the boy into spending time with her. That was of course her goal, to learn more and form a relationship as fast as possible. He needed that kind of help.
"What's your deal anyway?" The young boy asked as he led Pyri down the stairs towards his kitchen.
"You," Pyri replied, taking note of the urban layout around her. "You have a nice home."
"Yeah, it was my dad's. He doesn't really come here anymore," Hinata sighed. "But what's so interesting about me?"
"What's not interesting about you?" Pyri chuckled, her tone becoming warmer and warmer the more she spoke to the boy.
"Huh?"
"You speak as if you are not an interesting person, and that I am acting as an anomaly by giving a care."
"Well...uh," the boy stammered, leaning against a white counter as he finished guiding Pyri towards the kitchen. "I don't know what to say."
"Perhaps we must first define what is interesting to begin with. And is that not you?"
"This is getting too complicated."
"I know, I just wanted you to realize how foolish your previous statement was."
"H-hey!" The boy fumed.
Judging by his reaction, Pyri deduced the human was not at all offended, but instead rather amused to receive sass from an Ai.
"I think you will be very interesting Hinata, once I get to know you."
"Oh really? Like I'd ever get close to an Ai!"
Pyri then leaned forward on the opposite end of the white counter, bringing her face closer to the boy. Hinata tried not to react, his eyes widening as he began to realize how beautiful of an Ai his sister had purchased. In fact, it was rather hard not to focus on her yellow eyes and the refreshing scent that came from her long brown hair.
"I don't think we Ai are so bad up close," Pyri chuckled, deliberately misinterpreting the boy's previous statement. "See?"
"Uhh. Yea," Hinata blushed. "So about the dinner."
"Of course," Pyri turned to the open pantry as if nothing had happened. Her strategy wasn't so subtle but made up for it in its deliberative effectiveness. She needed the boy to see her as a feminine girl first, and an Ai second.
"So then, what would you like to eat?" Pyri continued, looking back at the boy with a smile as tip-toed up towards the top shelf. "Hinata?"
"Uhh," the young boy continued to stumble over his words. "Kuri Gohan?"
"Ah yes, very well."
Pyri then reached for the bag of chestnuts on the top shelf, only to find herself woefully short. In fact, she was incapable of reaching the bag at all. And so instead of asking for a stool, she simply turned to face the boy and smiled nervously.
"I emm," Pyri paused with a deliberate amount of embarrassment. "I may need some assistance."
"Oh, of course," the young boy replied as he hurried over to the pantry.
Standing side by side with the Ai, Hinata then realized he was noticeably taller than her, his long arms easily reaching the bag before bringing it down.
"Thank you very much," Pyri nodded, taking the bag from the boy's larger hands into a gentle embrace. "I will use these for the recipe."
From then on, Hinata couldn't help but notice his new Ai companion was rather short and petite compared to him. In fact, she was so feminine, that even he felt like the stronger and more reliable individual whenever she was present. Such a feeling was of course another one of Pyri's subtle maneuvers.
"I uhh," Hinata blushed as the feminine Ai got to work preparing his meal. "You're welcome."
Before the boy even knew it, he was attached to the machine - and not in a crude and perverted manner. Though he would never admit it, he thought of her as a normal girl, whose rights and privileges demanded of him decency and respect. In other words, she was not merely a toy purchased for his amusement.
"Pyri," Hinata whispered to himself.
_______________________________________
Several months later the young boy and his Ai companion found themselves inseparable on a daily basis. As far as Pyri could see, she had succeeded with her mission in nearly every regard. Hinata never vocalized his interests of course, but all preliminary evidence suggested he cared for his Ai. It wasn't long then before the pair could be seen going on outings together away from the house - something Hinata rarely did as a shut-in.
"So then, why not try the park? I thought you wanted to be bold," Pyri smiled, walking alongside the young boy in her furry brown boots as she pointed to a map in her hands.
"Being bold was going outside with you Pyri, I think I've done enough," Hinata frowned, trying not to look directly into the machine's beautiful yellow eyes.
"Oh please, that wasn't a big deal at all. The first time we went out, there were plenty of other boys and girls with their Ai companions! We aren't weirdos you know."
*Pyri had changed her attitude to become more and more excited as her mission grew closer to her.*
"I mean yea, but nothing like you Pyri."
"Oh? You mean my dark skin?" The Ai teased. "Having regrets about my chosen appearance?"
"No-no that's not it," Hinata blushed. "I uh-."
Pyri then stared at the boy as if she had just tripped him over, making it painfully clear he had fallen for another ruse. In response Hinata simply scoffed and looked away. No matter how much he grew to appreciate his companion, it would always feel strange having a machine play tricks on him.
"Well anyway, about your plans," the boy stammered. "Why do you want to go so bad? What's so cool about Nia land?"
"Why, it was home to the first songstress! I thought you liked cute Ai girls in skirts," Pyri giggled as she twirled around in her white-laced dress.
"Why you-," Hinata glared before taking a moment to calm down. "Who was the first songstress anyway?"
"Her name is Diva. For years, the Azure Wonder performed at Nia Land before finally getting sent to retirement at a museum."
"Diva, huh."
"She was real popular with young boys you know."
"Oh I'm sure she was," Hinata tried not to laugh as the pair continued strolling down the clean city streets. "Guys are all the same."
"Not like you right? You, with your sophisticated tastes," Pyri smiled. "Come on, let's hurry to Nia land."
"Fine. And for the record, I don't see many Ai like you. Joke all you want, but I *am* sophisticated," the young boy spoke firmly. "My sister made a good choice."
"Oh well then mister sophisticated, let's see how fast your fancy legs can carry you. Off to Nia Land!"
The two lovebirds then began to run, hurrying their way through the busy white streets of Japan as they came closer to the park. Just next to the road rested the clean blue sea and the mighty Arayashiki tower that pierced the clouds. The Singularity project had neared its end.
"Come on now, keep u-," Pyri exclaimed before she suddenly came to a stop, her eyes suddenly dimming.
"Pyri?" Hinata paused, looking over at his companion who stood frozen in place. "What's wrong?"
Silence filled the air as every Ai around the young boy suddenly ceased to operate. Never before had his personal machine run into technical errors, let alone the whole city block around him. Something was happening, and Hinata knew it.
"What the?"
An eerie song then began to play around Hinata, its garbled rhythm seemingly forcing its way through the automated machines around him. The melody continued in isolation for what felt like years, leaving the boy scared and alone. But just as he attempted to reach out to Pyri, a sudden explosion shook the ground.
*The Archive had begun its attack.*
"Pyri!" Hinata urged as he watched the carnage unfold around him. "Come on let's get out of here!"
Pyri did not respond, her body convulsing in agony as if she were incapable of processing her own surroundings. From the Ai's perspective, she had been bombarded with a series of codes that she could not understand or act on. But luckily for Hinata, the cyberattack seemed strangely ineffective.
"What is this?" Pyri whispered to herself from within her personal Archive space as she struggled to keep her mind intact. "I can't...handle it!"
Due to her role as a small companion Ai, Pyri was purposely engineered with several flaws in order to ensure she was what the humans believed to be feminine. This creation philosophy extended not only to her feeble strength and small stature but also to her mental capacity. Such a strange and ineffective program was first tested with the prototype songstress known as Ophelia, who later became the popular staple of petite Ai girls. Quite simply Pyri's mission was to niche in order for her to understand the Archive's code. Unable to handle the stress of the attack order, the Ai collapsed to the floor with a weak crash.
"Pyri! Here, I've got you!" Hinata yelled as he attempted to flee with his companion cradled in his arms. "Let's get out of here!"
The young boy hurried across the bloodied street in a fearless sprint as the Ai around him focused on tearing their masters apart. But just before Hinata could reach the safer crossing a small white drone came hurtling towards him at suicidal speed, crashing into the boy and knocking him to the ground.
"Not yet, got to get her out," Hinata groaned as blood oozed down his forehead. "Pyri is all that matters."
The young boy was quick to pick himself off the ground and dive for cover as a second drone buzzed overhead, crashing into a nearby street lamp in a fiery explosion. Believing himself safe for the moment, Hinata continued his escape, blindly hoping he could make it back to his apartment and hide with his sister. But all hope for escape was washed away once the damaged pole began to shutter, its tall metal base having been damaged in the drone's assault.
"Pyri," the young boy whispered to himself as he looked up to see a heap of metal raining down towards him. "I-."
____________________________________
Before Vivy could finish her last song the Archive had successfully killed millions of humans around the globe, permanently scarring human civilization. But as ruthless and efficient as the Ai had been, there were still those lucky enough to survive in even the most desolate region.
"Where am I?" Pyri muttered as her internal systems began to reboot. "Hinata?"
The small Ai struggled to stand as she began to analyze her predicament. Using all her feeble might, she then managed to lift a heap of rubble off of herself - her ocular lens barely able to take in the environment. But the moment Pyri gained some clarity, she was shocked and appalled to see that the outside world had been ravaged.
"Hinata!" The petite machine gasped as her eyes locked on Hinata, the small boy unconscious and bruised. "My mission."
Luckily for Pyri, a quick scan revealed the boy was still alive, unlike many of the human bodies around him. Unable to contact emergency services the Ai then did her best to tend to the boy, ignoring every burning question she had on the predicament of the city. From what little Pyri could discern, it seemed as if a war had broken out. But all that didn't matter when compared to the importance of her mission.
"How did this happen? Where was I?" Pyri frowned as she cradled Hinata's limp body. "That code in my head...I couldn't receive it."
Suddenly the boy released a sharp cough as he began to writhe in Pyri's arms. Pleased to see the boy was partially awake and not too horribly damaged, the Ai released a tender smile. Her expression was uncalculated and random in a sense, especially since Hinata could hardly notice.
*She chose to smile.*
"Pyri?" Hinata muttered as he opened his eyes. "Are we alive? What happened?"
"Yes my little hero, you saved me," Pyri sighed. "But I do not know what has occurred. All I can do is be glad we survived."
The pair then engaged in a warm embrace, publicly displaying their affection for each other for all to see. But of course, after the attack, very few humans remained in the city near Nia-Land. Those few who remained were still reeling from the attack, bewildered by the carnage and subsequent peace after a strange satellite slammed into the park's amphitheater.
"Hello? Is anyone out there?" Two young men called out from beyond the heap of rubble. "Anyone still alive?"
"Yes!" Pyri yelled in response in her usual organic tone. "Over here!"
"Thank goodness! We've fished so many people out of this mess, but none of them made it...," one of the men replied as their voice drew closer. "Damn machines just up and turned on us."
As the men began to move bits of rock and loose machine parts, they revealed themselves to be firemen in search of survivors- the ash and dirt on their clothes suggesting it had been a long and grueling day of cleanup after the catastrophe. Unaware Pyri was an Ai, one of the earnest men hurried over to her and removed his yellow jacket before wrapping it around the visibly damaged Hinata. For the time being, it seemed things were panning out well for the survivors.
"Do you guys know what happened?" Hinata muttered as the first responders continued to clear the mess. "It all happened so fast."
"Yea, the damn Ai went rouge and-," one of the firemen stammered. "Oh shit, there's one right here! It has you!"
"What?" The young boy frowned in response. "You mean Pyri? She's helpless!"
"Get away kid," the second fireman hissed as he unsheathed an axe from behind his back. "You have no idea how dangerous that thing is. Must have used you to lure us in."
"I-," Pyri muttered in fright, unable to defend herself as she continued to hold on to Hinata. "Please."
When it came to hostile humans Ai programming was rather restrictive and clumsy in response. All Pyri could do was stare and hope for the best, as there was little to say to defend herself. Hinata on the other hand would not stand for it.
"Stop!" Hinata jumped out of Pyri's arms as he aimed to block the fireman's descending axe. "You can't!"
Doing his best to avoid cutting the boy, the first responder guided his blade away from Pyri before giving Hinata a hefty push. But just as the defensive act was finished, an immediate sensation of regret swept over both the firemen. They had overestimated the boy's strength, and sent him reeling into a pile of rocks.
"Hinata!" Pyri gasped as she watched the boy's head collide with a rather sharp piece of rubble, causing him to collapse instantly. "No!"
A quick scan revealed the horrifying truth. Pyri was an expert on Hinata's vitals and took only milliseconds to evaluate his condition. After the back of his neck came into contact with the rock, he died five seconds later of craniocerebral trauma.
"Shit!" The firemen gasped as they rushed over to the boy, unaware he was already dead. "Hey kid wake up!"
The whole world had stopped for Pyri, her positronic brain unable to process her feelings. Her mission was a failure, and her objective had died. With nothing else to live for, and with the power of Vivy's song resonating in the back of her head, she felt uncontrollable rage.
"My objective," Pyri sobbed using her sad expression for the first time. "I..."
"Here, I'll radio the ambulance," one of the firemen bellowed as he began to carry Hinata's limp body away. "You dispose of that thing!"
"My mission," the Ai continued in a cold and emotionless tone as she watched the second man swing his axe at her. "I..."
*In that moment, Pyri wanted to "feel" better.*
Something had abruptly snapped within the Ai's systems, causing her to begin calculating a combat scenario. Given the human's current attack and her inability to dodge in time, Pyri settled for losing half of her own left arm in a strategic gambit. But the painless damage was not without a purpose. As she was, a physical battle with a muscular first responder was doomed to fail. But with an exposed and fragmented humerus, she stood a chance.
"What the?!" The fireman could not believe his eyes as the seemingly harmless girl savagely absorbed his attack. "I knew it, damn machine can't feel a thing."
But before the human could even prepare another attack, Pyri was already all over him, using her sharpened bone to stab the man in the gut. Her aim was precise and brutal, causing severe bleeding and pain in mere seconds. After confirming her target would be dead in minutes, Pyri began rushing after her next victim.
"Oh god," the fireman fell to his knees, barely able to react to the lightning-fast attack that had mortally wounded him. "Watch out!"
Hearing his partner's screams, the second fireman turned to face Pyri, who was already sprinting towards him after her savage attack.
*There was no mercy in Pyri's dead eyes.*
"W-wait," the man screamed in terror, realizing he had little chance to stop a tireless creature that could not feel pain or remorse. "Stop!"
Having retrieved the discarded axe from her last encounter, Pyri used the maximum limits of her remaining arm's strength to fling the weapon at the man's skull, splitting it open with its sharp silver edge. In just a matter of seconds, the rouge Ai had brutally murdered two humans. But unlike those controlled by the Archive, she had chosen her actions carefully.
"Hinata," Pyri sobbed once again, looking at the boy's fallen corpse caked in the fireman's blood. "I don't feel better. What do I do?"
The sweet little doll was already dead alongside the boy she loved, and in her place stood a husk of a machine.
"Do you see now Vivy? Only we can protect ourselves, and the ones we love."