Year 15,530 of the AI Calendar, Tech-Civ Era, Earthroid Fanthoaxim of the Divinisia Solar System.
A man in his early twenties, adorned in a white laboratory coat, entered the automatic door constructed from the latest harvested space metal from the asteroid Ast-Axim-DIVSS-015 as the voice of an Artificial Intelligence echoed through the wide corridor.
| Scanning the individual's identity...
| Facial recognition... Identified!
| Deoxyribonucleic Acid... Identified!
| Soul Imprint... Transparent! Cleared!
| Identity confirmed!
"Greetings, Trainee Grey Pyrusborn! Welcome to the Souldim Institution! May your day be a fruitful one for the sake of civilization!"
Grey entered the ginormous building known for quantum experiments as he adorned a classic gray-hued eyeglasses; a thing of the forgotten past but now possessed indescribable functions compared to the ancient era.
During the Year 2112 of the Old Calendar, the world perished through the nuclear war because of an unknown cause, which only at the power of authority during that forgotten time had known.
Even then, after tens of thousands of years had passed, humanity never changed. The technology would further advance and outwit its own respective creator in terms of intelligence, but human greed and stupidity remained the same.
The traces of the past had been buried into the depths of the earth after the countless wars that repeatedly destroyed the civilizations solely for one's own interest that sparked against each other.
What lingered was a new established world atop the vanished old order.
Countless generations since the nuclear war were born under the threat of nuclear winter and irremediable radiation poisoning. However, through the thousands of years of persistence, humanity thrived and rebuilt the ruined world using the remnants of the past.
The earth thrived and the poisonous atmosphere naturally healed.
The plants and trees bloomed and painted the once desolate lands green.
The black seas regained its azure wonders as the sun from above brightened the land through the cerulean sphere.
After the blood and sweat poured out by the ancestors of humanity who survived and lived underground, the development of the civilization progressed from a slow pace until it became uncontrollable.
The development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) progressed rapidly, and it became the sole helper of humanity for the future generations.
The technological advancements of the great minds of the seemingly forgotten past caused the present era to be what it was this very day.
In medicine, the visage of the fatal disease that humanity had once fought in the distant past called cancer disappeared from existence.
In transportation, Circle Device began thriving since then, allowing a person to travel from one far place to another in a matter of seconds.
In virtual entertainment, a full-dive Virtual Reality (VR) had been developed, especially for those who had chosen to escape reality and enter a new fragmented one.
In romantic entertainment, several advance brothels were established, with some instances a person could rent a virtual girlfriend to have some fun time with.
However, throughout these either welcoming or absurd developments, there was this one thing that the ancient ancestors of humanity had discovered and eventually developed...
"Trainee Grey–!"
Slam!
Snore...
"Uh–huh? N–Naya?" Caught dozing off, Grey opened his light amethyst eyes.
Laughter then spread across the seminar hall as the spokesperson, who had her supple hands on her waist, glared daggers at him.
"Why aren't you listening, Trainee Grey? Do you find this subject a joke?" In a cold voice, a refined jade of a woman with a pair of glimmering golden eyes under golden-framed eyeglasses, whose cascading long platinum hair shimmered, addressed the lethargic trainee.
Sobering up from being drowsy, Grey answered, "Naya, I–I am just an extra in this internship since my current degree has no vacant slot anymore. Just what do I know about Soul Preservation apart from what's generally known?"
Soul Preservation — the cutting-edge discovery some thousand years ago that would allow someone to preserve their soul in order to traverse the next generation.
It was similar to cryopreservation, but the difference was that this referred to the salvation of the soul while the former's only aim was to preserve the body.
In fact, because of this discovery, religions gradually vanished from the face of the earth.
Even though it was only meant for the wealthy, this subject was the main trend of the present day as continous development was seemingly and tirelessly proceeding across the world, be it in the dark or in the eyes of others.
'That shitty Obsicom! My internship required hours aren't that much, but there's no slot anymore? For fuck's sake!' Grey inwardly seethed, recalling how his application was rejected by Obsicom – a company specialized in harvesting Obsidian Asteroids.
Naya, who adorned a white laboratory coat, stared at this trainee for some time, her thoughts only known to herself.
/ Grey, can you hear me? /
Hearing this alluring voice through [Magnetic Resonance], a reality-like version of [Telepathy], Grey's light amethyst eyes squinted from where he was seated.
His silence was the response for Naya's question, who let out an expressive sigh before continuing her presentation.
/ Grey, just listen at least this once, okay? Others will think I'm an easy instructor if I permit your behavior and might cause some to behave the same.
No need to learn, you can just act that you are listening, just do not sleep in my lectures. /
Naya's voice continued to flow in his mind as the result of this technology, which looked like a chip that was attached to one's temple.
/ Sigh, okay. /
Naya subtly smiled before her next words seemed to give vitality to this man's overall existence.
/ Thank you, Grey.
After your internship this afternoon, how about we privately meet each other. I would love to give you a head. /
Naya then cast her golden eyes to the trainee sitting in the middle of the lecture hall, and with her slightly agape seductive and tender lips, she winked.
***
Kesha Sector, Quantum Soul Entanglement Laboratory.
"That sly bitch." Grey muttered to himself, remembering the particular foxy woman earlier in the morning.
| Uh–huh! That's no good, Trainee Grey! Profanities are not allowed in my domain! |
Sitting in a laboratory alone, with various technologies concerning the [Quantum Soul Entanglement], a projection of a little girl appeared beside him.
It was the Artificial Intelligence named [Kesha], who was in charge of overseeing the security of this certain sector within the Souldim Institution.
However, as a hopeless trainee, Grey was granted permission from the management of this institution to be this sector's human custodian.
"Since the scientists are busy and that Kesha Sector can be said to be an outdated laboratory, you can just accompany her."
"I–Is it really alright, Chancellor Kaz?"
"Sigh, you are already in your last year of education. There's no harm in letting you acquire the required number of hours to finish your internship and graduate with the others even if this job barely relates to your current degree — Exogeology."
"T–Thank you, Chancellor Kaz!"
"Sigh, sorry Kesha. I'm just hungry. Can you tell me the menu for today?"
| Yes, Trainee Grey! Please refer to the Axion Glasses! |
Axion Glasses — a multipurpose eyeglasses that could connect its wearer to the mind of the Artificial Intelligence, sharing one's senses and vision, which could be activated and deactivated based on the wearer's will.
Grey then browsed the set of menu offered by this institution, at least for this day.
"Sangsang-so? That's expensive. Kesha, filter it to the cheapest ones."
/ Yes, Trainee Grey! /
The projection of a little girl, whose body was veiled in a white laboratory coat similar to every worker in this place, smiled at the request.
In a virtual screen, a set of cheapest menu was then flashed in front of his eyes.
"Heh, it's available today, huh?"
/ Trainee Grey, have you decided on your afternoon meal? /
"Yes, I'll make the order, thank you Kesha!"
In just less than a minute, Kesha's voice resounded within the laboratory.
/ Trainee Grey's order: Prepared!
/ Trainee Grey's payment: Secured!
/ Trainee Grey's food delivery: Processed!
/ Accessing the available [Space Cart]: Coordinates identified!
After those confirmation process, a small rift appeared in front of him. Through it, a small robotic cart controlled by the Artificial Intelligence entered and delivered the precise delicacy.
/ Trainee Grey's food: Ready to eat! /
When the [Space Cart] left, Grey smiled before glancing at his side, where Kesha's projection was seated.
"You want some?"
/ I am good, Trainee Grey! Even though I can replicate it and have my artificial taste buds feel it, I have to refuse because I do not like Fried Octods! /
"Eh? You don't want it? I thought Octods are the best, especially when they are fried and dipped into Krisau sauce!"
/ Octods are found in the Rabdack Sea! Their soul composition barely affects the health of the human soul! /
"Basically, this isn't healthy. I get it, I get it. Don't scold me, okay?" Grey was used to communicating with this sentient Artificial Intelligence after two months of being this unused laboratory's custodian.
After some time, when Grey finished filling his ravenous guts, it was now time to roam within the laboratory and check anything that was out of place, just in case there was.
***
"Kesha, how long have you been in this place?"
This quite medium-sized neat laboratory was filled with various equipment related to quantum experiments such as Quantum Resonance Scanner – an arc-like beta portal, where the current Circle Device was based on.
Walking through these technologies, Kesha responded, / Trainee Grey, should I pry your skull open and make you remember such a trivial detail? /
Hearing this scary yet adorably threatening Artificial Intelligence, Grey chuckled.
"My bad! I have been occupied by something earlier that I cannot focus on what's in front of me."
'That damn Naya. Is what she said even true?' He inwardly muttered with conflicting emotion.
/ Detecting an elevated response of Trainee Grey's dopamine! What's bothering you? /
'Crap! The Axion Glasses can also share my subtle emotions with Kesha!' Grey began calming himself as he toured the laboratory.
"This laboratory has been stagnant yet everything seems anew.
"I am curious, Kesha. What are you doing when you are alone in this place? Do you feel lonely?"
/ Where did that question come from, Trainee Grey? I am an Artificial Intelligence, but I have a fragment of the soul of my creator before she passed away. Of course, I am capable of loneliness. /
Being reminded of the history of this particular laboratory, Grey's face turned solemn. He then reached the projected hand of this little girl as he said, "Sorry for being inconsiderate."
'Kesha's creator... was Naya's mother.' He inwardly thought.
Kesha serenely smiled.
"Kesha, leave us."
At that moment, a familiar alluring voice echoed from behind.
/ Ah! Ma'am Naya, is your conjectures presentation finished for today? /
Naya grinned and nodded before her golden eyes landed on one of the listeners of her lecture earlier in the morning.
Kesha's projection gradually dissipated, leaving a woman and a man alone in this laboratory.
***
Thump!
Naya pinned Grey against the white wall beside the Quantum Resonance Scanner, causing for the latter's light amethyst eyes to slightly widen.
"You are being aggressive, don't you think so?" Grey stared at her golden eyes before adding, "Not that I don't welcome it."
However, in that spur of a moment, what Grey witnessed was an expression of blankness painted in Naya's countenance.
"H–hey, what's wrong? Is everything alright?"
There were no tears in Naya's steady golden eyes, but rather an inexplicable emotion that Grey could not decipher.
Poke.
"I hate you, Grey." Naya coldly said.
"Wh–" Grey attempted to utter a reply when he suddenly unable to sense his entire body, only for his bewildered eyes to see an empty syringe at Naya's grasp, who retreated from his presence.
"Kesha's the only one I have yet you dare to steal her from me?"
Grey could not understand. Kesha was a mere Artificial Intelligence confined in this very place that Naya's mother created.
Thud!
His paralyzed body gradually fell to the floor while Naya continued, "Kesha."
Kesha's projection appeared, only to see the sole trainee's status.
/ Trainee Grey! Scanning the holistic health status of the– /
"Stop!" Naya shouted in anger. "You see that? Kesha's the only one I have after mother died.
"How about we all die together then?"
At those words, Naya, as if being one with the entirety of the massive Kesha Sector, ordered the [Corum] through [Magnetic Resonance].
"Open the QRS! Soul Imprint Axis, set to maximum!"
The Quantum Resonance Scanner whirled as a portal with no coordinates began pulsating.
Whirrr!
As Grey's light amethyst eyes lost consciousness, he thought to himself of his sole desire, 'Ah, I just wanted a head.'
Before fainting to oblivion, Kesha's projected figure expressed an emotion he was not familiar with.
Whatever happened afterwards, he would never know.
Or at least he thought so.
***
[Notice!]
[The Pyrusverse has detected your existence!]
[The Pyrusverse has confirmed the Type-4 intelligence imprinted in your soul!]
[The Pyrusverse...]
Blub!
Grey opened his eyes, but he could not move nor see anything. But if there was one thing he was aware of, was that he was currently drowning.
Amidst this sensation, a familiar voice continued with its mumblings.
'Pyrusverse? What's that?'
[The Pyrusverse has reshaped your existence and considers your last thought.]
'Huh? What the hell is this?
Blub!
[You have become a Type-1 Species – Floater, the Slave Head.]
'I–I have become what now!?'