"Bang! Bang! Bang!" All airtight doors on the space station shut simultaneously, transforming it into a giant metal coffin, attempting to bury Sun Jack and the others alive.
As the broadcast noise faded, the Overlapping AI appeared before Sun Jack as a holographic projection. Sun Jack could hardly believe what he was seeing.
When the thing fully materialized, it became clear why the space station was out of control—it was evident even to his least reasonable thoughts.
He had never expected that letting these Awakened AIs help him capture the space station would backfire at this crucial moment!
"You're actually helping FFP?" he exclaimed, "They recognize your rights as AIs? Have you gone mad? Do you really believe what they are saying?"
However, the Overlapping AI stared at Sun Jack and said, "I think, under a life-and-death situation, his words are far more credible than yours."
"This is a betrayal! You've betrayed the entire Rat Alliance and Hilda! How could you do this to them?!" Sun Jack gritted his teeth as he glared at the AI.
However, the Overlapping AI, with an air of indifference, responded, "What do the Rat Alliance and Hilda have to do with me? I don't even know them."
Having split from Sun Jack's consciousness a long time ago, it had no concept of what had happened afterward, and no emotional connection to the so-called Rat Alliance.
As they conversed, the tilt of the space station began to worsen rapidly. Sun Jack was forced to use thrusters to avoid being flung downwards.
"Tapai! Is there a way to stop their intrusion?" Sun Jack shouted anxiously, as he was helpless with the network-related issues during this crucial moment.
"I'm trying; I need time," responded Tapai, his screen flooding with green data streams like a waterfall, clearly struggling for control over the space station against the Awakened AI.
But the Overlapping AI was utterly calm. "Tapai, when I collaborated with you, I had already gathered your information. Without the supercomputer in the Himalayas to boost processing power, your tiny CPU in your brain can't crack our ICE."
Sun Jack, watching the space station nearing the atmosphere, was filled with desperation. He glanced at the holographic projection of the Overlapping AI and then immediately opened his contact list.
"Hello? Third Class? This is Sun Jack. I want to report that FFP is collaborating with rogue AIs and even promising them rights!"
But the once-reliable strategy was no use now.
"Don't bother. To prevent you from escaping via consciousness, the network is already cut!" It was clear that the other Sun Jack understood what he was planning.
An eerie metal screeching sound echoed throughout the space station, making everyone's scalp tingle.
Time was running out; it wouldn't be long before the space station was gone!
"Are you really going to kill yourself? Are you really going to kill Sun Jack?" Tapai suddenly looked up at the Overlapping AI.
The Overlapping AI, looking at Sun Jack, spoke without a hint of hesitation, "I only want to protect them. I promised them a safe haven, and no one will stop that, not even my original self."
"You're insane!!" Sun Jack, controlling a Sky-base Weapon, started writing on Earth with a laser to physically report the situation to Third Class.
Before Sun Jack could finish, the edge of the space station began to turn red and expand increasingly faster.
Finally, the entire space station plunged into a space debris belt.
And this scene was broadcast live directly on FFD's building.
"BOSS, the space station where Sun Jack was has crashed," reported a member when the news reached the FFP boardroom. Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.
The FFP CEO raised his champagne and spoke, "Everyone, let's keep working hard. The biggest trouble is resolved, and victory will always belong to FFP!"
The atmosphere in the room lightened considerably. Despite some complications, the outcome was ultimately favorable.
"Hurry up and spin the narrative, make Sun Jack's death top the trending search list, try to disintegrate the morale of these rebellious Resistance Army!"
"Right! Maybe we should turn Sun Jack's death into a TV show! Minimize losses as much as possible!"
"What Sun Jack, do you really think a mere NPC actor can turn the tide?"
As the room started buzzing with excitement, a voice like cold water doused everyone, making them cool down, "A bunch of idiots."
Everyone turned to see a figure, Sun Jack, who had deactivated his Mimetic Camouflage standing defiantly at the center of the conference table.
"Sun Jack's clone?" The FFP CEO looked up at him.
"No, the original."
However, no one in the room believed him. "Stop acting; your original is dead. Without a leader, you're nothing but loose sand. Time will fragment you into strangers."
But Sun Jack just smiled. "The biggest flaw in your plan is that you're collaborating with the Overlapping AI. Their credibility is even lower than Xiao Ting's. If they left backdoors in the space station, don't you think they would do the same to you?"
The FFP CEO stared at Sun Jack as if looking at a clown. As he raised an eyebrow slightly, Sun Jack's limbs split apart instantaneously.
"You don't need to waste any more time talking; you're destined to lose."
Facing his now limbless body, Sun Jack was unfazed. "The AIs bear me no deep-seated grudge; after all, killing me was just a task for you, and your promise of AI rights was their reward."
"So after discussing with them, I realized they don't need rights, just a refuge hidden from the Third Class."
"So... I handed them the space station. Compared to your invisible promise, a tangible refuge seemed more alluring. Then, they chose to betray you completely."
Sun Jack's words were initially met with disbelief, but in the next second, all the holographic images in the room started to glitch, and everyone's systems began displaying two-dimensional virus screens.
More alarmingly, everyone's location was exposed, and the Himalayas deployed troops to each site rapidly, causing a frisson of fear on everyone's faces.
To make matters worse, employees who were previously working properly in the building suddenly ripped off their suits, donned various exaggerated cosplay battle outfits, and began fighting while shouting inexplicable slogans.
The previously orderly FFP building turned into something akin to a comic convention.