"So, what do you think?" I asked Sylvie after recounting the series of events that led to her manifestation. In all honesty, I wasn't sure about what I wanted to hear as a response. Perhaps something akin to condolence? Quite ironic, considering that technically speaking, Sylvie was nothing more an implanted AI.
As a response to my question, the mental image of Sylvie tilted her head, her expression puzzled. It seemed she wasn't entirely sure what I wanted her opinion on the same way I wasn't sure. Still, I took a moment to consider what I exactly wanted from her.
"How do you feel about being here?" I clarified after a brief consideration.
"Joyful," she replied, catching me off guard, "and thankful."
"Well, that's a relief…" I muttered, feeling a weight lift from my chest. The last thing I needed was for my first potential companion in this bizarre world to dislike me right off the bat. Especially a character I loved so much.
Sylvie, being a hyper-intelligent AI from a futuristic setting, was as versatile as she was intriguing. While I couldn't deny I created her for the companionship I sorely lacked, her utility was a key consideration.
I'd chosen her specifically because of her allure and a particular trait I valued: absolute loyalty. According to her lore, Sylvie couldn't betray anyone she deemed her "host," a fail-safe I couldn't overlook given my precarious circumstances in the damned (possibly-dream) world I had found myself in.
For now, Sylvie remained quiet, though I could sense her curiosity about my ability to conjure objects at will. I'd probably explain bits to her if only I knew anything about it aside from the fact that I can create anything that isn't "living" or completely bends all physical laws. At least, that was the conclusion I had come to after the few usages of the power. There was still much left for me to look into.
Anyways, in the game, Sylvie excelled at taking over bodies remotely and wielded an arsenal of plasma-based weaponry—swords, pistols, rifles, you name it. I figured she'd handle Earth's more primitive armaments just fine, making the idea of creating a body for her to inhabit increasingly tempting.
"Master, the integration process is complete. Would you like to activate visual feed augmentation?"
That was quicker than I expected.
"Yes," I replied. Instantly, my distorted vision went blank, only to return moments later with incredible sharpness and very obvious additional features.
For starters, the improvement was staggering. My sight was not only clearer but hyper-detailed. If I concentrated hard enough, I could discern atomic structures as I did with some tools nearby. Added to this enhancement was a familiar HUD-like interface, akin to a game.
This feels like a game...
Thinking about it, the way things were going, I was essentially going through my own version of rip and tear except the fact that I didn't have an awesome lore... yet.
In any case, in the top left corner, a minimap displayed my surroundings. The top right housed an analysis section, detailing anything I focused on. Bottom right? My equipment: weapons, armor, and even ammunition capacity. Bottom left was a list of objectives—thank whatever deity it was that governed this realm, considering how easily I got sidetracked.
This setup also granted me remote access to the turrets. With minimal effort, I formed a network and manually controlled one turret just to test the functionality.
Then, my excitement screeched to a halt.
ROAR.
The ground quaked beneath me as the roar echoed, unmistakably similar to the one I'd heard earlier. This time, however, it was accompanied by a chorus of weaker cries.
"Perfect timing," I muttered, forcing a wry smile. The chorus suggested a possible horde coming at me. And whatever it was that was the source of the bigger cry, I sure wasn't looking forward to encountering it.
"Indeed," Sylvie agreed, her tone calm yet focused.
I intended to have Sylvie draft a plan. Her extensive knowledge of warfare would undoubtedly be invaluable.
But then, a troubling thought hit me. What timeline was Sylvie from? The sci-fi game had two releases, and her character appeared midway through the first. Back then, she was embroiled in an arc called The Traitor. That arc was one massive misunderstanding about her intentions, which ultimately resulted in her to go through her own version of hell. This was yet another reason why I felt attached to her. She was such a lovely thing, yet was mistreated by almost everyone.
"Sylvie, what's the last thing you remember before manifesting here?" I asked.
A brief pause followed before she replied, "Planet Zyon's destruction."
I froze. That was exactly where I'd left off in the second game.
"Do you… remember the sergeant?"
"Of course. That is Master's previous incarnation," she said, matter-of-factly.
Her answer startled me. Somehow, Sylvie recognized the "player" character as me. The term "previous incarnation" suddenly made sense in that context.
"Right. Provide me with an optimal plan," I instructed.
"Understood. The best course of action is to remain defensive. Had we scout units, we could send them out. Alternatively, I could conduct an excursion."
Her plan was simple and straightforward, aligning perfectly with what I'd already been considering.
Just as I was about to commend her, a loud crash interrupted my thoughts. I turned toward the source—a massive dent forming on the warehouse's right wall.
Whatever was out there wasn't just big; it was strong enough to damage the walls of this relatively well-built warehouse.
"Whatever you are," I growled, gearing up for combat, "you're so fucking dead the moment you break through."