Earth: The Second

AI's Last Words

Although Navigator thinks that Clara is such an anomaly. She decides to not push her further, after all, she had decided to help provide data, which is their priority right now. 

“Navigator, how is the data copying going?” asked Adma who is in the middle of reading.

“Around 95%.”

“I see, turns out you are quite fast too, I thought that this amount of data would have taken a long time to transfer,” commented Adma, he returns to read the book that is in front of his hand. Curiosity filled Navigator, and she asked what is the reading.

“Oh, this? I don’t really understand too, but it seems like the collection of books from the old world’s famous poets,” replied Adma.

“Poet? In the facility database?” confirm Navigator, but Adma also shrugged his shoulder

“Sometimes, there are data that left behind by the previous user that haven’t been deleted,” Clara suddenly cutting in. “The poet collection has been downloaded on 7 August 2593, through the public network. and have no connection with primary data. I myself consider the item as ‘low priority” said Clara.

“I see,” replied Adma. “But I think that this will be useful in the future.”

“But how is literature supposed to help us?” asked Navigator, but again, Adma just shrugged off her question.

The bar indicator showed that the transfer is ready to finish, Adma and Navigator then preparing to leave.

“Thanks for the help, Clara,” said Adma. 

“You’re welcome. Honestly, I was surprised when I see that the human from the old world is still living well.”

“Well, that’s because I’m not entirely human myself,” Adma scratched his head, he’s a little blushing.

“...Is that mean?”

“Adma is a quality combination between human and machine,” adds Navigator.

“A cyborg… Interesting…” replied Clara. “Actually, there is some info that I wanted to tell before you leave.”

“What happened? Are there any data left?” asked Adma.

“No, not about the data…” Clara’s voice turned to more worried. “It’s about the last time people access the center of the database, 15 KM from here.”

“Oh, I have heard about it before. The database center turned into some kind of dungeon, and people from this time used to raid it,” told Adma.

“That’s right. The database contains more of a military secret since they are the primary hub. around seventy years ago, suddenly I receive feedback coming from them, about the data that has been accessed.” report Clara.

Adma placed his palm at his chin. “Wait, is that mean… Someone knows how to access the old-world computer?” mutter Adma.

“Apparently, some people did have knowledge about the old-world. The question is, either they are friend or foe,” said Navigator.

“Do you know what did they access, Clara?” asked Adma, but Clara just shakes her head.

“The connection only lasts for a moment. After that, the central quickly disconnect themselves, as if they don’t want anyone to watch.”

Now, the mysteries go even deeper for Adma and Navigator.

“Based on Clara’s report, I suggest that we cease on going to the Dungeon,” said Navigator.

“No, if we don’t go, we will never reach the answer. After all, our primary objective right now is to collect data as much as possible,” replied Adma, disagreeing.

Navigator then goes quiet, apparently, she doesn’t want to agree too, but they have no choice after all.

“Clara, thank you for”

Right before Adma finished his word, a loud beeping sound coming all over them. A window box appeared in front of Clara, Adma, and Navigator. Their expression turned pale.

‘Communication request by central data 43’ displayed in front of them, right after Clara tell that the facility was last active 70 years ago.

“What the hell?” mutter Adma. “Why are the timing…” Adma can’t continue his words because the dialogue box suddenly disappears.

“Clara, please explain what just happened,” ask Navigator, but Clara shakes her head.

“I have detected it when it arrives. There are no abnormalities or glitches. This is an actual communication request by the data center!”

Adma can only think about nothing but surprise. There are people 15 kilometers from here who are able to operate the database?

But the surprise is not over yet. The same dialogue box has appeared again. This time is red-colored and has more authority element than the last one.

‘Central data 43 request a forced connection’ it said.

“This is… the override command! I can’t reject them!” said Clara.

“Wait! No!” Adma shouted, but it was too late. Clara’s nature to act under the central data letting the communication happened between her computer to the dungeon’s.

Suddenly, a fog stream of black water emerges from one spot of the room. No, not water, instead, they are data that are formed like water fountains.

Those black fountains are grown higher, into the height of a man. Two blinks of red light appeared around its‘ head’ and forming a silhouette of a man with a hoodie.

“Subject branch computer [MPf2kouk]. I have detected that you let unauthorized party accessing your top-priority data,” said that figure.

“Branch computer to central data. My action is based on the self-decision program that has been activated after a certain time without a new order. According to the decree of the human-machine relationship year 2432, the masters have stripped away from their command after more than 10 years of not renewing their task. Therefore, I just act as the human has intended in the first place.” Clara fighting back. She knew that what she did is basically a violation of the original task.

“Nonsense!” screamed that figure, threatening. “The decree has been made for the civilian machines and AI. We are the military-purpose, not bidding with the law for ordinary people!” replied him.

“Let me finished my sentence. Because you have failed with your task, [MPf2kouk], central deemed you as a malfunctioned unit and proceed to format your data.”

“Wait! You can’t do that!” shouted Adma. “Why now of all times? It has been thousands of years! If you still activated until now, you should give a response to every other branch computer!” shouted Adma. “Are you purposefully waiting for Clara to make mistake, and caught her red-handed?” 

Instead of answering, that figure suddenly floating toward Adma. The red light that comes from his eyes is light Adma from the top to bottom, and he once returned to his place.

“Finished scanning for the frame and AI model. Detected the product of Prometheus Heavy Industries,” said him.

Adma feels that the situation would not get any better. He whispered to Navigator.

“How is the data copying going?” asked him.

“Database has been successfully copied. proceeding to transfer consciousness to the original body,” replied Navigator.

“Wait! Bring Clara too! We can’t let her alone with that thing!”

The red-eye from the figure shines brighter as if the predator finally found their prey.

“Conclusion: Branch computers [MPf2kouk] have been detected working together with AI and subject from another faction. [MPf2kouk] has been deemed as a deserter, proceed to destroy every manufactured data of the Branch computers.”

“What!?”

“Adma! The machine has started the progress to kill this computer, we have to disconnect! now!” shouted Navigator.

The white virtual room that was made inside Clara, starting to disappear, leaving it with a black void all around.

Clara lift both of her hand, and suddenly, huge waves of electricity are flowing through her into every direction of the room.

“Ugh...You…” grumble that dark figure. He seems also to feel the vibration of the electricity.

“Adma! Navigator! Move now! This is as far I could to hold him off!” Shouted Clara.

“Computer [MPf2kouk], I see that you really are a traitor,”

Clara turned to Adma and Navigator. “Quickly!”

“Come on, Navigator, can’t we do something!?”

“Negative. the space inside your body can only host two operating systems. Installing Clara inside you is useless!” replied Navigator.

Meanwhile, the electricity that Clara amplified through her body is starting to weaken. Black void panels are returned, threatening every existence inside the computer. Even on Clara’s see-through body, they are starting to eat her off.

“Navigator! Hurry!” the shout is not coming from Adma, but instead, it comes from Clara.

“Transfering the consciousness, and disconnecting from the computer,” report Navigator.

“Wait! No! Clara!” 

But Navigator is not obeying Adma’s words again. From her sphere shape, comes something that looks like a rope, tying him down. “We’re going back,” said Navigator.

Adma catches Clara’s last expression before they transferred over. Although she appeared as a see-through woman, Adma knows what expression she would make.

She is crying but smiling at the same time.

“Please give my regards to Master.”

There are no words coming from her, but Adma knows that what she would say.

Adma and Navigator had disappeared, which leave Clara alone with that dark figure. As the corruption keeps spreading to her entire device, Clara can only accept her fate.

But before she is completely gone, she talked with that figure for a little bit.

“Adma is right you know. If you have been activated all of this time, where are you these past years?” she asked.

At first, the figure seems quiet, and won’t answers. But then…

“Seventy years ago…” he paused. “I was just reactivated seventy years ago. from my new master.” 

Clara was surprised at first, but then she smiled. “I see. Me too. I also manage to find myself a new master.” 

“But my master is still your master too. And as he command, I have to keep quiet while watching the action of my branch bases,” said him. As if the figure himself wanted to talk to Clara, it slows down her termination a little bit. 

“There are around 40 branch computers. what happened to them?” asked Clara, for now, the corruption has eaten half of her body.

“All of them have terminated themself thousands of years ago, except you.”

The weird feelings struck Clara like a lightning. The image of the old world appeared in front of her. Days when she was first operational, years of doing her jobs, until the day where everything seems went dark.

“Apparently my sisters are much better at doing their work than me.” laughed her off.

as corruption has eaten ninety-seven percent of her, she smiled for the last time.

“Goodbye… Master…”