Sam looked her up and down, then focused on her bracelet, "Well, for starters. That is both an identification and a personal computer with a very primitive artificial intelligence." He said pointing with a shaky hand to the bracelet. "All the important members of the Saintsworths have one, and only the current patriarch can make new ones, since he is the one that stands at the top of the hierarchy."
So Alexanders gave her another AI?
Main Core?
"[No evidence of any form of artificial intelligence within the device; there is, however, a message: 'You won't need a personal assistant, will you? So we left that slot open. Make yourself one, or send us a message if you end up needing one.' End of message.]" Main Core answered.
So he was a cheapstake huh.
"And? I already have an ID that states my name." Alexandra said it was among the first things that [Eleanore] gave her with the paperwork. Alexandra had wondered if it was that easy to fabricate a new identity or not.
"No, you don't understand it. I mean an ID guaranteed by the Saintsworths. From the people at the top of the chain, if they write that your name is something stupid, it will stick." Sam said shaking his head, then stopped "No wait, your real age…it wasn't this one right? You were a little girl before…so you don't know? Hmm….what do you know about the Saintsworths and our city ruling class."
That was a new one, people usually carried on and acted as if she was actually the age she pretended to be.
"My current age is 19 years old, as is my mind." Alexandra said nonetheless she felt as if this was an important point to make, "Still, while my mind and body are that age, I am indeed missing plenty of social cues and background data. What I know about the Saintsworths is that they are either a social group, association or [Family] who seems to hold power over several enterprises within the city."
At least they seemed to be made to sound like that.
"They hold power over several of the important social strata groups and are powerful; they also seem to be highly tribalistic since they take a great amount of importance on their decoration of jewelry or tattoos." That had been a data point that neither Alexa nor Ale seemed to take too much stock in. But Alexandra found it amusing, they behaved like how she expected some tribalist organization to move.
Closer to what she had seen in some of the swarm and hive-type P-series organisms. All following the queue of a matriarch or patriarch at the top.
"Hah!" Sam barked a laugh at her answer, "Probably the best description to throw at them, yeah. The Saintsworths had their past in one of the ancient houses of this planet, not like it matters how long their bloodline is."
Sam scoffed at that last mention, "Anyway, that is proof of your heritage, if you haven't done it let a drop of blood into the thing." At that mention of blood Sam licked his lips, was he thirsty?
Alexandra was also thirsty…for things she wasn't quite sure what they were. She shouldn't feel thirsty since she closely monitored her own vitals, but that was beside the point. A flick of her nanites was all it took to open a small wound on her index finger and a single drop (Devoid of Nanites, just in case) was dropped on the bracelet.
The bracelet absorbed the drop of blood and it shone in yellow light briefly, the design of the golden eagle turned a few grades brighter and it settled down to normal levels.
"And that is proof of your heritage; if you had been anyone else doing that, you would have ended up with the stupid thing exploding." Sam nodded his head, so she had tempted her luck? Well, not like she was ever in any danger, should the thing explode she had Sam nearby to help her!
Actually, could she provoke the explosion?
"So then this could solve any doubt about my past?" Alexandra asked, turning to look at the thing, "How can I access the data here?"
"Your past?" Sam asked confused, "I guess? It should have a basic profile available to other members and a personal one only available to you, as for access, just get the bracelet near any piece of technology that has a Near-Field-Communications available, and you should be able to log into the Saintsworths server, I don't know much about how that thing works besides the rumors that are on the dark web to be honest."
Heh, Sam used the dark web.
No wait, Near-Field-Communications?
Main Core?
“[Sending Hail into device…recieving data stream…data stream rerouted by Core into Information Core…recieving, accessing…Username and Password autoinput by device, Username:Alexa Password: Mango4Life.]”
Yes…it annoyed the fact that the username and password seemed to be something that Alexa would pick up, but then again, that one was probably the closest thing they had for a 'Main Personality'.
“[Accessing personal profile.]”
"It can probably work with any smart device, I can't leave this place for a couple weeks, so if you can open the door from your side I could go into my room and get you…" Sam started saying, but Alexandra was already reading her profile so…
"Oh no, that is fine. I got this, the profile there seems to have some of the basic information that the blonde asshole said already in here." Alexandra said, she didn't want to make troubles for Sam, if he was stuck there for a couple weeks then there must be an important work that he must be doing down there…
Perhaps he was eating? She didn't knew how the lower half body worked, even if Ale seemed to be fixated on that part of Sam's (Very hot) body. Perhaps he ate like this every few weeks?
Alexandra envied that lifestyle, a couple weeks dedicated to only eating? Yes, please.
"Oh…Sure, that works too…No wait blonde asshole? You spoke to Alexanders?" Sam asked confused, "How did you even…"
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Alexandra wasn't sure if there were that few blondes that fit the profile of being an asshole, or was it because she was a Saintsworths as stated by the stupid bracelet. Did he thought she had stolen this?
"Yeah, he declared himself as my big brother…or our big brother, I can probably be around his age on this form…" Alexandra didn't want to think too much about that, if she was to be around his age on this form, then instead of big brother he would be closer to a normal brother? Maybe a twin brother?
Was she even similar to him on this form? Well, she wasn't since he was male and she was female…And she was the most beautiful of them all, she doubted Alexanders would fit the title of 'The most handsome of them all' that was for someone like Sam who was mighty besides being absolutely ripped.
"Your….brother?" Sam said looking at her weirdly. "He said specifically those words? He… shouldn't have any family…not anymore. But…would they even…Alexandra, sorry about this, but it is important… Who is your Father? Your Mother?"
Why was that important?
"I don't have those." Alexandra answered, "And even this profile here doesn't state anything about that. The only family connections I have on this thing is Alexanders as a brother."
Alexandra said raising her right arm showing the stupid thing, why did it mattered anyway. She wasn't even human to begin with, those are things for humans to worry about. She was closer to Sam in that regard, lone [Predators] at the top separated of all other lesser [Prey] species…
More proof that they were made for each other for real for real.
"Hmm….Interesting. I feel like this should have been researched, but I think my time is about to run out." Sam said shaking his head and grabbing one of his arms with the other, Alexandra recognized that gesture, he had done the same before, "Please leave now."
He only said that as his eyes seemed to shine in red light. He was even smiling as some saliva driped from his lips, that was proof that he was hungry, did he also need to eat with his upper mouth too?
She knew that bringing food was important! But there wasn't any rat around!
"Okay…." Alexandra sighed, she didn't have much to offer besides herself, but Sam seemed to be hungry, and she knew how much that was a problem to be dealt with, "I'll call you next time I come, sorry for coming in such a rush, and thank you for confirming the veracity of Alexanders words."
She really didn't have that many people to confirm with, and most of those were part of her current social circle, she needed to make sure the data she got was legit before exposing more, they had constructed a past on their own, so anything that could bring more questions to that fantasy they built was a danger.
They had been very sure about her past, so bringing this could prove to be dangerous, if they asked more questions…And [Eleanore] was around, she couldn't lie her way out, and while Alexa did a good job with the lies by ommision since the girl was as dumb as a rock.
"RUDE!"
She no longer was ignorant, so this would be good to nip that bud for now.
"No problem, and don't worry, you can come anytime you want. The Spider will always welcome you into its nest." Sam said that in an ominous tone as he seemed to move his fingers, was he trying to do something?
The movements seemed to imply something, but she wasn't getting any mana readings or anything.
"[Found mana emission sent in a series of beeps, correlating with know encryption methods…found match, translating: 'Please run away, I'm losing control over my own sanity, I can't restrain my use of Core Powers for long. Don't return at least till the end of the month.' End of message.]"
….What?
Why was he sending her encrypted messages?
"Is there something the matter?" Sam asked tilting his head, Ale noticed how his fangs seemed to grow out of his mouth and these secreted a green liquid. "Do you want to stay for dinner?"
…Yes, yes she did want.
“[Host, please leave the immediate area. Monster Designation: The Spider is secreting a neurotoxin venom.]" Main Core, however, seemed to think otherwise.
Alexandra really wanted to stay….best case scenario Sam would get close and personal, worst case scenario he may attempt to get a bite out of her…And to be honest, both scenarios were something that Alexandra wanted to see happen, in both of them she would get his [Blueprint]...and perhaps a few extra things.
"That is fine, I didn't bring anything to eat, next time I'll bring something. Besides, [Vulcanus] and [Cerberus] are waiting for my report." Alexandra said, at the mention of those names Sam's eyes wavered for a second.
"I see…Then I'll see you later." And on that note, he sank into the hatch and closed it behind.
Alexandra felt the tremor as something heavy seemed to hit against one of the walls.
"What was that about?" Alexandra couldn't help but ask that, walking to the hatch she kneeled at the side of one of the drops of green liquid on the floor, "Hmm….[Core] can you analyze this?"
Alexandra, of course, could also do that, but…she was leery of making herself look ridiculous as Ale had done before.
–
Core:
Yes, checking sample…Analyzing….
Neurotoxing, paralyzing agent, aphrodisiac agent.
Please refrain from interacting with an Arachne in heat
–
So the tingling she felt from touching Sam's saliva wasn't her feelings but the neurotoxin agent he secreted?
Was it also something that he could emit as an aerosol agent?
"[No evidence of this neurotoxine within host. Those are indeed host's bad decision-making at play.]"
Oh, good, she would feel so embarrassed if her first time experiencing this kind of [Emotions] was by a chemical reaction made by someone else's attempts.
"No, wait, why am I not paralyzed then? This thing has enough neurotoxin and paralyzing agent to hit like a truck, right?" Alexandra said, staring at her finger on the small puddle of Sam's saliva
“[Venom is being neutralized in real time, please remove the finger from the danger puddle.]” Main Core said that was…one interesting way of seeing the small puddle of Sam's saliva.
"Okay, well, that is enough of talking to myself; let's…go back home, I guess." Alexandra said sighing, she…really wanted to spend more time with Sam, but that one message using morse code, was he suffering from what the [Humans] at [Haephestus' Forge] thought she had?
The thing with a System and multiple personas within his handsome head?
Or was that an attempt to tell her something without telling her something? Like if she could Alexandra wasn't sure, but she could probably ask [Eleanore] or [Hermes], the one with the answer was probably [Vulcanus]...or perhaps….if this thing had a database, and Sam had said that he had worked with them…perhaps this thing could have an answer?
Alexandra would need to ask for a PC, and she would need to start using other devices for using this kind of network; she didn't want someone to hijack Main Core like how Alexanders had done before.
"I'll bring food next time!" Alexandra decided to scream into the empty lair before running away, she summoned her white mask from the second bracelet she was wearing and put it on. Having two bracelets on her hand may get confusing at some point, perhaps she would need to start storing it in another of the settings it had.
Would a collar be better? Or the pill form? That also would need some thinking.
—-----
The way back was less exciting in contrast; she was seeing some evidence of flora and fauna on the sewer system the more she got away from Sam's area of influence, so that was interesting; whatever happened seemed to be centered around his lair.
So he really was eating almost all that lived within his lair huh… Did that mean that he would need to range farther away when he ended whatever he was doing down there? Or would he just move his lair?
It was a good thing she had his number if it was the second, but if it ended up being the first… Maybe she could help him? Going on a hunting date could be fun.
Either way, Alexandra did end up having to summon her Arm-mament to fight off a few rats here and there, getting the [Cores] didn't make her excited since she had those blueprints and at most she could update them to add some aesthetic changes in them, like a variation that was more like a crystal than a marble. Or one form that was closer to a pebble than a circle.
Weird variations that didn't seem to have a reason to be, but that didn't affect the working of them.
"Please identify yourself, you are coming close to a restricted area." While thinking about that Alexandra heard that spoken through one of the speakers hidden on the walls.
She hadn't known about those speakers before and only found them because she walked to the sound and placed a hand in that wall, letting her nanites sink inside to see what it was.
What she found was…quite lackluster too, a simple glass panel with a camera and a speaker, and some others a few meters to the side of this one on the roof, pointing down at her.
How many of these had she missed while walking around?
The idea of people having access to what she did on the sewers…that may get dangerous.
"Code Name: Rhapsody, going back to base." Alexandra answered the weird voice, only reason she even answered was because her mask seemed to be sending a signal straight at the receptor hidden within the wall that this camera was set up.
So it meant that it should be running on the same network that [Billy] had set up his mask network.
"Code name received….it matches one of the descriptions; please move along. Your entry point has been marked on your map, Entry Node T4." The voice said, and then the speaker's energy got cut.
A new map popped into her line of sight, and sure enough, there was a route marked to a new part of the sewer system, interesting. So they assigned entry points as people arrived? That was one way to make sure no one leaked the area of the base…Probably easier to confirm who leaked the data too this way.
Alexandra could respect that, "Thank you." So she thanked the mysterious voice and walked following the instructions that were sent to her mask.
The travel was…lukewarm at best, the place still looked wild and abandoned, but there was a remarkable absence of biological life. But unlike the area of influence that Sam had, this one had the marks of fights on the tunnels, she could see evidence of [Gun] type weaponry on the walls and some cuts and gashes on the walls.
Also in one particular instance she found evidence of burn marks on the walls, was this some evidence of a fight going on in the area? Had [Haephestus' Forge] secured this area?
If it was indeed the [Hunting Zone] of [Haephestus' Forge] perhaps she could ask to be allowed? She didn't know what they had done with the biomass that had been hunted, but surely she could keep some of it for herself?
Like that, she stood in front of the door into [Haephestus' Forge]; it had a small emblem of an anvil in the handle; placing her hand on it, a scanner popped out and showered in high frequency radio waves and lightwaves.
“[Detected incoming scanner…evaluating…no hostile markers found, sending hail back.]”
Main Core reacted quite quickly, and like that the door opened and Alexandra was welcomed into a sealed door, it was time to make a report. Again.