"Madam?" A mechanical voice was heard on the other side of the door.

"Enter," Serah said.

Two humanoid robots entered through the door, carrying trays of food and drinks.

" Your meal, madam." They said before turning to leave.

"Sebastian," Serah called out to one of them.

The machine, called Sebastian, stopped in its tracks. The other left the room.

" Yes?" It said.

Serah exhaled for a moment, then moved away from the window. Her dress fluttered in the midnight breeze. She sat down at a table and uncovered the three-course meal that was brought to her.

Sebastian, sensing the atmosphere, sat at a distance from her.

" Something the matter, madam?" It asked.

" You know exactly what's wrong." She retorted while prodding at her food. "How long are you planning to keep me in here!?" She asked, frustrated.

Sebastian remained silent, looking sadly at his creator. Serah's voice began to crack, and her sobbing prevented her from eating further.

" You want me to remain alone here forever!!?" She hurled a fork at him with enough strength to dent and pierce at his arm.

Sebastian pulled frustration out of his arm and sighed, blowing off any metal bits on it before putting it back on the table.

" There's little I can do, madam. You could always -"

"I don't want your illusions of happiness!

" She exploded, her sadness turning to anger.

" Why would I want to become like them!?" She referred to the ones captured by the AI. "Why not just kill us? Why make them rely on a false reality!?"

" You know we can't do that, madam." Sebastian commented.

" Why!?" She burst, knowing the answer in her mind. She hurled a spoon this time, which Sebastian promptly caught and promptly put it back on the table.

He remained silent, aware that his creator had the answers to what she was asking. And he was ashamed of his own selfishness in those answers.

A few minutes passed by, and the room was overcome by a sense of sadness and frustration.

" Just... what does the world outside look like?" Her voice turned to sadness again.

Sebastian considered his answer before telling her the truth.

" Desolate, diseased, and broken." He told her sadly.

" And you'll fix it?" She asked him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

" If that's what you want, yes, we'll fix it."

" But there'll be no one left by the time." She croaked out.

Sebastian again remained silent.

" What about Jackson?" She asked again, her tears falling into the plates.

" We... haven't caught him," Sebastian tells her. "We're sure that he's running, but sooner or later, he'll arrive here."

" Or he's dead..." Serah said.

Sebastian stayed silent. Serah's tears continued to drip onto the food while she poked at them with another fork.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

" Put this away." Serah told him, standing from her chair.

Sebastian covered the rest of the food, placing it away carefully in the kitchen. When he returned, he heard Serah in the shower, sobbing softly.

The machine displayed its own sadness at the sight. Its creator had become much more accustomed to the conditions during the past five years, but ever so rarely did she react this extremely. And every time, he could do little but to try and comfort her, all while regretting his own kind's existence at his creators sobs and frustration.

***

Jackson POV

Felix, Ella, and I were gathered around a table, discussing the journey we planned for ahead.

" I think we should head there tonight." Ella said. " It'll provide us some cover when we go across those plains.

Felix and I nodded. Honestly, it's been her making ideas while we two nodded and thought.

" The food we have will last 2 days at best, so we don't have any time to spare." She continued.

Felix chimed in, feeling the sense of dread overcoming the room. "Cheer up a bit. If all goes well, we eat like kings tonight!"

His words made me acutely aware of my subtle hunger. Our bodies had gotten used to eating the bare minimum of our needs during the last five years and had adapted to spoiled food during the last two or three years.

" Will we return here?" I asked the most pressing questions in my mind.

" It's riskier to keep moving back and forth through those plains that are monitored. If possible, we should find somewhere to stay hidden within the city." Ella said.

Our concerns were left to grow as none of us could answer them. Some water and fruits were handed to us, a bit more than the usual serving, to uplift our spirits more.

The morning was spent preparing for our trek, checking our bags, and dividing the rest of what's left for the journey.

It wasn't till late afternoon when we set off. The 30-minute walk stretching to an hour on our pace. As careful as we were, we were in no rush to attempt suicide.

"...right Jackson?" Felix said to me.

" Uhh, what?" I snapped out of it, having not heard a word he said. "Sorry, I'm just thinking of those machines." I excused.

"You've seen her work, right?" Ella asked.

" Who?"

" Dr Serah, your fiance who made those machines?" The last part came out a bit accusatory. They were still a bit distrusting of her, having blamed her for so long.

"Do you know anything that could help us in there?" She asked

" Nothing." I told them.

" So you don't know anything?" They seemed exasperated.

I shrugged, trying to recall a memory that might have been helpful.

" I've been inside once." I said

They froze mid-step, looking back at me.

"5 years ago in the beginning, Serah and I were at the heart of the incident." I said

" What?" They exclaimed in unison.

"At the time, they were after Serah, and I happened to be driving with her."

" How did you escape?" They asked

" One of them helped me. Perhaps due to our relationship prior." I said.

"The machines?" They asked.

"Yeah."

Seeing us slowing down, I beckoned them to keep pace while explaining the details.

" Where is it now?" They asked

" Dead," I answered, "but even if it was alive, it would've become like the others."

Both my companions looked at me, expecting me to explain my words. I sighed, telling them what they needed to hear.

"Why would it help you, though?" Ella asked.

" They weren't initially bad at first."

Their expressions, twisted in confusion, told me that they hadn't interacted with one of the machines before the uprising.

I sighed, telling them as we arrived closer to our our biggest trial.

The ruined building, broken roads, and overgrown vines and shrubs seemed to revert back in time as I began to tell the story..

"5 years ago, about three months before the first incident..."

***

"I told you it'd be wonderful!" Sarah exclaimed, running into the room with a big goofy grin. The door was left wide open behind her, much to my annoyance. But then again, her smile made up for it.

" What'd be wonderful?" I could already feel my headache forming as I ask her.

' I'm gonna regret asking,' my thoughts told me

Instead of answering bluntly, she pulled on me to get off the couch. She grabbed my arm and leaned back, trying and failing miserably to pull me off.

I pulled myself back slightly, keeping myself in place. The difference in strength caused her to tumble and fall on me, making us both roll off the couch.

As the universe willed it, I fell loudly to the floor, and she fell on me, clearly not as bothered since I broke her fall. Her face was only inches away from mine as she smiled madly.

" You could have just asked if you wanted this..." She whispered softly in my ear, her voice dripping honey.

'Have you no shame, woman?' I held my tongue as my better instincts screamed at me to not say that aloud, for there are few things scarier than a mad woman.

Realising I had no good retorts to her tease, I relented.

" I'll go with you, okay? Just get off of me, or we might be here the whole evening."

As Serah got off, I finally got the chance to stretch my back. My muscles were slightly sore from the fall.

" I know a special way to make you better..." She winked.

" I feel better already," I looked into her eyes. A few seconds later, after failing to hold back, both of us were chuckling. She giggled before turning down the hallway.

" Get the keys, I'll be right out," she told me, walking into our room.

Entering the car, I immediately saw her on the cover of the paper, reading, "The revolution has begun. Young female scientist changes the millenia!"

The information listed was her biography and how she created "the best AI ever."

Numerous pictures and articles showed the earliest version of the machines helping in numerous fields and subjects, making their welcomed debut around the world.

" The next Einstein?" The poster ended with such a question, though I don't remember Einstein being involved in AI mechanics.

" Wouldn't you rather hear me reading it to you?" Her voice rang in my ears as she entered the car, her grin as goofy as ever. She snatched the poster out of my hands.

" In case you didn't notice, this is me." She pointed to a photo, her grin widening as she circled the picture with her finger.

" Ah! How did I miss that?" I rolled my eyes as I snatched it back.

"And in case you didn't notice, this is my fiance." I pointed to the same picture, mimicking her. My expression was slowly turning to match hers.

We both stared at each other before laughing.

"My my, what I gentleman I've got myself." She said sarcastically

"You really have," I answered. " You must have cured poverty in your previous life to have such wonderful luck." I said lightheartedly

A ding suddenly snapped us out of our game. Serah checked her phone to see a new notification.

" Oh, my interview is online."

"You had an interview?" I asked her.

" Yeah, and there are multiple offers for more." She showed me her messages and emails.

" Why didn't I know?" I asked.

" You were too busy slacking off and eating all my snacks." She accused.

"I prefer the term 'finding inspiration." I coughed.

" So what's this about the AI?" I changed the conversation.

" Oh, it's coming along great. The most important thing now is to make it protected and secured."

"From what?" I asked.

" Cyberthreats, hackers. Those can really screw it over, especially because it's sentient."

" I know you don't disappoint." I gave her a kiss. "So, where to?" I asked, revving the engine.

"To a place of wonder, with ponies and unicorns and mystery." She answered dreamily.

" The lab it is then," I changed gears and blitzed to the lab.

When we arrived there, a few important figures were waiting. Some organizations wanted to speak with her, and perhaps others were trying to buy her.

Quickly making our way through reporters and business offers, we entered the lab.

The lab was dimly lit inside, with little furniture, a few tables, and circuits. In the middle of the room, however, there lay a metallic structure.

" The prototype," Serah explained.

"It's the most faulty creation, and only half sentient..." She said.