Inside of a dark room, the sound of machinery running filled the air. Occasionally wire would crackle and illuminate the room. Sparks illuminated the room and for a brief moment, a liquid stasis pod was able to be seen. Inside was a pale girl, with short white hair, who looked to be around 5 or 6. Tubes and wires were running into her spine, but she continued to float peacefully.
"System malfunction." A distorted mechanical voice began speaking. "Quantum Battery Charge Estimated: 4 years at full operational capacity. 7 years at operational necessities." Lights started blinking and machinery moved on its own. A robotic arm reached toward the pod in the center of the room. A tool emerged from the arm and sent a blue light up and down the pod. The lab ran on a limited A.I prepared for emergency situations such as these. After a scan more lights blinked and a holographic computer screen turned on.
"Location:...Unknown. Lab State: Sealed. Air Filtration: Active. Running Emergency Parameters. Subject-767 appears to be fully intact. Stasis Pod: Sealed." Dozens of arms emerged from slots, a few were broken, but most were intact. The arms began moving around the room activating computers and pulling liquid vials from metal compartments. After a few moments all the arms moved toward the pod.
"Initiating: Morning Star Version 5 Nanite injection. Initiating: Blue Swan Implant full activation. Requesting: Removal of Blue Swan and Morning Star Version 5 Nanite control protocols." The robotic arms stood in place while a screen flickered. The control protocols were in place as a failsafe in controlling S-767, due to the current circumstance it would appear that the A.I deemed them unnecessary. The arms sat completely still for a few hours. All the while a screen flickered with the option to Accept or Deny. "Emergency Code 1056 initiated. Control protocols disabled." The mechanical voice began speaking as all the arms got to work. In an emergency situation the A.I was given greater control and were tasked with preserving or protecting all experiments as best they could.
The robotic arms began interacting with the pod. Numerous liquid vials were put in place at the sides of the pod and then inserted into the tubes connected to S-767. Another arm moved to the back of the pod and connected to the wires attached to the back of S-767's skull. Once the vials were emptied most of the arms moved back, while a different arm inserted a needle into S-767 and drew blood. After that, the only arm still at the pod was the one connected to the back of S-767's skull.
"Retrieval of Morning Star Version 4 Nanites: Successful. Injection of Morning Star Version 5 Nanites: Successful. Full Activation of the Blue Swan Implant:...Pending." The machine continued to toil away as its sole purpose was to ensure the safety of S-767 and it would do everything it possibly could to achieve its objective. "Error: Blue Swan Implant full activation failed. Running diagnostics."
"Solution found. Blue Swan Implant training protocols active. Requesting removal of training protocols." And so the A.I waited once more. "Emergency Code 1056 initiated. Training Protocols removed." Although training protocols would've been nice, the A.I had deduced that there was no one who could train S-767, so the best step was to give her the tools to survive. "Blue Swan Implant fully activated. Vitals: Stable. Prepping hibernation mode. Initiating monitoring protocols. Scanning surroundings." Most of the robotic arms withdrew back into the walls, while a few stayed to prepare to enter a low power state and monitor S-767.
"Error: Geography appears to be inconclusive with earth. Error: Atmosphere makeup appears to be different from Earth. 76% Nitrogen, 23% Oxygen, 0.78% Argon, 0.22% Carbon Dioxide. Estimated Survivability for S-767: 97%. Shutting down non-essential programs. Activating hibernation." The stirring of machinery stopped, the lights flickering in the had all died down. Soon the only thing that was left was a dark room.
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7 years later.
"Quantum batteries at 20%. Disengaging hibernation. Prepping S-767 for release." The A.I announced to no one in particular. Arms emerged from nearby walls and consoles and began to remove the tubes and wires connected to the stasis pod.
"Running comprehensive systems test. Systems active. Running environment viability test. Error: Chances of Minerva research materials being placed into the environment. Running complete lab-wide scan. Scan complete: Four labs partially intact. Three of which are severely damaged. Chances of contaminant leakage: 43%. Scanning surroundings. Scan complete: Signs of impact around the environment. Synopsis: Lab abruptly entered the stratosphere and crashed at a high velocity. Chances of contaminant leakage during fall: 78%. S-767 release protocols active." The A.I reached conclusions that may have been good or bad news for the inhabitants of this world. After a sudden entrance into the atmosphere, various research materials may have been scattered across the environment. Though it was possible it didn't happen, after all the lab was made from a special plating that was theorized to be able to contain a nuclear blast.
"Initiating S-767 learning protocols. Learning protocols: Active." After all the tubes had been disconnected, a device was connected to the wires attached to the back of S-767's head. "Artifical Memory Transference Files one through six intact. Further files missing or corrupted. Began transfer of files one through six." After the A.I finished talking it began the procedure.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
The reason why S-767 was grown in stasis was for the simple fact Minerva had a memory transference program able to replicate the signals in the brain that work to store and recall memories. It was able to implant small pieces of knowledge into the recipients. Of course, too many would interfere with the mind of S-767. The plan was to slowly introduce the knowledge into S-767 and allow her to adapt. The current situation didn't allow for such a luxury. S-767 visibly spasmed after the artificial memories were implanted. "Heart rate increasing. Three files left to be transferred. S-767 showing signs of stress within acceptable parameters, continuing transfer." After the twitching and spasming stopped, the wires attached to the back of S-767 head were removed and only the breathing tube was in place. "Waking S-767 from states. Monitoring vitals. Vitals normal. Releasing S-767 from stasis pod."
The pod clicked and then opened. Liquid came rushing out and drained into nearby floor vents. S-767 woke up and fell onto the floor abruptly while coughing. "Vitals normal. Cronus Gene stable. Morningstar V-5 nanites active. Blue Swan Implant active. Procedure successful. Moving to change clearance status of S-767."
"..." S-767 finished her fit of coughing and then stood up while shaking. She had a mix of basic and complicated knowledge in her head, but it was still her first time being exposed to the environment while fully conscious. A robotic limb came down from the ceiling and scanned over S-767 before going back in. "Cognitive Functions: Normal." The A.I spoke. Another arm came toward S-767 and held what looked to be a laser. It moved toward her right shoulder and begin pointing the laser. It didn't burn into her skin it just moved over the shoulder like it was drawing something. Soon overlapping squares appeared on her skin, covering her right shoulder. The laser had guided the nanites to alter the pigment of her skin in the form of that specific design.
The purpose was to make a sort of barcode that would be able to be scanned by Minerva in case someone ever stumbled upon her. Just below the symbol of squares was "F-13," which stood for the gender and the age of S-767. "Clearance of S-767 raised under Emergency Protocol 12,340." The A.I announced. "Emergency Protocol 12,340: In an event of the destruction or displacement of a facility, clearance will be handed down to the survivors of the facility with the highest qualifications. Should none be living, clearance will be handed down to a human with relation to the Minerva Facility. Should none be present, A.I shall be given a large control of facilities. S-767, do you agree to the terms?" The A.I asked.
"...A...Ac...Acc...Accept." S-767 squeezed out brokenly as she looked around. There was something strange about hearing your own voice for the first time or hearing anything for that matter. She was fearful of everything she saw, but gradually the knowledge assimilated with her and she had an understanding. From language to the process of using some simpler technology, it was all there. "Confirmed. S-767 has access to basic functions and necessities of the facility.
"...Wha...What..am I?" S-767 took a step forward with shaky legs.
"You are a by-product of the Cronus Gene Variant 112, a genetic trait used to induce biological immortality while simultaneously being compatible with the Morningstar Nanites and the Blue Swan Neural Implant. You were born Specimen 767, the specimen with the highest affinity for the Cronus Variant. To summarize, your genetic structure is both human and non-human. Files with further explanation are missing or corrupted." The A.I spoke emotionlessly.
A robotic arm emerged and handed over a medical gown and a pair of black rubber-like sandals. S-767 wordlessly accepted it and began to dress. "Facility has sustained damage and is not viable for prolonged use. Quantum battery charge at 17%. Scans show the environment is very similar to Earth. Leaving the facility is highly suggested."
"What will...happen..if I don't?" S-767 spoke in a distant and unsure tone, information was constantly making itself known in her head, particularly about CV-112 and the Blue Swan Implant. "Once the battery loses charge, the facility will be rendered inoperable and air filtration will be cut off, resulting in death." The A.I responded.
A robotic arm appeared in front of S-767, holding a watch. "The holographic watch, or Holo-watch, has been outfitted with survivability programs. It should be able to scan simple organic objects, help navigate, and make judgments with a limited mirror A.I program. Because of current conditions, it only has a week's worth of charge when operated at full capacity." The A.I explained. S-767 attached the watch to her wrist and pressed the screen.
The blue screen flickered and displayed a countdown of seven days. "You have been prepped for the exit, leave when ready, S-767." The A.I said as a door on the far side of the room began to glow. With the whirring of machines and clicking of locking mechanisms, the door slowly creaked open and exposed sunlight. S-767 covered her eyes briefly and then slowly exited the room. She was scared, confused, and curious, but she continued to walk. After stepping outside the lab she was greeted with hard soil, fresh air, and cliff walls.
The facility was lodged into the bottom of a ravine. The traces of how it got there had long since become less noticeable as vines and moss grew on its walls. "Facility going into a completely inactive state to preserve battery. If you choose to return it is highly recommend to bring with a source of energy similar to the Quantum batteries that are used for the facilities back-up power." The A.I gave one last announcement before the metal doors shut once again. S-767 had just been introduced into the world but was now on her own, and so she continued walking.