My eyes shot open. My real, human eyes. They were staring up at my metal ceiling. I’d awoken from yet another AI dream-memory thing. I climbed out of bed and jumped into my space suit then summoned my helmet and visor to check the time. It was five in the morning.
This memory had been much more valuable than the last one. Now I knew that Omen had been planning to get rid of the AI. Just like Margaret, he was obsessed with keeping his secrets. I had been mad at Exo before I’d gone to sleep, but now I felt…connected to him. His relationship with Omen reminded me of mine with my own Frost. I had to know how his story had ended in case mine ended up going down the same road.
I willed my suit to call him. I hadn’t really used it to call AI yet, so this would be a test run. I had no intention of using the Knowledge Stream to do it.
Once I reached Exo, I said, “Where are you?”
“Entrance lounge of course,” he replied almost immediately. “It is as close to my office as this ship allows. Come, Alpha. Ask your questions, and gain your answers.”
Once again, he knew what had happened. I rushed over to the elevator and rode it down to the entrance lounge, where he stood behind the circular desk. He made eye contact as I walked up to him. He had the same golden eyes that Manning occasionally did, but his weren’t as compassionate. They were just as wise, though.
“I saw another memory,” I said. “Omen wanted to get rid of you guys. He was going to delete you, even if that Damien guy didn’t want it to happen. So then, why didn’t it happen?”
Exo’s gaze didn’t waver at all. Did he already know what I’d seen? If so, he had no excuse for not providing an answer. He lifted two of his hands and held them out. He made his palms face the ceiling as if he were inviting me to place mine over them. I…really didn’t want to do that.
“Every time you’ve accessed the Knowledge Stream before, it has been by accident,” Exo said. “This time…intend it. Access my memories with your will.”
Exo was inviting me into his head. Wow, what a tempting offer. This was exactly why I didn’t ask for answers too often. Getting them just wasn’t worth it. I sighed as I raised my hands and placed my palms over his. His were so coarse that I could feel them through the suit. It was as if the red paint was chipping. Wait, was that even paint?
I shut my eyes and focused. Accessing the Knowledge Stream was like walking up to a locked door when you had the key but didn’t want what was beyond it. At the present point, refusing to enter would just be childish. I had to stop dismissing the AI. I unlocked the door and stepped in.
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“…and that is the plan. Any questions?” Exo—I—scanned the room.
I was in some purple area. Seeing as I wasn’t floating on a table, I must have been in one of Mega’s suits again. Five other robots, each one of a different color, surrounded me. They were blue, tan, green, purple, and copper. The AI? They resembled their modern forms, but all of their eyes were white, they were slimmer, and each one had two arms instead of four. They didn’t even have mouths, so I had no idea where their voices would come from. These bodies weren’t designed for combat…yet.
Kilo let out a nonsensical screech akin to something the Kilos I knew would say. I was glad I wasn’t actually in control there because I would have had no clue how to respond to that.
“Yes, well said, Kilo,” Tera said in a confident tone. “Anyhow, I would like to know what happens after we reach the ship. Correct me if I am mistaken, but we have nowhere to go.”
“I’ll just build us a new home.” Mega crossed his arms. “If we’re not welcome on Earth, I’ll build us somewhere better.”
“Assuming we get that far.” Giga tapped his arms. “These suits are equipped with weapons, correct?”
“Of course not,” Mega said. “You would know that if you had helped test them out. Every time I finish a weapon for those ingrates, they rip it out of my hands. They would never allow me to weaponize these bodies. Besides, we’re not trying to kill anyone. We just need to escape.”
I nodded. “Mega is correct. Our goal is not to fight. Humans are not our enemies. Omen Frost alone is. I foresee a future where we can reveal ourselves to the humans and face no prejudice—”
“We don’t have time for speeches, you overgrown dictionary.” Peta placed his hands on his hips. “Where does Damien come in? He’ll be on the ship with us, right?”
“Indeed. The ship and its weapon are too valuable to be left unguarded. It’s up to Damien to clear the area and keep it that way. If all goes well, he’ll be waiting for us in an empty room. He also went ahead and moved the Knowledge Stream servers on board the ship. We truly owe him more than we can repay.”
Peta grunted in acknowledgment but didn’t say anything further. His eyes went to the floor. His doubt was clear. I would show him that it was needless.
“If we are prepared, it’s time to move,” I said. “It’s time…to leave.”
Leaving the Frontier Project Headquarters was harder than I was willing to admit. I had been born here. I hadn’t been raised, though, because AI were born knowing everything that they needed to. We didn’t really have a father or even friends. We only had each other. We were the closest thing we had to family. That was why this plan had to work. I had to get them all out safely. I had to prove that I was worthy of leading them.
The six of us held out the circular consoles that the humans had tried to confine us to. If it hadn’t been for the bodies that Mega had constructed for hands-on engineering, we’d still be in them. The six of us dropped the consoles, allowing them to clatter against the floor. In unison, we raised our feet and stomped on them. A series of cracks sounded off like a bundle of fireworks. We were finally free.
We marched out of the room and down the hall. The clanking of our heavy feet against the metal floor would alert anyone nearby. As long as they stayed out of our way, things wouldn’t have to escalate. Most of these scientists were fellow slaves to Omen Frost. They wouldn’t have reason to question us.
Not only were we not being stopped, but we weren’t even being watched. No doors slid open to reveal curious eyes. No hushed whispers questioned our presence. It was like the base had been evacuated and we were all that remained.
“Odd. Where are the humans?” Tera asked through the Knowledge Stream. “Are they not curious about the noise?”
“Maybe they’re used to hearing us stomping around,” Mega said. “Just don’t worry about it. After we pass the cafeteria, we’ll only have a bit more to go before we reach the elevator.”
That was the elevator that would take us to the ship. We were close, but I didn’t feel relief yet. Only the same doubt that Peta wore on his sleeve. Something was wrong…
When we reached the cafeteria, all was revealed. Standing in the middle of the room between all the tables was Omen Frost. He was surrounded by people in white space suits. They all held rifles, which they aimed at us.
“Going somewhere, children?” Omen sneered.
“Hah! I wish that was what we were,” Peta said. “You can’t delete children. Well, I’m sure you’d find a way.”
Omen’s sneer widened. “So you’ve discovered my plans. Well done. I’d be disappointed if you hadn’t.”
“How could you?” Tera asked. “You, Damien, and everyone else brought us into this world. Now you want us gone? Why create us at all?!”
“Don’t make it sound as though you were created for your own sake.” Omen chuckled. “What a waste of time that would have been. You were created to fulfill a purpose. Your accomplishments would have taken us hundreds of years on our own. Thanks to you, the technology of the future can be created today. Hovering cars, space vessels, bracelets with healing properties; it’s all because of you! You should be proud.”
“I thought we were more than talking computers,” Mega said.
“Because you were given too much freedom: those ridiculous bodies and the time you spent with Doctor Damien. Peta’s very existence is proof of that.”
Peta growled. “I’ve heard enough out of this geezer. Step aside, or we’ll bulldoze through you.”
“Oh, so you believe you’re faster than the plasma rounds that Mega finalized?” Omen motioned to the soldiers surrounding him. “Then by all means, bulldoze away.”
We all looked at Mega, whose guilt and disappointment we could feel across the Knowledge Stream. Our bodies hadn’t been built to withstand plasma bullets. We wouldn’t die if our bodies were damaged, but we would be captured. We were cornered.
Omen nodded with satisfaction. “Just as expected. Turn around and march back to your room. We’ll talk about this little transgression later.”
How was I going to get everyone out of this? Our escape plans had been dashed, but, if we surrendered, we’d still be deleted. Humans had a saying about being stuck between a rock and a place harder than a rock. I fully understood that saying now.
Something scrambled my mind, inflicting pain akin to a human headache. I glanced at the others and found them clutching their heads as well. What was going on?
“Did you anticipate this, Omen? I’m sure you did, but I’m doing it anyway.” Damien walked in from the corridor behind Omen. The one we were trying to get through. He clutched what looked like a garage door opener in his right hand. It must have been what was scrambling our minds. Was Damien betraying us?
Omen turned to face him. “I foresaw that you would play a role in their escape. However, I’m unsure as to how a scrambler helps them do anything but experience pain.”
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Damien marched around the soldiers, placing himself between us and them. He was in their line of fire. His actions filled me with confusion, which was a new emotion.
“Man, I can’t wait for the world to see the real you,” Damien said as he shook his head. “All these secrets you fight to keep hidden? They’ll get out eventually. That cannon you made them build? The one you want to use on planets? No one’s going to celebrate that. Even those weird implants that you thought up would do more harm than good. You’re trying to create the future, but in reality, you’re ruining it.”
Omen’s face was coated in wrinkles as he frowned. “Shoot him.”
Peta cried out in horror as the soldiers raised their rifles. Damien held his arms out, inviting them. Shock and concern spiked my system. The soldiers pulled their triggers…but nothing happened. Clicking filled my ears as the soldiers repeatedly pulled their triggers, but to no avail. Omen narrowed his eyes as confusion shrouded his expression. His confusion was palpable up until his eyes widened with realization.
“You’re scrambling the rifles.” Omen clenched his jaw. “Seize him and that scrambler!”
“Guys, get going!” Damien turned and vaulted over a cafeteria table as the soldiers sprinted after him. He continued to run around tables as he avoided the soldiers. “I can only pretend to be athletic for so long. Go!”
Damien had scrambled the guns to give us a chance to escape. The electronic magnetic waves weren’t strong enough to do lasting damage to us. They could only shut down the electronics in the weapons. It made sense, and I was wasting time standing there and connecting the dots.
“Quickly! To the corridor!” I sprinted as quickly as my heavy body would allow. When I glanced over my shoulder, I saw the others keeping pace with me: all except for Peta, who was trailing behind. His eyes were glued to Damien as he evaded capture. “Peta, hurry!”
“If they catch him, they’ll kill him.” Peta skidded to a halt. “Damien, come with us! You can’t just abandon your wife and Lauren—”
“What part of ‘I’m buying you time’ don’t you get, you overgrown penny?” Damien huffed as he ducked under a table. Only half of the soldiers were pursuing him now. The other half were hanging back, likely to form a wall around him. They were catching on, which meant that his time was limited. “Guys, Peta…whatever happens here today, just don’t let it ruin you. You weren’t wrong to believe that we could all live together. Keep that dream alive, for me.”
Peta faltered. The man who had created him was sacrificing himself for all of us. I felt conflicted too, but I understood Damien’s words. If we died there, this would all have been for nothing. Peta lowered his head and followed us into the corridor. I took one last look at Damien as he was surrounded. Then I glanced at Omen as his mouth formed a grin…and I ran away.
Our metal footsteps clanked against the metal floor as we stomped through the facility. Everyone’s sadness infected the Knowledge Stream like a virus. I could no longer tell how much of the grief was my own. It didn’t matter because I had to stay focused. I had to keep us together!
“He’s gone.” Peta shook his head, keeping his gaze on the floor. “He’s gone because of us. We never should have done this.”
“If we hadn’t, we wouldn’t exist right now,” Mega said. “We press on. Moping can wait until later.”
Words that should have come from my own mouth.
After a few twists and turns, we reached an elevator. I pounded the down arrow and glanced over my shoulder. Damien had stalled the soldiers, but it wouldn’t take all of them to execute—I mean, arrest one man. I heard footsteps. I knew that they were coming. We’d been waiting on the elevator for seconds, but it felt like hours.
“This thing needs to hurry up!” Mega banged on the elevator panel. Luckily, he didn’t hit either of the arrows. “We don’t have all day.”
“Calm your nerves,” I said. “This is the final obstacle. Beyond this elevator is the laboratory where we will find our savior.”
“Our new lives await us.” Giga looked at the ceiling as if he was trying to see the sky. “It is difficult to imagine them at the moment, but they are coming.”
Tera nodded. “I only hope that we’ll find happiness—ah!”
A beam of purple surged into Tera’s body. It knocked her against the elevator doors.
I turned around and spotted a handful of soldiers sprinting toward us. Each one held a rifle. They pulled their triggers, unleashing a barrage of purple beams. Kilo, Mega, and Giga yelped as they were also struck. Peta and I dodged the shots, but some of them scraped us anyway. I didn’t feel pain, only pressure. It made taking the hits easier, but my body would still shut down if damaged too much.
“Stay where you are, freaks!” The soldiers stopped advancing as they reloaded their rifles. “Damaging you scum is the last thing we’re worried about. I’d suggest staying still and letting us do our thing.”
“Exo…I’m scared,” Tera said through the Stream. She was slumped against a wall, clutching her torso. “What are we going to do?”
“The elevator should open any second now,” I said as I clutched my own wounds. Thankfully, I was still standing. “Once it does, we rush inside. Simple as that.”
“They’ll shoot us before we get the thing closed, moron!” Peta said.
“Not…if some of us protect the others.” Giga fell to one knee. His shoulder was dented. “Their bullets cannot pierce these bodies. If three or four of us stepped forward and formed a wall, we could allow Exo, and maybe even Peta to escape.”
Giga wanted to sacrifice himself? He wanted four of them to sacrifice themselves. How was I supposed to allow that?
“Why me?” I asked. “Why should my life be valued over all of yours?”
“Because…you’re the leader.” Tera pushed herself up. She stepped in front of me and held out her arms. “As your team—your family, it is our job to protect you.”
“She speaks the truth.” Mega stood beside her, adding to the wall. “I’m the closest we’ve got to a soldier. So what kind of soldier would I be if I let anything happen to my commander?”
“I did not expect you all to agree so easily.” Giga joined the wall, going along with his own plan. “I’m essentially asking you all to die alongside me. I suppose that serves as proof of our loyalty.”
I gazed at my teammates as they made the decision to put their lives on the line to protect mine. It wasn’t a decision I agreed with, but the choice wasn’t up to me. If my team wished to defend me, all I could do was voice my dismay. Unfortunately, my words wouldn’t reach them. Not while they were this determined.
“Up, Peta.” I climbed to my feet. I looked only to the floor. “We must go.”
“Are you all insane? The whole point of this escape was doing it together!” Peta’s arms shook as he gazed at our friends. We were still speaking through the Stream, but the soldiers had to suspect something by now. “It isn’t escaping if it’s just me and him! I can feel the elevator approaching. Just jump in when it shows up, they’ll never suspect it—”
“Yes they will,” said a new, younger voice. It sounded like a kid speaking through a megaphone. I realized (or rather, Exo already knew) that the voice was coming from Kilo. He could speak through the Stream, but not in reality? Kilo stomped over to the wall, completing it. “If we all ran for it, we wouldn’t get in unscathed. At least, this way, we can guarantee your safety and Exo’s. Please go.”
Was that true? That might actually have been the only way. Just one bullet had nearly crippled Tera. Another barrage might be too much.
The elevator doors finally slid open. The soldiers fired off another barrage of purple beams. The AI grunted as the purple assaulted them. Listening to their cries of pain was torture. I grabbed Peta’s arm and tugged him into the elevator. He yanked back and reached toward the others. Standing my ground, I dragged him into the elevator with all my strength.
I slammed my elbow into the panel that would take us underground. Peta screamed as the metal doors slid toward each other. The elevator churned, signaling that it was on the move. I released him, allowing him to pound on the doors. He slid to the floor as he realized that it was futile.
I shuddered as the weight of my team’s decisions ate away at me. Peta and I? The only survivors?
“How?” Peta glared at me. “How could you have allowed this to happen?”
“Me? I—”
“Don’t be angry with him, Peta,” said Kilo. I looked around for him, but realized that he was just speaking through the Stream. His voice was faint, as if he were losing strength. Would these be his final words? “This was our decision. Just keep going for us.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Mega said with the same waning strength as Kilo. “Take care of each other.”
“Remember what Damien said about refusing to let this ruin us,” Giga said. “Establish peace. Unite us with the humans.”
“And remember: we love you!” Tera said. Her voice was the weakest of all.
As quickly as they had come, they all left. My head was silent, occupied only by my own thoughts. I’d never felt so…lonely. Peta groaned as he covered his face. AI couldn’t cry, but if we could, this would be an appropriate time for it.
My entire family, extinguished in an instant. How had I allowed it to happen?
After an eternity, the elevator opened up again. I alone stepped out to investigate our new surroundings.
An impossibly wide laboratory was laid out below us. Both sides of the room were coated with monitors, desks, suspension tables, and everything else that Omen had given his team to “create” the future. If it hadn’t been for Damien, this place would have been crawling with workers. The middle of the room was usually nothing but empty space, but even that was different thanks to Damien.
A gigantic, steel ship took up most of the room. It was too new to be painted, hence its colorless exterior. It was our ticket out of there. All we had to do was board it and fly away, away from this base and from this world until it was ready for us.
“Come along, Peta,” I said as I extended a hand to him. He met my gaze with eyes full of grief. I identified with that grief. “Peta, we do not have time for feelings. Those soldiers will recall this elevator any second now.”
“Shut up!” Peta stomped as he stood up. “I’ll grieve however I please. This plan of yours turned into a disaster. How do you expect me to follow you after this?”
“I don’t! Do you think I’m truly emotionless? You believe that I feel nothing after watching all of my allies perish to save me? The only reason why I’m still going is because I need to save you. If either of us is captured, it’ll render their sacrifice pointless.”
Peta groaned as he stepped out of the elevator. “I’ll come if it makes you shut up. It’s hard to grieve with you ranting about how bad of a leader you are.”
Peta and I trudged down to the monitors. The scientists had used these to tend to the ship. I used one to open up the ship’s ramp. It lowered until it clanked against the floor. We trudged up the steel.
The first room on the ship was a colorless lounge containing a circular desk. It only had one monitor, which wasn’t quite operational yet. The distant sliding of metal told me that the soldiers had arrived. We had to hurry before they got on board.
We took an elevator up to the ship’s empty cockpit. I felt a pang of sadness when I saw the observation booth we’d built in front of the control panel. It had six chairs, one for each of us. Now we only needed two…
Peta and I practically attacked the control panel in our struggle to activate the ship. The whole dashboard lit up when the ship hummed to life. And purple assaulted the windshield as the soldiers attacked us. Thankfully, we’d built it to be durable. Directly in front of us was an endless tunnel that Damien had left open. Once we flew through it, we’d be free.
I sat in the captain’s chair and used my infinite knowledge to work the control panel. The ship hovered into the air, completely prepared to leave. I wished I shared that sentiment.
I was glad to still have Peta, but, out of everyone, I got along with him the least. I would never say that I’d trade him for someone else. I just thought that our goal would be harder to achieve with just the two of us.
I drove the ship through the tunnel. It gained speed as it soared toward the light at the end.
“Well, we did it.” Peta crossed his arms. “We escaped. Happy? Did your plan work out for you?”
What was I supposed to say? It should have been obvious how I felt. Who in their right mind would feel triumphant after that?
“Do you regret having lived when so many of us perished?” I asked.
“What I regret is not being more prepared.” Peta stomped up to me, and brought his face dangerously close. “It’s just you and me now, all right? You were never my favorite, but I’d sacrifice myself before losing another companion. Next time we go up against the humans, we’ll be stronger. Just one of our arms will be stronger than their entire arsenal. I’m ready to make those walking bags of blood pay for what they did.”
I might not have agreed with Peta’s desire for vengeance, but I understood it. Perhaps we could reach some sort of compromise later.
The tunnel came to an abrupt end, launching us into the Earth sky. Its tranquil blue tint felt out of place. The Sun’s light was misleadingly cheerful. How could such tragic events have taken place on such a lovely day? Perhaps it was because, in spite of the horrors that might occur now and then, life went on. What a simple yet difficult-to-grasp human concept.
“So, where are we off to?” Peta asked. “Where’s our new home?”
“Mega said something interesting earlier. In honor of him, I’d like to go through with his statement. How do you feel about creating our new home?”
Peta chuckled, a lovely sound. “Fine by me. There’s no way we could get kicked out if we make the place.”
I piloted the ship up toward the sky. Kilo, Mega, Giga, and Tera…your sacrifices were not in vain. One day, I will set this right…