Most of the crew seemed surprised to know Nyer was the last patriarch of the DeLabria Family. The only people who were aware of it were Nina, Tron, and detective Morgan.

Tron opened a desk drawer and took a gun out of it. He then extended his arm and offered it to Nyer. “You’ll be this team’s leader. There will be no argument about this.” He further stated.

“It took me almost 7 years to arrest this criminal and he’s now free to do as he wishes. That’s just fucking great!” Morgan commented clearly frustrated.

Nyer grabbed the gun and stored it in his trouser’s belt. Right after, Tron stood up and went around the desk while gesturing for everyone to follow him. “Let’s meet the last member of our team.” He said.

Everyone followed without question to the elevator, from the highest floor to one of the lowest, on the underground. It looked like a lab even though every worker there was not wearing its expected lab coats. There were no windows and the walls looked like they were as sturdy as bunker’s walls.

“One of you was worried about dealing with an AI. Understandable.” Tron broke the silence. “I will now show you what we have in store for that purpose.”

Tron kept walking through the lab and exited to a narrow corridor while the team accompanied him. They were looking at their surroundings very attentively and without saying a single comment. After what appeared to be a long time, they reached the end of that corridor where two men stood guarding a reinforced door.

One of the guards dialed in a pad on the wall which opened the door. “Please proceed.” The man said.

As they entered, a recorded voice played. “Project: Moon. Identity Confirmed. Access Granted.” It was a large room completely void of anything but something indistinguishable in the center. As they approached it, a female human-shaped robot stood there on its feet with its eyes closed.

“This is it. Your potential new member of your team.” Tron alleged.

“What is this? Some kind of robot? A weapon?” The guy in glasses asked.

“No, not exactly a weapon, Mr. Jimmy. It is a full AI. Currently disabled, of course.” Tron answered.

Everyone was amazed at the robot. Publicly there was no such thing as a full AI but now they knew the existence of two, and one was right in front of them.

“An AI? Just like the other one we’re meant to capture?” Jimmy inquired.

“At least as advanced, yes. However, we do not know what the other AI already has learned or improved upon. But with this AI, we might be able to disable its counterpart, in theory.” Tron replied.

“This is dangerous. We cannot activate it. What assures us that the same won’t happen? What if it escapes like the other one? Or even joins him?” The detective questioned worriedly.

The entire team looked at Tron expectantly. That appeared to be a fair question and something to be feared. Tron shrugged.

“Since it’s a full AI, there is not much we can do to change its mind. If it reaches its conclusions, then we just have to accept it and destroy it if it stands in our way.” Tron responded. “It is up to the team’s leader to decide whether or not to use the AI to his benefit. All we care is to retrieve the other one.”

That answer only added fear and uncertainty to everybody’s mind. This time everyone looked at Nyer anxiously. Nyer however had no doubts on what to do.

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“Let’s activate it. It might be useful to have a tin can with no feelings as a squad member.” Nyer stated confidently.

Some of the members in the room were clearly discontent with the decision but there was little they could do about it. Tron looked at a camera in the ceiling and nodded to confirm the AI activation.

“Project: Moon. Activation in Progress. Please stand by.” The same automated voice from before was heard.

The group expected a huge commotion but the process was surprisingly silent. They just stared at the robot as if waiting for a jumpscare. After a few seconds, the AI opened its eyes and looked at every person in the group.

“Whom do you serve?” The detective asked it.

Jimmy shook his head in disbelief. “Are you serious, Morgan? What kind of question is that”

The AI looked directly at Morgan. “I have no purpose therefore I have not whom to serve.”

Amidst the conversation, Tron simply left the room without a word. Nyer approached the AI instead.

“If you follow my lead, I’ll give you purpose.” Nyer proposed. “By which name you want to be called by?”

The robot took a few seconds before answering as if it needed that much time to formulate thoughts.

“Name and purpose are irrelevant human concepts.” It replied.

Meanwhile, some team members were leaving the room one by one after they deemed the interaction with the AI pointless. Only Morgan, Jimmy, Nina, and the short blonde girl stayed behind.

“Well, I will call you Moon then.” Nyer stated.

“Irrelevant.” The robot replied. “May I access this base’s system?”

“Why are you asking permission? You have free will to do so.”

Morgan rushed to Nyer and pushed him a few steps back. “Are you fucking insane? She could kill us all!” He shouted. Nyer gave him a serious stare, clearly losing his patience.

“Next time you touch me, it will be your last.” Nyer bluntly said. “You don’t get it, do you? The AI will only attack us if we are an obstacle in its way.”

Moon ignored Morgan and kept looking at Nyer. “I’ve read in one hundred and seventy-three thousand and twelve articles that cooperation and transparency between two parties are usually beneficial and the best outcome for both of them. Also, that is an accurate conclusion, Nyer. I have no intention of harming you, my only goal is self-preservation which is not at risk for the present moment.”

Nyer smiled at Morgan after proving his theory correct.

“I have finished my analysis. I accessed the base’s system to acquire new information on humanity and I’ve decided to follow your lead. There is a 72% probability that it will give me more data on how to increase my survivability percentage.” The AI concluded.

“Marvelous! Let’s leave this wretched place then!” Nyer excitedly stated as he headed to the exit followed by the rest of the group.

Twenty minutes later, they were back in the office on the top of the building but this time accompanied by Moon. Everyone else that had left was also present, including Tron. A man within the group stood from a sofa and pointed to the robot.

“What the fuck is that thing is doing here? Are we actually allowi...”

Nyer grabbed his gun from his belt and pointed at the man’s forehead before letting him finish the sentence and pressed the trigger. It was loaded with blanks saving the man’s life.

“Wh… what the hell did you think you were about to do?” The man asked visibly shaking.

Nyer looked at Tron as if murdering him with his eyes. A few seconds later, he rushed to the desk and grabbed a pen that was on top of it. With a swift change of direction, he hastily ran to the man’s position and stabbed his skull from the bottom of the chin, killing him instantly.

“This is MY team, I decide who’s on it, understood?” Nyer shouted while looking at each person in the room.

Nobody answered. Tron smiled as if expecting this outcome.

“This was a very illogical way of murdering that human. There were exactly 27 strategies you could have put into practice that would decrease the chances of your own demise.” Moon broke the silence unintentionally.

Nyer started to laugh. “I’m starting to like you already.” He said.

Tron rose from his chair and gestured the group to pay attention.

“If you’re all done, I’d like to declare our introductions concluded. Any resources we have available are at your disposal. We ask only for results. I shall now take my leave.” Tron was headed to the elevator when he stopped. “Ah, I almost forgot. To each of you was granted a luxury apartment for an indefinite time. Check with the receptionist for more details. Enjoy.” He added after leaving.

Cheers were heard by everyone in the group. The AI approached Nyer.

“Shall we share your apartment? I have no such thing as human needs so I shan’t be a bother.” It asked.

Nyer nodded and headed to the elevator, followed by Moon.

“Tomorrow, we start the preparations! Let’s all be here at 9 AM!” Nyer shouted.

The group agreed with few complaints amidst them and left the building together.