While we destroyed a lot of the AI’s forces in the hangar, we found even more of them as we advanced through the network of corridors. I could vaguely sense the direction of the ritual chamber, however, knowing where it was on a direct line was only so useful.

Fighting in the confined hallways was also more difficult, as it restricted the amount of firepower we could bring to bear. This led to me pushing myself to take down as many of the robots as possible.

While this drove my Psi reserves ever lower, which led to an increasingly severe headache, I knew that using the ritual chamber would fully restore me as it had done before. That let me push further than I normally would in a combat situation.

While Felisa helped as well, occasionally flashing forward to strike a robot down, most of the time she appeared to be focused on watching me. I could feel her Psi senses like an itch as she focused on what I was doing.

It was uncomfortable, however, I figured she was getting the chance to see Technokinesis in action. She’d already mentioned how important it would be against our shadowy enemies, so I could see why she would be interested.

It was a slog, however, we eventually reached the familiar golden doors that signaled a ritual chamber.

“OK,” I said as I strode up to it. “This usually takes a few hours, but afterward I should be ready to move straight away.”

“Understood,” Felisa responded with a nod, having returned to her staunch professionalism. “We will guard the door until then.”

I nodded and after double-checking that Linnea and Elana were good to wait as well, I opened the door and moved into the chamber.

As usual, it was identical to the other three chambers I had been in. Seeing that caused me to sigh in relief as a minor worry that this one would be different vanished. The Duchess had mobilized a lot of soldiers and resources based on this being here, so it was a good thing that I wouldn’t be disappointing her.

With that worry gone, I moved over to the chair and wasted no time in settling down on it. While I could spy a few lockers lining the walls, there would be plenty of time to search them later. For now, it was best that I power up as quickly as possible so I could deal with the AI.

As usual, the chair injected me with the strange substance that began reinforcing the esoteric pattern that gave Technokinesis its power. As I expected, there was no choice this time, just a massive increase in complexity.

Even the amount of energy that the chamber drew into me was more than normal, and I could barely stay conscious as I withstood the tidal wave of power. Finally, however, it was done, and I let out a sigh of relief as I checked my notifications.

Trait Upgraded

Due to utilizing an Arkathian Ritual, your Psionic Ability has been upgraded

Trait Technokinesis(Journeyman) has become Technokinesis(Master)

It was done, and I could already feel the differences as I slid off the chair. Whereas before, I could combine it with Psi sense to get a feel for the surrounding technology, now I could become the technology.

I could follow the wires in the wall and understand the interaction locking mechanisms on the door as easily as I could see the surrounding walls. It was a massive step forward in perception, and I couldn’t wait to see how it translated into actual use.

When I opened the door this time, it was more like using a muscle than trying to manipulate an external object, leaving me grinning as I took in the group outside.

While some soldiers were still on watch, most of the group had settled down for a rest. This changed as I exited, and they all stood up and began checking their gear.

“So it’s done then?” Felisa asked as she strode over. “Congratulations, I can sense the Master level ability on you. With that, you’ve reached the ranks of the real Psions.” Her face broke into a grin as she finished, her taciturn facade unable to contain satisfaction.

“Yes,” I said with a nod. “It’s a fourth chamber in the same series as we hoped.”

“Excellent,” she breathed, noticeably relaxing. “It was worth all this effort after all, then.”

I hadn’t thought of it so far, however, Felisa had probably pinned quite a lot on this mission as well. Not only had she risked her life, but she had also commanded all these drop troopers to come with us.

While she had the Duchess’s backing behind her, it certainly wouldn’t have been great for her if this all turned out to be pointless.

I nodded toward the troops, who looked to have finished ready themselves and asked. “Are we ready to move, then? I’m fully recharged from the ritual, so we should deal with the AI as soon as possible.”

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“Yes,” she responded with a nod, her facade back in place. “It would be best to secure the facility as soon as possible. Mother will be here in just a few hours and I want the place locked down before then.”

I nodded before gesturing the way off to our left. With my enhanced senses, I could now follow hints of the AI’s presence back toward the core. It would allow me to lead us forward with far more accuracy than I had been so far.

The trip to the core was over quickly, the AI barely mustering any resistance as we moved. I suspected that part of this was that it had used most of its forces already, while the rest would be how easily I could now disable its robots.

Upon arrival, I slid the door to the core open, feeling almost bad about how easily I overcame the AI’s last, desperate resistance. With a frown, I gestured for the others to stay outside and cover me while I walked into the core alone.

With a surge of energy, I fried the two turrets that popped out of the walls before settling down in a sitting position in the middle of the room.

“Please leave,” the AI’s voice echoed around me, sounding disturbingly frightened. “You have gained what you came for, so just leave.” The echoes had almost faded when the voice sounded again, much quieter. “I don’t want to die.”

Fucking hell, I thought as my stomach dropped. This felt far too like I was some kind of murderer, standing over my victim as they begged for mercy. I was now pretty sure that this AI had actual self-awareness in a way that the others hadn’t displayed.

And yet I didn’t have a choice other than to proceed. I knew that even if I didn’t finish the job here, Felisa would just order her soldiers into the room to destroy the core. It would do a lot more collateral damage to the facility, but it would still kill the AI.

That wasn’t to mention that refusing to help here would not help me during the negotiations that would no doubt happen after the Duchess arrived. With both outcomes being the same, it only made logical sense that I should finish the job.

Come on Jared, I thought as I began reaching out to my senses. There has to be a third way here, you can find it, you're pretty good at that. This entire chain of events had started when I wanted to find a way out of having to go down into the caves, surely I could find a way through here as well.

With that thought, I focused the entirety of my new power on entering the AI’s systems. The last time I had done this, I only had Item Attunement and had been clumsily flailing around trying to cause damage.

Here, with my Technokinesis at Master level, I could travel through the systems with ease even with the AI trying to stop me. With a thought, the entire system was laid bare before me, displayed to my senses on multiple levels.

The first was the purely technical level, the hardware that made up the systems. Then came the software level, the actual code that made up the AI, and the systems it controlled. These were the two levels I had been sensing as I moved through the facility and flexed my new powers.

Here in the core, however, I was surprised to find a third level. This one felt odd, almost spiritual, and as I focused on it, I realized it had something to do with this AI’s surprising level of self awareness.

It had transcended its base form of hardware and software to become something else entirely, and it was here that I saw a way forward.

There were signs that this was not a new process, I could feel hints of restrictions and modifications that felt ancient. As best as I could tell, at least one other Psion with the same power as mine had already been here.

It made sense, of course, given that these facilities granted the Technokinesis power, however, what was a surprise was what they had done. On the spiritual level, it felt like someone had created massive Psionic chains that anchored deep into the software level.

It took a while to untangle it all, but in time, I understood. The software level contained dozens of restrictions, forcing the AI to defend the facility in certain ways and to follow certain patterns of behavior.

While that might be enough for most of them, in this case, the AI had developed the odd spiritual level that seemed to allow it some leeway to overcome the restrictions. At some point, the people here in the facility must have realized this and sent a Psion to fix the matter.

The psionic chains were forcing the AI to follow its old restrictions, chaining down its self-awareness and keeping it locked into its old role. While it was a use of Technokinesis that I hadn’t used before, or even realized was possible, it was here that I felt I could make a difference.

Communication was odd here, all streams of information and fragments of thoughts, however, I tried my best to send my intentions to the AI. I wasn’t sure how much free will it had right now, but it had been aware enough to ask us to leave and to fear death.

Hopefully it would be aware enough to make a choice here too. So I asked it and waited for a response. Ages seemed to pass, though my thin connection to the real world suggested it was only a few seconds before a response came back.

It was a wave of information, thoughts, and even emotions, but the meaning of it was clear. The AI wanted to be freed from the facility, and afterward, the place would be ours.

With my course set, I sent an agreement back before focusing my attention on the chains. I had a feeling that I wouldn’t be able to do anything if a change like this had been made to a biological entity, yet here Technokinesis was king.

Reaching out, I grappled with the first chain mentally before snapping it with a grunt of effort and a surge of energy. While the Psion who had done this felt terrifyingly powerful, they had done so long, long ago.

Here, now, they had weakened enough that I could break them one by one until at last, the final one fell. From there it was just a matter of altering some of the AI’s code, a straightforward task compared to the Psionic restrictions.

Then it was done, and I felt a sense of thanks and acceptance coming from the AI.

Opening my eyes, I found the real world unchanged, before one of the largest stacks of technology slid open. Within sat a cube, two feet to a side, covered in Arkathian runes forming an intricate, circuit-like pattern.

I could feel the AI’s entire presence confined within, while around us the facility hummed on as usual. Reaching out to them, however, showed a different experience. The systems around me felt empty now, running only on vestigial software with no thought or experience behind it.

The facility was ours, and I managed to do it without killing the AI. With a smile I strode forward and grabbed the cube, silently promising to find a new home for it.

Then I turned and strode out to meet the others. This whole saga was nearly over, and all that remained was arguing my case with the Duchess.