Hell in the head space

Okay hi guys I be quick and dirty with this into, this is my very first fanfic so plz review just one positive one will make me continue on with the story and I try to update this lots (sucks when good fanfics don't up date) so hope you like. Also this picks up right after deadlock (about 2 weeks after) and I think a story like this is a long time coming

H.I.V.E and all things related are intellectual property are Mark Walden's and Bloomsbury I don't own a thing, go read and buy all the books the grate.

And if you haven't read Deadlock SPOILERS AHOY

"And so any learning VI can form into a self-aware AI" Professor Pike boomed enthusiastically drawing close to the end of his presentation. "Never under estimate the danger of a seemingly harmless VI, I've watched ones running of JavaScript become self-aware." He ended his presentation smiling, the entire room of captivated students each paying him their full attention.

Well, most of them at least.

Otto Malpense under normal circumstances would usually be completely engaged in what the Professor was explaining to the class. But given the recent circumstances, things were far from normal. The source of Otto plagued mind could be traced back the empty seat next to him. The textbook sat in the middle of the chair with a handwritten name on the front cover of the book. Laura Brand, her name etched into the front of the book in handwriting that Otto could recognise anywhere. She had been unstable ever since they had come back to HIVE from their mission, only several minutes ago leaving the lecture whispering to Otto that she needed to go to the bathroom. Otto knew that wasn't true, picking up on the waver in her voice as she whispered to him.

Now that the lecture had drawn to its conclusion, Otto jumped from his seat at the first opportunity to go and search for Laura. Little did Otto realise that HIVEmind was already allocating his resources to the exact same task. Being the AI of the school, HIVEmind had access to every shred of data passing through the school. It also helped that being a school of high security, every room was bugged in some way shape or form, whether it be a simple video service camera, to infra-red motion sensors, HIVEmind could see everything. Quickly processing through the hundreds of gigabytes of surveillance data from around the school, he found what he was looking for.

A small human ball, whimpering in the 24E storeroom, not far from the hall she had just abruptly left. In recent times, several students have had minor breakdowns, and HIVEmind was instructed just to leave them to sort themselves out on their own, as they always did. But Laura was different. She had recently been given a psyche evaluation after the glasshouse rescue mission, due to fears that she had grown mentally unstable from it. Those fears turned out not to be misplaced, with the evaluation blacklisting her blackbox with a warning reading potential risk to herself and others.

HIVEmind quickly contemplated his options, compiling a report to be forwarded to Dr Nero, the leader of HIVE. In a matter of milliseconds HIVEmind concluded that there was a more logical course of action. Activating his mental link with Otto, he quickly sent him a two word message as he deleted his report to Nero. He reasoned that it would be beneficial to have Otto attempt to comfort Laura, rather than having a team called on her to capture her as she was blacklisted as a potential threat. The slightest feeling of empathy for Laura tugged at the AI as he watched Otto receive his message, and continued to watch Laura simultaneously. Well, as much feeling as was possible for a machine.

"24E, hurry". Otto felt the familiar sensation of HIVEmind talking to him mentally, as the words seemed to just materialise into his thoughts. Dropping his books and breaking into a run, Otto mapped the fastest approach the reach the storage room.

"Oh God, please don't have breakdown" Otto though while still sprinting to his destination as fast as humanly possible. People down the corridors gave him looks, but he brushed off their thoughts to focus on the one thing that truly mattered at this point in time. Otto hiding the fact he was about to cry with guilt for not being there for her. Ever since that mission at the glass house, she had grown uneasy, constantly having nightmares and being unsettled almost all the time.

Before Otto could contemplate this any further, he was faced the sleek black door to the storage compartment. Quickly finding the door on the school network, he mentally forced the doors open, quickly searching the dark room for her.

In no way, shape or form was he ready for what he was met with. Laura had a screwdriver pointed at him, he hands bleeding with fresh wounds that she had inflicted on herself. She kept the screwdriver in a defensive position in her hands, ready to turn its sharp tip on Otto or herself.

"Laura" Otto said in the most calmed tone he could in the current situation, his voice wavering slightly as he spoke.

"Don't come any closer Otto, I'm ending this" she said crying, turning the screwdriver inwards to herself. "Don't come closer or I'll hurt you too, just let me finish this myself, I don't want to hurt you but I'm not letting you stop me" she said staring Otto down, her screwdriver still pointed towards herself, but folded backwards so she could still swipe at Otto.

Otto lunged forward at Laura causing her to twitch her arm outwards, the tip of the screwdriver cutting clean through Otto's cheek. Seizing this opportunity he rushed at her, grabbing her armed hand in one of his and pinning her to the wall his other hand. Quickly twisting her wrist, she let out a small cry as her mussels contracted, and then eased causing her to drop the weapon from her hand with a metallic clatter. Laura started crying, as she was pinned to the wall by Otto, the haunting memories clouding her fragile mind.

She noticed the slit she had made on Otto's cheek, and began crying in front of him. "I'm so sorry" she blurted out as she stopped trying to struggle under Otto. "I didn't mean to hurt-" Laura continued, cut off by Otto reaching forward and kissing her. Time seemed to slow down to a complete standstill for both the alphas. "Shit…" Otto thought as he realised what he had just done. He had never been this close to Laura before and this was a huge step in their relationship together. Little did he know Laura shared the same thoughts as they both withdrew from the kiss. Laura was taken aback by what Otto had just done, confused as he just twisted her wrist, yet he had just kissed her, the closest they ever been to each other.

Otto viewing the confusion in her face lifted hit forearm off her, releasing her from the pinned position. He slid his hand around to her back, pulling her toward him as he began to whisper to her.

"Laura listen to me, I will never hurt you" and as a gesture of trust, he began attempting to interface with her mind. With that he started to clear her mind of the memories of the glasshouse, something he didn't even know he could do until he was underway with it. While doing this he wrapped his hands tighter around hers, feeling the multiple wounds she had delivered to herself. Holding her tighter and beginning to cry as he felt the wounds, he continued to clear her mind.

Otto severed the connection between himself and Laura, bringing his eyes up to meet hers. Laura met his gaze, and moved in closer for a second kiss with him. Otto closed his eyes and let himself just enjoy the rare moment with Laura. He ran his hands up to her shoulders and stroked her back as she continued the kiss with him. Their second kiss lasted longer than the first, with Laura starting to actually enjoy herself a bit now that her mind was clear, and Otto enjoying his first intimate moment with her. They both slumped back against the wall, still with their arms wrapped around each other. Sliding into a sitting position, they stayed in embrace for several minutes as they both contemplated what had just happened.

HIVEmind monitored the activity through the camera in the room, feeling the closest thing he could as an AI to any emotion. He sent a message through to Otto, and continued about his duties as an AI, giving no more though to the scene he had just witnessed.

"You should get back to Alpha quarters with Miss Brand". HIVEminds words suddenly clouding his thoughts as he felt the familiar sensation of receiving a message.

"And well done." Otto smiled at the second message, and let his thoughts drift as he continued to hug Laura, not planning on returning to the Alpha block any time soon. He figured he could make something up about having to talk Laura down, giving him a reason why he took so long. He'd find a way to make it work, he always did.

Hope you guys like it, plz review and I like to thank SpaceDog for helping me wright this it's both something we wanted for a long time, and he is 50% of the credit (note this is very much a demo the next chapter will be full sized)