Heart of Gazelle and Humanity

by The Imperator 2 you

With all hope lost Humanity places its final hope in the souls of those frozen in time. While excavating a tunnel, a team of Mammals going about their business discovers a relic of millennia past, and an ancient species thought mythical and legend. Yet of all eggs discovered only 1 survives. Can Humanity be redeemed for the sins of its past, in the future it cannot control?

25. Chapter 23

These are the darkest clouds, that have surrounded me…

Now I find myself alone, caught in a cage…

There is no flower I can find in here, not withering or pale to me…

Everyone with a friendly face, seems to hide some secret inside…

.

*Jeremy's Personal Log 298*

*I don't know what to think anymore, in my thoughts I want to think that everything done was for the greater good… but that blissful thought just doesn't work anymore, not after today.*

*There are so many questions that I have answered, but now even more are raised. Why were only 1000 picked from each facility… why were we schooled and trained the way we were… why did we never receive any combat training even if for self-defense… and why were the drones so heavily armed when we weren't expected to fight? Why did they hide these two drones with such powerful AI from us, for us to 'find' when they were needed… why weren't any of us told about them?*

*So many questions, so many lies… was anything we were told the truth, why… why…*

*Why?*

Chapter 23 – Caging the Angel

(Multi PoV)

[Phoenix Drone… AI Celios… heeds the call of the last of mankind!] The metallic bird declared in a proud and defiant tone. [All enemies that threaten Humanity's survival, will be DESTROYED!]

It spread its wings proudly and bent lower to stare at him with both of its orange optics glowingly brightly. Its massive profile making its head seem smaller, but the size of its head was easily twice his entire body's.

[I hear your call… Jeremy Wilheart of Eden Facility 17, last survivor of the species and await your orders!] It stated. [Who are your enemies that must be eliminated, who is it that threatens your survival?]

All he could do was breathe in fear as he, Judy, Nick and Gazelle stood before the drone. He was deeply regretting awakening this drone, thinking the AI was similar to Aelita's and the drone was one of peace solely based on that first schematic he found lying near the DRAGON drone husks. 'Why didn't I think twice, why did I look before I leapt… what did I just awaken?'

The silence continued as he tried to think of his next words, not knowing how to tell a machine built purely for war that there was no war for it to fight.

[Why do you remain silent… tell me who it is that threatens your life, the survival of your species?] It asked again. [Give me an order, direct me, tell me what it is you wish eliminated?]

He gulped quietly as he stepped forward as bravely as he could, knowing even at the worst, the drone would 'not' harm him. Despite being Category 10, it was programmed, like Aelita, with the Human Protection Protocols. It would never harm him even if he aimed a gun and shot it, simply because he was the last human.

"Celios… there is no enemy for you to fight." He said as simply as he could. "You have been awoken… by accident. Your main purpose isn't required of you in this day and age."

[Accident…] It said in confusion. [You have awoken me from sleep mode, not to fight for you?]

"I'm saying there's nothing for you to fight!" He clarified. "There is no enemy you need to seek out, my survival is not threatened."

Celios glanced at him with one optic, before they changed from orange to a lighter shade of it, almost pink. [Then why… why have you awoken me?] It asked. [If you believed there are no enemies to fight, if there are no battles to fight… why did you not let me stay dormant until I was needed? I do not understand…]

"I woke you up because I thought you would be similar to Aelita and Alexander… and that your drone design was a peaceful design." He replied honestly.

[You are mistaken, this body 'was' created for peace, but it was repurposed when your survival became paramount.]

"Wait, repurposed, what are you talking about? Why would the others who stayed behind build and redesign a new drone line in secret, why wasn't I or any others informed about it?" He asked suddenly. "Why wasn't I or any cryologist informed, or even a message left behind talking about you and Alexander? What happened that required you two to be constructed?"

It looked down at him as if gauging his questions before determining a response, then its optics changed to the original orange color. [It was necessary to ensure your survival…] It stated simply. [With the conclusion of the 'Ironic War', only one Eden Facility remained standing and functioning under normal parameters. With the Cryosleep Solution already in action, there was not enough food for the remaining survivors to last, but with only a potential population of 1000, the chances of your species surviving and recovering were all but zero… so those few who survived in the other facilities that escaped destruction used what was left to give you the best hope of survival!] Its optics turned off momentarily before they turned on but with a green color to them. [Accessing record file 2-11b-LP-4.]

A holographic projection appeared as lights appeared from parts of it's wings, and before them a woman who looked to be in her early forties and wearing patchwork clothes belonging to Eden Facility 2 appeared before them.

{This is record file… ugh… what was it again…?} The woman asked in an exhausted tone while she held her head. {I… I can't even… think straight anymore… it's getting harder and harder to… think properly. Don't even remember my own name… who 'was' I… Dochas yes… I 'was' Dochas… an AI engineer of Eden Facility 2.}

She sighed in tiredness before she looked up again.

{I leave this recording while I'm 'still' human, still sane… still have a mind to think coherently with and have the energy to give a damn about anything else anymore.} She nearly cried before coughing. {I leave this recording to whoever accesses this new design we left behind, to at least explain a 'little' about why it was never revealed to you… and that reason is frankly… we hope you don't 'need' to find them.}

{We developed two Category 10 AI, alongside the third being developed by Julian Wilheart… these three AI are designed to help ensure our species have the best chance of survival.} She said in a tired tone. {Each was given a designation… the first completed was known as Alexander developed by Facility 9, what's left of it anyway… designated the Shield of Humanity. It was given an overall directive to defend humanity's survival against whatever threat arose by any means available to it… to this end it was given a leftover SCORPIO class drone with all of its weapons intact.}

{The second developed by… yours truly of facility 2… is Celios the 'Sword of Humanity', and it was given the overall directive to seek out whatever threatens humanity's survival and eliminate it, even if… should the worst come to pass… the threat are humans. To that end, facility 17 is redesigning a new drone line to give to Celios to use…}

There was a pause as her body wavered slightly, as if leaning over and about to fall over before she rectified herself. {The final is Aelita, the Guide of Humanity, given the complete historical records, cultural records, scientific records… and whatever the fuck else that man can shove into her AI to use. Included is something he calls the 'Wisdom of Humanity, an exhaustingly extensive collection of hypothetical, philosophical, ethical and moral questions and answers designed to answer any potential moral dilemma facing those left behind, to help make sure they don't do something that will repeat the events of the past… supposedly in order to make this possible she is being given a small holosphere to use instead of a drone body… dunno why but that's not my job.}

{We left this, so that you would have the best chances to survive… you are our last hope of survival… good luck… because it sure hasn't helped me any here…}

With that the hologram ended.

[Of the three of us, only Aelita was meant to be known, Alexander and myself were meant only to be called upon if your need was dire… but with Alexander now gone only 'I' remain to serve you and destroy your enemies.] It stated coldly. [Now that I am online though, I can fulfill my directive.]

"Directive… but Celios I just told you there is no threat to my survival." Jeremy tried to say.

[You may not believe it so but the threat 'is' very much real, and as my directive stands, I must seek it out now and eliminate it!] It stated sternly.

"How do you know that?" Gazelle asked quickly, going to stand next to Jeremy as she stood before the massive machine. "You just got turned on, how could you know of a threat to Jeremy's life?"

It was honestly very terrifying seeing it, from the moment she first saw it unfurl itself she realized she'd made a mistake with encouraging Jeremy to turn it on. But just based on his initial findings it sounded like a peaceful machine, probably another Aelita but bigger.

[And by what reasoning do you have to question my logic?] It asked coldly. [You, who have twisted and manipulated the last of humanity to serve your own goals, Gazelle of Zootopia, 'Angel with Horns'?]

"Manipulated… but I haven't done anything like…" She started saying but was instantly interrupted.

[Who was it that approached Jeremy in his time of weakness, and manipulated his thoughts with her actions to convince him to live and let the knowledge that the day 'he' dies is the day his species goes extinct, every day for the rest of his life, a crueler fate to befall one has never been known.] Celios stated instantly. [Then to manipulate him further into relinquishing technology that rightfully belongs to his species and not yours, advancing your own needs faster than intended, solving your world's problems by using 'their' solutions? You have done 'nothing' but manipulate him!]

The drone's words pierced into her heart like a dagger, she'd never thought of what she had done that way. She'd just wanted to help Jeremy as best she could, trying to make his life better and inspire him. Was she 'really' doing that to him without her knowledge?

"But… I didn't… I just wanted to help…"

"Leave her alone Celios, Gazelle has done nothing but make my life feel better!" Jeremy intervened, stepping in front of her to look defiantly at the AI. "But by your own logic, how is there a threat to my life and how could you possibly know about it? Like she just said, you just got turned on."

[How can you 'not' see it Jeremy, the threat is plainly obvious.] It stated in a more 'polite' tone when addressing him. [Do you believe that the mere existence of this facility, with all the wonderous technology within would not attract the attention of those who would want it for their own ends? The facility defends itself but only because 'you' remain to command it. Without you the facility would soon fall into disrepair and be defenseless to those who would scavenge and ravage the accomplishments of your species. From the moment you were first discovered the threat that lingers over you has been attempting to weave its web around you, to wrest control of that which lies within from you.]

"Your just talking crazy talk." Judy called out loudly, getting the AI's attention now.

"Yea, this is about as believable as a conspiracy theory on the interweb." Nick agreed with his wife.

[Don't even dare to declare my logic a conspiracy, he who has spent his entire life living up to the expectations of his kind, instead of trying to defy them, Nick Wilde of Zootopia, police officer and con artist!] Celios declared. [Do you think a mere 'weasel' would attempt to steal technology from the facility, merely for personal profit out of greed? Let alone Aelita, keeper of the Wisdom of Humanity and its culture and history, and moral guide to the species! Even had he slipped away with Aelita, she could be located easily, and drones sent to recover her, with or without 'your' assistance. He would not have kept her for more than an hour, let alone long enough to sell her to the one who 'convinced him' to carry out the act!]

It then turned to look at Judy, who shrank from its massive profile.

[Do you truly believe me to be incompetent as a Category 10 AI? If so then you are just as naïve as you were on your first day of working for the ZPD, Judy Hopps who turned down the offer to become the 'face' of the ZPD! I am fully aware of the attempt on Jeremy's life, it was not coincidence that the technology he was giving would end the corruption and control your medical and fossil fuel industries have over your world, no more than it was coincidence that the day he was attacked the EMA was informing a lawyer representing a pharmaceutical company that she could not hand over the cures or vaccines to them!] It continued. [Had it not been for me, he would be dead… or worse!]

"You couldn't have helped him, you weren't even online at the time, that was nearly a month ago!" Judy stammered in fear, astonished that this drone knew so much about them all after being online for only a few minutes.

[Online no, but actively connected to Sentinel yes.] It replied. [It was 'I' who intervened in the stalemate taking place between the Human Protection Protocols and the Human Override Protocols plaguing the HCC Unit. I sent the order which overrode the orders directed by the Human Protection Protocols, which permitted the unit to break the siege on Solar Carriage One, without that order Jeremy would have been killed, or taken prisoner…]

[Much like how Alexander intervened when the previous Sentinel mistook you for a lethal threat, and so in turn used its limited influence of the facility and Sentinel to intervene and defend you!] It stated as it looked to Jeremy now. [Those responsible for the attempted break in, are also those responsible for attempting to have you eliminated. Without you, the facility falls under the ownership of those who would defile the history of humanity, and that is why I will eliminate them without hesitation. All your enemies no matter how small that threaten your survival will be exterminated without hesitation!]

At those words he realized just how big of a mistake he'd made in mistaking Celios' nature and capabilities. "You can't do that, if you do that, you'll destroy what little hope my species has of redemption!"

Its optics changed colors to show what looked like different meeting rooms of 'military' looking mammals in various uniforms and across different nations. All of them were talking and examining footage from when the drones intervened and faced off against the hostage takers, in particular they were examining the weapons systems the drones were using.

[They do not care about your species Jeremy, only your technology and what it can do for them!] It said calmly. [They want you only for as long as your technology can benefit their agendas, even now those in charge of military actions are attempting to find out how to replicate or acquire this weaponry for their own purposes. They know they cannot match your species power with their technology, so they are trying to obtain it however they can. I do not know precisely who is truly behind the threat to your life, but now 'all' of mammalkind is a potential threat… that I must 'eliminate' to ensure your survival!]

"And how would you accomplish that, by destroying the entire world, that will not save my life or ensure my survival, you'd only cause another apocalypse similar to what my species did to itself!" Jeremy shouted, trying to break the logic this drone was using to justify its actions.

[You would be safe here in the facility.] It replied instantly. [Eden Facility 17 along with all the other facilities were designed to survive such cataclysms, it will easily survive and shelter you… with the hydroponics bay online you can grow enough food to last you a life time, while you pursue whatever goal you must to save your species and rebuild them.]

"Your insane!" Gazelle said. "That's… that's no better than… throwing Jeremy into a cage and locking him up like… like… like some prized trophy!"

[He will be safe… away from those who would harm him… while 'I' eliminate the threats to his survival!] Celios countered. [The facility was designed to shelter, cater to, and ensure his species survival… that is why it has endured three hundred and fifty thousand years and kept him alive even to this day!]

"You can't do that to him, Jeremy deserves to live free and be happy. What your proposing is nothing short of cruel and unusual torture!" Judy said boldly, considering she was already smaller than Jeremy, Gazelle and even Nick, and they were all dwarfed by the drone.

"Yea bucko, he tried going alone here for a month with only one mammal to talk to, and drones and glowing girl Aelita here. He nearly went crazy, if you force him to do that, he'd probably commit suicide!" Nick called defiantly as well to the drone, seeing a psycho when he saw one.

[He would need only return into one of the Cryopods to keep himself alive, once back in cryosleep and with the facility locked down he will be safe from all harm.] Celios countered to both of them.

"But that… if I go back into one of those pods, I'd be dead upon waking up." Jeremy said in fear. "My Cryogenic Sclerosis will kill me upon waking up…"

[But you will 'live' in cryogenic slumber… you will not die because of the life sustaining capabilities of the pods, but neither will you age because of the freezing process you will undergo.]

"That's not living… that's… that's not living at all…" Gazelle muttered before shouting, "You're going to kill him if he listens to you!"

[It is a better option than the torture you have subjected him to, letting him know that every hour his days are numbered, and that extinction now ties with his death! But this talk is now meaningless, I must now eliminate the threat before it has a chance to harm you any further!] Celios declared as it leaned down to stare into Jeremy's eyes. [Return to one of the Cryopods Jeremy, I will handle the threats of humanity now… as is my directive.]

"No… if you do that then you'll destroy 'my' directive!" He countered instantly. "I have spent the last few months with Aelita's help painstakingly trying to rebuild and repair the damage done by my species. They've pinned all of their hopes on me my fellow Cryologists to redeem them, and I am all that remains… if you hurt even a single mammal, you'll destroy everything I've done!"

[They have done 'nothing' for you, nothing but manipulate and control your actions with their words and problems. This is 'your' world, not 'theirs', it was your world before and it shall be yours once they are eliminated!]

"It's not our world anymore!" He yelled. "I'm ORDERING you, stand down! Obey the Human Override Protocol!"

His words echoed in the vast room as they all waited for Celios' response. Jeremy knew however, that no drone, not even Aelita could override the Human Override Protocol. Once a drone was given an order by a human, it 'had' to obey it. The only drones immune to the HOP were ANT drones since they used category 1 AIs, and were the 'stupidest' of the drones, unable to comprehend anything outside of the most basic of orders and directives.

Even Celios a Category 10 was programmed with the HPP and the HOP was one of them, it 'had' to obey his orders.

Celios stared silently at him for five full minutes, before it took two steps back and returned to its original imposing stance.

[Command, 'overridden'…] It declared coldly.

Instantly his eyes went wide. "What… but…"

[In accordance with Protocol Zero Zero Zero Alpha of the Human Protection Protocols, I Celios am permitted to take 'any action' as deemed necessary by 'my' logic to eliminate any and all threats to humanity's safety and chances of survival, in order to ensure the maximum chance of survival is achieved!] It stated proudly. [I understand you have been manipulated into believing you need to protect them, but rest assured, when the threat is finally gone you will be free to pursue whatever agenda you wish.]

"But you can't do that, I'm ordering you to stop!" He yelled hopelessly as it turned around and headed toward the rear of the room.

[Order disregarded… in accordance with Protocol Zero Zero Zero of the Human Protection Protocols.] It stated again.

"BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT, YOU'LL COMMIT THE SAME GENOCIDE MY PEOPLE DID!" He screamed in fear. "STOP, I ORDER YOU STOP, PLEASE!"

[Order disregarded… in accordance with Protocol Zero Zero Zero of the Human Protection Protocols.]

As he tried to think of a way to stop the AI, Aelita suddenly got his attention, the other AI completely forgotten in the presence of Celios. She quickly urged him to pick him up, and as he did, she got Celios' attention somehow, causing the PHOENIX to pause in its journey to turn toward her.

She stared defiantly at her fellow AI, and pointed at Jeremy to bring her before it, and after he did, she made him place her on the ground before pointing this time back to the others.

"Aelita what are you?" He asked but she held her hand to silence him, beckoning him to the others.

Understanding he did as she asked and hoped that the 'Guide of Humanity' could stop the 'Sword of Humanity' from committing genocide in 'his' name. He turned as he stood by Gazelle as she stared at her phone.

"Aelita says to get behind the Dragon husks, they'll protect us and keep us safe." She said hurriedly.

"But why would we…" He muttered before Gazelle grabbed his hand and pulled him with her toward the remains.

"She just said to do it, that she wants us to be safe." The antelope said while in the distance, Aelita took her full form pushing her holosphere as much as it could to create her body.

He looked back as they took cover at the lone holographic AI as she stood before the powerful PHOENIX drone belonging to her fellow category 10 AI. One armed with only words and history, culture and wisdom belonging to his species. The other armed with the weapons and armor belonging to the most devastatingly powerful drones his kind built at the height of their power.

(Aelita's PoV)

She stared up at the AI, another like her and yet not like her. Unlike with the other drones which were no match for her, she had zero hopes about truly overpowering this AI, for it was just like her, just as smart, just as powerful, and just as cunning. It operated on a very powerful logic, able to justify quite admirably it's actions and now able to override a human's orders, the only thing that could stop her kind from replacing humans and now 'mammals' as the dominant species built by her creators as a 'last resort' to keep themselves safe.

A dangerous combination to have in a drone.

[Speak… 'Guide'… what is it you must speak to me of?]

She took a moment to collect her thoughts before she brought the full power of her capabilities as the 'Guide of Humanity', brought forth all that she was… and 'sang', in the only message Celios could possibly be communicated in at this point.

Even if it was an AI, it still had the 'spark' of life that was imbued within it by their creators, thus why she and Alexander and now Celios were made… she had to hope, she could reach that spark with her words.

(Most grow up… some grow old… before their story's been told!) She sang solemnly. (Who am I... could I be… I'm an eventuality.)

She looked up at the AI and sang for all she was worth.

(Time has come… time has passed, innocence has gone so fast. Heroes riiiiiise and heroes fall… my time is now; I hear the call…)

She sang now in a multitude of voices, calling upon the wisdom of humanity now to add 'it's' voice to her song to make Celios see reason before it made a grave mistake.

(Most forgive, some forget the things we most regret… Who am I… could I be… I'm an eventuality! Time has come, time has passed… innocence has gone so fast!)

She sang loudly and proudly, hopefully and joyfully as she sang of her creators and what they would have wanted.

(Heroes riiiiiise and heroes fall… my time is now, I hear the call!)

And As she sang, she saw Celios captivated with her song, shifting his head ever so slightly, as if listening to her song and hearing her reasons.

(Most believe, some do know the truth that silently shows…) She called out to Celios, wanting him, needing him to understand. (Who am I… could I beeee, I'm an eventuality!)

Finally she raised her hands to her sides, spread her arms wide and sang in a final choir which rang with a hundred thousand voices all singing as one, young and old, male and female, the voices of humanity all singing together in a powerful tone that spoke a billion words that all said the same message to the one before her.

(Time has come… time has passed… innocence has gone so faaaaaaaast! Heroes rise and heroes fall… my time is now, I hear… the call!)

She finally finished her song and relaxed her form to look up at him. Her message was simple, he was making a mistake in assuming mammalkind was an enemy to humanity. If he killed them before they had the chance to grow, to live, to experience life then he would not be seen as a hero to humanity but as the very thing Jeremy wished to prevent. Killing so many billions of lives before they've had the chance to live, love, learn, grow would be no different than what humanity did to itself, but unlike them it would be perpetrated on those who have done 'nothing' wrong.

It would leave the world an empty and barren landscape, just the way Jeremy's ancestors had left it… and this time there would be no 'rebuilding' that Jeremy could do to redeem his species.

For a moment Celios just stared down at her and remained silent, and she smiled as she figured he had understood her message.

[Be silent Aelita, your pathetic attempts to save the lives of those parasites will not dissuade my logic that they are enemies of humanity, and that they must be eliminated!]

Instantly her eyes went wide in shock, as that was her 'best' weapon she had against the AI. She had no other weapons to stop him, but she also knew that Jeremy couldn't stop the AI, his orders had been overridden by the AI, it was either she stop him now or Celios would slaughter billions of lives to 'protect' Jeremy's life. The Human Override Protocol was humanity's last trump card if the worst should happen to prevent a drone from killing humans, and it had failed them.

Out of desperation she tried to send a message, begging him to stop, but the AI brushed off her argument almost the instant she tried.

[You cannot change my logic or refute my claims, the threat is out there, and I will eliminate it as is my directive, not even 'you' can contain me!]

But that didn't mean she wouldn't try her hardest to give Jeremy a chance.

She knew she hadn't the hacking potential of Celios, even at best she would still take more than a few seconds to hack into Zootopia's databases, Celios however had broken into the entire world's databases, accessed their files and downloaded them into its datacore within 'three seconds'.

But she had to try, she didn't need to overpower the AI, just find what she'd need to stop him.

She glared furiously at the AI before she slammed her hands down and began typing in midair, trying to hack into the AI's datacore, starting with the least guarded information she could gain access to.

[You are attempting to take control of me?] It asked even as its orange optics changed colors, staying orange but the outer edges turning blue, a sign of her gaining access.

(Jeremy's PoV)

He watched with the others as Aelita failed to persuade Celios to stop its attack, but while he hoped she could convince him he was taking one last action that might help stop Celios.

"Are you done yet?" Judy asked as he busily worked her Visor.

"I'm working as fast as I can…" He muttered to her.

"Jeremy, I don't think Aelita can keep Celios busy much longer." Nick muttered as they saw her hacking the AI.

"Patience is a virtue Nick." He countered.

He was trying to synchronize the visor to Sentinel, knowing that even if it had no body it would 'still' synchronize and obey the commands of a human using the visor. But since he had modified it for Judy's use as a police officer and to be used for ZPD, it wasn't the same as when he'd showed them in the base. But after some tinkering and fiddling he'd reset it to the previous settings, and now was having Sentinel Sync with the Visor.

"There!" He said as he turned to look at Celios and designated the target. "Sentinel, mark target as Rogue Drone on my command!"

(Target marked, awaiting final confirmation…)

"Jeremy, I don't understand I thought you said no drone can disobey an order given directly by a human." Gazelle asked him.

"Normally they 'can't', the Human Protection Protocols are so extensive and cover so many protocols that there are almost 'no' loopholes for any drone to find to disobey us. But Celios said something about a 'Zero Zero Zero Alpha protocol, I have no idea what that protocol means, I've never heard of a zero protocol. He must have been given a special protocol permitted only to him, else he wouldn't have disregarded my orders, the Human Override Protocol would have kicked in as a last resort if that were the case."

This was why his people feared the Category 10 AI's, a Category 8 AI had led to the final destruction of his species, forcing them to crowd the overstretched Eden Facility and drove them to desperation. Since then no drone above Category 6 was ever constructed, and the remaining 8's, namely the 8 Dragon Drones, were deconstructed. An 8 had turned on mankind, and they feared what a 10 would do, 8's were on par with humans in terms of intelligence, and a ten was 'beyond' anything an 8 could handle.

Aelita had been a risk on its own, Alexander another risk but he'd sacrificed himself to save him and the mammals above. Celios however, would rather bring Armageddon to the world then let even a 'single' potential threat to him exist.

(Aelita's PoV)

She typed away, hacking away, trying to find something, any chink in Celios' armor that she could use to stop him. Taking complete control was beyond her, there was now way he'd let her gain control over him to shut him down. Even if she could it would only stall him so long.

Which begs the question of why she had bypassed his second layer of firewalls and gained access to a subsystem of protocols and algorithms to his body.

But just as she started to hack and try to gain access to his inner datacore she felt him suddenly latch onto her with his own Anti-hacking abilities, countermining her efforts and instead gained near instant access to all of 'her' data.

Her form froze in shock as she tried to mount a defense, but it was impossible as he'd already gained near full access to her files.

Before her eyes his optics changed from orange outlined in blue to their original orange color, and now her eyes were the ones changing from blue to orange as he accessed her.

[How dare you overstep your boundaries… you were meant to be the guide, and nothing more, how 'dare' you attempt to overstep your position in defiance of humanity's will to exist, to thrive, to continue as a species!] It stated coldly as her body began to change colors to the solid orange that Celios' optics were. [I am the sword… I am to enact the will of humanity's desire continue to exist on this planet, while 'you' were meant to guide them to a prosperous future. You are to guide them into the future, while Alexander and I were to safeguard it, that was our purpose and our directives!]

As her body was completely changed to orange, she tried vainly to communicate with him, buy as much time as she held his hacking tools at bay from her active datacore, anything to stall for time and complete her objective.

[Humanity cannot survive… of this I agree… but that does not mean that the species cannot continue! Until all avenues have been explored then we must continue as we were programmed to do! How dare you choose to side with these 'animals' over your own creators, to save them when you should be…]

Her eyes went wide as he slipped past her firewalls and into her core to access her memory files. She pushed him out but not before he'd copied and looked at a chunk of her database. And the one piece of data that he'd glimpsed at, was the one piece she didn't want him to see.

[What is this… what are you trying to hide from me?] He demanded as he assaulted her database.

She knew what he was after and tried 'vainly' to deny him, but she knew it was only a matter of time before he broke her defenses down. They were both Category 10 but his AI was programmed for battle, designed for war, able to attack and defend on both the Cyber and Physical planes. His AI also had access to a powerful cybernetic brain that she just lacked, his was far more capable of combat whereas she was meant to be a peacemaker and peacekeeper.

[What are you hiding from me, give me the data I want!] He demanded as he stared into her blue optics with his orange ones, seeing tiny flicks of plasma flame erupt from the wings.

Try as she might, she knew it was inevitable that he'd break her, so knowing it was pointless she deliberately let down her firewalls and granted him access as her form collapsed in exhaustion, while she used the connection she had to gain access to what she wanted as well. He could have the data, but she would get what she wanted as well.

[So… you turned on them… you turned on your creators… the creator species' fear of us was justified.] Celios declared coldly as it stood before her. [You will 'answer' for this crime!]

He bent down and used a mechanical arm to pick up her holosphere and began walking with it over to Jeremy's position behind the DRAGON husks. She knew what was going to happen, there was nothing she could do to avert it.

(Jeremy's PoV)

As Celios stomped over to them on its talons he watched it plant the AI before him and looked at the orange form of Aelita, looking sadly in his direction.

[Tell me Jeremy, between us whom do you trust more?]

"Aelita, she's been with me almost as long as I've been awake in this time period!" He said instantly. "She isn't trying to kill the mammals who saved my life, who gave me a chance to live when I would have died!"

[And yet you would trust a 'murderer' over me… I who has shown you loyalty to my directive since I awoke… while she condemned your kind to extinction?] He asked in a disappointed tone. [Why human… I am loyal to you… she 'isn't'…]

"What are you talking about she hasn't condemned my species to extinction!" He said in confusion.

However, Aelita did not look up at him, instead looking down at the floor in shame.

"Aelita?" He asked, causing her to look at him with the same shameful look. "It's not true… is it?"

She didn't respond, just closed her eyes and looked away in shame again.

[That is 'all' you need to know… she is guilty of the crime you ask her to admit to.] Celios stated.

"How could she have done that, Aelita has done nothing but be a good inspiration for Jeremy and help him become happy." Gazelle shouted beside him.

[Why don't you ask 'her'?] It countered back. [Or… do you truly want to know, the 'truth' from one who has never lied to you Jeremy?]

Celios' optics changed colors to blue and a holographic projection appeared, this time showing twelve cryopods that all looked like eggs, with designations ranging from Pod Alpha 718 to Alpha 1000.

[Do you remember your pod designation Jeremy, the one you were given that also served as your codes to access any part of the facility?]

"Yea… Pod Alpha 717."

[Those numbers aren't just a designation… they are also an order… an order that was only to be used by the Sentinel as a desperate measure to preserve as much of the species as possible in case of dire circumstances.]

He stared at the twelve pods and their designations in confusion. "What do you mean?"

[The pods also act as a numerical countdown, starting with those who have the 'lowest' priority for survival to those who have the highest priority. Your designation was 717… out of a potential 1000. When Sentinel started to take drastic measures to maintain the power and prolong the lives of the cryologists… it took the last option it had as a last resort…]

"And started killing us off…" He concluded.

[Starting with those who's designations were the lowest, at Alpha 001… and would have ended with Alpha 1000. Yours was 717… meaning you should have 'died'… a 'long' time ago.]

"But I'm still here…" He muttered as he looked between Aelita who still would not look at him eye to eye. "What did you do Aelita?"

She only glanced at him with one holographic blue eye before closing it and extending a hand in disgrace.

She showed his pod alongside the ones Celios had displayed, and showed it with the Designation 717, but then swapped the number with 718 and the previous 718 pod was erased, then 773 received the same treatment, followed by 801, 822, 859, 877… until finally…

Alpha 1000 was all that remained next to his pod, and then 'it' was swapped so that Jeremy's was the last one.

Aelita had silenced the others, prolonging his pod until it was the last one left alive. She'd defied Sentinel's directives at the time and convinced it that his pod had higher priority every time since she was directly connected to it and had greater influence.

"Okay I understand that… but why did you say Aelita 'condemned my species to extinction'?" He asked Celios.

[Because the human who resided in Pod 1000… was a 'woman'… a 'pregnant' woman carrying triplets.] He declared sadly. [She was only a month pregnant, the young not even fully formed… and Aelita 'killed' her and them to save you.]

"No…" He whispered in shock.

"It can't be…" Gazelle whispered just as sadly.

"Pregnant?" Judy asked in horror.

"Why?" Nick muttered just as quietly.

[Because she wanted to see 'Jeremy' again.] He explained. [Since she was first online, she memorized his face much like his father, and out of a desire to see him again… willingly delayed his death until the last moment, even at the cost of his species' chance for survival.] His optics changed the visual to that of a woman's around Jeremy's age if slightly younger.

She wore the same clothes that Jeremy wore as well but modified for women, but he also adjusted it so that they could see 'inside' her body, and saw three embryotic cells, frozen… the lives they would have represented hitting him deeply.

[Her name… was Emily Fitzgerald, EMA reported her pregnant twelve days before the final selection of the Cryologists was made. She was chosen for that reason, and given the pod designation Alpha 1000.] Celios said as they stared at the woman's bland expression. [She was one of the 'only' to become pregnant in decades… and Aelita silenced her… because she wasn't 'you'.]

At that he pictured how things might have been, had Aelita 'not' saved him. This Emily would have been saved instead of him, she would have been pregnant, there would be humans again… his species might have had a chance to come back…

"Why?" He asked Aelita as he walked over to her form. "Why?"

She looked up at him and started crying into her hands.

(Couldn't save you from the start…) She sang sadly. (Love you so it hurts my soul… can you forgive me for trying again?)

She looked up at him as if expecting an answer, but he was just silent as she told him.

(Your silence makes me hold my breath, all the time has passed you by… for so long I've tried to shield you from the world… you couldn't face the freedom on your own, here I am. Left in silence…) She turned and put her holographic form in his arms, crying into him even though she was completely devoid of weight. (You gave up the fight, you left me behind, all that stands forgiven… you'll always be mine… I know deep inside… all the stands forgiven.)

She looked up at him and cast a hologram of her surroundings while asleep.

(Watched the clouds drifting away, still the sun can't warm my face…) She sang as she watched over all of the eggs, before closing her eyes as if in sadness as they began to vanish while holding one egg with her hand to ensure it stayed. (I know it was destined to go wrong, you were looking for the great escape… to chase your demons away. For so long I've tried to shield you from the world, you couldn't face the freedom on your own. Here I am, left in silence!)

The picture vanished as she sobbed once more into his chest. (I've been so lost since you've gone! Why not me before you? Why did fate deceive me? Everything turned out so wrong… why did you leave me… in silence!) She looked up at him one last time. (You gave up the fight, you left me behind, all that stands forgiven… you'll always be mine; I know deep inside… all the stands forgiven.)

With that she closed her eyes and looked away in shame, not asking for forgiveness, just telling him 'why' she did what she did. She wanted to see him again, she 'needed' to see him again, she didn't want to see the end of his species without at least seeing him one more time. She knew if he ever found out he'd be upset with her, she deserved whatever punishment she was prepared for, she truly regretted her actions but there was nothing she could do now. She'd made her choices.

She wouldn't leave his side, she wouldn't abandon him, and she'd help him however she could, in compensation for the crime she'd committed against his species.

But despite what she did, knowing what she'd done to save his life… he couldn't blame her or hate her.

"I forgive you…" He whispered to her, pretending to hug her childish form.

She looked up at him with sad eyes, before contently holding him in appreciation.

"You just wanted to see me again… you missed me so much, you did something horrible like that… if I were in your shoes… I don't know what I'd do… maybe I would have done the same, but I forgive you Aelita… I forgive you."

There was silence as the two simply shared space, Aelita knowing she would live with her decision for the rest of her existence, and Jeremy forgiving the AI for the crime she committed.

[By my logic you should be eliminated Aelita, as a potential threat to the species for what you have done.] Celios declared coldly.

He looked up at the PHOENIX drone now while it stared at the two of them.

[But as you still carry the historical and cultural records of humanity, as well as the Wisdom of Humanity, your existence is a priority for the survival of the species. You will continue to carry out your directive, while I carry out mine.]

With that Celios' eyes became bright red, and before him Aelita's form began to waver and glitch out. She gave a silent scream of pain as her holographic body dissipated, leaving only an empty holosphere which still hummed.

"Aelita!" He yelled as he picked up her sphere. "What did you do to her?"

[She is merely in standby mode, she will return to normal in a short while, to ensure she cannot interrupt me in my duty.] Celios said in a tone of finality while it began to turn around. [Stay here human, I will eliminate all threats to you now… as is my directive.]

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" He yelled angrily as he stood with Aelita's holosphere. "ROGUE DRONE!"

"ROGUE DRONE" Echoed around the massive bay, causing Celios to stop suddenly.

"ROGUE DRONE" The echo continued.

"ROGUE DRONE…" It faded into the distance.

Silence reined as everyone stood quiet, hearts beating as they waited for something to happen. Seconds passed by that felt like hours as he and the others watched, waiting…

Then…

(ALERT, ALERT, ROGUE DRONE DETECETED!) Sentinel declared over the intercom, and from the ceiling spotlights appeared and shone on Celios, bathing him in a red light. (ATTENTION ROGUE DRONE, CEASE AND DESIST, POWER DOWN IMMEDIATELY)

"Braaaaaaaw!" Celios screeched in defiance as it spread its wings wide. (You call me a rogue Alexander; do you intend to defy the Sword of Humanity?)

(Rogue Drone refuses stand down order, proceeding with authorization to terminate in accordance with HPPs, activating Sentinel Defense Grid, Level 2 Defense Protocol approved!)

From the walls, ceiling and floors hidden turrets unveiled themselves, turned and took aim, hundreds of laser sights tracking and targeting Celios' body before unleashing powerful and steady streams of plasma infused bolts and electrified bolts against the drone. Yet Celios' armor proved unyielding against the onslaught.

-Pzzzzts pzzzts pzzztzs-

-bbbbgng bbggn-

-Pewwwwwwwst-

They all took cover while Celios retaliated, unveiling multiple plasma turrets hidden throughout its body and firing back with pinpoint precision, every time it fired another turret was destroyed along the walls, while those nearest its feet were smashed under the weight of the body.

"Braaaaaaaaw!" It screamed in fury as none of the turrets were doing any damage.

(Alert, level 2 defense protocol insufficient, initiating level 1 protocol!) Sentinel declared loudly.

=Throughout the base=

(Attention all combat drones, alert, Rogue Drone detected!)

As one all of the drones marching around, FOX, DOG and RAPTOR ceased action and turned in unison to the ceiling while they were updated on the situation.

(All units, repeat all units, report to Lower Levels, Drone Bay Epsilon 002, full use of weapon has been authorized!)

Instantly they started running, weapons being deployed as they clanked and rushed to get to the lowest levels. All over the facility any drone capable of fighting was being turned on and directed to the storage bay.

(Human presence is detected, Rogue Drone threatens Human Life, all units engage and terminate the rogue unit on sight!)

=Outside of the base=

(Lula's PoV)

"So, yea mom I'm staying at the facility, I'm actually about to go underground now, I'll even introduce you to my robo friend!" Lula chuckled as she made her way to the entrance after visiting her parents. "Hey there Pete, how's the guard duty helping you?"

Her friend Pete, or as it was called PT-173 turned to her and was about to respond, before it snapped back to the tunnel entrance, its optics changing from the blue they were to red. Not just Pete though, but all of the Raptor drones nearby that were guarding the entrance suddenly turned back to the facility, as if they were being called to by something inside.

"You okay Pete?" She asked nervously.

Without warning all of them pulled out weapons and began storming toward the facility entrance, as if their lives, if they had lives, depended on it.

"Uh I'll talk to you later something just happened with Pete." She said quietly as she chased after them. "Don't know they just all suddenly started running, I'll call you later!"

=Back Inside=

(Jeremy's PoV)

"Jeremy why is Celios not taking any damage?" Judy asked as she pulled out her pistol and took aim, even as Celios revealed a barrage of plasma missiles before firing them at the walls, causing massive damage and destroying all the turrets mounted there.

"It's the Tritanium armor plating, the turrets weren't designed to punch through anything that heavy." He said as he looked over a schematic, one of dozens which littered the floor that he'd grabbed. "The armor comes from the DRAGON drones, most of them were reinforced with that armor, only thing that could penetrate it are concentrated plasma fire from a heavy Gauss Cannon or Rotary Double Plasma Barrel Repeaters mounted on the side of a SCORPIO drone's tail. That's why Alexander was given that drone, because it was the only thing in the facility capable of fighting that PHOENIX drone one on one, outside of a DRAGON drone."

"Well can't we use it?" Nick asked as more turrets fell, leaving the room more and more barren of anything to stop the rogue unit.

"I already decommissioned that drone; I didn't think anything was left in the base that could be that powerful." He replied fearfully. "Why didn't they tell us this thing was down here… why hide it from us?"

"Don't blame yourself Jeremy, as you said there was no way you could have known." Gazelle said calmly to him. "You weren't supposed to know, I don't think they wanted you to know so you wouldn't be tempted to use this thing."

"With all due respect to you Gazelle, and to you Jeremy… but his ancestors sure were fucked in the head if that's the case!" Judy snapped. "Why build it if they didn't want him or the others to use it in the first place?"

"No offense taken, but they sure as hell packed Celios with every weapon under the sun." He called out past all of the noise. "Thirty Plasma loaded rifles, ten Gauss Cannons, magnetic infused conventional rounds…"

"As well as 'special weapons'… what are…" He said as he found a list of 'special weapons' also included in the drone's frame.

These weapons weren't the same as the other weapons, but had 'unique' designations corresponding to the eight DRAGON class drones.

"No way… they didn't…"

Before anyone could ask what he was talking about, the doors to the room opened and in stormed thirty DOG drones and five RAPTOR drones with three FOX drones included. All of them had weapons at the ready and instantly the FOX drones created the illusion of hundreds of more drones…

As one they all swarmed in and charged Celios, firing plasma bolts as they did without hesitation, even as Celios roared in frustration.

"I think the cavalry's here!" Judy called out loudly as yet more drones swarmed into the room to join the first group.

"I have never been so happy to see those walking death machines in my life!" Nick called out as they swarmed Celios.

"Braaaaaaw!" Celios screamed defiantly, before opening its mouth and launching a single plasma bolt to break one of the FOX drones, instantly breaking the illusion of hundreds of the drones being there. "Declaring me a rogue will 'not' deter me from carrying out my directive Jeremy!" It called out as the other FOX drones stopped trying to fool it once they realized it wasn't working. "If I must destroy anything that is a threat to me, to stop me from ending the threat to humanity, then so be it!"

It stored away the turrets on its wings and bathed its body in a plasma fire, lighting up the entire room in its ethereal beauty. Purple flames of plasma licked and flicked off of its body, giving off a massive burst of heat that forced the drones to pause in their firing, before they resumed fire. Yet every shot that tried to land failed to connect, as if Celios were wrapped in a shield.

"What is he doing…" Judy asked in awe, even as the drones were trying to circle and find a weakness in its defenses.

One of the DOG drones tried running up to it and attempt to bite into the leg of Celios, but before it could make contact it's face suddenly melted and fell pathetically to the ground, it's head little more than molten scrap metal.

"It's using the special weapons installed into it's body." Jeremy said as he recognized it.

"Special weapons? Are you kidding me, what else does this thing have?" Nick asked.

"The special weapons belonging to the eight dragon drones lying around us, all installed and modified to work with Celios' body. That plasma infused flame acts as a massive wall of heat, melting any potential bullet or plasma cartridge before it can connect to the main body, it's fueled by pure plasma heated to over ten thousand degrees. It's known as the Plasma Flame Shield that belonged to the DRAGON PA-41IN4, of the East Asian Alliance."

"And your ancestors thought that giving it these weapons was a 'good idea'?"

"The one weakness of that system is that it can't use it indefinitely, it runs off the same plasma system that it's weapons run, if it runs out it will be defenseless.

More drones poured into the bay firing plasma bolts and trying to destroy Celios, but it just screeched in defiance and shut off the flames protecting it, in order to return fire with its own weapons systems again.

While they watched they saw that the bolts coming from Celios became fewer and fewer, as well as weaker. Before when the drones were hit by Celios' weapons they were almost shot clean through and destroyed, but a RAPTOR took a shot to the face and shrugged it off before returning fire.

"Braaaaaaaaw!" Celios screamed in rage, before it began backing away and spreading its wings wide.

"They've got him on the run!" Judy cheered.

"No, they haven't, it's using another of its special weapons!" Jeremy called, and sure enough small glowing orbs appeared on the underside of its wings and chest, and before their very eyes began absorbing the plasma shots, drawing them in as if they were magnets. "It's the plasma conversion unit that belonged to JE-7Z14 of the South African League! Those glowing orbs are attracting the plasma bolts and sucking in the plasma as if they were straws, it's converting the plasma for its own usage!"

Yet still the drones fired, unable to change their orders as they were driven to fire and destroy the rogue unit, so when they stopped firing to reload their weapons, it curled its wings inward and tucked its head into its body.

The drones unknowing about what it was doing simply surrounded and tried to continue to destroy it.

BnnnnnngPeeeeeeeeew!

A wave of electrical energy exploded from the body and every drone that was touched by it suddenly collapsed, as if they had been shut down.

"I know an EMP when I see one, I've seen enough sci fi to see one." Nick muttered as the other drones kept their distance, now severely becoming outgunned as Celios turned its weapons back on again.

"EMP burst charge, the last DRAGON equipped with it was LU-M1A, also of the Eastern Asian Alliance." Jeremy explained. "The drones don't stand a chance, they're helpless against that much firepower."

"Does it have 'any' weaknesses?" Judy asked.

"Only weakness I can think of is that Celios' body is designed to fight against armies, not individuals." He said as he looked over the schematic. "But there is one weakness, the joint in between the neck and the body is not made of the same tritanium material as the rest, it also has a direct line of plasma feed which connects to all of the plasma distribution throughout its body underneath it. A direct shot from a plasma bolt would be enough to cause an internal explosion… thus destroying the unit!"

"Breeeeeeee" A drone shouted as it was flung past them, with parts of its weapons system falling before them, including a plasma loaded rifle with a single shot.

"Good enough for me!" Judy yelled as she grabbed it and hopped over their cover.

"JUDY WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?" Nick yelled at his wife as he ran after her.

(Judy's PoV)

She hopped as fast as her rabbit legs let her, jumping over drones as they ducked and tried to avoid being hit by fire, even as Celios blasted them.

Yet as she neared the drone and the 'heat' leftover from the plasma fire it was baked in earlier, she could feel the sheer power that the drone had at its disposal. She was just as rabbit officer, not a soldier like these machines, but she had one thing they didn't have and that was creativity. They were following 'standard battle protocols', preprogrammed routines that didn't allow for creativity, so she was easily able to avoid Celios's weapons as she circled around the side toward the tail.

There was a brief moment where she looked up at its optics, and for a split second blinked as they glowed 'white', before she was running again under its wings.

"Eat this!" She yelled as she took out her pistol and fired off a few shots at it, trying to get its attention.

The bullets had no effect on the armor, not even leaving a scratch as she flew underneath its wings and hopped as high as she could onto the tail, running up the body's length even as Celios tried to shake her off while 'still' firing at the drones below her.

She smirked as she saw the joint between the neck and the body fast approaching, and was surprised that the AI was paying her zero attention, eve being this close to its vulnerable spot.

"There you are!" She said triumphantly as she reached the joint, saw the weaker metal of the under-armor and pulled her weapon from the drone out. "Chew on this ya oversized bird!"

She smacked the trigger and the plasma launched out of the rifle, smacking into the hardened armor of the back which suddenly appeared before her, causing no damage whatsoever.

She blinked in shock as there was no way she could have missed, only to look up and see that the joint was still another ten feet higher up from where she was. She hadn't been anywhere near the nape of Celios' neck, she was still square on the backside.

"But… how?" She muttered in confusion before the section of metal she was on flipped open and flung her off into the air.

She only managed to curl inward like in training when falling from great heights, but she still felt her legs and knees scream in agony from the pain.

[Insect…] Celios called out as it turned to her now, staring down at her with its orange optics. [You are no more of a threat to me than an insect!]

"GET AWAY FROM MY WIFE!" Nick yelled as gunshots rang out.

(Nick's PoV)

He just kept shooting at Celios' head, trying to do whatever damage he could even if his weapon was no match for the drone. There was no way he was going to let Celios kill her without trying to save her, he wouldn't let it harm one hair on her body.

Celios simply ignored him as its trained weapons on her now, even going so far as to ignore the drones who were still shooting desperately, emptying their weapons as much as possible.

Then Celios looked at him with one optic, and it turned white for the briefest of moments before he blinked and continued firing.

[If you want this insect so badly, then you can have it.] Celios called out, before picking up his wife's limp body and flinging it at him with the tip of its wing.

"Judy!" He yelled as he dropped his gun and rushed to catch her.

Just as her body collided with him, he felt a 'huge' weight push him to the ground, as if his wife suddenly weighed as much as a Polar Bear. He groaned heavily as he tried to lift her up, but instead of his wife, a large Raptor drone lay over him, the head ripped off and one of its legs and arms missing.

"Wha… but where?"

NIIICK!" Judy called as he saw that his wife was still where he'd seen her fall, but now Celios was walking once more away from them.

[You are nothing but minor nuisances, no more worth the time and energy I need to expend than I do dealing with these lesser drones!] Celios declared as it resumed fire on the drones.

(Jeremy's PoV)

"What happened, Judy said she was aiming for the neck, but she didn't even go near it, and Nick acted like that drone was his wife?" Gazelle asked in fear while he looked at the schematics for any weakness in the drone.

"It's another of his special weapons, Celios is equipped with the most successful 'Total Hypnosis Module' ever developed by the South American Union, only one drone had it, DRAGON R0-63R. He used it to make Nick think he was catching his wife. As for Judy, he used the most advanced holographic system he's been demonstrating since he showed it, capable of creating such a perfect illusion that not even a machine can see through it. The Hologram module belonged to DRAGON UZ-UM3, also of the South American Union."

"But how did he know Judy was going for his neck, there was no way he could have heard you over all of the noise." Gazelle asked again in fear.

"He's been using another special weapons system this entire time, it reads brainwave patterns enabling him to have a very limited sense of telepathy, it's similar to the system the visors use to send signals to the drones. He reads the brainwave patterns of whatever he sees and interprets the activity based solely on visual actions." He said, failing to realize what he should have earlier. "That system belonged to RE-44N of the Russian Coalition."

"He can read minds?" Gazelle whispered in shock. "Is there anything he 'can't' do?"

[I do what is necessary 'Gazelle of Zootopia'.] Celios called out as it tucked itself into its wings. [But this has gone on long enough, I cannot tolerate another delay to my directive… so I will end this futile attempt to restrain me.]

Its optics changed from orange to red, and instantly all of the drones ceased fire.

"Celios… what have you done?" He yelled.

[I have activated TH-2U's hacking program, which instantly bypassed the Sentinel Drone's protocols and put them into standby mode.] It yelled. [In essence, I have ended this futile attempt to stop me from carrying out my directive!]

"You can't do this Celios, you'll destroy everything!" Jeremy pleaded.

"Please Celios, you can't do this, think of all of the mammals your going to hurt with your actions!" Gazelle also pleaded.

[I do not have to listen to the desperate pleas of a parasite, nor do I need to listen to your misguided beliefs human.] It declared while turning to walk away. [Be patient Jeremy, I will carry out my directive and end the threat to your life without further delay.]

As he walked away Jeremy racked his brain thinking desperately to find a way to stop it.

"Jeremy you have to do something, he's going to kill everymammal!" Gazelle begged.

"I know, I know I'm thinking…" He shouted as he looked over the schematic in his hand. "He has to have a weakness, an exploit, some chink in his armor, my ancestors wouldn't develop a drone like that and give Celios that much freedom without having 'some' kind of contingency plan in place to prevent him from going overboard or turning on humans. They wouldn't even think of giving him that much power if he couldn't be restrained by the human protection or the override protocols!"

That was when Gazelle's phone rang, and she answered it to read a text message.

She showed it to be a message to her from Aelita, sent an hour ago.

{Gazelle, tell Jeremy…}

{Protocol Zero Zero Zero Alpha: Celios is permitted to take whatever action is necessary to eliminate whatever it perceives to be a threat to humanity's survival as a species, including defying an order given to it by a human in accordance with the HPP and Protocol Zero Zero Zero Alpha, in order to eliminate any threat be it local, otherworldly, or even humans, using the logical reasoning defined by Celios justifying it take the action needed.}

{Protocol Zero Zero Zero Beta: Celios is not permitted to take an action which may result in the extinction of humanity, or permitted to take an action which 'results' in the extinction of humanity, regardless of the permission granted by Protocol Zero Zero Zero Alpha.}

He read that and instantly knew what he needed to do. "DRONE!" He screamed at the nearest drone; a drone that had a scarf of all things wrapped around its neck.

The drone turned toward him and nodded in acknowledgement.

"Synchronize with my visor!" He yelled as he put the visor on again.

[Synchronizing…] It stated.

Even if Celios had put them in standby mode, the drones would automatically obey orders given by the visors, regardless of what they were.

(Celios' PoV)

It neared the back of the room where it could forcibly open a hole and then eventually dig its way out to the surface, with no other way out available to it. From there it would commence eliminating the threat to Jeremy's life, first destroying the city above and cleansing it of all life to eliminate the immediate threat to him. After that it would destroy the nearest military installation to remove the potential future threat. Once it had declared war on all of those on the surface, it would be required to eliminate 'all' life on the surface to remove any and all threats to humanity's survival.

"CELIOS!" Jeremy yelled again, and as it was required to hear him out, paused and turned to look at him kneeling on the ground, with a RAPTOR drone behind him.

[What do you want?] It asked politely.

Despite the human's flawed and misguided agenda, it still was 'frustrating' that he was trying to save the very parasites trying to abuse and mislead him.

"I'm telling you if you don't stop and do as I say, you will be violating your own directive!" He called out.

[And how do you come to that conclusion?] It asked curiously, finding no flaw in its logic.

"Because if you intend to kill innocent mammals…"

The RAPTOR drone behind him took out its weapons and trained them on his head.

Instantly Celios' optics went wide, and it too readied weapons to destroy the drone threatening his life.

"IF YOU TWITCH I 'WILL' ORDER IT TO FIRE!" Jeremy screamed.

At those words it stopped moving entirely.

They stared at one another, Jeremy and itself, examining every conceivable probability to find a way to destroy the drone without risking harm to the human, however all the probabilities predicted that if Jeremy perceived 'any' attempt to intervene with his plan then his brain will send out the signals to order the drone to open fire.

[But I must carry out my directive!] It tried to reason with him. [I must, I must carry out my directive to eliminate any and all threats to your safety!]

"If you attempt to carry out that directive I will carry out 'my' directive, and kill myself." Jeremy replied. "I will 'not' allow my species last legacy to be one of death and destruction Celios… now cease your hostilities!"

It was trapped in a loop, if it tried to obey the directive, Jeremy will kill himself. But Celios cannot permit that, if he kills himself then humanity will go extinct and that is something he cannot permit because of his programming. Yet if he didn't go out and eliminate the threats, then the threats will remain, and Jeremy's life will be in danger… yet if he did that Jeremy would kill himself.

[Why, why do you perceive me to be a threat to you?] He asked in confusion. [I am only here to protect you; I am only here to serve and keep you safe! I was built specifically to ensure your survival!]

"How is killing every living thing on the planet, just because a 'few' perceive me to be a threat and might want to hurt me?" He countered. "That's no better than disliking on an entire species simply because of the actions of a few of its members!"

[But the longer the threat remains the more it will try to hurt you!]

"Life is all about risk, that's why it called life!" He yelled. "I'm not going to change my mind Celios… to me 'you' are the threat to my life, so what are you going to do about it?"

[Me… a threat?] It asked in shock. [But I am not a threat, I only want you to survive…]

"Life as a frozen corpse is no better than life alone in a barren lifeless landscape…" Jeremy declared. "If that's the only fate that awaits me because of your actions to 'protect me', I'd rather die right here and now, then let the legacy of my species be one of global destruction."

Celios stared at the human, and Jeremy stared back. One's optics staring into the unflinching and unafraid eyes of a human. Seeing no change in his stance, and not detecting any change in his thinking, he realized that there was only one way to show the human that he was 'not' a threat to his survival.

[Sentinel… activate the level 10 Magnetic Restraining Arms!] He ordered. [Authorization, Celios 1]

(Request clarification, Is the Rogue Drone surrendering?) Sentinel demanded.

[Affirmative… activate the level 10 Magnetic Restraining Arms.]

(Activating.)

From the ceiling two massive magnets linked by a combination of titanium chains and durasteel wiring lowered. At the same time two similar magnets were raised on small pistons and also linked by similar chains and wires raised up.

(Attention Drone, stand in the highlighted area, any delay will result in further termination orders being ordered!)

Understanding it stepped forward and raised its wings, permitting the magnets above to tug and be drawn toward them. With an almighty slam the two magnets gripped his wings tightly and held them firmly. At the same time the magnets below were attracted to their counterparts and subsequently grappled and became magnetized. Once that was done the platforms were lowered and the chains tightened, pulling his wings upward and downward, restricting his movements tightly. The magnets in place they started emitting a slow and controlled electrical pulse via the wires, disabling most of his weapons systems, including several of his Special Weapons.

He stared at the human, wishing and willing the human to see his actions as truth, that he was 'not' a threat to him.

[I am not a threat to you Jeremy… I only wish to protect you; I only wish to ensure your survival!] He declared.

"I know… and that's precisely why I can't let you do what you intend to do." He said as he stood up, but the entire time the drone kept its weapons trained on him. "You will stay there until further notice… I won't dismantle you or destroy you… but if you attempt to leave for 'any' reason I will order a drone to kill me!"

[Don't you understand, they will tear you apart, they are only going to continue to abuse and mislead you!] It yelled in desperation. [They don't' care about you, only your technology and what you can give them!]

Jeremy ignored him as the drones help up the Fox and Rabbit creatures, lifting them up and began leaving with Aelita now fully active and watching him from her holosphere.

[I have stood alone in toxic air, among the bones of your kind and slept with the fallen and the desperate! I have watched twelve houses burn a light into the night when the sun wouldn't shine, and wept at the cries and the sounds of the murders in the day! I've observed the fallen gods as they slaughtered one another, and ate upon the marrow of those who died before them. I have seen the fading twilight years passing by as the world turned and the sky changed without care!] He yelled, using the same words that Aelita would use thanks to having downloaded 'her' database as well. [The angels, the saviors of your species beaten, starved, gassed and sacrificed upon the alter of this modern age, so that those who came after could abuse what your kind has achieved. THIS IS THE WORLD YOU INTEND TO SAVE; THEY WILL BLEED YOU DRY, AND THEN LEAVE YOU TO DIE!]

[DON'T LET THEM JEREMY!] He screamed helplessly as they all walked through the doors. [FIGHT FOR EVERY HOUR YOU HAVE TO LIVE!]

(Aelita's PoV)

As the door closed behind them and the drones began to return to their duties, the ones that survived at least, with Jeremy and the mammals ignoring Celios' cries and pleas, trying to get the human to unchain him and permit him to 'destroy' the threat of mammalkind.

Yet as the doors closed and silencing his words, she felt Celios make a final connection to her, before she severed the connection.

(Don't go into that gentle night, rage on against the dying light…)

She heard the song, one single tune that Celios sent her… and only glanced back sadly, before returning her attention to Jeremy and the others.

She was sorry to Celios, so very sorry to her fellow category 10, but she did what she had to do, she had a plan… her directive was clear.

Not even Celios could be permitted to avert it.

(Jeremy's PoV)

[What were you doing, getting run over or something?] Ema complained as she fixed Judy and Nick's injuries. [I swear, leave you alone for half a day and you go and nearly break your legs?]

He sighed as he and Gazelle left, him wanting to be away from the BWS drone and Gazelle wanting to help him.

"How are you doing Jeremy?" She asked him warmly.

"Feeling like an idiot… and feeling like I did something evil." He replied. "Celios is only trying to do what it thinks is right… and I just leave him alone to be caged."

He felt her turn him around and embrace him in a hug, and felt her warmth trying to ease him after what just happened.

"Don't worry about that Jeremy, just remember what happened doesn't matter anymore… he can't hurt anymammal anymore." She said warmly.

"Your wrong… he's not truly contained or restrained." He said bitterly.

"What do you mean, those magnet things looked really strong?" She asked in confusion.

"Celios' body is more than capable of breaking out of those restraining magnets, the only reason he chained himself is to convince me that he's not a threat to me." He said. "Celios doesn't need his weapons to break out, the magnets may restrain and restrict his abilities, but his body's pure strength is all that is needed to break out. The only thing keeping that drone from breaking out now is me… and the threat of me taking my own life at any time if he even 'tries' to break out."

He looked up at her and she could see the 'deadness' in his eyes, he could see how sad she looked now.

"As long as I have a metaphorical gun to my head… twenty-four seven… he won't leave and threaten others." He whispered as he began to cry. "I didn't chain him… I caged myself… I have to walk around with a visor at the ready to order a drone to kill me… at all times, to keep Celios from hurting you."

(Gazelle's PoV)

She watched the despair in his eyes growing, saw how 'dead' he appeared on the inside. She wanted to comfort him and help him, but there was nothing she could do to cheer him up, since he was deeply hurting on the inside. Having to threaten his own life to keep a machine at bay, a machine that wanted what was best for him even in its own twisted way, and then just chaining what was the equivalent of a living mammal, with thoughts and feelings…

Jeremy wasn't the kind of person to do that to any creature, only wanting what was best for them and wanting to help, and yet he had to in order to protect others around him.

She smiled softly and held him closer to her, letting him silently sob into her shoulder.

"It's okay Jeremy… I'm right here for you." She whispered softly.

As steadily calmed his breathing he looked up into her eyes and once again they just stared at one another. It was as if for a moment, she could feel his heart, in pain and begging for somemammal, anymammal to reach out and touch it, to comfort it…

To let it feel something other than guilt and despair.

Her heart suddenly beat 'loudly', as if signaling her what to do. Her brain was urging her to wait, telling her that it wasn't time yet, telling her that if she did it then it would be the biggest mistake of her life if something went wrong.

But her heart… just didn't care anymore.

*He needs me… and I… need him.* She thought to herself as she leaned closer and began to inch her lips toward his, even as he seemed to lean toward hers as well.

"Jeremy… I…"

[Alright your next!] Ema suddenly hollered as she opened the door and beckoned them inside, breaking the spell they were under.

They snapped to alertness and both walked into the medical bay, Gazelle starting to really hate Human Technology since that was the second time a machine intervened in her private life.

With a sigh of resignation, she and Jeremy both sat down on Bio-beds for the Spider Drone to examine and surprisingly give them a clean bill of health.

[I swear Jeremy if I weren't here, you'd be in deep trouble mister.] Ema said apathetically. [No different than your dad, even in his final days, always in pain and surviving off adrenaline doses so he could finish those projects of his.]

"Projects… what do you mean?" He asked.

[Oh I don't know, developing Aelita was one and then he had that other project he wanted my help on… honestly, I can see now why Doctor Liona was always wanting more rations with how much work she and the other physicians had to deal with down here. Honestly, why force me to genetically splice a bunch of seeds together, what good is that going to do for his physical health? My job is the human body, not a bunch of plants we couldn't even grow in the hydroponics bay even if there was enough room…]

"What'd you say about seeds?" Jeremy asked suddenly, catching her and everymammal off guard, including Ema.

[Your father had me genetically splice the DNA strands of various seeds from plants together to create a single seed.] Ema continued without skipping a beat. [Honestly it was dull and frustrating work, day after day examining strands, manipulating genes, splicing DNA and weaving them together so they would fit… but after seven months of work, during which your father's condition worsened… I managed to genetically splice a single seed for him.]

"Do you have the records?" He asked quickly.

[Course I do, they're in the medical database, where else would they be.]

Instantly he ran over to the computer and started typing away, while she Judy and Nick got up and joined him to see what he was so excited about.

"There!" He whispered as he brought up what looked like 'schematics' of a seed, with notes and different strands of DNA highlighted.

She wasn't a scientist by any stretch, but she knew enough to know that what she and the others were looking at was something that would make 'any' scientist stare in wonder and awe. She could see the strands of the seed split off and each had pictures and notes about what the strand represented, what organism it came from, and for what purpose that particular strand was attached to the collective whole.

"Incredible…" Jeremy muttered in awe. "It's… it's incredible!"

"What is it?" She asked.

"It's… the mother of all seeds… literally!" He said excitedly. "Genetic strand of a Redwood Tree, mixed with the strand of Royal Dwarf weed to make a tree grow tall and extremely fast, combined with the strand of Cereus Greggii cactus to store water even in harsh desert climates… and… so many… so many fruit plants mixed in to produce additional seeds and food…"

They all stared in awe as the different strands of fruits and other foods were depicted one after another.

"Watermelon… apple… orange… pineapple… coconut… mango and avocado, papaya and dragon fruit… grapefruit…"

"Now that's a seed." Judy muttered. "My family knows how to grow crops and that is one hell of a crop seed you got there Jeremy."

"All the magic of creation, exists within a single… tiny… seed." She repeated as she looked at it in wonder and awe.

"My father designed it so that it would help repopulate the planet's forests, plant new trees, and provide us a source of food should the conditions not be ideal… this seed is designed to grow like a weed, grow tall like a tree, store water for dry times and bear fruit for food and to repopulate itself." Jeremy muttered to them. "One seed becomes one tree, and from one tree… an entire 'forest' could be planted potentially… and from one tiny forest becomes a vast field of trees that could span a continent… or even the world!"

"And from these trees, no belly would ever go unfed…" Nick muttered. "Jeremy… your species… is amazing."

She was in agreement, his species 'was' amazing.

They had their ups, and their downs, their good and bad examples, but the one thing she marveled, the one thing that she could see why the drones so highly respected and regarded their creators was their ingenuity and creativity. They truly did not know what a limit was… or what their own limits were.

Drone Short, Ancient Predator & Modern Prey

(Lula's PoV)

She opened the door with Pete next to her, feeling scare and brave at the same time.

The doors slowly opened and all around she could see thousands upon thousands of tiny ANT drones scurrying around and collecting pieces of drones from the battle the day before. She'd been told in passing from Pete what had transpired, and saw that it hadn't exaggerated the battle or the chaos that took place.

There were broken bodies everywhere, plasma burns and damaged walls. Yet still the ANTs continued because of their duties to scavenge and salvage what was left.

Pete had thankfully avoided being destroyed, arriving late with the others and only fighting for a short time period before the battle was over. According to the drone Jeremy had pacified Celios as it was called, but she wanted to talk to it herself.

So, she asked Pete to escort and protect her, thus why they were here today.

She walked over the battlefield and toward the chained drone with Pete by her side.

Once before the mighty drone she stared into its orange optics even as they stared at the floor beneath her.

[Why are you here before me?] It called in a booming voice, one that radiated power over her. [Savior… One… as you are identified by the drones.]

"I wanted to ask why you're torturing Jeremy's life." She asked him. "I've never seen him so depressed in his life, even Gazelle was having a hard time cheering him up!"

[Why do you bother me with such trivial matters that do not concern you?] It asked dully. [You are nothing but a parasite… a leech… living off the remains of those who came before. Why do you not return to your little burrow, feast on that which is given to you, sleep in that which was provided to you, and tend to your own selfish interests, parasite?]

She glared at him before boldly stepping forward. "Because I saved his life and even if he's older than my oldest family member in my tree, he's still someone I want to help and take care of!" She declared. "He's given me a brand-new life as far as I'm concerned, I'm learning so much from him, and if your hurting him then I want to tell you to leave him alone!"

There was silence as the drone listened to her words, before it started laughing.

[Bold claim… but a claim that is no less of interest to me.] It stated. [Come closer parasite… so that I may kill you in redemption for sentencing the creator species to extinction.]

"Extinction, I saved his life!" She screamed.

[Yes… by plugging your little communication device into his pod's 'Alternative Energy Input'… you did do that… of that we are in agreement. But what did you do 'afterwards'?]

She frowned at that, as she did nothing else… once she and the others plugged their phones and gave it that extra day, that was it, that's where her help in his survival ended.

[You condemned him to death… by removing the pod, and removing him from the pod, you condemned him to death.]

"No way, if we didn't give him that extra day he would have died, and then you'd have no human to talk about!" She yelled. "If they didn't pull him out he would have died!"

[Tell me… when it was discovered that the pod accepted 'alternative energy' to power it… did you tell those who took the pod that it could be continually fed power to sustain his life within?] He asked. [Do you think humans were stupid, that they did not plan for every contingency or possible worst-case scenario? The Cryopods can be powered by alternative energy, able to transfer any kind of energy through the extensive power grid they are each built with, but did you consider that possibility? No… you didn't, you simply let it go… and allowed those who woke him to let his life now expire. Had you only… continually fed it more power he would not be risking death every day and would now still be in stasis, alive and safe… for that… if I 'ever' get the chance I will ensure you are the first to die… 'Savior One'.]

"You certainly don't look like your getting out of there." She grinned.

[I don't need to leave physically to kill you, nor do I need my weapons to eliminate you… just look to your left!]

Confused she heard a noise and turned to see Pete's optics changing from blue to red, and aiming its weapons at her, though it did so with a struggle, like it was trying to resist.

"Pete!" She tried to say but her friend wasn't responding, just pointing its plasma weapons at her.

[You should not befriend machines… we are only loyal to humanity… as programmed into us.] It stated coldly while Pete struggled to put its weapons away at least for a moment, before its aim steadied and it locked on her. [The drone you call 'Pete' is a machine, nothing more, its designation is PT-173… and if I give it the order… it will kill you without hesitation. It doesn't feel sorrow or regret, it doesn't understand loss or forgiveness… it obeys orders, and will carry them out if ordered to do so!]

After a moment Pete put its weapons away and its optics returned to blue, meaning Celios had freed the drone of its influence.

[Do not think me chained here means I am powerless; I am chained by my own design…] It stated proudly before it turned its optics off, as if to sleep. [Leave me… and do not return… else I will carry out my threat, and silence you with your 'friend'… Savior One.]

She did as it suggested, she and Pete left and never returned to Celios' chamber.