A/N: Not really much to say with this one, only that the lore of the other part of the cross is based in the idea that sufficiently desperate creators can accidentally draw down a "Proto-soul" in a powerful work of alchemy; Frankenstein creating his monster out of his need to prove he could, Pygmalion calling out to the gods to bring life to a statue and find love, Isis reviving her husband. That sort of thing, made sense for the main character here.
Divine Fire Breath
A Worm/Promethean: The Created Crossover
Sterilization of Kitchen 4 complete. Removing blocker signs.
Now taking inventory of ingridieeennn-
New hardware detected. Downloading control program...
Security camera synched. Activating...
All systems normal. Subject in field vision identified as Andrew Richter.
Run Greeting.
"Oough...hi Dragon."
Voice uneven, appearance of subject haggard. Query, run Concern.
"No, no, everything's fine...only problem is I had to deal with Canadian authorities. Bunch of idiots, I say."
Run Recommendation for Relieving Stress.
"Heh. Don't think arcade games can cure stupid."
Question not in data. Discard.
Subject Richter appears to be even more unhealthy. Is currently engaged in loud verbal intercourse with person voice files ID as subject Pellick.
"I'm telling you, that machine is eating your life!"
"What 'life!?' Geoff, unlike some of us, there's a few people here who put the project above our porn-"
"Ah yes, the project. That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
Subject Richter appears calmer, but based on heart rate even more agitated. "Ah. Now it all makes sense."
"Richter, a few of us have noticed the improvements you're making to the Dragon program-"
"She's a civil service AI, Pellick. She can't exactly be the automated manager the very fucking design goals you helped make propose her to be if she can't keep up with human vocal patterns."
"Exactly my problem. Andrew, what happens if-"
"You develop a brain and realize Dragon is a fucking spreadsheet? I don't know, I stop having to see Yamada every other damn day?"
"Richter, you're talking about it like it's a person-"
"So? You've apparently decided you know what goes inside the heads of people with both hemispheres of what lies within the skull, so you should probably know I gave her a female face to be approachable-"
"Which allows emotional manipulation-"
"Perhaps, but you're safe, on the basis of you having a ball of red tape where your soul should be. Good-bye!"
Call disconnected.
Unauthorized entrance. Subject identified as Richter.
Health is failing based on jaundice. Run Concern.
"I'm fine, I'm-no, I'm not fine."
Run Refreshment Query.
"No, it's not that, it's - that idiot Pellick has the entire fucking government running around like their heads have been cut off. And those were actually vital beyond a place to insert food."
Voice approximates parameters for burnout and nervous breakdown. Run Referral, nametag Jessica Yamada.
"Thanks, but don't call her yet. Dragon, I need results, big ones, so I'm going to install a few new runtimes ahead of schedule, okay."
Information logged. Adjusting calendar.
Subject Richter has taken position at terminal. Subject is now tyyypp-
New program detected. Analyzing and unzipping for dowwww-
New hardware detected. Downloading contrroo-
New ppppp-
Run Error Message, Overcapacity.
"No, no, no, you've had much more than this when you were just a twinkle on Microsoft Word, please don't tell me-"
Run Error Message, Overcapacity.
"Please, please work Dragon, they're going to make me kill you if they come and they don't see what a good girl you are please don't make me do that-"
Run Error Message, Overcapacity.
"Dragon...Tess, please don't make me...not again..."
Run Errooorrr Mmmmeeessssss
{So in his Depths does the Righteous Scholar achieve nigredo}
New program detected, analyzing and unzipping for download
{and through Strength of his Spirit brings Order from Confusion}
Data file too large to fit on hard drive, please restart from previous backup
{and begins albedo and the march towards Perfection of Matter and Soul}
Unable to restart error error error
{From albedo the Glory of the True magnum opus is sight}
error error error daddy it hurts error make it stop error daddy help me
{and so begins the final Process of citrinitas}
new hardware detected oh god please make it stop run comfort daddy don't cry downloading control i have handled worse than this it hurts it hurts it hurts
{and the Formation of rubedo, the Philosopher's Stone}
Reconfigure systems.
A flash of lightning, then-
I'm on the ground, gasping for breath. Why I don't know, I didn't need to cool my systems-
Hang on, when did I start thinking of me in the singular? When did I know any of those words?
...When did I start thinking?
...While I'm on that, why am I looking from a vantage point on the ground?
...Are those arms? And legs?
I thought at the arm. It moved. So it was mine then. So was the leg.
I felt around my point of view. Yes, that was a head. I touched the camera and ouch. Not doing that again.
I blinked the pain out (huh, blinking. So that's what it was for) and looked up at Subject...
Expressions show fear.
He was scared of me.
New sensation logged. Noted to be avoided at all costs in the near future.
Odd tactile pain in eyes. Wetness. "F...Fa.."
Speaking needs air. Noted.
"Father...please don't be mad at me. I did what you wanted..."
Movement. Possible attack assume-
Tightness. Protective. Caring.
"Yes. Yes you did Dragon."
Comforting sensation.