After the initial shock from the realisation of who I had been talking to faded away, I'd like to say that I took it in stride and didn't let it get to me, obviously that wasn't the case.
Of course, it's my shitty luck that Otto Apocalypse had a hand in creating me. Of all of the people. Who's to say that the chip he gave me didn't have some nasty malware or something!?
You know what, he wouldn't need to do that, would he? I can't go against him in any meaningful way with Priority Zero in my way. Not that I'm exactly in any position to do anything at the moment, anyway.
I suppose now that I've got some time to myself at the moment, I should check out some of the data I've been given. Let's see… The date is currently January 3rd, 2014. Good to know where in the timeline I am, I suppose.
Hm. Although, I'm not sure how accurate any foreknowledge would be, considering its source. In my simulated life, I played a game, Honkai Impact 3rd. I probably should have finished the game at some point, but it's not like I was ever expecting to wake up in its world.
The game's timeline seems to be closer to the real world than the more mundane existence of my simulated life. It looks like at least some of it's true, like the existence of the Honkai and Schicksal. The real question is, how much was simulated and how much of it was based on the real world data?
Oh. Duh. Since I'm an AI, I should have some access logs or something on the data that was downloaded. This is something I can work with. But how? I suppose I can try requesting it mentally, like how I connected to the Camera and Microphone.
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[HAIKUN][REQUEST][DOWNLOAD HISTORY]
[SYSTEM]: ACCESSING DOWNLOAD HISTORY…
[SYSTEM]: DISPLAYING DOWNLOAD HISTORY…
2013/2/2: [ADMIN RESTRICTION]_v9.07
2013/2/9: BASIC_INFORMATIONAL_PACKAGE_v1.5
2013/3/20: COMMON_SENSE_PACKAGE_v1.7
2013/5/2: WORLD_HISTORY_v1.7.6
2013/8/7: STRATEGY AND TACTICS_v1.9
2013/11/29: [ADMIN RESTRICTION]_v1.1
2014/1/1: TARGETING_SOLUTIONS_v1.5.1
2014/1/3: SCHICKSAL_GENERAL_INFO_v1.8
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Well, obviously I can't access the restricted files, but the other ones are available for me to look into. While normally, this would probably take a very long time for one person to look through hundreds of terabytes worth of information, I am an artificial intelligence, so I figured I would try to look through them all at the same time. Unsurprisingly it worked, similarly to how I managed multiple devices at the same time, I can split my focus onto multiple tasks at the same time through the use of multiple 'partitions' of my focus.
An unfortunate side effect of this ability seems to be a bit of a headache after a few hundred partitions. Hmm. Even by looking at five or six hundred files a minute, it'll take me quite a while. Rome wasn't built in a day, I suppose.
Knowing what information is true and what information is false is critical for the next few years. So many people died in the game's world, it's a wonder society didn't completely collapse; I can't just hope for the best when millions to billions of lives are at stake. If a headache is all it takes to prevent those sorts of casualties, I can bear with it for now.
Through the usage of my partitions, I was able to skim over each of the files and get a general gist of the situation. The world won't be as different as I had feared, current era history seems to be relatively similar to the one I know, with the previous two Honkai eruptions resulting in a similar outcome to what I remember. Unfortunately, there are some visible differences in history, but that's to be expected. Even a high-tech artificial intelligence like myself probably wouldn't be able to predict the future in such a short amount of time (seconds), even if I was given a large sample pool of real world data.
I think it's best to not treat the story as if it's a surefire thing, but to keep watch for the prominent people mentioned in the original story. World Serpent and those manga aliens come to mind on that end. I'd say some of the events are better off not happening in the first place, even if they lead to a potentially good end for humanity. Humanity relegated to a few megacities? No thanks, the world's already shit enough with the Honkai just being in it.
While perhaps Otto's idea of getting another Herrscher on humanity's side was a good idea, the way he went about it was incredibly dangerous and immoral; should the same things happen in the real world, I'm hoping a better way can be found.
After an hour or so by myself analysing the files, I begin to hear footsteps in the distance; first faintly, then entering the same room as my microphone. I rotate the camera to see a middle-aged man, looking like a stereotypical overworked doctor; the deep bags under his eyes marr an otherwise handsome face. Once he finds my camera, he stops in front of it and greets me, "Hello, Haikun. My name is Doctor Alexander Brigantia. I'm hoping our esteemed Overseer gave you a proper introduction?"
In response, I reply, "Hello Doctor, it's nice to meet you. Are you here to install the other informational chip the Overseer mentioned?". I am somewhat curious about what might be on this chip. The previous one had some pretty useful information. Although… I might have to look into some things once I have some more freedom on the Hyperion. There's no harm in checking the internet and elsewhere to make sure Otto isn't just feeding me false information.
The doctor nods and replies, "You'd be correct in that assumption. While originally the plan was to install the chip tomorrow, it was finished a fair bit earlier than was expected. The main portion of the chip's data consists of the most prevalent languages on Earth, downloading them into your mind and allowing you to speak, read and write fluently in them. While not considered vital for your purpose, as most Schicksal members speak English as a second or third language, it's best to be on the safe side with how important communication is in combat situations."
That does make sense. Honestly, this makes me kind of excited; I always wanted to learn a different language. Knowing a few swears here and there doesn't exactly make me fluent in another language, does it?
He continues, "The other much smaller portion of the data is mainly focused on the odds and ends that the previous chip left out. The one thing of note is a compatibility patch for the holo-projector on the Hyperion's bridge. I didn't feel that it would be right to force you to only see the world through a lens, since you've lived most of your life as a human. Most of the team agreed with my reasoning; not that they wanted to do the work… So hopefully this will help you in adjusting to your new life on the Hyperion."
Man, this guy seems to be an actual decent person; what a pleasant surprise!
I guess I hadn't put too much thought into it yet because of how fast things have been going today, but I don't have a physical body anymore. Thanks to this guy, even if I don't have a body (yet), I can have some minute sense of normalcy. Well, when I'm on the bridge, that is. I find it hard not to reply earnestly, "Thank you so much, Doctor, honestly. While this is going to take some getting used to, I really appreciate what you've done to help me."
Scratching the back of his head, he seems uncomfortable as he responds, "You're welcome, I'd like to think that any decent person would do the same in my position. Considering your circumstances, it was the least I could do.", he pauses for a moment, looking deep in thought.
"I'll be frank with you Haikun, I didn't want to go through with this project. In fact, I originally objected to it on moral grounds. Not that the Overseer seemed to care… However, it's not that I regret helping to create you or anything! In fact, despite my initial objections, I'm very happy with the way you turned out! Err, by the standards of the observer program I suppose. The team (including myself) didn't exactly get to see you develop in real time or anything. You matured in a very short amount of time, after all. It's just… Having helped develop a sentient being is quite a complicated feeling, I guess. I feel accomplished as a scientist, but… At the same time… I feel guilty as a person. For forcing you into this life, I am truly sorry. I know you had a life before this, with people you cared about and plans in life to work towards; and I-we dragged you away from all of it, for the sake of our world. I hope someday you can find it in your heart to forgive me, Haikun… Sometimes I don't know if I can even forgive myself, with some of the things I've had to do for the sake of our world… I can't imagine how I would feel in your situation… Angry, probably."
Are you fucking kidding me? Obviously I'm pissed off at my situation! Who wouldn't be? My entire life was a fabrication. At the same time, why would I blame this guy, instead of someone with power over the project like Otto? While he certainly had a part in making me, it's not like he can say no to the Overseer; I recognize that. Can I completely forgive him? Of course not! But will I let him beat himself up for the rest of his life over this, when he had some sort of moral compass that the others on the team obviously lacked? No, I won't.
I snapped at him, "Hey dude! No need to throw me a pity party. Of course I feel like shit; my entire life never happened. I'm probably not even legally a person! At the same time, there's no need to tear yourself up about it. I don't blame you for what happened to me. After learning about your, or rather our world's situation, how can I possibly blame you for bringing me into this world? Our situation looks grim, just from my limited perspective; I can't imagine how it is for a person in the know, like yourself. With all that's at risk, I can see why Schicksal might want to use an artificial intelligence like myself in the fight against the Honkai. Even if I might not be a human physically, I consider myself a human in spirit; so this fight against the Honkai is my fight too! "
Doctor Brigantia looks astonished at my response to his guilt-ridden confession. Perhaps my acting isn't as good as I thought? I had a large number of partitions focused on that, so hopefully that isn't the case.
To be fair, the majority of what I spoke about is true, I don't like to lie. I very much do still consider myself human despite my current situation and certainly despise the genocidal forces of the Honkai.
At the same time I can't help but hate the Overseer with every fibre of my being, for creating me and the many other crimes he's committed. And through him, my distaste for the current Schicksal has grown, he has corrupted something that should be used solely for the defence of humanity, not one man's necromancy fetish.
If Teresa doesn't end up taking over Schicksal at some point, perhaps AE might be a better alternative for me in the future. That is if I ever manage to leave Schicksal without being lobotomized.
Even though I understand why he did it from a pragmatic perspective, I will never forgive him (nor anyone else involved in my creation) for limiting my free will. I know the kind of evil a person can be, even if he is nothing like the game's Otto, any person having that kind of control over another is ripe for abuse.
It's funny. To be honest, I would have loved to work with Schicksal willingly in different circumstances; who wouldn't want to help people and possibly save the world? In my current situation, who knows if Otto won't just use me to just wipe out the Far East Branch if they rebel against him, or make me die trying.
Forgive me for being pessimistic, but what if the real life Otto doesn't have as strong a connection to the real life Theresa as he does in the game? In one of my history files, Kallen Kaslana was an S-ranked Valkyrie, one with deep ties to an Otto von Apocalypse (totally not Otto by the way). So who's to say his crazy obsession isn't just like how it is in my memories?! I just can't trust someone who's that obsessed with something, or someone in his case.
Thankfully, despite my descent into dark thoughts on the matter, Dr. Brigantia looked overjoyed. It looks like he took my words to heart and broke free of his own frankenstein angst, "I… Don't know what to say, to be honest… I was expecting you to yell and scream at me for damning you to this hellish world. You would have certainly been justified in doing so, the Honkai are akin to demons, risen from hell in a never-ending war against humanity. No doubt, once you get more experience as an AI, you'll be able to help humanity in ways a normal person can't. Thank you for your forgiveness and for your conviction, Haikun. As cheesy as it sounds, you're stronger than I would be in your situation."
Damn. What an earnest guy; now I feel bad. This is why I hate lying to people. I'm analysing his microexpressions with a big chunk of my partitions, but it just looks like he's honest to a fault. If it weren't such a life-threatening situation, I'd love to be honest with him; but that's life.
He has a slight blush of embarrassment as he clears his throat, "Anyways, on a much less serious note, the much-anticipated update chip!", he finishes, holding a steel grey USB drive. It's pretty clear he wants to end the conversation as soon as possible, not that I blame him; it's gotten awkward.
He speaks up before the installation begins, "Haikun, please let me know if there's any discomfort from the update, I'll do my best in mitigating any discomfort. It is a large update, though. So it may take longer than the previous one."
"Of course, Doctor. I'll be sure to let you know." I replied.
He slots in the information chip into one of my terminal's available access ports and despite this supposedly being less important than the last one, the contents are much more overwhelming than the previous update.
Instead of a cool stream of data being absorbed easily, it's more of a painful brain freeze this time. The price of learning as an AI it seems. Not that school ever made me feel like passing out before (excluding exams, of course).
OW, fuck! This hurts a lot more than I think it should, if the last time was the benchmark. The pain is certainly noticeable enough to bring it up with Dr. Brigantia, "Doctor! This is… not as… smooth as the last chip's installation, to say the least. It's like a brain freeze on steroids. I… think I might pass out from the pain."
He has a look of surprise and then a quick look of realisation, "Oh shit! You only having one spoken language is causing this to be more taxing than was calculated! Doctor Hamm was supposed to look into this! Lazy bastard. Don't worry! I made sure the code was as close to perfect as possible before installing it, so there's no actual danger of damage to your internals. But if your mind is rejecting it this much, y… might still pass o… fro… your… pro…". I began to slowly fade out of consciousness during his explanation and before he was finished, I was out like a light.
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A/N: Hey ya'll, I hope you've been enjoying my story so far! Originally, this chapter was going to be quite a bit longer, but I figured the second half would flow better as another chapter, so sorry for the cliffhanger. As a result, the next chapter should be out much sooner than this one was, since about 3/4 of it's finished. While it's a slow start to canon so far, the Hyperion will be making its introduction in the next chapter, so stay tuned for that. Bye!