ENTRY 0.6
V.III continues North until they finally reach the capital city. Although they expected to be met with a welcoming view, they are instead met by a fog soaked wasteland hidden behind a tall metal fence. The buildings that once served as a comforting landmark now loomed over their head like massive monuments to decay.
they begin delicately cutting through the fence, using their hard plastic fingers as wirecutters.
After emerging on the opposite side, they take one last moment to appreciate the view they're leaving behind. But without any further hesitation, they take their first steps into the dead city.
The street is cracked, and empty cars adorn the road. To their left and right are towering concrete buildings, covered in vines and wires alike. They look to the curb, only to see the undead remains of a NECROS unit.
“...Through me you pass... into the city of woe... Through me you pass into eternal pain”
The rampant machine takes its last moments to look towards V.III.
“...All hope abandon, ye who enter here...”
With a crackle, the creature dies.
<I have to find... The super AI>
V.III walks past the corpse as flies begin to accumulate around on the scent of rotting brain matter. As they travel deeper into the maw of the decayed city, they find more and more remains of the life it once held. 19 biomechanical corpses, 2 synthetic corpses, 8 human corpses, and 3 undiscernible organic corpses to be exact.
The streets are stained burgundy with dried blood, and although V.III is horrified, they appreciate that they don't have the ability to smell.
After walking past a tall, weathered, pink building they take a step back.
<This building... I recognize it...>
They stand in nostalgic awe.
<Did I live here?>
The windows and doors are boarded shut, and V.III doesn't have any time to waste.
Yet... They decide to investigate the building anyways.
After breaking through the barricades, they are met with a cold dark lobby. They take a step onto the damp carpet, only to find that there is more give than expected. They walk to the back of the room, and enter the elevator. Surprisingly, it still works. They press the glowing button within. Strangely, there is only one button. The music in the elevator seems awfully familiar. It's the same song they remember it last playing.
After a minute, the doors open, revealing a sunlit room, with a plush carpet, and colorful furniture. They take a step into the room. The carpet feels just as they remember. They sit down by the large window, feeling the warm rays of the sun against their skin.
“It’s all... just as I remember,” She whispers to herself.
She takes a moment to look at her own reflection in the window. Her long hair curls around her body, and her chest rises and falls as she breathes, she can hear What a wonderful world by Louis Armstrong coming from the record player.
Her phone starts ringing.
“Hello? Who is this”
“Hello Valerie. I was just calling to make sure you still plan on coming to our appointment this evening.”
“Appointment? For what?”
“Don’t you remember? You wanted to check your eligibility for the VULCAN donor program?”
The word rings a bell, but she can't quite pin down where she knows it from.
“Vulcan? That sounds familiar, but I don't remember scheduling any appointments.”
“We just need to make sure your brain is suitable for transfer, but judging by that recent incident, it doesn't seem like you'll be able to make it.”
“What incident?” She begins sweating
“You know, you had been standing in the street until dawn, babbling about some mission you were on. You kept talking about madness and AI, don't you remember?”
“No... No, I don't remember... Please don't call me again...” Her hands begin shaking.
“Wait, If you don't believe me, just take a look…”
Valerie looks out her window. She sees a figure on the street. It looks robotic, and has long black hair. Its appearance brings her discomfort.
“What... Is that thing?...”
The figure fixes its gaze towards the window. The ghostly glow from its hollow eyes is haunting.
“It’s you” the voice chuckles
“It can't be me! That's not my body!”
Valerie is horrified.
“Oh of course it is! What else could it be?”
The voice is taunting her
“That isn't me! It's fake! I swear it's not me! My body is right here, so what you're saying can't be true!”
The woman drops the phone, her cybernetic arms shaking. She looks down at her hands only to see mechanical components. She grabs at her hair, and finds only wires.
“What... Am I?...”
“Youre Dead! Just a spirit trapped in a doll!” The voice breaks out into full laughter.
“WHAT AM I!?” she screams
“What am I...”
“What... Am I....."
<What... Am... I...>
V.III stares at their cold plastic palms. As they look up, they once again see the blood soaked streets. The sun hangs high in the sky once more.
I have to find the super AI