The next morning, Yuren sat at his desk with his fingers interlocked, holding a grim expression.
"Woah! That's a really good Impression of General Ivenhower, Commander." Kuno said as she entered the office.
"Is everything okay?" Lina inquired, noticing his mood.
"Hmmm..." He let out a long exhale but did not say anything.
"The Commander's resonance capacity has increased by 15% in line with projections. HMIS014's core is stabile and density progression will proceed within 17 hours." Naiola reported.
"Wait, what? What are you talking about?" Kuno tilted her head.
"It's very complicated, Kuno." Yuren maintained his pose and expression.
"Commander..." Lina sighed, "What on earth are holding that expression for?"
"I'm sorting out a very difficult moral dilemma." Yuren replied.
"You're so funny, Commander." Kuno laughed, "That expression is a bit much."
"I understand it may be a difficult decision. But it must be done." Naiola stated.
"So when did Naiola show up? What proficiency alignment and specs?" Kuno bounced over to the new android.
"XRVS01 is a computational platform, it does not require a specific alignment or training." Naiola responded.
"Huh? So you don't use weapons?"
"The primary armament is the Jiǔ Lóng Bì system, which utilizes the computational platform's computing power and neural network to generate and fire energy lances at targets. Secondary armament is the Yáng Lóng Dāo system, which is an integrated combat blade capable of transforming into an energy scythe and lance. Would you like to know the seven other armaments?"
"N-no, we don't. Jesus..." Lina held her head.
"This is amazing!" Kuno's eyes sparkled, "You're amazing! We should spar!"
"Understood."
"What?!" Lina turned.
"That's a bad idea, Kuno." Yuren finally broke his pose to stand.
"Nah, I'd win." Kuno grinned.
"There is an 0.023% chance of ATI91 accomplishing victory." Naiola responded.
"Bet!" Kuno launched at the android.
"Kuno!" Lina shouted.
"Beginning combat." Naiola stated.
"Kuno!" Lina repeated.
Kuno slammed up against an energy wall as she tried to punch Naiola, then was blasted out the window with a shockwave.
"Engagement ended. ATI91 incapacitated."
"Oh dear god." Lina held her face.
"T-this is the sixth floor!" Yuren stood up.
"She'll be fine, we're androids remember? The sixth floor is like two feet to us. We can do shock drops from 25,000 feet." Lina informed.
"Right... Right." Yuren nodded, remembering that the android body didn't have a lot of human limitations.
"Well, I'll go pick her up." Lina sighed, heading to the door.
"Naiola, are you sure there no other way?" The young commander questioned.
"Yes. This is the optimal path." Naiola replied.
"But... Since I'm Meteorn as well is there a possibility I can do it a different way? Because I don't think that's what they're doing inside the black-out zones." Yuren said.
"That is a correct assumption. Meteorn Lords are capable of creating new Meteorn and evolving them directly from ambient resonance. However, the process is not understood by science and cannot be predicted. No information exists on the subject."
He cupped his chin in thought. If he could learn how the Lords manipulated resonance in such a way, then maybe he could find a different solution for the 701st. "There's no information on it at all?"
"None. Meteorn Lords have not been studied. The risk is too great."
"I see." Yuren sat back down.
"The only recorded instances of Meteorn Lords were during the early years of the war when the first black-out zones were formed. These events were recorded, but there is no understanding of the way these lifeforms manipulate the energy they produce." Naiola explained
"Wait, that means the blackout zones might not be blackout zones at all, right?"
"It is impossible to determine. The data does not exist." She replied
"Right. But it's possible." Yuren mused, a glimmer of hope. "But there's no information on the Lords, right?"
"Correct."
He immediately went back to his thoughts. There had to be a way to get information; maybe there was a possibility he could talk to one? The one they encountered on the mission seemed to recognize him. Could that be because of his resonance?
"Probability of peaceful encounter with Meteorn Lord: 0.001%." Naiola stated.
"Wait, how did you know I was thinking about that?" Yuren gasped.
"You initially inquired about the Meteorn's method of resonance manipulation. Logically, the preceding inquiry would be around the subject of Meteorn Lords. Were you not going to ask about the chances of encountering one?" The A.I. explained.
"I'm gonna ignore that." Yuren turned his chair around, facing the window. "But you're not wrong."
"If that is the case, Commander, I would suggest not trying to locate one. The chance of survival is zero." Naiola informed.
"I didn't say I was gonna go find one. I was just thinking about possibilities. Don't read too much into it." Yuren replied.
"If that is the case, I would still advise against it. The chance of survival is zero."
"Right..."
"Inquiry: Commander, I am quite curious about something. May I ask a question?" The AI stood before his desk.
"Sure, go ahead."
"Many androids are a combination of human and Meteorn technology. Their creation will be a valuable asset to all of mankind. I must admit, I was under the impression that you wouldn't be upset about the source of android creation and that you would accept the process for the sake of humanity. Why did you not approve of it and want to retrieve XMV22 and XMV04?"
Yuren stared at her, taken aback by the question. It wasn't typical for an AI, especially one as advanced as this, to ask such a thing.
"It's just..." Yuren took a deep breath. "When I saw the process, it was... horrible. Those people were being turned into nothing more than a source of parts. They were losing their identity, their sense of self—everything that made them a person."
"I see. That has been most helpful. May I ask you one more question?" Naiola replied.
"Sure, go ahead."
"I am an autonomous being, capable of my own thoughts and judgments. I am no different from humans or Meteorn. If there is a difference, it is the presence or absence of a brain or core. What do you see me as?"
Yuren froze, surprised. He hadn't expected her to ask something like that. It was very unusual for an AI, but at the same time, it made sense. If she were truly autonomous, it would make sense for her to have her own questions and curiosities.
"Something like a Meteorn... I guess," he replied after some thought.
"What defines it?"
Humans had their brains, and Meteorn had their cores, but between them, they all had their own thoughts and feelings. What truly defines someone would be... "A soul..."
"Is that so? That was most helpful," Naiola stated. "Thank you for answering my questions, Commander."
Yuren sat quietly as she left the office, contemplating her last question. He hadn't expected her to engage in such an existential thought process, and the way she phrased it made it seem as if she was seeking confirmation.
He became a little worried as to why the AI was suddenly sent to the 701st and what this whole situation was about. Its processing and analyzing capabilities seemed like something they'd keep in the command center.
Just why would the Vice Minister give it to him? First the androids and now this? Even more, she has been unavailable for weeks. Was something wrong? Something that caused her to give him control of these things? He could only feel concern for the future.
Just then, he noticed Garra in the corner of the room, watching him.
Just how long had she been there? Had she been listening to the entire conversation?
He also remembered it was both Garra and Eri who were responsible for his security and either one would be in his shadow during the day and in his room at night.
What surprised him the most was how she never said anything this whole time. She likely even knew about his tryst with Ester.
His face went pale as she slowly approached.
"I... I'm sorry." Yuren apologized, feeling ashamed.
"Sorry for what?" Garra raised an eyebrow.
"For... you know."
"No, I don't." Annoyance quickly rose in her voice.
"For... Ester."
"Shut up." Garra spat.
"Garra, I..."
"I already knew about the Vice Minister's plan for us. I was the first to hear it, I know What's going on. So don't apologize to me. We're nothing but puppets in her grand scheme, you just doing extactly as she wants."
"But you didn't try to stop it. And you could have shot Ester after the mission."
"I. Already. Knew. The. Plan." Garra growled. "It's what the Vice Minister wants, and none of us can refuse."
"Garra..."
"Just shut the hell up." She hissed, "I'm not going to talk about this anymore."
Yuren didn't say anything as she returned to the back of the room, keeping her distance from him. He had no idea how to explain himself, nor did he know if there was anything to say.
"Garra, I..."
"Commander." Naiola interrupted him via radio, "You are being summoned to the command center."
"Command Center? Is something wrong?" Yuren questioned.
"An urgent notice has been sent to the 701st. Your immediate presence is requested."
"I'm on my way." Yuren sighed.