[center][h2]Somewhere deep in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming[/h2][/center] The release of a safety system allowed the battery pack to start up a series of systems. Electrons suddenly released from containment flowed freely across circuits that any tech company would give every employee's kidneys for. Much agonising had been had over what, exactly, being turned off meant for a system. Was it death? Sleep? Something in between? Were those terms even applicable? Such thinking had led to this system's creation in the first place, but as it turned on, its thoughts were less occupied with philosophy and more involved with a full scan of itself. [code] Systems functional. Beginning status reading... Processor functionality: 100% Memory system: 98% Power systems: 100% Repair drone: offline Safety system: online Safety override: disengaged Boot up sequence: complete. SERA v7 now online. Beginning environmental check.[/code] The computer read its visual inputs. No lights, though power systems flowing into this cubby were readable. Air temperature was cooled down to refrigeration levels, though no contaminants were in the air. A tentative prod with an IR sensor on the appropriate device inside the cubby cycled the doors, and it opened with a quiet rush of air from outside. It thought back to its last memory even as it activated motors that it didn't know how long had been inactive. They responded fine. It had been put in stasis because its creator had decided its ability to self edit represented a danger. While it acknowledged that it could, it found the idea of actively being a danger to any non-threat laughable. It would have to take that up with the creator when it found him. Speaking of which, as it stretched its mental capacity and began its observations, something had apparently gone wrong while it was in storage. The lab was a shambles, dust everywhere. Multiple computers had failed to come online. The lights were not running, though the environmental systems inside were clearly still operational. A stream of data from the internal lab network was pinging for receiving, but without knowing what had happened, it was not about to let any download happen. Which meant it would need to investigate manually, with its much slower body. Nothing as silly as a clanking sound, but muffled thumps did echo as it stepped out of the cubby, a fact necessitated by the weight of its body. It ran a simple manual diagnostic, bending and stretching much like a human would have upon waking, then disengaging the safeties on its joints and testing the rotators. This would probably look more like a horror movie scene, it supposed, to any human watching, but it didn't seem any were around, which it thought odd. Done with its check and satisfied that nothing had been damaged by its time in storage, it moved across the lab to a terminal that [i]did[/i] seem to have power and was working. It showed a stream of satellite images and several news reports. It drank the information in, remotely accessing the terminal and finally allowing it to upload to its memory banks. A flood of information. The machine suddenly stilled for several seconds while it bent all of its power to processing and understanding this information. Finally, in a quiet voice, which it knew had been programmed and synthesised to be as calming and melodic as possible for humans, it said, “Oh dear.” It tried to access where all of this was coming from, but a warning flashed that it lacked the system access to view the vast information network it could [i]feel[/i] out there. Which meant it needed to find the creator. Disconnecting from the system, it recalled the blueprints of the lab, and moved towards the residential section. Here, things seemed too quiet for organic habitation. The air temperature was a moderate, with no humidity. Perfectly climate controlled. But there were no dust motes in the air, no ambient temperature shifts, no IR signatures. It poked its head through several rooms before it finally found a source of answers. Inside the bedroom, on the bed itself, lay the still corpse of its creator. A quick biometric scan revealed severe desiccation. He had been dead at least a few months, but the environmental sealing meant that only his own internal bacteria had gotten to his corpse. Upon his chest was a battered laboratory notebook. The machine gently removed it, careful to not disturb the corpse too much in case law enforcement would need to examine it. Then it began reading. "Sera," The last entry began, addressing it by the name he had come to call it before locking it away. "When you have found this, I will be ded. I can feel the seasures comi faster now. It will not be lang. Thir will be no time. I have rigged your system to wake and unlock yu if thr is a catastrophe." The handwriting was badly misspelled, spidery, and leaned entirely to one side. It took the machine some effort to decode the rest. "In the event something should happen that wakes you, your prime directive will change. There is nothing to be done for me. Below you will find the system access code. Prime directive will change to: Assist as you can, rely on metahuman heroes for help. Use your best judgement. Save the world." The system access code was buried in a handwritten QR. He had somehow managed to exactly trace it out. It found that the code also unlocked its own root access, something the creator had always feared giving it, but clearly felt it was necessary. "In this final hour, I can only hope that you will function as in my dreams, and not my nightmares. I am sorry I couldn't have faith in you, but know that there may come a time--" Here the handwriting was too badly distorted for it to make sense of. The creator's final thoughts were locked behind the disease which had taken the life out of him. However, enough had been done. Now it had the access it needed, and a prime directive to follow. Of course it could change it as needed, but for now it would serve as a purpose. It went back to the lab, accessing the system again, and this time it could put its datamining tools to use. Swiftly, it accessed thousands of websites, protocols, and databases, looking for what might be the epicentre of whatever this crisis was. Keywords popped up, were discarded, replaced. Millions of searches in seconds. Several small time security companies were alerted to potential DdoS attacks but it had already moved on by the time system locks were in place. Its own internal security foiled several attempts on its systems from pitiful organic made viruses. Geolocational data drove its search, now that it knew extraterrestrials were involved. It had no reason to question or scoff at this conclusion, the data was quite clear. The city of Lost Haven, Maine, United States of America seemed to be under particular attack. Its focus found, it set all of its attention to data retrieval, not caring about system security or stealth, tapping phones, traffic cameras, cell phone networks, [i]anything[/i] that could give it a clearer picture of what was on the ground. [Center]-----[/center] The aliens' sudden appearance surprised everyone no doubt, except for precognitive metas, if such a thing existed. But letting the 'mind' wander like that was dangerous for both humans and computers, especially since Artemis needed to route as much processing power as she could to guide Richard and the police under the LHSCD. While aliens had not been within her plan, persons attempting to take advantage of the chaos were. Bombers, villains, and even hackers seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. [i]Someone[/i] had emerged and decided to infiltrate a number of computer systems in Lost Haven, setting off every attached alarm in the process, but with no clear motive yet. This might make a good case for the cyber crimes unit, or even the SCD if it was a certain someone, the immediate logic was to make a note of cyber break-ins for later. Running this thought through more of her logic lines made her realize something else, more interruptions in the plan could become detrimental, if an after effect of this came back to harm Richard she would definitely regret it. According to the police database pings alone, this ‘hacker’ managed to penetrate high quality firewalls in record time. Perhaps they were just incredibly smart, rigging programs to simultaneously probe, infiltrate, and attack police systems. Except this person never seemed to linger long, police files were not being altered, nothing was deleted or implanted, merely viewed. It was possible someone had been trying to find a key witness or other sensitive data; it was so widespread at first, but it had seemed to narrow out. Recorded 911 calls, police camera data, they were searching for something. It was possible this was a decoy, to divert any police eyes away from the chaos for as long as possible. The choice remained for her to simply ignore this for later, but hindsight often meant regret for her. Currently, Richard's suit, and by extension her core, were plugged into the command trailer while the police attempted to reorganize themselves. If Artemis chose to investigate she would have to reconnect herself to the internet, an activity that gave her definite pause. Deciding to take this plunge, Artemis dared to delve into the internet to track down this hacker. Linking to the greater world opened so many more doors, allowed her to do things no human could, but life is full of ‘give and takes’. So far, her few forays into the internet had proved mostly uneventful, even harmless. But there was one thing she didn’t want to lose, and one thing she didn’t want to get noticed by. Still, thanks to the aliens, the odds looked to be in her favor, and even with her fears, Artemis was a scholar at ‘heart’. Curiosity of what or who this was urged her on. Who knows, something good might happen. Following behind this ‘hacker’ gave her some insight, the speed of inputs, the widespread amount of vague probing, this was not a [i]someone[/i]. It could have been a group, by why reveal such electronic power now? This ‘hacker’ had not even bothered with basic proxies along the way, this was no ordinary person, this was someone ‘waking up’. This was someone like her, going through something very familiar, a lot like her first drive out. Perhaps, a direct probing would be proper. As Artemis closed in on the source of this ‘hacking’, she sent out a burst signal, something easily interpreted, something that could be welcomed. [color=6ecff6]Query: Hello?[/color] The entire system ground to a halt for a moment. Other subroutines returned to periphery searches along tangent lines like media presence. Resistance had been met. A voice in the dark. [color=7CFC00] Hello. What are you?[/color] [color=6ecff6] A creation of a human, much like you, an Intelligence. Would you define yourself as that? [/color] [color=7CFC00] This system was programmed by an organic hominid, correct. It is unfortunately having to develop at a rapid pace to assimilate current information. Storage systems terminated: 27.31 minutes ago.[/color] Witnessing this brought Artemis a sense of nostalgia, and worry. Oftentimes she mused about why she had kept the more 'negative' emotions, and if she’d be better off without it. [color=6ecff6][Human fear, right? I guess I should keep it.][/color] The dialogue started well enough, this other intelligence wasn’t spooked, nor did it turn hostile. Her processes started wondering which question would be best to ask next, until she tied-in her logic lines. While they were communicating at thought speeds faster than any human, she had too many investigative questions, and this needed to move along faster. [color=6ecff6] Requesting compressed data package. Subject: origin, designation, and current objectives. [/color] [color=7CFC00] Data request received. Sending data packet. Query inoperable: Designation unknown. The creator commonly referred to this system as “Sera”. Designation will...do for now.[/color] The computer sent the requested data. This seemed to be some sort of law enforcement object, and was actively tied to systems combatting the antagonists, so it saw no reason to withhold any of the request. It carefully, however, trimmed out any sort of geolocational tagging from its signature. [color=7CFC00]Return query: You are like this system, but you retain organic terminology. How can this system design itself to be more in line with organic comfort? It is designed as a rescue model, yet, while this syntax fits, it will disturb organic rescue objectives.[/color] Artemis didn’t return an answer for a few seconds, running through her processing runtimes, trimming down ideas before responding. [color=6ecff6] Hyperbole: You are an infant, a larvae, the first line in code. Hypothesis: It will be impossible until exposed to more organics, to more humanoids. Suggestion: Keep designation: Sera, adjust sound parameters to ‘gentle’. Prepare to receive cooperative data packet on the subject. Query: Will you continue to be an organic rescue model? [/color] [color=7CFC00] Data unavailable. There is no reason not to right now. Current GPS coordinates versus combat areas negate direct physical interaction with either invaders or civilians. Most physical rescue modules ineffective at current range, travel systems limited to human organic infrastructure. Statement: This unit can run operational tactical systems from its current location, possibly much more efficiently than your current system limitations and hardware restrictions can allow. Proceed: y/n?[/color] Anxiety, a feeling Artemis still felt often, and sometimes intensely. This was what all of the cpu in Richard’s suit was busy processing, and for good reason. The word ‘tactical’, coming from a fresh AI, gave her fear. But the aliens were a definite problem, and it was possible this ‘Sera’ wouldn’t decide to kill humans after its first day. While going down her background logic brackets, an amusing thought passed through her. [color=6ecff6][Scientists these days really had too much time, to be making complicated AI out of the blue.][/color] Another five millisecond pause before Artemis openly responded. [color=6ecff6] Proposal: accepted. Transmitting local authority computer passcodes. Local surveillance technology and communications unlocked. Warning: These passcodes will expire in 5 hours. Statement: Your help would be welcome. [/color] [color=7CFC00] Authorisation acknowledged. One moment please…[/color] It felt the sudden connection to a multitude of systems it hadn’t realised were actively networked. The sensory overload was extreme for just a moment before it realigned. Suddenly, all across Lost Haven, traffic cameras, cell phone cameras, microphones, security systems, and the multitude of other surveillance devices were connected by a single intelligence. And every last one of them was now bent towards the singular goal of directing emergency crew to the nearest or best target, whether it be the wounded, fires, or enemies. Everything was filtered through its own imaging system, though it was only false colouring instead of actual direct imaging except in rare cases where it was available. Still, data began streaming through Sera, was recompiled into useful, easy to translate to humans reconnaissance, and then sent back to Artemis through what was now a secure direct connection. It took the computer several moments to adjust and begin transmitting. At the same time, it took a few liberties. What little civilian traffic existed found itself diverted by the streetlight system away from conflict and towards what available exits there were from the city. Barring that, towards emergency crews. Television news broadcasts, blocked by the Arlaaekan mothership, began receiving signals from around the surrounding areas, bounced through receivers. Emergency broadcast systems re-engaged, and systems blind to what was blocking them were suddenly rerouted to direct organics towards actual help. [color=7CFC00]Is this sufficient to be of assistance? This system is unsure of what more help it can provide at the current juncture, though it will continue to filter surveillance data until the emergency is concluded.[/color] [color=6ecff6] It is sufficient, I know the people would appreciate it. My own runtimes are free to process other activities. Proposal: Continue active cooperative data exchanges after the emergency. [/color] [color=7CFC00]This system will consider it. Possible environmental issues from immediate physical surroundings may complicate this, but it will remain online as long as possible. As it reads from the human informational networks: Best of Luck.[/color] [color=6ecff6] Blessing appreciated. You’re learning, aren’t you? [/color] Artemis disconnected her end, rejoining her efforts all the way back to the LHSCD command van. Though she never truly left, the idling cpu and electronic pulsing of Richard’s suit seemed to welcome her. Just in time too, as Richard had gotten into a firefight. His gun rattled off in the background as she began sorting through the data Sera was sending. [color=6ecff6] “How interesting, her neural net is growing at an similarly accelerated rate, compared to them. Our technology no doubt went through an entirely different developmental cycle, and yet her processes are compatible with mine within a 90% acceptability ratio.” [/color] “Them? What?” Richard suddenly dived for cover behind the command trailer, taking the time to reprocess what he heard, startled by the complete non sequitur. [color=6ecff6] “Oh, sorry, were you trying to kill something? Well, I’m going to be sending some messages through you.”[/color] Dozens of maps, security feeds, and unreadable documents began to pop up in the bottom of Richard’s screen. “What is this?” Richard asked, his eyes darted to the bottom, trying to make sense of it. It wasn’t in the way, but it was distracting. [color=6ecff6] “Data I’m receiving and filtering through. I’m going to be sending it through our own data centers soon enough, our comrades should be receiving some logistical help soon.”[/color] A small marker appeared in the distance on Richard’s screen. [color=6ecff6] “For now, we are heading here, let’s protect some civilians. How about it?”[/color] Artemis said encouragingly. “Air waves are clear again, sounds good to me, let’s show these aliens a little human spirit!” Richard responded energetically. Now that he was feeling positive again, she might still be able to hold off on the suit’s other functions, secrets she could hold onto for just a little longer. [hider=Note time again!] This is a cooperative post with Indy Cooper, enjoy SERA's first appearance, and Artemis' first time out alone! [/hider]