<Snipped quote by Artifact>

She’s an AI, of sorts.

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

*Blinks*
A... I?

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

Artificial Intelligence. Not familiar with the concept where you’re from?

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

*Shakes my head*
Not by that name. I presume some kind of technological soul?

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

Traditionally, kinda. They’re really just extra smart computers, but Chickpea is a little closer to your description than most.
*Slides the new cylinder into the same slot as the old*

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

How do you make a computer “smart” to begin with?

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

It’s all beyond me. I don’t know anything about the inner workings.

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

Who made this, then?

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

Not any one person. Not by a longshot.
*Displays of various locations of conflict as a result of this war become displayed on monitors across the center console, and I turn to face you*
Your hand going to grow back? Got any starfish in your blood?

<Snipped quote by Threads of Fate>

What do you mean for you?

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

I’ll get the hand back. I lose fingers all the time—you get used to it.

<Snipped quote by Host>

I mean that it's not possible for me to turn it off.

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

I don’t think I’d want to.
…
*Walks away from the terminal and opens a portal*
Think about your plans. Tell me about them when I get back. Or disappear, it’s up to you. You’re not under any obligations.

<Snipped quote by Threads of Fate>

Yeah, but you say it like someone else could.

<Snipped quote by Host>

I suppose it might be possible, but I didn't intend that.

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

...Hey, one thing before you go.

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

Mm?

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

*Tosses you a small disk with a button at its center*
Do whatever you want with this, I’m done using them. I would have gotten much further without it.

<Snipped quote by Artifact>

*Catches it*
The power boosting device you drained?

<Snipped quote by Valiance>

They don’t store any power themselves. Using it lets you boost your abilities far past your normal limits, but at the cost of exhausting yourself once you’ve used it all. Break it for all I care, but know that pretty much everyone has one.