Chapter 1557 - Communication (2/2)
Vivian immediately pulled the idiot back. “Who would believe you if you say that now… Would you believe it yourself?”
Hao Ren stepped forwarded as he ordered the MDT, without a word, to land on the floor as he looked up at the black pillar. “You probably wouldn’t believe her, but what she said is the truth. We mean no harm, and the incident at Zenith was not by choice, but you have probably already received the reports. In that ‘battle’, my droid swarm did not…”
“Did not destroy anything.” the Cortex Prime finished Hao Ren’s sentence. “I used 1.4 seconds to process this illogical report. In that few hours long ‘battle’, your army had pretty much paralyzed all defensive systems on Zenith, but yet you had yet to use any lethal weaponry, and all damaged squadrons were safe… What is the meaning of this? I fail to understand.”
Hao Ren frowned as he realized some dissonance. As the highest AI program of the survivors, this Cortex Prime’s human-like quality was even lower than an executor like N-6. While the Cortex Prime had already displayed plenty of thought and deduction capability but…
Hao Ren was hard-pressed to describe this feeling, and could only use ‘lack of humanity’ to describe it.
And just as he started wondering about it, N-6 spoke. “Cortex Prime. Please trust these outsiders. They have indeed come to help us. They are searching for the embers of civilization across the universe and to protect them. I have seen their technical capabilities, and perhaps they could help us retake our homeworld, and fix your malfunctions…”
Before N-6 could finish, the Cortex Prime interrupted her. “Serial number E75-3C6215, Executor code N-6. You were supposed to have been destroyed in our homeworld in the previous operation. I had confirmed your signal was lost, and yet you have returned… Did this outsiders aid you?”
N-6 looked up at the Cortex Prime, her voice firm.” Yes, Cortex Prime. I can also prove that my personality has not been altered.”
“There is no need to prove anything.” the Cortex Prime said before turning its attention to Hao Ren. “Outsider, I am not able to determine your origins or your goals, but let me be clear: We do not need the aid of outsiders, we will complete our calling. Please return home.”
“But you are dying.” Hao Ren interjected as the MDT floated to his side. “Your servers are going offline and the malfunction is affecting every calculation unit in this fortress. I have checked, you are using the last of your functioning units to maintain this conversation. We can help you, but I need to know why are you doing this. Your mission is to protect humans and to help them retake their homeworld. Your rejection of our aid contradicts your calling.”
“You had once forbidden anyone to approach our ship, and yet you then deployed a squad to look for us. And now that we are here, you are declining to take the conversation further.” Vivian too was perplexed. “I’m sensing that you are conflicted… Care to tell why?”
The Cortex Prime chose silence.
A few seconds later, Hao Ren broke the silence. “Its probably the humans right? The ones living in the Inevitable Palace, something happened to them?”
The black pillar suddenly shone brightly.
“Seems like I’m right.” Hao Ren sighed. “The humans are almost extinct, aren’t they?”
“You could detect the life signatures within the Inevitable Palace?” the Cortex Prime asked.
“I can’t because that palace of yours seemed to prevent any detection of any life-signs. This is probably to stop the Devourer from detecting them? But my daughter can, she can see through those layers of screens. “Hao Ren patted his pocket as he called Lil Pea out and held her in his arms. “You probably wouldn’t have guessed it. She is the last life form of one of the universe, as the Apotheosis of Life, she can hear voices of a soon-to-extinct race.”
Lil Pea looked curiously at the pillar before giving it a friendly wave. “Hullo, I’m Lil Pea!”
“Greetings, I am the Cortex Prime.”