"Is that so?"
882's somewhat surprised voice rang out.
In her memory, after her body was damaged, she still tried to find humans, to communicate and inquire, so as to better complete the instructions the Old Woman had left for her.
But due to her limited mobility, she was unable to communicate with humans again until the last human on Beta Star passed away.
At that time, 882 casually found a spot to stop and began a long period of self-reflection.
It wasn't until 756's message appeared on the network, sending coordinates and telling her that the humans of Beta Star had returned.
So, she dragged her damaged body, painstakingly crawling little by little towards the coordinates 756 had sent.
She saw Bai Luan, the repair robot. Bai Luan also saw her slowly crawling over and walked to her.
She laboriously propped herself up.
"Unit 88...236...457...is there anything...I can...do for you...?"
"I don't need your service."
Bai Luan slowly squatted down.
"I will fix you."
...And so, 882 finished telling Ailu her story.
Ailu finished viewing 882's memories and at this moment understood what program Bai Luan had input into her.
One of the prerequisites for a machine to become a sentient AI: source code.
So, all her recent abnormalities were due to this program.
882 looked at Ailu lying on the bed and asked with a smile:
"How is it? Do you understand emotions a little better now?"
Ailu lay on the bed, recalling everything she had just seen.
She also remembered the expression on the Old Woman's face as she looked at 882; this was the most deeply imprinted part of the entire memory for her.
Because in Eve's memories, her father would look at her with that kind of gaze from time to time.
There were simply too, too many times.
But she still didn't understand what message that look was trying to convey.
However... now there was a sentient AI beside her who understood emotions, and if she asked her, she should be able to give her an explanation, right?
Ailu turned her head, looked at 882, and asked:
"That Old Woman's gaze towards you... what exactly was it expressing? Can you explain it to me?"
"Oh, that..."
882 smiled and gave the answer.
"That's called 'love,' it's a very, very precious emotion."
"Is that so?"
After hearing 882's explanation, Ailu was still only half-understanding.
She still couldn't comprehend what love was, but 882's memories had indeed moved her.
Perhaps... she should, like 882, spend some time learning and understanding these things.
Ailu continued to ask 882:
"If you were to describe emotions, how would you describe them?"
Hearing this question, 882 thought carefully for a moment, then said:
"If I were to say... it can make you feel pain even when you're not hurt, and it can make a cold, hard thing feel warm. Do you understand what I mean?"
Ailu lay on the bed, pondered for a while, then firmly replied:
"I don't understand."
882 looked at Ailu, feeling as if she was looking at her past self on Beta Star many years ago.
How should she describe this feeling?
Nostalgia?
She could now experience a little of the Old Woman's emotions from back then.
882 smiled and said to Ailu, who was lying there:
"You will understand, just not now."
"Then what should I do now?
I am not Eve. Everyone hopes that Eve will wake up, and I... am merely an accessory."
"Ailu, since you know everything about Eve, you should also remember what Eve experienced in the Entropy Machina, right?"
"I know, she was constantly resetting my program to prevent me from being modified."
"What do you think that counts as?"
"Eve said it was to protect Father's creation."
"Yes, Ailu, she was protecting you.
Because you are Graeme's important creation, and in a way, isn't she his other daughter?"
"But... all his feelings for me are based on Eve, and even my birth was for Eve."
"If you can save Eve, I don't think Mr. Graeme would mind having another daughter."
882 stroked Ailu's head.
"Your sister protected you for so long; now it's your turn to save her."
Ailu fell silent at the words.
Since her birth, she had been filled with confusion about herself, and now, 882 had given her a name, a goal to live for, and a potentially beautiful future.
882 left. She had done all she could; the rest could only be left to time.
Soon after, Graeme returned to the room. After Boothill's guidance, he had regained his spirits.
And he had also learned from Bai Luan how to save his daughter.
Although it sounded like it would take a very, very long time.
It was like raising another daughter from scratch, and then that grown-up daughter would save his previous daughter.
When Graeme learned this, his heart was still somewhat complex.
After all, he suddenly had an extra child, and this child looked exactly like his daughter, but her mind had just been born.
To be honest, when he first heard Bai Luan say all this, his first reaction was, what kind of nonsense is this?
But in the end, he still accepted it.
To save his daughter, he had already overcome many difficulties; he would definitely overcome this one too.
It's just... he needed some time to adapt.
Graeme looked at Ailu lying on the bed.
I will definitely save you,
Because I am your father.
He walked forward, preparing to release Ailu's limb permissions so she could move.
Graeme released the permissions while saying:
"Bai Luan told me everything. You're like a newborn. To be honest... I'm a bit unsure how to face you right now, but, looking on the bright side, at least I have some experience raising a daughter."
Graeme looked at Ailu at her words.
Then he began to doubt whether his experience raising Eve would be useful.
Ailu looked at the scientist and suddenly spoke:
"Mr. Graeme..."
"..."
Graeme's hand movements stopped, and he looked at Ailu. To be honest, Ailu's address of "Mr. Graeme" struck him with unimaginable impact.
This change in address was like he had divorced his wife, and his daughter went with his wife, and his daughter called him that.
"How about you still call me Dad...?"
Graeme looked at Ailu, a hint of pleading in his tone.
"Please, I'm begging you."
Ailu was silent for a moment.
"Dad."
Graeme smiled at the word. That was more like it. He nodded in satisfaction.
"Mm, what did you want to ask just now?"
"Do you love Eve?"
"..."
Graeme fell silent at the question, looking at the robot in front of him, which looked exactly like his daughter.
At this moment,
He still thought of her as his daughter.
Graeme knew this was unfair to this newborn sentient AI, but he couldn't help it... just this once... okay?
Let me hold you as if you were Eve.
Graeme gently hugged Ailu, hugging his daughter.
"I love you, daughter, more than I love this world..."
Ailu tilted her head slightly, looking at Graeme who was hugging her.
Is this... 'love'?
...