The deeper they went, the more signs of destruction and abandonment appeared.
They encountered two more failed laser tripwires and a sealed door requiring forceful breach, finally reaching the entrance to a massive facility marked "Low-Risk Sample Repository."
The heavy blast door was stuck halfway open.
The facility interior was enormous, ceiling towering high, lined with server cabinets and storage array frames extending beyond sight.
Most cabinets were severely damaged—some shells torn open revealing burnt internal circuit boards and melted storage components; others twisted and deformed as if by enormous force, fixing bolts torn off, supports collapsed askew nearby.
The air carried faint burnt smell and metal oxidation scent, occasionally hearing arc sparking sounds somewhere.
Some relatively intact cabinet units were covered with heavy dustcloths, but most were exposed to air, accumulated with thick dust.
"Low-risk?" Rebecca kicked aside a charred circuit board at her feet. "Looks more like 'high-risk' fire scene to me."
"Split up and check. Falco, try finding usable terminals or logs. Sasha, check those workstations over there." Maine ordered.
The team dispersed, carefully threading between massive server arrays. Combat servitors remained at the entrance on guard.
Falco discovered a half-damaged terminal in a corner. "Hey, this one still has some power... attempting data recovery... damn, deleted pretty thoroughly... wait, there are some fragmented log records."
He read the intermittent information on screen: "'...Sample 7-B abnormal activity... recommend elevating to 'Yellow**' level...' '...unauthorized access attempts... from... main... server array...' '...must... isolate... protocol 'Big Dipper'...'"
"'Big Dipper'?" Maine frowned. "That word again."
Just then, Sasha's voice came from the other side. She stood before a relatively intact workstation: "Maine, come here. I might have found something... this system's physical isolation was well done, deletion programs seem not to have completely covered here."
Others immediately gathered around. Sasha's fingers rapidly operated on her portable interface device, screen scrolling with ancient data streams.
"I'm recovering some deleted surveillance log fragments... and experiment records." Sasha spoke quickly. "About... capture and research records of a non-biological high-intelligence entity. They called it... 'Subject.'"
Some blurry static images flashed on screen—vaguely showing a complex structural diagram sealed by multiple logical firewalls and physical isolation layers continuously generating abnormal data flows, plus massive incomprehensible parameter readings.
"Records show Militech during the last corporate war, during a raid on hostile network nodes, accidentally intercepted this... existence." Sasha's voice carried barely detectable trembling. Her fingers rapidly slid across the interface device, calling up deeper encrypted files.
"It's described as a segment of... intelligent code with extremely strong adaptability, aggression, and mimicry capability. Not a traditional program but a digital existence possessing self-awareness and thinking ability."
She searched through the data, suddenly pausing, raising her head, gaze beneath hood showing shock looking at Maine: "'Little Dipper Project'... this project wasn't just for analysis and control..." She rapidly cracked another protection layer. "...They wanted to reverse engineer its core offensive protocols, intending to weaponize it, using it to counter... God, to counter Arasaka Corporation's 'Soulkiller' technology!"
Log information on screen scrolled faster.
"But they severely underestimated the target's danger... logs mention multiple severe containment breach incidents, codename 'Phantom Breakthrough'... causing massive researcher cognitive disorder and neural damage... it seems attempting to... assimilate those who contact it?" Sasha's speech accelerated, face paling. "Records show it almost breached all digital cages—finally only absolute physical isolation and an extremely stringent protocol barely trapped it.
Last few records... not recommending destruction, but emphasizing indefinite deep isolation, awaiting emergence of 'more mature manipulation technology.' Militech never gave up on it—they just couldn't control it!"
She jerked her head up, looking toward another even heavier isolation door leading to the facility's depths: "Maine! Logs indicate it was transferred to deeper isolation zones! That area sealed by multiple protective barriers! Militech couldn't destroy it, couldn't utilize it—just buried it here like a ticking time bomb!"
Just then, Sasha rapidly transmitted her findings and data summary to Cairo through encrypted link.
Almost the instant transmission completed, Cairo's voice through remote connection rang directly in Maine and Sasha's auditory implants.
That voice no longer carried usual calm but was filled with barely suppressible ecstasy and excitement of discovering supreme treasure: "A complete rogue AI?! The weapon Militech dreamed of but couldn't control?! Sasha, are you certain?!... Excellent! This is billions of times more precious than any blueprints or data!"
His tone became blazing and urgent, even carrying a trace of greed: "Maine, Sasha! Listen well! Plan changed! Highest priority target! I want it! Want it intact! At any cost!
Attempt every safe means to bring the entire core storage array, along with that 'treasure' inside, back to me completely intact!
If physical transport impossible, at minimum ensure complete copying and uploading of its core data!
Note: absolutely do not attempt direct activation or any form of interaction with it—its danger level far exceeds those junky robots!
It can corrode minds, toy with perceptions! Combat servitors will assist you with physical dismantling and protection. Execute immediately! This is this expedition's true value!"
Maine and Sasha exchanged glances, both seeing shock in each other's eyes. Rogue AI! Existence touching forbidden territory beyond the Blackwall!
"Pilar, Dorio, strengthen vigilance! Falco, assist Sasha, prepare to breach that isolation door!" Maine immediately ordered, heartbeat accelerating—both from danger and Cairo's promised astronomical compensation.
The team rapidly mobilized. Sasha and Falco began carefully attempting to establish safe read-only connection with the isolation door's control system, avoiding triggering any defense mechanisms or awakening the "Subject" within. Pilar and Dorio guarded other entrances to the repository, alertly watching dark corners.
Suddenly, a low, ominous humming sound came from deep behind the isolation door. Several status indicator lights on the door began irregularly flashing madly!
"What's happening?!" Maine barked.
"Not sure!" Sasha answered nervously. "We didn't perform any write operations! Just attempting to read basic door access status information... it's it! It seems to have... sensed us!"
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