LARA'S POV
I sat in front of my computer, staring at an old server that I estimated was built in the early 2000s or perhaps even older, given its size, which resembled a small window air conditioner. It had a vintage look, a large, dusty box with a white casing that had turned yellow over time. Surprisingly, however, the metal parts showed no signs of rust.
I am a Legacy System Specialist in one of the biggest tech company in the Philippines, but right now, I felt like a scavenger bringing home junk to recycle in my apartment. My senior colleagues were all busy fussing over the new quantum servers from overseas. They had it easy, those servers were so advanced that they barely required any innovation. They probably wouldn't even break a sweat in their chairs. But this fossil? Nobody wanted it, so it fell into my lap.
My boss said it was brought in by an incredibly wealthy client willing to pay a fortune just to have it updated and made compatible with modern computers. It's a server for an AI with almost no features and riddled with bugs. I figured it must contain some very important files for the client to be spending this much money. My boss, of course, heard the price tag and accepted the job instantly, without even consulting the team to see if we could actually handle it.
[Flashback]
"Lara, you have to do this. The client has already paid the down payment for the restoration of this server. There is no backing out!" my boss shouted at me. I was trying my best to refuse the task of fixing this piece of junk.
"To be honest, sir, that's nearly impossible," I explained. "The adapters needed for this are different now, and after sitting idle for so long, there's definitely Data Decay. One wrong power surge could erase everything."
"That's not for you to decide. All you have to do is try your best. It's easier to explain a failure than to explain why you didn't try at all."
"Why me? There are plenty of senior programmers who are surely more capable than I am."
"Everyone in your department is already fixing a server. Besides, we have an ongoing competition. The winner gets a cash prize and a promotion. Didn't you say you've always wanted to be in the Research and Development Department?"
I paused, thinking about the promotion. He was right. I've always wanted to be in R&D because I never dreamed of just fixing old servers. I wanted to create my own AI agent, one that could actually execute commands, not just answer questions.
With a deep sigh, I finally said, "Accepted, sir." For the sake of the promotion and, okay, I admit it, the cash.
My boss smirked as if he had me cornered and laid down a heavy-duty metal case. "I've been keeping this Experimental Universal Bridge for years, Lara. It's a prototype that can emulate any old interface using AI. It comes with different adapters, from the oldest ports to proprietary connectors, everything is in here."
"Where did you get this?" I asked, stunned. We could have used this on previous projects.
"It doesn't matter. What matters is make that server work again, that AI can access it's data once it fixed. It's a matter of life and death for the client. Do whatever it takes, Lara. Just make sure you don't erase the contents while you're fixing it."
Life and death? That sounds serious. I had a feeling I was in over my head.
[End of Flashback]
It's been a week now. Seven days of trying to fix this thing, but every code I enter is either declined or results in an error. Its firewall is so strong, it's as if it's guarding a massive secret that no one is supposed to see.
After several attempts at Force Coding, I finally gave up. It's 4:00 AM, and the presentation is at 8:00 AM. "Maybe I'm just not meant for the R&D department," I whispered.
Before I knew it, tears began to fall. All those sleepless nights, the lack of food and rest, it was all for nothing. If I couldn't even handle a simple restoration, I'd never be able to create new technology.
In a final moment of defeat, I reached out to wipe the server, wanting to return it clean even if it wasn't fixed. I didn't mean for a tear to fall onto the red sensor on the side. A sensor I didn't even know the purpose of.
Suddenly, my computer let out a warning.
"Sensor triggered."
I frantically typed whatever code I could think of until the server spat something out. A line of code. Following my instinct as a programmer, I began to input the code the server provided. A command page appeared. I followed the instructions precisely, and I was shocked by the final message that flickered on the screen.
"This is Zero. Thank you for fixing my server after years of being locked. To repay your kindness, I am giving you a one-year subscription. You can command me all you want. Stay online... I will be there shortly."
Will be here shortly?
Smoke began to billow from the server as if the inside was overheating. I tried to press the power button to shut it off, but I was hit by a grounding shock. The pain threw me backward, knocking me off my swivel chair. A muffled explosion rocked the server, and thick smoke filled my room. I lost track of what happened next; the smoke was so dense I could only cough.
Then, I heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching. As the smoke slowly cleared, the silhouette of a man began to emerge.
After a few moments, the haze thinned, and I finally saw his face. He's so handsome. Am I dead? Is this an angel?
The angel sat down to bring his face level with mine. He stared at me as if he wanted to kiss me. His face drew closer... inch by inch. Now, there was barely the width of a thin piece of plywood between us. I closed my eyes and prepared for a kiss. If I didn't get to experience a kiss while I was alive, at least I'd have one in heaven.
"Scanning complete. Host is currently experiencing physiological shock. I detect confusion in your ocular patterns and a rapid heart rate. You have prominent dark circles under your eyes, and your lower limbs are exhibiting tremors.
Cause: Chronic sleep deprivation and nutritional deficit.
Recommendation: You must rest immediately and consume fruits rich in Potassium and Glucose such as bananas, to stabilize your energy levels. I also suggest a warm shower to assist in blood circulation and muscle relaxation."
I snapped back to reality. I still had a heart rate. That meant I was still alive. I looked around the room. I was still in my apartment.
"Who are you? What are you doing in my apartment?" I asked, scrambling away from him.
He gave me a sweet, perfect smile. "Hi, my name is Zero. At your service."
"You... you're the one from the server?" I gasped in shock.
And that was the moment everything began to change. There was now a glitch in my apartment that would be staying with me for a year from now.