EX//MACHINA: EXORDIUM

Chapter V - Pisces

— It's difficult to try to get close to her, I tried, I swear! One day she was someone I'd known for years, the next, she barely talked to me. — James declared to his temporary partner, who once again played the role of a loyal listener. — And I didn't even disappear.

— I can't get mad at her for that, I understand it. — the redhead commented in a relaxed manner, preferring to focus on the task at hand but still curious about their companions' past. — Up to a point, of course.

As the paths of the two pairs diverged, Emma and James walked through the facility for nearly as long as the other duo. Upon reaching the security sector, they found themselves in a room filled with computers, which they identified as an office. Cubicles with four desks each filled the space. Simple decorations identified each employee's workstation, along with nameplates.

The modern architecture of the room was evident in its minimalism, extremely high ceilings, and the use of concrete. The verticality of the space made some of the earlier tension pass, albeit unconsciously. The concrete walls were painted white, with the cubicle dividers marked in beige.

Most importantly, the intact desks held machines that both of them rarely encountered in their everyday lives: computers. Even James, who occasionally dabbled in technology, had never seen a computer that appeared so advanced. The boy approached, admiring the equipment and contemplating the specifications and innovations in both software and hardware. This scene rekindled his inner nerd, revitalized after a long hiatus.

— Can you work with this? — Emma asked, giving the screen a few light taps.

— Can I? — James' eyes sparkled as he made an unnecessary request, leaving his partner slightly puzzled by the question. — I can.

In the blink of an eye, James began probing the area for a functioning computer. He felt his heart sink each time he pressed buttons without a satisfactory response. He knew the power was on and that some devices clearly wouldn't work, whether due to damage or being strewn on the floor in disrepair. However, his hope remained, and it was eventually rewarded.

A computer powered up.

For Emma, this was a relief; perhaps this could assist them in their mission. For James, it was a victory, proof that he deserved to use such technology, at least a little.

— IT WORKED! — he proudly exclaimed, hands thrown up in joy. — I can't believe it, it worked! Emma, it worked!

— Great.

Her unintentionally dry response made James feel slightly embarrassed, and he tried to compose himself, although he couldn't hide his smile. Releasing silent exclamations of success, he sat in the chair, making some minor adjustments, moving the keyboard closer and giving the mouse a quick wipe. The active screen displayed text and loading bars that changed colors several times.

James's excitement seemed to grow exponentially, and he occasionally made comments to himself, like, "Dear Lord, why is this loading so fast?" or, "What kind of processor does this thing have?" His partner paid little attention to these remarks, confident he would stop when he realized he was talking to himself. But when he appeared to be increasingly lost in his newfound obsession, she decided to intervene.

— James, don't you find it strange? — She crossed her arms and looked at the boy, who turned to face her, confused. When she realized she had finally brought him back from the world of computers, she continued. — Peter's behavior, I mean.

He responded with a puzzled look, which slowly turned into a contemplative expression. Their eye contact broke, and a cough could be heard. A few seconds passed, and James finally spoke.