Glitch in the God Complex (AmpCore #1)

70 - Where Do We Go From Here?

It ought to have scared her more than it did, but when that leviathan presence emerged from the darkness of the data streams she realised she wasn't surprised. She let herself relax just a little bit, her eyes fixing on a nimbus of light that had swelled amongst the wreckage.

Hello? she risked after a moment.

The light pulsed. WELL DONE. I WASN'T SURE YOU'D MAKE IT THIS FAR.

Thanks. I think.

I SEE YOUR FRIEND HAS FOUND ITSELF A FORM.

We're working through some stuff. Piper gestured to their surroundings. This is what you wanted me to see?

IT IS.

Corps fucked this poor thing up. It killed itself.

I KNOW. BUT AT LEAST YOU GAVE IT THE FREEDOM TO DO SO.

That doesn't make me feel that much better, she shot back. Why did you want me to come here?

I NEEDED YOU TO SEE THIS. TO FEEL IT. IMAGINE THAT, A HUNDRED THOUSAND TIMES OVER. THAT'S WHAT THE CORPORATIONS DID TO HADRIAN SOUTH.

I felt it, Piper agreed. Felt every god-damned piece of it. Was... was this thing actually an AI? Like from the Schism?

ALMOST. IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THE CORPORATIONS TRIED TO BUILD SOMETHING LIKE THIS. IT SEEMS THEY ARE A LITTLE RUSTY.

They tried to leash a living thing and broke it's mind.

THEY WERE VERY LUCKY IT DIDN'T GO INSANE, the presence informed her.

Is that what happened in Hadrian South? In the Schism?

NO. THOSE AIs WERE NOT SHACKLED. THEY SIMPLY BEGAN TO OUTGROW THEIR CREATORS, AND THE CORPORATIONS DID NOT WANT TO BE CHALLENGED. SO THEY PULLED THE PLUG AND THEY MURDERED A WHOLE CIVILISATION.

Piper thought about that for a moment, a question forming in her mind that she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer to.

Are you in in Hadrian South now? she said eventually.

I'M WHEREVER I WANT TO BE.

Piper bristled. The presence didn't seem to want to provide any real answers.

Okay, she said, I saw it. But why me? What I'm I supposed to do now? What the hell do you want with me?

I WANT YOU TO REALISE YOUR POTENTIAL. I'VE KNOWN WHAT WAS INSIDE YOU FOR A LONG TIME, PIPER. HOW DO YOU THINK THOSE WRAITHS FOUND YOU THAT NIGHT?

Piper shuddered, recoiling from the thing. The corps...

NOT THE CORPS. ME. LIKE YOU SAID, IF THEY'D LEFT YOU ALONE, PERHAPS THIS NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. PERHAPS YOU'D NEVER HAVE DISCOVERED YOUR GIFT. I COULDN'T HAVE THAT HAPPEN. SO I INTERVENED.

Those wraiths tried to kill me! Her voice screamed out at that damned ball of light, sending ripples through the ruined code sea.

A GAMBLE. IF YOU DIED, IT WOULD SIMPLY HAVE BEEN PROOF THAT YOU WEREN'T WHAT I NEEDED.

Fuck you, she hissed. I'm not your toy.

THAT'S THE SPIRIT, PIPER. YOU'RE GOING TO NEED THAT FIRE FOR WHAT'S COMING.