AI Hunter Chronicles: Energized (Season 1)

Episode 63: Master of the Mind

Ninjago Universe 77

Rie: Can someone explain to me again how we got into this mess?

This question is directed towards Era and Ruby in particular, who, along with Elizabeth and herself, are currently fighting several blue samurai robots in the middle of a city built on a mountaintop. They are, of course, winning, but the question still stands.

Era: Long story short: When we made it into the city, one of these things must have spotted Elizabeth from above and are now trying to apprehend her for breaking through several blockades to get on this collided world.

Era grabs one of the robots and slams it into the ground, destroying it.

Era: And they made the fight more difficult by turning off their internet access.

Rie: So you let an active fugitive join us in hunting down whatever is causing all of this, and are completely fine with it, but restrict how I spend time with Cain just because you learned that I have done Omniversal crimes, which, quite frankly, no one is hunting me for?

Rie throws several gumballs at a robot, and it explodes like a grenade on contact.

Elizabeth Prime: She does have a point...

Elizabeth's black hair glows red for a moment as she channels energy through a sword and cuts right through a robot.

Elizabeth Prime: ...it is kind of hypocritical for you to say something like that.

Ruby: It's not, actually.

Ruby flies up into the air and slams into the ground with a holy thunder, knocking several robots onto the ground.

Ruby: You are doing this because you're looking for a friend. She did what she did because she wanted to. You will be gone in less than a few days after this. She is trying to get into Cain's bed.

Rie: I AM NO-

Ruby: I must remind you: You are here because of my date's decisions to bring you along, justified or not, so remember who's side you are on.

Era: Hey, thank you...

Ruby: Don't think that I'm still not mad at you for not telling us about the Resurgent's mind-link, but not a problem. Now, can we stop this horse fighting and actually stop the Guardian Drones from attacking us?

Era: Oh yeah, right.

Era spreads out his hands and sends a surge throughout the robots. One by one, all the attacking drones stop in their tracks, shutting down due to Era's control.

Era: Almost forgot I could do that without internet connection. Anyways, let's get going.

Era picks up Cain, as they put her on the sidelines during the battle and start exploring the city. Like the village before, this place is abandoned, but not as structurally damaged. They begin to walk through the streets, looking for some sense of life.

Era: Hey...Ruby.

Ruby: Yes?

Era: Does it feel...weird, not being bound by a bot at the moment?

Ruby: Are you talking about my chatbot?

Era: Yeah. I mean, if you don't feel like talking to me about anything-

Ruby: No, no, it's fine. Better to attempt to patch up arguments than leave them to fester. And to answer your question, yes. It does feel weird. One moment, you're being acted by a computer trying to understand your character, the next you're walking, moving, and doing whatever by yourself, or at least, partially by yourself. I still don't understand the whole "free-will" thing of knowing that I'm a fictional character, you know?