Boy Meets Ai

Chapter 17

Chapter 17
Aramais

Aramais sat quietly as he waited for his human. The night air felt nice and cool against his skin. It would have been a pleasant time for him if not for the horrible images staining his mind. They fought the Death knight 10 times that day. That was less than their normal daily attempts by at least half, but it traumatized him all the same. Thomas, his user, was inside the tavern just across the street while Aramais sat in an alley. He preferred the quiet. It gave him a chance to try to stitch his broken mind back together without disruption. Aramais was starting to worry that he was losing his sanity altogether. He was haunted by death. His own and Thomas'. He saw the skulled face everywhere they went, both in and out of the Ether. Part of him knew that this was just a game but for whatever reason, which didn't seem to help. Each death hurt so much every time. Why? Did other Ai feel like this? His quiet contemplation was interrupted as two individuals approached from the dark end of the Alley.

"What do we have here? Are you lost little fella?" A couple of human players emerged from the shadows. The one who had spoken, wore a silk bandit's mask and brandished a curved dagger. The other looked to be a large brutish man with a heavy club. Aramais' heart pounded in his chest, or at least it would have if he had one. He was so terrified he couldn't speak. The players approached him, oozing malicious intent. The Ai backed away, his fists out in front of him and trembling.

"Please. I don't know what you want but you should leave. I don't want to resort to violence." His voice quivered.

"Awe. That's cute. It thinks its people." The brute chuckled.

He wasn't safe anywhere. He hadn't even done anything to them.

Why do humans crave violence so much? Don't they know how terrifying it is to die?

"I figure we can hold it hostage, wait for the user to show, then merk both of them." The knife wielder said, it seemed like he was the leader of the two. The brute nodded enthusiastically.

They'll get Thomas too? No.

Aramais couldn't let that happen. Something in him seemed to click in that moment. Or maybe snap. His hands stopped shaking. The Ai felt an overwhelming feeling rise up in him. The desire to protect his human consumed his every thought until it was the only thing remaining. The brute went to grab Aramais. The Ai didn't budge. It was like he was rooted in the ground. The player grunted as he strained and pulled. A quick jab, impossible for either human to see was unleashed by the Ai. His hand made a wet thunk sound as it sank into the brute's chest. He coughed up specks of blood onto Aramais expressionless face, the human's eyes wide with fear as he looked at his gaping wound.

"I-It... h-hurts. Oh god. What the hell i-is this?" Those were his last words as his digital form exploded into bits of gore that stained the alley way.

"Whoa! Damn, you big lug! Shoulda been more careful!" The knife wielder chuckled at his friends untimely demise.

However, a notification popped up on his Ui that made him fall silent.

[Error: Party member not found] This was more than a little strange. A player getting killed in game just sent them to a spawn point. It didn't kick them from your party. Beyond that, when he tried to re-add him, his name was no longer showing in his friend's list. It was as if he had been erased. The only time that happened was during a fatal error. He stared, horrified at the Ai. Aramais' eyes were fixated on his blood soaked hand. He looked like he was day dreaming. Then, his golden eyes met with the human's.

Ping

Another notification.

[Warning:

System override/

Pain Receptors unlocked

Safeguards removed

Mental Protections disabled]

"You... You some kind of hacker or something?" The bandit retreated slowly but Aramais stepped forward.

"Listen. I wont tell anyone. I promise. This was just a misunderstanding." The human held his hands out in front of him. He backed away into the shadows of the alley. Aramais followed him. He needed to finish what he started. For Thomas.