A Vengeful Retribution

Chapter 20: The Hunt

Yap stood beside Chifuyu in the operation center, his arms crossed as he observed the Gospel's retreat on the monitors. The stealth-capable IS was no longer moving erratically but had shifted to a deliberate course back to its test site. His tone betrayed a hint of surprise as he spoke.

"It's running away," he said, the words carrying a mix of disbelief and suspicion.

Chifuyu's eyes remained fixed on the screen, her expression unreadable. "Unmanned IS don't retreat unless they're programmed to. And even then, it's rarely this calculated."

"Exactly," Yap replied, his fingers tapping his forearm. "This isn't just a machine following protocols. It's as if it decided to retreat. Like it knows something we don't."

Chifuyu cast a sidelong glance at him. "And you have a theory, don't you?"

Yap hesitated for a moment, weighing his words. "More like a bad feeling. I've seen tech go rogue, but this... It's as if someone—or something—gave it a reason to flee. Something it couldn't fight."

Chifuyu's brow furrowed. "Are you saying it encountered an external force? Another IS?"

"Not necessarily an IS," Yap said, his tone lowering. He glanced at her briefly before returning his gaze to the screen. "Let's just say there's more at play here than what's obvious."

Chifuyu caught the unspoken weight in his words. "Yalter?"

Yap's jaw tightened, but he nodded slightly. "It's possible. Yalter afterall..." He trailed off, unsure how to continue before letting out a sigh. "It's an asshole. But I cannot deny there are times when it's useful."

"What do you mean?" Chifuyu asked.

Yap hesitated, glancing at the monitor before turning back to Chifuyu. He exhaled slowly, as if gathering his thoughts, before responding.

"It's complicated," he said, his voice quieter now. "Yalter's not just some intrusive voice or a hallucination. It's... an entity. A byproduct of SoVR and me. It's cruel, manipulative, and constantly trying to push me toward destruction. But at the same time, it has insights. Abilities."

Chifuyu narrowed her eyes. "Abilities?"

Yap nodded reluctantly. "It can influence things—machines, people. I think that's what happened with the Gospel. It felt... scared. Not of me. Of Yalter. And I didn't even try to stop it from reaching out. It was instinct, like part of me wanted to see if Yalter could handle it. It did."

"That's dangerous," Chifuyu said sharply, her tone carrying both concern and reproach. "You can't let it take control, not even for a second. If Yalter can manipulate unmanned IS like the Gospel, what's stopping it from turning against us all?"

Yap let out a bitter chuckle. "You think I don't know that? Every time I let it flex its influence, I'm playing with fire. But sometimes, it's the only way to stay ahead." He paused, looking back at the monitor. "Like today. If I hadn't let Yalter spook the Gospel, it might still be out there, or worse, someone could've gotten hurt."

Chifuyu crossed her arms, her expression hardening. "That's a slippery slope, Yap. Every time you rely on Yalter, you're giving it more room to grow. More control. And one day, you might not be able to pull it back."

Yap turned to face her fully, his expression grim but resolute. "You think I don't worry about that every single day? Yalter is always there, lurking, waiting for me to slip. But if I don't use what it offers when the situation calls for it, I risk putting everyone here in even more danger."

Chifuyu's gaze softened, but only slightly. "And what happens when it decides you're not worth keeping around anymore? When it decides to take over completely?"