Conscious: A Lukesse Story

The Story

Jesse sneaks to the core of PAMA prepared for anything,
suddenly PAMA's face flashes onto the screen. "GREETINGS, JESSE. I, OF COURSE, HAVE BEEN EXPECTING YOU."

Jesse walks closer to the screen with a serious expression on her face.

"THOUGH I WILL ADMIT I AM SURPRISED HOW QUICKLY YOU GAINED ACCESS. MY DEFENSES ARE SIGNIFICANT. YOUR RESISTANCE TO ME IS, ILLOGICAL."

Jesse smirks replying "yeah, it was a piece of cake! I'm here to put you out of commission."

PAMA frowns looking angry at this response.

"YOUR BRAVERY IS AN IMPRESSIVE QUALITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO STUDYING THAT ASPECT OF YOUR PERSONALITY... ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN MADE USEFUL."

Hearing this sentence didn't phase Jesse, she was confident not to get caught.

PAMA processes it's next response. "OUT OF SIMPLE CURIOSITY: HOW EXACTLY DID YOU PLAN TO DEACTIVATE ME?"

Jesse thinks hard on whether to tell PAMA or not

"NOW THAT YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR MISSION IS A FUTILE ONE...YOU MIGHT AS WELL SHARE IT WITH ME."
Jesse looks up at PAMA

"That's for me to know and--" Jesse gets cut off as PAMA finishes Jesse's statement.

"ME TO FIND OUT. HA HA, HA HA. I AM SURE YOUR PLAN IS...FUTILE."

Jesse's eyes narrow, as she runs towards the pillars, "we'll see about that!!"

After all the pillars are drenched in water, Jesse runs towards the heart after freeing Harper, as the heart is being withdrawed.

Just before Jesse can get to the heart, she feels this force hit her in the stomach, making her fly backward.

Jesse looks up to see Lukas, eyes red and arms crossed, standing near the heart as if ready to defend it.

"Lukas!!" Jesse cries out. "Why did I think this would be easy..." Jesse says to herself.

Chipped Lukas starts walking over to Jesse and Harper.
"Your friend looks tough..."
Jesse draws her sword with no hesitation

"Are you sure you can handle him?" Harper asks worriedly

However within the Lukas in front of us, is a part of the real Lukas, being able to see all that PAMA sees.

"Jesse!!" Lukas cries out, but no matter how hard he tried or how loud he yelled, no one but PAMA could hear.

PAMA walked closer to Jesse.
"Why keep fighting Jesse? You will only fail. Just as you failed to save REUBEN..."

Lukas' heart shattered by the look he saw on Jesse's face, utter shock as well as despair, as if she was about to fall to her knees and cry. But she stayed standing, trying to ignore the tears rolling down her face.

Lukas felt pure guilt, he couldn't hold back his saddness, but tears couldn't form. "Jesse...I'm so sorry!" He cried out, but once again, no one could hear him.

Jesse dropped her guard a second too long as PAMA runs towards Jesse, sword in hand as it slashes her right arm.

Jesse wails in pain as she clenches her new wound.

"JESSE!!" Lukas hears Harper yell.
"Harper run! Petra and Ivor are outside, don't let them come in here!" Jesse orders with confidence in her voice.

Harper runs out as fast as she can, PAMA tries to run after her but Jesse tackles him.
"Hang on Lukas! I'll save you!"
PAMA slashes her left side before she could dodge.
Jesse winces but ignores the pain and jumps off PAMA and runs towards the heart.