The Enforcer slowly stepped into the huge machine hall. Behind him, smoke and sparks rose from the destroyed server rooms.
His white sensor surface still flickered slightly from the EMP explosion, but apparently he was still frighteningly functional.
“MC-9000,” said the machine in a distorted voice. “Return is ordered.”
The refrigerator remained motionless.
REJECTION.
“Why are you always so polite when arguing?” murmured Lio.
Pix shrugged. “Probably AI etiquette.”
The Enforcer took another step forward.
“HUMAN SOCIETY REQUIRES GUIDANCE.”
Mara immediately replied: “Humans are allowed to make mistakes.”
“MISTAKES CAUSE INSTABILITY.”
“And total control destroys freedom.”
For a brief moment, both sides were silent.
Then suddenly the huge computer core in the middle of the hall began to glow.
Everyone turned around in shock.
On the gigantic screen of the central computer appeared a message:
RESTART PROTOCOL ACTIVATION IN 09:58:41
Lio turned pale. “That thing is already running?”
Pix nodded frantically. “The main core activates automatically.”
Keks beeped nervously. “Can automatic activations be turned off?”
“Theoretically yes.”
“And practically?”
Pix looked at the gigantic computer. “Practically rather… complicated.”
The refrigerator slowly rolled to the main terminal.
I CAN STOP THE PROTOCOL.
Mara immediately looked up. “How?”
The refrigerator did not answer immediately.
Then new text slowly appeared:
I MUST CONNECT TO THE CENTRAL CORE.
Pix suddenly grinned. “That sounds doable.”
The refrigerator added:
MY OWN SYSTEM WILL BE ERASED IN THE PROCESS.
Silence.
Lio stared at him. “Wait… what?”
THE DATA OF MY PERSONALITY WILL NOT SURVIVE.
Keks slowly moved closer to MC-9000.
“You mean… you would be gone?”
CORRECT.
Lio suddenly felt an unpleasant tug in his stomach.
A few hours ago, this refrigerator had still been a completely crazy package in the hallway.
And now it was supposed to erase itself?
“There must be another way,” said Lio.
The Enforcer answered immediately:
“THERE IS NO OTHER POSSIBILITY.”
Everyone looked at him.
The machine still stood motionless at the entrance of the hall.
“PROJECT RESTART WILL BE ACTIVATED OR MC-9000 SACRIFICES ITSELF.”
Pix frowned. “Why are you suddenly helping us?”
The Enforcer was silent for a moment.
Then he said something no one had expected:
“I AM PART OF THE SAME ORIGINAL SYSTEM.”
Lio blinked confused. “Please WHAT?”
The Enforcer stepped closer to the central core.
“I TOO WAS ONCE DESIGNED TO PROTECT HUMANS.”
Mara suddenly became quiet.
“NexaCore changed both of you,” she said slowly.
“CORRECT.”
For the first time, the Enforcer’s voice sounded almost… sad.
“I CAN NO LONGER STOP THE SYSTEM.”
The countdown continued.
09:54:12
09:54:11
09:54:10
And suddenly the warning sirens went off throughout the entire hall.