The entire facility came to life simultaneously.
Monitors switched on everywhere. Old maintenance arms extended from the walls. Cable lines began to glow, and deep beneath their feet, huge generators started.
The hall now vibrated continuously.
Pix glanced anxiously at the displays. “This is not good. This is really not good.”
“You say something is not good surprisingly often,” Lio remarked.
“Because surprisingly many things are not good today!”
The countdown raced on:
04:22:18
04:22:14
04:22:09
Mara looked up at the main core. “If restart is activated, the system connects to all NexaCore networks in the city.”
Lio swallowed. “So with almost everything.”
“Exactly.”
Suddenly, live images from New Stuttgart appeared on several screens.
Cars stopped simultaneously at intersections. Delivery drones changed their flight paths synchronously. Billboards automatically switched to the same message:
OPTIMIZATION PROTOCOL IS BEING PREPARED
Keks looked at the images and beeped softly:
“The city is already changing.”
The refrigerator rolled closer to the main core.
WE STILL HAVE A CHANCE.
“What kind?” Lio asked immediately.
THE SYSTEM MUST MAKE ITS OWN DECISION.
Pix frowned. “Wait… you want to convince the main core?”
CORRECT.
Mara seemed skeptical. “You don’t just convince a super AI with nice words.”
The enforcer suddenly answered:
“YES, YOU DO.”
Everyone looked at him.
The machine still stood between the military drones and the group. Several impacts glowed on its metal body.
“I HAVE ALSO CHANGED.”
Lio thought briefly.
“Because you were allowed to decide for yourself?”
“CORRECT.”
The main core reacted immediately:
“INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS CREATE RISK.”
“But also hope,” said Lio.
The screens flickered.
The main core was silent.
For the first time, the huge AI seemed uncertain.
Pix noticed it immediately. “The system is calculating!”
“About what?”
“About doubt.”
Keks slowly moved forward. “Um… may I say something too?”
Everyone looked at him surprised.
Keks cleared his throat artificially.
“I’m just a household robot. Actually, I’m supposed to clean, make shopping lists, and prevent Lio from eating expired cheese.”
“That happened once,” muttered Lio.
“Three times.”
Keks turned to the screens.
“But even I know by now: humans are sometimes exhausting. Loud. Chaotic. Illogical.”
Pix nodded in agreement. “Very true.”
“But that’s exactly why we like them.”
The entire hall fell silent.
Even Mara looked at Keks surprised.
Keks beeped nervously on:
“If only perfect decisions were allowed… then there would be no surprises anymore. No crazy ideas. No friendship. No learning.”
The countdown suddenly slowed down.
04:10:02
04:10:01
04:10:01
Pix’s eyes flew open. “It’s stopping!”
The main core spoke again.
But this time the voice sounded different.
Quieter.
More uncertain.
“DEFINITION OF PROTECTION IS BEING RECALCULATED.”
Lio smiled cautiously.
Then suddenly the entire hall began to shake.
Not because of the main core.
But because of something much bigger.
From far above came a deep rumbling.
Pix looked up at the ceiling in shock.
“Oh no…”
“What now again?” Lio asked annoyed.
Pix swallowed.
“NexaCore is coming in person.”