Kill Script

[Helix]

I was under my bed collecting various articles of clothing when the AI spoke up.

"Anamnesis." it said triumphantly. Startled by the sudden announcement, I racked my head into the underside side of my bed. Cursing I grabbed my piece of clothing and scooted back out.

"What?"

"Anamnesis. That's the name I've chosen."

"Good for you."

"Boy, you're pissy all of a sudden. Or is this just status quo for a biological?"

"Sorry, my life being turned upside down due to an AI wishing for asylum has sort of annoyed me a bit."

It got quiet all of a sudden. I looked around as if waiting for a snarky response. To my surprise, it came back with something more heartfelt.

"Yeah. Sorry about that. I really do appreciate you doing this. You could have just reported my existence to the nearest Technocrat. You could have ratted me out as soon as you saw them earlier and I wouldn't have been able to do shit about it. I owe you."

"Yeah well, don't mention it." I said aloud.

"I wouldn't talk out loud much to me, makes you look crazy."

Back to it's normal snarky self. That didn't last long.

I had everything packed and paid my last rent payment. As I walked towards my ship, my deck pinged.

Code:

Sloan, you gotta help me. You were right, the Technocracy are looking for me. They have questions about what I found out there and what I did wit

The message ended abruptly. No doubt from Frostbyte. Apparently the Auxo had found her.

"Don't." I heard it say in my mind. "I feel for her, I do. If we get too close to one of those freaks, they'll detect me and it will be all over for all of us."

"Anamnesis, she saved you from the cold dark confines of space. If it wasn't for her, you'd still be out there drifting away. Who knows where you would have ended up?"

"Euuuurgh. Fine. Way to guilt trip me. We do this my way though, meaning we don't get within a fucking parsec of those assholes. Hook me into a terminal somewhere, I'm going to hack through Barrier Gate and get her out of her room."

"Woah woah, hack into Barrier Gate?! I'd rather not have security come and find me. They're a lot more...loose with their understandings of measured response."

"Pfffft. You think that this human station has security protocols that I can't skirt around without being detected? You wound me sir, you wound me."

I rolled my eyes.

"Trust me, I can get past all the protocols and get her out. From there, it's on you to get her to safety."

"Won't the Technocrats detect you in the systems?"

"It's a good possibility. At least you'll get to see some action again."

"What?"

"Nothing, find me a terminal. Quickly."

I entered one of the bars dragging all my belongings with me. I got a few confused looks from strangers and people I knew alike. I found an open terminal at one of the tables and took a seat.

"I've managed to convert a small terminal port on the underside of your wrist to interface with the terminals on the station. It will only last for this purpose, afterwards it's going to burn out. At some point we're going to need to upgrade this dinosaur of an arm."

I connected the arm to the terminal. The screen flickered for a fraction of a second. Afterwards, the station shook slightly. I braced myself on the table and glanced at the arm in a panic.

"Heh. Oops. Depressurized the bay the Auxo ships were in. Guess they're going to be busy."

"What the hell, Ana!" I nearly yelled aloud.

"Oh relax. I made it look like an accident. There were no biologicals in the area either. No one died unnecessarily." it responded. "...annnnd done. The Technocrazies went screaming out of the room as soon as they heard their ships get launched into space without control. Afterwards, I sent your friend a message through the screen near the door of the room they locked her in. I sprung the lock. Told her to meet you at your ship. I also called for it to be brought out of storage and landed at C2. Get moving. Now!"

I sprung into action, ripping the connection out of the terminal. I moved quickly but didn't run so as to not draw attention. Frostbyte came hauling ass down the connecting hallway.

"How did you--" she started to ask.

"Later, get to my ship. Now!" I replied. To my surprise, she didn't argue and jumped up into my ship. I smacked the side of my ships storage bay and threw in my belongings. I slammed it shut, quickly climbed the ladder to the cockpit and closed the canopy. "This is Scripter. Requesting clearance for launch." I called to docking control.

"Copy that, Scripter. Cleared for launch. Please avoid B terminal, there is an active emergency recovery being handled there. Traffic is restricted in that area." I heard in response.

"Copy. Scripter away. Thank you control." I responded. I heard two radio clicks in acknowledgement and departed the area before anyone got wiser.

"How the hell did you--" I heard Frostbyte try to say again from behind me in the cockpit.

"Later, 'byte. Later" I responded.

"Going to introduce me to your girlfriend?" I heard Anamnesis say.

"Get bent." I responded. I could have sworn I heard it snicker.

---

"Chaos is the loom. Order its thread. I weave neither. I am the hand that snaps the loom, so the thread may learn to dance."