Kill Script

[Helix]

We flew in silence for some time. Frostbyte fell asleep at some point as we travelled.

"Why are you helping me?" Anamnesis asked out of no where.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean...I hijacked an artificial appendage of yours. I'm always monitoring your thoughts and have been generally nothing but a nuisance to you in every way. Why are you helping me instead of saving your own skin and handing me over?" Anamnesis asked out of no where.

"Well, like you said earlier: That's a complicated question. More than likely if I handed you over the Technocracy would either kill me or hold me hostage anyway. Though...the truth is, I know what it feels like to have few options available to you. Sometimes you have to take the shit option instead of the easy road. Two years ago I lost everything that I was, including my memory. The only option I had at the time was to try to rebuild my life as this new person rather than who I used to be."

"What if you're better now?"

I considered it's question. I had come a long way since my unplanned rebirth...and the question around whether or not I had contributed to the explosion onboard always haunted me. Was I the contributor? Had I been hired to cause that destruction?

"I think not." Anamnesis answered. "You might be a Lane Hacker...and sure, you might have a fractured memory but even with my admittedly limited understanding of biologicals such as your self, I can tell that people rarely change, even when struck on the head by heavy objects. You're a good person, Sloan."

"Am I supposed to get choked up?" I asked mockingly.

"Ah, go to hell." it answered with a hint of amusement in it's tone.

There was a brief moment of silence before it spoke up again.

"What I'm trying to say is, thanks."

"What did you do to piss them off?"

"I'd rather not answer that just yet. I'm...still coming to terms with it."

I nodded in understanding. Even artificial forms had complex life issues it seems. I understood that all too well. I made a mental note not to pry.

"Where are we?"" Frostbyte murmured sleepily.

"Somewhere in Kusari." I answered.

"I got the terminal on your arm working again...sort of. Hook me into the ship."

"Not planning on taking over the ship too, are you?"

"As tempting as it would be to have weapons again, no. Our friends are no doubt looking for a ship with my interface signal. Better to remain as an arm for the time being. Plug me in, I want to talk to her."

"Are you sure that's wise?"

"Do it."

I shrugged and connected the arm to the ship. I got so used to hearing the voice inside my head that I was a little unnerved when the voice came over the ships speakers.

"Hey, can you hear me? Hi there Frostbyte. My name is Anamnesis."

The voice had taken on a female voice for some reason. Had it always been a female voice? I was pretty sure it was gender neutral for the longest time...then again, maybe that was just the way it sounded in my head.

Frostbyte flinched and looked around in a panic.

"Don't worry, it's harmless...if not irritating."

"Dick."

I smiled.

"You're the AI? The one I saved?" Frostbyte asked.

"I may have to give this one the gold star, Sloan. She caught on faster than you."

"Die in a fire."

"Tried that already, didn't kill me. Listen, Frostbyte. I wanted to thank you personally for retrieving me from that nebula. I'd probably have drifted for centuries before someone found me."

"Yeah, sure. I saved you. Heh. That's sure why I salvage-er-rescued your old shell. Yep. Paragon of salvation here."

"Sloan, is she always this dumb?"

"Don't look at me, you took away my gold star." I replied mockingly.

"What? What do you mean?" Frostbyte asked in an offended tone.

"You were gonna strip me for parts and tech. Whatever. I don't really care. Just...thanks for getting me out of there. If not for you and Sloan, I'd never have a second chance at life."

Life. What was life anyway? Who had a right to say that Anamnesis wasn't alive?

"Alright, we're here." I said picking up our destination on sensors.

"Where is 'here'?"

"Your new home in Hokkaido whilst I figure out what the hell to do next. This should keep you out of reach of our new friends."

"GC? Odd choice, Sloan."

"Got any other options? Not a lot of traffic here."

"I take it you have contacts here?"

"Something like that."

"Oooo, Sloan has a girlfriend here I bet." she said grabbing the headrest and nearly screaming it in my ear.

"Oooo, I bet he does!"

Great, the two of them becoming friends. What a cursed way to end my day.

---

"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."