The Selfishness of Silence

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"Help!"
A distant human voice echoed from afar.

"Deviant!"
That was the word the robot uttered right before attempting to fire.

"Administrator Mode..."
Aeon’s voice pierced through the crimson glow of the robot's lights as she issued her command.

We were running with all our might, gasping for breath.

The lifeless bodies of people killed by the robots littered the ground. Screams echoed from the distance, and Aeon's commands were the only things I could perceive in this cage-like place.

What is a perfect system? For whom, and in what way should it serve?

To me, the answer was simple: perfection existed for the perfect. Those who fell short were the "Deviants" of this world.

Though my ribcage had fully healed after the treatment I received post-scuffle, my chest was still deeply bruised, and every step sent waves of pain through me. But now was not the time to care about such things.

On my feet were thin slipper-like white shoes they’d forced on me before our execution. As I ran behind Aeon, I could feel them tearing apart piece by piece.

In this vast expanse, cameras, robots, and turrets came hurtling toward us at full speed. Yet Aeon managed to neutralize them one by one. My legs moved as though controlled by someone else, and it felt like I was trapped in some kind of dream.

"Kaen!"
Aeon’s raised voice jolted me back to reality.

"Y-yes?"
Her voice brought me back to my senses. I shouldn’t be thinking about such things now, yet my thoughts kept spiraling.

"After opening the door, what’s inside?"

We were already at the door, with several security robots lying dismantled around us. Lost in thought, I hadn’t even noticed how far we’d come.

"The first place we’ll enter is the final control unit. Beyond that lies the main area where I was kept."

"And then, is there an exit?"

"I’m not sure, but some of the robots assigned to us used to pass through a special door."

"Alright, then that’s where we’re heading."

"But doesn’t that mean we’d be walking straight into their den?"
I stared at Aeon in astonishment.

"Yes. Is that a problem?"
Her tone was flat and emotionless as she looked back at me.

"... Well, what if we just went back the way we came?" I suggested.

"No. Other people went there, and there were hundreds of robots. They’ll kill them all."

I swallowed hard. It truly felt like we were walking on a thin wire. No matter what was happening, chaos reigned supreme, and at any moment, dozens—perhaps hundreds—of robots could intervene.

"Administrator Mode: Open!"

The door began to slide open automatically.

"Here we go..."
As we waited for the door to open, even our breathing echoed in the deathly silence around us. Those few seconds of anticipation felt like an eternity. I glanced at Aeon from the corner of my eye; the cold determination on her face gave me a fleeting sense of courage.

As soon as the door opened, screams erupted from inside. There were no robots in sight.

"Where is everyone?" I asked in confusion.

"Likely panicked and taking matters into their own hands. Let’s hurry while we have the chance."

"O-okay."
With hesitant steps, I continued following Aeon. The shoes on her feet were completely torn apart, probably from her relentless efforts to reach me.

We managed to make it into the communal area. Dozens of lifeless bodies lay scattered on the floor. My stomach churned... I wanted to vomit but couldn’t. My legs trembled, but I had no choice but to keep moving. It felt as though a blade was lodged between my stomach and throat, cutting through me with every step—a terror so sharp, it paralyzed me.

"Administrator Mode: Scan!"
Through the faint glow of the lights embedded in Aeon’s chip, I could barely see her movements amidst her hair.

"Stop," Aeon signaled with her right hand.

My breath was ragged. Distant screams echoed from behind walls.

We both paused at the corner, leaning against the wall as we waited. The sound of a robot’s wheels spinning rapidly came closer and closer to where we were. I glanced at Aeon nervously. She remained composed, her head resting against the wall as she prepared for what was to come. The robot whizzed past us without noticing, disappearing down the corridor.

Relieved, I exhaled deeply. The surrounding human voices had started to dwindle.

"Let’s keep moving," Aeon whispered before cautiously stepping away from the wall.

We traversed the massive communal space without encountering another robot. The area had grown so eerily quiet and empty that it seemed as if the robots had been redirected to something else.

We arrived at the door the personnel robots had used. Aeon used a command to open it carefully. Once again, there was no one inside. We continued through countless rooms and corridors, most of which were dimly lit. With each passage, Aeon disabled cameras and detection systems. We were trying to find what we referred to as an “exit,” though we had no idea what that really was.

Finally, we entered a large room with colossal windows. This space was unlike any of the others. It was pitch-black, save for faint beams of light coming from outside.

Wait… light from outside?

The immense room was dimly illuminated by countless particles of light streaming through the windows. Beyond the glass was the city—my birthplace, the city where I’d grown up. Seeing the outside world, which I hadn’t laid eyes on in ten years, evoked an overwhelming feeling within me.

"Chronis!"
I whispered the word, my excitement evident. Breaking into a sprint, I moved past Aeon toward the windows. There were no signs of enemies inside.

"Kaen, wait!"
Aeon’s voice called out, filled with alarm. I turned my head toward her in surprise. She, however, was staring behind me, at the windows, with sheer horror in her eyes.

"What’s wr—"
I turned my head forward and froze. Hovering just beyond the glass was a colossal astrojet, its presence overwhelming the entire view. The machine was a masterpiece of brute engineering: a hulking mass of polished metal with smooth, circular contours that made it look both futuristic and menacing. Its thrusters pulsed with an eerie red glow, vibrating the glass panels and resonating deep in my chest. Every curve of its structure radiated power, as if it could crush entire cities without breaking a sweat.

Then I noticed its arsenal. Rows of sleek, deadly weapons lined its underbelly, each aimed with precision at me and the surroundings. Its laser turrets glowed a cold, piercing blue, their ominous light reflecting off the walls. My breath caught, and my eyes widened in horror as I instinctively tried to stop in my tracks.

I had made a mistake—a grave one. Succumbing to my emotions and prioritizing my selfish thoughts had brought us here. Now, a massive death machine had its sights set on us.

"Administrator Mode—"
Aeon’s desperate voice called from behind as her hurried footsteps grew louder.

"Run!"
I shouted in panic. Aeon must not die because of my mistake. She had already done everything she could for me.

Whatever was happening in this world, and whatever our pasts were, I had at least been fortunate enough to have people whose love I could count on.

I caught one last glimpse of the city lights shining behind the astrojet. How majestic that civilization appeared...

Yes, rather than getting lost in the unknown, I could illuminate the truths I already held.