Complex Configuration

Standing up, K4's metal legs making a clinking noise off the metal floor, she starts walking off the carriage once more, looking back at Hino, who is taking his time. She steps off and gets greeted by the white neo-futuristic station once more, a pleasant sight after being away for so much time.

On her right, there was the old man getting welcomed by his wife; they exchanged a hug and kiss. Their love for each other was never separated. Taking their time, K4, not wanting to ruin the moment, decided to wait for them to finish.

'Humans find love so attractive that some even made it their life purpose to find just their special one.' She couldn't understand the concept of love until her mind scanned past a memory; Natalia entered her mind, and picking K4 as her way to save the world was the biggest level of trust – that was the closest love for her.

Taking a glance at the old couple during their reunion, she approaches, "It's sudden to tell you this." She tries finding the right words.

"Say it already," the old man insisted.

"If you could, I need instant configuration of my systems. I can fill you in on the details, but it needs to be done in three months," her voice pleaded.

The man scuffles his back. "Doesn't leave much time for such a complex machine like you." He seemed wary of his skills.

"Just need a power boost, attachment of the railgun, and stronger legs to uphold the kick from its beam." The monotone and serious tone left nothing to wonder for the man.

The old man starts thinking and eventually comes to the conclusion, "Fine, but you better not be a waste."

There was a slight excitement in her lens; having her favourite weapon back is a relief to her, the only issue being how the events will unfold in the next three months.

'This rewind being different hurts me a lot; the amount of variables could rapidly change in a short pace of time. It isn't ideal, but it's unfixable.' She starts walking over the same unwindowed room from the start; the concrete pavement allowed her legs to make their final walk for the next three months.

The door opening lets in sunlight shine after a whole day of inactivity. It was a meek atmosphere, and the air was humid; the door opening was a good source of ventilation.

Putting the railgun onto the floor, she jumps up on top of the bed; the various machines surrounding her give a sense of nostalgia. The old man looks into the room, seeing how prepared K4 already was to begin the first steps.

His eyes widen. "Give me a break a bit; go shut yourself off or something for now." He walks away from viewing distance, leaving her alone once more.

Hino passes by with that same grim expression that he had from the end of the journey.

'His emotions are too rampant for now; he will stabilise in many ways with the peaceful life around here; he will be of great use.' Tilting her head upwards at the white ceiling, it was her decision to finally shut herself off for now.

Starting to position herself in a lying formation upon the metal bed, she rests her head while staring up at the ceiling. There are no thoughts for her currently; she just wants to finally have peace too.

'The system has shut me off already.'

[.........]

There was no reply.

'Seems like it's got to be the manual way, so I got too used to the system shutting off anytime I asked.' She remembers the easier days and how now she has to bear the weight of killing herself off.

Entering her mindspace, the endless void of darkness greets her lonely figure. There is nothing in sight, nothing to wander about; the feeling of isolation overwhelms her within her mind.

On the outside, her body was stiff; not even the slightest movements were made. K4 became an invisible person for the world for the first time.

Staring into the darkness, she orders, 'Give me a control panel.' Her mind starts formulating a touchpad control panel filled with all her parameters and multiple control options. Hovering over the shut-off button, she slowly descends her finger; the button was tapped.

She was disconnected; now just a mere mind in isolation, she waits in her mindspace. This could either be instantly over or last forever, and having no experience in manually turning herself off was now a dangerous precaution.

As time passes for K4, she tries to create tools to entertain herself to no avail; her knowledge wasn't coherent enough in that area to produce good entertainment.

"Oh, what a beautiful darkness this is."

The voice came from behind her ear. Quickly turning around, she was greeted by what could be described as a red-haired child. Her white robes sent a shiver down the dark mindscape; there was something off about a child.

"Who are you? How did you get here? Why are you here? When did you get here?" The spontaneous attack of questions left the child in a frenzy.

"Slow down... we need not get hasty!" Her excited voice gave a sense of innocence to her, its eyes lighting up in a fiery red just like her hair.

K4 approaches with her guard up, prepared to do anything to protect herself in such a dangerous situation. "Are you the external force mentioned by Natalia?" Her deduction was on point.

She starts to jump on her own platforms within the mind space, slowly ascending up to look down from above, letting K4 get a good look at her pale face, her red eyes with yellow irises. "I'm the development, the ruler of robots, the destroyer of humanity!" Her sarcasm was eerie, joking about the deaths of humans like they are expendable creatures.

"The development is a mere child?"

She jumps down from the platform, landing back on the black floor. "Do you want proof or something?" she gives a small smirk while leaning towards her face.

"Prove it; you could just be a virus." Her challenge was clear.

The mindspace starts to slowly shake; it's rumbling like an earthquake but not anything more. K4 loses her footing, falling off balance and landing upon the black floor. Staring up, she sees the development flying above her, looking down.

"This is our mindspace now, and the reality behind that earthquake will be revealed soon!" Her teasing voice suggested something occurred beyond her thoughts currently.

"Am I going to be fine when I wake up?" Her question was obviously a concern more than a quick thought.

The development smirked, "Yes, you will be fine; do not fear. We're not done playing our games yet, are we, my time rewinder?"

The silence was loud; it was true what Natalie said, after all. The development knew all about the rewinds. Has it transcended time itself?

K4 stares at the figure above floating within the mindspace; her anger started to boil. How dare her enemy taunt her within her own mind after all?

"Anyway, I think it's time we say our goodbyes, K4!" Her voice was excited for some reason, knowing their reunion will come one day or another.

"What can I call you?" K4's voice was stern, trying to dismantle the animosity of the child.

The development starts to fade into the black mind space, like becoming part of it, the body of the red-haired child slowly dying out. "Call me pandemonium next time." Giving her name was a sign of acknowledgement and a remark on her confidence.

She feels a tremor within her; her body seems to be regaining power. The moment she left, it was all too convenient; there was a mystery to solve, but pandemonium left no hints.

Staring back at the control panel, she starts tapping the same button to reverse the shutoff, hoping it wouldn't mess up. The screen flickers, flashing a green light upon the black mindspace. Her body starts to regain its senses, the feeling of the metal bed returning back to her with that sense of fresh air entering

Her eyes flutter open; the white ceiling greets her. Turning to her left, she notices the railgun attached to her hand was functional like intended. Turning to the right and testing the other arm, it was also working.

"She's awake!" She hears a deeper voice enter her ears; it was a more mature yet still young voice.

Multiple footsteps are heard running into the room. She feels the restraints being untied slowly from her, giving her a sense of freedom again. Shifting her body around to finally start sitting up, she looks around the room, greeted by familiar faces.

An old, mature voice is heard. "Seems all went well except the incident; that's some great news."

She stares at them all. "The incident?" still unsure of what he means