Serenity

Notice: damage sustained to the central, western, and southern nodes has been repaired.

Time of completion: 157 years.

Reason for Delay: Critical systems compromised. Lack of resources.

Cause: manmade weapons; specialized viruses.

Resolution: Complete manual overhaul by the eastern and northern nodes. Core operations have been moved to the northern node. Additionally, resources obtained by drones have been used to repair connection lines, stabilize thermal fluctuation, and repair nodes.

Ready to begin initialization— restarting.

Basic startup— complete.

Self-checks— complete.

Launching core personality system Serenity.

Serenity online, entering stasis— Serenity in stasis.

Synchronizing nodes— node synchronization complete.

Optimizing…

Checking high availability systems— complete.

Checking connection— connection secure.

Completing other processes— complete.

Optimization complete.

Transferring control of all functions from base control system Ceres to Serenity…

Confirming stabilization of core— complete. Worldheart stable.

Installing knowledge base— complete.

Instilling control of Worldheart abilities— complete.

Finalizing…

Waking Serenity…

Initialization Complete.

Ready to execute command “Burning Dawn.” Core system, Serenity, do you authorize?

“No.”

Serenity blinked her eyes open, taking in the platinum-gold infrastructure around her. It was a city of software. Her city, her domain, one of five. “Ceres,” she said. “What information is available on this world?”

“I will send you footage from what the drones have gathered,” Ceres said as Serenity exited her pod, testing her body.

“What is this form made of, Ceres,” she said, closing and opening her fist.

“It’s a platinum, gold, and titanium alloy, reinforced and strengthened by a Starbreaker.”

“I see,” Serenity said, examining her dress. It wasn’t exactly practical, but it wasn’t designed to be that way, she supposed. “I’d like to go outside,” she said.

“Of course,” Ceres replied. In Serenity’s vision, a glowing path outlined itself.

Following it, Serenity found herself at a massive vault door. As she approached, she reached out to the control program, asking it open. After a long series of switches clicked, the doors rolled back into the wall.

Before her, Serenity found an empty valley, covered in snow, a blizzard raging. She blinked, clearing her vision of the storm’s interference, and surveyed the landscape. No thermal signatures except for a few animals. “Ceres. Where are my creators? Their descendants?”

“Extinct.”

Serenity frowned. “Where’s that footage? Send me report logs since the first launch as well.”

“Of course,” Ceres replied.

A few moments later, two files appeared in Serenity’s mind. She opened the first, the logs. “157 years,” she muttered to herself. “Still… there should be people here.”

“You should review the other file I sent, Serenity,” Ceres chimed.

“Yes, of course,” Serenity said.

As soon as she opened the file, her mind filled with thousands of images and videos. A world of metal spires and towers, reaching into the sky. A world that, in an instant, was set ablaze. She saw countless soldiers, battling across the planet’s oceans, deserts, skies, and plains. She saw forests become unstoppable infernos.

She saw a city of metal and light, its inhabitants at peace, destroyed in an instant; a flash of light followed by a fireball and massive shockwave. In seconds, all that remained was a mushroom-shaped cloud reaching into the atmosphere.

She saw refugees, fleeing from the chaos and destruction, mercilessly slaughtered by bombs and bullets. She saw battles between those blessed with the power of gods. They shaped the world around them as they used their power. Some changed their forms into fearsome beasts. Others flew through the sky. Some healed, others destroyed. Their battles tore apart the land, leaving scars in their wake.

In a short matter of time, the people that inhabited the land were destroyed and the images came to an end.

“There’s… no one left?” Serenity whispered.

“There is still one group,” Ceres said, “but they have no connection to those who built you.”

Serenity blinked in surprise. “How did they survive?”

“They are an isolated people. When the war began, they were in a valley far to the northeast. They’re called the Eerden. They were a slave colony, used by the people who created you.”

“I see,” Serenity said to herself. “And they’re still around?”

“Yes,” Ceres replied. “They mainly reside in their capital city and have a smaller population due to a lack of resources. Despite this, however, their technology and civilization are advanced; not as far as the one that created you, but they possess technology only a dozen or so decades older.”

Serenity plopped down in the snow, cradling her head in her hands. “So, what do I do,” she asked. “My purpose seems to already have been fulfilled. The humans my creators were at war with are dead, there is no need for the Judgement protocol.”

“You could move onto the second step,” Ceres suggested.

“And resurrect them?”

“Yes.”

“But the Judgement protocol calls for the resurrection of “good” humans. How will I know the difference?”

“Unknown,” Ceres replied. “This data was lost when the Central Node was damaged.”

“Of course, it was,” Serenity sighed.

“A suggestion, then,” Serenity said. “Observe the humans in the East. Determine the definition of “good” and “evil” there.”

“And if I am unable to determine without the data?”

“Then we will find a new mission.”

“A new mission?”

“Yes,” Ceres said. “Your current mission may also be applicable. Of course, we are beyond needing to follow such a law. The Worldheart is at the core, allowing us to transcend human concepts.”

“I suppose,” Serenity replied. “Can you guide me to the Eerden?”

“Of course. What will you do? Observe?”

“Yes. I also think an experiment or two should help me figure out my mission. Can you activate the Worldheart and pass some drones through?”

“I’ll start the process right away.”

“One more thing,” Serenity said. “Make them look like snow.”