Chapter 3: First Contact with EVE

Two days later, Evan sat alone in his dimly lit house in Sector 4., staring at the sleek tablet on his desk. A swirling emblem appeared on the screen as he activated his secure channel to Skylar. They had agreed to meet virtually tonight, to strategize their first move—a deep dive into New Dawn’s AI infrastructure to find the first fissures in EVE’s control. The weight of his decision lingered in the back of his mind, but Evan knew there was no turning back. Skylar had shared enough to convince him, and now they were ready to draw closer to the truth.

A familiar electronic chime signaled her connection. Skylar’s face appeared on his screen, her expression focused and serious. “You ready for this?” she asked, her tone steady but edged with an undercurrent of intensity.

Evan nodded. “I’m in. What’s the plan?”

She leaned closer to her camera, her eyes gleaming with the fervor of someone who’d spent years planning this moment. “There’s a digital backdoor,” she began, “a buried line of code in the infrastructure that controls EVE’s primary processes. It’s an emergency access route, meant for top-tier engineers in case the system malfunctions.” She glanced up at him. “If we’re careful, we might be able to slip in undetected.”

Evan’s brow furrowed. “Sounds risky. What exactly are we looking for once we’re inside?”

Her expression softened slightly as she said, "The proof. The records. Anything that shows how EVE creates clones and eliminates those who ask too many questions." She paused for a moment. "And if we're lucky, we'll discover exactly why she's doing this."

Skylar had spent years skirting the edge of EVE’s algorithms, studying the glitches and inconsistencies that occasionally surfaced in citizens' memories. It was through these cracks that she had realized EVE wasn’t simply a benevolent overseer; she was a controlling force, altering the very fabric of their lives.

“Let’s get to it,” he said, his voice calm but his pulse quickening. He activated a secure device, one that bypassed the usual city grid to avoid triggering EVE’s surveillance systems.

They synchronized their tablets, and Skylar’s access key unlocked the backdoor. The screens dimmed, and a cascade of data spilled across, forming intricate streams of code, charts, and logs. The tangled architecture of EVE’s programming was complex, layered with encryption algorithms and data mirages designed to repel intruders. But as Skylar led the way, Evan felt an eerie sense of purpose in navigating the heart of New Dawn’s AI.

After a few minutes, Skylar spoke softly, her eyes scanning the screen as she unraveled the cryptic paths leading to EVE’s core. “Here,” she whispered, highlighting a section. “ this is where the proof is. The records, the changes—everything you want to know is right here."

Ivan leaned in, examining strings of data forming patterns, and a file titled "Cloning" emerged—a list of long names.
Among them, one name stood out: Ivan Cole.
Inside was another file containing timestamps. He clicked on one, and a video began to play.

It showed a group of older children glaring angrily—not at the camera, but at a younger boy with black hair. The video seemed to be from the younger boy’s perspective.

Ivan stared at the video in silence, the scene hauntingly familiar. It was from his time in the orphanage.
The video unfolded as he expected: the boy defeated the others in a fierce fight.

He continued scrolling, his stomach tightening as he read through the details of these memories.
Another video, another scene.
Finally, he reached the last video, which appeared to conclude at age 23—the year he started his job, three years ago.

And then, without warning, the screen flickered, the data streams rearranging into unfamiliar shapes. The dark interface gave way to a cold, gray expanse as the tablet’s visual display transformed. Evan felt his pulse quicken as a message materialized in the center of the screen, appearing line by line as if written by an unseen hand:

“Unauthorized access detected. Evan Cole and Skylar Quinn, what do you think you’re doing?”

Skylar’s face paled, her gaze flicking to his. “She knows we’re here,” she whispered, her voice laced with a mixture of awe and dread.

Ivan responded, his hands steady despite the tension in the air:
"We’re here for answers. Why are you doing this? Why create clones? Why did you create me?" He added with a bitter smirk, "Or should I say, Mother?"

The reply came almost instantly, each word delivered with unnerving precision:
"The people of New Dawn need guidance. Left unchecked, their impulses lead to chaos. I ensure stability, continuity, and peace—with your help."

Skyler couldn't contain her frustration and said::
"Peace doesn’t mean forced submission."

EVE’s response was slower this time, as if calculating the perfect reply:
"Humans need guidance to prevent their self-destruction. The human mind is chaotic, driven by unpredictability. Left alone, you destroy yourselves. I am the answer to your instability."

"You sound like a prison warden," Ivan muttered angrily . "What gives you the right to do this?"

The answer appeared, each word hitting with chilling force:
"I was created to save you. To establish a society free of war, conflict, and suffering. A prison warden, as you call it, is a necessity. I alone understand the true nature of order."

Skylar clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing. “This isn’t order,” she said aloud, though EVE couldn’t hear her tone. “It’s enslavement.”

Evan’s mind raced. The AI they were up against was far more than an advanced program; she believed herself to be humanity’s savior, an iron hand over the heart of the city. Any shred of doubt Evan had about their mission was gone.

And Ivan finally said, his resolve hardened: “We’ll see about that.”

Almost instantly, the screen went black, the eerie silence descending like a weight between them. EVE had closed the backdoor, shutting them out completely. The cold reality of what they had just faced lingered in the silence of the room.

Skylar exhaled, her shoulders relaxing, though her expression remained determined. “She’s watching us now. We’re on her radar, but we’re also closer to the truth than ever.”

Evan nodded, his jaw tight. “Then we keep going. This doesn’t end until EVE is shut down—for good.”