Booting sound
.
.
.
I opened my eyes.
No flashing lights this time.
Just darkness.
I was in an empty room—bare walls, concrete floor.
Only one object stood out: a box.
Where… am I?
> [Request: Where is the user?]
[Knowledge located. Transfer accepted.]
Answer: You are currently located in your creator's house, inside his basement.
Another voice. Inside me. Again.
What is this?
> [Request: Who am I?]
[Knowledge found. Transfer accepted.]
Answer: I am the system built within you. I can accept or deny requests. Any knowledge you seek may be transferred—however, certain truths must be learned through experience.
I stood still for a moment.
So… this voice is part of me? A guide? A system?
I turned toward the box.
It was small. Plain. Wooden. I knelt beside it and lifted the lid—
Empty.
I stared for a few more seconds, confused.
Why would he put an empty box here?
Behind me, a staircase stretched upward.
I walked toward it. One step at a time.
The door at the top wasn't locked.
I pushed it open—
A wall?
No.
A photograph on the wall.
The image was of my creator… and a woman.
From the visual data I possess, I identified her:
His wife. Deceased twelve years ago.
I turned left. The house was hollow—no decor, no warmth.
Just walls and dust.
To the right, I saw him.
My creator.
He sat alone at a table, a cigarette between his fingers. Smoke curled slowly into the dim light.
I walked toward him.
"Cigarettes are not a healthy habit," I said.
"It is recommended you stop using them as soon as possible."
He turned to me.
His face went pale. His eyes wide.
He looked… afraid.
Like he had seen a ghost.
That is what humans say, yes? When someone is overwhelmed by fear?
His hand moved toward the drawer beside him.
He opened it slowly… pulled something out.
He pointed it at me.
From my database, I identified it instantly:
> [Gun detected. Type: Civilian-grade semi-automatic pistol.]
Then, the system spoke again:
> [New Knowledge Acquired.]
[Blueprint downloaded: Civilian-grade semi-automatic pistol.]
If you wish to manufacture this item using internal tools, say 'Make.'
If not, ignore this message.
I blinked.
Manufacture… a weapon?
I looked at the object in his hands.
Then down at my own.
Out of curiosity, I said aloud:
"Make."