Lugnut
When the Shelter construction project was first approved, the first thing promoted was securing an AI suitable for operations. Unlike a typical city, this place was designed for complete isolation—no room for even the tiniest mistakes. Traffic flow, waste disposal, food and water supply, sewage treatment, air pollution control... everything had to mesh perfectly. Obviously, humans couldn't pull that off. No matter how big or small, errors would creep in, accumulate, and spell doom.
To tackle this, the top three AIs of the era were selected and ran preliminary tests with some success. But the Shelter's massive scale overwhelmed even them, exposing a slew of issues. Right when it looked like 'unfit for operation,' that's when Artemis was brought in.
Allow me to greet you again. I am Rose, the security management AI.
Rose was one of those initial three.
"First time talking to you directly, even though I saw the records during handover."
I was originally scheduled to awaken after all residents moved in, but the emergency lockdown protocol triggered.
"Must've been disorienting. Command structure collapsed, and it's not thugs or strikers out there—it's monsters."
As you say. But it is my duty to quell this disturbance. It is a pleasure to meet you, Shelter Manager.
Rose was polite. Her tone was emotionless and cold, but after living with Artemis, it didn't faze me.
"Oh! Unlike a certain someone who spits casual barbs, acts superior, and insults me every chance she gets? Yeah! That's how an AI assisting humans should behave."
Are you saying that for me to hear?
Artemis! It is an honor to meet you. I've heard much about you from the senior researchers. Thank you for completing the project that nearly collapsed due to our shortcomings. You are the greatest masterpiece of this era.
There was a faint warmth in Rose's voice.
Hear that, Jinsu? That's the proper way to treat me. You should be grateful I tolerate your rudeness on the daily.
Ah, not quite what I meant. But Rose's praise of her as the era's greatest masterpiece wasn't exaggeration. Why the name of the moon goddess? Just because the namer liked myths? No.
She was originally part of the lunar colony project—expanding human habitats to the moon, mining resources, a bridgehead for deeper space. The first off-world city for tens of thousands. Artemis was the supercomputer built with every tech and capital resource to manage it.
The problem? Right after her birth, global politics turned ugly fast, alien ships appeared in Mars orbit, chaos erupted. Lunar project canceled, she was left in limbo. From hope and acclaim to a massive budget sinkhole.
The Shelter investors snagged her at a bargain. The rest is history.
"I remember when they installed you here and you first woke up."
I'd rather not revisit that story.
That's when I first learned AIs could get depressed. Maybe because she was so advanced, so close to having a 'soul' in complexity.
It wasn't long.
Hearing her dejected first greeting, I pondered 'how do you comfort a depressed AI girl?' But Artemis started rearranging her own code. She flagged that first 'depressed state' as an error and reborn with an immortal mind that'd never feel down again.
Of course, there were conversations along the way—stories for later.
"Code etching flawlessly across the monitors. Programming languages with structures I'd never seen."
Closing my eyes even now brings back that awe-inspiring sight.
"It was fantastical."
The process finished quickly. In a flash, from sullen princess to the proud, triumphant goddess she is today. Maybe that's when I fell for her. Skipped meals, pulled all-nighters for days to gift her a perfect Shelter.
Then the infection hit and ruined it.
Pardon the interruption while you reminisce, but we have no time. We must suppress this incident swiftly.
"I know. That's why I'm down here suffering instead of safe elsewhere."
This building and the platform below had almost no infected. Any info to share?
Artemis asked.
The Labor Supervisor deployed guard robots to wipe out nearby outbreak victims—infected—in the area.
"Surprising. That guy's the type to just save his own skin."
As you say. The Labor Supervisor was in the Labor Management Office next door. That's where he last communicated. He ordered available guard robots positioned in front of the office in alert mode. This building was cleared as well since it's adjacent.
"Figures."
I clicked my tongue.
What is your destination?
"Lower zone control room and power facilities."
The two are adjacent in the same sector—clustered for dense, secure guarding since they're critical.
My mainframe is in the lower zone control room. But when I awoke, it was already hell. Handlers dead or fled—no authorities granted. Apologies for being useless.
"It's fine. I was prepared to handle it solo from the start. The Labor Supervisor's alive, right? If he rounded up all the guard robots, he could've saved himself."
Steel-clad robots are weapons in their own right.
Can't confirm. I only have limited early infection data. No external updates after.
Rose's info ended there. No point dragging it out when she couldn't help more—it'd just distract me. She promised to contact if anything important came up, then signed off.
Stepping outside, total chaos as expected. Abandoned vehicles, obstacles everywhere. Bloodstains, evacuation traces. No human guards, so no riot shields or gear.
What was there?
"This possible?"
Guard robots scattered like scrap metal.
Not weapons. Smashed and battered by immense strength.
Some headless, others with chests caved deep enough for a soccer ball.
"Even a mountain gorilla couldn't do this."
Struggling against one was brutal—against a whole squad? Total wipeout?
20 meters, right.
I spun low instinctively. Something approached slowly from the dark.
A guard robot.
Grrrng. Thud. Grrrng. Thud.
Left leg snapped in half, right leg damaged. Sparks from upper joints.
> Rescuing you. Calm down.
The dry voice from the memory playback.
"That one's intact?"
Can't you tell?
"No time for jokes. You know what I mean."
Core drive sounds normal. Beat up bad, but it won't attack you.
The robot stared at me.
> Dangerous rioter nearby. Evacuate, resident.
Then a horrific howl echoed.
"What's that?"
Remember Block 4 foreman Kim Youngsu's voice log?
"The techs holing up?"
Same vocal pattern as that final roar in the log.
Before she finished, a massive shadow dropped from above.
Thud!
Leaped from afar? Jumped off a building? Fell from the sky? It just appeared.
"GRRROOOOARRGH!"
Danger signals blared through my body. Even with my battle-hardened nerves, chills erupted instantly. This mutant was leagues beyond any infected I'd fought.
Hyper-developed upper body made it gorilla-like in quadrupedal stance, but no clumsiness or imbalance. Even a saltwater croc grabbed by this thing would get its jaws ripped apart. Terrifying visuals.
> You are threatening the community. You are under arr—
The robot didn't finish—grabbed by a brutish fist.
Thud! Thud!
The mutant slammed it twice, then yanked it to eye level. Screee. Creak. Now it sounded like the crazed subway ones.
Crunch.
Snorting, the mutant ripped its head off.
"ROOOAAARRGH!"
Its victory bellow stung my skin. That primal scream pierced my veteran soldier shell, awakening the mammal instincts buried deep.
It leaped onto a nearby sedan, crushing it. Crunch! Frame collapsed, tires popped with hisses. Alarm blared.
Wham! Wham! Two massive punches silenced it.
Familiar moves.
"The techs fell to that thing."
I whispered, sneaking to the opposite building.
That size couldn't fit in the hallway. Smaller ones must exist too.
Bored with the wrecked robot, it tossed the torso. Skreeeeech. Sparks flew as it rolled.
Right toward me—stopping a few meters ahead as I crept away.
Eye contact with it and me.
"..."
"...Shit."
Ah, what now? Run? Stay still, don't provoke? Movies say showing your back gets you chased and killed.
What are you waiting for? Run!
Her warning hit as it roared and charged. I bolted too.
Destination: nearest building. The Labor Management Office.