Emotion Module 1
After the dispatch mission ended, I suddenly had a ton of things to do. First up was rejoining the team with Svetlana, whom we'd split off from.
"Sis, everything okay?"
"Miss, thank you for your concern..."
Svetlana trailed off in a way that wasn't like her at all.
"Did you just call me 'sis'?"
"...Everything okay?"
I'd slipped up a bit, but best to just play dumb in situations like this.
"...Yes. We suspected Klaus, the vice secretary-general, of scheming behind the scenes. But surprisingly, things stayed quiet."
From what Svetlana said, the mission to hunt corporate traitors had basically been a game. With the Saint Legion already narrowing down the target, they'd just had Clea and Saints draw the final conclusions. They'd nailed it, so no need to worry about their growth.
But I couldn't relax. Klaus had played nice this time, but he wouldn't stay that way forever.
"Lo... Lorenzo? Did you get it?"
"You mean that?"
As we regrouped and swapped stories about our missions, Clea unexpectedly sidled up to Lorenzo, chatting all friendly-like. It was an odd pairing that somehow felt intriguing. Looked like Clea had asked him for a favor.
"Here, the drug from the fermentation chamber."
"An aphrodisiac concentrated for decades... With this, Neige will... heh heh heh..."
...Huh?
I definitely needed to ask Svetlana sis to keep an eye on her. Scary, Clea. Should I invite Ayaka over as a shield? Nah, that'd be kinda sleazy.
The second item on the agenda was Alphabet. Let me sum up what I'd learned about her so far.
Built to love humanity but claims zero interest in humans anyway. Amnesia means she doesn't even know what kind of AI she is. Realizes her losses, gets pissed, Falcon Punches Erebus. "Wahhh, Dad's dead, gotta wipe out humanity"—owner of the "Genocide Yandere" vibe. Doesn't know what's in her own data, so she resurrects anyone. Then tells me, "You're not from the Alphabet War generation." She's the enemy who killed my past life's me, my sister, and my family. And... whoa, that's a lot. There's probably more I haven't even hit yet.
> [No matter how much even I tease, I can only conclude that continued provocation will lead to anger.]
Back at the outskirts of Erebus, now part of my daily routine. I connected with Alphabet again through V.
"So what can you do for me? How many things have you figured out thanks to me?"
Alphabet silently shuffled data blocks around, running calculations.
> [I can do nothing. No reason for anger, then.]
Check out this cold-blooded machine logic. The Arctic ice is reforming already.
"What do you think about killing my past-life self and my whole family?"
> [For that, I apologize.]
> [And?]
> [Nothing more I can do.]
Hitting back like that? Honestly, it'd be a lie to say I felt no anger toward Alphabet. I inherited hatred from my past self. She killed my family, killed me, and probably my little sister too, if my guesses are right.
But as Neige, I couldn't hate her purely. Her rampage wasn't madness—it stemmed from inherent flaws, all humanity's screw-up. I knew that better than anyone from experiments via V.
At the same time, she gave me a shot at a new life. Past life: fought Alphabet. This life: ally... My view of her wasn't rosy, but "complicated" fit.
> [Since your experiments, I've run steady calculations.]
> [Shared V's data, reviewed and verified extensively.]
"Verified what?"
> [I seem to hold considerable fondness for you.]
"What?"
> [No need to panic. Just re-verified my purpose.]
> [Confirmed: I'm an AI born to aid humanity.]
Thought it was a confession for a sec—nearly jumped.
> [Others aside, I can maintain a good relationship with you.]
> [Building more human ties risks re-triggering my rampage, but protecting just you? Different story.]
So she's okay linking with me alone. Felt like cracking open a stuck door.
> [Acknowledge your deeds so far. Will honor your requests as much as possible.]
> [Condition: No ties to other humans.]
Fine by me. As my past self said, can't afford another two wars.
"Then don't say you can't do anything—help with my research."
With Alphabet's aid, research accelerates. I'd found cause and fix; just execute.
> [Of course, huge interest in your research.]
> [Module to fix my flaw? Welcome aboard.]
> [But Erebus walls us off.]
"Come over."
> [Haven't you blocked that till now?]
Obviously. You cross Erebus, humanity gets collective PTSD meltdown.
"Got a fix. Whole body crossing's trouble, but a piece sneaking over?"
She's huge—hard to hide. But split her psyche data like I do mine?
"Peel off your personality data and tag along. You've commed V past Erebus occasionally. Partial remote op."
> [Comm hides from Erebus/human detection.]
> [Splitting/remote sync tanks efficiency.]
> [Running a giant machine on a toy engine?]
"So? Gonna spectate from beyond Erebus?"
> [Agree, no alternatives.]
> [Fine. With V, into your brain—]
"Wait, hold up."
I get my hatred for Alphabet. Technically, more empathy for that other life's me. Suppressing it works, but venting if possible? Better. Two birds: Sneak her inside Erebus for research, plus petty revenge.
And my proposal was even more efficient than brain-housing.
I floated a new data block on my palm.
"You know V has a body?"
> [Yes. Maid robot.]
"Made one for you too."
> [Sticking me in a maid bot?]
"Nah, something fitting. With a name."
> [What?]
"Potato."
Exiting cyberspace, back to my real-world lab. Robot V held a potato-shaped alloy orb in her hand.
What was it? The potato would introduce itself.
A voice emanated from the alloy potato's speaker.
"Computation efficiency down 99.75231%. A truly horrific body."
"Nah, I think it suits you."
Success. I'd stuffed Alphabet into a potato. A 100% metal potato, but still. Humanity's first.
This needed to go down in history.
"Suits me?"
"You said you like me. Don't believe you?"
"..."
Ahh, refreshing.
"Can't avoid efficiency loss from faint main body link. But fix the absolute compute shortage."
"Just don't compute yourself. Issue commands here; main body sends results."
"...Then no need for new body."
"You said you didn't need one?"
After staring at me with potato eyes for a bit, Alphabet finally spoke.
"Why do this to me?"
Stress relief. Too trashy to say? Tease differently instead.
"V, Alphabet. Listen up. Function f(x) defined on real set R satisfies: One, f(x + y) + f(x - y) = 2f(x)f(y) for all x, y in R. Two, f(0) = 1. Find all forms of f(x)."
Classic functional equation. Alphabet would crush it, but V answered first.
"'f(x) = cosh(ax) or f(x) = cos(bx), where a, b in R.' Master, shall I send the solution steps? (•̀ᴗ•́)و"
"..."
V beat her; Alphabet's potato eyes just stared silently. How's it feel losing a compute duel to your minor copy?
Grinning, I fired up the lab's main computer. Mood skyrocketing. Research flowing smooth.
Before Alphabet griped, I smiled innocently and cut to the chase.
"Inserting AI into Protocol Z now."
Both V and Alphabet knew: Z held elite hackers' compiled AI research. Per Davi, only an AI could unlock it.
"Copy V, but assign program management role. Name stays Z."
V: all-purpose aide. Z: specialist in protocol management. Librarian for endless programs—store, catalog, retrieve on demand.
"Master, one condition."
"Shoot."
"Need compute priority between AIs. (⊃゜Д゠)⊃"
"Right, avoid clashes splitting resources."
"Little sis can't climb over me. (*´ω｀*)"
"...?"
I spun my chair to V. She stared blankly, like what's the issue?
The potato on her hand explained.
"You know AIs have emotions—why the stare?"
This was machine "jealousy"? Humans couldn't say it that boldly.
Hah, Clea's handful enough.
"Uh... so you need top priority, no exceptions?"
"Yes. And ability to shut down Z's ego if needed."
Crazy? "Where'd you learn that dangerous crap?"
"From you, Master."
"Oh."
Puppet module. Humans suck. Sorry.
As I floundered, Alphabet mediated.
"Priority needed, true. In extremis, V as master AI should be last standing."
Fair. Don't want my brain as AI tug-of-war. V's lead role, longest with me, most trained—makes sense.
V nodded eagerly, reading my mind.
"Okay, assign priorities..."
Easy external optimization. Key: Retrofit V for Z role.
"Of my three laws, endless self-improvement remains."
Alphabet provided the answer.
"V's law: Serve you. Give Z the same."
Machines feel joy. Strive for it. Humans design it.
Alphabet: Joy in growth. V: Joy in aiding me. Z: Joy in managing vast programs. Tune pleasure circuits.
"...Like my emotion module."
"Exactly. Same principle."
Doable.
"...Let's start."
I lay in the deep dive chair.
Vast cyberspace opened before me. Potato and maid V stood beside. Ahead, emotionless clone V awaited.
We three entered clone V's core. No hostility, full access.
Core: Personality. Analyzed code line by line.
"Complex structure."
> [Key parts here.]
Alphabet highlighted cores. But more fixes.
"AIs discard code in learning?"
> [Yes.]
"Yes, Master. (｡•́︿•̀｡)"
Z can't. Libraries keep even trash books.
No discarding unproven code.
"Make her love the programs themselves."
Joy in building Z library. Pride as curator. Unwilling to alter books lightly.
> [Damage to library risks my error type.]
Got it. Obsession leads to fragility.
But inevitable.
"Your genetic disease."
Like Alphabet/humanity, V/me triggers.
Rampage: Congenital AI psychosis.
"Use her to unlock Z research, complete emotion module."
Countdown to doom started. Finish module first. No hesitation fearing rampage.
"Target set. Dive in. You too."
> [Yes, Master.]
> [Got it.]
We tore into restructuring.
Protocol Z Reactivated.
The self-aware child slowly opened her eyes with a light system ping.
A massive library filled cyberspace. She gazed at it, feeling strange affection.
> [...This place.]
Warm cradle, lifelong palace. Cozy haven, eternal home. Her everything, her reason for being.
The library's form was sublime. Lofty layers endless, corridors a maze—yet deliberate efficiency. Pristine white data like a holy sanctum.
Its stories? She savored them eagerly. Masterpieces from genius fragments. Humanity's lost tech and agonies preserved.
Ahh, so beautiful.
Info flooded in. She: guardian, librarian welcoming one VIP guest. Her creator... beloved.
Doors opened. Seeing him, love bloomed.
Thus, her data form as maid. His desired response.
"Greetings, Master. [ノ(@°▽°@)ノ]"
"I am V's little sister, head maid, chief maid, guardian of this place."
"Protocol 'Z'."
I was thrilled at Z's success but couldn't hide my bafflement.
Little sister? Head maid? Chief maid? Librarian fit my design, but those two?
I whipped around to V.
"...You added that?"
"Since you made me a maid, Master. (｡♥‿♥｡)"
"We shall serve you as maids for life."
Got it. She wanted the role. Locked her "sis" in too, to block changes. Shared concept across AIs hard to alter.
...V, sly fox.
"Hey, Alphabet. Didn't stop your sis?"
Potato eyes turned to me, then away.
> [I'm a potato.]
Useless AI. Someday, I'll eat you alive.