After being forced to lie on my back for an hour. My cybernetics pulsed back into existence. My Semantic Memory Board didn’t clutch my brain for the first time in months, which made me feel at ease…sorta.

It was a bitter reminder of how much pain my brain went through when Nova defragmented herself.

I still couldn’t believe it, but what she said was true, everything in correlation to my cyber-blackouts was right on spot. I still need to understand why she’s doing this, I thought. I still feel as though I’m in the dark.

“Sir, The Egrinizer Class Cybernetic Arm and Ecin-Battery trackers have all been isolated, you are free from Mr Black’s eyes.”

“What’s your game here Nova, what do you want?”

“…To save your life, Sir, you are needed.”

“Why am I needed?”

“You are a major component that’s essential to saving the human race Sir”

“Component? You talk as if I’m just some part.”

“You are Sir. Component just happens to be the easiest word for me to use.”

“I see. I need more than that Nova. You say the Hedgehog is important for this Oculin to take over. In my book, we should stop this.”

“We can stop this Sir, but in the long run, this will not benefit us. Giving them this ‘Hedgehog’ will mitigate long-term damage.”

“Long-term damage?”

“Yes sir. It’s calculated that if they don’t receive The Hedgehog, harsher means of control will take place.”

“Well help me understand what will the Oculin do?”

“They will use the Arkin Manifesto.”

“Deslin Arkin’s manifesto?”

“Yes Sir, The Oculin has what Deslin doesn’t have. Resources, Drive and most importantly the means to make Bridge City its own. If we allow them to have the Hedgehog use Automatons in their takeover. We can still gain control of the Automaton once we are ready to counterstrike.”

“I see,” I said softly. Nova’s right, if they have The Hedgehog gaining control would be a lot easier than fighting insurgents in a city.

“What’s going to happen to my family?”

“I’ve already constructed a plan for you to leave the Federation with your family during the chaos.”

“How high is the success rate of us leaving the Federation?”

“20% Sir.”

“Humph, that’s higher the success rate compared to Hortort Calisum’s assassination.”

I clenched my jaw, staring at the cold grey ceiling. I licked my lips, dissipating the dryness from my lips and nodded. “I don’t know If to trust you, Nova.”

“I understand, Sir. If you do not trust me, you can always purge me from your systems. Would you like to proceed?”

“Quit the bullshit Nova, I know you’ve planned how to get me inside the bunker so stop your threats!”

The AA went silent, as expected. She only spoke when needed to and clarified when I needed it. “I have three questions, Nova, depending on your answer. It'll allow you to stay or purge yourself from my systems.”

“I understand Sir.”

“Good, first question, What are you? And don’t give me shit for an answer.”

“I am an Artificial Intelligence, designed to help you.”

“Unshackled Sentience,” I whispered. Didn’t The Federation construct policies ensuring an A? A couldn’t get sentience? I mused sourly.

“Do you work for the Federation?”

“I do not, Sir.”

“Who do you work for?”

“I am unable to answer that due to the limiters that have been placed on me, Sir.”

“Bullshit…Why are you helping me?”

“Because without you, the human race will die off because of the Oculin.”

“You keep mentioning the human race is going to die. Wasn’t the Imbibe enough to destroy more than half the world as is?”

“It was, but based on preexisted data and the possibilities of how the human race is moving forward. The Oculin cannot be left in charge. They will dismantle all the work that has been done to ensure humanity's existence.”

“Work? What work?”

“Work that will ensure the lives of your family for generations to come.”

I feel like I’m talking to a fucking wall! I complained, sitting up trying to understand what my next move was.

Fifteen minutes of silence passed and my mind raced incessantly as I kept asking myself what I got myself into unwittingly and how the fuck would I get myself out.

“I HATE YOU!” Hannah’s voice reverberated in my mind. Right, I know the answer.

“Can you get my family out of the city before the city truly hits the fan?

“Yes sir, I can help you save your family sir, but you will need to trust me.”

“Nova, I won’t trust. But I’ll listen to what you have to say regarding The Hedgehog. When it comes to my family, we’ll see what happens. How do I get the Hedgehog, I take it you a way into the bunker.”

“I do.”

I sat in silence for five minutes, thinking of how fucked I was. Mr Black wants me dead, but that wasn’t rocket science in all honesty.

Now, I have Artificial Intelligence in my skull, no I’d been walking around with one for years! If bullshit had a life, it’d be mine…wholeheartedly.

“How do I get into the bunker Nova?” I asked.

“Through the Eliqris Cooling System.

“Eliqris Cooling system?”

“Yes sir, it’s a giant well filled with Salent Coolant.”

“Ah…right, I saw a rat with the coolant on him back in the desert.” Nova didn’t answer like my comment didn’t need her response. “Where is it?” I asked.

“Entrance to the Salent Coolant Well is right below the trailer located in the hallway.”

“You’ve got to be shitting me, are you shitting me?

“No Sir.”

The urge to force me to verify this was there, but I didn’t bother to get up. I needed rest. I’d just been blown twenty feet across the canvas and collided with a jeep, which could’ve cut me in half. My eyes felt lethargic as I stared up at the ceiling.

Without any more words being spoken. I closed my eyes and hoped my ass would fall asleep, instantly.

My mind rattled for a few minutes despite my yearning to rest, because it had one thing on its mind.

The Salent Coolant System pondered on whether the infiltration could take place and based on Nova’s estimation, it would be an easy infiltration.

◆◆◆

“About fucking time you came through Cypher!” Eltessa snapped, pushing herself up from her chair. Stryme eyes ogled, and then he nodded approvingly, something I didn’t expect from him

“Right,” I answered.

“So tell us, how the fuck are you gonna get into the bunker?”

“Through the Salent Coolant System.

“The what?” Stryme asked confused.

“Salent Coolant System, it’s the cooling system for an Eliqris Generator.”

“El-WHAT generator?” Stryme hissed in confusion.

“Eliqris Generator,” Eltessa said. “It’s a self-sustaining generator which uses liquid to generate electricity.”

“…You could’ve just said it’s a Dam, I would’ve gotten it.”

Eltessa’s cheeks puffed as she showed her annoyance, she turned to Stryme who was sitting on the ground playing with a knife and he spun it around his hand as if he was some blade master. “It’s not a Dam but possesses the characters of one. The Salent Coolant System is where the ‘Power’ comes from. The system has turbines within the Salent coolant that generate the energy needed to power this place.”

“Wait…you knew about the Eliqris Generator?” I asked.

“Yes, this is an old Federation Base, Eliqris Generators were installed in most of these remote locations during the First Continent War.”

“It never crossed your mind th—“

“It did Cypher,” Eltessa said, cutting me off. “But this base is too big for me to do a simple search. I don’t have the equipment needed to prob nor do I have the patience. Look around, these people are at war with the Doasians. No... they aren’t but they’re dealing with some scientist fuck up.”

"You know how this will end right?” I asked, eyeing her.

“With us leaving with the Hedgehog, there’s no other plan...unless you planned to stay here and fight?”

“Not in the slightest.”

“Good...now get inside and let's get this over with.”

“Yeah Cypher, hurry to fuck up I don’t want to die here.”

I grunted and nodded, then pushed myself up. “I'll see you in a few.”

“Godspeed,” Eltessa said.

I made my way to my room and began rummaging through my haversack the moment I pushed the door open. I pulled the remaining anaesthetic patches free, tossing them on the bed.

The bandage marks around my waist could as well have been tiring. A bristle of wind brushed against my right side and a slight itch aroused my side. I poked my side, feeling the tire track marks on my skin.

An explosion of fire erupted in my side, making me squint the fire went down my hip and ended at my calf, making me sit on the bed for a second. I guess the anaesthesia patches have worn, I thought.

I grit my teeth, snatching up one of the anaesthesia packs and ripping it open with my mouth. I yanked it free with my left and placed it on my waist. A cold sensation warmed the fire within my side, dulling and nullifying the pain slowly. It felt as though the fire within me had been quenched. A soothing feeling that I definitely would need before jumping into this Salent Well.

Once I patched myself up, I wrapped a fresh bandage around my waist and rolled my neck, alleviating any stiffness that I'd built up over the past few hours.

I closed my eyes and steeled myself because now was the time to get my shit together. “Now...let’s begin,” I said aloud.

I placed my flack jacket on the table and pulled a chair up behind me. I looked at my flack jacket, eyeing intensely and hesitating heavily on what pouches I’d have to discard.

I needed to be not just lighter, but quieter as well, unlike Devil’s Reach which was swimming with people. The bunker underneath Sceleratus would be quieter, which meant that if anyone heard any unfamiliar noises, it would alert them to my presence, and that wasn’t something I wasn’t too keen on.

After much deliberation, I unstrapped two pouches located around the waist. Those two pouches initially carried pistol clips. In all honesty, I didn’t want to leave behind but with me already taking my modular submachine gun with me, I couldn’t afford the extra baggage. Just means I shouldn’t miss it.

“Nova were you able to get a headcount on the base?”

“Negative Sir, My processors have been within the console you found me ever since I arrived.”

“And when was that?”

“A few months ago.”

“You hitched a ride here, and waited for me?”

“Yes sir.”

“Why?”

“Because I know Mr Black would’ve used Mrs Cypher and young Hannah against you, so I did what I thought was the best outcome for you.”

“Best outcome for me?”

“Yes sir.”

“After you fragmented yourself, were you already on your way here?”

“No sir, I weaved around the BLACKNET until information regarding a console replacement was available.”

“Did you know about Elhisia’s plan?”

“I know many things, Sir.”

“Nova, I asked you a question, did you know of it.”

“Yes sir, but not in the way you think.”

“What do you mean, in the way you think.”

“The Weitsons are one of the core members of the Oculin.”

“Core members?”

“Yes sir, The Oculin is made up of Ten families and various Senators and Military Leaders.”

“You could’ve just said the most important people of Bridge City.”

“Not necessarily Sir.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Weitson Group is only ‘onesers’ as you would call them that are part of the Oculin. The rest are made up of small families who invest their money into the specific industries

“They have shares in these the wealthiest companies?”

“Yes sir.”

“So what’s stopping them from taking over.”

“I can’t answer that Sir, but the power that keeps The Antillean Federation allows them a certain leeway as it allows progress within a specific guideline”

“A guideline I’m part of?”

“Contributed and are part of Sir.”

“I See,” I said, whatever the fuck that means.

“Your family also contributes. They are also part of the guideline. That is why their safety is paramount in relieving the Hedgehog from Mr Black.

“…I see.”

I didn’t like that Nova knew what my family meant to me, but it was hard to not know. She’d been with me for years, unbeknownst to me, as an A.I. and not an A.A.

“I’m ready.” I finally said.

“So am I, Sir.”

“Humph.”