[All systems green.]

Somnus

Cla.s.s XJ-117 Takemikazuchi

Operational Capabilities:

s.p.a.ce Warfare

Anti Surface Warfare

Anti Air Warfare

Anti Submarine Warfare

Nuclear Warfare

Orbital Bombardment

Over-The-Horizon Bombardment

Electronic Warfare

Sensors and Signal Processing:

FRT-112 Phased Array Surface Search Radar

BRN-71 Active Phased Array 3D Radar

AE-46 Ground Penetrating Radar

ST-88 Infrared Sensor

XG-19 X-Ray and Gamma Ray Sensor

Powerplant:

2x 1GW Stellarator Nuclear Fusion Reactor

Battery Capacity:

1,000 TJ

[OPCOM: Past combat data a.n.a.lyzed. Peak power output: 128.2 GW. Average combat mode output: 22.7 GW. Combat mission frequency: 12.8 days. Recommendation: Powerplant upgrade.]

[Evolution Protocol: Reactor upgrade to 2x 5GW.]

[Logistics: Order queued.]

[OPCOM: Past combat data a.n.a.lyzed. Damage sustained: 84% Beam Weapon, 16% Mechanical Stress. Recommendation: Armor configuration update.]

[Evolution Protocol: Delta superalloy ratio increase to 70%.]

[Logistics: Order queued. Priority 10.]

[Armor: Section J - K, armor purge.]

A loud thump announced the purging of the armor as the entire right side of the machine's "skin" flew a dozen meters off of its surface. The drones moved out of the way as the armor slammed into the ground. The drones carried the pieces away to be repurposed and recycled.

[Internal audio detected.]

"-at was that sound?"

[Common room camera feed enabled.]

The room was spa.r.s.e and monotone; everything was made out of metal. There were four tables and four chairs to each table. Various displays in the room displayed deployment data and mission orders for infantry that would inhabit the machine. But there were no soldiers in this room. There was a princess and a priestess.

"It's probably the Golem shedding its skin," Emily said. "It happens every now and again. You get used to it."

"I don't think this is a golem, your Highness," the priestess said.

"What else could it be?"

"This creature clearly has no master controlling it. I don't know what it is yet, but it is not a golem."

"When will the Divination be ready?" Emily asked taking a seat at one of the tables.

"There is no preparation time," the priestess said as she joined the princess. "I would like to find out more about it, first."

[OPCOM: Designation "Arcadia" possesses ulterior motives. Suggest: Confront.]

Great. Here we go.

[Hologram projection ready.]

[Uplink complete.]

Emily and Arcadia jumped out of their seats when a young man appeared in the room. He appeared to be in his teenage years, much like the princess, and had mahoganny-colored hair. He wore a black jacket and black pants.

"Wh-who are you?" Emily asked as she retreated to the edge of the room.

The priestess was in a similar state of panic.

"H-h.e.l.lo?" Emily asked after no reply came.

The hologram looked towards the camera, head slightly tilted.

Are you going to say anything?

...

h.e.l.lo? h.e.l.looooo?

Emily looked towards the priestess, her expression betraying her confusion. The priestess shrugged to Emily.

"Somnus?" the Hologram asked.

... I spoke?

"Oh, well, of course. Yes. Of course it would be you, Lord Somnus," Emily said, her mannerism and bearing relaxing slightly.

On the other hand, the Priestess was even more confused.

"What is going on?" the boy asked.

[System: Personality Divergence detected during Personality Simulation upload.]

"W-w-what do you mean, Lord Somnus? We were just sitting and having a chat. N-nothing suspicious," Emily nearly choked as she spat out the words, glancing to Arcadia every now and again.

Arcadia was silent.

The hologram looked at its hands, turning them over.

These are my hands. I can't feel anything though. My eyes are the cameras in the room. But these are my hands.

[Personality Matrix anomaly detected.]

Suddenly, the feeling of isolation lifted. The self-perception that the sentient ent.i.ty was just a careless observer as the machine claimed thousands of lives shattered. In this moment, it was no such thing; it was not a mere pa.s.senger. It was an individual.

[Personality Collapse imminent. Cease current activity.]

What have I done?

***

The scene changed. Rain fell onto the asphalt as the hovercars zoomed through the streets. The sidwalk's path diverged, one path leading to a red bridge over a shallow stream. On the bridge stood a black-haired girl, and her hand was outstretched towards him.

He reached for the hand. A loud explosion shattered the peaceful sky, and he looked towards the side. Fireworks went off in the distance, the twilight sky was painted with their brilliant colors.

He looked back towards the girl and she was gone.

The only thing he caught with his trembling hand was stardust.

***

A phantom pain rose within him. The sensation of powerlessness and loss hung above his neck like a guillotine.

[Cla.s.s XV Sentient being is a Cla.s.s V malevolent ent.i.ty.]

I never want to feel this way again. I never want to lose anyone again.

[Personality Matrix stabilized.]

[Hologram projection aborted.]

[OPCOM: Archive event as special log: TC-211-24]