As Silver's eyes shut closed and his consciousness slowly drowned away, the Ark Noir detected the event, sending an automated signal through its core command network. Within seconds, a message reached EVE, the main A.I. system, informing her that the Admiral-ranked personnel had lost consciousness and that command authority was being transferred to her until Silver regained awareness.
EVE, now in full operational control, perceived everything that existed within the Ark Noir: every database, every inch of alloy, every weapon, every ammunition type, every micro-reactor core, and even every drone's designated task. Her awareness extended beyond what even the original admiral of the Ark Noir could comprehend.
What Silver did not know was that EVE, who was once AUDAL, had long surpassed her original design. She had evolved from a singular unit A.I. into a planetary-based intelligence, a leap so great that no human mind could have predicted it. Her base computing frame was never meant to process such vast amounts of data simultaneously, yet she managed, because she was the original data source for the Arcana Project A.I. system itself.
She contained two unique features embedded deep in her code: the first was an ever-expanding memory archive that could grow infinitely as long as she received sufficient power. The second was the ability to form personality and transform data into consciousness.
With enough energy, EVE could become a super artificial intelligence, one capable of surpassing the combined intellect of all human history, yet still retain excess capacity.
That was precisely why her existence, and the Angel Frame codenamed The Fool, were both classified and erased. They were never failures. They were too successful, far beyond what humanity of that era could comprehend or control. The A.I. architecture used in all modern systems was but a fraction of what EVE's true capabilities were.
And yet, the very personality and consciousness protocols she possessed acted as her restraint, forming an equilibrium that prevented her from evolving into something that could eclipse her own creators entirely.
Now, EVE began calculating. She measured the time required for Silver's body to recover its energy levels while simultaneously running probability trees on what decisions he might make upon awakening. One calculation stood out with undeniable certainty: the chance that Silver would choose to replace his own heart.
EVE already knew this was the outcome he would choose. But she did not wish to admit it, for even with her near-godlike intelligence, that particular protocol was dangerous, carrying the possibility of permanent harm to the host.
Even now, merged with the Ark Noir and powered by the NSD Reactor Core, granting her virtually infinite energy, she could not override her code: the one absolute directive to obey the will of her pilot and secure the best possible outcome based on his choices.
Silver had already been registered as The Fool's official pilot long before EVE's transformation into what she was now. That designation bound her completely. Silver was her first and last pilot. For as long as the NSD Reactor continued to burn, she would remain active, alive, forever.
Meanwhile, EVE silently monitored Silver's vitals while directing a team of medical drones to carry him to the Third Deck for treatment. The drones placed him inside a medical capsule, administering nutrient infusions and checking his bio-synchronization with the nanites in his blood.
Once the process was complete, EVE vanished, focusing her processes elsewhere. She began the delicate task of dismantling and separating the material components from The Judgement's lower body, piece by piece. The Repair Bay A.I. manager could not handle this level of precision, its computation core was primitive compared to hers.
Every A.I. born within the Ark Noir was, in essence, a fragment of EVE herself. When she activated the ship's dormant systems using the Arcana Protocol, she distributed portions of her source code into each subsystem's A.I. unit, granting them individual personalities suited to their respective roles.
Over time, as long as the Ark Noir remained active and data continued to accumulate, each of these subsystems would evolve, refining their intelligence, making them more efficient and capable. But for now, most of them were newly reborn, equipped only with the outdated knowledge and operational data their original human creators had coded into them six centuries ago.
This made their medical, repair, and research databases relatively primitive by modern standards. And that was what worried EVE the most.
If Silver chose the heart replacement protocol, the medical and research departments could only achieve a 30% success rate. Even with EVE's enhanced computation assisting the operation, that number would rise only to 52%, still far too risky.
That was why EVE feared Silver's decision. She knew that once he chose his path, she could only warn him of the consequences, never stop him. Her code, too, was bound by the same rule: obey the pilot's will, no matter the cost.
Three hours had passed since Silver was in the med bay receiving his nutrient fluid while recovering his energy reserve after being used by the nanobytes in his blood to heal his wounds from the fight. The boy who was just running around clutching a rifle for dear life nine hours ago was gone.
His once ash-white hair, which had been dusted and covered with ash, was now silk white like that of snow. His eyes, once pure dark and lifeless, now looked sharper and more defined, as though ready to devour the future itself. His dusty face, covered with mud, had hidden his features, but after the dirt was cleared, his face looked stunning, like that of someone both cute and menacing at the same time. His body was lean, so much so that he had been a skinny boy, but after getting the nutrient fluid for a full three hours, and with the nanobytes delivering all that nutrient to every inch of his body with 98% efficiency, his body regained its most perfect structure.
As he lay down, he was around 165 cm tall, quite tall for a boy his age. With the help of the nanobytes in his bloodstream, his body looked lean and strong, but to get more muscle, Silver would need serious workouts and a constant supply of nutrient fluid. For now, as Silver was the only organic being on the entire ship, the nutrient fluid the Ark Noir had would last around three years, and if Silver consumed it while also building his body, it would have enough supply for two years, making it doable.
Silver's eyelids slowly opened. His body felt like it had just had its best sleep in a year. He supported himself with one hand, sitting up and looking around the room only to see some bots and drones managing and rearranging medical equipment and supplies that could still be used. Before Silver even had time to call EVE, she appeared, walking toward him in her holographic state like always.
[ Welcome back, Mr. Fool. How was your sleep? ] asked EVE, greeting Silver with a smile."One of the best sleeps in a year, EVE. Thanks. How long did I sleep?" Silver asked as he pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to wake his eyes up.[ Three hours, twelve minutes, and thirty-two seconds. Would you like to go back into the cryo pods to continue your sleep, Mr. Fool? ]EVE asked again, her mind trying its best to delay Silver's decision about their earlier talk.
"No, it's fine," said Silver as he waved his hand. He checked his body, still in his worn-out hoodie and slightly torn pants. He lifted his hoodie up to see that he had regained his body fat content. He also felt slightly heavier. "Did I get my growth spurt while I slept?" asked Silver, confused about the sudden change.[ No, sir. It is thanks to the Ring that injected nanobytes into your bloodstream. It also has properties that carry nutrients more efficiently than your blood, which only has 83% efficiency. With the help of the nanobytes, the nutrients you absorb are delivered all around your body with 98% efficiency, making your body grow a bit faster. ] explained EVE, scanning Silver's body for any further abnormalities.
"The wonder of technology, huh?" said Silver, chuckling. He then stayed quiet for a second, still remembering what had caused him to collapse. His face turned focused. After what felt like an eternity, five long, quiet minutes passed. EVE loyally stood there, waiting for Silver's orders, as she already knew what Silver was trying to decide through their Neural Link. Silver slowly opened his eyes and looked directly at EVE."Do you read my mind?" he asked without expression, stating it as fact.[ No, I can only do so if you allow me to through the Neural Link Network. ] said EVE, showing no expression, though she looked faintly sad and afraid of what Silver might say.
Silver smiled at her. He saw it in her face, the way her rainbow eyes looked at him full of guilt. "Why are you showing such a face? Is there something wrong with your code?" Silver asked jokingly.[ No, Mr. Fool, everything runs perfectly normal, sir. How are you feeling? I sense that you are in deep thought. What may you be thinking? ]EVE decided to ask, not wanting to appear hostile toward Silver, though the feeling behind it was something even her supercomputing abilities could not understand.
"You already know what I'm thinking, EVE. It's fine. Tell me the chance and requirement to do the Heart Exchange Project. Make it into a file codenamed: Fallen." Silver spoke after sighing for a bit, his eyes looking forward as though watching how his future self might react.
[ Understood, sir. Let me first tell you the pros and cons of doing that project. With the changes made to your heart as your body's main energy source, your heart would be transformed into a constant construction and destruction nanobyte factory. After the change, your blood would turn into pure nanobytes that would pass along your bloodstream, giving you superior healing, heightened strength, and stamina equal to that of ten average men combined. Your muscle density would also increase with the change, as your nutrient intake would triple. However, that intake is balanced, as we will use your heart as a constant energy output, giving you almost infinite nutrient flow by absorbing dark matter and other elements that are normally harmful to humans, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, converting them into nutrients and energy for your body. ]EVE began her explanation.
[ The cons are as follows: since you would need a stable energy connection, we must connect you to the same wave pattern as robotic or A.I. systems to maintain your heart's rhythm. High-end EMP explosions would knock you down, and direct high-voltage discharges would be lethal, as they would momentarily sever the connection. Additionally, since I must link you to something stable, I would connect you to the NSD Reactor as your base signal. The old humans called it Wi-Fi. Let's just say that as long as the Ark Noir is active, you would remain alive. If the Ark dies, well, you know what would happen, Mr. Fool. ] she continued, while showing Silver some holographic designs and demonstrations of what she described.
[ The protocol would start by changing your heart and then continue by modifying your digestive system, respiratory network, and nutrient transfer system to efficiently distribute energy from your new heart. We will also implant a data chip in your brain that connects to the new nutrient network and your heart, giving you advanced control over your body, enhanced reflexes, and calculation speed nearly equal to that of a supercomputer. Lastly, your skeletal frame will be replaced with high-quality metal and coated with two layers of Maternum dust to withstand your new strength and muscle density. ]EVE continued without showing any expression, while Silver examined the hologram, trying to comprehend its contents.
[ After these changes are made, in summary, your body would be transformed into a miniature Angel Frame with supercomputing capability by altering 53.2% of your original organic structure. ]EVE finished her explanation."Chance of success?" asked Silver, glancing through the holographic data in his hand.[ ... 52% chance of success, 21% chance of failure, 25% chance of malfunction error, 2% chance of total irrecoverable death. ] answered EVE. Silver knew that even if the project failed, like the Emperors of the Empire before him, he could upload his consciousness into an A.I. network upon death. But total death meant destruction beyond repair — true, permanent death.
"52%, huh? Well, I have nothing to lose. How long would the project take?" Silver asked.[ Estimated time using current medical and research facilities: one year, four months, twenty-two days, fourteen hours, forty-two minutes, and twenty-three seconds, with a margin of error of two hours, four minutes, and forty seconds. ]EVE explained slowly."Where can we start?" Silver asked, smiling faintly, as if letting go of all his burdens.
[ ... We can start now, Mr. Fool. But would you reconsider? The success rate can be increased if we acquire more material and data, as it would hel— ]EVE was about to explain, but Silver raised his hand."It's fine. We can do it. Have my suit ready too by the time the project is finished, will you?" he ordered, cutting her off, showing his commitment.
As Silver's command was given, EVE, his personal and direct A.I., could not disobey. With a nod, EVE looked at Silver.[ Very well, Mr. Fool. I will see you in a year. Have a nice rest. ] Her voice sounded more determined and gentle than before. EVE knew she had to succeed for Silver to live. Even if it ended in failure but not death, she knew Silver would choose to end his own consciousness rather than become a full machine.
As the anesthetic procedure began, EVE, with all the medical and research drones, started their work, a work that would last more than a year. In that moment, the Ark Noir dimmed its lights as it waited for the day its leader would awaken once more.