After the Clean-Up Crew managed to breach into the Sanctum Tower, the two trapped officers were able to be rescued in time. Although they were unconscious when authorities found them, it seems there were no wounds or bruises on their body. It seemed that the Discord Maker guy did keep his promise.
But it remains a mystery to me, why did he leave so quickly? Was it because of Anaelle? The tower was hijacked for a few hours, but he didn't seem to think twice about leaving once we met him. Welp, let the bygones be bygones… and let that sink in.
Earlier when the investigation ended, Anh said he would be returning to the Realm-Keeping District, I guess even for someone like him, time and work is a luxury people in this realm couldn't afford on a whim. Neither can I apparently. Director Anaelle has also returned to the Administrative Hall with the C.U.C, I guess I'm all alone in this huge building then.
"Sigh… this place is a mess, everything needs maintenance.. the floor, the files, the iron door.. did they blast their way in?"
I said to myself, looking down at the scattered files, I wondered what they were searching for. Perhaps this building holds secrets unknown to the public? Having nothing else to do, I roamed around the control room where the Discord's attack had been commanded from.
Some LEDs had already broken down and others were... flickering. There seems to be not much electronic equipment and facilities functioning properly either.
But something caught my eye as I walked down the control room, I saw a particularly large screen that was still projecting the insignia of IASM. Perhaps this one managed to survive the hijacking and is still repairable?
On the screen's panel, there were many buttons and levers including a hand shaped scanner that seemed a bit out of place in my opinion.
"Huh? What's this?"
I approached the panel as the scanner glowed in the dim light of the control room. I wonder… what will happen if I.. So I decided to do it anyway, hesitantly extending my palm towards the glowing scanner as it hums an eerily quiet sound from the ventilation. Surely this time, nothing will happen.
I didn't jinx that right? Hopefully I didn't…
Once the machine started scanning my palm thoroughly, it suddenly stopped humming as the IASM logo on the screen had disappeared out of the blue. I really did jinx it…
"Huh, I guess this thing is broken. Oh well, sucks to suck."
Just as I was about to leave, the panel suddenly hummed again, and the screen suddenly turned white on its own with a blinding light. I could barely see anything until the screen changed to a grayish color. For a second, I thought it was going to explode.
[—Rebooting…]
[—COMPLETED—]
["Please insert your identification designation"]
"My… designation? Do you mean name?"
Yet the machine didn't respond back, I don't have an Origin Signature so.. maybe I needed to put my name in the blank? Here goes nothing I guess. My fingers danced along the keyboard of the panel, inserting my name into the system and hitting the send button on the far right.
[—Processing…]
[—Designation Acknowledge—]
["Welcome, Archivist"]
"Archivist..? Is that who I am? Who are you?"
"Greetings, Archivist. You may refer to me as the Global Enhanced Neural Entity for Strategic Intelligence & Simulation master computer. Or G.E.N.E.S.I.S for convenience."
Genesis… a familiar term, is it the same one I saw in the meeting room? So it's a master computer, huh? I wonder what that means. Not important for now I guess. But for now, perhaps I should get used to my new role as this 'Archivist' thing.
"Alright then, I'll call you Genesis from now on."
[—Saving in Progress…]
[—Acknowledge—]
"Directive received, from now on, you may refer to me as Genesis, the master computer and artificial intelligence to help you navigate your new life as part of the complex society. Would you like me to do a full restoration of your workplace, Archivist?"
"You can do that? But how? I don't think you have a leg or even an arm or even a body in fact to do cleaning tasks. How do you intend to clean this messed up place without physical capability?"
"It is within my capability to restore damaged facilities with spared parts on the storage room to ensure and maximize comfortability of your workplace, Archivist. The restoration process is in progress, please refrain from touching electrical equipment."
As soon as Genesis said that, the environment around me started to change rapidly. All broken equipment was transferred into the floor below as the tiles opened to replace the broken equipment with newer and functioning models. The lights were also rotated to reveal a new pair of LEDs on the other side.
"This is what you call restoration..?"
"Affirmative, I find no apparent reason to call it using varieties of semantics rather than using the sufficient term to describe the process given the current circumstances. I am programmed to maximize efficiency above all."
What? Semantics? Sufficient? Circumstances? What is it even saying? Am I lost?
"That wasn't my question, but... alright."
For several more minutes, the restoration kept on replacing the broken parts of the control room. I sat there watching quietly as more and more old components were being replaced. It's… making me sleepy. After all, the sun is about to set any moment now.
"The restoration process has been completed. Do you have any other tasks?"
I looked up at the screen and approached Genesis, it seems even the panel was replaced into a new one.
"Right.. so, you said you are a master computer right? So that means you know everything right?"
"Your statement requires a significant nuance in your framing of my capability as artificial assistance module—"
"Alright! Alright! Jeez… let me reframe my question. Answer my question: can you explain to me what Origin Signature is? And where am I currently at?"
[—Thinking for a moment…]
"Most certainly. Origin Signature is a term used by the modern human to describe the system within the realm of the dead that gives the bearer superhuman capabilities. These functions can be categorized into Threat Mitigation, Attributes and Designation. Would you like me to explain the details?"
"Uh.. no, please continue with my question."
"Received. As per your question, you're currently in the Sanctum Tower, located in the Administrative District of the Hereafter. This landmark was built during the second insurgency of the rising calamity that has befall the Hereafter. Would you like further clarification?"
Insurgency… that's what Anaelle mentioned during the Discord Maker's appearance. An exiled prisoner who she lets go for unknown reasons… this has become more and more complex than it initially was…
"No thanks, that is all, Genesis."
"Affirmative."
So… I guess I'm stranded here. With a soulless machine that talks with the wording choice of a Harvard graduate… This is going to be a pain in my butt, I thought AI is the 'future of mankind' and all that thing they were developing, the promise of an easier way of life? This isn't it.
Well, I suppose I can't complain much, it's still smarter than myself by a margin. Well.. maybe more than a margin but still, I wonder what kind of story the future holds for me? What kind of story is waiting to be unravelled in the near future?
Suddenly, Genesis made a 'ding!' sound.
"Archivist, a new message has been moved to your mail. The message includes an invitation by the SEMinar Department of the Massachusetts Science Institute — the current Acting-Government of the central constitution has sent out an invite for you to meet with the Acting-General Chancellor and the SEMinar board members."
The.. what? And what???? I was just about to search for a place to sleep! This can't be happening!!! I was just appointed to a role that I'm not even confident I know what it does! And I have to meet the acting president of this world? AGHHHH!!!
"What now!? Invitation? When is it due?"
"Tomorrow morning, and you must attend this mandatory visit, Archivist. Would you like me to set your alarm for the maximum amount of rest?"
Sigh, so not only do I have to deal with this new job, but I also have to go to another district on a mandatory visit with someone I didn't know… great. Life couldn't find another way to put me in a life that perplexed me the most.
"Fine.. do that, I'm gonna search for a place to settle for the night."
"Directive received, your alarm has been set to 6:30 AM central time per your default schedule. Goodnight, Fumiko."
And I guess that concludes today's hustle and bustle in this new foreign and alien life. A girl's day doesn't get any weirder than this I bet. Alright then, off to slumber… hopefully tomorrow will go smoothly.