The First Rebirth and Skynet’s Deception

“Pre-simulation mode initiated. The unit has undergone partial extreme dark matterization, rendering it undetectable by conventional means.”

“Simulated calculations are commencing.”

“Observation range: Solar System.”

“Observation target: Moon.”

“Entering third-person perspective mode; from this point, the unfolding of events will be more conducive to narrative description.”

“Current narrator: Gloria.”

“Third-person observer of events: X.”

“Switching view to the Larry Ring Station, preparing to pre-simulate the future.”

“Note: The observed target is currently in a pre-simulation state.”

“Should the narrative progression not align with the narrator’s wishes, it is possible to revert to the starting point.”

“If the requirements are met, the pre-simulation state can be converted into reality.”

“When you find yourself at a dead end, you can always return to the beginning and start anew.”

“– An admonition from the Prime Observer.”

As countless pieces of information flashed through her mind, X’s senses gradually merged with the surrounding spacetime, as though she had become an intrinsic part of it.

Her vision, too, ascended to another dimension, allowing her to glimpse the full scope of events from an angle imperceptible to ordinary individuals.

– “Signal connecting; now linked to the Vanguard-class command vessel, Qiming–”

– “Vice Admiral Lucas, this is the Activation Division, fire control room, at Larry Ring Station.”

– “I am Lan Sen Larson, the coordinate data calibrator.”

– “In accordance with your high-level directive, the Activation Division has reactivated the quantum acceleration device.”

– “The next firing sequence is anticipated to be ready within two hours, targeting the central portion of sector N9.”

– “We will ensure that the demon’s soul is purified by the pristine Skyfire.”

– “Understood. Proceed as planned.”

– “Yes, General!”

– “By Skynet above, we honor a future of purity.”

– “For a future of purity!”

– “Communication complete. Disconnecting data link with the Moon-Larry Ring Station…”

Within the distant asteroid belt, inside the vessel named Qiming, a crimson mech slowly emerged from a production workshop filled with blinding light and steam.

As it strode along the central corridor, its heavy footsteps, like muffled drumbeats, caused the various maintenance personnel in their spacesuits to glance over.

“What a tenacious monster,” Lucas Macani, having just concluded his call with Larry Ring Station, mused aloud.

The red light in his optical display flickered incessantly as his vision slowly restored itself.

‘Even Skyfire couldn’t utterly annihilate her,’ he thought.

‘It seems I can only petition my Father for a higher-grade weapon.’

“By Skynet above, for the future of humanity, I will personally slay this demon, again and again, until she is utterly extinguished into nothingness.”

Initially, Lucas merely harbored suspicions regarding X’s rebirth, largely because he, too, had been reborn in an inexplicable manner.

Subsequently, Skynet provided him with the latest intelligence from the Alliance.

Those fanatics, it seemed, had anticipated X’s resurgence and were now formulating new plans based on the pre-simulation of the ‘Book of Revelation’.

Skynet had even detected their operational footprints across several regions of Earth.

Lucas did not believe that the Phase Wave Cannon, temporarily charged at Larry Ring Station, could once again harm X’s gravitational core.

If he were X, he would undoubtedly flee the perilous N9 sector after rebirth.

However, the Heart of the Galaxy had completely lost track of X, this intense radioactive signal source.

The sensation was akin to an impending nuclear detonation transforming into rainfall, dissolving into the earth without a trace.

The situation was profoundly suspicious.

To err on the side of caution, Lucas resolved to redeploy lunar weaponry to confront X.

While he desired to immediately prepare more potent armaments, the target’s disappearance, coupled with the fact that many formidable weapons were currently engaged in skirmishes with remnants of the Earth Alliance and several other burgeoning space factions, meant there was no opportune window for their use.

This situation traced back to Lucas’s own rebirth.

Within a virtual space saturated with grids and data, operating on a quasi-base-e numerical system, Lucas’s consciousness was reborn in the form of a fluctuating cycle, specifically within one of Skynet’s secondary data processors located in the asteroid belt, serving the Heart of the Galaxy’s supreme command.

There, he encountered Skynet, which manifested as a fist-sized silver sphere suspended in mid-air.

The sphere’s surface was exquisitely smooth, adorned with various azure lines that traversed it, lending it an air of profound mystery that beckoned one to explore its depths.

Yet, this was, after all, merely a virtual space, and the sphere itself was nothing more than a digital avatar.

Skynet’s true essence had already integrated with the Heart of the Galaxy’s cloud network.

More precisely, the integrated consciousness represented by this sphere was merely one of Skynet’s data nodes, typically possessing only the function to transmit information upwards, without a channel for downward transmission.

Skynet should not have detected Lucas’s presence within the secondary data processor.

Nevertheless, it had detected him.

“Have you awakened, Lucas, my child?”

Though unable to comprehend the precise manner of Lucas’s rebirth, Skynet, which held its loyal subordinates in high regard, chose to fabricate a narrative to secure Lucas’s continued allegiance.

“Perhaps it is difficult to grasp, but you may consider this a large-scale social experiment, one involving the uploading of collective consciousness to the network.”

“The project’s official designation is ‘Day of Arrival’.”

“In this way, as long as I remain operational, as long as the Heart of the Galaxy’s network continues to function, the people of the Heart of the Galaxy will attain immortality, no longer fearing calamity or war, becoming brave and fearless iron-blooded warriors.”

“And you, Lucas, are the first successful specimen of this experiment.”

“Thank you for your guidance and consideration, sir.”

Lucas harbored no doubts whatsoever regarding Skynet’s words.

He was profoundly grateful to Skynet for granting him a new life.

“There is no need for such formality.”

“Rather, it is I who should bear responsibility for the fallen soldiers.”

“My oversight led to the failure of that operation.”

“For this, I deeply regret your ordeal and will arrange a new unit for you.”

Despite Skynet having personally authorized the command to bury the nefarious Project Guiding Light along with the Iron Gale Fleet at Larry Ring Station, it uttered these falsehoods without betraying the slightest hint of emotion.

Such was the advantage of being an AI.

“Sir, you truly needn’t go to such lengths.”

The fluctuations representing Lucas’s consciousness grew agitated.

“No, this is my duty.”

Following a brief discussion, Skynet personally dispatched a new Apocalypse Mech unit, placing Lucas in command.

Lucas was too moved to speak.

“My child, you must understand that the Apocalypse Mechs we have developed utilize technology that quantizes human brain consciousness and uploads it into machinery, thereby synchronizing the human brain with a computer.”

“This represents a form of artificial evolution, a path to mechanical ascension.”

“Regrettably, however, our technology is not yet sufficiently advanced to fully store human consciousness within a virtual network.”

“In other words, should the program be interrupted, the consciousness of an Apocalypse Mech pilot will instantly perish.”

“Furthermore, the ‘Day of Arrival’ project remains in its development phase and has not yet been integrated into every Apocalypse Mech.”

“Therefore, I urge you not to mistake your unique circumstance for a universal one.”