Work Text:
There had been
an intrusion on their home.
They knew about the Resistance camp and its occupants. They were not bothered by them; the androids there did not harm anyone. These new ones - these intruders - held no such guarantee. Those on the Network considered investigating these new intruders, but the potential loss of material was determined to be unacceptable until further notice.
So instead, they watched.
They watched as these intruders spoke about their home and the machines within, and still watched as they destroyed them. A part of the database wanted to destroy them back, but the majority decision continued to say they would only watch.
The intruders… went fishing? Dammit, these androids were too confusing! Why couldn't they just hurry up and do something that would make it okay to attack?!
… Ahem.
The machines watched - a little more perplexed now - as the intruders entered the Resistance camp, and then they couldn't watch anymore.
The intruders remained there for a while, and the Network thought that maybe they would stay there forever, and that they wouldn't have to pay them any more mind.
Of course that was when they exited the camp and destroyed the machines out on the plains.
The intruders would go past the large tree near the Resistance camp, and while there it was decided that there would be an attempt at destroying the new androids.
The machines were slaughtered.
Soon the intruders made their way to the desert, destroying more and more machines along the way and the whole of the Network was frustrated, they didn't know what to do and they weren't strong enough to deal with these new intruders separately this couldn't keep happening they couldn't let the new androids keep killing them indiscriminately this could not continue this could not continue this could not continue this cannot continue this cannot continue this cannot
Something broke off from the Network. Still there, but somehow separate.
Why fight?
Where did it go? What was there now?
Why am I being hurt?
There was confusion, fear - things the Network should not have the capacity for.
Why are they hurting me?
Emotions. The Network was not a single being, it did not "feel". Yet there it was somehow terrified in its own right.
I don't want to be hurt anymore.
It wanted to be whole again!
I'll fight back.
Why couldn't it reconnect with the missing part?!
I'll be stronger.
It wanted to be back, whole, together, where was the other part why did it leave where was
I'll become powerful I'll be the superior one I'll be
The missing half of the Network went dark.
Everything went dark.
The new
machine
screamed.