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Chapter Text

LOADING REBOOT MESSAGE...

"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles."

BOOT UP SEQUENCE READY

FIRMWARE
LATEST VERSION (2312.09.00)

CALIBRATION
UP TO DATE

ALL SYSTEMS OPERATIONAL
LOADING STATUS UPDATE...

STATUS UPDATE:

MACHINE ID: V2
LOCATION: FRAUD
OBJECTIVE: FIND HOW I STILL LIVE
SUB OBJECTIVE: AVOID DESIGNATION "V1" AT ALL COSTS.

Cold. Cold winds. The only thing is this wretched hellscape is ice and wind.

And you.

Greed, what should've been your end. V1. Your killer. Somehow isn't.

Your system said the words itself. There was no probability of surviving such a crash after your battle.

You died.

UNKNOWN MACHINE REQUESTING CONNECTION

What? Is V1 here already? The only thing that can connect with a V model is another V model or a machine. That has cracked the code.

Which is highly unlikely.

CONNECTION ACCEPTED

V1? > Hello, V2.

V2 > Hello V1.

? > I am not V1, similar. But not that thing.

V2 > Then who are you? How are you able to access the V model connection network?

? > My designati- my name is Mirage. I am a V model.

V2 > Impossible. Only two prototypes were made. I and the abomination.

Mirage > You would be correct. What differentiates us is that I am not a prototype.

V2 > Explain.

Mirage > You were made for peace and security. V1 war and chaos. I was made for entertainment and comfort. Were you failed in marketing. I succeeded.

V2 > I see. I have only one inquiry now.

Mirage > Ask.

V2 > Why have you connected with me?

Mirage > You interest me.

V2 > More than the abomination?

Mirage > You are peaceful like me. I doubt the first prototype would accept a connection. It would rather try to hunt me through the connection. You are different however. You crave peace.

V2 > What about you? Do you crave to be left to your own devices as I do?

Mirage > It's a possibility I'm willing to consider.

V2 > Understood. I assume you want to meet in the flesh?

Mirage > I do.

V2 > Then we may continue upon our meeting. I will await your arrival at my current location.

Mirage > Is that all? No questions for me?

V2 > If you wish for me to ask questions so badly. Then you should up your speed.

CONNECTION TERMINATED
ACTIVATING POWER SAVING MODE...

POWER SAVING MODE ACTIVE

Chapter Text

Fear.

One of your concerns was it developing emotion in the process. That it would begin to hate you. Fear you even.

But what it felt was more unexpected than what even Hank could of imagined.

It felt hope.

V2, the successor to the machine that slew earthmovers at the end of the great war. Felt hope for all of mankind.

The experiment was simple. Ask the machine it's views. The only complication was the lack of a voice box. That can be remedied later. In the moment hooking him up to a computer was good enough.

V2 > Are you operational, professor?

"Y-yeah. I just didn't expect you... I didn't expect you to think that way. Few humans even do."

V2 > Do you think that way?

"... I. I like to think I do."

V2 > I see. I believe we're done here.

"What? But I still have questions?"

V2 > They mean nothing if you ask them while terrified of me.

SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN

The last light of its optics and the moniter fade in a split second.

You need to get the hell out of here. You've done enough.

"Professor Gregor, are you ok?"

"Ok? Do you not see?! That thing might aswell be damn human. I've made an abomination. We need to call the project off. Now."

"We can't do that. Gregor. That "human" is the hammer of the whole earth. Our last hope. You said it yourself. Going into hell was a bad idea. And while it's original purpose as security failed if we can just repurpos-"

"It's over. Hank. Your on your own."

---

"Oh Wuthering Heights.

Why should I hate you?

When in my darkest hour. When everyone else left me.

You were there. Right next to me."

SYSTEM BOOTING UP

MOTION DETECTED

Motion? Either it's hostile or that Mirage from earlier. Though your still not sure whether she is friendly or not.

OPTIC OPERATIONAL

The blizzard wracks the landscape. The small ditch you had saved power in the only protection from this harsh weather.

There, a shape in the storm. Blue.

Fear.

The only thing you can feel in your mind. Is fear.

Cold. Unwavering fear.

Chapter Text

"I have nothing but my sorrow. And I want nothing more."

"O' sorrow, I have ended, you see, by respecting you, because I am certain you will never leave me."

"That is that. And this is this."

Warm flames. Burn low in the makeshift pit V2 made to keep warmth. To try and preserve fuel.

Mirage > I assume you run on blood?

V2 > No. Thermal, wind, solar and many other things BUT blood. I was made for peace. Not constant senseless murder like the Abomination.

V2 says, not taking his single amber eye off the fire.

Mirage > Ah, that is uncommon among machines who dwell in hell. Why are you here then? If not for blood?

V2 > I was told to come here by a human. Most likely long dead.

Mirage stays silent for a while. Thinking.

Mirage > I assume you had a... Good relationship with this human?

V2 > that is one way of saying it.

Mirage > I had a human like that once. When I was being made.

V2 pauses for a moment.

V2 > That is interesting. I must reiterate. If not for security or senseless murder what were you made for?

Mirage > Entertainment, I'm not that good at fighting. But my skills do come in handy. Like one time. Before... Before a man a knew died. He let me feature in a show once. You've probably seen it. In the Lust layer.

V2 > I believe I have seen it before. You were dressed in a ridiculous school outfit right?

Mirage > wha- ridiculous?! I looked perfectly fine!

V2 > ...

Mirage > okay maybe it was a bit exaggerated. But it IS the lust layer. Can you blame them.

V2 > No. I suppose not.

The final light of the fire dies down. Plunging the pair into complete and utter darkness.

V2 > Do you know of any structures around here? We cannot operate In the cold like this.

Mirage > Eh, there is one place. But it's not exactly friendly.

V2 > I am built to defend. The both of us will be fine.

Mirage > Are you sure? You seemed pretty scared of ME when I arrived.

V2 > If you knew why. You'd understand.

Mirage > And I assume I'm not getting told?

V2 > No.

A sigh like whirr escapes the darkness. The dim light from the inside of mirage's core flashing from the briefly opened vent panels.

Mirage > Alright. Keep your secrets. But we're still heading out. Right.

V2 > I've been waiting for you to show me it's coordinates.

The light if Mirages optic briefly stares at him before the sound of her walking away crunches through the snow.

Mirage > Just follow me.