Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

I go through one of the exits that are not input/output routes.

 

"Christ not one of those." Shadow Stephanie says, rolling her eyes. Stephanie scrolls through the GUI in front of her, eventually selecting a game and taking off her helmet. Shadow Stephanie possesses Stephanie as Stephanie's armour creates a holographic environment around her, seeming to be a hub of sorts. Shadow Stephanie draws Stephanie's sword, which appears to have changed into a gun.


"I don't understand," Praecantatia confesses, "Has the element of life increased your ability to read and write?"


Xlentia can see a multitude of different birds in the trees, a lot of them with nests. The birds appear to be very trusting of the forest guardians, some of which checking the nests and eggs of the birds. The forest guardians provide them with a bit of food before they move on, which the birds eat out of their hands. Gaia and Katie talk to each other nearby, Gaia seeming amused by Katie's timid nature.

 

He nods.
“Should we ask...?” The centaur ask in unison.

________________________________

You’re back to the spectral tunnels.

“Alright, you have fun. I need to test something, anyways. You two come out when you’re done.” Lenka says, taking the setup out of the room.


“No, it’s given me discresion and the ability to have AI replicate emotions.”


Xlentia just keeps watching the birds, entranced.

 

I try going through another one of the planes.

 

Shadow Stephanie nods, seeming to start the game as she faces off against yellow bullet-shaped enemies holding guns themselves.


"So...how has that advanced your technology?" Praecantatia asks, taking notes.


It feels like barely any time passes before day turns to night, forest guardians making lights in the forest. A few green orbs of light float around, which appear to be forest faeries. Owls hoot, and bats fly from their homes to embrace the night.

 

The sound of a roar comes from the other room.


“We haven’t lost a great mind who didn’t want to pass since. I can replicate people, give them a second chance at life. They act flawlessly as they would before becoming a robot. There have been no unfinished projects, and I’m well loved enough that I can call upon quadrillions of users on a whim to collaborate, should a project need work of that scale.”


Xlentia just stays there, eyes wide with wonder.

________________________________

You appear in a stockroom of sorts... or, at least, a room dedicated to keeping track of what stuff goes in and out of the palace.

 

"That is your own choice. But, you'll be told it anyway later."

 

I ignore it, going out and trying another.

 

Shadow Stephanie doesn't pay it any attention, helmet simulating the sounds of gunfire and music.


"Are you truly giving them a second chance? Or are you just creating the illusion to everyone else they're alive again, when the original is dead?" Praecantatia asks.


Days begin to pass by, Gaia attending to other parts of her gardens as Katie helps her. Plants begin to adapt to Xlentia's presence, growing around her. A few guardians take notebooks to draw Xlentia, fascinated.

 

A few other screams and the occasional explosion sound can be heard from the other room, as well as what sounds like gunfire.


“It is all an illusion, yes. I am no god.”


Xlentia just keeps watching everything, still fascinated.

 

“...We’re it, aren’t we?”

The next is a room lined with people busy coding.

 

"Well, in a way. I'll tell you once we're aboard off the Leviathan, cause it isn't safe walking here much longer."

 

They nod, picking up the pace down the mountains.

Another dragon circles overhead, but it seems to be hesitant to strike.

 

"There's one. Keep your head low and guard up."
He locates himself behind the group.

 

Shadow Stephanie barely notices, the gunfire and explosions fitting with her game.


"That seems rather cruel." Praecantatia says.


Days turn into weeks, and those weeks into months. Plants begin to grow over Xlentia, and guardians of many types come from Gaia's other gardens to visit Xlentia to observe her.

 

Stephanie finds a smaller hologram appear for her.
“Hey, would you two mind helping me test a multiplayer boss for a game I’m making?”


“What else am I to do? Mages give life, reincarnate souls. We could not match that until I lost my life.”


Xlentia winds up falling asleep after a while.
Emerald links with Gaia.
“Your garden is timeless, I hope?”

________________________________

“We see her.” The dragon grumbles.
The wyvern’s clawtips glow slightly as he keeps an eye on the sky.

 

"Sure, after this run." Shadow Stephanie says, dodging out of the way of a missile shot by a large tank.


"You could distribute the knowledge of the dead to make it easier for others to learn, and take their place." Praecantatia suggests.


"Time still passes, but Theo-...uh, Temporus told me that I don't need to worry about time running out for an extremely long while." Gaia replies.

 

He continues walking, keeping both an eye on the group as well as on the dragon.

 

“Alright. It’s a more medieval-magic theme, so have that in mind.” Lenka says. “Thanks.”


“I do. I have over a million yottabytes of information freely available to anyone who’s willing to communicate with me.”


“Just making sure you realize you’ve got a giant dragon in your gardens.”

After a few minutes, by the time you get to the foothills, the dragon leaves.
“She knows when to pick a fight...” The dragon mumbles.

 

"We're almost there. Let's continue."