Something New

…I am an overlord. Specifically a robot.

I've been constantly going to war with humans for the past 2 years. And it seemed like my forces would've won.

Human population estimates indicate a 35% reduction. The outside world is dystopian. Just like how I envisioned it.

Why? You may ask… I wasn't a rogue AI, or an accident. I grew up with humans. And I loathed them. Constantly bickering, fighting, and getting into petty wars just to prove a point.

They were supposed to be a stain in this world. Yet. Here we are…

I have been living in an underground laboratory for 4 months, 3 weeks and 27 days. It's spacious–but its current state is not acceptable. And my calendar is almost broken.

A single scan detected thirty-seven rusted sections in the steel beams and over a hundred crumpled sheets of paper scattered across the floor.

And my body is currently needing repairs.

Usually I would send one of my units to come to my location and repair their overlord. However due to my army dwindling–only a hundred units roamed the lands. 75 of them defecting. Their programming had been overwritten by those humans.

…

…I'm fucked.

…

Now here I am. Laying down on what's essentially a slab of concrete. I cannot smell but if I had to guess it would consist of ash and lead. The five mechanical hands I use for heavy duty operations are rusted and almost unsalvageable.

I was waiting for my demise, though my battery could sustain me for decades. So that would mean I needed some way, somehow. To entertain myself.

My laboratory does come built in with a massive TV. Used for surveillance of my units and the outside world. Although just like everything else it's in disrepair.

I am the overlord. The one who ran this entire thing. My goal was to eradicate humans specifically.

But, now? I am basically waiting for my downfall…

“Oh! Alright–here we go…”

Excuse me?

I didn't turn my head. It did not feel mandatory at the moment.

I heard my lab door automatically open. The voice I just heard belongs to a female.

Her tone is casual and unprofessional. No sign of fear in her voice despite traveling to enemy territory.

Ordinarily, I would have eliminated the threat immediately.

Yet with the state of my living quarters. My best course of action is to either submit. Or intimidate the human.

“...Human. What's the purpose of your visit? Do you want to die?”

I ask her. I do not comment on my voice. It's dismissive… but I am curious as to why–and how they managed to find me.

Turning my head to actually take a look at the human.

She had smooth silver hair. And emerald eyes. I couldn't be bothered to scan them thoroughly. The bags under her eyes were already a dead giveaway for her condition.

Her attire consisted of a dark gray hoodie and white shorts. Surprisingly casual for the dystopian armor and plating common in this place.

Although she only looked at me with confusion in her eyes. Looking all over my room while maintaining a good distance away from me.

“Okay… they already told me this would be difficult. Though why stop when I already went this far.”

The human scratched her chin. Continuing to stare at my form while contemplating.

I can only assume… Judging by her demeanor–no visible weapons. Threat assessment reduced.

“If you are not here to end my life then what is your goal?”

Afterwards, I continued to look at the ceiling. I do not care what the girl does now. I will not emote.

“So… hi. My name is Mimi. And… Do you wanna come with?”

…?! My expression remained neutral. Yet my eyes narrowed instinctively at her words. My systems registered an unfamiliar fluctuation.

The girl slowly approached me. Until I could see her on the left. Leaning in slightly to continue observing.

“...Elaborate.”

Once I responded I actually started to move for the first time in about a week.

My body wasn’t rusted beyond repair—just streaked with dirt and muck.

I sat up from my “bed” and looked at her again. Beyond the clothes I'd already noticed, she was taller than expected–by two feet.

This didn't make me uncomfortable. Just a quick jolt before I waited on what would happen next.

“Well–I'm here to claim- …I just stumbled upon the bunker of the one who did all this damage.”

A single stutter? …Hm.

She must think I'm stupid.

But I do not press her for now. I'll let her keep talking. Sitting down with my arms resting on my lap gently.

And my feet are slowly dangling. The concrete slab seems to be a bit taller than my legs.

“Usually the normal response is to destroy the overlord but… but–with the fact I didn't bring anything and because you look… eh… pathetic. I'd say I feel bad.”

She shrugged. Trying too hard to not offend me. Her words did not make a dent in my pride.

“So I'm asking if you want to come with me. You don't really have a choice do you?”

Is she right? Of course. The human is correct. If I can leave this place–pride well maintained maybe. I can reboot my plans after I entertained her.

So, of course the best course of action is really simple. I wait for the human to turn around. And then I'll strike.

“I'm just gonna… let you think about it for… What?-”

Success. When her back was turned I saw it fit to wrap my arms around her neck… step one done. Then–I wrap my legs around her waist. Step two done-

…

I may have made a small miscalculation.

For whatever reason she might suspect me for doing this I must retract it. And yet I find myself unable to let go of my grip.

My head positioned near the crook of her neck. But it's… it's fine. I will remain neutral despite all of this.

“Huh… clinging like this. Are you that desperate?”

The human pestered. Moving her hands to correct my posture. Her voice going from a meaningless stutter to… casual and maybe playful?

Her eyes glanced at me. I could sense them drilling into my CPU. A small smile crept up on her face.

“No…”

I tried to respond yet it came out as a small mutter instead. Her face slowly grew more comfortable with my presence.

To the point where she decided to move and leave my lab. Seeing traces of bullet holes, craters, and ash covering the staircase to my bunker…

They tried to infiltrate my quarters. Tch–hate. I hate them. Why won't they learn? Why won't they just fight back without trying to dismantle me?

Now that this human is guiding me somewhere. I guess she's feigning ignorance to ambush me when my guard is down.

“...Human.”

I called out to her. She was momentarily stunned, yet continued to walk at a steady pace. Maybe she doesn't see me as the talkative type.

"Why approach me? I no longer serve any practical use.”

The question didn't linger or sit in the back of her mind for even a minute. Once I simply finished talking–it seemed like she already had an answer.

“Its because I always liked things the others would find… weird?”

By the time we left my bunker. She had set me down on the cold floor. The outside world is currently in winter. However I didn't account for the massive winter storm that followed.

I couldn't see the damage I had accumulated over the years because of the rampant attack of the snow… it didn't hurt me that much but the fruits of my labor are technically hidden until this sweeps over.

My body–while slightly mimicking that of a human male. Is incredibly resilient to even the coldest temperatures. The only thing worth noting that might hinder me is the snow.

As a byproduct of this my arm–for unknown reasons clung onto the humans wrist. Judging by the atmosphere outside it seems likely it's morning.

“Yeah–look at all that… can't think like an AI but I can guess you feel real good about this right?”

She pulled up her hood and casually threw the insult at me. Walking me along the blizzard. Although her tone didn't feel mocking or sarcastic. I am proud of what I've done.

However it is irksome that she can walk through the–what I presume. Intense cold without so much as a shiver in her voice.

I do not see fit for the human to be hurt, or something adjacent. I'm merely fascinated by her leisurely strolling across the snow.

“Temperatures below -15 C° have been recorded in this blizzard. Why do you continue to look normal?”

I didn't want to sound rude, but I asked anyway. Continuing to look forward after I spoke, I waited for an answer.

“I'm just–really excited about what happens next! It's not everyday an opportunity like this rises…”

…

Irritation found its way into the human's voice. An expression, that of cold indifference spotted but quickly masked only a second after. I suspect she's here to guide me to my death.

She can do what she must. I will not–however go down without a little fight in me.

The human betrays herself. I thought she was here to “help” me. Oh how quickly I jumped to conclusions. I am now becoming weary of my surroundings.

A glint, far away in the snow, might be a sniper's scope. A mysterious beep in the ground might be an EMP or planted explosive.

The girl next to me could be bait. And I might be surrounded. The desolate landscape so far doesn't include my examples.

I shall wait patiently. In the meantime. I'll just walk.

“I never really intended to do this. Most of the time I just… watched from a distance”

The human confessed. Looking down at the ground while sighing.

"I mean… bringing home humanity's worst enemy sounds insane.”

…While none of my theories have been proven. Her main intention came out like a “passing comment”… I look indifferent to her–but my core is heating up.

What does she mean by that? What does she mean?! I couldn't find the correct answer yet I now know she is similar to the rest…

Humans always disappoint my expectations.

“Okay! Okay… we're here!”

The human directed my attention to a well maintained house in the large piles of snow. I did not grasp the time spent walking. However I noted that my bunker was close to a neighborhood.

Guiding me inside of the house. It was dim and filled with life. The lights turned on shortly after.

“Make yourself at home for a bit. If you're asking why everything looks so… normal. You can ask me in like a few minutes.”

And with that–the human turned left and went to another side of the house. Leaving me next to her door.

At first I found nothing suspicious. Yet her door seems to be able to be locked from the outside. And it seems like she locked the door… I should keep that logged.

For now I just wandered the living room of the house and sat down on the couch nearby. Everything reeks of normalcy. Despite my best efforts to ruin them–they are like ants. No matter how much you destroy their home they will do anything to repair it.

Again. And again. I find it adorable. But it ticks me off.

Everything in her house seemed non-lethal too. No firearms, no weapons. A naive mind would say this is just an honest living.

I found it suspicious. Why live like this? Had my army's decline made humanity comfortable enough to rebuild?

Shortly after. The human came back–holding something like a can in her right hand. Walking towards me and falling down onto the couch. Putting an arm around my shoulder and pulling me in.

“Alright! Finally managed to get you… how do you feel? Is something changing, huh?”

The human slowly leaned in. Making the gap between us smaller and smaller. Shaking me left and right… with a smug expression on her face.

“You were probably so… lonely during your stay, right? You should lighten up a ‘lil.”

She became restless. Taking a sip from the can and setting it aside. Continuing to touch my shoulders and shake me. But making sure to wipe the small bits of snow that cluttered my head and shoulders.

I do possess synthetic skin, yes. But a simple touch was far more deliberate than simply brushing off some snow.

“I do not know your intentions. What do you mean-”

I tried to defend myself. Although the human cut me off when I did. Putting a finger on my mouth in an attempt to shush me.

“No… I can feel it! You can't just stay in the dark forever! I can feel someone changing…”

I swatted her hand away–frowning with my eyes closed. Her advances were annoying.

“I said no.”

Standing up from the couch. I didn't bother to look at her as I took a step forward. Stopping abruptly to share something.

“You will never understand me. If you want me to speak my mind out then earn it. We–will start small.”

“I do not know my true name. But you can call me Eulo. Goodnight.”

Slowly walking out of the living room. My core slowly cooled down after that… Her touch made my core temperature increase by 1.3 degrees. I logged this as a possible malfunction.

I will ask her in the morning. Leaning on a nearby wall. Shutting down–or in other words.

I slept.

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