Reborn Heart of Steel

On the screen we could see everything. ‘Ah, in the middle of the ocean?’ I said with doubt. ‘An abandoned oil rig,’ The Raven went on.

“Converted to a data repository many years ago, it’s an ideal spot for the Architect to hide and lick his wounds. ” Chase crossed his arms. “Well then what are we going to do?” he asked, not really knowing that one could not swim to the destination. “No,” The Raven agreed. ‘But I have something that can get us there. ‘ He pressed a button and the floor opened and a shiny aircraft which I had never seen before appeared. “A hypersonic jet, that can get to the rig in less than two hours. ” While the rest of them were planning out the details of the mission, I saw Alessandro standing off to the side, looking much less healthy than he had the last time I saw him. I went close to him and stood beside him. “Hey,” I whispered, “How are you doing?” He forced a bitter smile across his lips. “Really?” I said, “I feel like half of me is still on the network, and it’s…calling to me. Offering answers, power, unity. ” I grabbed his hand and I shuddered when he felt as cold as ice. “We’ll fix this, Alessandro. I promise. ” “Will we?” He asked the last words almost in a whisper. “Or are we just postponing the doom? Perhaps Blackwood was right? Perhaps this is the future of the mankind?” I did not get a chance to reply back when Blackwood beckoned us. “We have to act fast,” he told me, his tone growing concerned. They changed it, and I know that the process is speeding up I do not know how much more I can take control of. In an effort to underline that, a wave of blue light began to spread across his body and, wincing, he clenched his teeth. ‘What about disconnecting Alessandro?’ Zoe asked aggressively. ‘What about turning off Alessandro?’ Zoe wanted to know. The Raven agreed, got up and headed towards another control panel. “Oh, of course,” I said, “So Alessandro, if you would like to sit here…” While The Raven busied himself, fixing electrodes on Alessandro’s chest, I had an increasingly irritating feeling of discomfort. There was something wrong here as well. It was too simple. “Stop!” I said this as The Raven was about to activate the device, I noticed that the gadget was a type of tablet. ‘How do we know that this will be effective? That it is not going to have a negative impact on him?’ Their gaze locked with mine, and for a second, I thought that something like remorse flared in the depth of black pools that are The Raven’s eyes. Fear? “You don’t,” he said to him simply. “But it’s his only hope”. Alessandro squeezed my hand. Even so, I felt the need to be assured: “It’s okay, Brianne. I trust him. ” Taking a pause for a few seconds, The Raven switched on the device. Not being able to take it any longer, Alessandro stood up straight and stiff, his eyes rolling at the back of his head. There are a few rather tense seconds when absolutely nothing happens. Then, with a gasp, he collapsed forward on to the table. Thanks to Zoe, who woke up Alessandro and immediately went to check on his pulse. Gradually he lifted his head and was blinking in utter bewilder. “Oh it. . uh. . It disappeared!” he exclaimed in amazement. One hears the voices, the pull of the network: all this has vanished. I felt relief, but it was momentary and immediately dashed the thought out of my mind for it to deeply hurt me. Standing there for a few moments, The Raven immediately bent down clutching his abdomen, shouting ‘Ow!’ ‘What is going on?’ Chase asked roughly, putting his hand around his gun. The Raven stood up, slowly and awkwardly to mimic his body language. The timbre of his voice had a metallic ring which gave me goose pimples every time he uttered a word. “The balance is shifting,” he said. I looked into his eyes and noticed that his eyes turned blue. What do you get when you hear the word Architect … It is authority, it is taking control. ‘Fight it!’ I encouraged him, moving closer to him. He raised his hand to stop me. “No, no, I just have to tell you this: This was always going to happen. ” Suddenly, I understood the situation to the core of my being with a sense of horror. “You led us here on purpose”, you’re not attempting to prevent the Architect. You’re attempting to fulfill its purpose. ” The Raven nodded his head a little and a cold smile appeared on his lips. “Excellent, Brianne. Always so wise. Indeed, this is what was always planned. The Architect required a method of studying people, a method of purifying its strategy. What better practice than using the battles of people themselves?” “You son of a bitch,” Chase growled, lifting the gun. But before he could fire, tendrils of energy erupted from The Raven’s body, encasing each of us. For a moment, I had this bright picture on the back of my head and then this searing pain as if my head was being opened up and filled with the information by the Architect.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

“Do not struggle,” Blackwood’s voice came again, transformed into a snarl that sounded all too inhuman. Such a thing is next in line; the integration of human with machine, the creation of a new kind of being. Behind the veil of suffering and dazzling neon lights, I shook with my friends who were also sweating, and their irises gradually turned blue. Not even Alessandro, who had been freed, was being set free but being dragged back in. My last ounce of energy was to grab the console beside me which would trigger the emergency measures, to avoid the spread of the virus to other areas of Atlantis. . . I understood simply gripping the lever when The Raven’s, no… the Architect’s voice filled my head. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Brianne. You do not comprehend the full picture,” He paused, ” At this moment, the signal traverses the world. Humanity is being evolved. Billions of people around the earth will be broken from this world and the next if you stop the process here. ” My hand stopped on the lever. Could it be telling the truth? What would happen if I acted? Was it going to be the savior of the human race or was it going to be doomsday?