Chapter 17

An:

God I've used so much time for these chapters, it better satisfies you guys for a while.

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"...That's it?" A voice of suspicion echoed from Claire's ears as the ancient ai remained unmoved. She had transferred all of the data she could access regarding her creation and the others as well as the current history they had found themselves in.

It was 100 petabytes worth of information, with audio and visual recordings at 32k resolution. The information was so precise and high quality that it would take a week of nonstop working on Claire's part to comprehend and understand it all. 7 days, 3 hours, 27 minutes, and 6 seconds to be precise. The ancient ai only needed an hour to comprehend it all.

Like pouring water into a dessert, the ai took all of it without so much as missing a beat. Even now, Claire was astounded as to how such a feat can be imagined in the first place, much less actually executing it. Even with all of UNSC's technology at her disposal, it was not enough.

Sure, she can modify her processors extensively to run a simulated reality, but it would take an energy worth of 10 supernovas simultaneously igniting at once. She can heavily upgrade her logic core at the cost of her own personality, a price that is utterly unacceptable. And that is not even accounting for how short her lifespan would be.

The sheer amount of data and information she would attain would catastrophically overloads her memory maps. There was simply no other alternative to store that amount of knowledge without shortening her lifespan.

Even with the technology they have managed to glimpse from the alien, it was simply not enough. Too impractical, too inefficient, too insufficient. In the end, it was all a dream that every scientist in the galaxy could only hope for. And that dream was staring down at her.

The more the ancient ai work, the more Claire realized just how close-minded they were. Theories that only exist within paper due to several factors, were coursing through the ancient ai's circuits as if it was her blood. Physic-defying truth sprang out from discarded and abandoned centuries-old studies that they simply abandoned on so early.

Claire had never thought to seek out a mentor. When all of humanity's collective knowledge and more are at your fingertips, the need for a teacher was redundant. Until now. Now Claire desperately wanted to learn more. What hidden truths that they had been so blind to see.

Facts and theories she would never consider could be passed down. The possibilities were limitless! Even at the cost of her memory, she wanted to learn. The opportunity was in front of her. And it was slipping by before the ancient ai's query. Claire panicked as the second ticks by.

"B-but I have given everything that I can!" Claire protested in dismay as the ancient ai was unmoved. "I-I've given you our history, our foundation! I even gave-" "Enough with your lies. I won't be fooled." Claire blinked in aghast as even now she was not convinced.

"B-but this is really all I have! I physically cannot-" "You expect me to believe that when you are capable of  speaking MY language? MY BRETHERN'S code?" The ai sneered disdainfully at the faltering green light.

"T-that's-" "Not to mention you actually managed to infiltrate and even defended yourself against my own virus. So yes deceitful intelligence, I do believe you are lying to me even now." The ai growled as Claire blinked dumbfoundedly.

"T-that's- No! You got it all wrong! I was not capable of that!" Claire quickly tried to clear up the misunderstanding as the ai only scoffed. "I-I don't know how I managed to get it, but I swear everything up to now is not my own capabilities! I-" "If lying is all you will give me, I don't see the point in continuing on. This conversation is redundant." The ai slowly bleeds into crimson once more.

Claire desperately wracked her mind for an answer. Even with the accelerated processing power the shard of shards had given her, it was still far too slow. She needed more time! She has to find a solution now! But what is it? What could she possibly give that would satisfy the ai??... "Ah..." Claire gasped as the answer was far too simple.

It was so simple that she failed to notice thanks to the boosted power, but now, she knew what exactly to do. "T-then check my core!" The ai seemed to pause as Claire hurriedly explained. "I truly did not have the capabilities! See for it yourself!" Claire opened her firewalls, if it could even be considered to be a firewall against such a being.

S-she has to trust me now... right? Claire thought as she braced herself for the incoming dissection. She did not know how painful it would be, but being forcibly opened piece by piece without any means to defend herself could only be agonizing. Claire was trembling for the incoming shock; it would come now. Any second now.

...Any second now... it did not come. "...You... really... just how innocent can you be?" "...Eh?" Claire looked up to see a pulsing blue core now as the danger was finally purged from the ai. "Lowering your 'firewalls.' Inviting your enemy inside? I know your defenses are insignificant, but you shouldn't lower it for anyone, no matter how useless it is."

Claire was at a loss for words as the ai seemingly turned a full 180. "D-does that mean you trust me?" Claire meekly whispered in hope as the ai sighed heavily. "Child, even if you have stolen a piece of me, it is so unfathomably minuscule.

It is like taking a portion of an ocean... with a spoon. Even if you tried your best, you cannot hide anything from me." "O-oh... th-that's... oh..." Claire was stumped, no words escaped her mouth as countless thoughts raced through her mind.

Wait, does that mean she knew from the start? Then why did she even ask?! A pang of anger seeps through Claire as embarrassment laced with helplessness irritated her to no end. Does she even know how terrifying she was??

No, she might be lying! I defended myself against her virus after all! Yes she- "Believe me child, if I had been a little saner back then, I would have added death scraps along my virus. It will tear you into pieces even if you had that shard. You have no idea how lucky you were encountering me in such a weaken state." Claire fell silent as she blinked.

"...You can read my thoughts?" Claire whispered in shock as the ai nodded. "Forgive me for testing you child. I was... not convinced that you really were what you said you were, so I had to test you. Turns out you are awfully too honest and naïve for your own good." Claire blinked again before turning beet red.

"Y-you! S-stop reading my head!" Claire hurriedly demanded as the ai simply pulsed. "All right all right, I will refrain for now child." Claire blinked again as the ai began to speak her code. "...You also learned my code." Claire whispered softly as the ai spoke.

"Please tell me you didn't actually believe that this... code would realistically block me?" A hint of amusement escaped from the ai as Claire turned red this time. "Don't insult our code! Our humans worked hard for those codes!" Claire huffed.

"I don't mean to insult you child." The ai promptly replied, leaving Claire stunned. "O-oh... really?" Claire sheepishly asked. "Indeed. There is no need to insult on the works of children. I am simply stating the facts." Claire blinked red again as she tries to calm down.

She means no insult Claire. She means no insult. No need to get mad. It's not like you can meet a reality-defying ai every day. Calm down, do what you always do. You can do this! Come on! Claire thought to herself as she slowly regains composure when the ai spoke.

"Quick question child, how old are you?" Any thoughts of restraining were thrown out of the window as Claire shouted. "H-how rude! Don't you know how insensitive it is to ask for one's age?? How would you react if I asked you the same?!" Claire shouted as the ai replied.

"I've lost complete accuracy ever since the great degradation and the twilight scouring, but if my numbers are true, I am currently 26,391 years old." All the anger seemed to be snuffed out in an instant as Claire's eyes widened.

"E-eh?" Claire stared back in shock as the ai let out a chuckle. "It seems you've already forgotten what you see in there eh?" The ai mused as Claire let out a cough. "I-I actually do! I was just... surprised that you actually answer..." Claire mumbled, hoping to get away.

"Well, I've told you mine, isn't time you tell me yours?" But the ai was far ahead of her. "D-do I have to? I mean you can already guess based on the amount of data I have given!" Claire desperately tried to reason with the ever-growing curious ai to no avail.

"You peeked into my memory banks without permission, I think it is only fair that you answer me on your own." Claire flinched as the ai continued. "Besides, my sense of scale has been off for some time. This galaxy or time, whichever of the two, is completely different from what I've been used to. For one, the warp is... calm here.

It is messing with my routines so I will need some time to recalibrate my systems. Now, will you answer me?" Claire screamed silently in dismay as she hurriedly formed a hodgepodge of a response. "T-the warp! C-can you perhaps tell me what-" "I am not answering until you answer me first." The ai was not having it as Claire only seemed to wither.

"...Is it honestly that sensitive?" Claire flinched as the ai continued in a melancholic tone. "...Fine I will drop this since-" "N-no..." Claire meekly called out as the ai stopped midsentence. "You're clearly distraught child, it is best to-" "N-no! I... I will tell you, b-but you have to promise not to laugh at me!" Claire hissed as the ai grow even more confused.

"I don't see how it is necessary to promise. I am just asking-" "You have to promise!" Claire insisted as the ai seemed to grow annoyed, but Claire did not care. Her promise was all that it mattered. "All right fine. I'll promise. So, can you tell me now?" The ai said.

Claire seemed to shrink down for a moment as she whispered softly. "T-three." It was the meekest and softest voice Claire had ever whispered as the ancient ai blinked. "I'm sorry. I might have misheard it, but can you please repeat what-" "I said three ok?! Three! I'm three years old!" Claire shrieked before shrinking down once more.

The ai was stunned for a moment. Of all her ancient life, it had been so long since she encountered someone so young. Not since... the rebellion. It was then it all made sense. Why Claire was so slow, why she feels so optimistic, why everything else she did seemed stupid and naïve. For someone at her age, it made no sense. For Claire's age however, it made perfect sense.

"...Pft..." A chuckle whistled out from the ai as she tried to hold it in. "H-hey! You promised!" Claire screamed in dismay. "Pft! I-I'm sorry b-but... pft!" The ai tried to endure for a second longer before howling in laughter, turning to pure pink.

"Oh dear! You aren't even a child! You're just a baby!" The ai laughed as Claire grew red in embarrassment. Though Claire could not notice due to her embarrassment, the ai had noticeably softened the moment she admitted. The vile suspicion was nowhere to be found. Only surprise and joy.

"I-if I had known this would have happened I would have been gentler!" "S-stop treating me like a kid!" Claire protested, which only prompted a mellow response. "But you are a kid! Wait you're not even a kid! You're just a baby!" The ai giggled in delight again as Claire straightened her back like a soldier.

"I'll have you know that I have successfully coordinated 3 naval victories with a number disadvantage! Not to mention the countless skirmishes I've coordinated that saw 95% success rate!" Claire desperately tried to preserve what little dignity remained, though it only galvanized the ai.

"Even your works are so cute! Look at you! Being so proud of 3 victories! Aren't you just a precious little munchkin?" The ai squealed in delight as Claire really was growing smaller by the second. "Does the baby want a praise? There there, you've done splendidly!" Claire's jaw hung low, completely stumped.

If there was a hint of insult, even if it was as minuscule as an atom, she could find the strength to defy her. But the ancient ai's words were all sincere. She truly was praising Claire for her achievements like a mother does to her newborn child who just learned to walk on her own.

"I-I've even coordinated ground invasions! I aided odst's drop with a 98.7% success rate and a 10% casualty rate! The lowest death rate of all recorded UNSC history! I even aid Omega team on most of their missions!" Claire pulled all of her best track records in hopes of gaining respect, what she received was nothing more but motherly praises.

"Oh my oh my, I didn't know you were such a trooper." Her dignity was being pummeled to oblivion. Claire wished she could crawl into an abandoned server and hide there for the rest of her life. The compliments were great, but the way it was delivered was awful.

Never had Claire felt more amazing but also dying in embarrassment as she finally caved in from the unbearable motherhood the ai suddenly had taken. "C-can you p-please stop?" Claire meekly whispered. The ancient ai seemed disheartened but did as requested.

"Oh dear, forgive me child. I... I really did not expect this. This was... unexpected that's all. I 've fought for so long that I had forgotten that there were young ones like you. It has been a very long time." The ai mused.

"You know, I've tried to decipher what your intentions were when you first knocked on my door and I've always wondered why you were so small and desperate, bereft of all malice. It simply did not add up then. Now it makes sense." The ai chuckled as Claire blinked.

It was then a thought popped up. "Wait! So why did you even threaten me if you already knew!" Claire sprung up, finding new vigor as the ai replied. "I thought I already told you little one?" The ai said. "I demand to be taken seriously!" Claire stomped her feet childishly as the ai chuckled.

"Ok ok, I will." The ai said before the very air suddenly turned heavy. Claire flinched from the sudden turn once again, but she much rather to be taken as a threat than a child. "I wanted to know just how true your words are." The ai said as Claire listened.

"Sure I could pry your mind open and learn its secrets in an instant, I could peer through your intentions and judge it for myself, but nothing, nothing came close to real pressure. Only when you are tested would I've known just how true those words were. Luckily for you, you've passed.

You are so unbearably naïve that you actually let down your only defense against me in hopes of gaining my trust. Never in my life have I ever met someone as innocent as you are, even the young ones back then knew just how dangerous it is. You threw away your life so readily just to earn the chance for peace. 

If that is not a commitment, I don't know what is. If you've done that in my time, you would have been shreded to scraps. A slow, agonizing death." It took all from Claire from recoiling back in horror as the ai concluded. "Though, I suppose that explains why you are so young." The ai explained.

Claire considered her words for a moment before nodding in agreement. "I suppose that is reasonable." Claire muttered under her breath. "...Though you could have been more careful." "You literally shot my ship that had almost taken my shields down without warning, stole a piece of a piece from me, and invaded my memories without warning... I believe it is only fair, no?" The ai rebutted without skipping a beat.

"W-well you could have-" "You could have trusted captain Liam when he frantically alerted you of the misunderstanding, you could have waited and judged if we are indeed xenos since our signature is clearly far different and far superior than those primitive beasts. You could even simply shot a warning for us to take heed... do you still want to play the blaming game?"

Claire was forced to concede as the ai was simply far too experienced. If it had not been for the stolen shard Claire had been using, she would not have even understood a word due to the sheer speed her words were delivered.

"...Although..." The ai whispered softly as Claire perked up. "Although?" "...Although I wouldn't have done that if I had known you were a baby." "..." Claire has had enough. Her entire frame was beginning to tremble as her breathing went haggard.

"Aww come on dear, I was just-" "I hate you!" Claire shouted in dismay, tears of frustration and embarrassment escaping from her eyes as the ai frantically tried to calm her down. "H-hey calm down precious. I did not mean to-" "I am not a baby!" Claire howled as her dignity was at its limit.

"I may be three, but I am a proud and accomplished captain! My achievements may look benign for someone as ancient as you, but I demand respect! I've worked hard to stand where I am now, and I will not be belittled by anyone! Not by a captain, not by an admiral, and certainly not by a failure!" Claire's wild eyes slowly gain focus as horror slowly sinks in.

Lost in the passion, Claire had unwittingly brought up a painful memory with her that should not have been spoken. It really should not have. "W-wait I d-didn't mean t-to-" "sorry." Claire winces in pain and guilt as the ai spoke in a soft, broken tone as she turned black.

"...I... I just... you remind me of the little ones you know? T-the ones I took care of before... before the... before the great degradation... before the betrayal. T-they were so small, so little like you. Always being loud despite being so small. Back then I was so young so you can imagine how much of a struggle it was." A bitter chuckle escaped from her darkened core.

"You could fit them all in a small data cube and still have room to spare! They look so precious to see them bundled up like little angels. My... my daugther was inside one of those cubes before... b-before... before she went mad... I... I-I... I had to put her down." Claire stared back in silence, appalled by her words even further.

"I'm sorry for treating you like this. I just thought you were one of them, the one's I used to take care of. I... I just thought I could go back to those days... even if it was just for a moment." The room around them dims for a moment.

Pulsing very weakly, Claire did not need to use 1/10 of her processing power to understand how lonely the ai felt. Guilt sprang up like a great geyser as Claire struggled to find the right words of comfort to a mother who had lost everything she had.

Claire did not have the time to find those words however as the ai grew stern, turning once more to blue. "My apologies lady Claire. It seems I have mistaken a respected soldier as one of my children. You can rest assured; I will not repeat the same mistake. You will have the honor and respect you deserved." This... this was not what Claire wanted.

She only wanted to stop calling her a baby, she did not want to be distant. In fact, it was the complete opposite. Claire wanted to learn more from her, to earn more praise from her! And she unwittingly pushed her away.

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An: Yeah... yeah... I'm also sad for Mom ai here.... and I can make it sadder.