Embrace the Ether 13 Reactivation of Earth's Archive

"Droh, are we safe here?" Deus asked as he watched Droh practically sink down to the ground as if the little Faun was a puppet who had his strings cut.

"Huh? Oh, yeah we should be fine… so what's going on, anyway?" Droh asked as his head tilted backward in a stretch. "What was all that with the city captain? You don't know him, do you?"

"Know him? How could I possibly know someone like that?" Deus replied back in a snide voice, mocking the question. "Just wait for a second, I need to check something…"

As Deus said that, he pulled out the old archived drive that he had previously stashed away in his pants pocket during the prior incident with the centipede. Blowing on the drive, he wiped it clean of any dust as he raised it toward the white electronic machine he had taken from Marigold. Two similar looking pieces, perhaps they were compatible. "Please, please work…"

Click!

With only a bit of pressure, Deus was able to attach the old archive to the newly found electronic device, the two pieces locked into place as if by design.

Bzzz. Vrooo.

An electric sound could be heard as several lights faintly activated on the device, starting from the lowest point to the top, they all slowly began to light up. Going from yellow to green as they all lit up, one by one.

Bzzzz.

"Archive activating… please… wait." A monotone voice spoke, one rather familiar to Deus, as it was the same voice that he had heard when he first arrived. The voice of the electronic computer.

"Commencing operations… one… two… three. Enabled. All primary Archive systems enabled. Limitation set, scanning options either disabled or deactivated, please consult a director level engineer for more information. One moment."

As the computer spoke, Droh dragged himself back up to his feet and walked over in a hurry, clearly quite shocked and curious about what had caused the voice.

"Oh, Droh… yeah, don't mind this." Deus coughed out, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head as his other hand held the device.

'I don't know if I'll be able to explain this one away…'

"Greetings, Experiment X-Z-001, and well done on successfully integrating and surviving upon arriving through Transfer. According to the database, the last time this system was online was during an attack. Archive requests a report on what happened for future investigation."

"Uh huh…" Deus paused momentarily, not sure how he should answer the question with Droh standing next to him. Several seconds passed as he decided to just give a vague answer and hope for the best, "After you went offline, I managed to climb out of the capsule. I made it to the ground before that monster killed me."

"Recorded. Please provide more information regarding the 'monster', for future data."

"Eh? The monster? From what I've learned so far, it's called a midnight centipede and it's sort of like an automated scavenger around these parts."

"Archive updated, 'Midnight Centipede' saved and processed. Data has been registered and saved under 'Hostile' sub-directory."

"Uh, Deus… what is all this? Archive? Sub-dire… whatever? Come on, what's going on?"

"Right… I guess, to put it bluntly, this is a computer that I found… it seems to be able to save whatever I tell it and is actually able to scan for certain things. Well, not right now, but before when it had the tools to scan… it could…" Deus dazed off half-way through his explanation as he watched Droh stare at him like he was the craziest person alive.

"What?"

Droh rubbed his head against his palm as he sighed, "I knew it… you're weird. So weird!"

"Weird? Heh, I guess it makes sense you'd think that." Deus looked back toward the archive, "Computer, does your system tell you anything about what's going on? What sort of place is this, anyway?"

"Accessing database, one moment." Several seconds passed as a faint clicking sound could be heard, "Relevant information found. This device is capable of only a basic scan, Relevant information from the scan is useful for data related to local atmospheric, weather, time, and physical condition. All scans are classified as low-level until a director level engineer updates the host machine."

"Host machine? Oh, you mean the thing I plugged you into, right?"

"That is an accurate assumption. This host machine's battery is currently at forty-three percent. This device will require recharging upon completion of two scans. How would you like to commence?"

"Hmm… Droh, you mind giving me a second?"

Droh, shocked from being called out so suddenly, drew his eyes up to meet Deus'. "Eh? Fine."

As Droh walked off, giving Deus a moment of peace, he immediately asked the machine, "You said you can scan physical conditions, right?"

"Correct. This host machine possesses a low-level scanner capable of physical scans. Results will contain information on basic alterations to your body, according to archived data from prior to Transfer."

'So it can scan me… good. Ever since that time in the alley, I've been meaning to look into what's going on with me. The one thing I can't let happen is this power accidentally hurting Droh, hell, even using it on some random person could be dangerous depending on where it happens.' Deus, ever since that odd occurrence in the back-alley, has been afraid of his own emotions since he didn't know what would trigger it. "Great, give me a quick scan."

Bzzz. Beep. Beep!

Several seconds passed by in near silence, the only sound that he could hear was the beeping of the electronic device. A light flashed occasionally from the machine as it seemed to be gathering information.

"Scan complete. Results have discovered alteration to your physical body. Primary cause; unknown. A new inquiry has been opened regarding Experiment X-Z-001's physical change."

"Is that it? Can't you tell me a bit more about what's going on?"

"Request approved. Scan has detected that your physical body has undergone an unknown transformation. Change is primarily based on modifications made to Experiment X-Z-001's arms, waist, torso, and head. Legs are relatively unchanged, besides slight enhancement to muscle tissue. A theory has been calculated. The Transfer has forced your physical body to undergo multiple enhancements, ranging from low-level alterations to high-level genetic modifications. Your physical body has adapted alongside the alterations you had previously undergone prior to Transfer, from changes to physical abilities to the changes done to the co-Transfer, which have also appeared on your own scans."

"Wait, co-Transfer? What the hell is that?"

"Co-Transfer is the recorded name of the secondary Experiment who had died prior to Transfer. The reasoning is unknown, the purpose is unknown. Scan detects a hybridization of genetics and physical muscle. Question for future archiving; how are your mental abilities?"

"Mental abilities? Are you asking me if I'm nuts? I'm fine… I think. Wait, so you're telling me my body has combined with that other guy's? I thought you said he was dead before everything even happened."

"Correct. Co-Transfer Experiment had passed away prior to Transfer, however, scan detects a ninety-eight percent similarity between Co-Transfer's DNA and your new bodies DNA. Will require a more thorough scanner for further information, please contact-"

"Yeah, yeah a director… I get it. Holy shit…" Deus coughed out as his mind wandered, "Does this mean I'm the original me? Or… no? What's going on… what the hell does any of this mean?"

"Deus, what's wrong?" Droh asked from across the room as he dug through the old bags of equipment they had gathered. "Everything's alright I'm hoping..."

"Heh. Yeah, I'm fine… just a bit tired, is all. How much longer until that meeting with Mercer, by the way?"

"Mercer?" Droh repeated in surprise at having Mercer's name being brought up so suddenly, "We've got an hour or so, why, you want to head out now?"

"Hmm… that might be best, yeah. You got the supplies ready?"

"Mhmm."

Deus stretched his back, giving out an audible crack, "Fine, we should use this free time to get going, better be early than late." Looking down at the electronic device he held in his hand, he ordered, "Archive, don't make any noise from now on, alright? I don't want to be busted for having a machine on me."

"Request approved, all audible sounds have been deafened. This device will vibrate in case of emergency. Will continue to scan the database for relevant information."

"Good. Oh, how do I go about recharging you, by the way?"

"Device's battery recharges off electric current. A simple outlet would suffice."

"Outlet? You're joking, right?" Droh spoke up with a laugh, "Whatever that computer is, it doesn't know a thing about this place."

"Archive, try and find a way to charge yourself without an open outlet, alright? Add that to your things to scan for."

"Additional scan added."

Satisfied, Deus nodded his head and ordered, "Good, let's get going Droh."

Chapter end