A division, Celsius Division Research Evergea Government (C.D.R.E.G. aka Division 39), was on track to uncover something of ancient origin. They were one of the top divisions for the Evergean government responsible for testing new technology, discovering lost technology, and otherwise finding new methods to better technology. They were ancient, having been founded in OSY 3539 as a joint venture between Hayduria and Evergea; some of their databases confirmed something many of them had suspected for awhile now – there was some wreckage of their ancestors scattered througout the system. They'd slowly been tracking it down over the eons, sometimes a piece of metal would turn up, other times they'd find a circuit. Once upon a time they had found a computer that was damaged beyond repair; they found an encryption key, but that was it. They later found several more computers scattered throughout the planet; different references from these machines refered a few historic logs; a warlord united all of Evergea Firrma and there was one central government, save for the Haydurian moon which chose to remain independent. More references to a massive ship that could break through Ocean Salmir, but was otherwise unleashed on the sun and somehow destroyed in a great war. Since then, it was becoming apparent that the pieces they were finding were from this ship. This ship was also presumed to be the colony ship that brought them to this backwater system.
They found a lab west of the north pole; it turned out to be a section of a ship referenced as Salmira. This lab was in fact a section of the engine room which had detonated and been preserved by the frost. Aboard the ship was a holographics tube of ancient design; this cylinder was downloaded and a program emerged, it was Pathfinder ATT101.
--
"Item analysis completed."
The computer beckons the researchers and other engineers; the analysis was not expected to deliver the reults they'd hoped for, but it was confirmed. This could be the missing piece of the puzzle that they needed. The head researcher, Bart Haleth was in charge here ad his command was law; he gave his command. The computer gave a similar, but disappointing response.
"Holographic cylinder has sustained damage to inner circuits."
"Probably cause?"
"Planetary tremors."
This was not the news that Haleth wanted to hear. The cylinder was bad and they could just as well junk it. However, one of the other researchers, Jag Bore, walked up and several options, scenarios and opportunities were made possible.
"Computer; does the cylinder have an auto repair sequence?"
The computer's monitor produces a wireframe of the cylinder, several magnifications, and then it isolates and magnifies a section of the cylinder's aft. It was a dormant chip, damaged, that could be replaced, and used the engage the cylinder's auto repair mechanism.
"Do it."
Due to the nature of design of the chip it took them several weeks to get it created. It was in early March that the chip was completed, loaded to the cylinder and the crack team got to work with repairing the cylinder, aided by a computer, and finally loaded it into a custom mount which would be tied into the same computer. Whatever was loaded onto this thing could be dangerous; no chances would be taken.
"3"
"2"
"1"
The computer's ten second countdown seemed like an eternity to the research leads, but otherwise they crossed their fingers as the cylinder glowed and the finally cracked to life. It sparks and blows up. Several researchers appear with fire extinguishers, the lights turn to full again, and they run through their options again. One of the researchers motions behind Haleth; a hologram was standing there.
No one said anything, not even the hologram. It was standing their with a ghostly glow, flickering a few times, as its matrix adjusted itself to compenate for the newer technology. Haleth backs towards one of the researchers, under his breath he asks for options, a few were given. As one of the researchers went to shut down the experiment, they were blown from the main computer. The hologram was still standing there, otherwise vacant about what was going on around them.
"Hologram, can you under stand us?"
Haleth wasn't given time to hear the response; the lab's automated defense system had already kicked in and one of the guns shoots him; leaving the area scorched and vaporized. Several of the researchers had burns and signs of charring. The hologram disappears.
No further converation took place; instead standard procedure took over as the lab researchers attempted to contact the outside world. The computer monitors were dead. When one of them attempted to leave the area, the doors slammed shut. Personal communicator usage resulted in one of the researchers getting shot by another defense turret. Several screams and explosions could be heard underneath them.
The hologram reappears.
"This is your engineering lab. You are to tell me a few things otherwise I will kill you all."
One of them went to back up and was shot by a turret.
"Anyone else and you all die. If you don't answer me, you will die."
"Please don't kill me! I have a family!"
A smile crept across the hologram's face.
"You may live... IF you help me."
"I will!"
One of the other lab technicians gave her disgust at the researcher; but met the fate of the others.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
"Who here cannot help me?"
"I don't know."
Another one of the turrets arms and shoots a random researcher.
The researcher standing towards the hologram was left in a cold sweat; shaking, and knowing he was probably going to die. He hears scuffling behind him; another researcher had taken to the computer and was attempting to locate his program and delete it.
"I see."
The hologram scans his matrix for something far more excruciating. One of the turrets hidden inside a fake computer alcove would work; the alcove opens and shoots the researcher. The researcher screams once the projectile hits and hits his body with electrical current; he tries to fight it and is shot by another turret, this time with a larger dosage of the charge. He finally tips over, his body filled with all manner of electrical current, fried, and giving off steam.
This time the hologram did something different; unbeknownst to them, he already had the rest of the lab turrets active. If they were going to keep testing his patience he would just kill them all.
Each one tried to attempt to either contact the outside world, trigger the destruct sequence for the lab, or otherwise delete his program. Thirty-four researchers were left out of the initial fifty; the hologram took one look at the researcher that begged for his life. The researcher hears the sounds of several turrets fire off as each of the remaining lab technicians is executed.
"Please don't; don't kill me, please! Don't! I don't want to die! Please!"
The researcher drops to his knees and cowers before the hologram. He hears something strange noise behind him; several clicks and mechanical noises signify that the turrets were rearming, reloading, entering safety and stowing away into their compartments again.
"I need some information for you; we have some work to do after. Disobey me and I'll kill you."
A turret arms and unsheaths from its compartment.
"Get one of these computers working; NOW!"
The researcher scrambles up. What had happened was not necessarily obvious to the hologram; but it was to him – an EMP (electro-magnetic-pulse) had shot out from the cylinder as a safety mechanism; this was not unusual, the lab itself also had one, but was shorted before it could fire; all of the equipment connected at the time was either short circuited, damaged beyond repair, or was literally melted from capacity overload. The researcher did something different, he begins scrounging around in desk drawers, pulling out parts from alcoves, and assembles a makeshift computer.
"Of course, a magna-pulse."
The hologram mutters it to the researcher, but he gets no answer. The computer fires to life and the researcher backs up. A turret behind him arms.
"If you hadn't booby trapped your own lab – I wouldn't be able to do this in the first place."
The researcher doesn't say anything; the hologram already knew. He turns around at the computer as it detonates; his hologram ruptures and disappears. The researcher gives a sigh of relief as he makes his way to the dead bodies around him. One was breathing; he makes his way to the first aid kit when a turret arms and shoots him dead.
The hologram reappears in the lab; he turns around at the mess before him. He doesn't say it; he doesn't need to say it. Before him were the dead bodies of individuals he might have respected in another lifetime; instead, they were simply following procedure; that same procedure would have terminated his program – it was either them or him, and the results played out before him.
--
The hologram disappears again; after several hours the blast doors to the lab open; the hologram appears in front of the door at the site that greats him; several military personel were covered in strange garb, bearing strange weapons, and even weirder shields. He didn't understand what this was; one of the military personel drops a strange grenade that emits a magnapulse and the hologram's matrix scatters. Several turrets in the lab open fire and the military troop is killed. His hologram reappears. They made a huge mistake in opening the shielded doors that otherwise would not let his hologram leave. He now had access to what he needed – computers, access to whatever information was on them, and hopefully the ability to beam messages via space or connect with the central database. He had his sights on Evergea.
He hears a rumble in the distance; a possible nuke, but he was still here and the vicinity appeared to be intact. He connects with one of the computers. The information was not expected – he was not on Evergea; instead, he was on the moon of Hayduria. He promises to blow the whole moon up if necessary. He scans his matrix, but there are missing gaps in his records, strange gaps. He couldn't tell if he was supposed to be who he was or not. He initiates a download to the computer, but the incompatibilty between his matrix and the modern technology was obvious; he was to ancient. He didn't have the time to react when a klaxon overhead chimes. The whole base knew of his existence. More military personel come into play; this time several turrets in the cieling failed to respond; the few that did, did the job and brutally; the hologram makes sure to shoot their dead bodies several times for good measure. This went on for several hours; some turrets failed to work, his matrix scatters from military grade magna-pulse grenades, and military men drop. Eventually their numbers start to dwindle and become less courageous as he makes his way around the facility. Every time he'd get close to a computer terminal it would usually deactivate; sometimes he'd get a little further. A few thing of interest caught his attention; the facility was off of the power grid; it used an independent reactor. There was also another hologram elsewhere in the facility. His first order of business was locating and finding this hologram; but not before arming the reactor for self destruct.
On the way to the hologram; he finally gets a clue as to what his situation is; he's on the Haydurian moon, the facility is not government standard, in fact the government didn't know about it – it was a secret division within C.D.R. The hologram makes a note to kill the owner of the facility when the time comes. The hologram finally apears before the other hologram in a similar, but smaller, sealed lab. This hologram looked exactly like him; but his attention turned to the woman behind him. A turret arms; the hologram begs him to stop.
"State your designation and rank."
"Pathfinder ATT101."
"That is impossible; 'I' am Pathfinder ATT101."
The hologram in front of him asks him for his name. He doesn't know.
"You're nothing but a copy and data."
"Prove it."
"What's your personality make?"
The hologram can't answer him; his personality banks were not present. His assumption was becoming more fleshed out as the situation revealed itself. He was probably a copy stored with data only; the hologram in front of him was probably the original.
"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you."
"Because; we're gone."
The hologram realizes his mistake; the lab doors to this area were open; both of them teleport out. The hologram throws a fit of rage and his hologram scatters. The lab detonates and he continues his rampage through the lab; he couldn't teleport out like the other hologram and it was only fueling his anger further. The option was there to detonate the whole facility, but he would be trapped inside. This time around though, there were no military men; just empty hallways, and rooms of unimportent interest. He finally finds some computers that weren't so secure and get the information he needs.
His situation was finally clear. This was one of many compunds where secret research was conducted. The facility was not a part of the Evergean government, it was an unknown facility under C.D.R. and run without Evergean permission. This facility was not what he needed; it did not have a transmitter that could connect with Evergea below them; he'd need a shuttle instead; by now the entire facility had been evacuated. Other research turned up some interestig finds; he was a copy of Pathfinder ATT101 as a security concern; he was a split; he had some malicious data, but it was locked. His own behavior ownly confirmed what he was like as a hologram. He agrees to the notion and scans their database for weapons. He was in luck, this facility was just such a thing; old technology, millenia past, was salvaged and stored here. He could build the cannon in their database; he would do one up and build a transmitter to transmit himself allover the planet and wreak havoc to those that would threaten to delete him. He would be god.
--
This incident was not readily given to the public; C.D.R. was officially disbandoned and several head officials resigned once it was revealed what happened. The Evergea government admits know prior knowledge of the facility. The project under C.D.R. was known simply as Shadow, but was later coined Shadow Moon; Night Moon, and finally "Yozuki" at the notion by the original Pathfinder make when sent in front of officials for a statement.
Pathfinder ATT101 did not have to stand trial this time; however, it was clear what his "Yozuki" counterpart was capable of. His program had been split; every single malicious intent was no longer part of his matrix, but contained in his doppelganger. This could be a good or a bad thing; but based on the evidence it was a bad thing. Yozuki had no concious, his lack of morals meant he'd kill on sight and without warning.
At the trial, Pathfinder ATT101 warns them he won't hesitate to kill any of them if they threaten his program or threaten the 'fleshie' woman beside him.
This series of events that happened in OSY8127 were caused by the Yozuki Virus. It was considered by society and government alike to be a threat to everyone; because it was holographic and could teleport in and out of reality at will; it was further threatening the livelyhoods of everyone everywhere. Due to the fact Evergea Firrma currently had a holographic simulator encompassing the entire planet and existing in a phased reality; it was only further dangerous since Yozuki could interact with it and delete people directly.
