CHAPTER 119: THE SLEEPING BEAST

CHAPTER 119: THE SLEEPING BEAST

"Ivanka, do you trust me?"

Ethan's gaze met mine as his voice reverberated through the darkened room. As a terrifying reminder

of the impending peril, the metallic buzz of the awakened AI weapon echoed around us.

I said, "I don't know," in a voice that was hardly high enough to be heard. Between us, the burden of

Our treacherous and secretive past loomed heavy.

The AI weapon, a soaring mass of circuitry and steel, started to move. The room was filled with a

spooky glow as its eyes sprang to life. As it took its initial steps, the ground shook beneath our feet,

Each step is purposeful and ominous.

Ethan took a step forward and held out his hand for the control panel. He stated, "We need to shut it

down before it's fully operational," with a sense of urgency.

I hesitated as I thought back to Ethan's previous deceptions. However, there was no space for

uncertainty given the rising threat. We danced over the controls, I and I trying desperately to

Stop the awakening.

Abruptly, there was a loud crash coming from the hallway. With a determined expression on his face,

Damian rushed into the room. "Get off the panel, Ivanka!" he yelled.

Torn between the two men who had influenced my path, I turned to face him. Damian, my

unwavering comrade, and Ethan, who professed to be my rescuer.

With all its systems engaged, the AI weapon roared mechanically. The three of us were the target of

It's rising arm.

"Ivanka, make a choice!" With beseeching eyes, Damian shouted.

My heart pounded as I stood at the crossroads, the control panel beneath my hands. I could divert

The AI's attack towards Ethan, enabling Damian time to escape, or I could protect Ethan, sacrificing

Damian's life.

The decision seemed to weigh heavily on me, causing the room to seem to freeze. I closed my eyes,

inhaled deeply, and then opened them.

My palm lingered over the red button that was glowing. The air was heavy. The enormous body of

The AI weapon shook the world once more. A gun was raised by its arm. We may all be killed by one

bomb.

Ivanka!” yelled Damian. Right now!

Ethan remained still. He merely gazed at me. He had no fear in his eyes. They were supple. As if he

We were bidding farewell.

I was unable to think. I was having trouble breathing.

I slammed my hand down after that.

The panel's lights flickered rapidly. The AI hesitated. It appeared perplexed as its head rotated. Then

It dropped its gun arm.

I believed I had done it for a moment. I believed I had halted it.

Then I saw it, though.

A fresh screen appeared.

I accept the code. ONLINE SECONDARY SYSTEM.

Ethan Vale was matched to the biolock.

I went cold. "What does that mean, exactly?"

Ethan took a step back. His expression changed. Chilly. Far away.

It implies that this weapon was never intended to destroy me, he answered softly. It was supposed to

Come after me.

The AI became taller. More powerful. It swung around to face Damian.

I yelled, "No!" "Stop!"

Ethan, however, did not recoil. "Ivanka, he made you make a decision. You did. You will now

Understand why that was a mistake.

Damian brought his rear up. "Ethan, get out of here!"

The gun pointed once more.

I dashed ahead, in between them. “Stop!” “You two!”

However, it was too late.

The AI's cannon was charged.

Its arm gathered bright light in the middle.

The machine's voice was deep, artificial, and hollow.

TARGET LOCKED: The command override is running.

The system link was started.

I looked across at Ethan. "What did you do?"

He grinned, but not in a nice way.

He murmured, "You shouldn't be asking me." "Ivanka, you hit the button."

I turned to face my hands. They were radiant.

No. Not glowing.

I was now being read by the control panel.

A second link was found. Active SPLIT Control.

"Different control?" I muttered.

The cannon abruptly rotated, but not in Damian's direction.

Not with Ethan.

But directly at me.

I was pointed at by the cannon.

I went cold. I was unable to hear anything else because my heart was racing so loudly. The light from

The machine brightened, preparing to shoot. I remained motionless. I didn’t breathe.

"Ethan!" I yelled. "Stop it! Stop it!

Calmly, he took a slow step forward. You heard me, Ivanka. I can hear it, and now it can hear you too.

"Then instruct it to cease!" I let out a yell.

He didn't respond.

Damian came running over to me. “Move, Ivanka!”

“I can’t!” I shouted. "It might shoot if I move!"

He gave Ethan a look. "You're ill!"

Ethan grinned. "No, I'm intelligent. You two simply didn't see it.

Once more, the machine spoke. I shuddered at the sound of its voice.

INVITED SPLIT CONTROL. SELECT THE FIRST COMMANDER.

"What is meant by that?" I muttered.

"It means that only one of us can lead it," Ethan replied. Additionally, the other—

His punishment was completed by the machine.

There will be termination for non-primary.

My knees were weak. I had trembling hands.

"No," I responded, taking a step back. "It's not a game!"

"It isn't," Ethan stated. "War is on."

Damian took hold of my arm. "You are not forced to make a choice. Simply destroy it!

I examined the panel. I still had a glowing hand. "SELF-DESTRUCT" was assigned as a new button.

However, next to it, the SELECT COMMANDER button blinked.

Ethan took a step forward. Do you desire peace? Select me.

Damian gripped harder. "Select me, and we'll be done with this."

I gave them both a look.

I cherished both of them.

I had no faith in either.

The last warning from the machine was to CHOOSE OR DIE.

I inhaled. I extended my hand toward the panel.

I was going to hit— Whoa!

The earth trembled. The roof was broken.

It rained dust.

I pivoted.

In the doorway stood another individual.

It's bloody. Stumbling. Alive.

“Lena?” I said in a whisper, my voice breaking.

She gave a feeble smile. And held up a tiny ticking mechanism.

She said, "It's too late." "I've already decided for you."