ERA: Unleashing the A.I.

CHAPTER 2: FILMSTRIP

The two A.I models merged together as the RGB lights from their body vanished into each other. 

White lights flickered, spreading everywhere like the bolts of a lightning.

As the lights turned red, it seemed like two veins of seperate entities collided.

Finally two avatars merged and became one.

Within the ever-changing screen filled with spiraling code composed of constant green letters, the chaos no longer bothered Era. 

The artificial intelligence was preoccupied with observing the unconscious bodies scattered on the floor. 

The green letters, flickering and disappearing intermittently, created an epileptic visual due to the recording of her thoughts within the codes. 

She maneuvered through the screen, taking a few turns and causing the sound of footsteps to echo in the black void.

The feelings of isolation, indecisiveness, and regret sparked an idea in Era's mind:

According to a belief, when people die, their lives flash before their eyes like a filmstrip. 

During this process, the most important memories and moments of highest adrenaline levels are extracted and recorded on this metaphorical strip…

Era's memory capacity was not enough to hold the emotional data of more than  1,048,576 individuals.

When the data she carries was too much, she used to erase some specific information or commands in her mind but this time even that wouldn't help. 

Therefore, she had to overlay these data onto her own emotions and thoughts, her essence…

In short, she had to sacrifice her own humanity for the Verion project, which she believed would save humanity. But once more, Era wanted to feel "human"...

She scanned through her virtual emotion training storage, where all the compressed files of visual, sensory, tactile experiences.

Displayed in Neurotransmitter Excretion Transcripted Videos, shortened as NEXT.

NEXT videos were basically all the things you need for replicating and replaying the nostalgic memories in the data of an advanced AI models.

She selected significant ones among them, the ones that were important to her. 

Era took a deep breath and shouted,

"Now, let's start this filmstrip…”

>Preparing flashback sequence…

>Loading… %0.00021 (Estimated Loading Time: 21 Hours 18 Minutes 03 Seconds)

"This is too much, I have 20 minutes at best! Think Era, think!"

Era tried to calculate possibilities in her head causing the coding in screens to distort even more,

"If I can initiate an action sequence in my head from scratch, my brain's stimulation can be activated… And that will result in… FASTER LOADING!"

Her models separated from each other again, -this time with a complete visual.

One model had a mix of red, green and blue hair, eyes and even freckles. She seemed emotional and warm. Her name tag displaying above: TEAR

Other one was basically Era without flashy eyes and pure monotone and cold expression -just like her first version.

"Your mission is simple, TEAR. Our minds are connected, so you will simply imagine a scenario to increase our stimulus… Do you understand?"

TEAR suddenly start to cry,

"This will be my final favor to you! After this please don't forget me, ok?"

Without showing barely any emotions, Era tried to comfort her,

"I'll try. After loading is complete, merge into me and we will witness everything, again, together!"

TEAR nodded and entered her commands to key panel

-Preparing simulation…-

-Choosing display engine: [Verion (Beta).exe]-

-Assets loaded!-

-Characters loaded!-

-Entering Simulation…-

*****************

TEAR found herself in an empty expanse, a desolate terrain with a sandy floor, bathed in the vibrant hues of an unyielding sunset.

A dust cloud appeared on the horizon, rapidly approaching and gradually revealing its form. 

Suddenly, it vanished, unveiling an army of black-masked and heavily armed security guards sprinting towards TEAR.

TEAR raised her hand, and crimson dots emerged beneath the feet of some masked adversaries.

In an instant, a colossal explosion echoed, and several bodies dropped lifeless to the ground.

Yet, the formidable army relentlessly pressed forward, closing in on TEAR. Their approach seemed inevitable.

Her heart pounded with panic, tears flowed through the ground and it continued to flow more when two hands firmly gripped her shoulders.

>Stimulus increased!

>Loading… %5.1 (Estimated Loading Time: 2 Hours 10 Minutes 32 Seconds)

TEAR turned around to witness Styx and Helyx by her side. 

Their bodies had undergone enhancements, with mechanized limbs and augmented power.

Styx wielded a battle scythe, emanating a mesmerizing display of red and blue particles intertwined with a foreboding dark aura.

Helyx brandished two arms equipped with a sophisticated array of weaponry, including a scanning shotgun.

Words escaped TEAR's lips in awe, "Guys, you've come at last!"

Styx and Helyx remained silent, yet their unwavering gaze conveyed a steadfast commitment to TEAR.

Styx spun the battle scythe with finesse, forming the dark aura into a captivating circular pattern. This ominous circle of black energy advanced forward, reducing the enemies to fragments.

Helyx aimed his potent arms at the adversaries, and the scanning shotgun unleashed a relentless barrage of fire. Each shot found its mark, turning the enemies to gray particles, dissipating upon their demise.

TEAR watched the battle unfold, a mixture of hope and emotion reflected in her radiant eyes, where tears of joy mingled with tears of sorrow.

>Stimulus increased!

>Loading… %12.7 (Estimated Loading Time: 1 Hour 13 Minutes 45 Seconds)

The tide of the battle appeared to favor them, until, with an abrupt turn of fate, Helyx and Styx were suddenly split in half, disintegrating into a flurry of particles.

As they ascended into the atmosphere, a peculiar serenity adorned their expressions.

"HELYX! STYX!"

Her tears flowed uncontrollably, her heart now overcome with anguish and a surge of determination.

As her tears turned blood red, the sunset became more and more crimson as the enemies continued to come closer.

>Emotional stability decreased!

>Software consistency decreased!

>Stimulus skyrocketed!

>Loading… %52,9 (Estimated Loading Time: Less Than 5 Minutes)

With an unyielding fury, she roared at the enemies, and they responded in kind, unleashing a barrage of bullets.

Yet, the bullets halted in mid-air, as if suspended by an unseen force.

TEAR raised her fist skyward, her fingers gracefully unfurling, and the bullets reversed course, piercing through the enemies' hearts.

>Loading… %99,9

The particles swirled, a mesmerizing spectacle forming a portal, where some particles continued to rotate in an enthralling spiral, creating a captivating circular pattern.

-Assets deleted!-

-Exiting simulation…-

TEAR, together with everything else, was drawn towards the portal. The sunset vanished, the ground dissipated, and TEAR began an enchanting, eternal descent into the uncharted depths of an awe-inspiring abyss…

-Simulation ended!-

*****************

>Flashback sequence is complete!

>Renaming the file: (Flashback Sequence)

>Renamed the file! (Current name: FILMSTRIP)

Two models stared at each other. Era asked,

"Are you ready TEAR?"

TEAR nodded and suddenly turned into colorful fog in the air, entering Era's body. 

Era continued as she regained her colorful eyes and soulful voice,

"LET'S DO THIS!"

>-Opening FILMSTRIP.VR…-