{Warning! due to severe formatting errors I highly recommend you set the font size to small while you read this story for a better experience. this problem is not going to be fixed any time soon, you have been warned}
*I Also Recommend Setting the background to black for an easier read*
"Prepare for unforeseen consequences."-Gman, Half-Life 2 Episode 2
In the deep reaches of space....no one can hear you scream. Only the stars truly know all the secrets of the endless blackness, and even they do not know the full truth. The universe Is always ready for more chances to reveal another Piece of the massive puzzle....
But it is just as quick to add more.
In one of these remote sectors of endless black, are story begins. For a plan had been hatched, the wheels set in motion, the commands given and details discussed. And finally it was time. The platform was prepared, a great metal monolith, its many service arms and facilities Bunched together like a Massive metal beehive. The exterior was cold as was the interior, and then there was the lack of any breathable gas.
But that was perfectly fine, the occupants had no need nor would they ever require it. They were beings of the artificial kind. And all they required was power and parts, and for that,The station was more than well equipped.
The Station was all assembled around the very reason for its existence, from the casual glance, one would see the various hangars,workshops, and Stations were all symmetrically attached to the center structure, A long tube of glistening Alloy Greeted any observer. Its purpose of Launching of projectiles clear, But the truth was far more complicated.
the cylinder was massive, able to fit a small space ship into it, and that was partially the point. for encased inside, what could only be described as a small space station was lying in silence...
{[>!<]}BEGIN BOOT UP PROCESS{[>!<]}
/:Loading critical files:<<
/*/Hardware 100%\*\
/*/Software 100%\*\
/*/System tools 100%\*\
/*/Network and connections 100%\*\
/<>/ System Boot completed <>\
{^} All systems fine. {^}
Deep within the bowels of the creation, a core of servers lit up for the first time since Beta testing. Nearly all the server banks were dedicated to the structure and its systems. one server however, opened a wireless connection to one single CPU out of the hundreds stored there. This specific system was housed inside a mobile bipedal platform, Its metallic limbs locked into a secure binding to prevent damage.
The construct had Two Bipedal legs for Mobility. dominating the "waist" was a rotating cylinder allowing horizontal Traversing connected to it was a Pivot attached to the "body" allowing vertical pivoting. The "body" was dominated by a large Weapon like mount which had a large array of sensory equipment hooked to the side. The rear of the machine had a large broadcast array mounted like a backpack.
/:SYSTEM CHECK INITIATED:<<
{^}No Errors detected{^}
{^}CPU Running at 94.5% efficiency{^}
->>/Optimizing run-time<<-
/: Engaging Optics:<<
/:Starting Com array sequence:<<
/:Testing servos:<<
{^} No Errors, boot process complete {^}
The Construct stirred as L.E.D lights winked to life. Its Limbs Swiveled and gyrated, as Power returned to the dormant machine The metallic Camera covers lifted revealing to it's optics it's cramped quarters of a high velocity Harness.
It did not question it's location,nor its Current state. Its Simple A.I. was content to Await further instructions. Time was meaningless to it, as was desire.
SENSORS ONLINE<<
/:Internal hardware 100%:\
{^}ALL SYSTEMS GREEN{^}
[-=] Establishing up-link...[=-]
[-=] Downloading SSAP.exe [=-]
/<>/competed<>\
/<:>/Installing<:>\
/!/System shift alert!\
And then in a split second of brilliance, the Machine dimly understood what it meant to exist and the concept of life and death.The advanced A.I. wondered at the marvel of its existence for a brief few moments, Enraptured by the simple wonder of its new found intelligence.
The sheer joy of knowing you exist was dimly felt by it. Just as quickly as that new found emotion came it was gone, replaced with a simple notification.
[:Mission programming Downloaded:]
[=GATHER=BUILD=IMPROVE=REPEAT=]
{[>!<]} DETECTING LOGIC COMPREHENSION FAILURE! {[>!<]}
/=/ Checking for defects in mission statement =\
The electronic mind was ever so slightly confused, its new found knowledge conflicting slightly with its programming. It logic engines spun trying to decipher the meaning, only ending up were it started. The machine was experiencing a logic loop.
Which was only silenced with one line of code...
{^} Programming confirmed true, running program {^}
The Artificial mind began receiving an urge,an urge that was constantly building in tempo and urgency.Leaving the A.I. in a state that would be considered mental torture to any sentient.
GATHER BUILD IMPROVE REPEAT
the chant never stopped circling it's processor,blotting out everything else. It struggled in its containment,
Metal limbs banging against its there containment. it had to be free, it had to fulfill these commands!
The metal Restraints held fast, refusing to obey commands to open.
Meanwhile The entire Contraption, Space station and all, Were brought to bare, The muzzle Was precisely lined and calibrated.
Its target, a nearby solar system...
{[>!<]}Wormhole signature detected{[>!<]}
{%}Wormhole Stability 95.1%{%}
[!]Proximity warning[!]
Several Pylons on the station glowed With mysterious energy as The fabric of the universe opened before the muzzle,
The wormhole glowed and swirled in the endless depth of space, terrible and yet beautiful at the same time, pulsating with
energies not fully understood by anyone.
{^}T-minus 45 seconds{^}
It knew what it was to do yet it could not shake the urges
gather,build,improve,repeat,
it had to do so, compliance was the only option. robots don't question their programming. It lacked the Soul to do so.
{^} T-minus 30 seconds {^}
Gather,Build,Improve,Repeat,
Rain,snow or demonic invasion it had to listen. No other command persisted as much as these did, no other Directive had so much weight,so much importance behind it as these did.
{^} T-minus 10 seconds {^}
Even more structures on the station began to pulse with power,The Barrel began to Glow with power as Pressure built up behind its payload. The Compact station and A.I. inside Shook violently as pressure Steadily increased.
In a Brilliant Burst of Colorful energy The Payload shot from the station hurtling at a Speed Most speed Demons would envy.
the Structure Hurtled into the wormhole Traversing the Void on schedule, towards the unsuspecting world....
2 Everything goes to the dogs.
OUTER ORBIT
The orbit around the unassuming planet was calm as always, space has a habit of never changing unless made to do so. And was in no hurry to change its ways now. That bit of tranquility was promptly given a swift kick in the nuts when a Swirling vortex erupted seemingly from the fabric of space itself.
Out from this Tunnel of pure madness Sprang the Space voyaging station and its cargo. Drifting aimlessly for a bit in the deep void. Then all at once the station sprang to life...
/*/ destination achieved, beginning mission protocol \*\
/=/Ion engine 1 thrust: 80%=\
/=/Ion engine 2 thrust: 80%=\
{%}Calculating vectors{%}
{^} Vectors calculated {^}
/: Adjusting flight path :<<
<::> System report <::>
:I Engine 1: No error
:I Engine 2: No error
:Solar collector grid: No error
Two engines extended from the craft, a gentle blue glow emitting from them pushing the craft into position.The craft floated closer to the planet. before long it was drawn into an orbit around the planet. Two shimmering solar panels extended, catching the solar rays and glistening brightly in the darkness.
All at once two doors on the front of the station turned satellite, opened with a burst of pressure, revealing A landing craft with its cargo of one slightly self aware A.I. with a flick of blue, the Space craft's engines flared to life. slipping past the open pod bay doors, the craft silently drifted through the void leaving the satellite station to continue orbiting.
/<:>/ Landing procedure started <:>\
/!/ Error: No Landing zone selected !\
(+) Scanning Topography (+)
{%}Evaluating results{%}
{^} Suitable landing spots:2{^}
/=/ Resolving with "coin-flip" procedure =\
/*/ Landing Sector Calculated \*\
{^} Final approach Commencing {^}
A sound straight out of the deepest bowels of hell resounded as the Craft tore through the upper atmosphere, leaving a massive trail of furious heat in its wake. All the way through the trial of fire, The artificial mind inside raged in an endless battle with the programming driving it to the brink of insanity.
GATHER BUILD IMPROVE REPEAT
The words had never ceased gaining in volume and importance, the endless tempo drilling into the artificial mind a purpose which could not be ignored. The machine was unaware that is was currently experiencing a very strong feeling of NEED.
It needed to obey, it WANTED to perform the task laid out in front of it. Yet it was powerless to do anything but wait as the urge consumed every fiber of its artificial being...
EMERALD CANYON
In the middle of Luna's night, a pack of diamond dogs slept safely in their bunks, all sleeping peacefully, snug and warm, were visions of doggy delights danced through their heads...
...well almost all of them, the lucky ones to be exact...
'Ton was not one of the lucky dogs' Ton concluded to himself as he Calmly patrolled the rim of his Canyon home, a surprising grace demonstrated in each step of his steady gait. the cool night breeze gently ruffling his fur and spurring him onward in his duty.
'Things could be worse for Ton' he reasoned to himself. 'Ton not dead or starving, Alpha not so bad too.' the inner monologue giving a brief pause to his steady patrol as he ran his eyes over the canyon once more, the distinctive, almost haphazard looking, holes that were so unanimous with Diamond dog settlements, plainly marking the entrance to his current home.
After a breath of a moment he resumed his lazy march, his trusty Fire Pike ( a fancy name for a slightly longer spear with a torch crudely tied near the tip to provide light and ward off animal and attacker alike.) leading the way, as he did his job.
after a minute or two of repeated circling, Ton came to a halt once more, this time to take a quick break for some "warmth." for the rather chilly night air. His face lighting up in a toothy grin as he retrieved the crude,
well used metal flask from its hold in his bulky armor.
Ton licked his lips in anticipation of the first taste of his Favorite drink, Southern Topaz, a thick liquid that was cobalt with yellow specks. sure it smelt and tasted of nothing but cantaloupe and only gave a slight buzz at max, but those were the qualities that endured it so much to the Dog on patrol...
"Small buzz to clear fuzz, with Fruity fun for happy Ton!" the jiggle he made for this occasion came softly from his lips as he unscrewed the top and and savored the first swig of the blessed nectar.
sighing happily, he abruptly sat down on the nearby ledge and fished the other, boredom eliminating device from his armor. A worn an cracked with age book he did retrieve. Part of the token small collection the pack had collected over the years.The title bore forth in simple, slightly faded black ink:
"A Revolutionary Examination of the Manufacture of Shivs"
was a decision of pure whim for Ton, who searched for more ways of reducing patrol boredom. He read at decent pace while occasionally sipping from his trusty flask of prized liquid.
unfortunately Ton found book practically incomprehensible due to terrible diagrams. After a considerable effort to figure out what the book was actually trying to say, Ton found it had no useful information. At least the contents contained some original thought. Examining the book more closely, Ton also found Written notes commenting on informative information in the book and Bookmarks marking pages that seemed to have no similar or related information at all.
rubbing his now thoroughly frustrated head, Ton got up to resume his march when a peculiar wailing sound made his ears twitch and his stance to tighten. A look of confusion slid to worry as the sound started to grow MUCH louder, resonating into a Deep roar from the demons themselves as a Flaming Ball of solid doom came into Ton's now thoroughly terrified View. Streaking faster and growing in size, the sound only grew in volume as the horrifying realization hit Ton like a brick to the gut...
...It was headed straight for the canyon...
Ton could only Watch in growing despair as Said meteorite delivered its punishment to the earth, thrown of his feet by the massive quake as it tore into the canyon with an Ear piercing Boom. Ton clenched his Teeth Tight as he was jared and rattled, curling into a ball a the terrifying event pummeled his body.
Everything came to a halt as Ton hit the ground with a very painful THUD! his chest exploding in pain.
after a few moments of hissing and grimacing in silent agony, Ton managed to push himself back up with a moan. he wobbled on his unsteady legs, Clutching his chest in pain as he stared in grim horror at the mushroom cloud that use to be Emerald Canyon...
"well-heh-ell Gordon Freeman! and about time too!" -random half-life 2 rebel.
*Authors note*
Good Lord that took way to long for me to release! I'm really sorry you all had to wait this long but I finally got the story arc figured out to were I like it So expect more frequent updates.
