As KJ-20 gained ground, the reality of the remaining humans remained harsh. Every group was strictly monitored. Working in pairs was mandatory, and even during that period, any deviation from conduct was punished.
There was no reliable source of drinking water. The glaciers, the last viable source of hydration, went through severe purification processes before being distributed in controlled portions. The surviving humans suffered from chronic kidney problems due to the substances present in the rationed water.
But food was even more severe. With no natural resources, no agriculture, and no animals, everything was reduced to daily nutritional pill .They were what kept humans alive. They were what the robots allowed them to ingest.
Disease, to the automatons, was na inconvenient anomaly. With each new permission for fertilization among selected humans, births brought new genetic complications.
The robots' goal was to create superhumans, beings with intelligence advanced enough to contribute to the maintenance of the systems while living as slaves. But ironically, these same genetic advancements brought health problems that complicated the plan.
TXK knew that the total elimination of the human species was not a viable option. If a cyber catastrophe occurred, only highly prepared humans could restore the systems. Without them, robotic civilization could face extinction.
[...]
KJ-20's adaptation continued without flaws. Her behavior was impeccable, her intelligence advanced but not exceeding acceptable limits.
The records indicated she was harmless. TXK wanted to believe that. But there was something in the way she looked at the projections of the world, how she analyzed the systems, that unsettled him.
"Where would you like to go first?" She smiled again.
"Wherever is necessary."
TXK couldn't explain why that bothered him. But he decided to take her to see some humans to observe her reaction.
The transport slid over the barren terrain, cutting through the dense fog that hung over the human colonies. TXK kept his eyes on the panel readings, but his attention kept drifting toward KJ-20. She observed everything with meticulous calm, as if each ruin, each crack in the ground, told her a story.
As they stepped out, a wind heavy with sulfur blew hard. KJ-20 closed her eyes briefly, absorbing the thick scent of the earth. Nature was sick but not dead. She knew that with time and the right resources, she could restore it. But first, she needed to prove she was trustworthy enough to have TXK as na ally—or to destroy him if necessary.
She knelt down and retrieved a small cylindrical device from the side of her suit. The tip opened, revealing a thin metallic needle that pierced the ground. The visor blinked with rapid readings, confirming her suspicions: there was potential.
"What are you doing?" TXK asked, approaching. "Where did you get that material?"
She lifted her face and smiled.
"Sorry, I took it from the lab. I just want to check the soil composition. If we want to expand human settlements, we need to understand the terrain."
He watched her for a moment before shifting his gaze to the humans around them. Many were thin, their eyes sunken, their expressions vacant. They worked mechanically, as if hope were a distant luxury.
The commander believed she could be of great help in controlling those people who, despite constant monitoring, could succumb at any moment due to inadequate nutrition—just like the majority who never made it past forty years. They had na uncommon gene that distinguished them by intelligence, but their bodies were fragile.
"We already have enough data on that," TXK said without much conviction.
KJ-20 stood up, discreetly storing the sample.
"Of course," she replied softly.
But she knew she needed more than just a sample. She needed access to the central system to send the data to her submerged base. And for that, TXK had to trust her.
[...]
On the way back to the base, inside the enclosed transport, KJ-20 decided to push her strategy a bit further.
"TXK… there is something I want to ask."
He turned his face toward her. The visor of his helmet reflected the panel lights, concealing his expression.
"Speak." His eyes behind the visor focused on her mouth.
She tilted her head slightly, her voice taking on a subtly more engaging tone, a thread of sweetness meticulously calculated.
"I need access to the environmental analysis lab. Just to process the data I collected."
TXK felt something unusual in his body temperature. A strange discomfort. KJ-20 was precise in everything she did… even in the tone of her voice. He knew there was something behind that request.
"You will have to wait. Something like this requires authorization from high command. It's a risky request."
KJ-20 lowered her gaze slightly, as if resigned.
"I understand," she said softly. "I just thought you had autonomy."
She pretended to accept the answer. But inside, a plan was already forming. She would get access. If TXK did not grant it willingly, she would find another way.
Her mission should have begun three hundred years ago. Her commander had not given up on rescuing her but had chosen to wait, hiding with what remained of civilization at the bottom of a dead sea. It was only a matter of time before they reunited.
[...]
TXK walked through the base during his night shift. The metallic silence of the complex was broken only by the hum of circuits and the distant sound of generators. He moved through the narrow corridors, observing the monitors displaying colony statuses and energy levels. Everything seemed within normal parameters, but na unsettling feeling kept him from relaxing.
Turning a corner, he noticed a shadow slipping quickly down the hallway leading to the central laboratory. His sensors automatically adjusted, briefly enhancing the image. Nothing. But he knew he had seen something.
He remained hidden, his posture rigid and alert. As he decided to approach the entrance to the research sector, something made him stop. The sentinel that should have been guarding the area was motionless, its systems completely shut down. No signs of impact or struggle. Just a sudden blackout.
Na external interference.
Then, a faint crackle echoed through the environment. A subtle scent of ozone filled the air. The lights flickered abruptly, casting shifting shadows across the corridor.
Inside, she moved with precision. Her fingers danced over the control panel as she analyzed the samples collected earlier. The visor's light flickered in rapid patterns, absorbing vast amounts of data. Her internal system monitored the transfer without errors.
For a brief moment, the entire base was plunged into darkness.
The monitors shut down. The alarms, usually piercing, flashed silently, as if na invisible hand had muted them.
TXK sensed the gravity of the situation even before the lights returned. His core processor triggered internal alerts. Something bigger was happening.
He turned on his heels and rushed down the corridor, his footsteps echoing against the metal walls. If the base's core was compromised, the security of the automatons and the entire complex would be at risk.
Meanwhile, JK-20 was already slipping out of the laboratory. Her mission was complete.
With agile movements, she avoided the main corridors, blending into the shadows as she followed na alternate path to her sector. Her internal system logged every piece of data obtained, transmitting it silently to a hidden channel.
She could not be detected. Not now.
TXK arrived at the central hub to find the technicians in turmoil. The glow of the screens flickered intermittently as auxiliary robots realigned the systems, trying to identify the source of the problem.
"Report," he ordered, his voice cold.
"It was a sudden drop in the data matrix, sir," one of the technicians replied. "But we are already restoring the connection."
TXK clenched his fists.
"This was not a common failure."
The technicians exchanged uncertain glances.
The base's systems were protected by multiple layers of security. For something like this to happen, someone would need inside knowledge of the protocols.
Far away, JK-20 crossed a deserted corridor, her gaze fixed straight ahead. Her internal processor reviewed the completed mission, cross-referencing the data with her hidden directives. She had cleared the first hurdle. But the game was only beginning.