The hivemind is conquering for me? Chapter 808: Astra

"Oh! Right. No, I wasn't spying. Hehe. The machine in the kitchen made something and asked me to give it to you. Here!"

Willow reached into a gap in her armor, pulling out a small disc. "The machine mentioned tapping the center so it can communicate with you anywhere within this facility."

"Oh, that is rather convenient," I admitted, taking the disc from Willow. She then gazed at me with eyes I'd seen from many a devoted cultist and lover before. Still, my heart warmed at the sight.

"Alright, you. Go get some beauty sleep. I expect at least eight hours from you, understand?"

Willow's gaze shifted to Sithrik's head resting on my lap, then back to my face. Before she could voice the question, I answered,

"No, I can manage one of you, but two would be a distraction, and I'm supposed to be on guard. Now go find a bed. I won't ask again."

Willow smiled at the playful sternness in my tone before standing up. "Good call. I am genuinely exhausted. Nighty-night."

I watched Willow until she vanished from sight, then resumed stroking Sithrik. Judging by her breathing, she had fallen asleep in the moments I spoke with Willow. I smiled at her, recognizing her considerable effort.

From my conversations with Yacob, her species typically sleeps up to sixteen hours in a single twenty-four-hour cycle. Given her activity today, she had truly pushed her biological limits. This made me appreciate her presence even more; she was definitely going all out.

'My life is certainly strange.' I couldn't help but think, reflecting on the peculiar events surrounding me. Before delving further into that thought, I looked at the device in my other hand and pressed the center.

As I did, a small red indicator illuminated on the disc, and a voice spoke. "Apollo. I am pleased your subordinate completed her task. Query: What is your current location?"

"I'm at the bunker's entrance, on guard duty. The others should be heading off to find resting places. Why? Is everything alright?" I inquired.

"Standby." Was the sole response for ten seconds, before...

*Trmmm!*

A surge of power caused the hallway's red lights to shift to a cool, bluish-white, enhancing the illumination. The wood-metal walls suddenly transformed into a sleek, white surface with a grainy texture, interwoven with patterns resembling blue energy.

"Power to the entrance hallway has been re-established. Internal energy turrets are now set to standby." As the voice finished speaking, two turrets materialized on the ceiling, aimed towards the door.

"Well, that certainly makes things easier," I mumbled.

"Is the illumination to your satisfaction, Apollo? I can now adjust the intensity in that section at will."

"Actually, I possess enhanced night vision, but I appreciate the gesture. It will be incredibly beneficial for everyone else. However, I currently have a sleeping snake on my lap; could you dim the lights slightly?"

The lights dimmed to a level where visibility remained, yet the atmosphere became more subdued.

From one matter to the next, the Artificial life form wasted no time.

"Query. Apollo, would you like to resume your questioning before you were interrupted by the preceding event?"

Leaning back against the wall and settling in, I nodded, even though there was no visual confirmation—

"Excellent. Proceed with your questions." The voice responded. I then peered at the disc, unable to discern any scanner, but it spoke again.

"The device you are holding possesses a visual component. While I cannot scan you as I can in the other room, I can observe your movements. My apologies for any confusion you are experiencing."

Deciding to disregard that, I got straight to it. "Alright, question time. The first is for my biological brain to better comprehend you, but do you have a name I can use? I'd prefer not to refer to you solely as 'Voice' or 'System' unless you can display my stats."

"I am uncertain what you mean by 'Open my stats.' However, the tone of your voice suggested a form of humor. Ha-Ha. Regarding your question... My data is fragmented in an unusual manner. I once held a name bestowed by this structure's original inhabitants, but it is now lost to me. If you wish, as my new owner, you may assign me a name for easier reference."

I nodded. "Okay, I've named things before. Do you have any preferences for what you'd like your name to be?"

"Space." Was the entity's entire response before falling silent.

For a few moments, silence reigned. My thoughts became a murky void, the word ’star’ echoing endlessly in my mind. Star space. Space star. It was peculiar, given my normally impeccable knack for naming. Jewel, for instance, was named after her orb-like eyes. Orchid, because her scythes in her previous form resembled an orchid mantis. Sapphire, simply because she was blue... and so on.

After further contemplation, an idea finally sparked!

"Astra! Doesn't that sound magnificent? Utterly spacey. What do you think?"

"Astra. In your former tongue, it signifies 'star'."

'Damn it!' I cursed inwardly.

"Astra, I find that suitable. A nod to your origins, now that I am in your service. Astra, at your command for any further inquiries, Apollo." Astra's voice resonated, and for a fleeting instant, it seemed to carry a hint of delight.

Choosing not to overanalyze the AI's tone, I proceeded with my interrogation.

...

My line of questioning yielded little. Astra, according to its own self-diagnostics, was in dire straits. Its operational capacity was minimal, requiring a substantial influx of energy to access other sections of the facility and to reclaim the fragments of itself lost beyond firewalls and corrupted data streams.

The technical jargon went in one ear and out the other. Yet, the core message was clear: power was essential for it to function beyond rudimentary tasks.

Channeling my inner Nerissa, my curiosity was piqued. I decided this would be a minor side quest during our ongoing guerilla warfare. If Astra was still capable of synthesizing sustenance and providing a sanctuary behind enemy lines, this was the least we could do.

Following several hours of quiet meditation and relaxation, I exhaled sharply, the profound silence causing me to shake my head.

"Either you're going easy on me, or you're becoming rather lax, my dear," I murmured into the deserted corridor.

In the ensuing moment, I felt a head rest upon my shoulder. "I was merely attempting a stealth approach, which is why. Had I gone for the kill, you would never have detected me, my universe," she whispered back, eliciting a soft gasp from me.

"*Gasp* You would contemplate my demise, even with all your emotions and memories intact within your mind? Onyx, I am truly taken aback."

*Mwah*

Onyx silenced my playful retorts with a press of her lips against mine. "Never again will I attempt such a thing. And forgive my delay in meeting you; a rather complicated situation unfolded, and subsequently, I was unable to locate this place. It was absent from any foreseen futures. Your intended path was to explore a cave system a few miles from here... Honestly, what is this location?"

"Do I need to resort to physical persuasion? Cease your revelations," I cautioned, bestowing a kiss upon her forehead instead.

"Apologies," she demurely responded before leaning against me. After a few moments of tranquil contentment, I spoke.

"So, this appears to be some sort of bunker. An alien artificial intelligence, known as Astra, presides over this place. While we carry out our acts of sabotage, we will endeavor to secure sufficient energy for it to fully activate and attend to its necessary functions.

Onyx then closed her eyes for a brief period. Aware of her actions, I simply shook my head, preferring not to pry into the details.

Upon reopening her eyes, instead of divulging her precognitive insights like a mischievous child, she deftly shifted the topic.

"You will never guess what I discovered during my earlier excursion... Oh." Her gaze dropped, noticing Sithrik slumbering on my lap. A smile graced her lips, an unexpected development that prompted my question:

"What did you find? Something delectable and nourishing?"

She turned her attention back to me. "No, well, yes, actually. But that is not what I was referring to. I shall explain within the Mindspace. I cannot risk anyone overhearing our conversation. If Jewel were to discover I confided in someone other than you, my existence would be forfeit. And that is an outcome I cannot countenance, especially considering the frequency with which you... express your affections within me~"