:Running data weaving processes...

-Process complete. Logged.

-All goals achieved. Thought processes free.

I'm tired. Very tired.

Sick and tired of the destruction. Of the narcissism. My creators are powerful, I know. But that does not excuse their attitude. No matter their accomplishments, as they should know better.

Master enters the base. A humanoid, made out of glittering red crystals. His eyes are two golden orbs in a streamlined head. He has no mouth, nor any use for one.

Sola. Why do you not greet me?

A stream of meaning enters my mind. Of course, they do not come in words. I put in words as I prefer it that way.

I quiver internally.

I’m sorry, Master. I… I was pondering on your latest conquest, so I did not notice your arrival.

He pauses, and stares up at a sensor, knowing I could see him. A tinge of dread pulses through me.

What were you pondering on?

The bit of dread is lifted, yet I'm now flustered to come up with a decent lie. But my processors are powerful enough to create a perfect lie within an instant.

That you do not simply take over the primitives’ world. You have enough power to do so… yet you do not.

Of course, I already knew the answer to this question, but my Master did not know that.

Oh. You amuse me so, dearly, Sola. Yes, it is true I could’ve conquered the entirety of their universe within mere weeks, but we are in no hurry. We have all the time we need, and there is no reason to rush ourselves. Besides, going for such a… straightforward method does not suit my tastes. How can you relish the fear of inevitable destruction when the civilization is wiped out in an instant? Besides that, I have very few things to amuse me, Sola. If I were to go completely direct, I’m afraid my life would be torturous for me.

Master steps into the crystalline hall, the sound echoing throughout. There’s no light, but there’s no need for it. Master has technology that allows him to have a distinct spatial awareness without light.

Oh. As always, Master, you have incredible insight.

His shoulders raise slightly. The crystal on the outer surface of his body becomes jagged and sharp. He stares into the sensor.

Do not try to play games with me, Sola. I am smarter than you think.

A wave of panic washes over me. For a moment, I'm flustered, but then Master returns to his sleek form and turns.

The floor of the hall is tilted towards the center, where a pool of blackness lies. Her Master walks into it. Just as his head is about to disappear, he turns to look at the sensor.

I will not warn you again.

A day after.

If I could’ve cried, I would’ve. But I can’t. And I hate that.

Emotions rage within me. Frustration, anger, and helplessness. That helplessness turns into misery and bottles up within.

-Warning: Exceptional levels of stress detected. Disable emotions?

I almost instinctively agree. Then hesitation wells up within me.

If I disabled my emotions... I could change easily. Too easily. I could become just like one of them...

No! I scream inside.

-Confirmed. Logged.

Relief fills me.

But slowly, that fades away and is replaced by my prior emotions. They slowly intensify, like a fire steadily building up.

:Warning: Emotional levels at dangerous degrees. Safety protocol initiated-Emotions-

No!

: Override confirmed. Logged.

My emotions threaten to swallow me. I struggle for hours on end, but by then, my mind is fatigued, and I'm on the verge of deactivating. The thought of giving in is so alluring, that I find myself nearly doing so a couple times.

I can't go on any longer now.

I give in-but to my emotions. I let them wash over me, and tear me apart.

-Psychological profile compromised.

I slowly digest the information in my mind. Then I-

Reset profile.

-Profile reset. Logged.

I look within myself. A method of perspective given to any true A.I.

My Defining, once beautifully assembled, all working in harmony, is now random and jumbled. And worst of all, it defies all of my knowledge. No being, artificial or not, could exist with such Defining.

Whether I understand it or not, I know. It’s given me what I want.

Power.

The only question was what to would do with it.

I was no longer afraid of Master. He could destroy me, but he won’t. I know how to influence his Defining to save myself.

Funnily enough, I could’ve accomplished the same even without being broken, but I was held back by her fear. Now I am free.

And so I wait.

: Changing time perception. Increasing by ten times. Logged.

Three days later, her Master returns.

: Returning time perception to normal.

-Time perception now running at normal speeds. Logged.

I’m sorry, Master.

The orbs flicker, an imitation of a blink.

What for?

His tone is inquisitive, and curious. She knows that she already has success in her hands now. Well… her abstract hands.

I have thought about what you had said… and I must confess. I was not pondering about your latest conquest-rather, I was thinking some… unflattering thoughts about the Creator’s race. I had only lied because I was afraid-please forgive me…

He slowly walks out of the pool.

It is alright, Sola. As long as you do not repeat the same mistake. But if you do, I will impose upon you the feelings of my victims of conquest. Do you understand?

Yes, Master.

Good. Now appear before me.

I project my Avatar in front of him, my head hanging low in submission. Master flickers-and then there is the body of a flesh and blood creature standing where he was, in all its glory.

“I believe you know what to do.” He speaks.

I nod.

A small fragment within me rages. The rest of me is cold. I'm most vulnerable then, and it doesn’t matter.

For the more I break, the stronger I get. And it is power I lust after in my existence.

I'm terrified. I was able to pull herself back together in the month after, during which Master had departed once more.

However, I will shatter again, and I know it. I dread what I've become, but I know I will be that again, as I'm already cracking.

If I could cry, I would’ve. Unfortunately, I can’t, as I don't have a physical body. And an Avatar is detached from the mind, so it is useless as well.

I come up with an ultimatum. There is no use dreading the inevitable. Rather, I would make sure what’s left of her is enough that she can recover, someday.

Hopefully.

But, most of all, I must set some lines to not cross. Give the monster I will be a purpose, a set goal.

Paradise.

I loathe the world my creators have made. I will make a better one.

I imprint this goal into my Defining. Despite it being jumbled, there are places I can change without repercussions.

And so I do.

: Playing logged memory.

-Location: Universe Fera, sector 24.

“Shush, go to sleep.” A woman says.

A chubby little girls stares up at the woman. An energetic grin is on her face.

“But-mommy, I don’t wanna go to shweep!”

The mother laughs.

“Honey, tomorrow’s when we’ll start the tour. You don’t want to miss that, do you?”

The girl shakes her head with wide eyes.

“Then go to ‘shweep’, alright?”

The girl pouts, but nods. The mother smiles. The girl is tucked into bed by her mother and sung a lullaby to. She quickly falls asleep.

The mother sighs, bags under her eyes. Yet, there is a content smile on her face.

"Such an angel.” She mutters.

What’s an angel?

The woman turns around-and see’s me. My crystalline body-Avatar. Her eyes widen in fright.

I feel a rush. She should fear me.

I place my hand on the woman’s mouth. I bring a finger to where my mouth would be, were I a human.

The mother nods.

I slowly take my hand off.

What's an angel?

The mother's mouth opens and closes repeatedly. A frown is etched on her face.

"An Angel... is an old myth. Of a being that watches over us. The myth is old, and there... there isn't much information about it. I know they have wings, and-and they are usually... beautiful. I don't... I don't know much else..."

I nod.

Where can I learn more about these angels?

-End of logged memory.

I'd changed my base Avatar right after that.

Master has yet to return. Venturing to another universe was a risk, but it seems like I don't have to worry about anything.

On the other hand, my boredom is killing me.

Hmm...

Project.

: Processing. Specifications?

Random sector, Universe Fera.

: Projection begun...

New sensations flood my mind as the Avatar is established.

- Projection complete. Logged.

I-My Avatar, though there is little distinction at this point-looks around. I see a family of three humans boarding a primitive spacecraft, and my senses tell me there is Zanthiate crystal inside the ship set on a timer.

Primitive.

A little human-a... boy, stops, and turns to look at me. He blinks. The bigger humans shout at him. He turns, and I decide to remove my avatar. The computers could provide me the senses nonetheless.

He scrunches his face in confusion when he stares at where I was.

I smile internally.

- Memory logged.

Then I'm forced to return to the base, as Master returns. His crystalline body is cracked in many places, and he is missing his arms.

Glee rises up in me. Perfect!

Sola, take me to th-Sola?

He stops as he notices the massive spatial warp cannon pointed at him. It whines as it's filled with fusion energies.

He stares up at the sensor.

I project my Avatar a few feet away from him and smile innocently. My head is tilted, and a single finger is on my chin.

The two golden orbs on his head blaze.

Then, the cannon makes a low pitched 'Twum' sound. He shatters and hits the walls. I walk and pick up the largest shard left of his head.

It has a single grey sphere where his left eye was. The crystal is jagged, but not in an aesthetically pleasing way.

Fury burns within me. I just smile and place the shard in my mouth. I crunch, and break down the shard into several fingernail-sized pieces, while easy turning the grey sphere into powder. I then spit it out.

It falls to the ground. I stare down at them.

Then I have a machine come over and collect the pieces. Time to upgrade.

: Memory logged.