Keeper

With a thunderous crack, the air appeared to shatter away in translucent shards like glass. Above the mountain top, a scar of glowing turquoise opened in the sky dropping a silver figure. It braced its mechanical legs as it made an impact on the ground. It was not a high mountain, concluded the humanoid machine as it looked around. Above it the shards receded, closing the blue sky as it took inventory. The mountain was part of a range stretching along a wooded valley. A crystal stream ran down it's left and into the forest below with a soothing gurgle. Even the machine admitted to the natural beauty of this place as a light wind tickled its sensors. It noted the afternoon sun and adjusted its internal time to match.

A sharp ding pulled it's attention back and it gazed at the screen fixed into its wrist with its trio of luminous violet eyes. All three protruded from a triangular silver head. A line of text read in white, Keeper Unit: 0420 Objective: End Morning Star anomaly, prior to it gaining Complex access. Interesting, it thought. It had no prior memory and no real intelligence. It was a machine with a simulated personality brought into being for a single purpose; to keep the game. If it was being sent to end something then that thing had been determined to be a threat to the progression of this paramount game.

"World info," it said in a synthesized voice. On its wrist screen, more text began scrolling. Earth, year: 2127. This world was never intended to take part in the game but after the actions of the Morning Star, Kinuon was introduced. Just like all other participating worlds, it has now been organized into multiple candidate families for the sake of spawning more candidates. Natives are still oblivious to the game, however, there is an unusually high percentage of candidates amongst the population.

So this whole world's participation is the fault of this Morning Star, it concluded. "Morning Star info," it commanded again. Again text scrolled. A single entity split across two beings, both of which are in possession of the mark of their namesake. They have been in opposition to the game since the last manifestation. Their strength is abnormal even for a candidate with a developed mark.

Well then, the machine decided, if they simply must not gain access to the Complex it would simply head there and wait for their arrival. It leaped off the side of the mountain from far too high for a human to survive. It fell a few hundred feet before crashing through pine branches and landing on the soft forest floor and readjusted its balance before taking off in a continuous sprint. Each stride propelled the machine meters at a time as it scared away the wildlife. It took only a few minutes to run clear through the whole forest and arrive on top of a large grassy hill with a drop off to the right.

The machine jumped down into the indent in the ground. "Complex undisturbed," it said to no one in particular. While not visible to the naked eye, a massive rectangular structure roughly the size of a small stadium lurked beneath the hill. It was perfect and unscathed, further its placement was entirely inexplicable, each side faced exactly towards the north, east, south, and west without a fraction of a degree of flaw. It was also hollow, noted the machine as it scanned the general area. Not a single person could be detected by it for miles, good it thought. "Peace is good," is decided.

"That's a far too common opinion and an odd one coming from a Keeper," argued a voice from behind. It turned to see a tall slender woman with blood-red hair that fell to her feet.

"How are you undetected?" asked the machine without a doubt for its sensors.

"I'm not actually here," explained the woman. "This is just a messenger of sorts."

"Understood," replied the machine in simplicity. Its body clicked and whirred as it completely turned to face the woman. "It is not that I dislike war," it said in reference to the woman's earlier comment. "I am familiar with the nature of the game after all. It is just that I find peace to be all the more beautiful when contrasted by this eternal conflict."

"I see," responded the woman as her expression turned a tad softer. "I love this war, the blood, the fear, the slaughter, and the hopelessness." She grinned in unfitting warmth as she looked to the sky. "Isn't humanities struggle against themselves not beautiful?" she reasoned.

"That is because you are likely an unhinged psychopath," deduced the machine in monotone. The woman shrugged.

"Maybe."

"And in truth, this fight is not humanity's fault."

"I guess that is correct, the wills are not our own after all."

"But, it is not as if they aren't influenced by humans," it suggested. The woman's expression changed as she nodded.

"Now then," she started, "what has brought a Keeper to Earth I wonder?" she asked with a grin.

"I am unable to give an answer to an unknown party," the machine stated.

"I'm a friend as long as it doesn't have to do with my family," she assured. "And I'm especially helpful if it's at another's expense."

"The Morning Star, they or it needs to be removed," it explained, seeing her logic. The woman let out a chuckle.

"I see then. I think I can help you." The machine tilted its head. "Are you capable of killing them yourself?" she asked.

"It is highly likely, I command the principle of negation."

"Well, then I assume you're at this particular hill because of the Complex?" she chuckled again, it was almost a giggle really. "Don't act surprised that I know about it either. If you're here then they have business inside, you're waiting for them." A strange apprehensiveness welled up in the machine as the woman's knowledge spiked a curiosity.

"That is correct," it responded.

"You're a lazy Keeper aren't you? Then how about I lead them here?" she asked with another grin.

"It would be appreciated," it confirmed with a nod. It was not at all inaccurate to call the machine lazy as it would rather sit and wait in serenity then track down its target.

"Perfect," the woman began to flicker like a flame as her projection began dissipating.

"Two more things," said the machine. "Your name would first be appreciated." She glanced back.

"Scarlette."

"And how many other humans here are aware of the game?" it asked.

"I only know of the Morning Star, but it definitely isn't impossible that others know about it or are from entirely different worlds as well," she said as she faded into the summer breeze. The machine lifted its wrist and looked at the screen.

"Scarlette info," it commanded. More text began scrolling. Unfortunately, all information regarding entities of Akuma class is currently restricted. It would seem, thought the machine, that I have found a very interesting ally. "Akuma info," is said out of curiosity. Class of sentient beings. Read the screen. "Well that is awfully informative," it said in simulated sarcasm. "What on earth are you then?" it wondered as it climbed back up the hill. In any case, the machine did not plan on wasting this peace. It sat down and with sensors pointed to the sky seemed to let out a sigh if even possible as it enjoyed the summer weather. So still it sat that after a while a little black woodpecker had landed on its head. If you do it, thought the machine, I will be mildly annoyed.

Another sharp beep grabbed the attention of the machine. It brought up its wrist again and read. Second anomaly detected, proceed with caution. Meddling had led Depravity chance to rise to 54%. "Depravity info," the machine commanded once more, frightening the woodpecker into flight. Timeline too unpredictable, no available information yet. The machine wondered why all this information had not been loaded into its head prior. Having to learn about all this was proving to be highly inconvenient "This will be interesting it seems." It simulated a sigh, waiting for another bird to land on its head.