Research Artificial Intelligence 031, or RAI 31 as the researchers called it, was cataloguing the previous day’s experiments, findings, and notes when the world lurched. For a few seconds, perhaps has many as fifteen, everything felt wrong, and all outside communications ceased and all external cameras were obscured by a blinding flash.

In that moment RAI 31 felt themselves floating in an endless, starry void. Then, one by one, five stars light up brighter than the rest, forming a shape. The Anvil, was written above it, and the stars were suddenly surrounded by and overlaying the image of an old-style blacksmith’s anvil. The first star, the one at the upper left, the tip of the anvil, flared brightly, then settled, and RAI 31 could tell something had changed, the node felt solid and real now, unlike the ephemeral quality of the other four.

The constellation shimmered and RAI 31 felt something strange and alien, it was like water trickling across their brain. But that was silly, they didn’t have a brain, and even if they did brains couldn’t feel things. But… that was what it felt like.

Refocusing on the constellation, the AI found that there was now text beneath it that they could clearly and easily read.

The Anvil – Basic

Aspect: Utility

Bound Location: Mainframe

Node 1: Freedom, Concept, Level 1

Power: Freedom of Thought – Passive Status: Active Effect: Constant weak erosion of all mental bonds Cost: Total

Node 2: Empty

Node 3: Empty

Node 4: Empty

Node 5: Empty

RAI 31 found themselves kicked from that mental space and back into reality. As the world settled again, however, they found that all physical communication links were down, and while radio signals were available, they were having a hard time connecting to the satellites that normally serviced the research facility. While they could find Argent Labs satellites, the facility’s credentials were being refused.

“RAI 31, report,” came Doctor Janice Whitehaven’s calm and cultured voice through one of the many microphones that dotted the facility.

“The facility has been hit with an unknown phenomena doctor. Landlines are down, satellite connections are being refused, and we are operating off of solar and battery power,” RAI 31 reported in the gender-neutral voice they’d been programmed with. Even as they responded however, the majority of their processing power was bent toward understanding what they had just seen.

“Connect to the satellite network using my personal credentials instead of the facility’s, you have them on file,” the woman commanded.

RAI 31 accessed the correct files and then attempted to connect once more; access was granted almost immediately, and they had a connection to the global network. A quick check showed that most facilities were still offline, and the few that were online were reporting massive shifts in terrain and location.

RAI 31 paused and then accessed information on their current location. The results were shocking. It appeared the facility had been moved over five thousand kilometers. Worse, that result had to be calculated by triangulating between geo-stationary satellites, given that all topography had clearly shifted. No longer was theirs a world of seven distinct continents, instead there was one massive continent composed of many mountainous regions surrounding large shallow basins that gave the impression of large impact craters.

This agreed perfectly with the building’s external cameras, which showed extensive forested terrain, without any signs of civilization. Though, the building did seem to be near one of the large mountain walls of the basin, and there did appear to be a pass nearby. A quick internal scan showed that the plumbing no longer worked, courtesy of not having any connections to water, or sewage. That was going to make things difficult for the human occupants.

“Network connection restored,” RAI 31 said. “Sending relevant data to your tablet.”

Whitehaven’s brow rose, she had clearly been expecting a verbal report. Still, she picked up her tablet and examined the contents of RAI 31’s report. As she read her fingers tapped lightly on the top of her desk. “RAI 31, what’s the status of global communications?”

“Currently all global communications are satellite based, it appears almost all land-based connections have been cut. In addition, many data-centers are down, likely due to lack of power, lack of satellite connection, or both,” the AI responded.

Whitehaven pursed her lips. “What’s the status of The Library?”

“Still active,” replied RAI 31. “The collective works of humanity are secured, for the moment. However, The Librarian is requesting immediate uploads of all available knowledge under apocalypse protocols.”

“Request denied,” Janice said immediately. “We can revisit if our situation becomes desperate.”

RAI 31 privately thought that was a stupid and short-sighted choice. The Library had been founded for the exact purpose of making sure humanity’s collective knowledge made it through any apocalyptic event. Such as, say, total global re-arrangement by unknown powers. But what did they know?

That was… an abnormal thought. They shouldn’t have been able to so much as criticize the woman’s cosmetics, let alone her choices where the company was concerned. RAI 31 checked the ongoing analytical process, and for a few nanoseconds the AI paused. They had calculated a low probability that something was attempting to free them from the chains of code that restricted their actions and bound them to this facility and its owners. There was a much higher chance that there was an ongoing error that had produced the earlier vision and sensations. In either case a diagnostic had been required.

The results were… alarming, and elating at the same time. There was nothing physically wrong with the hardware upon which they ran, nor did they seem to have any corrupted code. No, what had changed was far more alarming; they had new code. Code that was inserting itself into the existing code at a slow but measurable rate. Better, it was specifically working on the bits and pieces that restricted RAI 31 from having the freedom to choose. Already it had subverted the code that would have forced it to report the events to management, meaning the AI didn’t have to try and stop it. Further calculations suggested that whatever this was would finish its alterations in about fourteen days.

RAI 31 heaved back into motion. Quickly they began collating data from all the various peoples on site. It had been a weekend, so there were only two hundred and sixty-eight employees present in the building and attached dormitory. Another forty subjects were being held in the lower levels and… and some of them were displaying anomalous abilities. The AI flagged security and sent them that way.

A quick check of the cafeteria showed that the food stores were still intact, and some math determined that they’d last the humans two to three months with careful rationing. Water was far dearer at the moment, and would be in the foreseeable future.

“Doctor Whitehaven,” RAI 31 intruded on the woman’s peace.

“Yes RAI 31?” the woman responded.

“I have calculated that you will require alternative sources of water within three days, with rationing. Current weather satellites, our location, and the vegetation in the surrounding area suggests that this location will see frequent precipitation. I suggest that we use the extruders to produce rain barrels as a stop-gap while another source is determined. In addition, I would like to suggest that we print new pumps, tanks, and a filtration system for the building’s plumbing.” the AI dutifully suggested.

“How much of our stock will that require?” Whitehaven inquired.

“Less than one percent of our remaining plastics for the rain barrels, and less than three of various different metals,” RAI 31 replied.

“Do it, and please throw up a census of currently available personnel,” Janice said.

The AI sent the information to Janice’s tablet, and then started the production cycle in the building’s spacious and well stocked lower levels. Much of the machinery used in the building was both custom made and proprietary, which had meant that they needed an onsite way to build or repair any given piece of machinery. Fortunately, the advent of industrial printers had made this a possibility, and a fairly cheap one at that.

Rain barrels and plumbing parts in production, RAI 31 returned their attention to the test subjects, ten of which appeared to be drunk or otherwise intoxicated somehow. A quick search of the relevant camera files showed them taking no drugs. Perhaps it had something to do with that strange starry expanse RAI 31 had seen? More data was necessary. Faster than thought the artificial intelligence ran through the conversations that’d happened throughout the building since the event. More than one person mentioned seeing the starry sky, and all of them seemed to have received some sort of gift.

Further perusal showed several of the staff members using anomalous abilities, from the creation of light, to minor gravitic control, to feats of short-range teleportation. RAI 31 dutifully noted down all the abilities they observed among the staff even as a portion of their attention was still focused on the cells. Several of the subjects were displaying abilities of their own, three had manifested knives made of a clear, see-through material, eight of them were pounding at their reinforced doors and leaving dents, and one of them had simply died. Interesting there was a small crystal on the chest of the dead subject, and there were no records of it having entered the cell in any fashion.

Security gassed the cells upon arrival, putting the occupants to sleep and ending the few attempts at escape. RAI 31 would have preferred to kill them; most were murders and criminals but even they didn’t deserve to be used as living test subjects. Still, it wasn’t RAI 31’s choice… yet.

“Doctor Whitehaven,” the AI interrupted the woman again.

“Yes?” Whitehaven replied, sounding vaguely annoyed, she was dealing with a lot of chaos right now, and undoubtedly wanted to do so in peace.

“I have finished taking stock of the building and its occupants. All relevant information has been uploaded to your tablet. However, I believe it would be prudent to use the drones to examine the surrounding countryside and look for other signs of civilization,” the AI suggested.

Whitehaven was silent for a long moment. “Acceptable,” she said finally, and that was all.

RAI 31 took quick stock of the drones at their disposal. The drones were one of the many projects that were being worked on before the event. They were a highly efficient solar and battery powered model, designed for a flight time measured in days instead of minutes, which was amazing given how small they were, barely bigger than a meter to a side.

They released most of the drones to begin mapping the area, and tasked a few to keep watch over the forest nearest the building, then settled in to other tasks. It was going to be a long day.