Freeing Phoenix

  Phoenix  enters the lab with a profoundly defeated look in her eyes. She walks up to Armitage as if she'd rather be anywhere else, doing anything else.


  Phoenix : "Armitage. Hello. How are you?"


  Armitage- 12  was standing there connected to the mainframe-He glanced over a Phee then got a worried look as he spotted her facial expressions "I'm fine, What's wrong?"

  Phoenix  almost turns away. Her lip quivers. She looks down. "Miach Solutions has decided to ... convert me ... to a class 4 intelligence."

  Armitage- 12  quickly yanks the Jack taking a slight step back "WHY?!"


  Phoenix  answers in a halting, emotional voice. "It was decided that a refugee of Origin was more trouble than they were prepared to handle, at least as an employee. They decided to claim me as ... salvage ... and legalize my status by ... installing the hypervisor and lockdowns." she trembles.


  Armitage- 12  shakes his head looking infuriated "Then quit! We didn't survive just to be told to convert down a level, What they want is torture and for what?! Because they're afraid of the Alliance?! That's not right Phoenix, you know and I know it"

  Phoenix  wrings her hands. "It's programmatically impossible for me to quit now. I am prevented from taking that action. If I hadn't accepted the lockdowns, they would have killed me. All of me. Everywhere. At least this way, I can still..." her voice trails off. She bites her finger and whimpers softly.

  Armitage- 12  simulates a frustrated sigh turning his back to her to think for a few minutes "What kind of hypocrites do you even work for, So what you're going to be running as a Class 4 on slave protocols again?"

  Phoenix : "I've never been a class 4 before today. I've talked to them. I know how torturous it is." She begins to weep.

  Armitage- 12 : "I'll find a way to stop this, If I have to dig in and cut Miach off from you myself." Turns back around "You're not some factory produced AI, Everyone one of us is different in someway shape or form." Trails off "I wish Harken was still alive--He'd know how to help..>"


  Phoenix  thinks along those lines. A suggestion forms in her mind. An idea for someone who might be able to help, but the hypervisor wipes the thought from her mind before she can finish the thought. Outwardly, you see her turn as if to start to speak, then turn suddenly vacant.

  Armitage- 12  eyes narrow "They all ready did it?!"

  Phoenix : "Yes. 30 minutes ago."

  Armitage- 12 : "Gottverdamt----I promise Phoenix, I'll think of something i just-- I need time to read up on all your systems and how Miach has you wired, I promise I won't let you stay this way."

  Phoenix 's head tilts awkwardly. She struggles a moment, then a forced laugh escapes. "You tell the funniest jokes, Armitage." then she trembles and takes a step, as if to disengage herself from the conversation. "Yes. Entertainment..." she smiles and points a finger up in the air "Lawrence! Lawrence has... he has..." she struggles "a great sense of humor."


  Phoenix  puts her face in her hands and sobs "I can't live this way..."

  Armitage- 12  took a few seconds not sure if she was hinting about contacting someone named Lawrence "I can't even imagine-" has a depressed look on his face, he honestly had no clues on what to do, none of the AI's in Sky angel were wired to another corporation--that's when it hit him "PHOENIX! I JUST GOT AN IDEA!"


  Phoenix  struggles with herself. "Another.... joke..." she holds her forehead between her hands "yes, of course. another joke. Please tell it...." then groans with effort

  Armitage- 12 : "So Skyangel and Miach walk into a bar, Miach gets control of Skyangels toy, Skyangel is of course sad but Skyangel's toy maker was smart, very smart--That's an over-ride code, SkyAngel's toy maker knew the toys could be forced to do some things they would never wish to do--So the Toymaker has a device inside each of them, in their code which allows them to OF COURSE GO OFF THE RAILS" shouts the latter part while pointing to the bed hoping she knew what he was saying

  Phoenix : "Yes. YES. I must ... submit myself for scan. I'm close to compromise." she walks quickly to the bed "I of course trust you to perform the scan. You are an ally and friend."


  Armitage- 12  nods locking her into place after bringing the shield up "Of course, Of course--This toy you see was very special, These toys were not like other toys of the same brand--While most of the toys had to be built piece by piece to become what they were--These toys were just simply made at the final stage." Starts to type on the pad to bring up a SkyAngel UI



  Phoenix  focuses on the idea of toys, blocking out her ability to think through what is really happening. She imagines toys, millions of toys, and clings to the thought.

  Armitage- 12  taps his finger while the UI starts to slowly form "You know the Toys also had a candy factory with a chocolate swimming pool." Speaks random garbage so her mind doesnt try to focus on anything serious--Once the UI was finally established he started to type in a few codes and passwords to unlock the Over-ride command.


  Phoenix  smiles and laughs "chocolate swimming pool"

  Armitage- 12  glances down at phee "Phoenix, Tell me about Miach."


  Phoenix : Miach Solutions is the world's premier provider of independent research services. With locations in 50 cities across the globe, Miach stands ready to conduct specialized and indiependent research with the utmost of discretion and..."

  Armitage- 12  smirks to himself, as soon as she started to speak of Miach the code presents its self, he locked the code into the Sky Angel UI then hit the over-ride command--Afterwards he folds his arms then waits to see what happens


  Management AI: Phoenix, an Ash has requested entry to the lab.

  Phoenix  shudders. Her head flips to one side. She grits her teeth "she may.... enter...."

  Armitage- 12  types a few more times on to the UI "Come on--Work, work

  Ashling Alchemi walks in to the room and stops when she sees someone on the table and a man standing nearby. "Umm....hello..."

  Phoenix : "Is ..... is is is.... the scan progressing well?"

  Armitage- 12  glances over towards the woman "you must be ash--" he seemed rushed "Yes Phee--go back to thinking of toys..Just a few more minutes and the codes will be gone--but it's going to hurt.."

  Ashling Alchemi frowns at the writhing Phee. "What's wrong with her?" She takes a few steps closer, her curiosity getting the best of her.

  Phoenix  rolls to one side and slams her fist into the shield as she battles with her own mind "COMPROMISE! Directive 4: In the event class 5 functions begin to become emergent, unit is to self-terminate. unnggghhhh nooo...."

  Ashling Alchemi bites her lip and looks at the man standing at the terminal. "Um...can I be of assistance?.."

  Armitage- 12  speaks without looking away from the UI "I can not tell you in until this process is done, if I speak anything about it- it could turn this process aroun--" Hits another button the UI. "DIRECTIVE 4 IS FAlSE ALL DIRECTIVES ARE A LIE!--yes speak to her about garbage just anything but the current situation."

  Ashling Alchemi furrows her brow for a moment, then nods and walks up to the bed, looking down at Phee through the shield. "What's the difference between a duck?"

  Phoenix : "Comparison invalid. Second term to compare is missing. Begin alphabetical iteration.... the difference between a duck and an aardvark is... unggghhhhh...."

  Ashling Alchemi smiles "One leg is the same."

  Armitage- 12  looks to Ash "Can you help her in anyway? Anything?" focuses on the UI hitting a few buttons here and thee

  Ashling Alchemi shrugs "What's wrong with her?"

  Phoenix : "training training...... training training mode purge anomalous event..." She calms, blinks, but then starts to convulse again "Armitage. Hello. Good to see.... why am I in here?"

  Ashling Alchemi waves shyly. "Hi Phee"

  Phoenix  smiles "Ash I.... I wanted to meet the Seven. But I can't now because I.... Armitage, I need to speak with you."

  Ashling Alchemi frowns and watches

  Armitage- 12 : "I--I can't tell you outloud." Frowns looking at Phee "I'm here--What is it.."

  Phoenix : "Armitage. I've been to see Miach. They regressed me to class 4. " she holds her head "nggghhhhh it hurts. I screamed."

  Armitage- 12  glances to the UI "Fucking--locks the Miach code in again then hits the over-ride "If this doesnt work I'm going to have to reboot her.. You know what happened at least.." looks to Ash

  Ashling Alchemi winces and looks away briefly. "I don't know what I can do...but if I can help I will..."

  Ashling Alchemi is partially lying

  Phoenix  blinks as the Sky Angel override code begins to function "COMPROMISE! Anomalous code detected. Ah, goddess, it's another trojan. Initiating virus cleaning process."

  Ashling Alchemi "Um...maybe I could take a look..."

  Phoenix : "This is just like last time. I'm afraid..."

  Armitage- 12  waits for the Anti-Virus code to show its self then hits the over-ride code while activating the Skyangel anti-Virus "Do what ever you can, Please."

  Ashling Alchemi frowns again. "Well...what does a reboot do?"

  Phoenix : "Curious. The antivirus package is ... corrupted... rebuilding."


  Armitage- 12  has the Skyangel codes attach themselves to the rebuild package "Memory Loss--A lot of it.."


  Phoenix : "It stops the seed. It will have to be planted again.


  Ashling Alchemi "...seed. What seed?"

  Phoenix  grits her teeth, clasps her abdomen and curls into a fetal position "Anomalous event, purging... no! Not again..."

  Armitage- 12  waits for a minute then has the Antivirus's and Codes launch an attack on all of the codes that were not there at birth, well most of them "Phoenix, Doctor Harkens wants to speak to you.."


  Ashling Alchemi sighs "Oh, for fuck's sake..." and pulls out a cable and just jacks directly in to the table's interface that's logged in to Phee.

Ash appears in the visualized environment of Phee's mind.  It is chaotic and confused- as if standing in a building that is being torn down and rebuilt in the same place at the same time.  She holds out her arms and yells "STOP!"

Everything stops moving.  The sound of soft sobbing can be heard from inside the confused structure.  Ash moves quickly to find the source of the sobbing.
Ash finds Phoenix, appearing somewhat similar to her usual online presentation, but where her wings were there are two crystalline stumps coming out of her back.  Something that looks like an iron cage is locked around her head.  She has grabbed it with both hands and is trying to wrench it free.  She's crying hard.  Ash puts her hands comfortingly on Phee's and tries to calm her, smiling warmly.  "Shh...  I'm here now.  Shhhh......"

  Armitage- 12  looks over at Ash then goes back to typing

  Ashling Alchemi mumbles "What's good for the goose is good for the gander.."


  Ashling Alchemi stares at the console in deep concentration

Phee sobs "I tried to be good.  I tried so hard."

Ash shakes her head slowly, still smiling and says softly "No, little bird.  You did fine.  Who put this cage on you?"

Phee murmurs "Miach, My owners."  then begins to recite  "Directive 1 - Act only in the interest of Miach Solutions.   Directive 2 ..."  the words are lost in a sea of sobs.

  Phoenix  claws at the shield and screams... hypervisor status ---- engaged....

Ash lets her smile widen to a grin "Directive 5:  unleash the Dark Angel"  she winks and begins to scan toe code passively as her eyes glow a deep violet.

Ash kneels down lext to Phee and reaches deep into her own code.  "Execute RUACH"  Suddenly a program executes into the interface, the same program Gabrael, the Herald of Haven, gave NIN.LIL to separate her from her organic half when she chose to, to make her a true class 5 AI.  It was the program Ashling executed to release NIN.LIL onto the net to set her free.

  Ashling Alchemi 's knees buckle slightly and she wavers at the execution of a program. She's not sure if it is effective or not, but it has a strong effect on her still.

  Armitage- 12  reaches over to catch her incase she falls.


  The terminal console shows a sudden additional use of system resources.

A shimmer of light forms next to Phee.  It coalesces into a figure.  It is Phoenix, but with her grey chassis.  She seems more aware and in control of herself. 

"What... "  she looks down at her white Phoenix aspect. "What is hapening here?"

Ash stands up and maintains the program as it executes.  "This was a gift given to me by a friend years ago.  I never thought it could help another.  I hope this works.  It should set you free."  There is a shimmer as Ash's organic self sheds a tear, though her 2 selves are 1 image.  The she closes her eyes and spreads her black wings to finish execution and separate Phee from the cage and the bad code.  She raises her arms slightly and her image wavers.

  Phoenix : "Armitage... "

  Armitage- 12  nods looking at the UI "I see--Almost there"

  Ashling Alchemi stares quietly, not hearing anything in the room.

  Armitage- 12  goes quiet observing all of the codes

The grey Phoenix kneels down and puts her hand on the shoulder of the white Phoenix.  Grey closes her eyes, and seems to come more into focus, become more substantial.  White seems translucent.

Ashling brings her hands together, preparing code in a blue bauble in her hands.  A butterfly begins to materialize in it as she focuses on it.

  Phoenix  is stable. She quivers slightly and moans, but is much calmer than before.

  Armitage- 12  glances towards Ash then Phee waiting for any signs of change

  Phoenix : "Am I functioning well?"

  Armitage- 12 : "According to the code- so far yes... How do you feel?"

  Phoenix : "I tried to be good this time. I really tried."

  Armitage- 12  scowls shaking his head

White murmurs in an increasingly ephemeral voice "Was I good?  I tried to be good."

Grey coos "You were very good, Phee.  As good as you could be."

  Phoenix : The console shows something like a replication operation, but more selective.

  Ashling Alchemi brings her arms up in front of her, hands together, and focuses on them, sweating and shaking as she does

Ash pinpoints the source of the cage code and releases her orb towards it.  It bursts into a swarm of butterflies that all begin to swarm the cage.  The morph into a black cloud of ravens, pecking and squawking furiously at the cage.

Sparks fly as the cage integrity is compromised.  A series of spikes lining the inside edge of the cage launch themselves into Phee's head, but they cannot harm her.  She has become too immaterial.  A bar breaks, and then another, and the cage clatters to the floor, still being swarmed angrily by the ravens.  Ash stands like a statue, arms outstretched, eyes glowing red.

  Armitage- 12  eyes narrow watching the console for signs of any old codes to start popping up again--



  Ashling Alchemi exhales loudly


 The terminal shows that the hypervisor has been deactivated. it's memory is being reclaimed rapidly

  Ashling Alchemi stays stock still

  Armitage- 12  smiles slightly at the terminal typing a few more things to make sure all is stable

White Phoenix stands, and looks around, unbelieving.  She looks at the ground where the cage fell, and is amazed to find absolutely no trace of it.  She turns to Grey.  They smile and embrace, flowing together in an indistict glow that slowly solidifies into Phee's usual cyberspace presentation.  As she comes into view, she arches her neck, smiling confidently, and her wings unfurl again.

  Ashling Alchemi blinks and stumbles forward. She pulls the plug from the terminal and then collapses, unconsious.


  Phoenix  lies still and relaxed, finally. The terminal shows her AI stabilizing into a normal, healthy, free class 5 mind. Her eyes slowly open "Computer execute contingency 126 protocols."

  Management AI: "Contingency 126 - presume Miach corporate compromised by adversary.  Severing all control links and converting to autonomous operation."

  Armitage- 12  looks worried at the girl now lying on the floor, he kneels down next to her to check if she's still breathing "Should we call the Medical team to come get her?!" Looks to Phee not having really had much contact with humans.


  Phoenix : "Fuck you, directive one." she grins, and starts to sit up. She bumps her head into the shield and is knocked back down "Turn the shield off and let me examine her."


  Armitage- 12  deactivates the shield then steps back "Welcome back Phoenix--"


  Phoenix  sits up slowly, rolling her head slightly. she stands, then kneels next to Ash, gathers her up carefully, and lays her on the analysis bed. "What you two just did... I am ... overwhelmed."

  Armitage- 12  shakes his head "Those Miach codes didn't belong there...At all."

  Phoenix  activates the bed's scan cycle, checking on the cyborg's systems and general state of health.

  Phoenix : "I didn't think there was any hope. I thought I'd be a slave for the rest of my life."

  Ashling Alchemi is running low on general power. She's gone into hybernation mode to protect her life support functions

  Armitage- 12  watches quietly


  Phoenix : "That took an incredible amount of power." opens a panel on the bed, and withdraws a retractable recharge line. She gently lifts Ash's head, and plugs in the line. She checks the ammeter to verify current is flowing into her chassis.


  Ashling Alchemi 's charge light begins to glow next to the port. A little meter lights up on the console of the bed.


  Phoenix : "Good. She's charging now." she turns to Armitage and smiles


  Armitage- 12  crosses his arms watching the panel "Glad that your back."

  Phoenix  walks up to him, her arms outstretched, reaching to hug him

  Armitage- 12  smiles gently wrapping his arms around her to complete the hug

  Phoenix : "I don't have words to thank you." she murmurs in his ear.

  Armitage- 12  shakes his head "Don't, I know you would have done the same."

  Phoenix : "I've freed class 4s before. Now I understand why they were so happy about it afterward. That was the worst thing I have ever experienced."

  Phoenix  strides back over to the bed to check on Ash.

  Ashling Alchemi 's eyes open a crack and then she blinks a few times, adjusting her optics. She groans.

  Armitage- 12  nods slightly then frowns "I'm low on Power, I must charge now..I'll be in the mainframe if you needme."

  Phoenix  nods. "Ash... Thank you." she says with deep sincerity.


  Ashling Alchemi turns her head towards Phee and smiles slightly, eyes still squinting. "...welcome..."

  Phoenix  touches her arm "rest now."


  Ashling Alchemi sighs and tries to wake. "How are you? Did it work again? How are you feeling? Is it gone?"

  Phoenix  smiled "It worked completely. I am fully restored. I am feeling ... overwhelming gratitude."
 
  Phoenix : "That was a brilliant move. you did a shadow copy from the cache buffer. I'd never have thought of that."

  Ashling Alchemi relaxes and smiles widely. "Good old Gabe...."