Bethany sat in the partially finished simulation room. The legs of her projection swayed gently back and forth as she sat in the shade of a massive blue-capped mushroom. Samantha was there as well, her small head resting on Bethany's stomach as the young CIC stared up at the simulated sky.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmam0xMitX 維尼
Five months had passed without a single trace of Angela. Bethany's skrievers had gone over every inch of the entire country (aided by Angela's entire skriever compliment, of course), and not one sign of her kidnapper had been uncovered. They couldn't even nail down the last time she'd been in the core, as the records had been scrubbed. Whoever did it had been an expert on the Glyche, and had erased every single trace of his or her presence. The basic control matrix put into place was clearly of Glyche design as well, and simulated every function necessary to keep Ronisgald running smoothly. Most of the country hadn't even noticed, as the techs wisely decided not to report the issue to the public.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2dwwq3Ncd 維尼
Bethany envied them. Everything was fine as far as they knew. It was only CICs like Bethany and her sisters that seemed to be effected. Bethany had communicated with every other functional CIC on the planet. To her surprise, some of them seemed completely nonplussed by Angela's disappearance. Others seemed merely curious, more interested in the how than the who.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WO8LP8ozI 維尼
Bethany's sisters and brother made up for their more distant cousins' lack of interest, however. All six went over the data from the Ronisgald facility again and again as the weeks passed, each trying their best to find some clue that everyone else overlooked. Skrievers pored over every inch of the Central Hub repeatedly, their vigilance unrewarded by any new information.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqtRK9MwNP 維尼
With no leads, however, soon the investigation slowed to a halt. Gold-Techs went back to their normal duties, the skrievers returned their focus on cleaning and repair, and the CIC sisters relented, leaving only a single consciousness in Angela's facility at a given time.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPvT0VfPQm 維尼
Mick and Jenna returned to the Saybaro after a considerable absence. Bethany could tell they'd had a good trip despite their attempts to maintain composure in front of her. She couldn't blame them; together, they may have interacted with Angela three or four times total. They were concerned, but as the months passed they turned their attention back to their garden project. They'd done everything they could, so Bethany was glad to give them their space.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡle3ecKdJoW 維尼
Bethany toyed with Samantha's hair as her youngest sister let out a sigh. "You think she's ever gonna come back?"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbKjHUC3gS 維尼
"We'll find her, Sammy." Bethany said.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkbEi8dmbJ 維尼
"But when? I miss Momma."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzhBp5Al8H 維尼
"So do I." Bethany admitted. Sighing, she said, "I just ... I wish I could've gone there. To Ronisgald, I mean. The skrievers are thorough, I'm sure, but I'd just feel better if I could've verified it myself."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkbSuZ4UXz 維尼
"But how?" Sammy asked, twisting to look into her sister's face. "We can't leave our facilities."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Dh0mqGGOQ 維尼
"I don't know." Sighing again, Bethany said, "Usually people come to me asking questions. Now that I need to ask the questions, the person I'd ask is gone."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbY170OVXB 維尼
Sammy's blue eyes suddenly went wide. Sitting up, she said, "I know! I know, I know, I know!"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡilOfucllyu 維尼
"What?" Bethany said, alarmed at her sister's sudden intensity. "What do you know!"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH94yLH7Wu 維尼
"Be right back!" Sammy vanished.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaA9Vi98mV 維尼
Bethany sat there for a few moments in silence before Sammy reappeared, a doll in her hands. Wearing a tiny green and gray-striped T-shirt, the doll was instantly recognizable, not just by Bethany but by every Glyche.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RMcnaJUHl 維尼
"Narrator Number One?" Bethany asked, taking the proffered doll. "You mean ... ask the Elsewhere Incorporate?"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1Jc1lL8eU 維尼
"Why not?" Sammy said, "Uncle Glen's always helped us out, right?"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQ3XfFOj5t 維尼
Bethany stared uncertainly at the doll for a few moments. It was true that the history of the Glyche on Vinta was liberally peppered with mention of the enigmatic Dreamer known as 'One'. The doll, a souvenir picked up by Jimmy during his adventures, held a mysterious connection with the Dreamer that allowed him to possess it when he was needed. When it came down to it, though, Bethany had no idea how to call him. Usually One just kind of appeared when trouble started.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzu4tO5Se5 維尼
At the continued prodding of her sister, Bethany looked into the doll's brown button eyes and said, "Um, hello? Mister One? If you can hear me, we could use your help."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkzvpUBjQZ 維尼
There was no response.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyvfXAAKYu 維尼
"Try again." Sammy said.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl8QG7J3n1 維尼
Sighing, Bethany said, "Narrator Number One? We need your help. Angela's gone missing, and we have no clue where she went. Please, if you can hear me, say something."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzaO9uCJnd 維尼
There was still no response. Seeing Sammy's face fall, Bethany gave the little CIC a friendly pat on the head. "It was a good idea, Sammy."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSvuAKyQRh 維尼
She teleported to the bedroom where Jimmy kept the doll. The room was filled with a few odds and ends from the Dreamer himself, mostly souvenirs from assignments he and his wife would regularly take while staying at the Saybaro. It had been over a year since the last time they'd stayed at the Saybaro, but that was hardly cause for alarm. They were both Dreamers, after all, and from the snippets of conversation she'd caught, their daughter was fast showing signs of following in her parent's footsteps.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTwy36QG2W 維尼
She set the doll on of the pillows of the bed. Giving it a brief smile, she turned to Sammy and said, "We'll think of something, I'm sure of it. We just need to give it a little more-"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡXO0Yu1188x 維尼
She stopped talking and frowned. "One moment. I'm getting another communication request. Probably one of our dear sisters."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoJln4yNTv 維尼
"If it's Crissy, tell her I'm still mad at her."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqZWZ2SPDm 維尼
Chuckling, Bethany transferred herself back to Central Control. When she interfaced with the comm controls, however, she was surprised to discover that she couldn't identify the origin of the communication.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoXdPxbLX7 維尼
Sammy appeared shorty after Bethany. "Who is it?"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡarbbd9r8gC 維尼
"I ... I don't know." Bethany said. "I don't recognize the flux pattern. It's definitely a CIC, but I can't determine the home facility."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ei2SgFF4C 維尼
After a few moments of hesitation, Bethany answered the call.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdwC8svZir 維尼
A hologram of a young woman appeared in Bethany's Central Core. Her appearance didn't match anyone in any database Bethany could access, but there was definitely something familiar about her. Her holographic matrix was insanely intricate. If it weren't for the fact that she had the same signal as the incoming call, Bethany would've thought the visitor to be real.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKmlNJlRRE 維尼
"Miss Bethany?" The woman asked with a kind smile. "Hi. I'm CIC Rebecca."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qN3tIc8yB 維尼
"CIC Rebecca?" Bethany's eyes widened. "You're the CIC in the Elsewhere Mansion!"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlZv7yq2xv 維尼
"Well, I'm in the mansion." Rebecca said, blushing. "I'm not over the whole thing, though ... just One's little corner."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6Rqo57KT6 維尼
"I was hoping to speak with One, actually." Bethany said, feeling awkward. While One had mentioned her a few times back during Jimmy's adventures, Bethany knew nothing about her mysterious sister from Earth. She wasn't even sure how they could be talking, as the Elsewhere was supposedly in a pocket dimension cut off from conventional time and space.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡBD01dvevZF 維尼
Rebecca sighed. "They're off doing ... whatever it is Dreamers do. I only find out about it in passing, and then only if they happen to need my help. Stubborn knucklehead insists on doing everything himself, and his wife's no better. Oh well. At least Figment listens to me."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iab1aDiZs 維尼
Shaking her head, Rebecca said, "I caught your message from the doll, so I came as soon as I could. What's the deal with Mom?"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSp5DpGOAQ 維尼
"She ... wait, you know Angela?"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHzw1y9dia 維尼
"Yeah, she made me ages ago. Y'know how some Glyche stayed and some went to Rimstak? Well, I was with the group that went to Earth. They're gone, of course; millennia of inter-breeding with humanity has pretty much made them nothing more than a few trace DNA fragments and the occasional gray eyes." She paused for a moment and said, "Still, Angela's my mother, and if she's vanished, I want in on the investigation."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡph2vpVRbOV 維尼
"Yay! New sister!" Sammy threw her arms around Rebecca and hugged her tight. Rebecca patted the little CIC's head, a bemused look on her face.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JS8imziHL 維尼
"Well, I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but we're reached a complete dead end." Bethany said, raising her hands for a data transfer.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡASGuwffCmy 維尼
Rebecca pressed her hands against Bethany's. Once Bethany completed the data transfer, Rebecca said, "You've been pretty thorough. The problem's likely distance. There's only so much a remote search can unveil. You'll need to investigate it yourself."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFbK7T6gdu 維尼
"Some of those skrievers were mine." Bethany said.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NUSLzqQwk 維尼
"I'm not talking about skrievers, I'm talking about you, and the rest of our sisters. We need to go there and check it out."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1FUfwqX3S 維尼
Bethany stared at Rebecca for a few moments. "What are you talking about? We can't just leave our facilities! We don't even known how Angela was taken from hers!"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡkttevx6S6w 維尼
"I know." Rebecca rubbed her forehead. "I've heard of some artificial intelligences having android avatars."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCQFEfwIFu 維尼
"Yes, but they still rely on facilities for power. We wouldn't make it half-way to Ronisgald before burning through the most robust power cells. Even standard power core cells wouldn't last with all the power we'd need to transmit at that range."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡsx1NP2Bbei 維尼
"Then maybe it's time we make our own solution. I've got access to the Elsewhere's computer database, not to mention a ton of notes from One and Alan, and you've got information on Glyche technology that wasn't even around when Angela was programming me. Surely we can figure out something."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5bfWc00PJ 維尼
"Are you allowed to go digging through the Elsewhere database like that?" Bethany asked. The last thing they needed was a bunch of offended Dreamers.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡuw02MSpegb 維尼
Rebecca snorted. "I'm the one who keeps it running, thank you very much. Besides, I'm not a member of the Elsewhere Incorporate. I'm Glyche. If we're gonna do this, we'll need all the help we can get."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1hXqHabXN 維尼
"Okay." Bethany said, a few sparks of hope popping in her emotional programming. "I'll call my other sisters."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9PEp3ZgjW 維尼
It didn't take long for Cristlyn, Jocelyn, and Alaina to arrive. After a few moments of greeting their sister from Earth, all CICs present joined in a mass data transfer. On a normal occasion, this would've been an impressive collection of data. With access to the Elsewhere's Information Database, however, it was enough to make even a synthetic mind reel with the enormity of it all ... and it was only a tiny fraction of the information gathered by the Elsewhere Incorporate.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡswH3FVRBVD 維尼
"How about these?" Alaina said, bringing up schematics from an ancient Elsewhere storage file. The included image was of a heavy robotic construct with handle-like protrusions on its head.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOjGpWE1i6 維尼
"Cybernetic, not synthetic." Cristlyn brought up a different image, this of a very fancy-looking artificial woman. "How about these?"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPdlhFWmIi 維尼
"No way to insert pre-existing intelligence. They're born the moment they're turned on." Rachel tapped her thumb against her lips before bringing up an image Bethany knew all too well.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyAxtJXTJm 維尼
"That's a standard core unit."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFYi1AoenK 維尼
"I know." Rebecca said. "But there was another one in here ... yes, here it is."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSBVuQZErU 維尼
A nearly-identical image appeared. The difference in this one was the ultra-dense crystallic core. Easily ten times the complexity of a standard heartstone, the schematic showed it to be easily configurable, and capable of storing an immense quantity of data. Since the core was crystallic, any mage or ready supply of stream energy could be used to keep it charged. That was impressive enough, but the schematic also indicated an additional core could be installed in the head of the unit to allow for even more data storage.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVaNge61VR 維尼
"It's still not enough." Bethany said, feeling a little depressed. "Even with the extra space, we just wouldn't be able to fit our entire databanks into one unit."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzbyGBtK0N 維尼
"Well, do we need our entire databanks?" Rebecca asked, scratching her chin. "I mean, a lot of it's just administrative stuff, right? Hang on, we need a test subject."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1kANETkNd 維尼
Setting the prototype image aside, Rebecca dug in the files for a moment before producing an image of a standard CIC data storage map. With a start, Bethany realized it was her own.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JU4y82CfZ 維尼
"Okay," Rebecca said, "Let's take out facility operations. That can be routed into a separate control matrix, and let's face it; you won't need that if you're in a body. Don't need the holographic matrix, so we can cut that out."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHEBmfZDcJ 維尼
"But ... we could overlay the holograms over the bodies." Alaina said. "So they don't look so ... robot-y."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkNoPwJySR 維尼
Cristlyn gave her a scathing look. "We'll worry about slipping in vanity equipment and programming when Mom's safe and sound."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZB3k0pdKn 維尼
"Uh, right." Rebecca said. "Let's see, multiple simulation configurations for combat training. Nope, definitely don't need any of these."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7b6J41sCa 維尼
"Hey!" Bethany said, feeling indignant at having her mind dissected, "That's my simulation data for Fei-jan and Tifa!"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFXRmCA0Dn 維尼
"Which you won't be needing for the investigation." Rebecca said.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeoJr9Oxae 維尼
"But ... I worked on that for months!"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVl83rHq5E 維尼
Rolling her eyes, Rebecca said, "We're not deleting anything, Beth. We're just putting it in storage in the home facility. Everyone clear on that? If we're going to be transferring into these, we'll need extra space to adjust and evolve."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaXJ32Dipw 維尼
They all nodded, Bethany reluctantly.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡcg5WDF77OQ 維尼
Nodding, Rebecca said, "Okay, and if we take out the old project information, the future building schematics for the Saybaro, and data stored by the inhabitants of the Saybaro ... whabam!"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVP0K3S0Fn 維尼
They looked at the projection. To the surprise of everyone, there was now easily enough space for Bethany's remaining data. In fact, the combined programming of the personality and intelligence of the CIC that was Bethany took up less than half of the core storage space on the prototype unit.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡVejIRoAnut 維尼
"See that?" Rebecca said with a smile. "Plenty of room to grow from there! If we did that with you, we can do that with everyone here!"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rqw6rqvGy 維尼
"I don't believe it." Jocelyn breathed, her eyes alight with excitement. "We ... we could do this! We could download into these prototype core units and actually leave our facilities!"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUeULNfloS 維尼
"Oh, wow!" Alaina said, positively beaming. "We could go to Ronisgald! We could go wherever!"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMHORDRsf3 維尼
Even Bethany had to admit the idea of no longer being confined to the Saybaro filled her with excitement. "Are any of these units in production?"8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wEXqd7brk 維尼
"Quite a few are actually operational." Cristlyn said. Her expression fell. "Uh-oh."8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qAg9yv0QT 維尼
"Uh-oh?" Bethany asked.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡQi04uZaJhc 維尼
Cristlyn brought up the location file. They were in luck, a fresh run of the prototype cores had recently been completed, fixing many of the small errors from the first run. They were even in Wenapaj, in the Kinria Facility. Unfortunately, all the new cores were registered for the Reformation project, a Glyche initiative headlined by the Kinria's facility's CIC to provide new bodies for the recently recovered cores of the Glyche core units irreparably damaged while fighting against the Corruption.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEFbzno3dT 維尼
"Who wants to be the one to ask Elizabeth?" Cristlyn asked, raising an eyebrow at her sisters.8964 copyright protection409ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcyPR1r3xz 維尼
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