Free Web NovelChapter 5: SYSTEM
Through the transparent screen, he could see the room freeze.
A new set of words popped up on the screen.
[Running diagnostics... X-class Anomaly found. Rapid degradation of local reality.]
[Searching for potential causes... none found within provided library.]
[Expanding search to entire database... No proper matches found.]
[Evaluating available contingency plans... No proper matches found.]
[Examining logical progression... No path forward found.]
[Evaluating available contingency plans... No proper matches found.]
[Evaluating available contingency plans... No proper matches found.]
[No proper matches found.]
[N0 pr0p3r m@tches f0und.]
[N# pR*p3r m^tcH$s f0u%d_]
The screen blanked out, crashing, then blinking out of Miles’s vision.
He couldn’t begin even questioning what he was seeing when the screen popped back into view.
[.....]
[...]
[....Emergency Override complete. Worst-case scenario capabilities activated.]
[Assessing current situation.... Assessment complete.]
[No definite matches within library. Scenarios with highest probabilities:
Premature contact: 1%
Spontaneous quantum destabilization: 0.1%
Higher-order intrusion: 0.01%]
[Creating contingencies based on assessed threat level. Assessing effectiveness. Revising contingencies based on assessed threat level. Assessing effectiveness. Revising contingencies based on...]
The text kept flowing on and on, revising and assessing. Until it blinked out once again.
It was back in less than a second.
[Current capabilities deemed insufficient. Settling on a contingency plan...]
[Parameters set. Executing now....]
[0%/----------------100%]
A loading bar popped up. The world behind it still remained static to Miles.
’What... is all this?’
It hurt even trying to wrap his head around it. Not too long ago, he’d been sitting in a class talking to Jayce. This morning he’d been a eating soggy burger. Talking to Henry, and...
’Anny.’
He could trust Henry to still be indoors; he always slept in. But what about Anny?
’She’d still be in class right? Or...’
His gaze landed on the girl laying in the center of the room. She’d been inside as well, and now she was a corpse.
Miles knew she wasn’t the only one. He’d heard what that monster did to Mrs. Martinez; it was still roaming out there. There was a high chance it was just one among many.
Whatever happened now, something registered at the very back of his mind, that there was no going back to the world he was used to.
He could only hope tha-.
[0%---------------/100%]
[Loading complete. SYSTEM protocol has been established.]
[Conceptual resources remaining: negligible.]
[Logic collapse imminent...]
The periods dragged on, as though unsure of what exactly to say.
[...Farewell on your trials, humanity.]
[You truly, pitiful souls...]
The text lingered, before blinking out. Then another blinked on, this time, it was black.
[Say the word "Status" to proceed.]
Miles hesitated, glancing around at the still frozen world, before speaking.
"St-status?"
The screen changed again.
[Status]
[Full name: Miles]
[EGO: None formed]
[Traits(1/2)]
[Dissociative: NONE OF THIS IS REAL. NONE OF THIS IS REAL. NONE OF THIS IS REAL. NONE OF THIS IS REAL. NONE OF THIS IS REAL....]
[Skills (1/5)]
[Delusion(Unique) Lv1(0/100): Truly, what is the world, but a mirror of our minds.]
It was only while he read the last line that he noticed the static sound of the TV struggling to catch a proper signal. Unknowingly, the world had started moving again.
Yet most people remained silent, their gaze unfocused as they stared seemingly at thin air.
’So... it wasn’t just me.’
"Khh.... Reports... Khh... We are receiving reports from all over the country about a sudden onset of... khh.. w."
The anchor, only somewhat visible on the crackling television, blinked multiple times, trying to refocus.
"Ther... Khh... been no response from the White House. Yet... Khh... early investigations indicate tha... khhh.... is not an isolated incident."
She pressed a finger against her ear.
"Khh.... multiple reports are already coming in about blackouts... assaults? By uh... strange assailants and network failures in multiple parts of the count-."
The sound of something crashing interrupted her. Whatever commotion was there had already begun bleeding into the broadcast. She looked back at the camera.
"I-I’m sorry, we’re just having a few technical issues over here. Kshh... for now, stay inside, shelter, and we-"
Her voice was cut off by heavy, ear-drilling buzzing. A monotone, shaking image of the presidential seal now occupied the screen. A distorted voice played out the speakers.
"Your scheduled broadcasting has been interrupted by the National Security Agency under direct orders from the President of the United States of America, in light of events deemed critical to national security."
Everyone was locked on the screen now.
"Extreme and abnormal weather patterns have been noted in all fifty states and territories. The nature of which constitutes a sudden and severe blizzard, that has caused untold disruption in power, communications, and logistics infrastructures. All citizens, in every state, are advised to seek shelter immediately. Preferably in a heated, windowless room. Do not, under any circumstances, walk into the blizzard. Wait until further instructions are given."
"You will now be receiving a message from your President."
The image froze, then switched to a grainy video feed.
A man—thin, fair-skinned, and old—stood behind a podium. The presidential seal loomed on the white wall behind him. He ran a hand through his greying hair as he nodded at someone off-screen.
Then he turned to face the camera.
"My fellow Americans, this is your President, Ryan Johnson, speaking to you from the White House."
"I will not waste your time. We all have problems to deal with during these trying times."
"Before us lays an unprecedented crisis, one whose scale and magnitude we are still determining at this moment."
"I do not need to describe its nature to you; most of you have already seen it. For those who haven’t, the instructions on the emergency broadcast will tell you all about it."
"What I will say is that my office, Congress, all the government departments, the agencies, and the military are doing everything within our measures, even beyond them, to assure the safety of you and your loved ones."
"The National Guard, the police departments, and all branches of the military will be deployed where they can to stabilize the situation, provide relief, and evacuate you and your families to safe zones."
"Before then, you must do whatever you can to protect yourselves. Shelter somewhere warm, and preferably windowless. If you can’t, then you must do whatever is within your means to stay warm."
He paused, looking at the podium, then closed the script before him.
"I can only ask for your patience, understanding, and support during these dark times. We will get through this, like we always have, like we always do."
"There will be more updates in the coming days, possibly hours."
"But until then. This has been your President."
"God bless you. God bless America. God... God help us all."
The video cut back to the shaking, monotone image of the presidential seal. The distorted voice began playing once more.
