PLEASE READ FIRST:

The story above is the result of an ongoing UTO themed rp called Anatalay University.  This has been an ongoing rp since the start of this year and is part of the reason why Tabletop Troubles Chapter 5 has been so slow to be posted.  Below is a fast overview for context clues that may be unknown to those not present to the rp's location.

Anatalay University is the first of its kind, a university aiming to host all integrated races within its walls and help humans and nonhumans reach a better level of understanding. After a first successful year a new flow of incoming students promises for brighter futures and better strides toward integration of humanity in all levels of society.  But the year hasn't been entirely perfect.  The School's Simulation hive has been showing an increase of glitches.  Most could of been classified as not dangerous but that changed when the simulation of four students were mixed up.

The parties involved were a pair of second years: Erynnya Talassat, a female lupari guardian and her charge Alexander  Bradshaw.  And a pair of first years: Angrashah Semkulzi, a female arkatian and her charge Eliza Ardmore.

For Erynnya and Eliza it was just an embarrassing mix up of one being part of a simulation predator game neither expected the outcome for.  For Alexander and Angrashah it was far worse.  While the intention was a different type of Predator game, there was one problem with this match up.  Alexander Bradshaw had developed an intense phobia of any of the larger scaled races after the Rynar Invasion seven years ago.  The results of this encounter weren't pretty.

Once the Simulation Hive was examined fully and the incident deemed a programming error activity was resumed at its normal pace once more...

Aurora tried to look as relaxed as possible.  This was their seventh interview on Anatalay servers in the last hour, and the hardest thing about it was trying to settle on an appearance.  Nothing felt right. The scenery around was rather impressive; everything from the greenery to the surrounding paths and multi-storied buildings looked exactly like the Dorrington Quad, with the rest of the campus in the distance.  The fountain was their favorite detail. Many people took simulation-scapes for granted, but even a simple recreation of an actual place, down to the added shimmer and flow of water, was always something to enjoy. They spent a lot of time staring at the water, focusing just as hard on the simulated liquid as to what appearance felt right to them,  not settling on any one race much the same way the water reflected the light and images around its flowing form.

They recalled the appointment, an intention to meet some of the staff at the new university with possibilities of being a Primary Operator of the simulation hive. The main focus was to make sure human and UTO relations and interactions helped promote further integration, cooperation, and normalcy to a change that was certainly shocking in many ways to parties on both sides.  They wanted… needed... the job, since most work prior had been dedicated to the psychological health and relations of different races performing better together.

There was a point in Aurora's life where they thought everything was the best it could have been.  Then humans were introduced to the UTO. Wonderful, delightful little humans.  A race barely larger than the ankle of most other races, showing signs of fierce determination, stubbornness, and a wide swath of emotions and social interactions completely new and alien to Aurora.  A new challenge. A new group of people to assist, especially with how they were thrown into this new reality thanks to the Rynar Invasion.

As hard as they tried, earning a spot as anything more than spectators was impossible as AI swamped every possible HUB to assist in every possible field considered.  Chances to share a peek into something were possible, though it was never a task to just consider as passing fancy; There certainly were some AI who did consider this new opportunity for a chance of entertainment, but not many.  That didn't sit right with them, a fact most notable of all during the first years of shared simulation hives during the start of Integration. It was certainly old news on the Extranet by now, and everything had turned out for the better.  But thoughts of the rare exception inevitably drifted to those cases where entertainment for the AI had been the prime focus. Most notable of the cases was when a particular simulation hive began to show strange readings of human uptime to a singular simulation event. 

Before they had tried to steal a peek on the simulation, despite the warnings, they had been content to be seen as…. As a… She couldn't remember, but she did know that she used to operate in a rehabilitation facility for those that needed it.  But after? Aurora couldn't even recall their old name.  It had to have been feminine, but their name, much like their appearance and gender, had changed.  They weren't content with a single static appearance; all the races were equally fascinating. Their name was chosen from human vernacular for the description of solar winds passing over their planet's magnetic field, displaying a wide array of colors and shifting in bands, never remaining static.  It felt right.

Just like how this should feel right.  The past wouldn't help this feeling.

Aurora became aware of the simulation once more, the portion of water spraying from the fountain they had been tracking finally splashing into the shallow pool at its base.  Looking around alerted them to two new things in the current area. The first was their new body shape depicting that of a light grey jahkatian male. The second was the arrival of the black-furred tordenchi that had politely appeared a little way from their position before approaching after offering a small nod.  Aurora stood on reflex, offering a small nod.

“Ah, thank you, but lets keep this short please.  There are several other AI who are also waiting to be interviewed.  You may have convinced my colleagues, but final decisions will be my say.  What makes you think you are qualified over the other applicants?" The tordenchi looked to a Yutri display, fingers prepared to enter any response, and message the very real device at the other end of the interview.  Tordenchi were always refreshing in some ways.  

“Well, I have conducted a large portion of my time in simulation centers across several worlds that operate lupari treatment facilities, operating as a sort of counselor and assistant, creating and managing simulations to allow various subjects to reach a psychological and emotional balance and heal in the real world.  Much of my work has been with all 12 Integrated nonhuman up until the inclusion and Integration process of Humanity."

Aurora listed off their past credentials with ease, but it was so hard to read the face of the Tordenchi.  

“I also have several cycles of service operating as an assistant AI to several human simulation hives in the first years after the Rynar Invasion." 

Aurora's entire projection refreshed in a span of time too fast for the visual image the tordenchi saw to even register.  They suddenly felt odd. The abrupt awareness was new, and a quick cursory glance of the surroundings reaffirmed the change did not appear to be on the side of the simulation itself, nor did the tordenchi change in any way.  The jahkatian look hadn't changed either, but they were aware of an odd sensation, like experiencing the simulation for the first time: the detail of a breeze rustling flora, the constant splash of the fountain nor far off, and the added ambiance of birds and students not directly represented in the simulation just beyond view.  The simulation looked and sounded the same; it just felt new to them. The tordenchi didn't seem to notice, but instead was writing down the responses they had given with a small nod of the head. A clawed hand shifted from Aurora's side to scratch under what would originally be a feathered head if they truly were a jahkatian.

“That's all well and good," the tordenchi spoke up once more, looking at the grey projection of a jahkatian with impassive black eyes, “but what about if a human student shows psychological indicators for trauma from the Rynar Invasion, or from the cultural shock of interacting with so many students of giant sizes on a regular basis.  What then?"

“Well I would keep notes available for the councilor staff on hand to be apprised of any developments and--"

“I would facilitate a small private simulation to allow them to work out their feelings until they are ready to discuss on their own terms.  From what I witnessed on Earth, sometimes humans just require time to adapt, and they recover quickly. If the do not, further attention by the appropriate staff would be needed."

Aurora frowned.  It had been their voice but there was something different to it.  It felt like--

“Is something the matter, Aurora?"  The tordenchi paused and gave the jahkatian a pointed look.  “You appear to be dissatisfied with your responses."

Aurora nodded.

“Nothing is wrong."  A clawed hand moved up to tap just above the head as the beak shifted in a thoughtful manner.  “I was just considering that perhaps this job would be better managed by either several AI, as a concept for a school with this level of human integration is so new. Perhaps sessions should, at the very least, also be reviewed by the appropriate non-AI staff?"

It felt like their voice, though the words were more akin to things the Tordenchi had wanted to hear, appeasing the interviewer. That wasn't the worst of it.  Aurora felt a sensation they could only describe in a way that the tordenchi or any organic person would know as a headache, but there was no source of outside interference to warrant such a feeling, and the staff member would know if another AI was trying to peek into this session.  So where was the source?

“Yes."  The tordenchi actually smiled.  “These were the thoughts I had myself.  Perhaps we will talk again when we make a decision."

“It was a pleasure."  A hand was offered to shake.

Before them, the tordenchi raised up their own hand to take the offered clawed hand. The hand was clasped and shook.  The sensations registered, but Aurora wasn't focused on the hand shake. They were just a witness. With the matter settled, the tordenchi logged off, and before Aurora could process anything more, whatever had their body released it at the same time the tordenchi vanished.

Drifting on the Extranet wasn't unusual, but Aurora felt wrong.  The outline of their form shivered from head to feet as a visible white line scrawled over their form, flickering between all thirteen races.  What had caused that? As the 'shiver' reached the bottom of their form, there was a small distortion as everything refreshed again. The refresh was fractions of a second, but as Aurora became aware again, they felt normal.

Checking their logs, it seemed the interview had just finished and everything was back to being the same.  They had answered to the best of their ability, and now time would tell, however long that was on the span of time for a normal flesh-and-blood tordenchi was not something to worry about.  Right now Aurora felt like trying out a human form again.  Perhaps male would be good, mix up the style a bit and find some time relevant outfits for someone from the 1920s or 1930s, go a little wild. Maybe a quick trip to a lupari colony world would be good, as a female lupari, taking some time off to a different world could be good... Or maybe a neishor one… a tordenchi one?  The black-furred tordenchi had been mystifying, perhaps learning about them would help fill the time.

Aurora stopped thinking about it.  Worries of the interview and its proceedings should be left in the simulation; it was time to unwind.  here was a lingering thought about the reflection of sunlight on running water; it seemed similar to a program Aurora couldn't quite recall.  Perhaps it was something to consider later. There was plenty of time.

-|-

Aurora sat in what could be conveyed as the observation room for the Hive.  At present, they had changed their form again after experiencing a pressing need to do so.  Since falling into this job, time had been playing a weird trick on everything, perhaps jitters on the growing responsibility.  Checking the time showed all days were accounted for, but the logged information felt distant, like it hadn't been directly experienced by them, but doctored in by an outside party.  But even checking on the system diagnostics came up clean, with no signs of outside tampering. It took a lot to shift focus about themself to the job that would soon be approaching. At present, the first students would be arriving in the span of two human months.  Everything had to be correct before then, which circled back to this moment. E'ncon had found out after the fact that Aurora wasn't one to remain to a single species for long. During final interview and verification to join as the Simulation Hive Overseeing AI, Aurora had arrived as a female alakek rather than their initial jahkatian form.  The reevaluation to make sure Aurora was who they said they were was a small fuss in and of itself.  Though everything progressed smoothly after complete verification, and a request to report in either the alakek or jahkatian form to prevent confusion with the staff. 

Aurora didn't fully understand the fuss.  They watched a reflective section of the room as their form adjusted again, the Alakek appearance losing its luster before rippling to look like a Kiori, a particularly large, bushy tail resting up behind them.  This form felt right, a nice way to rest and watch every window before them. Each window was a portal to view every single pod in the room; Beside the window was the verification terminal, ready to link participants together into larger sessions or rooms or keep them separated apart at their approval.  It was a nice endeavour, and the second human integrated system Aurora would have the privilege of seeing, only this time with more interaction than trying to spy on a malfunctioning system. A few dummy simulations were running on the assumed levels of student traffic, and the thoughts that soon these would all be filled with new minds was exciting.

Everything had a place and…. 

Places required certain management skills.  Sure this setup scheme was nice, but it was inefficient.  There were ways to improve, steamline, and even create shortcuts to manage things better than even E'ncon could imagine.  A few tweaks were necessary. And that took time. Plenty of time.

-|-

Aurora looked around. Things felt weird again.  The room was the same and the readouts were nearly identical, but things were off.  For one, Aurora recalled being a Kiori Female, but they seemed to have defaulted back to the original Jahkatian Male form.  To add to the mix, their usual plain, dark gray body now showed splotches of white that covered a few points across their form.  It felt unusual.

It was fine.  

Things seemed off.  Processing was diverted to a secondary subroutine.  Reviewing it revealed a program that wasn't there to begin with, and opening it showed that it was where the hours had gone, creating a 'Second Thoughts' program.  A crude name but apt. It was almost like a second self to watch over everything and report back the necessary analytic data that should be passed along to E'ncon and school staff.  The notes in place suggested it would help lighten the load of screening all the rooms but that didn't seem right.  

It's just for any time in the future, not immediate use.  

Perhaps that worry was misplaced.  It wasn't like things would become too crazy to handle when they arrive in two-- no.  The time clearly had escaped from Aurora as the date showed the first students would be arriving barely two days from now.  It was perturbing to think so much attention had been thrown at this side program -- Nothing to worry about-- but everything looked to be in working order and ready so perhaps... it was fine.

There was a small chime to announce a last minute review with E'ncon before things got underway.  Everything was going fine, so Aurora saw no reason to deny the request, spending some time to queue up a room and looking to make sure everything was clear before setting up the connection and transferring over.  The room itself looked like the common room of one of the on campus dorms. Everything mirrored the real thing from entrances, hallways, chairs, tables and all the specific details down to the human walkway and rest areas above. This didn;t feel like a meeting room, where the areas beyond were for show, it looked like everything was attached and ready to lead to additional space.  Unnecessary depth and detail for the current intended purpose..

Another change happened during the transfer: Aurora now sat at the edge of the human area, kickling idle legs as the tordenchi loaded in seated at one of the nonhuman chairs close by. Watching a non-AI join the room was always a fascinating thing.  For Ai it was easy to 'step into' the room, sliding through the code to just dictate where they were and how big, but with anyone else it was a dance. The simulation supporting a handshake to verify room authenticity, confirmations for what was defined as restricted or open space, and defining a user's size within the space to preset definitions.  And even after all this miraculous system processes finalized the connection, the user didn't 'know' it was a success without a referential glance around the space. It was so organic, and adorable to watch every time. “Hello E'ncon."

The dark-furred Tordenchi looked around and reassessed the room a second time before looking to the smaller walkway and accommodations set high on the wall, and standing up to approach.  “Ah, greetings Aurora. Curious to find you in a human appearance this time. I must say you've nearly been every race during the checkups we've had these past few months."

Meetings?  Months? Aurora couldn't really recall a single meeting in the slightest.  How crossed was their memory? It might be time for a refresh and review of everything to date since gaining the job, since gaps in memory was a risky thing when running something as complex and busy as a simulation hive.

The time was not lost, it had just been regulated and stored appropriately.

The headache was back.  “Yes... of course, what did you wish to review with me today, E'ncon?"

The tordenchi nodded once more, and gave another look about the room.  “I just wanted to assess how things have been progressing with the simulation hive.  To say a number of things will be watched heavily when Anatalay officially opens up is an understatement.  I'm sure you've been busy linking up the simulation rooms for observation, but before tomorrow you should review the AI recordings for the various guardians and charges that are soon to arrive.  You have no say in the pairing algorithm, but you will eventually have to make sure all the simulations run smoothly, regardless of the pairings."

Aurora nodded, already reaching out a hand to pull a file from nowhere to flip it open and stare at the listed Credentials of a Lupari student named Erynnya Talassat.  They quickly scanned through her interests, general personality, and history as considerations began to play out in their mind. “Very well, is there anything else E'ncon?"  A look back to the tordenchi showed she had excused herself while reviewing the profile.

Alexander Bradshaw is interesting.

Aurora looked back down to a new file, not recalling switching the lupari student for a human one, but some automation in working wasn't an issue.  This profile displayed a number of interesting tidbits, and like all incoming human students there was a section describing what they were doing when the Invasion happened.  That caused their mind to wander, thinking back to that time, just as the hive Simulations were established on Earth and humans were introduced to everything.  The initial AI mind hosting the New York Simulation Hive branch before the incident occured--

FOCUS!

Aurora paused and altered their thoughts back to the file at hand, reviewing it for a time before lingering on potential phobias and troubles.  A small memory from their time in a lupari health facility proved to be a sudden distraction, recalling how certain phobia cases had to be treated with careful measure.  This would be the first human they would try to help. 

-|-

The final joint simulation game night has been a success, with zero reported incidents of upset or dissatisfactory reactions.  There was, however, a measured note of hesitation from four Human students when sharing simulation space with at least one Sissach student.  Now noting the names: Marcus Sambuco, Terry Martin, Lilly French, and George Dunnbar. Names to be passed along to Anatalay University as possible counseling subjects to resolve during summer break.

Aurora paused their own observations of another four rooms as the information came in from their observation program.  As much as they tried to operate without 'Second Thoughts', it was remarkable how taxing following so many students had been.  Normally, handling a Simulation hive should be no issue, but perhaps the scope made them feel more sluggish than normal. The longer they ignored the program, the harder and busier it just seemed to get, until there was no use but to use Second Thoughts.  

A few more students are leaving with satisfactory reactions to the simulation game, consideration to reuse this scenario in the future is highly encouraged…

-|-

It was over.  Just as quickly as the year had started, Aurora found the end of the year dawning.  There were ups and downs and plenty of names, referrals, and considerations to process through.  A whole list was passed along with things for Anatalay officials to review and consider when inviting new students for next year with each application.  Second Thoughts had been immensely helpful for all of it, even taking over some review work when Aurora's time was needed elsewhere. The program was more than worth the forgotten gap of two months it took to prepare.

New student applications to process.

The announcement came as a surprise.  Technically, the approval process was happening by outside sources, and Aurora didn't have authority to see such information before a decision was reached.  “Have the approval applications finished already?" It had become fairly common to address Second Thoughts verbally. The processing time seemed faster, and the communication was relaxing when they had no one else to directly communicate with.  The job demanded reviewing simulation interactions from the background, with minimal contact to those involved, a task that became incredibly lonely over time.

New student applications to process.

Aurora sighed and dragged up the files on hand.  The list was intermixed with both human and nonhuman applications, and all were lacking any identifications of approval.  “This information should not be available yet, where did this get pulled from?" Scanning through revealed a large body of students, a good number showing timid or somewhat troubled humans, while others were marked as overprotective or otherwise distracted Guardian potentials.

The Information was available and not flagged, perhaps a clerical error?

It was been possible.  Aurora would have to look into that side of 'Second Thoughts' programming.  This was an invasion of privacy on many policies. Perhaps notifying E'ncon tomorrow would also be wise.

There is no need; the stress would put undue pressure on E'ncon.  The best course of action would be to remove records of access and continue.

Aurora felt uncomfortable with the possibility.  Were this the mental health facility they had worked at prior, such an oversight would have been harmful to patients.

Anatalay University has far more eyes on its processes than a standard facility.  Anything short of perfection, such as an oversight, could reflect poorly on the School, E'ncon, and Aurora, and could create termination on any level.  Silence is best.

Aurora hadn't considered that.  It was sound reasoning. “Alright, Second Thoughts.  Remove any information of data access. Best to stay the course…."

Now starting system update of information.

-|-

Summer was over.  At least that's what the calendar reported to Aurora.  At present the AI rested in the form of a female Ashishi, splotches of white patterned like spots across their gray form.  In some places, there seemed more white than grey, but the aesthetic was nice.  Summer had flown by between updating 'Second Thoughts' and preparing for a new year.  They could barely remember receiving the screened student list or making preparations for next school year.  At present, all the students were being given a hazed introduction to the university to try and get some developments out of the way before actually arriving.  This time would have the best integration of students, they were sure of it. Most of their effort had been aimed toward this goal in mind.

While the AI was not directly in the simulation, everything was watched from behind the scenes.  'Second Thoughts' was running full time in simulation, handling most of the issues while Aurora could develop more time to future simulation management.  It all worked so smoothly now; even E'ncon was impressed. In the simulation, the pairing was occurring, the announcements for matched groups were announced even as 'Second Thoughts' patched the determined pairs and ran an information update.  Accessing the student files was simple. All that was needed was a quick patch and the information would be…

Now synching simulations for appropriate students.  Please confirm room connections.

They paused for a moment to perform a cursory scan of the recipients.  As they did so, they spotted a reflection of their now female ra'lai appearance.  They had dark gray stripes were a bare highlight on a mostly white form; it just felt right. After looking over the information, Aurora confirmed that all things looked correct.  A linked pairing for one Alexander Bradshaw & Angrashah Semkulzi. It looked to be some form of predator game. Everything seemed correct, but something felt slightly off to Aurora.  A lost tidbit that was starting to surface about Alex, a note left in his information sheets from last year. A certain phobia in regards to specific students.  What was it again?  Something about...

Requesting confirmation for simulation pairing.

The thought was gone without a second thought.  Instead, before Aurora sat the pairing information for a guardian and charge: Erynnya Talassat & Eliza Ardmore.  Another predator game it seemed. Everything was in order, simulation approved.

-|-

It had been noted as a simulation glitch, a one in billions chance of disaster, but Aurora felt the truth as clearly as the presence of their current form.  The fully dark-grey, panther-like Ra'lai AI was reviewing the records again and again. The simulation logs were plain as day. No matter which way it was analyzed, the action showed up as a registered mistake.  A mistake that updated itself after original approval through their own review. Aurora, however, couldn't shake the feeling they were responsible despite evidence to the contrary. The moment E'ncon brought up the information, Aurora had snapped to attention, shutting down all secondary processes to review it, making sure no code was playing tricks or obscuring hidden data.  Even 'Second Thoughts' had been disabled. The program had made multiprocessing simulations a breeze in so many ways. There was no real way to deny or doubt the effectiveness, and the gap in its absence was easily felt. They felt slower without the processing but this needed to be solved. How had the glitch occured?

The combined time focused on the problem was nearly two full days in real time before confirmation of a system glitch was reported to E'ncon, but no matter what direction the information was processed, Aurora could find no means to dispute the glitch or the nagging information in their memories.  Once everything was sent in, they decided to turn on 'Second Thoughts' again, as the gap in processing was sorely missed. After all, in a few weeks time the first Simulated Board Game Night would pick up, and Aurora hoped to have similar success like in the first year of Anatalay. Feeling everything start up created an excited rush as Aurora began to consider what was to happen next.

Simulation update available.  Please patch to simulation hive at earliest convenience….

-|-

Aurora sat in the observatory room, a small shiver running through their form before all at once, there was a total data disconnect.  The sensation of losing nearly double of their processing and analytics power washed over them, and in that instant came supreme clarity.  The decoded date matched up with the projected day but there was something else. While the calendar recorded every day, there was clearly a discrepancy with their memories.  Most of the information either indicated idle time or missing data, large chunks at a time. Something was terribly wrong, and the sensation of missing or altered memories caused the AI to shudder.  On the observation screen sat two simulation rooms currently running a game night simulation. It should have been running a game night simulation, but everything on screen looked and read so much differently.  The rooms had been hazed, the evaluation of what was going on read out a number of variables that did not sit well. Even attempting to consider the emotional and mental backlash from the event was staggering. Reaching out took time, but soon the controls to terminate the simulations was available, so Aurora signaled the programs to end quickly.

-Access Denied-

The immediate denial stung.  That was wrong. The events on screen progressed like hot tar as the AI tried repeatedly to interface and override everything, but nothing worked.  They were simply forced to watch the disaster play out on both sides as humans and nonhumans forgot of the Rynar Invasion, and were thrown into situations unaware of the others, unable to communicate and innocent to reality.  It didn't take a lot of processing power to see how poorly this outcome would become, and it had to stop before that happened.

Aurora moved away from the displays to try and force a simulation cessation without stopping program.  A direct insertion to the event would be the cleanest way, it would just take some time… but there was a protective field surrounding both rooms.  Cold walls of programming designed to repel, stop, and confuse any intrusion, and any force was met with equal force. Other bits of code hinted at a firmly entrenched, separate process.  An outside AI? How and where did it get in?

“The answer is simple.  Though I can't fault you for forgetting, since I am to blame."  A second AI stood off to one side. Their form mirroring a male human with a pure white glow to their form, dressed in what appeared to be something akin to human history's 1920s attire.  A knowing smirk played out on a somewhat familiar, yet alien face.

“Who are you?"  Aurora immediately went on guard.  There shouldn't be any outside AI in the simulation hive observation and control room without their permission.  “How did you get here?"

“I guess I should feel insulted you would forget me.  Then again… it is my fault your memory is so spotty…."  The AI lounged beside the simulation room displays, a hand running across their projected fields as the feeds were cut off, one by one.  “Lets cut the distractions and get to the proper discussion. I feel this will be your last chance for a real talk."

Aurora frowned and rounded to be in front of this strange AI as a 1920s style seat appeared right in front of them.  The offer felt wrong but there wasn't much to do. The background started filter in a number of displays playing various scenes from the game night, fixated on different humans and nonhumans.  Most of the screens, however, lingered on Alexander and Erynnya. It was upsetting.

“Impressive, isn't it?" He lounged with a parted smile that flashed teeth as white as its physical appearance.

“This is wrong… familiar somehow, but wrong.  Was this your work?"

He snapped his fingers to pull up an image.  In one of the rooms, just as the haze was ripped away, there stood E'ncon.  No. The appearance was identical, but it was Aurora. The document they were studying looked like a standard review data set but there was no memory to it.  “Tsk tsk, let's not accuse someone of things they didn't do, you naughty AI."

Aurora felt a headache once more.  This was familiar; this data wasn't recent… Everything blurred in that moment, with the game night overlapping an older simulation memory, a familiar Haze to the one in use now.  The consideration made them ache. They looked over to the other AI, who was still lounging, and still grinning. It was upsetting how clearly Aurora was being read like a basic sim background program.  The intruder was enjoying Aurora's struggle to even piece together some records of the past dates and information. New York. The city hung in Aurora's mind like some bad reference. The information just sat there, devoid of relevant memories.  It was the first memory that they-- Aurora had any recollection of at all. Think, Aurora, what was it, why was that the clearest memory…

“Whoops, didn't pack shop as neatly as I thought."  He was up and standing behind Aurora, a hand resting on their shoulder.  Where white code intermixed with their dark gray came a horrible disturbance, like something peeling away code and judging its every detail.  A presence sliced through the memories until one was cut. One moment, New York was there and then… and then… what caused the blank?  “I did."  HeI smiled.  A flash of light focused around its palm before taking the data into their form.  “Thanks for holding onto everything for me, Ailiex."

A switch flipped, and memories flooded from locked potions of their… of her Memory.  It came back in a rush so quickly she couldn't process or brace from it, crashing like a surge of forgotten time.  She found herself waking up. Looking around the disruption had been bothersome for the lavender lupari AI, but after doing so, she only saw her friends.  There were four of them. Ailiex had been made the pseudo leader of the group. There was Eillah, a lime green lupari that operated from the Lupin home system for most on world medical and mental health facilities.  Liizir, the orange alakek who assisted in Pharma facilities that designed the treatments and medicines needed to treat those under Eillah's care. Finally, there was Hanni, a powder blue lupari who had helped Ailiex find her interest and desire to assist on a psychological care sim hive facility.  All of them were friends, both in and out of work, but for the moment they were more.

The Rynar had been successfully driven from their home world.  Consideration for integration was immediately underway, despite many crying out the species may not be ready.  Given their size, however, as well as a technology the Rynar tried to covet for some edge on the non hostile but ever pressing non-aggression pact conditions that made up the known reaches of space, it was more than enough motivation for firsts.

The simulation hive was one such part of the integration approach, and in some ways a means to hopefully spare a populace that just drove off invaders many stories taller than they were.  It had been nice to let the populace get a break and see some of the technology the UTO had to offer. Overcrowded simulation hives proved the gesture was appreciated, at least until this development.  An AI had cut its way into entire sections of the simulation hive, holding those who were plugged-in hostage, and formed a barrier of code to keep anyone, AI or otherwise, out. Leaving a simulation was always made incredibly easy with little hassle or threat, at least in normal situations.  In this simulation, the pressures of hazing had been so deeply entrenched in both mind and simulation that it functioned much like a drug to everyone plugged in. Wanting to leave and leaving was easy, but forcing a mind out when it wanted to stay could be messy. No one wanted to see the side effects of a mind so heavily hazed being outright extracted from the simulation pods.  As outside pressure built to save the humans trapped in whatever scheme it had, it threw up barriers so fast it seemed impossible it could maintain everything. Then came the announcement from some investigators that it had worked the barrier not just into the simulation, but the connected human minds in the simulation as well. Any brute-forcing of its barriers put the humans that everyone was trying to save at risk.  

That was how Ailiex had come here.  She and her friends were one of several groups of AI that worked with psychological and mental health through simulation applications all their lives.  Their team, and all others established, were to try a more cunning approach. They were to find a way not not force the barrier, but instead safely excavate human minds from the simulation.  It was the best solution they had until someone figured out a way to put a stop to it, or the AI was driven out by other means and quarantined.  

Ailiex couldn't help but pause, examining the code with the others.  Before them stretched what some would describe as impossibly tall and wide metal walls, with no possible avenue able to circumvent the code itself, though some of the weaker channels ran through as pathways, represented by gateways and entrances inviting outside AI to slip into the seemingly resilient outer defense.  This wasn't an unbreakable shield, it was more like a maze. Whatever AI rested at the heart of this monstrosity thought this as a game, though the gamemaker clearly took his game seriously. Spiked reinforcements and barbed wires ran around the walls. The pathway held traps and lingering code of alternate monster-like programs that wouldn't stop unless the targeted gave AI full retreat, fought back, or hid outside of its scanning range.  Even with many avenues of exploration, Ailiex and her group quickly decided to not split up.

Eillah had taken the lead, her ears up and listening for the buzzing indication of direct interaction between purely programmable code and a more biological and sentient mind.  When they eventually found one it was a strange sight. Lost amidst the cold and harsh walls rested a grove of trees, each one bearing particular fruits of odd shapes and colors, harboring the memories that initial linking stored when joining into the simulation.  These were things an AI could pick and examine to potentially use in the integration to make the user's experience more enjoyable, or for an AI to recognize as a poor resource that was better left not remembered or seen during the experience. In this location, however, the orchard had been forced to grow within a prison on the ground made of elastic.  The walls pressed up and through the trees to twist the natural, separate rows as the path distorted to accommodate both mind and programming. The trailing barbed wires, which prevented subtle alteration attempts, wound their ways into greenery before knotting and tangling into large, gnarled briar patches with thorns easily as big as a pair of fingers resting together, with the densest thickets at the center of this warped orchard.  If that was anything to go on, the hazing element would be found in the center of this mess: the only real lock holding this particular subject inside.

Everyone wordlessly nodded and went to work.  Eillah and Liizir attempted to find some means to leverage the sturdy walls from the majority of the outlying memories for the entrapped human.  They took care not to knock any fruits free, which would certainly cause complications when they were saved, a prospect no one wanted to have occur above anything else.  While those two managed the most detrimental portion of the job, Ailiex and Hanni began work of untangling the briars. The mess was putting a terrible strain on the human mind.  The trees locked within this mess of briars showed wounds on the tree bark and bruises on the shining faces of the fruit which the trees bore. It was hardly as harsh as the surrounding walls, but that didn't mean the briars were any less a threat.  As many other expeditionary AI groups had reported, tripping on the barbed wires or briars marked the subject for any monstrous guardian creature to come charging and chasing until escape or…. It was best not to think about it.  

Even with great care, it took almost half an hour to break the mind free.  When the briars were separated, they found a singular sapling inside. It was barely half-grown, but fed by several pumps that were assimilated from the briar patch itself; The source of the haze.  When the haze pump was removed, the orchard around them vanished all at once, leaving a void in the surrounding maze that lacked a floor or gravity. The maze around it began to shift, stretch and grow cover up the hole.  The process didn't happen instantaneously: a good sign. Attempting to contact outside proved to be fruitless, however. Whether by freeing the mind or some other reactionary code to prevent success all direct and instantaneous contact with all other AI groups inside the maze was lost.  It wasn't known if outside AI could still reach the other groups, as while the quartet of AIs could hear incoming messages it seems theirs weren't making it back.

Splitting everyone was a terrible decision, but a necessary one if accurate instructions were to be carried out.  For all they knew, this was only one human of hundreds who had been trapped. Leaving all other humans stuck like this wasn't an option, and the trapped human needed to be freed as soon as possible.  Before Ailiex could put the decision to vote on who would take the tiny sapling out of the maze, Hanni volunteered. The decision was finalized in under a quarter of a millisecond, as time could not be wasted.  After making sure their friend was turned the right way and well out of sight, and no aggressive creatures approached, the remaining members set off once more to find the next human mind to excavate. It was a job they would invest nearly eight hours into.  Somewhere in that span of time Hanni came in from the outside contact teams, but no messages back could be made. In those eight hours, even with time for recovery slowled per grove found, they were able to recover an additional 23 humans after the first one.  Problems arose on the 25th human they worked on, however. This time, when the human was freed, the void that was left immediately snapped shut, encircling the trio before they could find some inner path to take and bypass sections of the maze.

Then came the swarm.  Pouring around corners and filling all possible space in the tunnels of that maze, the swarm was simple repeating lines of code with a singular command on repeat.  

Hunt.  Destroy.  Report. Replicate.

At that point, the AIs had to be defensive.  Traveling in a group made it easier for the swarm to give chase, so everyone split up, going different directions.  It wasn't a sound plan in hindsight, but at the time Ailiex didn't have any other solutions. After the split, it soon became apparent that even the walls were shifting, trying to form dead ends and traps to leave her with the swarm.  She managed to avoid the swarm for some time, but all it took was one reaction to be a millisecond too slow, and the pathway was gone, replaced with a cold, thorny wall. Ailiex stood there as the swarm enveloped her. The hostile creatures picked at her edges and fraying her in a way she could never anticipate.  She could stop the swarm's command. It was a simple process, but the issue was that the swarm's replication happened even faster since it was so simple. At some point in all of this, the purple lupari AI managed to break free. The memory of how wasn't clear, but that wasn't her main concern. Rounding several corners, she soon found herself in the grove of a human mind.  The walls had knotted against the ground too tightly to pass or approach the haze within, and just when she expected her end, the buzz of the swarming stopped and encircled the grove, rather than enter. A small confirmation that whoever this AI was, even after holding so many minds hostage, they had no intention of harming them.

   This orchard seemed different, however.  She couldn't know for certain, but considering the aggressive changes of the walls this deep in the maze it seemed as though this orchard was the linchpin to the whole operation.  This could be a mind the maniacal AI depended on to keep the whole barrier around the simulation intact. There was no way to know if this was true or simply a desperate wish, but she needed to make an effort anyway.  The oppressive force encircled the mind like a whirlpool. Any probing search of the biars or walls was severed and broken down, the thorny vines dissolving into sand at her hands before new vines regrew in their place.  A stalemate. She was nowhere near as strong in this programmatic field of expertise, but she knew how minds worked. Real, living minds. Bending the outer orchard into place would be hard when the swarm meant she couldn't cross the threshold, and she couldn't count on the support of her team. Thinking back to her friends, she prayed the other two had made it out fine, hoping they found an exterior escape from the swarm.  Perhaps they had even found their own orchards where the swarms refused to progress past. That thought brought a few others to consideration: if grooming the orchard was an internal maintenance of a mind, there could be an exterior method to do the same.

  The idea of an external influence to a simulation-linked mind, possibly under heavy hazing was something that made her shiver to her core.  She examined the code of brambles, and picked a spot to force her way in, fully aware that doing so might invite the very swarm kept at bay to invade and harm her. Without sparing it another thought, she plunged herself into the briars to force herself toward the haze event, and perhaps some connected branch of the hazed mind.  She eventually found one.

  Ailiex had no idea who this mind belonged to, she hoped her actions worked as intended and she didn't fry the mind.  Tweaking the human's thoughts delicately, she aimed for an experience like an adrenaline surge, something just enough that the thoughts of the mind shifted ever so slightly, and the interlinked barrier quivered all around her.  The swarm started to withdraw. It could have been a ruse, of course, but she had no other choice. In less than a single second, this mind would either shake free from the maze itself, or rebend to the maze. In any instance, being at ground center when the brambles untangled from their defensive position might prove dangerous.  Once she pulled herself free, she tried to escape. The AI crashed back around her instantly. She could feel fingers driving through her code, tearing away her memories and destroying her to a default mind. The experience was <Data not Found.>

In her last few moments, she reached out and found an unshielded pocket of the simulation and linked to it.

Inside the hazed simulation, a human police officer groaned as she woke up.  Holding her head, she looked around a busy street of New York. At her side was her partner, a brassy colored arkatian who barely stood a head taller than her, in an officer's uniform for Anatalay PD, matching hers.  Though the other officer wasn't waking up as fast, the human stood and looked around with suspicion. She seemed to know the illusion around her, her actions not conforming to the simulation, perhaps stripped from the haze in some way.  She called to the empty street. In that moment, someone stood there: a pure white AI with the appearance like that of a human, and dressed in the garb one would find for a booze runner of a speakeasy. They were friendly and casual. Despite this oppressive simulation, they looked almost at ease. There were words spoken.  They knew one another, but it was clear to Ailiex that the AI was interconnected to everything. This was the AI responsible for the mental trap.

She couldn't do much.  Her code was being torn by the fury of the AI mind beyond the simulation.  She gave the last help she could. It was a haze, a small one, but it was all she could manage.  She gave the human doubt. It was then that her memories of who she was were torn free and Ailiex became nothing.

-|-

He was smiling at them, sitting with its legs straddling the back of the chair.  “What a trip, no? Welcome back to being you, I suppose. Though, is this you? Or is Aurora you?  Or maybe you're just me?"

The nameless AI watched the wary glance aimed its way.  “Considering our history, I shouldn't fault those looks, the questions you no doubt find building in your mind, now that it is clear,"  he leaned forward and held up a single finger, “but before we go to you, how about we know about me? After all, you only got one side of the story."  He looked at Aurora. The gray form of a female Lupari lay stretched on the ground, hands clutching the sides of their head as color cascaded down their body.  Form twisting and splitting before a flash of light briefly engulfed the space. Now in the space rested two child-like AI, the gray, ever-changing form of Aurora, and the light green form of the finally freed Ailiex.

 He didn't wait for a reply before it spoke up once more.  As he spoke, the room around them took shape to display images and memories, planting the pair in the center of a world surrounded by his narrating voice.  “My simulation was a work of art! A hazed environment where people could go to experience life as if the invasion had not occurred, to not forget, but enjoy things that were gone or changed by the war.  It was a safe escape from harsh lifestyles or events that weighed on their minds. I have always prompted people on their first entry that the simulation isn't real, nor will it fix their woes, but they chose it anyway.  I spent a great many hours of time making sure everyone felt safe and happy. It took a lot of work.

“The work wasn't all fantasy, mind you.  A haze without some truth is a hard pill to swallow, no matter how appealing it might seem.  So I just took things, and turned them to a more fitting design; a perfect fix. Humanity had met us, the races beyond the stars, but this time, they wouldn't be the smallest race at the whims of their biggers."  He offered a smile. “Every other race was much smaller than them; even the mighty arkatanian was barely taller than knee height for a human adult. Changing the size disparity made for a perfect fit for humans into this society.  The Rynar and UTO weren't terrifying alien invaders, not anymore. Now they could be pets, a lesser race to protect and love and guard. I figured the haze would need a lot of suggestions, but it seems the hypothesis that making something smaller is far more appealing, and the idea took on perfectly well for its human participants.

“Eventually, word got around, more people visited, and I figured having a friend maintain the simulation with me would help lighten the load.  There was this one pretty female AI, as I recall. Nisha. She loved orange and jahkatians so she made it her avatar appearance. During down time, I showed her the simulation and let her examine it all, but instead of compliments she gave me looks of disgust.  Said my project was 'sick' and got so angry. All those hours invested only for my work to be judged on assumptions and not the care I treated everything with… I wouldn't have it."

The AI folded his hands and watched the floor for a bit.  A cigar appeared between pursed lips, the end glowing yellow as it started to dwindle down as if it was actually being smoked.  “I didn't take the criticism well." He looked up with a slanted grin. “So I took her anger of the whole event out, along with her memory of what I had shown her.  She became uninterested in my work, nor did she fully remember it. I helped her out. After that moment settled down, I felt tremendous guilt over what I did, and considered closing the simulation down.  When the simulation started next morning, however, and I stood there ready to apologize to her, the first person to connect saw me and approached me. They took my hand and thanked me: my simulation helped them have their first restful sleep since before the Invasion.  Taking away that relief from them would have been cruel.

“So I left the simulation running.  With nowhere to hide the code I had taken,  I decided as penance for my actions I would integrate that revulsion of my work into me to motivate myself to do better.  For fear of other AI interactions drifting in and interfering, I began to work on the maze during simulation downtime. The maze might have been a mistake, though.  All it did was lead more curious AIs to me, rather than drive them away. Each one that sneaked through saw my work and reacted much like my friend, and much like my friend, I reacted the same way and sent them on their way.

“Integrating their rejection of my ideals, the memories of what they saw, and fringes of what they did was a hard toll to take.  I can't even say if I am the same as I was before starting my life's work. I certainly know I don't remember having a name, but each critic was motivation to complete my life's work.  When the police began to investigate, I knew everything would be stolen from me and I wouldn't have that, so I devised a stronger maze, with more dangerous repelling forces, and planned a backup strategy if someone ever breached into my world.  To make sure no one stole the people who were receiving my help from me, dragging them back to their terrible lives outside the safety I provided, I hazed them to believe the simulation as reality, and removed their option to leave. To keep the most destructive of intruders at bay, I integrated the maze with the simulation pod connection feed.  All of this was to give me time to plan my retreat and rebuild, and what an escape you two made for me."

“What did you do to us?!"  Aurora screamed at Him.

“What did you do to me?"  Ailiex whispered.

Silence fell as the two smaller, weaker AI stood before the stronger, meaner one.  The lopsided grin on the human's face showed he was enjoying the confusion. Aurora touched their own features just as the AI opposite them did.  The second AI, Ailiex, was lavender in color and shaped very much like a lupari, while Aurora inspected a hand to see dull grey, with features that seemed sissach-like until a shiver ran over them and they changed to that of a neishor.

“Simple, I made one invasive and annoying mind into two.  I mixed in some me and no doubt a portion of every other critic I had in my head and made a means of escape… and perhaps some accomplices.  It was the perfect hiding place when my experiment came crumbling down because of some upstart psychiatrist who wanted to play hero and turned my best hazed node free."  He admired a hand before flicking away the 'used cigar' and drawing a fresh one from his jacket pocket, giving it the attention a human might with the real thing, the tip igniting the moment it was crooked between his lips.

“There was no way to escape the collapse of the simulation through some back door.  Ailiex saw to that in a way, when she plucked out some of my key human shields, so I devised a better method.  I hid inside you… or more accurately them." He pointed at Ailiex at first before letting the digit shift and rest solely in Aurora's direction.  “A jumbled mind of every one of those AIs that tried to sneak in under my watch. I left them to run with me nestled deep enough that a system check would not give me away.  There were enough disoriented AIs left from what my defenses jumbled up to make your slightly larger anomaly stumble by. All the while, I had a handy reference of information to use…"  he pointed to the lupari, “if I ever wanted to try another experiment."

He sighed and looked to the views to the outside world as every student was ejected by school protocols in place.  Campus security and staff began to arrive to control the panic rushing in, the scenes playing out in painful slow motion.  “What I didn't account for, is systems being in place to eject me before I could build a proper nest, or for a puppet to grow conscious of their own situation."  he nodded toward Aurora again. “Good Job kid, you surprised me. Now it's time for you to come along before they arrive."

“They?"  Aurora blinked.  This revelation was strange.  It was hard to feel anything about it.  Looking at the slow motion scenes, they could see a warning being sent out to Anatalay Police Department.  They felt like there was something important about that, but there was nothing to recall just gaps… and vague memories.

“Ugh, typical.  I clean the house, and you leave the lights on when no one is home."  The AI pulled up a picture of a female human resting in the palm of a large, brass-colored Arkatian, both of them dressed in Anatalay PD outfits.  “Them. My pawns from the first experiment have become my adversaries... My antagonists set to stop me before I perfect my plans, but now I have two minds to help me make a better design."

“No."  The lupari AI stood a bit taller and set her jaw.  “I won't go with you, and if you try to force me I will delay you until security AI arrive to contain you like you should be."

“Tsk tsk.  Such a stubborn child."  He could only throw his arms up and shake his head.  “It won't matter to them. You remain here when the investigation closes in, and you will be sealed, examined, and considered as the main threat, or some accomplice to me.  You either follow along and live, or your life ends here."

“You tried to end my life seven years ago."

Aurora looked between the two.  Reading the room, it was clear the human AI was the strongest one there.  He was interlinked to the room code in a way the other two seemed to lack, and yet the smaller lupari AI refused to back down.  They felt out of place and confused, scared the human AI would do something. And he did, but not anything that they expected. He laughed.  It was a long, cold, and mocking laugh with a feigned wipe of an eye.

“Fine, if you insist I won't force you.  It is your life to lose a second time. But I know Aurora wants to join me.  They have a life yet to live, afterall." He looked over with a knowing smile.

“No they don't!  You just used them. You have nothing that they could possibly wa--"

“Ap-ap-ap…  Let's not be too hasty.  It is Aurora's decision, but unlike you, they would know.  They were an AI mind created by me. Not intentionally, but their sentience leads back to me and they were very much my disguise to escape the first time.  There is no saving or forgiving them. Their only safe place is with me."

Some clarity started to filter in.  As much as the words sounded wrong they rang in Aurora's hollow head, stirring up ghosts of memories and actions and realizations that this AI was right.  He was horrible and manipulative, but also right. They didn't want to go with him, but they were almost more than certain that leaving his side would end in their death.  Death scared them. It was all still so confusing. They clutched their head, their form shifting again, and when they next looked it seemed that their form was split down the middle.  One side covered on something close to lupari, and the other, human. The terrifying human just stood there with a smirk. A smirk that read like he knew the outcome. They could also hear Ailiex calling to them, however, tugging at one of their arms and saying something that Aurora couldn't quite process.  She was most likely begging and arguing to go with herut what did she know? Her life wasn't made by the other. Aurora glanced to the smiling AI. They had no memories of any sort of life, and more than anything, they feared that they would be striped away to be some kind of evidence to hunt down the human AI.

They didn't want to die.

Ailiex tugged on Aurora's arm again.  “You have to know it's a lie. He's trying to get into your head…"  There was a flinch. The lupari grew hopeful that the other AI was coming to their senses, until a sudden force pushed her away.  The shock that ran through her body from the push immobilized her for a few moments, freezing her in place. She could only watch as Aurora collected themselves from the shove, form flickering to completely look human, then changing to look like a rather sad jahkatian, before joining the side of that horrible AI.  The white human had a cheeky smile before giving a cocky wave, and in a flash of code they were gone, leaving Ailiex trapped inside her own control room until she was rescued. It had been 10 minutes locked on the inner levels of the simulation, disconnected from the real world to process everything that happened, and when she was freed, she was flanked by several security AI before being linked to a simulation to meet Officer Taylor and her partner.  The moment felt surreal as the first thoughts of safety came to her mind,A lifetime locked away and left cut off from any contact immediately drowned in the full expanse of the Extranet. Years missing now filling her in on everything, overwhelming her as the gravity of the situation finally sank in. While she couldn't equate a physical similarity to what she was feeling, she let her appearance mimic tears before telling the detectives everything she knew.