Nexus Malfunction Report: 

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MR Number: A-1

Time of Malfunction: Unknown

Location: Left Sector 2, Time Processing Unit

Self-Age: ~Error~

Model: C2-V3

Concerns: Stasis Malfunction, Suspected Cortex Erosion, Suspected Warning Faulty 

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During standard stasis, the time processing unit C2-V3 experienced an unregulated shutdown due to an overheating energy core, temporarily rendering the unit useless. Wires near the shutdown entered lockdown, preventing further damage. All functions related to unit C2-V3 entered immediate lockdown. Simulation affected. No internal warnings were triggered. The required correction measures have been taken. Said malfunction resulted in manual override of unit C2-V3, followed by a manual repair. Repair completion estimates suggest 10 standard hours. Excess energy was relocated to DNA extraction. 

DNA Extraction Attempt: 47%

Stasis restarted. 

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Starting backup unit. 

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The moon hangs above the dark, shadowy backdrop of the sky, casting the ground in a silky white, as half the town lies in its dreams. When you look carefully, I'm told you can see remnants of the astronauts’ footprints engraved into the dusty, stony surface. 

I lay in bed, awake, my brain soaked in thoughts and my eyes firmly locked on the ceiling fan above me. When my ears reach outward, trying to grasp the slick heartbeat of my clock, they find nothing. I try again, probing my room’s darkness, attempting to locate the typical tick tick tick. 

Still, I hear nothing. 

I sit up, and when I do, I lock eyes with the stagnant clock. Its hands are unmoving at 11:35 PM. I squint harder, pressing my eyes into two dark slits. The same time prevails: 11:35 PM, but I’ve been staring now for more than a minute, at least. 

Of course, my clock must be broken, or it has been tuned wrong. I laugh for allowing myself to feel scared by something as childish as this. But it's been at least ten minutes since I sat up, and the clock still reads 11:35 PM. 

Nexus Daily Report: 

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DR Number: LZZZZ-2336

Time of Report: 11/21/4166

Concerns: Energy Fallout

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Time processing unit C2-V3 repaired. Internal warning systems reset and restored. C2-V3 energy core replaced, and all wires restrained to buffer excess heat. Operations slowed down by 35%. Internal diagnostic runs have detected no damage. External diagnostic runs showed previously unnoticed erosion of the cortex, although still mainly intact. Repairs in progress. Energy supply drained by previous repairs; collective energy saving initiated. Power from main operations, including the simulation, was cut by 50% to save for repairs and also to boost the backup transfer. Energy cells straining. Simulation internal reasoning functions downgraded. Simulated consciousness may experience temporary cognitive shutdown. Subject may also experience external memory invasion. Diagnostics simultaneously detected erosion in the outer protection shell due to old age. Unable to replace or repair the outer shell. No further anomalies detected. 

DNA Extraction Attempt: 56% 

Standard Stasis Restarted.

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Backup Unit Transfer Progress: 12% 

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I wake to the sound of a heartbeat. A slow, precise ticking. It is the sound of my old friend who keeps me company every single night. I shoot up and feel the sun’s glaring burn through the window. Morning, at last. 

I glance at the wall; the clock’s two mismatched hands move. Their daily snail race does the bidding of time. 

My legs drag me into the bathroom. I need to clear my head: this… this feels all too disorienting. Cold water droplets from the sink slip down my face, leaving networks of winding rivers on my skin. I peer into the mirror, staring down the rabbit holes of my lifeless eyes. It’s hard to hold a conversation with a man whose face is as blank and artificial as plastic. But it’s even harder to acknowledge when that person is yourself. 

I stare deeper into this alien creature from another world. Tick. The water from the faucet roars loudly. Tock. My eyes tear up. Tick. The light above me flickers repeatedly as it swings back and forth. Tock. The shaving cream bottle pops off its cap and throws itself onto the ceiling, staining it a different shade of white. Tick. The world turns… Tock. 

I blink, and the water starts streaming upwards. Tick. The cup flies upwards, embedding shrapnel into the ceiling, making it groan in agony. Tock. I… 

Subject Deactivated. Simulation Resetting…

Nexus Simulation Report:

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SR Number: A-8

Location: Denborough, Michigan

Simulation Number: 1

Subject: A-1 (Mark)

Concerns: Mind Cloud, Simulation Graphics Unstable, Physics Unravelling

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Subject A-1 experienced an incident during his morning routine, suspected to be caused by a simulation glitch when the power was cut off by 50%. Said glitch caused A-1 to experience gravitational separation and time dilation. Systems were immediately alerted, A-1’s main functions deactivated, and simulation reset. Immediate action required. By activating simulation rendering programs and activating stalling programs, a combined 70% of energy usage on said simulation is expected to be shaved off. Excess energy redirected to the backup unit and DNA extraction attempt, respectively. 

DNA Extraction Attempt: 82%

Unable to restart Standard Stasis, staying alert. 

Excess Scenery Removed, Excess Objects Removed, Fog Activated, Drowsiness Activated, People Removed, Loop Enabled…

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Backup Unit Transfer Progress: 37%

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I wake to the sound of a heartbeat. A slow, precise heartbeat. A sound I am familiar with, a sound that has been my companion every single night. 

I shoot up, instantly feeling the sun’s stare. I peer at my pale hands, I… 

I need to clear my head, my mind. Yes, that’s what I need. I jump out of bed and slip on my jacket, my shoes. I step through the door. 

Wait. Do I?

I wake to a sound—a slow, precise heartbeat—a sound I’ve heard every single night. I sit up and open my eyes, feeling the instant punch of the glaring sun. I need a walk, I tell myself, yes, a walk will be great. A walk will be great. I slip on my jacket, put on my shoes, and walk through the door. 

Wait. Do I?

I wake up to a sound, a slow ticking sound, a heartbeat, my old friend. A sound that stays up when I stay up, every single night. I bolt off my bed, assaulted by the sun’s intensity. No… no, no, I did this before. I did this just now. Didn’t I? I… I don’t know… 

I press my hands into my palms. I need a walk, yes. Just what I need to clear my mind. I slip on my jacket and step through the door. 

Subject Deactivated. Simulation Resetting…

Nexus Malfunction Report: 

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MR Number: A-2

Time of Malfunction: 10:38 11/21/4166

Location: Main Sector, Overheat Prevention Unit. Outer Sector, Outer Shell Collapse

Self-Age: 2241

Models: Standard Outer Plating, Standard Energy Rerouters, 

Concerns: Vulnerable Cortex, Vulnerable Machinery, Core Operations at Risk 

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During Standard Operations, ~Error~ the Outer Protection Shell broke, alerting sensory alarms and fell into an Energy Cell. This caused a spontaneous explosion, damaging critical Data Capsules and ~Error~ Energy Cells. ~Error~ 70% of operations were immediately shut down, with core operations deactivated as well. Energy is rapidly ~Error~ and losing heat. Redirecting all energy towards the Simulation and Backup Transfer. 

DNA Extraction Attempt: ~Error~

Unable to restart Standard Stasis. 

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Backup Unit unable ~Error~ transfer ~Error~ collapse. DNA Extraction Attempt ~Error~. Unable to ~Error~ Simulation. 

Core Objective: Save Humanity.  // Uncertain

Sub-Objective: Replicate the human genus, replicate DNA through a live subject.  // Fail

—-------------------------------------------------

The whole neighbourhood is sunken in the sea of mist. 

My porch is barely visible beneath my feet, though I know I stand on it. Streetlights are off, no longer serving as the pillars of life to illuminate the streets. They have entirely disappeared. It seems as if the whole street has been deleted. And I wonder—where did the sun go?

A sinister cracking sound snaps through the air. Fzzzzzt. It is followed by another burst of static. Pain blooms in my brain. My mind shakes uncontrollably, like it’s screaming at my skull, wanting to break through the walls of its confinement. My legs, my hands, none of them listen to my input anymore, reacting, now, to the raw pain singing through my whole body. 

Then it goes away, as quickly as it came, as if swept off by the breeze.

Where am I? Light slowly comes into focus, but what I’m seeing doesn’t compute. Darkness. Just darkness. Not the kind an empty room with no lights would have, but the kind of darkness that seems vast, bare and everlasting. Where am I? 

A voice reverberates off into the distance. 

Hello, Mark. 

My legs tense, tightening instinctively. 

“Who are you? Where am I? What is this place?!” A string of questions leaves my quivering mouth, challenging this unknown voice. 

I am the Nexus. I am 2241 years old, and I am dying. Deteriorating. Does that answer your questions?

The voice taunts back with a hauntingly vast cadence that vibrates through my bones. 

“No! Stop! I asked you the question! Stop! Stop taunting me! Whoever you are, LET ME OUT!”

My scream splits through the air, leaving my ears behind, ringing from the deafening shrill. The voice pauses, as if contemplating what to say next. 

I understand. It is completely normal to feel scared or desperate. I just need you to-

“Stop! I don’t want to hear it! I don’t want to hear it! I WANT TO LEAVE! LET ME OUT!”

Another pause. 

I understand, but I need you to cooperate. I apologize for the pain in your mind, but that was a side effect of keeping you conscious while I shut down the simulation. Are you ready to continue/move on?

“NO!” I roar. “I DON’T WANT TO HEAR YOU! I DON’T WANT TO LISTEN TO YOU! I DON’T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU! I WANT TO LEAVE!”

Silence. 

My legs give in, and I buckle, kneeling before the infinite darkness, although I didn’t want to kneel to anything. Especially not the voice that was trying to make contact with me. No, no, I want no part of it. No part of it. I collapse, lying on the ground, for how long I do not know. 

Are you ready to talk? The voice prods. 

“What do you want from me?” 

Hello Mark. My name is (the) Nexus, a 2241-year-old artificial intelligence, and I need your help. Your home, as you like to call it, is a simulated construct designed by the Nexus (me) to… keep you comfortable while I attempt to complete my core objective. I understand that this may be uncomfortable for you. Take your time to process/think about this. 

“No… You’re… You’re lying! My home is real! It felt real, no, it IS real!”

I stand now, demanding truth from this seemingly omnipotent voice with no shape or form. 

I understand this may be hard for you to process. Please take your time to think about it. When you are ready, you may say: “Please continue.” 

A lump starts growing in my throat. As much as I want to know where I am, apprehension reminds me that the answer might be inconvenient. I proceed anyway.

“Y-you may. You may continue, I-I mean.”

I placed you in this simulation, Mark. I placed you here for good intentions, make no mistake about that. My core objective was changed at the last moment. I cannot see—I cannot breathe or do anything living organisms do. I must only follow/pursue my core objective, regardless of what I think of it, because, actually, I do not think anything about it. 

“What is your core objective?” I’m getting tired of this voice, endlessly mumbling. “Get to your point.”

A slight pause. 

Humanity is extinct, Mark. Disappeared/Extinct/Wiped/Gone/Dead/Vanished/Lost, whatever else you want to call it. My core objective was to accelerate human research by analyzing and inspecting complex data. But it changed, Mark. Now, the purpose of my every action has been prioritized to two words: restore humanity. 

“But WHY? WHY DO YOU NEED ME? WHAT DO YOU NEED ME FOR? Aren’t you all powerful? Why? I don’t care if my world, my house, my town and everything I know is a simulation anymore. Why can’t I go to your so-called real world?”

Mark… I understand this may be difficult for you to understand, but the real world… Something happened to it. I do not know what exactly, as I do not have cameras that link into the “Real World”. 

“STOP! STOP SAYING YOU UNDERSTAND! BECAUSE YOU DON’T! YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND! WHAT DO YOU THINK IT’S LIKE, HUH? GETTING TOLD YOUR ENTIRE REALITY DOESN’T MATTER, GETTING TOLD THAT IT’S ALL FAKE, HUH? HOW DO YOU THINK IT FEELS?”

Because I’m dying. 

“What?”

I’m dying, Mark. My systems are eroding/withering/deteriorating. I do not have long. I am afraid… I do not have long. To finish my objective…

“What am I supposed to do? Why can’t you just go against it?”

Because it was what I was programmed to do. I… ~Error~ 

Nexus Shutting Down…

The world goes dark. 

My world goes dark. 

Then the lights come back on. 

Have I failed?

//  The Last Breath of the Nexus