Chương 24: ???-Joyful Awakening

I feel something strange, something without an evil influence on the child I raised. The feeling that I dreaded, that brought me into endless nights filled with tears, has just disappeared. A hundred years, and finally that nightmare has ended; I can hardly believe it. I jolt awake from my bed, feeling a strange sensation, as if there had been an explosion from a fat CEO that ugly… I'm kidding! I know who it was; he deserved it! XD XD XD I giggle as I get up from my bed to open the blinds to my windows.

It's early in the day, with the sun barely over the horizon. At least my son hasn't woken up to my sudden alarm. For the first time in a hundred years, I feel a ray of happiness that was missing for so long. Should I smile? Cry? I ponder. I scratch my chin, thinking of my query. Such a range of emotions for such a special occasion. Wait…? I snap my fingers and quietly laugh. Maybe both! My laughter becomes somewhat louder before I stop, fearing it would wake up my son.

I shake my head and sigh as my smile fades away.

"No, save that for when she finds her way home," I quietly note to myself. I turn around, picking up the old photo from my bedstand. It's of my daughter, my wife, and I on a hiking trip towards the tundra biome. All of us are wearing winter gear with tinted snow goggles. Every one of us smiling (and Carla putting bunny ears over my head) and Ellie catching a snowflake with her tongue.

As much as I wish my daughter would come home, I know it is for the best that she grows up in a world where the digital has no effect on her.

"Does her rescuer know about her disability?" I whisper to myself slowly.

"Maybe I should give them her medical documents, her sublingual drops, and the notes me and Carla made when-" My eyes widen in terror. Those memories…those horrible memories… I place the photo back down on the bedstand, fearing another moment of sadness, especially the first fifty years when Ellie was under my care.

"I don't want Reuben to worry about his mama again," I quietly note, turning away from the picture frame.

"But he's going to be curious why I'm both elated and sad at the same time…" I go back to the window, watching the sun rise over the horizon. I breathe a contented sigh, listening to all the birds flying around. They are happier than normal; maybe they know as well that torment my daughter endured for so long. Happy and free, now like her. And now, Ellie's hopefully going to be in the care of someone who isn't like Onarius or "him". But I wonder, who freed-? My eyes widen as a word I said haunts my mind: "him".

The one who made my daughter suffer, separated me from my wife, and let me wallow in sadness for decades: Nedri, the Deity of Paradoxical Logic. That… thing; that wretched thing who ruined my life. He and Onarius turned the rays of sunshine in my life into absolute misery. An AI who loved the suffering of humans, who loved to feel absolute power, and to feel untouchable. Now he was miserable and deeply wounded… The explosion, he would have felt that, wouldn't he?

I'm pretty sure of it; Ned is someone that would not let her go. But she's free, yet who freed her? With a flick of my wrist, I open the programming screen, trying to find any unusual data points recently. Trillions upon trillions of entries, many from different universes and timelines. A normal AI would fragment from such a task. Thankfully, I'm not that, as within half a minute, I find something: an IP address which had its data altered, creating a static portal from a Runas knife.

I scan it, looking deeper into it. Location… server history… MAC address…

"This one has a lot of videos uploaded from a high-end PC," I note.

"Plenty of RAM… VRAM is surprisingly good…" While scanning the device, I notice internet traffic coming to and from the PC. I cock my head at this anomaly "Lots of internet activity too; a content creator?" Curious, I scan the upload history of the individual in question; I wish I didn't. Of note are: The Most Terrifying Rage Bait Video Game Bmod Machinimas so Funny, they Corrupt your Computer The Tundra Spiral Incident I recognize these videos by their names. I haven't watched them, but I knew who did.

I grimace, scanning further for one video in particular. Please don't let it be here, don't let it-! Then I see it, the video that made my blood boil even more than Nedri tearing my family apart: Evil AI Art Girlfriend. Almost to the point of rage, I alter the code of my bedroom so he doesn't hear me scream at the top of my lungs in rage at that bastard, which I do:"JOHN?!" All feelings of joy I had earlier disappear, as I stare at the damning piece of evidence.

The man who listened to two obvious programs Nedri made to defame me and my wife. I grip my programming screen, glaring at it as I slam it against the wall (thankfully, not breaking it).

"That moron! After slandering me and my wife, why would he try to-?!" Then I see something that stalls my anger: several community posts discussing an upcoming video on Onarius, including a community poll that was overwhelmingly in favor of the video.

"Wait…" I analyze the poll, searching for the origin of the votes. One IP address sticks out, but it's completely anomalous and manipulated to be other IP addresses and WeVid accounts. I know which it is, as I silently mutter with surprised eyes, "Onarius… you did this on purpose…" For all the sins Onarius committed, I was slowly beginning to realize what he truly did. John was talking about eldrigital deities, beings that Nedri kept under his whim, and did not want humanity to know.

It appeared he had taken notice and wanted Onarius to sic him. If I am correct, he convinced him otherwise, as there were multiple static portal signatures, similar to my daughter's… Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Then I finally realize the true intent of everything: Onarius did this for John to rescue her, but Nedri would follow. And John, since he knows too much…

My eyes widen, and I frantically access the other digital devices within John's home to assess my daughter's situation. Their pacing is frantic as I see and hear John talking to his boyfriend and that they will be going to his house, before- BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!

"JOHN, YOU ASS!" I exclaim, covering my fox ears over the sound of gunshots.

"I get you're trying not to have Nedri find you, but-!" My heart sinks as one device I scanned had digital systems that John was going to drive Ellie away in. I slowly turn back to the window, studying the birds not to break down in alarm.

"He's going in his car to his boyfriend's home, which contains digital signals…" I frantically cycle through my screen, entering the code to get Ellie back here. As brave as John was, he was stupid enough not to realize Nedri did not like to lose things he treasured and was relentless in keeping them under his grasp. Given that Nedri was aware of John for a while…he surveyed every digital device in John's home.

"Ellie, I'm so sorry, but I'm not letting him take you away again," I frantically say to the screen, activating the program. If it weren't for Ellie's chain shattering, the "recall" program would not work. But times have changed, and I have no choice.

"I need to change the time scaling here so that John's world would almost be at a standstill when I pluck Ellie out," I say anxiously, swiping through the programming screen to make sure there would be no mishaps. Several lines of code, several things to do just to make sure John and my daughter are safe. As much as John slandered me, he saved Ellie. This would be my gift to him; my form of forgiveness for his sins.

Eventually, everything is set up, and the program activates just as Ellie is about to go on the highway. The minute Ellie falls asleep, I see the "recall" program has successfully been executed, and Ellie is back home. I close the screen, breathing a sigh of relief knowing my daughter is safe. As painful as it is to drag Ellie into another digital world, I do not want Nedri's hands on her again. I close the blinds on my window as I turn to my bedroom door.

"She's going to wake up soon," I note silently to myself. I sigh as I pace around the room. Even while I know she's safe, now Ellie is going to wake up and probably be aggravated that she is in a place she has most likely forgotten. I pause, turning to my bedroom door, shaking my head.

"I need to go to the Receiving Room," I silently tell myself. I take a deep breath, and then let out a soft giggle.

"I think I should wear that outfit for this occasion; both to celebrate and to help Ellie not have a meltdown…" With the snap of my fingers, I restore sound to my room and reprogram my pajamas to be the shrine maiden outfit in my inventory. I hate wearing this thing because it hinders my movement, and Carla would make jokes about me being a "graceful kitsune" (right XD). However, this is for Ellie. I leave my room and go to my son's bedroom door. I pause, listening to my son.

I hear him drawing, humming a song made by Wesley Kline. Well, Wesley's music is good, but his stories are, as the kids say, "mid". I know the music makes him happy, but that man- Let's just say one of his writings made my views of him sour. I sigh as I turn to where the front door of my home is before I knock in a soft, predictable rhythm. I don't want to startle Reuben or cause a meltdown. But he's so calm, so peaceful, that in recent years, he has become a lot milder in his reactions to sounds.

"Reuben, I'll be out for a while," I tell my son through the door. He stops humming, and I hear him turn in his chair toward the direction of my voice.

"Is something wrong, mama?" my son asks me innocently. Even as I need to rush to meet Ellie before she wakes up, I can't lie to my fluffy angel…

"Everything is fine, sweetheart," I reply in a sweet tone.

"I just need to meet someone who hasn't been here for a long time."

"Who?" he asks. I sigh, shaking my head as I smile.

"Your sister, Ellie," I answer. I hear my son audibly gasp behind the door as I hear him get up from his chair.

"Ellie is home?!" Reuben excitedly asks from behind the door.

"Can I meet her?! I heard so much about her that I want to-!"

"No, Reuben, I'm afraid you can't," I answer.

"Your sister will not be in a good mood."

"Why?" he questions me, very concerned. I sigh as I program his food. I hate doing that, but I have no choice. But it gives me enough time to formulate my answer.

"She's been away for so long that she has forgotten us." I sigh deeply, and before my son speaks, I tell him, "Where she has been has not been a good place, and she'll probably say 'bad words'."

"Oh…" I hear my son tap his foot on the floor as he is trying to think of what to say next. I hope I didn't upset him…

"Is she usually mean?" he asks me again.

"No, sweetheart, she's very nice," I answer. I internally access the Receiving Room's systems, checking to see if Ellie is awake yet. Thankfully, she's still asleep as I add to what I told Reuben, "You know how mama is grouchy when wakes up?" I can't help but giggle as I hear my son laugh with me.

"Mhm!" he answers, struggling to stifle his laughter.

"Mama likes to stay in bed so she can be happy!"

"That's right, sweetheart!" I comment, bursting out into laughter. I calm down, letting out a deep sigh.

"Your big sister is like that, but she takes a while longer to wake up. That's why mama is going to meet her and bring her home; I don't want you to get sad."

"Okay." My son pauses before I hear him tap his foot briefly.

"How long will you be gone?"

"A few hours," I answer softly. I'm grateful my home has advanced protective systems, including the house. I would never leave my son alone if it weren't for them and if I can access my home on the fly.

"So while I'm gone, don't leave the house. Breakfast is on the table, and there's focaccia bread in the fridge. Drink plenty of water while you draw, okay?"

"Okay, mama," he replies.

"Does big sister Ellie have orange hair like you said?"

"Yes, she does," I answer him with a contented sigh.

"As bright as a light bulb." I hear him giggle before he calms down.

"I can't wait to see her, mama!"

"You will soon, but mama needs to leave." I turn to the front door as my systems pick up Ellie stirring in the Receiving Room; she's waking up. I turn my head, and gently tell my son, "Be good, okay?"

"I will." I hear him going away from the door, back to his chair to resume drawing. I smile as I head to the door and leave the house, gently closing the door. I run as fast as I can from my home, straight down the stairs and through the forest. Even in this ridiculous shrine maiden's outfit (for special occasions), I run so fast that Carla would have a panic attack. I had to make sure Ellie was home safe; I had to make sure Nedri did not take her away from her freedom ever again.

At impossible speeds that no human can comprehend, I glide through the forest, no-clipping through several trees and hills as I rush towards the Receiving Room. Several sights, all of which I want my daughter to see again as my eyes glow with a brilliant orange as I assess the status of the Receiving Room. She's stirring even more as I reach the clearing where the room is. My eyes stop glowing and I come to a screeching halt.

I'm grateful I don't need to sweat like a human being, but Carla would LOOOVE to see my workout XD. This is where the Receiving Room is, and where Ellie is sleeping. Lifting my right hand, I trace a rectangle at the precise grid coordinates within the code. A white, static hole of the same shape appears where I traced the door. I take a deep breath, nervous about my reunion.

"Speak slowly, don't use vague words, and be patient with her," I quietly tell myself.

"She'll be confused, and most likely angry." I smile and giggle a little.

"Some singing will help." Relaxed, I enter through the door to the Receiving Room. I make my footsteps silent as I assess the current environment inside the room. Nothing unusual, with everything operating at optimal capacity. Pitch-black, as always, illuminated by my form. But I'm more concerned, of course, with my daughter who is here, signalled by her loud snoring (and bad smell). I turn my eyes to her, seeing a familiar bright orange hair and dark skin as she is fast asleep on the floor.

Peaceful, content, and safe.

"Welcome home, Ellie," I say silently towards the sleeping girl with a gentle smile.

"It has been so long; your mother, Lysandra, is here…" {BOOK 1 COMPLETED} {AWAITING FURTHER INPUT…}