Chapter 100
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The next day, Alec blinked awake in spite of the lack of sleep he had trying to figure out what was wrong.
You see – there was something that the Mainframe had set up for those Systems who were doing their duties on a planet. If it was an emergency, they would be able to connect to the Mainframe if they consistently asked for it ten times.
It was what Alec had tried to do the moment his master had left him to his own devices in his room.
But that was just the thing – he couldn't connect to the Mainframe.
He didn't hear the Mainframe's response even once throughout the various calls. This should have constituted as an emergency, which would have responses directly from the Mainframe itself, but nothing.
Nothing.
That was, however, supposed to be impossible! No matter where he was on planet Incantix, there was nowhere that the Mainframe was unable to reach – or, at least, that was how it was supposed to be.
Alec still remembered the Mainframe's malfunctioning voice as it repeated over and over and incessantly until he passed out. He had no idea how long it had continued after that as well.
Had something happened to the Mainframe itself? Or was it just his connection with it that was the problem? Was it because of the partial bond that Alec had with his master?
Alec leaned more towards thinking that something had snapped his connection with the Mainframe – which shouldn't even be remotely possible.
But even then, could it really have been because both 'missions' were completed at the exact same moment?
Would that really cause such a big malfunction in the Mainframe? Was the Mainframe hacked or something? Did something happen up there, without any warning?
But that was the Mainframe! The Mainframe! Alec couldn't emphasize it more. Though he didn't pretend to understand the kind of processing power that the Mainframe boasted, there shouldn't have been a problem at all!
Alec had consistently tried in various ways written in the Mainframe's Rule Book, but nothing had come of it.
The sharp jolt of vindication that he felt when he didn't hear the damn Mainframe's annoying voice anymore was short lived.
After that, there was a suffusing and choking darkness that crept up on him. The doubts and apprehension that crept up on him were inky black, leaving their marks as they hooked into his skin.
What did this mean for him, now that he wasn't able to connect to the Mainframe?
What did this mean for him, as a System that followed the Mainframe's Rule Book to the letter?
He was here on what constituted as both punishment and suspension. After carrying out his mission, he knew that he would be heading back to the Mainframe's space where he would continue his duties, but now?
Was he now… human again?
The thought was more chilling than he could ever have imagined.
While Alec had not been treating this as a game, as some transmigtators might have, per se, he now came to the startling realization that he'd been keeping mostly everyone at arm's length more or less, because he was faced with the knowledge that he would have to leave one day. Whether it be sooner or later.
Now, he was all too startlingly human.
There had been no similar incidents such as the one he found himself going through right now. Or, if there were, he was unaware of them.
Alec had the sneaking suspicion that if he died now, he really would be dead for real. Deader than he'd ever been. No waking up in the Mainframe's space. Or waking up. Ever.
He would, just as he should have in his first life, cease to be. His consciousness would be wiped out, and System No. 00290596 would be forgotten by the world. He'd be erased from the Mainframe's data log, leaving no trace of himself behind in the world.
Alec felt more human than he had in a long, long time.
The System let out a little sigh now, accepting the fact quickly.
Well, he supposed it didn't really matter. After all, he'd been making logical decisions that wouldn't have meted his death anyway, which wasn't a change from what he was going to do now.
There was always an element of death in whatever he did anyway – just that it was now more permanent than ever.
As he thought, Alec exited his room, heading outside. Though his master had told him to find him when he woke up, he presumed that meant when the sun had at least come out.
Right now, it was still dark out, and there were faint twinkling stars above him in the black of the night. The low-hanging clouds that he'd spotted during the day were still there, and their luminance in the night sky painted the sky with different colours, fading in and out.
So, it wasn't the way the sun hit the clouds that caused that particular effect like he'd observed.
Alec shrugged it off all uncertainties that he had been carrying earlier, not bothering himself with depression as one might have expected, then brightened up.
This meant he no longer had to fulfil his mission from the Mainframe! And that was good news. This meant he was also not under the damn OOC anymore, wasn't it? He could freely glare at whoever he wanted to now!
Now that the chains were off, he suddenly felt like he'd sprouted wings.
The cold bite of the night air brushed against his cheeks, and as Alec held a spread-out hand to the moon, the wind whistled its way through his fingers.
Alec was alive.
More alive than he'd allowed himself to be in a while.
There was a faint rustling sound behind him as his master announced his presence.
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Alec had sensed his presence but was happy to pretend like he hadn't since the man hadn't seemed like he was about to say anything until now.
Alec turned around, smiling genuinely, his good mood infecting his smile. "Master."
"How's your status?" Nathan asked, and –
Of course, just like how Alec had grown comfortable in his immediate degradation into humanity, the world liked to prove him wrong.
A white, translucent screen popped up before him, startling him badly.
Alec stared at it for all of one second before he waved it away before his eyes could focus on the words there.
"I feel fine, master," Alec said politely. The man had, after all, been so concerned that Alec couldn't bring himself to keep the other at arm's length.
Nathan nodded. "Let me show you around," he said, picking up and placing Alec on his back like Gracen had suggested yesterday.
Alec stiffened and closed his eyes briefly, shoving down the annoyance of being treated like a kid. Bad Alec, this was his master now. A master was like a father for a lifetime, and Alec aspired to treat the man that way, so he relaxed in the hold.
At least it wasn't bridal style carry, even if it was utterly demeaning.
Alec inwardly cursed that he wasn't allowed to go back and figure out what the fuck just happened there – it looked like something similar to the screens that he'd used often back when he was doing his job as a System.
But he supposed it could wait for now.
His master's back was wide, and he was warm.
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The next day, Alec blinked awake in spite of the lack of sleep he had trying to figure out what was wrong.
You see – there was something that the Mainframe had set up for those Systems who were doing their duties on a planet. If it was an emergency, they would be able to connect to the Mainframe if they consistently asked for it ten times.
It was what Alec had tried to do the moment his master had left him to his own devices in his room.
But that was just the thing – he couldn't connect to the Mainframe.
He didn't hear the Mainframe's response even once throughout the various calls. This should have constituted as an emergency, which would have responses directly from the Mainframe itself, but nothing.
Nothing.
That was, however, supposed to be impossible! No matter where he was on planet Incantix, there was nowhere that the Mainframe was unable to reach – or, at least, that was how it was supposed to be.
Alec still remembered the Mainframe's malfunctioning voice as it repeated over and over and incessantly until he passed out. He had no idea how long it had continued after that as well.
Had something happened to the Mainframe itself? Or was it just his connection with it that was the problem? Was it because of the partial bond that Alec had with his master?
Alec leaned more towards thinking that something had snapped his connection with the Mainframe – which shouldn't even be remotely possible.
But even then, could it really have been because both 'missions' were completed at the exact same moment?
Would that really cause such a big malfunction in the Mainframe? Was the Mainframe hacked or something? Did something happen up there, without any warning?
But that was the Mainframe! The Mainframe! Alec couldn't emphasize it more. Though he didn't pretend to understand the kind of processing power that the Mainframe boasted, there shouldn't have been a problem at all!
Alec had consistently tried in various ways written in the Mainframe's Rule Book, but nothing had come of it.
The sharp jolt of vindication that he felt when he didn't hear the damn Mainframe's annoying voice anymore was short lived.
After that, there was a suffusing and choking darkness that crept up on him. The doubts and apprehension that crept up on him were inky black, leaving their marks as they hooked into his skin.
What did this mean for him, now that he wasn't able to connect to the Mainframe?
What did this mean for him, as a System that followed the Mainframe's Rule Book to the letter?
He was here on what constituted as both punishment and suspension. After carrying out his mission, he knew that he would be heading back to the Mainframe's space where he would continue his duties, but now?
Was he now… human again?
The thought was more chilling than he could ever have imagined.
While Alec had not been treating this as a game, as some transmigtators might have, per se, he now came to the startling realization that he'd been keeping mostly everyone at arm's length more or less, because he was faced with the knowledge that he would have to leave one day. Whether it be sooner or later.
Now, he was all too startlingly human.
There had been no similar incidents such as the one he found himself going through right now. Or, if there were, he was unaware of them.
Alec had the sneaking suspicion that if he died now, he really would be dead for real. Deader than he'd ever been. No waking up in the Mainframe's space. Or waking up. Ever.
He would, just as he should have in his first life, cease to be. His consciousness would be wiped out, and System No. 00290596 would be forgotten by the world. He'd be erased from the Mainframe's data log, leaving no trace of himself behind in the world.
Alec felt more human than he had in a long, long time.
The System let out a little sigh now, accepting the fact quickly.
Well, he supposed it didn't really matter. After all, he'd been making logical decisions that wouldn't have meted his death anyway, which wasn't a change from what he was going to do now.
There was always an element of death in whatever he did anyway – just that it was now more permanent than ever.
As he thought, Alec exited his room, heading outside. Though his master had told him to find him when he woke up, he presumed that meant when the sun had at least come out.
Right now, it was still dark out, and there were faint twinkling stars above him in the black of the night. The low-hanging clouds that he'd spotted during the day were still there, and their luminance in the night sky painted the sky with different colours, fading in and out.
So, it wasn't the way the sun hit the clouds that caused that particular effect like he'd observed.
Alec shrugged it off all uncertainties that he had been carrying earlier, not bothering himself with depression as one might have expected, then brightened up.
This meant he no longer had to fulfil his mission from the Mainframe! And that was good news. This meant he was also not under the damn OOC anymore, wasn't it? He could freely glare at whoever he wanted to now!
Now that the chains were off, he suddenly felt like he'd sprouted wings.
The cold bite of the night air brushed against his cheeks, and as Alec held a spread-out hand to the moon, the wind whistled its way through his fingers.
Alec was alive.
More alive than he'd allowed himself to be in a while.
There was a faint rustling sound behind him as his master announced his presence.
Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www.webnovel.com for visiting.
Alec had sensed his presence but was happy to pretend like he hadn't since the man hadn't seemed like he was about to say anything until now.
Alec turned around, smiling genuinely, his good mood infecting his smile. "Master."
"How's your status?" Nathan asked, and –
Of course, just like how Alec had grown comfortable in his immediate degradation into humanity, the world liked to prove him wrong.
A white, translucent screen popped up before him, startling him badly.
Alec stared at it for all of one second before he waved it away before his eyes could focus on the words there.
"I feel fine, master," Alec said politely. The man had, after all, been so concerned that Alec couldn't bring himself to keep the other at arm's length.
Nathan nodded. "Let me show you around," he said, picking up and placing Alec on his back like Gracen had suggested yesterday.
Alec stiffened and closed his eyes briefly, shoving down the annoyance of being treated like a kid. Bad Alec, this was his master now. A master was like a father for a lifetime, and Alec aspired to treat the man that way, so he relaxed in the hold.
At least it wasn't bridal style carry, even if it was utterly demeaning.
Alec inwardly cursed that he wasn't allowed to go back and figure out what the fuck just happened there – it looked like something similar to the screens that he'd used often back when he was doing his job as a System.
But he supposed it could wait for now.
His master's back was wide, and he was warm.
The next day, Alec blinked awake in spite of the lack of sleep he had trying to figure out what was wrong.You see there was something that the Mainframe had set up for those Systems who were doing their duties on a planet. If it was an emergency, they would be able to connect to the Mainframe if they consistently asked for it ten times.It was what Alec had tried to do the moment his master had left him to his own devices in his room.But that was just the thing he couldn't connect to the Mainframe.He didn't hear the Mainframe's response even once throughout the various calls. This should have constituted as an emergency, which would have responses directly from the Mainframe itself, but nothing.Nothing.That was, however, supposed to be impossible! No matter where he was on planet Incantix, there was nowhere that the Mainframe was unable to reach or, at least, that was how it was supposed to be.Alec still remembered the Mainframe's malfunctioning voice as it repeated over and over and incessantly until he passed out. He had no idea how long it had continued after that as well.Had something happened to the Mainframe itself? Or was it just his connection with it that was the problem? Was it because of the partial bond that Alec had with his master?Alec leaned more towards thinking that something had snapped his connection with the Mainframe which shouldn't even be remotely possible.But even then, could it really have been because both 'missions' were completed at the exact same moment?Would that really cause such a big malfunction in the Mainframe? Was the Mainframe hacked or something? Did something happen up there, without any warning?But that was the Mainframe! The Mainframe! Alec couldn't emphasize it more. Though he didn't pretend to understand the kind of processing power that the Mainframe boasted, there shouldn't have been a problem at all!Alec had consistently tried in various ways written in the Mainframe's Rule Book, but nothing had come of it.The sharp jolt of vindication that he felt when he didn't hear the damn Mainframe's annoying voice anymore was short lived.After that, there was a suffusing and choking darkness that crept up on him. The doubts and apprehension that crept up on him were inky black, leaving their marks as they hooked into his skin.What did this mean for him, now that he wasn't able to connect to the Mainframe?What did this mean for him, as a System that followed the Mainframe's Rule Book to the letter?He was here on what constituted as both punishment and suspension. After carrying out his mission, he knew that he would be heading back to the Mainframe's space where he would continue his duties, but now?Was he now human again?The thought was more chilling than he could ever have imagined.While Alec had not been treating this as a game, as some transmigtators might have, per se, he now came to the startling realization that he'd been keeping mostly everyone at arm's length more or less, because he was faced with the knowledge that he would have to leave one day. Whether it be sooner or later.Now, he was all too startlingly human.There had been no similar incidents such as the one he found himself going through right now. Or, if there were, he was unaware of them.Alec had the sneaking suspicion that if he died now, he really would be dead for real. Deader than he'd ever been. No waking up in the Mainframe's space. Or waking up. Ever.He would, just as he should have in his first life, cease to be. His consciousness would be wiped out, and System No. 00290596 would be forgotten by the world. He'd be erased from the Mainframe's data log, leaving no trace of himself behind in the world.Alec felt more human than he had in a long, long time.The System let out a little sigh now, accepting the fact quickly.Well, he supposed it didn't really matter. After all, he'd been making logical decisions that wouldn't have meted his death anyway, which wasn't a change from what he was going to do now.There was always an element of death in whatever he did anyway just that it was now more permanent than ever.As he thought, Alec exited his room, heading outside. Though his master had told him to find him when he woke up, he presumed that meant when the sun had at least come out.Right now, it was still dark out, and there were faint twinkling stars above him in the black of the night. The low-hanging clouds that he'd spotted during the day were still there, and their luminance in the night sky painted the sky with different colours, fading in and out.So, it wasn't the way the sun hit the clouds that caused that particular effect like he'd observed.Alec shrugged it off all uncertainties that he had been carrying earlier, not bothering himself with depression as one might have expected, then brightened up.This meant he no longer had to fulfil his mission from the Mainframe! And that was good news. This meant he was also not under the damn OOC anymore, wasn't it? He could freely glare at whoever he wanted to now!Now that the chains were off, he suddenly felt like he'd sprouted wings.The cold bite of the night air brushed against his cheeks, and as Alec held a spread-out hand to the moon, the wind whistled its way through his fingers.Alec was alive.More alive than he'd allowed himself to be in a while.There was a faint rustling sound behind him as his master announced his presence. Find authorized novels in Webnovelfaster updates, better experiencePlease click www.webnovel.com for visiting. Alec had sensed his presence but was happy to pretend like he hadn't since the man hadn't seemed like he was about to say anything until now.Alec turned around, smiling genuinely, his good mood infecting his smile. "Master.""How's your status?" Nathan asked, and Of course, just like how Alec had grown comfortable in his immediate degradation into humanity, the world liked to prove him wrong.A white, translucent screen popped up before him, startling him badly.Alec stared at it for all of one second before he waved it away before his eyes could focus on the words there."I feel fine, master," Alec said politely. The man had, after all, been so concerned that Alec couldn't bring himself to keep the other at arm's length.Nathan nodded. "Let me show you around," he said, picking up and placing Alec on his back like Gracen had suggested yesterday.Alec stiffened and closed his eyes briefly, shoving down the annoyance of being treated like a kid. Bad Alec, this was his master now. A master was like a father for a lifetime, and Alec aspired to treat the man that way, so he relaxed in the hold.At least it wasn't bridal style carry, even if it was utterly demeaning.Alec inwardly cursed that he wasn't allowed to go back and figure out what the fuck just happened there it looked like something similar to the screens that he'd used often back when he was doing his job as a System.But he supposed it could wait for now.His master's back was wide, and he was warm.
