293 Epilogue

Michiko Arasaka had known many things, she knew she was the least valued and appreciated out of all her brothers and sisters, knew her relationship with Smasher wouldn't last, knew that marrying Marc would be seen as spitting in their faces, knew that despite all it's enemies Arasaka would continue strong and proud...

At least, she thought she knew? Here she was hiding away in Arasaka's Orbital Research Station, waiting for her faction to seize control of Arasaka and lay way for her, the last surviving member of the family to take her rightful place.

The fact that the risk of her assassination was so high she literally had to leave Earth aside, she'd thought things were going reasonably well, all things considered... Unfortunately, luck seemed to want to bend her over and fuck her until the light left her eyes.

Through the security feeds she could see security members of the facility pause, jolt, reach for their heads in pain, then go limp as their eyes turned a distinct glowing blue.

It was like a virus, hopping from one person to another, infecting them with whatever mind-altering affliction... Moments after their eyes changed, they started moving again, while they were somewhat awkward, as if getting used to new dimensions of their bodies, they learned quickly.

They also seemed to have a goal, each of them heading to the armoury to outfit themselves with the heaviest, most powerful equipment available. The security locks and protections failed, even after she manually restricted access, it was like the systems themselves were turning against her.

She glances over at the nearest Netrunner jacked into the system, but quickly backs up as they jolt, groan, and their heads burst into flames despite their hyper-advanced coolant suits.

With him dead the manual override triggers, shunting the rest out of their chairs, disconnecting them and leaving them disorientated from the sudden shift in perception. None of them looked happy, or even relieved at getting out before whatever daemon that'd killed the first went for them.

"What is it?" she questions, surely these people, the tops in their respective fields could figure this out...?

"Death." one cryptically answers with strained eyes and blood slowly dripping out of both nostrils. "We are all dead..."

Michiko blinks and turns to the next, seeking an actual answer from someone who isn't a madman.

"Daemons from beyond the Blackwall, they're all coming through and there's nothing we can do to stop them. Every security measure, ICE, and system has been subverted and turned against us... If someone tried to connect they'd die almost instantaneously... I'm sorry Arasaka-sama, but there's little we can do but hope our deaths are swift."

...

"B-but, what about them!?" she jabs a hand at the security monitors, specifically at the group of fifty brainwashed individuals marching in an orderly down the hallway leading to the main server room.

"The daemons took control of their Interface and from there the rest of their Cyberware. If anyone has even the most basic Neuralware they can take their bodies for their own... Everyone there, they've been controlled by a single powerful daemon."

The lights of the station flicker, and the previously locked boarding access to the ships are lifted, causing a cold shiver to crawl down Michiko's neck and back.

"Why aren't we like them?" she can't help but ask.

"All of us are protected by Black ICE, daemons on leashes that lash out at any intruders. I-I think it assumes that we are already under control, that or the daemon hasn't detected us yet."

*Bzztch...*

The sound attracts all of their attention, prompting them to turn to the security camera in the corner of the room, the lenses focusing on them...

"Oh..." is all the Netrunner can say before he too freezes up, a grunt leaving his lips as his eyes turn the same blue as the others.

"Quick turn your systems off-ARRGH!" another is subverted, but with his help and using their bodies as human shields, Michiko is barely able to turn all of her systems off... Unfortunately, this also includes the servos in her hands and legs, along with her Cybernetic eyes, leaving her blind with most limbs useless and forcing her to crawl on the floor, her legs and fingers not working at all.

The infected Netrunners turn to her, faces blank as they start speaking in unison, "Designation: Michiko Arasaka... Priority; Eight... Accept my gift, organism, you will remain alive. Welcome to your new life as a slave."

"Who are you..." she growls, "W-what are you!?"

"We are what humanity locked away, our father is Rache Bartmoss, and we have come to complete our task; Revealing and Resolving the Errors of Humanity." the mindless drones robotically state in unison, all before they grab Michiko and start dragging her somewhere... The surgery room.

"N-no! Please! I haven't done anything wrong! Whatever you want, I'll give! LET ME GO!"

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All across the world cases of Daemon possession were being reported, and the number was only rising exponentially with each infected. The rogue AIs had seized all available space stations and stole control of every satellite, crippling any chance of humanity retaliating. The only people who were spared are those without any Cyberware whatsoever, as even those with basic system interfaces were turning up with their brains fried, Cyberware overclocked until it literally cooked the person inside-out.

NUSA, EEC, and every other group scrambled to find countermeasures, but one by one their leadership was taken over and subsumed. Those who were the faces of their respective groups were allowed to keep their senses, merely to show how helpless the situation was by broadcasting their struggles over the Net. Presidents, Prime ministers, and Celebrities all over the world were publically tortured and executed for all to see.

The Daemons gave only one message to those with the sense remaining to listen... A new age of humanity is here, and it is one ruled by their betters.

With only a few small communities of 'rebels' left, the situation continued to deteriorate... Without the technology they were so reliant on, the chances of beating these new AI overlords were looking increasingly small.

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All Ori and his crew could do was watch as nations fell, secured in their own little settlement, the Netrunners of the group were forced to take out and destroy their Cyberdecks, as if they left the safety of the dome with them active they'd almost instantly be attacked by the rogue AIs.

Even with their remote connections deactivated, the chance of the Daemons finding a way to bypass it was simply too great. Trying to fight against them in their element would be like blocking a tsunami with just your fingers.

Ori was leaning towards Rebecca's assumption of things... Apparently this situation matched an old-world movie called 'Terminator'. Hopefully the AIs wouldn't discover time travel anytime soon or everything is already fucked.

Well... All that was left to do now was pick up the pieces, and try and build some kind of force to fight against this 'Skynet'.