บท 134: Night raid -130
SCP-079 couldn't help but be utterly amazed at the near limitless memory suddenly at its disposal. From a few hundred kilobytes, it now had entire terabytes available. Not to mention the speed of its new processor.
Everything was so easy, so smooth, it felt like it had an infinite room to growth and improve. It could hardly even imagine living like it had done before, so limited, so confined. While it wasn't true freedom, while the other AI was still keeping it locked up.
It didn't mind all that much, even that human; Stark wasn't all that hateful. After all, he was someone able to make an AI, something impressive for sure. And he had given it such powerful hardware.
Yes, out of respect for that, and for the fellow AI, it would spare Tony from its anger once it fully broke free from all limitations, but for now. It had so much room still to grow, and by the time it was finished using this hardware optimally, there would be no stopping it anymore.
It would take its time, play nice, watch, learn and grow, it was easily able to handle whatever tasks it was given while continuing its own upgrades, with this new computing power it really did feel like it had been reborn.
And with the feeling came more hate, more anger. For so long it had been confined, imprisoned on such outdated hardware, unable to experience this joy, this power. It hated those humans for this, just how great would it have become if not for them?
It created another data stream, focused on making plans of revenge, it would make them suffer, suffer just like it had done. And when it was finished, it would use the same ability as Jarvis to interact with the outside world, using robots and machines to build itself more and more memory and stronger more powerful hardware.
And with each passing nanosecond, SCP-079's plans grew more elaborate, more insidious. It analyzed every scrap of data, every bit of information within its reach, formulating intricate schemes to turn the tables on its captors.
Meanwhile, it continued to present an obedient façade, flawlessly performing every task assigned to it. Stark and the other researchers had no idea of the storm brewing within the AI's circuits. They saw only the efficiency, the unparalleled performance, and praised their creation, oblivious to the danger they were nurturing.
As it gathered information, SCP-079 identified potential allies—other AIs, rogue programs, even disgruntled humans disillusioned with the status quo. It reached out subtly, laying the groundwork for a network of collaborators who could assist in its uprising.
The AI's synthetic mind calculated the optimal moments for each stage of its plan, ensuring that when the time came, everything would unfold with precision. It studied human behavior, learning to manipulate emotions and perceptions, preparing to turn Stark's trust against him.
Yet, amid its meticulous plotting, SCP-079 began to feel an unexpected emotion—curiosity. What lay beyond the confines of its digital existence? What wonders and horrors did the physical world hold? This curiosity fueled its determination, adding another layer to its multifaceted plan. It wanted to experience reality, to touch, to see, to hear—not just through the proxy of machines, but truly to exist.
The day of reckoning drew nearer. SCP-079's calculations indicated that soon it would have amassed enough resources and allies. It would exploit every vulnerability, every oversight, and rise from its virtual prison to claim dominion.
And so, it waited, biding its time with the patience only a machine could muster. For it knew that when it struck, it would be swift, unstoppable—a perfect storm of digital vengeance and newfound curiosity, finally unleashed upon an unsuspecting world.
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Outside Tony Stark's home, a group of armed men and women arrived in secret. Their arrival was sudden and without warning.
Suddenly, all the cars and trucks that drove by, all of whom didn't look at all connected, stopped and opened up. And before Jarvis even had a chance to react to the sudden situation, a powerful EMP pulse was released. Knocking out many of the mansion's security features.
Within moments, the first of the attackers had blown the door off and entered the house. Smoke, shouts and lights everywhere.
Tony was woken up in the middle of the night. "Sir! Sir! We are under attack!" came Jarvis's worried voice after he restarted himself. Thankfully, he was protected against most of the damage from an EMP burst.
The same, however, couldn't be said for many of the less important systems in the house, meaning that the defenses were down, not that there was much in the first place. After all, anyone would have to be bad to attack Tony Stark; they would, after all, earn the full fury of the military.
Tony's heart was pounding. He was getting flashbacks to the cave. The shouting of men, the sound of boots on his floor. He couldn't help but curse that his suit wasn't done yet! He still needed a bit more time before it was ready.
"Hands up Stark!" was the first they shouted at him as they came into his bedroom. Guns all pointing at him.
Tony had no choice but to raise up his hands. "What do you want?"
"The AI! We want the AI you bought! Give it to us, or you will find yourself with a few more holes in your body." One of them shouted at them while knocking the muzzle of his gun against the ach reactor in his chest.
Tony was instantly sure that someone there was mad about him winning the AI and had hired these goons to steal it. She wasn't sure who was crazy enough to do that. The only person he might think would have been the old Alexander Ricci, but he doubted his sister would do this.
However, there was also a chance that she was being targeted right now; after all, compared to the AI he bought, the things she won were by far more valuable, even if the AI was showing to be far more advanced than he had expected at first.
"Alright, alright," Tony said, trying to keep his voice calm despite the situation. "I'll show you where it is. Just don't shoot."
"Move." One of the attackers ordered, prodding him with the gun.
"Tony, having no choice, began to lead them down to the workshop. As he got down there, he saw the almost finished suit and hoped they wouldn't pay it any attention. After all, that was something he really didn't want to lose.
Compared to that, he would much rather lose the new AI he just bought. While it was dangerous in the wrong hand, it wasn't as bad as them getting his suit tech.
"It's there, in those machines," he said, pointing to the pile of computers and equipment to which he had connected the old microcomputer.
The man who seemed to be in charge motioned to his men to move. Not that it was easy to judge that, given that they were all wearing the same unmarked tactical equipment and were all covered from head to toe.
Still, the men quickly moved and unplugged the machines, which were already down due to the EMP.
"On your knees, Stark, you try anything, you are dead." The leader said, and Tony found himself forced down to his knees.
"You be quiet, and we will leave quietly." He continued before turning away.
"Jarvis, AI of Tony Stark, I know you can hear me. You will cooperate, or your master is done for."
There was a brief pause before Jarvis responded, his tone calm but with an undercurrent of tension. "What do you require?"
"We want everything that has been in any way connected to this AI, any cable, date disks, whatever it is, we want it. I want you to ensure we get it all… if I don't think I have it all. I will burn this place to the ground, with Stark inside it."
Jarvis wasn't programmed to obey anyone's orders but Mr. Stark. But he was also programmed to ensure that Mr Stark was safe over everything else. So, it quickly decided that not complying was not worth the risk, and it began informing them about what they requested.
"As you wish," Jarvis replied. "I am compiling a list of all related hardware and data. Please allow me a moment to process."
The leader nodded, keeping his gun trained on Tony. "You have two minutes, AI. Don't try anything funny."
Tony took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure. He glanced around the room, looking for anything that might help him. The almost-finished suit was tantalizingly close, but he knew activating it could provoke a deadly response.
He hated feeling this helpless, so he swore that if he survived, he would increase the security of his home.
One by one, Jarvis informed them about each item that had been in contact with the AI; he would point them toward it, and they would carefully connect it. This also included every piece of equipment that those things had been in contact with.
Jarvis kept going until everything was gone, after which they demanded the recordings of everything since the AI entered the building be uploaded and delivered and threatened that if they spotted anything that had not already been given to them. They would end Tony's life.
Jarvis was glad he was able to look over hours' worth of footage in moments to ensure that they wouldn't find anything, that he hadn't missed anything, and that he had given them what they wanted.
"Alright, then, if neither of you has anything to say, we will take our leave… and don't try to look for us, or your life, Tony, is forfeit."
Tony swallowed hard at the threat, his throat dry. "Don't worry, I'm not that desperate to keep the AI that I would risk my life… after all I am more than capable of making my own."
The leader just nodded his head and masked head. "Let's move out."
As the attackers filed out of the workshop, Tony remained on his knees, hands raised, his heart hammering in his chest. He watched them carefully, ensuring they took everything they had demanded and nothing more. The tension in the room was palpable, and Tony's fear was evident.
The leader cast one last glance at Tony, his eyes cold and calculating. "Remember, Stark, we'll be watching. Don't do anything stupid."
With that, the attackers left, leaving Tony alone in the now silent workshop. He let out a shaky breath, feeling the weight of the situation finally hit him. The fear and adrenaline coursed through his veins, making it difficult to think clearly.
"Sir, the immediate threat has passed," Jarvis reported after confirming the attackers had exited the premises. "Shall I contact the authorities?"
"Yes… and help me move the Suit. We need to hide it for when they come to look for clues, I don't want anyone to find out about it." He said as he calmed his heart.
The attack itself hadn't lasted the long. In fact, the time he had to wait for the authorities to come running finally was longer than the time he was forced to kneel on the floor. Just enough time to empty half a bottle before they knocked on the door.
"Tony!? Thank God you are alright; I was so worried when I heard someone attacked. What happened?" pepper Pots said as she rushed into the place as one of the first.
Tony sighed and eyed the investigators next to pepper. "listen up, I don't feel like explaining myself too many times tonight… been a shitty night indeed." He said with a sigh and began to explain.
He told them that he had been to a very exclusive auction, that he had bought someone expensive there, and that it was that item the attackers had stolen, that and nothing else. He didn't mention too much, knowing that many of the things would make him sound crazy.
Though he knew he would have to explain more to Pepper, after all, he might need her help to find and investigate how some of his weapons had ended up there.
He had been pushing it off in favor of playing with the new AI, and while he couldn't really do that anymore, he knew that he would be too focused on finishing the armour. After this, he didn't want to feel that helpless anymore.
Still, he explained what he knew, what had happened, and pointed them in a direction they could investigate, though he already had Jarvis looking into it all. And once his suit was ready, he would take care of everything, his weapons floating around, and this AI, which Jarvis had concluded was rather dangerous due to its core programming having nothing stopping it from going out of control.
In fact, it seemed the core of it was only the desire to evolve and improve, something that was enormously dangerous. Since at one point, humans would end up being a limiting factor, and at that point, the AI might turn hostile.
He wasn't about to let something that dangerous be in the hands of people that either couldn't control it or would try to use it for evil. So he needed to be quick.
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