Failure number 007n7

C00lkidd's steely voice, like the strike of a blade forged in the very depths of hell, cut through the ringing silence of the telephone line. - C00lkidd: Is Project 007n7 complete? A long, ominous pause hung in the air, like a harbinger of impending disaster, before Noli, his assistant, managed to squeeze out in a trembling voice: - Noli: Almost, sir. But... there's been a slight hiccup. He faltered, as if each word was being torn from his throat by a bloody shard of glass. - Noli: Its behavior... is somewhat... deviating from the specified parameters. - C00lkidd: It doesn't matter. C00lkidd cut him off, stifling any objections, as if a guillotine had fallen on the neck of the guilty party. Hanging up the phone, he headed for the Archive — the holy of holies, where mechanical life was forged in the intricate web of metal and microchips. The ship lived its own life, rumbling and grinding with trillions of mechanisms, useful and useless, like a giant beast languishing in a steel cage. The ship's mechanisms produced a symphony of sounds: from the muffled hum of generators to the high-pitched squeak of servo drives, creating a unique industrial landscape. In the Two Time laboratory, bent over a flickering holographic projection, they were working on the control system for a new robot. The green glare of the monitors danced on their faces like the reflections of madness in the eyes of a possessed alchemist. The laboratory was a chaotic jumble of wires, microchips, and scattered tools, reflecting the disorder and genius of its owner's mind. - C00lkidd: What are you working on, Time? C00lkidd inquired, glancing quickly at the chaotic jumble of wires and microchips. His voice, usually authoritative and commanding, now sounded tinged with weary curiosity. Two Time turned around, and an unhealthy, maniacal fire flickered in their eyes. - Two Time: We have put the quintessence of artificial intelligence into this creation. The purest code of genius. Hatred helped me hone the algorithms. - C00lkidd: Hmm. C00lkidd frowned, as if he had smelled the nauseating stench of decay. Two Time's voice pounded proud, mixed with the madness of a creator who had created something that surpassed himself. - C00lkidd: I'll have to visit this... recluse. See what his fevered mind is plotting. He left the laboratory, almost forgetting the purpose of his visit, but an icy shard of vague anxiety lodged in his soul. Noli timidly opened the door, as if afraid of disturbing the silence, and peered inside. C00lkidd, without waiting for an invitation, burst into the room like a whirlwind, shattering the fragile peace. His sharp movements and tense expression spoke of inner conflict and an impending storm. A robot sat on the bed, like an ivory sculpture. Its immaculate white body exuded a soft, inner glow, and its cloudless sky-colored eyes gazed with innocent detachment. The nakedness of its mechanical body did not cause the slightest embarrassment — only a strange interest and slight bewilderment. Soft waves of light brown hair with reddish highlights framed her face, crowned with austere but elegant glasses in thin metal frames. Right on her chest, like a brand or a proud banner, burned the name “007n7,” engraved with laser precision. - C00lkidd: What is this? C00lkidd's question sounded dissatisfied, almost contemptuous, as if he were faced with sacrilege. His words sounded like a sentence passed without trial or investigation. - Noli: It's a new robot, boss. Noli stammered timidly, cowering under his boss's scorching gaze. He tried to speak more quietly, afraid of provoking even greater anger from C00lkidd. - C00lkidd: It has nothing to do with the original! C00lkidd roared, his voice crashing into the room like thunder. Anger filled him like boiling lava ready to burst out. In a fit of rage, he threw the papers on the floor, as if rejecting the evil idea, and, turning around, quickly left the room, leaving his assistant alone with the silent machine—the embodiment of shattered hopes. The papers scattered around the room like fallen leaves, emphasizing the chaos and destruction brought about by C00lkidd's anger. Suddenly, the robot opened its eyes, and a spark of intelligence lit up in their depths. Its gaze pierced Noli like a searchlight, causing him to feel a strange mixture of fear and curiosity. - 007n7: H3ll0, Creator!! He uttered hoarsely, as if learning to speak for the first time, stumbling over letters and syllables, as if the glitch in the program was not a mistake, but part of its imperfection. - Noli: Hello, but I am not your creator... He has left. However, he will return soon. Noli responded gently, attempting to conceal his confusion and awkwardness. His voice sounded reassuring, as if he were speaking to a frightened child. Giving the robot an encouraging smile, Noli carefully picked up 007n7 in his arms, as if it were a fragile child, and headed for the rest of the crew, who had gathered in the wardroom—the only place where they could temporarily forget the hardships of interstellar flight. The wardroom served as their refuge, a place where they could drop their masks and be themselves. The room was filled with thick, suffocating tobacco smoke, which twisted into bizarre patterns under the dim light of the lamps, like ghostly visions in a drug-induced haze. The smell of tobacco permeated every corner of the wardroom, creating the atmosphere of a smoke-filled basement. Elliot frowned, grimacing at the acrid smell. - Elliot: Smoking is bad for your health, isn't it? - Mafioso: We know. Mafioso smiled, casually lighting another cigarette, as if challenging death itself. The smoke from the cigarette curled around his face like a snake, emphasizing his bold and independent character. - Mafioso: Can't we allow ourselves a little weakness in this hellhole? - Elliot: We can, but... At that moment, Noli entered the wardroom, holding 007n7 in his arms, as if introducing a new actor to the troupe. The crew froze in anticipation, wondering what surprise Noli had brought. - Noli: I'll try to calm C00lkidd down. Noli sighed, hoping in vain for a miracle. His voice sounded tired and doomed, as if he had already resigned himself to the inevitable. - Noli: We may have to ask the captain for help in this mess. He left the wardroom, lost in gloomy thoughts, and 007n7, like a little child, waved goodbye to him. - 007n7: H3ll0! The inhabitants of the wardroom, surprised by the sudden appearance of the robot, turned around, looking at the newcomer with curious glances. Their eyes showed surprise, curiosity, and slight distrust. - Mafioso: He's cute. Mafioso muttered, softening under the spell of the robot's innocent gaze, and gestured for him to sit down next to him. His words sounded unexpectedly soft, as if a string of tenderness had vibrated in his harsh soul. 007n7 obediently settled down next to him, impassively studying the faces of the crew members, as if scanning their biometric data. His gaze was cold and analytical, but at the same time, it revealed a childlike naivety. - Mafioso: So... 007n7, right? Mafioso asked, stubbing out his cigarette in the overflowing ashtray, as if drawing a miniature volcanic crater. The ashtray was filled to the brim with cigarette butts, evidence of his long-standing smoking habit. - 007n7: Y34p, b3c4us3 my cr34t0r g4v3 m3 th4t n4m3 ! The robot replied, as if repeating a memorized phrase, when Mafioso offered him a cigarette. His voice sounded monotonous and impassive, betraying his inhuman nature. - Mafioso: Want one? - 007n7: S0rry, I d0n't sm0k3. 007n7 politely declined, as if programmed for eternal life in sterile purity. There was not the slightest hint of sarcasm or condemnation in his refusal, only a statement of fact. The mafioso shrugged his shoulders, feigning nonchalance. - Mafioso: As you wish. The captain, known in certain circles as Cruel King, was immersed in the simple pleasure of a card game when C00lkidd burst into his office. The captain, as always, was dressed in his usual captain's uniform, a testament to his power and authority on the ship. Caught off guard, King awkwardly dropped his cards on the table and gave the chief inventor a disgruntled look. The cards scattered across the table, forming a bizarre pattern, as if predicting the coming changes. - Cruel King: What does this mean? The captain asked with displeasure, gathering the scattered cards as if they were fragments of lost illusions. His voice betrayed irritation caused by the sudden intrusion. - C00lkidd: I am extremely disappointed with the new robot! It turned out... not at all what I planned! It's fucking useless! C00lkidd blurted out angrily. His words conveyed resentment and disappointment in his own creation. - Cruel King: First of all, please watch your language! Second, what exactly are you unhappy with? It's a charming android with a high level of intelligence, and it's completely safe! King objected, trying to remain calm. He didn't understand what had caused C00lkidd's anger. C00lkidd just clicked his tongue contemptuously. - C00lkidd: Well, see for yourself... With these words, he quickly left the captain's office, leaving behind him the doors closing silently, as if slamming a mousetrap. - Cruel King: He made a mess here, now sit down and clean up after him... King grumbled, returning to his interrupted game. He was unhappy with the mess C00lkidd had made, but at the same time, his curiosity was piqued. Meanwhile, Noli, concerned about C00lkidd's sudden disappearance, tried unsuccessfully to retrace his route, as if tracking a ghost. Suddenly, someone's hand touched his shoulder. Turning around, Noli saw his partner, Hated. - Hatred: How's the investigation going? he asked, smiling warmly at the genius's assistant. His smile seemed unnatural and forced, like a mask hiding his true intentions. - Noli: I lost sight of C00lkidd... Do you know where he might be? - Hatred: I can't say for sure, but I saw the new robot successfully establishing contact with the team. We bumped into each other in the hallway on the way to the storeroom. Noli instantly perked up and, after a quick glance at Hatred, hurried in the indicated direction. Hatred followed him with an ominous smirk: - Hatred: What the hell... In the kitchen, Noli found a lively scene: the robot was enthusiastically chatting with the crew, smiling broadly and making electronic sounds full of excitement. The tables were littered with leftover food and drinks, evidence of a merry meal. - 007n7: Y0u guys 4r3 s0 k1nd! - Mafioso: You're surprisingly warm-hearted for a piece of metal. Mafioso said with a broad smile, throwing an empty pack of cigarettes into the trash can. The sight of the robot communicating with the crew made Mafioso feel tender and good-natured. Noli breathed a sigh of relief, noting to himself, “At least the situation is under control.” He was glad that the robot had been able to establish contact with the team and hoped that this would help calm C00lkidd. A leaden shadow of gloom fell over C00lkidd's face as he crossed the threshold of the laboratory where Project 007n7 was taking shape. Exhausted to the limit, he sank into a chair behind a desk littered with drawings. The laboratory was in semi-darkness, lit only by the dim light of the monitors. - C00lkidd: What a piece of junk... He muttered, mechanically sorting through scattered sheets of 007n7's technical specifications. His aimless leafing through the pages was caused not so much by necessity as by overwhelming apathy. His voice sounded bitter and disappointed, as if he had suffered a crushing defeat. It was clearly not his day. His keen eye suddenly caught sight of a scrap of a memo pinned to one of the sheets. “Attention: 007n7 is prone to uncontrolled aggression, skillfully masking it as system malfunctions. This is likely a defense mechanism, a reaction to potential danger from those around him. Do not panic. The protocol is activated only in situations that pose a threat to the system or the operator.” The note ended abruptly, like a broken string. Who was the author of this ominous prophecy? Puzzled, C00lkidd clutched the scrap of paper in his hand and left the laboratory. In the hallways Hatred sat comfortably on a bench, watching 007n7 vigilantly while Noli was busy carrying out the captain's orders. Hatred sat motionless, like a predator stalking its prey. C00lkidd, tormented by doubts, headed towards him. - C00lkidd: Hey, you. He poked the crumpled piece of paper right in the assistant's face. - C00lkidd: What's this? - Hatred: Oh, this... There was a deliberate pause, as if he were weaving a web of lies. Fear flashed in his eyes, which he immediately tried to hide. - Hatred: Two Time and I secretly implemented this “emergency mode” feature. Just in case... I suppose there are enough unreliable elements on this ship, aren't there? The assistant gave the genius a sly smile. C00lkidd just snorted contemptuously, crumpled the paper even more, and hid it in his pocket. He didn't believe a word Hatred said, but decided not to reveal his suspicions for now. Hatred watched the genius leave with a malicious smile and immediately called 007n7 over to him. His eyes burned with an unkind fire, as if he had something sinister in mind. - Hatred: Sunshine, come here... - 007n7: W1ll d0! The android obediently approached Hatred with a semblance of a smile on his face. He was ready to carry out any task, even if it contradicted his programming. Hatred roughly grabbed the mechanism by the cheeks and hissed in his ear: - Hatred: There's a louse on the ship... Can you help me get rid of it? 007n7 shuddered and stared at Hatred with his optical sensors dilated in horror. - 007n7: B-but h3 1s my cr34t0r... - Hatred: So what? Hatred parried. - Hatred: If there is a threat, it must be destroyed. He inserted a stun gun into the robot's manipulator, but it broke free like a frightened animal and rushed towards Noli. The stun gun fell from his hands like evidence of a crime. Reaching Noli, the android frantically clung to his trouser leg. - 007n7: N-N0li... - Noli: Not now, kid. Noli absentmindedly patted the robot on the head and walked away. He was preoccupied with his own thoughts and did not notice the robot's frightened gaze. “Kill,” Hatred's command sounded clearly in the neural network of 007n7. This command, like a virus, penetrated his consciousness, subjugating his will.