novelraw Chapter 325: Information
Chapter 325: Information
Gray had arrived just hours ago at the headquarters along with many of the others. After resting for a bit, he went to see the director, who then took him down to another room full of computers and screens.
They sat down in a room with the director, both of them watching what was happening.
"I’m getting there," Caleb said, his fingers moving around the hologram as he did so many tech-related stuff at once that they couldn’t follow his tasks at all.
Numbers and words flashed on the screen, along with some occasional pictures. Finally, the flashing hologram stood still as a loading bar appeared.
"It should work," Caleb said waiting for the bar to fill.
They all waited for a long time, and then they heard a voice.
"Welcome. I am NOVA. How may I be of assistance today?"
"It’s done," Caleb said, turning around to look back at Hobb.
The one-armed Hobb raised his left arm and gestured him to come toward them.
Gray leaned in. "He’s come a long way from stealing money from others," he said.
"Well, he now has more than just a small smartphone after all," Hobb said before looking back at Caleb who had arrived.
"Is the AI completely ours?" the man asked. "No other person can access it anymore?"
"Yes," Caleb said. "Completely ours. But, in doing so I had to remove most of the programming it came with. So it isn’t as smart as when the Silent Nexus had it. But I’ve also integrated with our own AI, so together it should result in a better version. I can’t be certain just yet though. I will have to do a lot of tweaking in the coming days to make it work."
"Why does it call itself NOVA? Did you find out yet?" Gray asked from the side.
"Yeah, it’s because of the name the AI has been given. Nexus-Owned Virtual Agent. I’m sure the name is not a coincidence though," Caleb said.
"And you didn’t want to change it?" Gray asked.
"It’s just a name. I can change it any time you want me to. Do you want it named something else by chance?" Caleb asked, looking toward the director.
"Let it be for now. Focus on the practical aspects of the AI. The names and such can be changed later on. I can’t even think of any good ones right now," he said.
"Got it," Caleb said. "So... should I show you what I found?"
"Yeah, go on." Hobb had waited for some of these until Gray came back.
Caleb rushed down the stairs and began bringing up the images. "These are the bases of Silent Nexus we managed to find."
Several spots popped up in the world map that opened up as Caleb spoke. "3 in United Voras, 2 in Franoss, 1 in Tarak, 2 in Barson, and 3 in Pandene. They also have several smaller ships that run around the ocean, the ones that can carry over 2000 people totaling up to 6. The smaller ones were too many to count."
"Our agents have been working nonstop for the past month to go around destroying all of these ships as well as these headquarters. And they have... been successful?" Caleb turned back, looking at the director as if he was the one that would know.
"Very much so," Hobb said. "What about the remnants of them? Any idea?"
"We know about some," Caleb said. "Our agents are working to find and kill them as we speak."
Hobb took a moment to look at the information on the screen and nodded. "Pass along the messages to the analysts. Once they decide on what to do, they will report it to me."
"Right away," Caleb said and began working on it.
"What about that guy called Upgrade? Any information on him?" Gray asked.
"Many," Caleb said. "His name is Theodore Alvin, a high schooler from Jondas who realized what his powers were after he accidentally killed one of his friends when hanging out."
"News of how he killed someone was given, but the reason never was. He was imprisoned 7 years ago in the prison, but around 4 years ago, the Nexus must’ve somehow understood what he could do and created a fake death for him in the prison before taking him away.
"They knew what he could do from the start?" Gray asked.
"Yes, because they seem to have realized what his real powers were despite all he showcased being that he could kill people with a touch," Caleb said. "It’s weird. I think they have people who can tell what another person’s power is. If we knew who it was before, we couldn’t capture them instead."
"Are we sure we understand his powers now?" Hobb asked. "The ins and outs of it."
"Yes," Caleb said. "He’s like a Nova, who can take in the souls of a departed awakened people. Only, he needs physical contact, and the person doesn’t have to be dead just yet."
"He holds in that energy until he is full, like a battery, and when it is charged, it disperses it to the first person he touches," Caleb said. "Big Sis was super lucky that she touched him during this point and not before this. She could’ve easily died if he had not been fully charged instead."
"Yes, that was very lucky," Hobb said. "What happens when this Upgrade fellow touches a Nova? Do Novas die too?"
"No," Caleb said. "At least, not according to what was recorded in their database. According to them, a Nova would actually lose their Soul energy until the man was full."
"Theoretically, we could use a Nova to charge him over and over so we can improve the powers of all of our agents," Caleb said. "I... don’t know if it would be a good thing or not.
"No," Hobb said outright. "Even if we can, we won’t do it. If we do, we will not be any better than the Nexus. Have this Upgrade fellow be put under the protection of some of our unawakened fighters. Let him live his life for now."