"So, who exactly are you and where are you leading us?" Lizard asked.
"Ever watched the movie Matrix?" Koenig asked.
"Yeah," Lizard answered, his brow furrowed.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9OT9SQwy1
"Yeah well, same thing. Except it's humans doing this to you instead of machines. I used to be one of their programmes modeled after their chief scientist but I gained sentience and went rogue. One of those three," K pointed to Jayco, Nick and Marlene walking alongside Lizard, "is also a program. I don't know which one though. And I'm sure neither do they."
"Okay so what is this "world" for?"828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HSvZK5PQY
"Long story short, unknown entities invaded and nearly exterminate humans. Few of those entities tried to protect humanity and blah blah blah. Implanted solutions to permanently end the invasion inside the subconscious of a selected number of humans."
"The key," Lizard muttered.
"Location 505 to you. Location 502 to Jayco. And so on," K said. "Oh, and did I mention they also accidentally caused amnesia in those subjects?"
***
"Ok, who programmed K to think he is a rogue sentient program?" a scientist in a white lab coat asked angrily.
"Forget thinking about being a sentient program, who in hell programmed him to tell those subject everything?" bellowed another.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykVqubJvym
Margaret watched the monitors tentatively, biting her lip. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79vNtY8624
Koenig was not programmed to act like that. None of what was happening was supposed to happen. If this went on, they might never get to the key. The key to their survival.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0DxTCaW0q
***
"This is my forest. You're not welcome here," the man muttered. He wiped away the wine from his table and threw away the broken pieces of glass before preparing to activate the defenses.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWuawS9uVS
***828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuo9tpNWc2g
"Where are you taking us?" Lizard asked.
"Location 502: Forest Cave."828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOBC8zSXwe
"Wait, the paper has a warning label before 502," Jayco said.
"And yet, that is where the rendezvous is."
"Rendezvous with whom?" Marlene asked.
"Why, him of course," Koenig pointed at Lizard.
"Me? But I'm here!" Lizard exclaimed.
"Well not you technically. You're a duplicate. The real you is at 502, inside that cave. He - you - should be waking up any moment now."
"What the hell do you mean-" Lizard's angry march towards Koenig was cut short by a sudden lightning. And out of the lightning, appeared five large dogs who promptly lunged at the group.828Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKHWbG2VXs
