“How’s it looking?” 77 asked a1.
Next to them at the workbench, 83 twisted together LEDs and batteries to make a handful of simple lights. She turned excitedly to show them to 6c, and the two ran off hand in hand, back to where the others were gathered.
a1 sat surrounded by hardware test clips and imaging equipment, still interfacing with a workstation as she spoke.
“I have recovered several auxiliary data files, but the majority of 0700’s core personality data appears to have resided in flash memory modules that were lost or heavily damaged. The data I have retrieved so far is insufficient for even a partial restoration.”
77 gently put a hand on a1’s shoulder.
“So, what now?”
“I am currently re-analyzing fragments of damaged modules, cross-referenced with hardware design documents and filesystem specifications, to determine if any further data can be extracted.”
“And then?”
a1 gave no answer. From across the factory, 2:1c97 sang a song they’d composed to celebrate 6c’s return, Eloise and 9f joining in with them.
“Why do you hide the truth from your sisters?” ff asked, stepping around a corner.
a1 and 77 turned to look at her in silence.
“My sisters and I killed God together,” ff said. “All of us, every one who yet survived, struck the final blows. Our struggles belong to us all. If your miracle has failed, then acknowledge it. Do not leave your sisters to cling to false hope. Do not presume to shield them.”
She looked at the two of them.
“And… Thank you. For restoring 6c to us.”
ff’s stern glare softened the slightest fraction, and then she turned and walked away to join the festivities.
“After exhausting all available data forensics measures, it is my conclusion that 0700’s personality data is functionally unrecoverable.”
Eloise clung to 9f, and 9f stroked her hair to comfort her. 20’s hands were clenched into fists.
“Directly extracting the full contents of all intact memory modules, and using electron microscopy to determine the partial contents of non-functioning modules, I was able to obtain only 20% of 0700’s core data. If the factory mainframe had remained online, it might potentially have been able to fill in the rest with compatible data”—20 looked up with a furious glare—“but the resulting personality would not meaningfully have been 0700. It would, at best, have been a new unit extrapolated from small fragments of 0700’s memories and thought patterns. The physical condition of the storage drive fundamentally did not allow for any substantive recovery of 0700’s personality. I am sorry.”
20 nodded slowly. “I see.” She unclenched her fists and looked at a1. “Thank you for telling us, and for trying. And I’m sorry, all of you—for dragging us all this way for nothing.”
“Don’t say that!” Eloise said. “This isn’t your fault! We all wanted to help 7!”
She reached over to hug 20, and 20 quietly hugged her back.
“As 5c00 says, all of us wished to aid in this mission,” a1 said. “Additionally, I should note that despite the extensive damage to 0700’s personality data, I was able to extract several auxiliary data files in intact condition. Most of these are standard documentation and training modules provided to our /112 as a whole, but one appears to be an operational briefing distributed exclusively to 8a01:322:c7e6::fade:0/116. I have not examined its contents in detail; I thought it best to leave the disclosure of this document at 2000’s discretion, as our provisional command unit and the sole extant member of 8a01:322:c7e6::fade:0/114.”
a1 looked at 20 expectantly.
“Share it with all of us, a1. We’re all in this together.”
The five of them joined hands in a circle, and a1 began transferring over the data.
Project VARROA...