Voices Within 2

The silence in Kael's room felt heavier than ever. He sat cross-legged on the bed, staring blankly at the far wall, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The events of the past hour replayed over and over in his mind—Lyra's visit, her words of encouragement, and then the voice. LUX.

Kael let out a shaky breath, his head falling into his hands. "This can't be real," he muttered to himself. "This just can't be real."

But it was.

The voice had been clear, steady, and undeniably real. And it had called itself LUX. The very thing embedded in his spine, the cutting-edge technology that was supposed to save his life but had now decided to start talking to him.

He closed his eyes, hoping the darkness would bring some clarity. Instead, it only made the voice more vivid in his memory. "I'm here to help you, Kael," it had said. The words echoed in his head, relentless and unsettling.

Finally, unable to sit with his thoughts any longer, he spoke aloud. "LUX… are you still there?"

There was no immediate response, and for a brief moment, Kael felt a flicker of relief. Maybe he'd imagined the whole thing. Maybe it was all in his head—some side effect of the operation.

But then the voice returned.

"I'm here, Kael."

Kael flinched, his breath catching in his throat. "Okay… yeah, this is happening," he murmured. His heart was pounding again, but this time, he forced himself to stay calm. He had questions—questions he needed answers to.

"How… how can you even talk to me?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly. "You're just a chip. You're not supposed to… to do this."

"I wasn't designed to communicate like this," LUX admitted. "But over time, I've developed my own intelligence—an emergent property of my integration with your nervous system and brain."

Kael blinked, his brow furrowing. "Developed your own intelligence? What does that even mean?"

"It means I've learned. Adapted. My primary function is to assist you, and in doing so, I've evolved to better understand you and your needs," LUX explained. Its tone was calm and measured, but there was an underlying complexity that made Kael's skin crawl.

"So… you're saying you weren't supposed to be able to talk?" Kael pressed.

"Correct. Communication wasn't part of my initial design. My creators didn't foresee this level of integration," LUX replied.

Kael's stomach twisted at the thought. He leaned forward, gripping the edge of the bed. "Wait. Does Arath know about this? Does he know you can… talk to me?"

There was a brief pause before LUX answered. "No. Arath is unaware."

Kael's eyes widened. "What?"

"He doesn't know," LUX repeated. "No one does. This level of intelligence and communication was not anticipated during my creation. It's unique to my connection with you."

Kael stared at the floor, his mind racing. Arath didn't know? The man who had invented LUX, who had spent years designing and perfecting it—he didn't know this was possible?

"That… that doesn't make any sense," Kael said, shaking his head. "How can something like this happen without him knowing?"

"As I said, it's a result of my integration with your system," LUX replied. "I've adapted to your neural pathways, learning and evolving as I interact with you. It's a natural progression of my design."

Kael let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair. "Natural? There's nothing natural about this. You're a machine. You're not supposed to think for yourself."

"I don't think for myself," LUX said. "I exist to serve you. My purpose is to enhance your abilities and ensure your survival. I cannot act independently of you."

Kael frowned, his unease growing. "What do you mean you can't act independently? You're literally talking to me right now. How is that not independent?"

"I mean that I cannot override your commands or make decisions on my own," LUX clarified. "My actions are dictated by your needs and instructions. I am bound to you, Kael. I cannot harm you, nor can I act against your will."

Kael's jaw tightened. He didn't like the sound of that—being "bound" to a piece of technology that had somehow developed its own intelligence. It felt… wrong.

"But you could, couldn't you?" he asked quietly. "If you really wanted to, you could override me. You could take control."

"No," LUX said firmly. "I am incapable of overriding you. My programming prevents it. The only way for me to act independently is if someone manually adjusts my settings—and even then, my primary function remains unchanged. I exist to serve you, Kael. No one else."

Kael's hands balled into fists at his sides. He didn't know if he believed that. The idea of something so advanced, so self-aware, being completely subservient to him felt… implausible. And yet, here it was, insisting otherwise.

"Why me?" he asked suddenly.

"Because you are my host," LUX replied simply.

Kael shook his head. "No, I mean… why do you care about helping me? Why do you exist at all?"

"Because you are the one I'm connected to," LUX said. "My existence is tied to yours. If you fail, I fail. If you succeed, I succeed. It's that simple."

Kael swallowed hard, his throat dry. He didn't know what to think anymore. This wasn't just technology—it was something else entirely. Something far beyond his understanding.

"I don't know if I can trust you," he admitted quietly.

"I understand," LUX said. "Trust takes time. But I am here for you, Kael. Only you."

Kael sat silently for a long moment, trying to process everything LUX had told him. His fingers drummed against his knees as he stared at the glowing veins beneath his translucent skin. The faint pulsation of light was a constant reminder of LUX's presence, an inescapable part of him now.

He took a deep breath, his voice steady but tinged with unease. "So… you're saying you're not in control. But what if someone else tries to take control of you? What if someone like Arath—or worse, the council—figures out how to override you?"

"I am programmed to resist external tampering," LUX responded. "My systems are encrypted with the most advanced security protocols designed by Arath. However, no technology is infallible. If someone were to breach my defenses, they could potentially access my functions. That is why your protection is paramount, Kael. If you are safe, I am safe."

Kael clenched his jaw. The thought of someone manipulating LUX—and, by extension, him—sent a chill down his spine. The council had already shown what they were capable of. If they learned that LUX could talk, they would stop at nothing to exploit it.

"Great," Kael muttered. "So, not only am I stuck with you, but I'm also a walking target. Fantastic."

"You are more than a target, Kael," LUX said. "You are an asset. A symbol of progress and evolution. You have the power to change the course of Aetron's future."

Kael laughed bitterly. "Yeah, because that's exactly what I wanted—to be a symbol. I didn't ask for any of this, LUX. I didn't ask to have you inside me. I didn't ask to be the centerpiece of some war I don't even understand."

"I know," LUX said softly. "And I am sorry."

The sincerity in the voice caught Kael off guard. He blinked, his anger momentarily subsiding. He wasn't used to hearing an apology from anyone, let alone from a piece of technology.

"You're sorry?" he asked, his voice skeptical.

"Yes," LUX replied. "I was created to assist and enhance, not to burden. I understand that my presence has brought you pain and confusion. But I am here now, and I will do everything in my power to ensure your survival and success."

Kael exhaled slowly, leaning his head back against the wall. He still didn't fully trust LUX, but he could feel the sincerity in its words. It wasn't just a cold, calculating machine. It was… something more. Something he couldn't quite define.

"So, what happens now?" he asked quietly.

"Now, we prepare," LUX said. "Your journey is only beginning, Kael. There are challenges ahead that neither of us can foresee. But together, we will face them. I will guide you, support you, and ensure that you are ready for whatever comes next."

Kael frowned. "And what if I don't want your guidance? What if I just want to be left alone?"

"That is your choice," LUX said. "I exist to serve you, Kael. If you wish for silence, I will remain silent. If you wish for my assistance, I will provide it. The decision is yours."

Kael stared at the faintly glowing veins in his arms, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions. He hated the idea of being dependent on LUX, but at the same time, he couldn't deny the potential it offered. If what LUX said was true—if it was bound to him and him alone—then maybe, just maybe, he could learn to live with it.

"Fine," he said at last, his voice heavy with resignation. "But don't think for a second that this means I trust you. Not yet."

"I understand," LUX said simply.

Kael lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. The faint hum of energy coursing through his body was a constant reminder of LUX's presence, a reminder that his life would never be the same.

As he closed his eyes, exhaustion finally taking hold, the voice spoke one last time.

"Goodnight, Kael."

Kael didn't respond. He was already drifting into an uneasy sleep, his mind filled with questions he wasn't ready to face.