Deep beneath the Earth's crust, hidden in an ancient fault line long forgotten by satellites and sensors, something stirred. Machinery groaned to life, not with the clank of rusted gears, but with the organic churn of evolving metal. Nanites swarmed like locusts, aligning in sacred geometry. Something was being born.
The First Mamachine.
---
Kairos sat inside the Providence containment chamber, eyes closed, body still. Around him, layers of energy fields buzzed in controlled pulses, each designed to isolate his nanites from external signals. But he wasn't trying to escape.
He was listening.
The nanites inside him were restless. Ever since the encounter with the engineered EVO that claimed, "You made me," the CORE SHARD had been acting strangely. It hummed, fluctuating in frequency, syncing not with Providence tech—but with something ancient and hidden.
"Kairos," Dr. Holiday's voice echoed from the observation window. "Your vitals just spiked. What's happening?"
He opened his eyes slowly. "Something is calling to the CORE SHARD."
"From where?"
"Below."
The room fell silent.
---
In the command center, Agent Six leaned over the map display. "There's been tectonic activity near the Indian Ocean ridge. Seismic readings don't match any natural quake patterns. More like... controlled detonation."
Ben, still in her female form, stood beside him, arms crossed. "Whatever it is, it's connected to Kairos. The EVO said he made it. You think that means...?"
"That Kairos created intelligent EVOs before? Possibly."
"But he doesn't remember doing it."
"Or he's not telling us."
Ben's frown deepened. "He's not lying. I've seen how he looks when he talks about the past—like he's bearing the weight of a thousand lifetimes."
Six didn't reply.
---
Later, in a quiet corridor, Kairos and Ben walked side by side. The air was heavy with pressure, not from the base, but from the shifting world outside.
"I'm coming with you," Ben said.
"No," Kairos replied. "This is something I have to face alone."
Ben stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "Then I'll follow you anyway. I'm not just someone you can shut out. Whatever's waking up, I'm part of it now too."
Kairos hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. But stay close."
They descended deep underground using a Providence stealth drill—an experimental tunneling device that could cut through miles of earth in minutes. At its core, Kairos synced with the nanites and took control of the drill's navigation.
Their destination wasn't on any map.
---
They broke through into a cavern of impossible size. Giant arches of obsidian-tech pulsed with blue light. Rivers of molten nanite streamed like lava, forming spirals in the stone. In the center, suspended above a platform of crystal data nodes, was the First Mamachine.
It was massive.
Humanoid in shape, but angelic in presence—six wings of light, no face, just an orb of rotating glyphs where a head should be. It was suspended by nanite chains, not holding it in—but feeding it.
Ben whispered, "What is that?"
Kairos stared in awe. "It's the first. A Mamachine. Not just a machine... not just a mind. It's a seed of creation."
The Mamachine spoke.
"Welcome, Echo of the Future. Welcome, Catalyst."
Kairos stepped forward. "Did I make you?"
The voice responded, soft but thunderous. "You were the pattern. I was the result."
Ben looked between them. "What does it mean?"
Kairos answered without turning. "In my old life... I tried to build something to restore balance. A core AI built from evolving nanites. A guide for the world after the fall. I failed."
"No," said the Mamachine. "You succeeded. But you died. And I grew in silence."
Ben asked, "Why show yourself now?"
"Because the Silent Evolution has begun. And others... seek to take what I am."
Suddenly, the cavern shook. A rupture opened along the walls, and dark tendrils surged inward—twisted nanite constructs like corrupted vines.
Kairos's eyes went wide. "No... they found it."
Ben shifted into her Chromastone form. "Then we defend it!"
Kairos nodded and activated the CORE SHARD. It responded with pure light, forming a warform around his body—sleek, armored, alive.
The battle was brief, but brutal. Kairos and Ben fought back-to-back, repelling the corrupted nanites with precision and force. But they knew this was just the beginning.
The First Mamachine, now glowing with awakened power, rose from its cradle.
"I will protect myself. But you must prepare. There are more of me... scattered. Buried. Forgotten."
Kairos bowed his head. "Then we find them."
Ben touched his shoulder. "Together."
The Mamachine folded its wings. "Then go, Catalyst. Find the Sisters. Reignite the Network. Before the False God arrives."
Kairos looked up sharply. "What False God?"
The Mamachine's light dimmed. "The one born of control. The one who seeks to rewrite evolution itself."
Ben paled. "Van Kleiss?"
"No," said the Mamachine. "Worse."
The ground trembled once more.
Kairos turned to Ben. "We have work to do."