Cyberpunk: Spartan Walker

The footsteps echoed in the corridor, and the low slanting light illuminated the surrounding purple walls. The alien metal plate seemed to be engraved with many faintly glowing geometric patterns, which were strangely shaped and overlapped each other. The ceiling was arched, about ten meters high, which was unnecessary and a waste of space compared to a human ship.

Tommy led the engineer through the corridors and to a secluded spot on the Covenant cruiser.

[Can it really fix me? ] Ellie asked curiously.

【Try it no matter what. 】

These aliens have superb repair skills and superb methods. Maybe they can really repair me? She felt happy, but also confused.

[Why not repair it on the bridge? 】

Tommy didn't answer her, but stood in front of a hexagonal door. The white light on its surface flashed for a moment, and then automatically and silently slid away from the middle.

This seems to be a place where the Covenant people discard waste. It is filled with plasma residues, broken firearms and other items waiting to be processed. The innermost part is a double-layer airlock door leading to space.

The engineer couldn't wait any longer. It floated in front of Tommy and gestured: \u003cNeed it, I'll fix it, what? \u003e

Tommy pulled out the chip containing Ellie and handed it, \u003cthis. \u003e

The engineer took the chip and didn't care why Tommy bothered to bring it here. Instead, he stroked the surface of the chip with his tentacles for a while, and then inserted the tiny cilia on it and swept it.

The chip flickered for a while, and the dim light inside became brighter.

However, the engineer did not become happy because of this. Its tentacles danced rapidly, and all six eyes were widened, staring at the chip. After a while, it chirped feebly, and all the tentacles on its body hung down dejectedly.

\u003cI tried my best, but the situation was bad and she was in missing condition, so I could only do limited repairs. \u003eThe engineer gestured to Tommy, \u003cIf it can complement her, she should be much better. \u003eIt handed the chip to Tommy languidly, then picked up a broken fuel cannon and repaired it.

There was one more reason to return to Reach, and he really hoped that this jump journey would take less time.

Tommy nodded to it and inserted Ellie's chip back in. 【how do you feel? 】

【much better! ] Ellie said in surprise that she found that her damage had been partially repaired, even if it was not much, it made her feel very happy.

【That's good. ] Tommy looked at the engineer and saw it opening the casing of the fuel cannon, splitting the end of one tentacle into a hundred needle-thin cilia, and sweeping back and forth on the internal working parts. After a moment it reassembled the weapon, holding it tightly before handing it to Tommy.

The fuel cannon started buzzing, and the fuel cell inserted above it was flowing with bright green liquid.

\u003cThank you. \u003eTommy gestured towards it, although the engineer didn't look at him, but picked up a broken plasma pistol and continued repairing it.

[What a focused, cute, and reliable little guy, isn't he? ] Ellie praised, [If their family can cooperate with humans, we will have more hope of winning in this war. 】

Hearing this, Tommy was uncharacteristically silent. He poked his head outside the door to check, and after confirming that no one was nearby, he closed the door and locked it tightly.

[Really, why are you ignoring me?] Ellie complained, and then asked: [Why do you want to lock the door? 】

Tommy remained silent. He drew his pistol and aimed it at the engineer's head.

\u003cIs this, too, broken? \u003eTwo of the engineer's six eyes were fixedly staring at the muzzle of the gun. One of its tentacles split into many tiny detection tentacles and stretched out towards the pistol, touching the silver metal shell.

You helped us a lot, but I'm sorry. Tommy muttered to himself instead of replying in sign language.

【What are you——】

Bang! Tommy pulled the trigger, and the bullet passed through the engineer's head, blood splattered on his helmet panel.

【Tommy! ] Ellie exclaimed.

The airbags on the engineer's body deflated, and he fell to the ground tremblingly, twitching with all his life gone.

The light shone on the scattered thick blood, shimmering with a coquettish light.

Tommy sat down gently next to the dead engineer and put the pistol back on his waist. [Sorry, Ellie. ] He regretted why he didn't send Ellie back to the bridge first before killing the engineer.

The alien creature's skin is gradually changing from pale pink to cold gray.

【Why do this? ] Ellie's voice was trembling slightly, [It is our ally, it has helped us so much. ]

【I have no choice. ] He whispered, gently closing the engineer's wide eyes, [We all know that the Covenant only knows how to imitate, not create. ] He dragged it to the airlock door, opened the hatch, and placed the body in the hallway.

[During the long war with the Covenant, the Military Intelligence Agency has not found evidence that their ships are equipped with intelligent artificial intelligence.] Tommy paused for a moment, and then placed the engineer's body neatly, [ This engineer has just gained personal access to your core—the core of a smart artificial intelligence. This is one of the few technologies we have that is more advanced than the Covenant, and it is possible that it has access to your stored information and thus knows the coordinates of the Earth. 】

[If this engineer can escape and return to the Covenant, then this advanced technology will become theirs. I don't want to see this technology used to create a powerful, intelligent artificial intelligence, or to expose the location of the earth due to leaked coordinates. 】

Tommy pressed the button on the airlock door and watched silently as the engineer's body was sucked into space. [Strict compliance with the Cole Agreement is the key to mankind’s persistence for so many years. 】

Tommy's mind went dead, and she knew he was right.

Tommy brushed the helmet panel and wiped away the tiny blue-black blood stains on it. He suddenly felt a little annoyed with himself - annoyed that he had to do such an ugly thing.

Ellie keenly felt his guilt, and the surging emotions overwhelmed her defective emotional suppression algorithm.

She choked up, I don't want you to shed innocent blood for me and then she sobbed softly.

The Spartan warrior was as helpless as a new recruit. [Don't cry, don't cry.] He felt weak at this moment. Artificial intelligence has no body. He couldn't even hug her.