The device took a few seconds to show anything else before finally reacting to her words.

 

It started writing afterward, "[Alexanders Saintsworths, currently the Scion heir of the Saintsworths Conglomerate. As shown, there is a great amount of talent in science, both practical and theoretical. Especialices in computer science, engineering, and AI programming.]" That was the answer made by the device.

 

It was quite a simplistic one, "Why is he so important? What has he done?" Alexandra asked again.

 

She didn't understand why a mere [Human] deserved that much relevance; he was, after all, a cheater asshole.

 

“[At age 5, showed great potential for programing. Managed to steal the private database of the conglomerate. Later on, he discovered the existence of Mana. Afterward, he found a way to use Mana to transmit information between two devices. At age fifteen, he found a way to use Mana to create programs. At age 17 found a way to create a nascent AI.]" The list went on and on, she found that the app showed links to other pages with more detailed data of the events and some pictures.

 

It seemed that Alexanders had quite the interesting life, but the important bits for Alexandra were the last two. The way to make programs using Mana and the creation of Artificial intelligence.

 

The first was the way they made the programs within Main Core, and the second was how she was born. Or her progenitor, the bioweapon subject P4.

 

Then what else could she ask? A quick glance at her reflection on the monitor, she couldn't help but ask, even if it risked her identity… "What is P4?" Alexandra asked, in a low voice.

 

"That is us right?" "Not quite…That didn't feel like you, her, or me…It felt…alien."

 

Alexandra was of the same mind, Alexa with all her shenanigans felt…pure. While Ale felt more like some mischievous girl who liked to pretend to be mature. But P4? That thing didn't feel…[Human].

 

“[There are several entries under that name, please provide more data to further narrow the answer.]” The device said back, making Alexandra groan, how much information did this thing require?

 

What other information could she give?

 

"P4 is a test subject that regularly participates in multiple different types of tests, from combat tests to timed ones and puzzles. It was designed as a weapon that could adapt to its surroundings and can fake being a shapeshifter." Alexandra said she didn't have that many ways how to explain what she was without outright stating that she was said subject.

 

And while Alexanders already knew it, she didn't want to leave a paper trail on this device, not without knowing for sure that her prompts weren't being seen by other third parties. There was a difference between asking things and looking ignorant to outright saying that she wasn't [Human].

 

“[Query refined, found 14 possible results… Narrowing down…]" Fourteen results? That…did they have that many projects similar to hers? Why hadn't she seen those before? She knew there were other P series subjects, of course, but she hadn't seen many of them that were similar to her.

 

And now they had other fourteen similar to her?

 

"[Results Narrowed down, all fourteen results are part of the P-series BioWeapon program. The only difference between the fourteen results is the location of the facilities they are part of; which one do you wish to inquiry about?]" The list showed fourteen locations spread all around the map.

 

Some were close, some were far away from each other, and all showed on a circular map with plenty of blue. Most of the locations were set on the spots painted green; a quick hover over one of those showed the place's name. Alexandra hadn't understood what these meant till she hovered over one that read [Columbus, Ohio].

 

That was the place she was in at the moment, and one of the dots showed there, so this was where she was…zooming in on that part of the map, she found the same image of the map she had seen before.

 

So that meant that zooming out….this was the world she lived in?

 

She had thought the previous map was something that made her area of activity look small, but this? The comparison was…[Mindblowing].

 

And then…the other thirteen spots…

-Tokyo, Japan

-London, England

-Paris, France

-Cairo, Egypt

-Mumbai, India

-Sydney, Australia

-São Paulo, Brazil

-Mexico City, Mexico

-Moscow, Russia

-Beijing, China

-Atlantis.

-North Pole.

-South Pole.

 

Dots all across the map, as if to make sure each of these had a purchase in a part of the world. So she wasn't that special then? Since they were all across the world. Alexandra couldn't help but think about how the bioweapons in those parts of the world had developed.

 

"What is the nomenclature used for the P-series in the other laboratories?" Alexandra said as she read the names of these parts of the world.

 

"[The nomenclature goes from P1 to P999 depending on the complexity of what they can achieve and how much firepower they can come to bear without straining their AI Core. So far the only successful BioWeapon was Test Subject P4.]" The app answered.

 

It made Alexandra quite proud of her own achievements, even if there had been when she was…less herself and more machine.

 

"So only one of the 999 P-series managed it; that one must be quite special, huh." Alexandra said, smiling at herself.

 

What? A girl liked to be flattered.

 

"[Negative, there are fourteen subjects that achieved an stable use of their Ai Core. Even if they all developed differently compared with the other P-series subjects, there are some theories that this unique way of development is what made the P4 sample to be so effective.]" The library answered, making Alexandra's thoughts come to a halt.

 

“[Host, please inquire for clarification. That answer seems to imply that only the P4 series is unique.]" Main Core chimed at the back of her mind.

 

But Alexandra had more important things to ask.

 

"...How many P4 test subjects are around?" Alexandra asked, just to make sure.

 

"[Currently only one remains with that designation. Alexanders declared the experiment finished, and all the other P4-series were renamed to a new designation. All new P-series that end up developed using the P4 method will have their own designation.]" The Cardinal Star System answered, "[Currently less than half of the original P4 subjects remain active. And the one that achieved the goal of the experiment is currently missing.]"

 

…She was not missing, she was here. Also those test had a goal?

 

"So all these sites ran the same experiments, with the same P-series subjects? Why?" Alexandra asked, this was…stupid. Why run the same experiment in fourteen different places?

 

"[Yes, all sites built up the same test subjects using the same premises, facilities, and with personnel as similar as possible. All the employees were as similar as possible and got the same instructions. As such, most P-series subjects with the same nomenclature developed the same. With the exception of the test subject P4 that always developed differently.]" The Cardinal Star System said.

 

Of course, the P4 would develop differently even in the same environment… She doubted that anyone with half a brain would make exactly the same thing if they were in a different place. Unless they managed to regulate even the temperature, pressure and gravity pull.

 

Perhaps she was just more sensitive? Either way, Alexandra couldn't help it but felt weirded out by the fact that there had been other fourteen P4 running around…No wait, less than half remained active right?

 

"What happened to the remaining P4 subjects?" Alexandra asked, if there were other P4 running around she needed to find them, these could either be true allies…or the worst type of enemies she could have.

 

"[Remaining P4 subjects have been shipped out to a secure location where more testing will resume. Their Core is scheduled to be replaced and they are to be prepared for sale.]" Cardinal said, so they would sell her? Or her other selves? No wait, her clones? Her doppelgangers?

 

Alexandra wasn't sure what to think about those other P4's, she didn't thought she would need to worry about that, if she managed to find them, the most probably thing Alexandra would do was confirm if they were possible allies or not. If not, well, she always wanted to taste herself to see if she was tasty or not…Did it count as self cannibalism if the target was you, but also not you?

 

Actually, could she use their AI cores? She was already using other Cores…Hmm…. "How do multiple cores interact when in one body?" Alexandra decided to ask.

 

"[Having multiple Cores within a body is the mark of someone who has evolved their Core from a base form to an advanced; this allows the user to have better control of their abilities and perhaps especially in some form. Some people with telekinesis use this chance to either increase the amount of power they can output by making a second core to increase their power, or to increase their control instead. While other people use a secondary Core to get the type of skills they want. Such as a Beast Core acquiring a Mind Core to deal with their outburst or attempting to make a Human Core to return to a more normal form.]" Cardinal wrote as an answer.

 

That answer wasn't what Alexandra expected, she half expected a warning about [Core] instability because mismatched Cores…But now, looking back on it, Alexandra was already shoving around multiple different types of Cores, too, so if that was a problem, then she would have already needed to deal with it.

"How do you make a new [Core] then?" Alexandra asked next, she wanted to know how normal [Humans] made these. To compare with what she was doing now, she doubted they did it like her, since she was using [Core] to make new [Cores].

 

"[When the mana density goes above a certain threshold, the Core increases in density; at the same time, the Core User ends up with an excess of Mana within their system; using this extra Mana, they can, in turn, catalyze the formation of a secondary Core. This new one will have its own abilities, but since the Core User has some knowledge about Cores at this point, they can direct the type of ability they earn within reason.]" Was the answer that Cardinal gave.

 

So they just…quite literally made a new one from nothing huh. That sounded like… it shouldn't work.

 

Not like Alexandra could complain, since most of the things that [Core] did were quite similar, but then…how was she keeping her other [Cores] around?

 

"Main Core, how are the [Cores] that we made doing?" Alexandra asked, half expecting Cardinal Star to answer.

 

To her surprise the device didn't react to her question, had it detected the fact that she spoke to someone else? Alexa did speak to Main Core.

 

“[The integrity of all the Cores is stable, but there seems to be some strain within the channels used to keep the temporal Cores working, it is advised to purge the extra Cores sooner rather than later.]” Main Core answered.

 

"Cardinal, are the secondary [Cores] self-sustainables?" Alexandra said, turning to the device.

 

“[As far as all testing done all new subscores generate their own Mana, as such they do not require input from the user.]” Answered Cardinal.

 

So unlike her fake [Cores], a true secondary [Core] would not require her to mind them? So was that the reason both [Eleanore] and [Sam] reacted like that when she made those [Cores]?

 

"Can a [Secondary Core] remain functional away from their owner?" Alexandra asked, she was half sure that it wouldn't work. She hadn't managed to find [Core], so that was proof enough.

 

She would probably have tried to bring it out to better analyze it if she had found it, but it was quite a wonder, both [Core] and [Main Core], for different reasons altogether.

 

"[There is no evidence of a Core working as it was before once extracted. The only evidence of a Core working after extraction is limited to the P-series test subjects, but even though no Core worked exactly the same as before, while some showed evidence of Core Powers, none was exactly as the one as it was alive. And some show totally different powers.]" Cardinal answered, and at the end it also added, "[There is evidence of artificial Cores working the same, but the make of these is harder and the return is not better than those procured from dead Core Users.]"

 

So she wasn't the first to make an artificial one, huh. "Can an artificial [Core] be used when removed from its user?" Alexandra asked. Just to make sure, of course.

 

"[It hasn't been attempted since all the test subjects with an artificial Core never made a new one, and removing an active Core would end in defeating the purpose of the test. But it is expected for the artificial Core to stop working and the test subject demise, since the Artificial Core hosts both the AI that makes them work and works as central control center of their body.]" Cardinal answered that was actually a very fair answer.

 

It was like expecting a [Human] to work witouth a [Brain], so Alexandra would probably need for one of those artificial [Cores] to develope somewhat similar to her, perhaps she could… "What is the closest test subject with an artificial [Core] to my position." If she could get access to one of those, she would feed one [Core] to get them the [Blueprint] and experiment with those.

 

“[Closest test subject near the area is Test Subject P4.]” Cardinal answered, “[This test subject location is unknown, second nearest are the…-]”

 

"The other P4 I assume, yeah. I get the idea." Alexandra said, interrupting Cardinal, so she herself was the one with an artificial [Core]...

 

Had she managed to do this since her [Main Core] wasn't a dead [Core] reanimated then? Or was it because [Core] allowed the replication of [Blueprints] thanks to her [Nanites]?

 

She was getting more questions and less answers as she delved into this rabbit hole of questions. Perhaps she needed to change her approach?

 

But what else could she ask?

 

“[Perhaps some questions about our current situation and employers?]” Main Core said at the back of her mind.

 

Did she want to know more about her employer? Yes. But what was more pressing matter, her employer or her situation?

 

Of her current situation…she knew most of what she needed, she was a Minion and as such was expected to behave as such, and her employer? It wasn't that hard to find out, [Haephestus' Forge] didn't attempt to hide much from her, actually…

 

"What is the relevant information I would need to know about [Haephestus' Forge] ?" Alexandra decided to ask in a vague matter.

 

It would work to gauge the limit of Cardinal Star System as an AI.

 

"[Haephestus' Forge: A super villain organization led by Vulcanus, an S-List Super Villain with one of the most dangerous Cores registered so far, he is a technopath and is capable of taking full control of any machine within his network. He also does not have a physical body anymore. It is theorized that he is capable of inhabiting anybody so long it is within the network that his Core is connected to.]" Was the data that Cardinal started giving, "[It is among the more pacific factions within the super heroic community, it is famous for not discriminating against any type of Core User and being of the more moderate force. They are known to work with Heroes in case of disaster and rarely hurt civilians, any member of this organization that is found doing so is usually expelled.]"

 

Yeah….Alexandra would do her best to not be discovered when she went ahead and hurt more civilians.

 

"[Haephestus' Forge, unlike more common supervillain organizations, works as a means to offer multiple types of services to other super villains, villains, and even heroes. They work more like a mercenary organization with occasional crimes than as a supervillain organization. The organization follows a standard corpo-military style of organization. At the top is Vulcanus, followed by his Lieutenants. The known ones are:

Hermes, former Hero - Tinker.

Gabriel, Vigilante/Villain - Mythical Core (Beast Core).

Cerberus, Vigilante/Villain - Mythical Core (Mind Core).

Hydra, Super Villain - Poison Core (Beast Core).

Empress, Super Villain - Unknown (Possible Miscellaneous Core).

These are known to wear personalized masks that vastly differ from the ordinary white and black masks that the other minions wear.

Below these are white mask minions that are known to be Core Powers, they work as captain leaders for black mask minions. Under these are newbie white mask minions who form squadrons that also lead other newbie black mask minions.

There are some of those minions that are expected to rise within their ranks, some of those that are watched by both Heroes and Villains.]" That was a very detailed answer.

 

"What Minions are to be watched?" Alexandra said waiting to see the names, if an interesting name came around she wouldn't mind to…see if she could take some samples.

 

“[Some of the newest minions that seems to hold promise are:

-Sylph, suspected to be Bella Campbell. Survivor of a Scrambler attack. The last recorded Core was a Space Core.

-Golem, suspected to be a Mythic Core user.

-Rhapsody, suspected to be either a Mythic Core user or an advanced Shifter Core.

-..............

-...............

-.............

-............

The list will continue to be updated as more information is acquired.]" At least Alexandra was on the list; it meant that she was doing a good job.

 

But that only brought more questions…

 

"Alexa! Or Ale, or whatever you are right now! Are you here?!?" But the voice of [Skye] came out in her living room.

 

"*Sigh* We will continue this later I guess." Alexandra said as the device powered down and her Bracelet was pushed out of the computer, it now was standing there hanging by the side of the computer.

 

What did [Skye] want now that she was screaming all around? "Coming~" Alexandra said placing the Bracelet on her hand once again, she would need to ask about those things later.