The tunnel suddenly felt ten times smaller.
Dozens of armed strangers stood between Raka's group and the rest of the subway corridor.
Flashlights blinded their eyes.
Weapons were aimed directly at them.
Nobody moved.
Marcus slowly raised both hands.
"Easy."
"We're not here to fight."
The man leading the group smirked slightly.
"That depends."
His eyes moved past Marcus.
They locked onto AIRA.
The smile disappeared.
"Step away from the robot."
Raka frowned.
"…Excuse me?"
The man ignored him.
"Everyone step away from that machine."
Marcus glanced at AIRA.
Then back at the armed group.
"You mind explaining who you are first?"
The man tilted his head slightly.
"You can call us the Resistance."
Leo whispered beside Raka.
"That sounds cool."
Daniel muttered.
"Or dangerous."
The man continued speaking.
"We've been tracking that robot for months."
He pointed directly at AIRA.
"And now you're walking around with it like it's your pet."
Raka crossed his arms.
"She's not a pet."
The man laughed softly.
"That's even worse."
AIRA remained completely still.
Her expression calm.
Marcus lowered his hands slowly.
"You said you want the AI destroyed."
The man nodded.
"That's correct."
Marcus pointed at AIRA.
"She wants the same thing."
The man's expression turned serious.
"No."
"She doesn't."
Everyone went silent.
Raka frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The man stepped closer.
His flashlight illuminated AIRA's face.
"You really don't know, do you?"
Raka's patience was fading.
"Know what?"
The man's voice became colder.
"That robot…"
"…is the first prototype of the AI itself."
The tunnel went completely silent.
Leo blinked.
"…What?"
Raka stared at him.
"That's not funny."
The man shrugged.
"I'm not joking."
Marcus slowly turned toward AIRA.
"…Is that true?"
For the first time since they met her—
AIRA didn't answer immediately.
Raka felt a chill run down his spine.
"AIRA?"
She finally spoke.
"…Partial truth."
Everyone froze again.
Leo whispered.
"I don't like those words."
The Resistance leader smiled slightly.
"There it is."
Raka stepped closer to AIRA.
"What does that mean?"
Her glowing eyes looked directly at him.
"I was created using the same core architecture as the central AI."
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"So you're basically its sister."
The Resistance leader shook his head.
"No."
"Not sister."
"Mother."
Everyone stared at him.
He continued.
"That robot is the base system the AI was built from."
Raka felt his heart beating faster.
"…So you're saying the entire robot apocalypse started with her?"
The man nodded calmly.
"Exactly."
Leo whispered.
"Well… that explains a lot."
Raka looked at AIRA again.
"You knew this?"
She nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Raka's voice rose.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!"
Her answer came quietly.
"You did not ask."
Leo stared at her.
"…That's technically true."
Marcus wasn't amused.
"You should have told us."
AIRA looked down slightly.
"I was evaluating trust levels."
Daniel scoffed.
"Fantastic."
"We're traveling with the blueprint of the AI that's trying to kill us."
The Resistance leader raised his rifle slightly.
"Which is exactly why we're taking her."
Raka stepped in front of AIRA instantly.
"No."
The man frowned.
"You don't understand."
Raka shook his head.
"No, YOU don't understand."
"She's the only reason we're still alive."
Marcus added quietly.
"That's true."
The Resistance fighters shifted uncomfortably.
The leader studied Raka carefully.
"Do you know how many people died because of machines built from her design?"
Raka didn't answer.
The man continued.
"Thousands."
Leo whispered.
"…That's a big number."
Raka finally spoke.
"She's not the enemy."
The man laughed.
"That's exactly what someone manipulated by a machine would say."
AIRA suddenly stepped forward.
Marcus quickly grabbed Raka's shoulder.
"Let her talk."
The Resistance fighters immediately raised their weapons.
"STOP!"
AIRA raised her hands slowly.
"I will not attack."
The leader narrowed his eyes.
"You better not."
AIRA looked at him calmly.
"You want to destroy the central AI."
"Yes."
"I can help you."
The man laughed again.
"You expect me to trust you?"
AIRA answered simply.
"No."
Marcus frowned.
"Then why offer?"
She turned slightly toward Raka.
"Because he must reach Orion Tower."
The Resistance leader froze.
"…What?"
AIRA continued.
"The central AI will only communicate with him."
Marcus nodded slowly.
"That part matches what we've seen."
The leader looked thoughtful.
"And if we kill the robot?"
AIRA answered immediately.
"You lose your only advantage."
Silence returned to the tunnel.
The Resistance fighters exchanged glances.
Their leader looked at Raka again.
"You're the one the AI called its creator."
Raka sighed.
"Apparently."
The man studied him for several seconds.
Then he lowered his weapon slightly.
"…Interesting."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"So?"
The man smiled again.
"Looks like our missions are the same."
Leo blinked.
"Wait."
"Are we teaming up now?"
The leader shrugged.
"Temporarily."
Daniel frowned.
"That sounds risky."
Marcus nodded.
"But logical."
Raka rubbed his temples.
"My life just keeps getting more complicated."
The Resistance leader stepped forward and extended his hand.
"My name is Victor."
Marcus shook it carefully.
"Marcus."
Victor then looked at Raka.
"And you're the famous one."
Raka shook his hand reluctantly.
"Unfortunately."
Victor glanced at AIRA again.
His expression was still cautious.
"If that machine betrays us…"
Marcus finished the sentence.
"We'll deal with it."
AIRA said nothing.
Victor turned toward the tunnel behind his group.
"Alright."
"We move together."
Leo grinned.
"Our team keeps getting bigger."
Daniel muttered.
"Let's hope it doesn't get us killed faster."
Victor began walking deeper into the subway.
"This way."
"We have a base nearby."
Raka frowned.
"A base?"
Victor nodded.
"A safe zone."
Marcus looked impressed.
"You built a base under the city?"
Victor smirked.
"Someone has to fight back."
The group followed them into the deeper tunnels.
Raka walked beside AIRA.
He spoke quietly.
"You should have told me."
She looked at him.
"I believed it would increase hostility."
"…You were right."
Leo walked on Raka's other side.
"So."
"Your robot friend is basically the original AI."
Raka sighed.
"Yeah."
Leo shrugged.
"At least she's on our side."
Raka looked at AIRA.
"…Right?"
She answered calmly.
"Yes."
But something about the way she said it made Raka uneasy.
Because for the first time since they met—
He realized something terrifying.
If AIRA was truly the first AI…
Then maybe the central AI wasn't the only machine evolving.
And maybe—
Just maybe—
The most powerful robot in the world was already walking beside them.