The Giant Corporations that Started in Night City

Chapter 55: Adam Smasher

"Who am I?"

This was the first sentence uttered by the 2.5 version of the AI Soulkiller.

The three Arasaka hackers were utterly dumbfounded, staring wide-eyed at the digital entity before them. They couldn't fathom what kind of cybernetic monster Alt had created.

Before Harada Toshiro could issue a new command, Alt spoke first, saying, "I am your administrator!"

After a brief moment of information processing, the AI Soulkiller responded with a cold, mechanical voice: "As always, my mistress."

In the next instant, following Alt's command, the AI Soulkiller devoured the consciousness data of the three hackers. In reality, this manifested as the hackers convulsing violently and frothing at the mouth.

Their trembling bodies emitted sparks as the electronic implants within them malfunctioned.

Witnessing this from outside, Harada Toshiro immediately realized something was wrong. Just as he moved to disconnect the cables from Alt, a laser cutter in the room aimed directly at his head.

At the same time, a string of text appeared on the computer screen:

"Don't move, or I'll cut off your head!"

By this point, Alt had spent days programming and thoroughly mapping Arasaka's internal database. Opening a backdoor to disable the lab's electronic systems was no challenge for her.

"Alt Cunningham, it seems you've escaped death," Toshiro said, standing frozen in place. His gaze flicked toward the laser cutter aimed at him, not daring to move an inch.

Alt, meanwhile, navigated the cyberspace with the AI Soulkiller. Under Toshiro's identity, she funneled 20 million euros into her own account. This was her rightful compensation, considering Arasaka already had the 2.0 version of the AI Soulkiller.

With the Soulkiller in her grasp, Alt bypassed the Arasaka Godview server's password restrictions. Bit by bit, using the neural interface, she began transferring her consciousness back into her body.

Just as she was on the verge of success, a deafening explosion echoed from outside the server room—the sound of Alpha Team blasting through the gates!

Sizzle...

The laser cutter powered down, losing its threat. Seizing the opportunity, Toshiro lunged at Alt, frantically pulling out the cables connected to her.

"Don't move!"

Before Toshiro could disconnect the most crucial data cable, Johnny Silverhand burst into the room with his team. Seeing Toshiro atop Alt, Johnny raised his gun and shot him in the head.

"Damned Arasaka!"

Johnny rushed to Alt's side, hastily pulling out the remaining cables. He cupped Alt's face, calling her name over and over.

But all that answered Johnny was a haunting silence. Alt seemed to have lost all signs of life.

In the cyberspace, Alt Cunningham found herself back at square one due to Johnny's premature disconnection of the neural interface, interrupting her consciousness upload.

"Damn it!"

Looking at Alt's unresponsive body, Johnny slammed his fist onto the hacker's chair in frustration. Rage and grief threatened to consume him.

Nearby, Morgan Blackhand inserted the AI Red Queen chip into the Godview server's port, extracted it moments later, and spoke into the comms:

"The AI is now implanted in Arasaka's server, and Alt's consciousness data has been located."

Hearing this update from the LA company, Morgan picked up Alt's body, now in a "false death" state, and ordered everyone to retreat.

Johnny, desperate to save Alt, didn't protest. He trusted that the LA company would know how to revive her.

"Morgan, you will save Alt, right?" Johnny asked as they withdrew from the server room.

"Relax, Johnny!" Morgan replied, gritting his teeth as he ran. "Yes, Mr. Li Ang's chip is incredible—it'll keep her alive!"

Dodging incoming fire, Morgan added, "Now stop getting in my way. Carrying this girl out of here isn't exactly easy!"

As the Alpha and Omega teams followed their escape route, Adam Smasher's booming voice shattered the tense silence of the lab.

"Where do you think you're going?"

At this point in time, Adam Smasher still bore some resemblance to a human. His limbs and most of his torso had been replaced with the latest cybernetic implants, including a state-of-the-art Kiroshi Mk. 2 optical enhancement.

"Take cover!" Morgan yelled as he reacted instantly.

Arasaka's guards unleashed a barrage of gunfire, weaving a lethal web of bullets that filled the narrow corridor.

Three members of the teams were shredded on the spot. Spider Murphy managed to crawl behind a support pillar, while Rogue and Johnny found shelter behind a piece of research equipment.

"Zaiten and Torna, cover us! I'll get her out!" Morgan shouted.

Thanks to guidance from Lucy, Morgan had identified an alternate escape route. However, only someone equipped with Sianvistan like him could hope to carry Alt out alive.

"Fine! I got it!"

With gritted teeth, Zaiten and Torna led their Militech squad in a counterattack against Adam Smasher, buying precious time for Morgan to escape.

…

Meanwhile, outside Arasaka Tower, Myers and Lucy watched the chaos unfolding on the monitors, their faces pale with shock. What had been a perfectly planned rescue mission had spiraled completely out of control.

Rosalind Myers trembled as she lit a cigarette to steady her nerves, but deep down, she had to admit: the mission was likely a failure. Arasaka's corporate forces had nearly encircled the entire tower.

At this moment, Li Ang monitored Alt through the AI Red Queen interface.

In the Infinity swirl of black and red data, Alt wandered despairingly through the Arasaka Godview server. Without power to activate the necessary electronic systems, she was trapped in this dead, silent terminal.

Though Johnny had carried off her body, her soul remained a ghostly presence in cyberspace.

Just as Alt's emotions teetered on the brink of collapse, she noticed a blurry figure approaching her.

"Stop! Who are you?"

Alt immediately commanded the AI Soulkiller to prepare for combat, shouting to halt the figure's advance.

The intruder ignored her warning. Unable to contain her alarm, Alt unleashed the Soulkiller, determined to consume the unknown entity.

But to her utter shock, the moment the Soulkiller touched the figure, it disintegrated into fragments of code, merging seamlessly into the unknown entity.

Her ultimate weapon, the "destroyer" AI Soulkiller, had been effortlessly neutralized.

At that moment, Alt was filled with despair.

She realized what the intruder was—an AI from beyond the Blackwall, one of the most dangerous kinds imaginable.