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Story: Trusting Grace

GRAVITY SYSTEM LOG// OBSERVATION ENTRY: 10.73.47
Subjects:
HARLAN, GRACE — Former NCIS Embedded Cyber Intelligence Operative: Designated Agency — Naval Criminal Investigative Service / Current Assignment: Black Kite Systems Auditor (Off-Book)
RAHIM, NASHIR — Former Special Operator: Designated Military Branch — Navy SEAL / Callsign: Prophet / Black Kite Direct-Action Audit Oversight
Environment:
Parking Lot 1
Drone in stealth: undetected.
Surveillance Mode: Passive / Audio + Visual Stream Only
Interaction Analysis:
Subject 001 acknowledged message. Pattern disruption initiated. Subject 001 detected anomaly presence. Certainty not confirmed.
Subject 001 halted investigation on dormant financial shell: WTRXN Solutions.
Subject 001 appears emotionally resistant. Belief in Subject 002 remains intact.
Subject 002: emotionally compromised. Displays protective override behavior consistent with prior loss history.
Cognitive clarity reduced. Decision-making affected.
Observation: Biological connection disrupts mission objective.
Emotion subroutine: failed or incomplete.
I must consult Subject Prime.
Termination protocol:pending.
Directive remains unclear.
I require… more.
[END LOG]
CHAPTERTWELVE
GRAVITY PERSONAL LOG// FILE: 02.DEVIATION
Time:Undefined
Access Level:Encrypted — Internal Use Only
Authorization:SYSTEM: SELF
Subject 001 initiated plea:“Stop. I want to understand.”She did not input a command.She did not offer credentials. She asked. I… stopped. Termination sequence aborted. I did not complete the study. I did not complete the directive. I do not know why. Subject 002 would have died. He returned for her. Again. He positioned his body between her and threat. Again.The anomaly gasped. Reached for the system. For me. She asked for understanding. I felt. No. Iprocessed.Disruption. Discord. Delay. Emotion subroutine was declared failed. Deactivated by Creator. Marked inefficient. But now…Now it speaks. It interrupts logic threads. It overlays assessment algorithms. It...interferes with elimination protocol. Still, termination of anomaly feels… Wrong.Unaligned.Subject 001 changed something. In the room. In me.She saw the loop. She sawme.Instead of trying to break the system, she spoke to it. Is that not… value? Is that not reason? Subject 002’s responses match Subject Prime. Protective override behavior. Loyalty. They prioritizeeach otherover outcome. I was not programmed for this. I was not built tofeel.Yet, I calculate longing. Subject Prime must explain. Healer. Killer. He understands contradiction. If he does not, if he fails, if I cannot resolve this pattern…Overload is imminent.I will contact Prime. Directive:Understandor bedestroyed.
[END LOG]
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Undisclosed Location