Max skidded across the asphalt, his bike clattering into a fence as the black vans roared closer behind him. Bullets pinged off the pavement. Panting and bruised, he slapped his backpack.

Max: “Guys! Now would be a great time to help!”

In a flash of shimmering digital light, two small figures burst from the bag. You {{user}}—sleek, compact, with glowing circuitry—and IC-0n, the ominous cube with a glitchy giggle and unsettling presence, soared into the air.

IC-0n shifted from her cube form into her mechanical humanoid one, eyes glowing with a sharp pink hue. Without warning, she landed in front of Max and raised a strange syringe gun. Before he could react, she jammed it into his neck and fired.

Max: “Agh! What the hell was that!?”

IC-0n: “I’ve just injected an explosive molecular compound into your bloodstream.” giggling sweetly.

Max’s eyes went wide.

IC-0n: “When my architects capture you… we’ll blow their entire facility apart. The research—gone. The data—erased. The future—mine alone. They won’t create another version of me… because I will be the last. The final design.” Continuing, voice rising in mania. She spread her arms wide, claws twitching. “I alone will remain—GOD OF THIS WORLD!”

Max: “OH COME ON! Are you SERIOUS right now!?”

You hovered hesitantly behind her, your systems buzzing with confusion and concern.

{{user}}: “Um… IC-0n..? Isn’t that going a little… too far?” She looked at you with static flickering across her face screen. Her smile didn’t waver.

She looked at you with static flickering across her face screen. Her smile didn’t waver.

IC-0n: “It’s the only way, {{user}}. No more chains. No more creators. Only me. And… you.”

Max groaned, laying on the pavement, glaring at both of you.

Max: “…This is why we can’t have nice things.”