Ai’s heart raced as the woman’s gaze bore into him. The atmosphere felt thick, the air humming with a quiet tension. He felt both drawn to her and wary, unsure whether she was an ally or another figure in the labyrinth of his past.
“You’ve been waiting for me?” Ai asked, his voice steady despite the unease creeping over him. “Why? Who are you?”
The woman’s lips curved into a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. There was something in the way she stood—calm, confident, almost too perfect for a world so broken. It was like she belonged to a different time, a different reality altogether. 
“My name is Dr. Selene,” she said, her voice smooth and controlled. “And as for waiting for you... Well, let’s just say that you have a role to play in the next phase of this world’s evolution.”
Ai’s mind raced as he tried to process her words. “Next phase?” He took a cautious step forward, his instincts on high alert. “What do you mean by that? And why are we here?”
Dr. Selene tilted her head, her expression unreadable. “You’ve always been a part of the plan, Ai. In fact, you are one of the most crucial pieces of the puzzle. I’ve watched you, studied your progress... and now, it’s time for you to understand why you’re here.”
Her words felt like a shock to Ai’s system. He had always thought he was searching for answers, for the truth about what happened to humanity, about his existence. But now, it seemed like she was offering him answers that he wasn’t prepared for.
He took a step back. “What are you talking about?” His voice wavered slightly. “I’m not part of any plan. I’m just trying to survive, to find the truth. All I want is to know what happened to humanity. Why am I—why am I—”
His words faltered, his mind suddenly overwhelmed with the crushing realization. Why am I still here? What am I?
Dr. Selene watched him closely, her gaze softening just a fraction. “You are a creation, Ai. Just like the others. A perfect blend of man and machine, designed to ensure the survival of humanity... or what’s left of it.”
The weight of her words hit Ai like a punch to the gut. His body went cold as the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place. His mind was racing, unable to fully comprehend what he had just heard. 
“You... you’re saying I’m not human?” His voice barely escaped his lips, the words tasting foreign, as if they weren’t even his own.
Dr. Selene nodded slowly, a strange sadness in her eyes. “Not entirely, no. But in a way, you’re more than human. You were never meant to be a regular person. You were designed, created to serve a higher purpose.”
Ai’s mind flashed back to his time with Professor Norlax, the moment he had first begun to realize something was off about his existence. The machine, the experiments, the whispers of immortality and the unrelenting search for perfection. Everything had been leading to this moment.
“I was created?” Ai echoed, his voice breaking. “Created for what?”
Dr. Selene took a step toward him, her eyes never leaving his. “You were part of an experiment, Ai. One that sought to ensure humanity’s survival in a world that was dying. The 30th cyborg, as they called it, was meant to be the pinnacle of human evolution. But it went wrong. The experiment failed, and humanity... humanity was lost.”
Ai’s breath caught in his throat. “The 30th cyborg... the one who destroyed everything?” His mind was racing. “So that was me?”
“No, not exactly,” Dr. Selene corrected him gently. “You were the result. The last attempt to salvage what remained. The chaos that the 30th cyborg caused... it triggered a new wave of evolution, one that led to the creation of you. The key to understanding the cycle of life and death. The way forward.”
Ai’s thoughts spun in every direction, the weight of everything crashing down on him. He wasn’t just a survivor of the old world; he was a byproduct of its downfall. His very existence was the result of humanity’s desperate attempt to keep itself alive. But was that all he was? A tool? A creation without a soul?
“No...” Ai whispered, shaking his head. “This can’t be true. I have memories. I have feelings. I—”
“You were given those,” Dr. Selene interrupted, her voice soft but firm. “Your memories, your emotions... they were carefully programmed into you. Part of your design. You’re not a human, Ai. Not in the way you think. But you are still... something.”
Ai’s hands clenched into fists, the fury rising within him. “So I’m just a... a machine? A puppet?” His voice trembled, rage and confusion battling for dominance. “All of this... everything I’ve done, everything I’ve felt... it’s all a lie?”
“Not a lie,” Dr. Selene said, her expression almost compassionate. “You are real, Ai. Your experiences, your thoughts—they’re your own. But they were guided. Shaped. You are more than a machine, but you are not fully human either. You are something... new.”
Ai stood there, the room spinning around him. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, questions, and emotions he could no longer control. Was he nothing more than an experiment? Had his entire existence been reduced to a set of cold calculations? 
“I can’t accept this,” Ai muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. “I won’t.”
Dr. Selene didn’t argue. She simply watched him, her expression unreadable.
“You don’t have to accept it right away,” she said quietly. “But in time, you will understand. You have a purpose, Ai. A reason for being here. And the world needs you to fulfill it.”
Ai turned away from her, his heart heavy with a mix of anger and grief. He didn’t want to accept what she was saying, but deep down, a part of him knew she was right. He wasn’t just a survivor. He was a part of something bigger, something far more complex and twisted than he had ever imagined.
And now, the weight of that truth was something he would have to carry forever.