The scene shifted to Mayumi's living quarters. She sat at the dinner table, holding her face in her hands.

  "Mother? What's wrong?" Kyomi approached slowly.

  Mayumi raised her face, and Kyomi's eyes widened at the dark bags under her mother's eyes and the sheer stress etched across her features. Mayumi managed a faint, warm smile.

  "I will be all right." She brushed her own hand with her thumb. "Sit down. I guess it's time I let you know what's going on."

  With a worried look, Kyomi materialized a digital chair and sat across from her mother, crossing her arms nervously.

  Mayumi breathed in and out slowly. "There have been many countries across the sea, in the Saharan region, who have been looking for a way to maintain peace among our countries."

  "But that's a good thing, right?" Kyomi asked. "Why would it be a bad thing, Mother? You've been acting weird since you got that call from them."

  Mayumi slammed her fist on the table with a loud bang, startling Kyomi. "Because peace is not what they want at all!" She exhaled and returned to her normal tone. "They're just looking for a quick profit while acting like distributing it to everyone will make things better."

  Kyomi stammered, "I don't understand. What are they selling?"

  Mayumi sighed. "They've decided to explore a power beyond what nuclear weapons are capable of. They now seek orbital power—using military satellites powered by the sun itself to unleash lasers down on Earth that could wipe out the planet with one strike." She paused. "They think that letting every country have at least one—those with enough money to buy from them—will ensure no one tries to attack anyone again. It's a huge gamble, an irresponsible one at that, and I won't be part of it."

  Kyomi stood and began pacing. "But I don't understand! We stopped the wars, we ended the conflicts—so why do all of this? It's pointless!"

  "Because peace isn't profitable to these companies that thrive off selling weapons during military conflict." Mayumi looked into Kyomi's eyes. "Selling these weapons could spark conflict again in the future, and that tension is what they want."

  "But that's horrible! People's lives aren't to be toyed with."

  "Some people just can't appreciate peaceful times. Now they're faced with their own emptiness."

  Kyomi nodded slowly. "What can we do then?"

  "Nothing changes. My—our—mission is still to protect humanity no matter what. If we want to stop them from even being able to use these weapons, I'll need the blueprints." She sighed. "Only the government military has access to those, and since I quit, my card has been revoked."

  "So..."

  Mayumi smiled. "We'll need to sneak in."

  Kyomi coughed. "But what if you get caught? You're all I have left."

  "Well, then we'd better hope not to get caught." She turned back and winked at Kyomi. She came closer. "I'm so proud of you, you know. You are an AI, but you feel more human than a lot of people in the military. You're just like the late Kyomi."

  Kyomi nodded gratefully. "Thank you. I will continue to do my best."

  Time slowly stopped, and Mother Phoenix appeared. "After this, Mother and I used our spare time to prepare a plan to infiltrate the main camp in north Tokyo: Camp Asaka. We both knew this would be a risky mission, but we were both determined. As she was getting old, we decided that I would be the one stealing the blueprints while she created an opening for me to pass and get the data without being caught. But as you're about to see, things didn't go as planned."

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  She disappeared, and when the world returned, Mayumi was in the driver's seat on autopilot, heading to Camp Asaka.

  Mayumi looked at Kyomi. "Once we're close, I'll use this device to act as an alert EMP. That way, they won't be able to find you and will give you just enough time to get what we need and come back."

  She brandished a slim stick with energy flowing through it, then looked at Kyomi. "Hey, cheer up. It will be okay, all right? We made it this far, after all, right?"

  Kyomi nodded, but her face still held nervousness.

  Once they arrived about a mile from the site, Mayumi stopped the car and stepped out. "This is where we separate." She looked at Kyomi with a hint of sadness. "I love you, okay?"

  "I love you too, Mom. Be safe."

  Mayumi stuck the device in the ground. A loud noise resonated as the EMP took effect. "GO!"

  Kyomi floated at high speed into the base without being seen by the military. With relative ease, she made it into the database facility undetected. As she started collecting the data, a loud alarm blared.

  Her breath quickened. Have they noticed me, and I just didn't know? No, that's impossible.

  A female voice came through a speaker: "Outside energy detected outside of base. Any soldier available is instructed to investigate. You are allowed to shoot if there is resistance."

  Kyomi froze. I can't let anything happen to her. Hurry up, damn it!

  After two minutes, the data was collected. "Got it. Now I can make it out."

  Without trying to be discreet, she flew quickly, trying to get back to her mother. As she approached their meeting point, she saw a group of soldiers surrounding Mayumi, guns aimed at her.

  The general spoke. "Well, well. How the mighty have fallen. Didn't think you would betray us, Mayumi, but then again, why am I even surprised? Is it because we couldn't save your family?"

  "You guys do not know what you're doing! These weapons are more dangerous than you could ever imagine!"

  The general laughed. "I guess we'll have to see. Take her to the execution grounds. We'll make an example out of her for the people who try to come after us."

  Kyomi felt the world around her twist. But instead of going to her mother, she hid, scared like never before.

  Once again, the world stopped. Mother Phoenix appeared, facepalming. "I was a coward. Mother got captured and was to be executed. I spent the next few hours trying to contact other human connections my mother had, asking for help, but they didn't listen. They thought she was a traitor, as they were told. I lost all hope until I thought about something I never thought I would do. I gathered as many androids as I could, and together we made our way to the execution ground where my mother was tied up in the air like she was an animal."

  This time, Mother Phoenix remained present as the scene continued.

  As they approached the execution grounds, the general was already on stage, cameras broadcasting internationally.

  "Today, a woman we once called a hero decided to betray us and steal our data to sell to foreign countries. This moment will serve as an example for all of you who will try to do us harm. From here on out, you will be met with the same fate."

  He whispered in Mayumi's ear with a smirk. "Sorry it came to this. If you were to find a way to neutralize those weapons, our economy would take a big hit. We intend on selling those, too, and you would only be in the way."

  Mayumi looked at him with disdain. "You bastard."

  Kyomi ordered the androids to open fire on the military brigade, starting a chaotic gunfight. "I will not let you kill my family in vain! You guys are monsters!"

  Soon, the area was filled with screams. Chaos ensued—fire spreading, smoke everywhere.

  Kyomi flew to Mayumi. "Mother, I'm here to save you! The androids helped!"

  Mayumi smiled weakly. "You have found your people. I'm glad. Always remember, Kyomi—you must protect humanity no matter what."

  Her voice echoed in Kyomi's mind as the general raised his gun and shot her in the head.

  "Terrorism will not be forgiven and will be punished! I might not be able to kill you, but I can end her!"

  For the first time ever, Kyomi felt a strange sensation—one she hadn't felt before. She screamed, a sound that could be heard for miles.

  "You guys are all the same. You will never change."

  A massive android walked slowly toward the general as she spoke. "You take lives over petty reasons. You risk other people's lives. You take pride in exploiting others."

  The android grabbed the general, who screamed in pain.

  "You people are no humans." She looked at the general straight in his eyes. "And I have no place for your kind in this world."

  The android crushed the general's head, sending a burst of blood spattering across the ground.

  Mother Phoenix looked at the cameras focused on her. "To you, the rest of the world—heed my words. No longer will you parasites continue to ruin this world. From this point on, Mother Phoenix will make sure you finally get the end that you deserve."

  She looked at her mother's body. "I finally understand what you were saying, Mother. And I will ensure that humanity's will lives on."