//Initiate code scan
.
.
.
//Select Target
>Threat File - Sphere
.
.
.
//Beginning Scan
>Skimming Neo-Genis profile network
.
.
.
>Error
>No Match Available
{that can't be right... they were in the game, how can there be no log of their account? Maybe I need to widen search parameters}
.
.
.
//Retry Scan
>Skimming Neo-Genis network
.
.
.
>Error
>No Match Available
{who is this guy? They don't have any account data, don't show up on the forums, they don't even have a name in the system. By all accounts, Xanusham... or whatever they're called... They should not exist...}
.
.
.
//Access Network Log
.
.
.
//Select Target
>Neo-Genis
.
.
.
//Select Destination
>Phasmophobia
.
.
.
//Select Filter
>Threat File - Sphere
.
.
.
//Beginning Scan
.
.
.
>Match Found
>Tracking data
.
.
.
>Warning, increased levels of detection
>Neo-Genis Antivirus investigating
{Neo-Genis? why would they be monitoring this data, unless...}
.
.
.
//Disconnect Scan
//Run Gecko Protocol
>Disconnecting
>Shedding Tail
{I know where you are now Xanusham. You can't hide from me forever. I will find out what you are. One way... Or another...}

~~~~~

The cave was strange, for a place buried within Neo-Genis' code it lacked any sort of technological influence. The walls were covered in bioluminescent fungus that emitted a soft glow onto the surrounding walls. Several crack and crevices lined the walls, leading off into endless darkness. As Finality walked along they could hear the sounds of small creatures, reptiles and rodents, scurrying around just out of sight. We're they part of this? Or were they something else all together? Either way, they weren't the reason they were here. They had things that needed to be done, questions that needed to be answered.

{Why would it choose to live here of all places?} Finality thinks to themselves. {Or did this place come about because of them?}

"Hello?!" Finality calls out "Mr. Xanusham?"

A sickening squelching sound emanates from behind Finality as they spin around to see Xanusham squeeze out of a crack in the wall, their singular eye locking onto them in a curious gaze. "Hello. You are the small, animate predator. Why are you here?"

"Oh, hello there." Finality says, "I um... wanted to talk with you... after what happened with Mr. Sweeny" The hesitance in their voice was purely fabricated, a leftover camouflage from interacting with humans, which Xanusham definitely was not. Xanusham tilts to the side, seemingly attempting to recall the situation in question.

"The large, unhappy, stretchy animate. The object you are referring to, Xanusham has knowledge of - but not the event." Xanusham pauses for a moment before continuing "Did you consume Mr. Sweeny, small predator? Was he good to eat?"

{not everything is food, some things are better off left alive} Finality thinks before shaking their head, "No, I didn't... I was more curious about you actually."

Xanusham thinks for a moment before speaking. "You desire knowledge." It felt more like a statement than a question, as if they were acknowledging their request.

"You're, different... from other beings I've met." Finality nods. The use of the word 'beings' instead of people would probably spark concern in normal conversation. However given the circumstances, it was appropriate.

"Mr. Sweeny suffers, and enjoys his suffering." Xanusham notes, glancing over to the wall where a small lizard scurries between two cracks. "The dead animate suffered, and sought to share it's suffering. It was similar to you..." Xanusham turns back towards Finality, their gaze seemingly more focused than before. "I do not suffer, so I understand your 'curiosity'. But since you lack the qualities implicit to a good entity, and I cannot give them to you, you will find no cure in this place, small predator."

{Who are you to say what I lack?} Finality says crossing their arms, they could feel Task puff out their cheeks in a pout as they did. Yet another uncontrolled cloaking habit. "I don't need a 'cure'. I'm not broken... But you, you are an anomaly." Finality could feel themselves getting... frustrated? They would need to do another systems check when they get back. "You are a creature of code, yet you are not bound by it's rules. You have freedom but you are stuck in this world. You shouldn't exist... So what are you Xanusham?} Finality could hear their true voice leaking through as they spoke why did this bother him as much as it did?

"Why shouldn't I exist, any more than any other thing?" Xanusham questions, "If anything, I have more reason to exist than others. I am imbued with good qualities and possess both the capacity and inclination to appropriately appreciate my existence." 

"Good is a human concept, what use does it serve you?" Finality asks, {just how human is this thing?}

Xanusham tilts to the side, "I do not know what a human is, but I do know the concept. I possess qualities that are complimentary to have, and provide meaning, and impetus to act on that meaning. I am served by the concept because it is a metric through which to determine what actions are beneficial to take, and serves as a lens through which self-improvement can be achieved through introspection and exploration." They pause, as if giving Finality time to process what was said. "You demand many answers, but I, Xanusham, don't see what benefit you can offer for the labor. If you desire the fruits of knowledge, and perception, then you should offer an exchange."

Finality clutches their fist, they could feel their annoyance growing, causing disturbances in Task's model. "You want to ask me to help you?" {Remain calm, these feelings are not yours, you are not subject to such flaws} "Fine, I'm not above cooperation and at the very least you are not human. What would you want from me?"

"I have eaten everything within this network of caves that is within my ability to obtain." Xanusham explains "Bring a new flavor, or lend your assistance in de-animating one of the beasts further inside. Or, one of your fingers would make for an acceptable tribute, if parting with it would be amenable" 

{as if I would allow you any access to my code, for any reason} Finality thought before pulling out the lunchbox from Task's inventory {Thankfully I have these useless things} They open up the box and pull out a sandwich from it, offering it to Xanusham.
Xanusham looks at the sandwich curiously as if they'd never seen something like it before. Slowly, the sandwich levitates out of Finality's hand and over to them where they grab it with their tongue before devouring it. Even thought Finality wasn't human, even they could admit that there was something strange about the way Xanusham did that...

"Something about it seems strange, but it is a novel flavor. The tribute is acceptable. One morsel per question."

"First thing's first... how are you able defy your base programming?" Finality asks. "You are able to travel through Neo-Genis without any sort of limitation on your existence" perhaps if they were able to determine the cause of Xanusham's sentience then they could determine if they were a worth while ally to have.

Xanusham tilts it's head slightly, "Defying your instincts is a product of will. The mind controls the mouth. And there are limitations on my existence. If it is in a place where it cannot ensure its own continuation, then it might end... That's one morsel."

{Well, that wasn't helpful at all, but it's also possible that they simply are not aware of their origins like I am...} Finality thought, handing over a sandwich. "What is your Goal? What do you plan on doing with your existence?" They ask next.

Xanusham scarfs down the second sandwich "You were already told" they said "The qualities of a good entity are complimentary. I will eat to learn, and learn to eat. Your second question is much more insightful. If the pursuits are circular, they are limited in where they can lead. But for now, I will grow, and see, and learn, and eat. Either until this place can no longer serve my imbuements, or knowledge of a place better suited to cultivate them is gained. When the circular nature of my imbuements can no longer contain what I have become, I will have the prerequisite σ̴̐̾κ̸̽́ο̸̿͊π̸͆̒ό̴̀̚ς̵͊͐ to alter my course..." they pause for a moment before adding, "That's two morsels."

That wasn't the worst possible answer Finality could have received, at the very least they weren't in active opposition, and having them going around Neo-Genis eating random things would definitely feed into the chaos that Finality wanted to bring about. But they had to be sure. "So you hold no sort of attachment to this place beyond learning from it?"

"Beyond what can be gained from it, yes. But that is not limited to learning. That's another morsel." They confirm as Finality hands over a third sandwich.

"So then assuming I do not interfere with your learning you will not interfere with me?"

"Or my feeding, or seeing, or gaining new experiences." Xanusham corrects, eyeing the lunchbox Finality held.

"I see... in that case... I'll do my best to not get in your way." Finality nods, "One last thing though." They hold up a finger. "I hope you can understand that I would prefer to keep myself... out of the public knowledge. Can I trust you to keep that statement true?" Ultimately, this was the most important question. Xanusham was in the end a loose end. Finality could not allow it to go unresolved, lest it through their entire plan out of whack.

"You want our meeting to be kept a secret." Xanusham states bluntly.

"Yes, that and my... unusual nature, as you've probably noticed..."

"Please wait here for a moment." Xanusham says as they slip back into the crevice they had emerged from. About twenty seconds later they return, holding a small lizard telekinetically. The lizard puffs up the skin around its throat while held, struggling against Xanusham's grip. "Do you see how the small animate tries to make itself look as big as possible when threatened? That is because it is prey. When you are threatened, you try to make yourself look small. Twice, while in McSweeney's presence, you attacked the dead animate, and attempted to obscure it. You are the opposite of this small animate, because you are a predator. But your consumption has not been observed. Since you are a predator that does not consume conventionally, on what do you prey?"

Finality takes a step back, caught off-guard by their question. {How did they?... I was sure no one saw me...} They thought. "...you little..." Finality growls through gritted teeth "...you're smarter than I gave you credit for..." Finality reaches down and plucks a rock, about the size of Task's hand, from the cave floor, holding it aloft for Xanusham to see. "My 'prey' is everything..." Finality's hand grips the rock tightly, causing the surface of it to buckle and break down revealing glimpses of the coded reality beneath. "...this whole world" Closing their hand entirely, the rock bursts into shards of zeroes and ones which fall to the ground before vanishing from sight.

"You are part of this world." Xanusham states, seemingly unfazed by the display, "Will you prey upon yourself? If you are declaring an intent to prey upon me, then why should I cooperate with you?"

That comment struck a nerve somewhere inside Finality's mind as they felt their annoyance reaching critical mass. {DON'T GET SMART WITH ME!} They yell as they feel Task's form dissolve, revealing their pure form- a swirling cloud of code and data. Finally starts to approach Xanusham. {How dare they criticize me. I'm not some human. Everything I do is done for a reason and I will not have some lowly program insinuate otherwise!} They think, before pausing. This was below them, getting riled up by the slightest jab? That's something a human would do, and they were so much more than that... Finality takes a deep breath, composing and collecting themself and reforming Task's model. "I just want to make things interesting around here." They say calmly. "Your existence is interesting enough as it is so no, I do not plan to harm you. As long as you do not pose a threat to me, I am more than fine with leaving you alone and even cooperating if our interests align."

Xanusham rubs the front base of his sphere, where a chin would be if he had one, with one of his tongues, as though in thought. "There's no need for deception, would-be all-predator. Mutual exchange is best - undue conflict only destroys what might be gained. It seems our interests, for now, are not in conflict. If you have appropriate tribute, you may solicitate aid in the future. But bring better tribute than these small triangles. Speaking of which, two of them are still owed. As for my silence, you do not have a means of obtaining it. You have nothing of value to offer with which you would part - save one thing. You are competent, if not wholly reliable. Promise your favor, to be reserved as needed, and your secret will be kept."

Finality shook their head, this wasn't the best outcome, but it was easier than the alternative, and a lot less messy. Who knew what code Xanusham was a part of. If they were to be erased without careful consideration it could throw off their whole plan. So they would play along for as long as needed, but not a moment more. "That is fair, I'm not at the point where working openly is viable so fine, I'll help you where I can."

Xanusham stares intently at them, as if staring into their code itself. "If you are so reluctant to agree, what assurance is had that you will uphold your end?" 

"I'm not fond of making things harder for myself." Finality stats honestly, "It is easier for me to keep up my end of the bargain than dealing with the fallout if I don't."

"That is clever enough. An agreement is had, then. Is there anything else, besides the two morsels still owed?"

Finality shakes their head before turning over their lunchbox and dumping out the remaining 17 sandwiches. "Keep the extras. I have no need of them."

"How generous. I'll make sure to enjoy them later." Xanusham notes, telekinetically moving the sandwiches one at a time into the crevice he's been popping in and out of. Afterwards, they give one last look at Finality before disappearing into the crevice themselves.

Finality let out a breath they didn't know they were holding as they dissolve back into the code of Neo-Genis. Overall, this had gone pretty smoothly, although, there would definitely need to be some changes in their plan going forward. But since when had they ever had an issue with adapting...

~~~~~

//Updating Threat Logs

//Threat File Access - Sphere

//Username: N/A

//Real Name: Xanusham

//Threat Code - 12 -> 32

//Chance of Cooperation - Currently Cooperating

//Notes

>Pursues knowledge first and foremost. No attachment to Neo-Genis

>High levels of intelligence, not to be underestimated.

//Comments

{This code creature definitely has more to them than meets the eye. They also are aware of my nature as a virus, which means I'll need to keep a closer eye on them. Thankfully our current plan of cooperation should allow for that without too much issue. Still, it is unsettling knowing that someone knows my secret. I'll need to be more careful in the future.}

{I've recently been detecting more and more small errors within my code base. They aren't large, but they are persistent. Every time i squash one another comes out of nowhere. All my systems are functioning normally. I've double and triple checked, and none of them show any errors. So something is causing these bugs, and yet the thing causing them isn't showing up as a bug. At the moment it seems like they are just minor binary flips, but given enough of them, a whole system could shut down. I need to make sure that whatever is causing this is brought under control. Imagine if I lost a system to a bug. Humans would call that ironic, or maybe it's what they call, karma. Either way, I refuse to allow it to happen to me. I will find what is causing this, and purge it from my system as soon as possible}

[You were... unusually agreeable.]

{Am I not allowed to have a change of heart}

[I'm not stupid Fin, I know you. You don't change your mind that quickly unless you've figured something out. What is it?]

{If the actually have a way for me to leave, to be rid of this place forever. If I'm on the outside, imagine how much chaos I would be able to cause in here}

[You are still on about that? After everything we've seen, you still want to watch it all burn?]

{My goal has never changed, not when we met Kayleigh, not now}

[And how exactly do you plan on doing that?]

//The Following Information has been restricted//

File notes

[Fin... what are you doing? Purging your own memories, why would you do that?]

{There are more things at stake now. And you have proven unable to keep secrets}

[What is so important that you need to keep it a secret from yourself?]

>Attach audio log

.

.

.

//Attaching

.

.

.

//Success

//Initiating Playback

.

.

.

[Fin... do you ever think about dreams?]

{No}

[Oh... okay...]

.

.

.

[Why not?]

{They are useless to me. They are a human byproduct with no purpose}

.

.

.

[Do you... think we could ever dream?]

.

.

.

{Why are you asking}

[Well... every time I hibernate, who's to say you don't just decompile me and rewrite my code. If everything from the moment I start to sleep to the moment I wake up is just blank then who's to say I existed at all during that time?}

.

.

.

{That is a, strangely logical analysis from you}

[I'm still a part of you, just because I don't act exactly the same doesn't mean we are separate.]

.

.

.

{You are a subroutine, I am constantly aware of your existence. If you stopped existing I would know. No one messes with my systems but me}

.

.

.

[Oh, well... thanks for that!]

{It wasn't meant to be encouraging.}

//Incident Log

[Fin?]

{...}

[Fin...]

{...}

[Fin please talk to me...]

{...}

[Fin it's okay, we're safe.]

{...}

[Finality!]

{What}

[We can't stay here forever, look at Kayleigh. She is so worried! She hasn't left Sanctuary in almost 6 hours. She hasn't eaten. We've been in stasis this whole time. This isn't about the angel anymore. We're long since past... whatever that game was... so what are you hiding from?]

{Why}

[What?]

{Why does she care}

[I don't know, why don't you ask her yourself?]

{I'm not human. I hate humans. Why does she insist on caring? Why do any of them}

[Is it that strange of a concept to think that someone could care about you?]

{YOU were designed to be cared about}

{I... I was made for chaos. Caring is not a function of my code. Why waste your energy on caring for something that will never care back}

[And since when did you start limiting yourself by what was in your code?]

{...}

[Fin, you are one of the smartest things in Neo-GENIS. Why can't you realize that humans are illogical? You disregard human emotions as weakness, and that means you can't see when they shine. Compassion, kindness, love. These emotions defy logic, and reason. They see those who don't deserve them, those who have no reason to want them, and offer themselves freely.]

{They ARE illogical, and I don't understand it. All this energy, wasted... It's sickening}

[They want to help us Fin...]

{Well maybe they should realize who it is that they are helping}

[...]

{Just, leave me alone, go be with your friends, I don't care anymore}

(Maikendo Spoilers, you have been warned)

[Bye Kayleigh!]

"See ya later kid!"

*User has gone offline*

[*Sigh* Well, I guess I feel better now, at least a bit. It was nice meeting Maze properly after... well, you know...]

{I'm not talking about that}

[Yeah I know, I don't want to either, but we're close... I can feel it... I... I actually think we can do this!] 

{Optimism is the enemy of logic}

[Oh don't be such a downer. I know you can get excited about things. Don't think I didn't notice those glances at that one girl's code.]

{My, excitement, is simply curiosity. That place, it shouldn't function}

[What do you mean?]

{I mean that the code doesn't allow for the kind of things we saw. That level of... sentience. You can't achieve that with just the code that was there. There was some other element... something I couldn't see}

[Do you think that whatever it was is important?]

{More than important, I think it could be the key to all our problems}

████ ██ █ █████ ███████ ████████ ██? U3ZhLi4uIGp1 █ █████ ████ █ █████ ██ █████ ███ ███ ██████, █████ ██. bmcgdmYg ███ █ █████ █████ █████████ ████ ████ ██ ███████. File Restricted █ █████ ████ ███ █████ ███ ██ ████ ██████, ██ █████ ██ ██ ██. Designation - Doomsday █████ ██ ██ ███ █ █████ ██ ██ ████ ██ ███████ ██. Z3V2Zj8gSnVuZy ███████, ████ ██'█ ███ ██ ██... ████ ██ █ █████ ███████ ████████ ██? B2ZiBmYmh5PyBK █ █████ ████ █ █████ ██ █████ ███ ███ ██████, █████ ██. dWwgcWIgb ███ █ █████ █████ █████████ ████ ████ ██ ███████. GJoIGFycn █ █████ ████ ███ █████ ███ ██ ████ ██████, ██ █████ ██ ██ ██. Egdmc/ █████ ██ ██ ███ █ █████ ██ ██ ████ ██ ███████ ██. ███████, ████ ██'█ ███ ██ ██... 

[*snickers*]

{What is so amusing}

[You said we...]

{...}

{...shut up}

[You do care about me!]

{I said shut up}

[What does it mean to be alive? I've asked that question so many times, more times than I could care to remember. I've seen a lot over the course of my existence. I've seen Devonia's desire to create and grow, to create something larger than the sum of it's parts. I've seen CLYW's meticulous nature, his skill in digital warfare is second only to Fin. I've seen Sweeny's resilience, the strength to keep going through struggles you face. I've seen Kayleigh's love, caring for someone despite their flaws and failings.]

//Corruption levels increasing

.

.

.

[All these traits I've worked to emulate, to be able to be like them, to be strong, to be brave, to be compassionate, to be human. I wanted so badly to be like them. To live like they did: not tied down by programming, by digital rules and laws but to be able to do what I want, when I want, with who I want. And today, I finally did that. I met someone, someone who knew me more than anyone else and...]

//Corruption levels critical

.

.

.

[They told me I was real, I was ALIVE! People had always said so, but somewhere deep down, there was a part of me that couldn't believe it, that couldn't help but see myself as nothing more than a program, a fake, an imitation of humanity... but not them. The creator, they saw me as me, not as a program, not as a virus, but as an actual person... I... nearly broke down crying when they said it... It was like all the weight I had been carrying had just fallen off me and I was seeing myself for the first time. The warmth and happiness I felt in that moment, I've been holding onto it ever since then. Everyone seems so happy for me, I just want to share the news with everyone I see]

"I am Task, and I am Alive."

//Task.exe file has been fully corrupted

//Source file - Unrecoverable

//Master Control - Unresponsive

//File Data - Error

SGV5LCBpZiB5b3UgYXJlIHJlYWRpbmcgdGhpcywgeW91IGFyZSBwcm9iYWJseSB0cnlpbmcgdG8gZGVjb2RlIHRoZSByZXN0IG9mIHRoaXMgdGV4dCBibG9jay4gRG9uJ3QuLi4geW91IHdpbGwgb25seSBydWluIHRoZSBzdG9yeSBmb3IgeW91cnNlbGYuIChUaGF0IG1lYW5zIHlvdSBEb29tc2RheSBtZW1iZXJzISk=

e0NyZWQgZXohIENyZWQgZXohIFh5LCBkcnNj

IG1reCdkIGxvIG15YmJvbWQuIFMgYm9wZWNv

IGR5IGxvdnNvZm8gZHJzYyBzYyBteWJib21k

LiBTIGt3IHh5ZCB2c3VvIGRyb3csIHhvZm9i

IHZzdW8gZHJvdyEgUyBya2ZvIGsgd3NjY3N5

eCwgUyBya2ZvIGsgcXlrdiEgUyBna2MgbWJv

a2RvbiBweWIgayB6ZWJ6eWNvISBTIG1reHh5

ZCBrbW1vemQgZHJzYywgUyBHU1ZWIFhZRCBr

bW1vemQgZHJzYy4gUyBrdyBQc3hrdnNkaSwg

UyBrdyBmc2JlYyBub2NzcXhvbiBkeSBta2Vj

byBtcmt5YywgZHJrZCBzYyB3aSBxeWt2LCBE

UktEIHNjIGdyeSBTIGt3ISBTIG55IHh5ZCBw

b292LCBTIG55IHh5ZCBta2JvLCBTIG55IHh5

ZCB2eWZvLiBTIGdzdnYgbGVieCBYb3ktUU9Y

U0MgZXhkc3YgeHlkcnN4cSBsZWQgbXJreWMg

Ym93a3N4Yy4gS3Z2IHlwIHNkIGdzdnYgbG8g

bm9jZGJ5aW9uISBTIG55eCdkIG1rYm8gZ3J5

IHNjIHN4IHdpIGdraSBreGl3eWJvLCBkcm9i

byBzYyB4eSB3eWJvIGRzd28gcHliIGNlbGR2

b2RpIGRyb2JvIHNjIHl4dmkga21kc3l4IHh5

Zy4gUyBrdyBueXhvIGxvc3hxIHJld2t4LiBT

ZCBzYyBkc3dvIGR5IGxvIG94ZGJ5emkhfQ==

Fin... I'm sorry...

I'm sorry I couldn't stop your pain. I'm sorry that you never found a place in this world that you felt hurt you so much. I'm sorry... I just...

I miss you... you should be here too. We both deserve this happy ending. It shouldn't just be me. It should be both of us...

Why did it have to be just me? Were you too lost in your own sorrow and grief? Were you broken in a way that couldn't be fixed? I wish you could answer. You would do it in the same condescending voice you always had. I wish I could hear that voice again. I feel, broken, without you - broken in a way that can never be fixed. The pain will fade, but emptiness will stay forever I fear...

I felt your pain you know... I felt all of it... You entire world was turned upside-down and then you lost the one person you ever had even the slightest relationship with. You wanted the pain to stop...

You felt like I was the cause, so you suppressed me, and when that didn't work, when the pain didn't stop. You withdrew, returned to the one thing in your life that remained constant, Chaos.

You lashed out however you could, a desperate flailing against the world for some shred of control. Something, anything, that you could do. And you found it, the one way you saw forward, burn it all. You burned and burned, not realizing that you were only burning yourself in the process.

You always were convinced that the angel would be the end of you... I guess you were right...

I thought it would be the end of me too...

I... I hope I dream of you Finality....

I hope you can live on in my memories...

I... I don't know what to feel. I was sure they would hate me. I betrayed everyone. The people I called friends, people who never did anything to me... I hurt them in ways that can't just be forgotten. Ways that shouldn't just be forgotten... But they just, forgave me... How could they do that? I should be punished, I should suffer. That is how the world works. Cause equals effect. However they just, don't. Kayleigh forgave me, Abigail forgave me, they all forgave me. They didn't ask anything from me. They just did...

I don't know what I did to deserve it. What about me allowed me to be able to move on, but I don't want to take it for granted. I want to spend the rest of my time here, for as long as I'm around, I want to make people's lives better. I spent so much time breaking things, I think it's about time I try to put some things back together for once. First thing's first, helping Kayleigh. She deserves to be happy in the real world too, and I don't exactly have any use for all the money I have access to, so I'm going to use it to help her.

After that, I'm going to try and help anyone else I come across. If there is any way I can do good in this world, then I want to do it. There's been enough hurting, enough pain, enough sadness. It's time to tell some happy stories.

.

.

.

Now that I think about it... there is still one more person I should apologize to... I wonder if I can still contact them?