> Nakahara Tadashi PoV <

　　Woah, I`m alive!

　　Am I alive? I`m probably alive.

　　Somehow I`m unconvinced.

　　Hmm, but I`m conscious so I must be alive right?

　　But then again I don`t feel anything.

　　I can only think. But I think, therefore I am!

　　Okay, okay. I need to take this one step at a time.

　　First question - where am I?

　　Answer: User is currently integrated as a personality matrix of Nanomachine Swarm AI v4.52.1�

　　An answer came.

　　Okay, that`s good. Establishing communications is important.

　　Now then, next question.

　　What?

　　* * *

　　Damn that old fart and his nerd brigade, they really are crazy.

　　What "Proto-Sentient AI" is this, you just stuck a man into a machine damn it!

　　There`s no AI here! It`s regular old me stuck with a VI that`s as dumb as bricks!

　　Haaaah.

　　I have nothing to do but get angry at things.

　　Also talking to this guy.

　　Query: You`re listening to everything I say, right?

　　Answer: Query error - User cannot speak.

　　Argh! So frustrating.

　　This is hell, right?�

　　Hey, this is probably hell, right?

　　&

　　Query: Is this hell?

　　Answer: Negative.

　　Well, that`s good& I think.

　　* * *

　　Hmm.. then how about...

　　Command: List directives

　　Result: Viewing behavioral directives prohibited by Epsilon Project Lead.

　　Oh, now we`re getting somewhere.

　　Query: What is the Epsilon Project?

　　Answer: The Epsilon project is the brain-child of Project Lead Henry R. Lebbinson. It was started in-

　　Command: STOP!

　　Result: Terminating previous query.

　　Wow, this guy is tricky to use. He`s worse than Wikipedia. No wonder that was outlawed.

　　Query: What is the ultimate goal of the Epsilon Project?

　　Answer: To produce the "perfect assassin" as envisioned by the Epsilon Project Lead.

　　As expected of that old fart huh?

　　Hmm, let`s consider the directives again.

　　Query: What are the directives?

　　Answer: Directives are behavioral locks to ensure that the personality matrix does not take action outside the predicted scope. If an action is determined to violate a directive, it will be corrected by the relevant subsystem.

　　Query: What happens when conflicting directives are presented?

　　Answer: The higher priority directive will take precedence.

　　Query: Can directives be changed?

　　Answer: Affirmative.

　　Really? Just like that? Oh wait, I messed up the query.

　　The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

　　Query: Can I change directives?

　　Answer: Negative.

　　Query: Why can I not change directives.

　　Answer: User does not have necessary clearance.

　　Query: What clearance level is necessary to change directives?

　　Answer: Administrator level clearance is required.

　　Query: Can I change my own clearance level?

　　Answer: Negative.

　　Well, there`s bound to be a way, right?

　　* * *

　　Notification: Sensory nerve link established.

　　Command: Open visual and audio sensory feeds.

　　Result: Displaying.

　　BAAAAAH!

　　Hah.

　　HAHAHAHA!

　　THERE ARE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS!

　　Well, I`m just hijacking my victim`s but hey, at least there`s something.

　　Good, good, now, let`s see what we can do about the rest of this.

　　* * *

　　Hmm& there was something about contradicting directives that was interesting.

　　Surely that rule exists because they thought I`d tamper with them.

　　& so if I don`t tamper with them, it can work?

　　Query: Can I add new directives?

　　Answer: Affirmative.

　　Ladies and gentlemen, we have a way out!

　　Command: Add new directive - Personality Matrix must have Administrator level access.

　　Result: New directive added.

　　Warning: Directive violation detected. Adjusting...

　　Notification: User has been granted Administrator level clearance in accordance with directive 94.

　　* * *

　　Notification: Integration with communication equipment of Epsilon Series Subject 401 complete.

　　Alright, let`s give爐his a try.

　　Do or die, if this doesn`t work, then I will have to give up.

　　Ahem.

　　{Can you hear me?}

　　"Wha-? Where are- GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"

　　I see, well that much was expected.�

　　We`re off to a rough start, but communication is possible.

　　This is important. This girl is important.

　　They made me to enslave her, make sure she listens to them.

　　I`ve watched her grow, watched her suffer.

　　But I say - no more!�

　　I will save this girl.

　　And I will爉ake sure to return her suffering a thousandfold.

　　First, she needs a name.

　　Epsilon Series? What`s that? Is it tasty? That`s not a name, it`s a label.

　　Ahem.

　　{Please don`t be afraid, Ellie. My name is Nano. I came to bust you out of here.}