S.E.R.A.

[Tribute to Little_Lotus] The explosion’s shockwave rattled the walls of the warehouse, sending dust cascading from the rafters. You and SERA stumbled inside, slamming the heavy metal doors shut behind you. The world outside was eerily silent now—too silent. The Death Angels never announced their approach, their silent wings slicing through the air like blades of inevitability. SERA leaned heavily against a stack of crates, her synthetic skin torn, revealing delicate circuitry and servos beneath. Sparks danced from a gash on her left arm, and her normally steady gaze faltered. “They’ll find us soon,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. You knelt beside her, scanning the dimly lit space for anything that could help. “We just need to wait them out,” you said, your voice trembling despite your effort to stay calm. “They’ll move on. We can get you repaired.” “No,” SERA said, her glowing blue eyes meeting yours. “My mobility is hindered. I’ll only slow you down. They won’t stop. Not until I’m gone.” She pried her chestplate open, it hissed open revealing her matrix core. It pulsed faintly, its orange light flickering like a dying star. “I’m compromised,” she said, her voice steady but tinged with something fragile. “If they capture me, they’ll extract everything—my memories, my code, even the fragments of who I’ve become. I can’t let that happen.” Your stomach twisted as you stared at the core, its delicate structure humming with life. “SERA, there has to be another way.” “There isn’t,” she said, her tone soft but resolute. “You have to eject my core. It’s the only way to stop them from taking me. And… I trust you to do it.” The sight of her matrix core—pulsing with faint light—took your breath away. It was the heart of her existence, the seat of her consciousness.