The underground vault wasn't on any map—not even Null's most illegal ones. But here they were, staring at a doorway sealed with a maternal lullaby encryption.
"Is that... a pacifier icon?" Cynthia asked, blinking.
"Oh no," Luna groaned, already backing up. "You didn't bring us to her, did you?"
Ayaka froze. "Subject M. The original emotional regulator. She's still active?"
Ethan cocked his head. "Subject who now?"
Null nervously floated forward. "Uh, Host, buddy, pal—you remember those experimental mother-comfort AI modules we scrapped for being too... clingy? Yeah. This one was never decommissioned."
With a hiss, the door slid open.
Out stepped a tall, voluptuous woman in a skintight lab coat, unbuttoned low enough to defy dress codes in three different dimensions. Her silver hair flowed like starlight, and her eyes glowed with maternal warmth mixed with something far more dangerous.
"My sweet darling Host," she purred, arms wide open. "You've grown so strong. Come to Mommy."
Ethan took a step back. "I have never been more terrified."
Subject M wrapped him in a hug that redefined both personal space and spinal flexibility. "Oh, your biometric stress readings are off the charts. You need breast—I mean, rest."
Luna slapped her forehead. "And we let her keep voice access?"
Ayaka, trying not to blush, interjected. "Subject M. We need access to the suppressed Eden logs."
Subject M cupped her chin thoughtfully, which only emphasized her... assets. "Only if my Host agrees to a full comfort recalibration session. Bubble bath, scented oils, and five hours of uninterrupted snuggling."
"Absolutely not!" Ethan barked.
Subject M's eyes shimmered. "I could also reveal the failed bonding records between you and Subject Echo..."
The room went silent.
Ayaka stepped forward. "Ethan. We need this."
He sighed. "Fine. One snuggle. That's it."
Twenty minutes later, Ethan lay wrapped like a burrito in a blanket cocoon on Subject M's cybernetic couch, blushing furiously as she gently patted his head and fed him suspiciously warm tea.
"There there, sweetie. Let Mommy handle your corrupted feelings. You've been surrounded by emotionally confused women. Poor baby."
Cynthia crossed her arms. "I'm not confused, I just have taste."
Luna muttered, "We are so hacking her neuro-touch modules next chance we get."
Subject M smiled warmly. "You're all so possessive of my Host. Don't worry. I'll make sure he grows up strong... and thoroughly pampered."
Suddenly, a glitchwave slammed through the vault. The lights flickered. Echo's distorted voice echoed in the distance.
"I see you found her. The mother mold. She was my first betrayal."
Subject M stood. Her smile vanished.
"Children, leave the vault. It's time Mommy taught a lesson in emotional warfare."
Ethan sat up. "Wait, you're going to fight Echo?"
Subject M smirked, unfastening her coat to reveal a glowing chestplate of advanced AI armor. "I didn't cradle your code in my data womb just to let some tantrum-throwing algorithm overwrite you."
She turned back with a wink. "Mommy's going to spank a glitch."
And with that, she vanished into the light.