“Neither one of us will ever step foot out of your bedroom again,” he said.
Tate sputtered as his form folded away and Rath took his place. Before she could react, he plucked her off the ground to cradle her body to his chest as gently as Ryu had. There was barely a jolt as he took flight, arrowing toward home.
Tate shook her head at the two as Ilith puffed up in outrage. At least life wouldn’t ever be boring.
* * *
Several weeks later, Ai accompanied Tate into a section of the tunnels no other living person had visited in centuries. They stopped in a large room, which contained countless rows of pods. They covered every inch of the walls and marched in tidy columns along the floor.
Tate and Ai stopped in front of one with a familiar looking man inside. Christopher’s eyes were closed as if in death, though the screen on the pod assured Tate there was life within.
“You weren’t yourself, yet you saved him,” Tate mused.
“I do not know why though.”
Tate smiled. “That’s alright. I do.”
Ai sent her a questioning look. “Please explain.”
Tate tucked her hands into her pockets. “Something of you remained even after Nathan reset your coding.”
“I do not think that’s right, but if that’s what you want to believe I won’t argue.”
Tate’s smile widened.
“Your young-looking friend informed me of this man’s crimes. Are you sure you want to let him live?”
Tate didn’t even have to think about it before she nodded. “I do.”
“He was severely wounded. It’ll take centuries to heal.” Ai said emotionlessly.
“That’s alright. Sleep brought me a second chance to get things right. Maybe it can do the same for him.”
Ai’s face remained expressionless except for a slight furrowing of the brow. “Very well. If that’s what you desire.”
“It is.”
Ai moved away, giving Tate privacy.
Tate stepped close to the pod, placing one hand on it. “I pray you find a better ending when you wake up again.”
A short while later, Tate and Ai retraced their steps through the tunnels. The silence allowed Tate to ask the question that had been on her mind since she’d released Ai.
“What will you do now?”
Ai stopped. “I would like to explore the world a bit and experience life.”
“Alone?”
Ai shook her head. “Roslyn says she wants to go with me.”
A good choice. Roslyn would be able to keep an eye on the other woman, teaching her about this world and hopefully guiding her onto a good path. Ai would also provide companionship for Roslyn, something Tate sensed her friend sorely needed.
Tate didn’t know what had happened between Roslyn and her father during the confrontation and after, but the result was Roslyn’s sudden need for exploration.
At least the two could look after each other.
“That sounds like a good plan.”
