Nebel looked at her and smiled.“Take one of our shuttles.They are automated and can get you anywhere you need to go.It will also keep other Hmrain from messing with you.”
Lily nodded.“And come back here if you like.We can get you a nice air-conditioned dome with no one around.Promise.”
Will smiled.“You will miss me?”
“You are the best and brightest human I have met since I left.I see suffering and hope in your eyes in equal measure.If you need time away, take it, but consider us an option for a permanent home.”
Will nodded.“Thank you.Are you sure about the long-range shuttle?”
Nebel grinned.“I am.You can take out one of the prototypes and see what it can do.”
“Covered with trackers.”
“Of course.”
Lily hugged her again, and Will took it.Her suit’s fabric was tight enough that it wouldn’t mess with the nipple piercings that were obvious through the light fabric of Lily’s costume.
Nebel frowned.“Are you willing to program as you travel?”
Will grinned.“I am.”
“Do you mind being a contract employee to that effect?”
She looked at the tall metallic creature, who was trying to find ways to protect her when she left his home.“I will enter a remote work bond contract with Bellen.”
Nebel grinned.“Okay.Let’s go to a record centre.Your bond will be two million.”
She sighed and nodded.“Allow me to share how delighted I am.”
Lily sighed.“Sarcasm.”
Nebel nodded.“Understood.You can get out of the bond at any time by returning half of it.”
“Really?Cool.”
Nebel chuckled.“Come on, Will.Let’s get you protected.”
She nodded and walked out of the room with the vial back around her neck.Boss was back where he belonged.
Will couldn’t believe how much Lily had packed into the shuttle.She had enough stuff to make a trader blush.
“I don’t need all this stuff.”
Lily looked at her and smoothed her hair.“You need reminders that you are loved, you are wanted, and you have a home to come back to.That is what this is.This is an invitation to come home from Nebel and me.Not an ultimatum, just an invitation.”
Will looked at the woman, who was a study in gold.“This was my grandfather’s dream.His home.That was made possible by you.Your insisting to Nebel that humans could be useful into their later years.Your offering him a new leg so he could get around again gave him a new lease on life, and he was able to keep creating here.He loved it here.Loved the tech that was available, the community, and the thrill of having a creation approved for testing.”Will sighed.“That was him.I came to help him cross the century mark and saw joy in his expression over these new chances and new ideas that flooded his mind.I helped him move his projects forward, and now, his last project is over.That was his life.I don’t know what my life is.Boss is the start.He’s registered with the local council and confirmed mine.My little programmed nanites.”
Lily paused.“Could you reset me to human?”
“Nope.You are not human at the base level anymore.It wouldn’t work on you.”
Nebel wrapped his arms around Lily.“Good.I love her just the way she is.”
Lily sighed.“I was just asking.There are others who have been—”
Will held her hand up.“It only works on you while you are solid human.Or mainly human.The Hmrain transformation is done via nanites.It doesn’t reverse.They just rebuild you the way they want you all over again.If it isn’t a nanite transformation, I can fix it.”
Lily grinned, and Nebel snorted.
