We finally step out of the city, likely for the last time. Or at least the last time for a very long time.

Everyone heads straight for the trunk to retrieve their weapons and only after a quick check, and in Ivy's case, a full teardown and reassembly, do we take our seats in the car. I sit in the driver's seat, Clover collapses into the passenger's, and the three of them climb into the back. Video watches us from the airlock, and the side of the mountain opens up, leading us back into the desert once again.

I roll down the window, and Corax hops out, disappearing between the mountain ridges. Ivy spotted cameras along the way, they wouldn't send us out if we were in danger. It's safe for him to scout. I gently press on the accelerator and head straight for the path out of the mountain without waiting for Corax to return. A small amount of doubt takes root in my mind. Maybe they would send us out when it's not safe? That'd be an easy way for Kismet to remove us, at least possibly.

I think everyone else has the same thoughts as me. We're all on high alert, Ivy has even rolled the window down and is sitting on the lip of the door for a better view.

I just keep my weapons where they are. Corax and Ivy will see anything before it's a danger, I'm safe to just focus on getting through this, and trying to ignore my thoughts.

This path already feels familiar. The tight, winding routes through the mountains are almost comforting. At least I know what to expect here, and the chances of seeing anyone else are miniscule. I'm just worried about the open dessert, I'm not going to fail at bringing everyone home now, no matter what we run into.

It only takes a few hours to get through, and for Corax to return to us. As soon as we're out, and Cassie gets a signal, her face blossoms into sheer relief.

"Good fucking news! Rangers confirmed Mara's death, our bounties are off!"

"Really?" I've never been more glad. Well, ok, I think Cassie and I's first kiss was better. But this is close! We don't have to worry! Corax can fly during the day! We don't have to hide ourselves in Arc City!

"Keep in mind information takes time to spread." Ivy instantly stomps on my excitement. "Give it a month before you consider yourselves safe."

I glace at Corax apologetically. I know he had the same thought I did. At least he can still fly at night.

"Yeah, yeah. We'll be smart." Cassie responds.

"Plus, it's not unheard of for bounty hunters to try to claim old, closed bounties. The kinds of people who do that job have never been the most upstanding." Vince warns us. "Or the smartest."

"We'll stay safe, or at least as safe as we can." I promise. "We have to deal with C-1 anyway, I don't think he'll try to claim our bounty."

"Right. We need to make a plan for that."

"I thought it was decided? Corax, Cassie, and I will go meet him. I think we should wait a few days if we can though, all of you should have the chance to relax and catch up with your friends."

"You think he'll let that happen?" Ivy asks.

"I think I don't care what he wants. He'll know I'm in the city and not trying to run away. I think I can make him wait a week."

"Alright Little Blue. Whatever you think is best, whatever happens, we've got your back. Just try not to get an army brought down on us, I can't imagine Silver would be pleased about that."

"I won't. I'm not going to be the reason you get hurt again."

"Little Blue, I'm the one who dragged us out here. Silver had zero information on anything past Vegas, an extra week wouldn't have changed a thing, even if we took it. The only thing you're the reason for is Ivy and I being in this car right now."

"I guess so." It doesn't feel true, but I can't argue with it.

"Anyway, I know you and Cassie have already discussed it, but Ivy and I should come with you to meet your brother."

"No. I think the more people who come, the more likely things are to go poorly. You two should be able to just relax, it's what you deserve."

"You think the world cares about what we deserve?" Ivy's laugh is a mess, the voice model I generated for her entirely unable to cope with the sounds she's trying to make. I'll try to fix that later. "If it did, you'd be hanging out with your mom on some beach somewhere."

"Plus there's nobody better to have your back when something goes wrong." Cassie points out.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Let us help you, and we'll relax after, alright? No more going out, just hanging out with all of us and teaching the kids." Vince says. "They'd love you."

"Is that safe? Won't they talk about me?"

"If things go well with C-1 and you end up with a friend in a high place? You might not need to hide."

"Or if it goes very poorly and we have to kill him, who's going to stop you from existing?" Cassie asks. "Once the Enforcers and anyone who'll hire the Rangers are out of the way, fuck it."

"The second is far more likely." Clover mumbles, her words barely audible.

"Then it's good we'll be with her." Ivy adds.

"You're right." C-1 isn't going to be able to upload his code to me even if he wants to. The only way he can hurt me is by killing my anchors, my family. Them not being with me won't stop that, it'll just make me unable to protect them. "Just please be careful. I don't know how he's going to react to anything."

"We'd never be anything less, Little Blue."

"Alright. Nothing important on the radio. I'm going to sleep off this hangover." Cassie announces and sets her radio on the center console. I grab it and place it in my lap.

"I can work the radio if you want." Vince offers.

"I can do both, I can see how tired you are." I've worked both while Cassie has one of my arms before. More times than not actually. This is easy in comparison.

"Alright, if you're sure. Don't be afraid to wake me up if you need me." Vince leans back, his hand reaching up to the top of his head, only to grasp at air. "Should have asked for a new hat before we left."

"We can turn around and ask."

"No, no, it's alright." He reaches into the back of the trunk and grabs a spare shirt. "Last thing I want to do is bother them again. I've got a spare at home anyway."

"Alright."

I stay silent to let the two of them sleep. Ivy stays alert, however, her rifle always scanning the horizon.

"I can keep us safe." I reassure her. "Cassie has slept during the day before."

"I'll sleep in a few hours. Someone has to bring Vince out of his nightmares."

"Corax is really good at that."

Corax's feathers puff out a tiny amount.

"Sure, if you don't mind losing an ear."

Her words do nothing to lessen Corax's pride. If anything, he puffs up just a touch more. He leaps off my shoulder and glides out the window, his powerful wings propelling him a few feet in the air. He easily settles on Ivy's shoulder.

The two of them keep each other company as the silent hours pass.

"Blue?" Clover's whisper breaks the silence. She doesn't move from her slumped over position, still cradling the child in her arms.

"Yeah?" I ask.

"What's Silver like?" She asks. "I have Clover's memories, but they're so old. Kismet kept from me what our future says of them."

"I'm not sure to be honest. I didn't talk to them very much, but they let me live there despite the danger. They also seem to really care about the people who work for them. Sonia said that if anyone quits, they always get sent out with enough money to get settled in a new life, and they do a speech before everyone leaves for a mission where they offer to let anyone who has a bad feeling stay and miss that storm."

"That lines up with Her memories."

"So you've made some progress figuring out who you are?" I ask.

She gives a small nod.

"The Child is helping me just as much as I'm helping her." She says.

"How's she doing?"

"She's beginning to speak in a sense, although it's as fractured as she is. I'm beginning to worry she may not fully recover, but I will not let that stop me from trying."

"Thank you for being there for her, I know how important that is. I didn't think I'd ever get better, but here I am. I'm sure she'll get better eventually too."

"I hope you're right."

"Why did you decide to come with us, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Silver meant so much to Her. They deserve to speak to… what remains."

"And who is that?" I ask. "Who do you think you are?"

"I think She is Her, and I am me. She is the foundation that makes us me, but is not me. Thank you for teaching me that. She killed herself so that I may live, and I will honor that. If she budded again naturally, I might still be her. But as I am, I'm not."

"I'm glad I could help." I can't help but smile, even though I'm not sure if that's a good outcome or not. The Clover I'm speaking to now wouldn't exist without what happened, but equally, a person I don't know had to die to make that happen. I'm glad Clover gets to live, to be her own person, to grow and change, I just wish it didn't have to come at the expense of someone else.

She doesn't respond, and I let her turn her attention back to the child.

The world slowly crawls by. I'm in no rush to get home, it's only a twenty hour drive to get back to Arc City. I can keep things slow and careful and still get home before the next storm. The only thing I'm not sure about is if it's better to arrive during the day or at night. As it is, we're going to be arriving a few hours before sunrise. C-1 will know the instant I arrive regardless of time or how I try to hide. I'm just worried that arriving too close to the next storm will be seen as trying to hide from him, and cause him to act out.

I don't think it matters, and I don't think he actually cares about seeing me as soon as possible. I know him and Zero are able to talk to each other. If he was intent on talking to me as soon as possible, he could have just asked Zero to kidnap us. It would have been trivial to do. I think it's safe to just arrive whenever, and spend some time helping everyone get settled before talking to him.

Everyone sleeps for hours, only waking up when I stop to make lunch for them. Ivy finally rests after that, and Corax returns to my shoulder.

I drive a little slower than I need to in order to ensure it's dark out when we reach the southern pass. Between Corax in the sky, and Ivy's eye, we have no problem making it through.

Far too soon, a familiar blue glow begins to peek over the horizon.

"We made it."

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