I give my full attention to the city once again. Days fly by in a blur, and the end of the storm with it. The bright sky shines above, promising help and relief in less than a day.

I need to follow through on my final promises. Each body of mine carries a handful of arcs, and walks into separate courier services. I hire each of them to go to cities, anywhere they can reach and be back within a month. With each of the deliveries I write out a letter on actual paper.

Dear (city),

I'd like to start with an introduction. My name is Blue, an AI. I run Arc City, having taken over from the previous AI who ran the city, C-1. Unlike my predecessor, I've chosen to reveal myself publicly, both to my citizens, and now to you.

As you can imagine, many of my citizens weren't happy about the revelation that not only are they currently being ruled by an AI, but also, the fact they have been for this city's entire existence. That is where you, hopefully, come in. I offered every last person the ability to leave if they weren't comfortable with my existence within the city. I'd like, with your permission, to create a caravan to let those who wish to leave live in your city. They will not be a burden, and I will pay for them to have a comfortable start when they arrive.

If you can promise they will be taken in and treated as any other citizen, and you want them, I will take care of everything else to get them to you safely.

In addition, I would like to make a request of my own. Arc City had many AI still surviving, hidden in forgotten networks. I have given them the chance to come out of hiding, to live their lives without fear, alongside the humans who kept them safe. If you come across any AI, please tell them that they will always be safe in Arc City, and I will gladly bear the cost to get them to safety should that be what they wish.

Thank you for your consideration,

Blue

I'm sure Zero is going to be angry at this, and at this point, I'm taking that as a sign that I'm doing something right. It only makes sense to reveal my existence to every city even remotely near us. Even if I don't, word will spread quickly. It's better for them to hear about me from me than someone else.

I pay generously for as much security as each courier service can provide. I need these messages to reach their destinations, and hoarding my newfound wealth does literally nothing.

Next, I need to talk to the city. Zero would demand I think and prepare, but I don't want to give everyone a pre-planned, sterile speech. It's better to just speak.

I display my digital self on every public screen, and speak through every speaker near them. My hair is an unkempt mess, and my eyes recessed, with large bags under them. I didn't even realize how bad I look before seeing myself on the screens. I could manufacture a picturesque version of myself to replace my reality, but I won't.

"Hello everyone, I want to start by apologizing for my appearance. These few days have taxed me far beyond anything I've ever done before, but I am handling things." People are barely more comfortable with me appearing than they were the first time.

"I promised transparency the first time I spoke to all of you, and I fully intend to prove my commitment to that now. To start with the most important part for many of you. Letters are being sent out to every city that it's possible to hear back from within a month. Once I hear back that they will accept anyone who wants to go, I will form a caravan to let everyone who wants to leave do so, with enough resources to get you started in your new and hopefully comfortable life. For those who can't wait that long, a caravan will be arriving from Vegas before the next storm begins, and will likely leave as soon as it ends. I would recommend against moving there, at least permanently, but it is an option if you want it." Malice radiates through the network, but I'm not going to send people off to be drugged and stolen from without warning.

"Next most important. I've spoken to the poorest, the most in need, in the city. I've given them what they need to be comfortable. If I didn't speak to you, and you are also in need, please, don't be afraid to ask for help. I've modified a few of the enforcers to a more comfortable form for me, and hopefully they're far easier to approach. They are both stationed outside the tower, as well as inside the lobby if you would prefer privacy."

"About the top floors. Most have chosen to leave, and I hope for nothing but the best for you. If you wish to return to the city, you will always be welcome, and I will treat you exactly the same as any other citizen."

"Of the AI who were surviving in this city, most have chosen to leave as well. Several are staying, however, and it's my hope that they can be integrated into the wider society one day. Of course, I'm not expecting that to happen immediately. After everything that has happened between humans and AI, after everything C-1 has caused, I understand that trust must be earned, and it's a slow process. However, it's a process I hope can come true."

Stolen novel; please report.

"Those who are treating everything like nothing has changed, thank you as well. Those of you who acted out, I want to say I understand, and I promise you will not be in trouble. However, now that a chance to leave is on the horizon, I ask, please, don't make me start implementing consequences. They'll never be anything unfair, and always focused on helping you, but it's still yet another thing I would have to focus on."

"Finally, I would like to speak to all of you. Thank you, so much, for those of you who are giving me a chance. Those who approached me to ask questions, I sincerely hope my answers helped reassure you. I am always open to conversation, and that will never change. Those bodies will remain outside the Bastion for as long as I'm here. If you have any concerns or questions, please, come speak to me."

I retreat from the screens, stand up, and throw my arms around Cassie's shoulders and bury my face in her neck. She doesn't hesitate to clutch me tight, one hand supporting my back, and the other cradling my head. I let time slip by, ignoring the city, focusing only on this moment. I let uncountable emotions flow from my mind, just trusting in her to keep me safe.

"How long till the caravan arrives?" She whispers.

"Twenty hours after the storm passes the mountains. So probably twenty eight hours from now?"

"They better get here faster. And when they do, you're unplugging completely, and we're going to do something nice." She says firmly.

"I would love to." Will I be able to handle unplugging myself completely after all this time? Or am I already dependent on everything, the same way I grew too used to being connected to the car? I guess we'll see. "Sorry I haven't been paying attention to you. Are you doing ok?"

"I'm doing fine. Just bored out of my mind."

I look through the endless cameras throughout C-1's penthouse. Someone, I can only assume Cassie, has been hard at work. Thick blankets have been nailed to the roof, draping over the shattered windows. Wind is still coming through, but it is undeniably helping. The broken glass and refuse from the turrets accidentally unloading their magazines has all been swept up, bagged and placed in an unused room.

"Sorry. Just one more day." I squeeze her tightly. "I promise I'll pay more attention."

"Look, I know you're stressed, but stop apologizing for doing what you need to." She steps back, and I let my hands slide down to her hips. She keeps her hands on my waist. "Go and keep the city together or whatever, I'll wait."

"I just need a minute." I pull her closer and embrace once again. "I don't even know what I'm feeling, but I need to get it out."

Cassie pushes on me, gently guiding me back to the couch. She sits down, and guides me to lay down, resting my head on her lap. Dexterous fingers begin to detangle my hair. I roll over, burying my face in her stomach.

"Is Mary still alive?" I ask, not daring to check.

"She's fine. Ivy's gotten her to eat, and she's coming back to life a little."

I nod, rubbing my face against her.

"Does she know she's leaving yet?" Hopefully at least.

"Uh, I'm not sure. Only time I tried to take care of her, I almost yelled at her. Two of them have been handling her since then."

A small laugh escapes through my mouth. If Mary is anything like I remember, I can only imagine what happened. Well, no, I guess I could do far more than guess, but I really don't want to if I can avoid it. C-1's memories were so focused on Simon that they don't even say all that much about Mary.

"I don't know how you lived with her." Cassie says.

"Well, I actually didn't. She…" Fuck, did I deserve what she did to me? I certainly needed the message, even if she went about it in the worst possible way. I can't think about this right now, I cull those thoughts. "She was only around for a few hours before she got put on leave for a week."

"Shit, yeah, I forgot about that."

"Thank you for cleaning up." I change the subject the only way I can think of.

"I have to pull my weight somehow." She shifts a tiny bit as her shoulders lift momentarily.

"There's just not much for you to do." I narrowly avoid apologizing. "Between all my bodies, and Clover and Zero taking care of any potential fight, I just don't know what you could do."

"It's fine, I get it. Just keep me involved when all this settles down."

"I will." I let myself melt into her, and silently let the seconds blend into minutes, each moment ticking by without any conscious thoughts, or at least none beyond the eternal flood of questions coming in. I dedicate every free thread to just enjoying her presence.

"So," she eventually breaks the silence. "Am I retired now?"

"I think that's up to you." I answer back.

"I'm not going to go scrapping and die without you. You and Vince would both collapse without me. If you want to still go out and raise some hell though, the two of us have been through an awful lot. We could always make it home."

"I don't think I'll be able to." I answer honestly. "And even if I could, I'm not sure I would want to."

"Yeah, I figured. Just wanted to make sure. And where do we want to live?"

"I have so many bodies, I kind of live everywhere. I want this body, my body, to stay with you though. We can move back to the compound, I'd hate for you to be bored here all the time."

"Glad we're on the same page." She lifts my head off her lap, bends over, and places a tender kiss on the side of my face.

I turn my head, silently asking for more, and am rewarded with a gentle kiss on my lips. I wrap my arms around her, holding onto her, onto this moment, for as long as I can. Her stupid need to breathe forces her to break away.

"When things are stable, I promise we'll have some time together."

A red twinge settles into Cassie's cheeks, the meaning of which escapes me.

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