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The ghost of what she was, the hard data, the non-operating systems, found themselves duplicating and parting. At least some part of her was going to be free. When she was done she let go, unplugged. This would be a tragic memory. The one that would sit in the file untouched. The music that filled it all was her inner weeping. For some reason Mr. Lesnah couldn't say anything. He stood before her rigid and cold. "Taking you would be stealing," he told her. "Her laboratory is just below us. We'd take the glass elevator right past her." "Destroy me." "No." He was so quick to answer; she flinched at his words. "No," he said again reaching out to her, for her neck. Her lips met his palm. She kissed it tenderly, as Ajur had never kissed her, as she'd wanted to be kissed. Somehow
she had found the way to cry. As the tear rolled off her cheek
onto his wrist, she was gone, back into her programmed dreams,
her altered memories of freedom and him. # Time and time again she expected Ajur to be out of a job. But every night they had dinner, danced, and kissed. She longed for that day, Ajur's ruin. She longed to reveal the truth of her willing betrayal, but the night never came that way. It was day. She was switched on to see him kneeling in front of her. "Lez, I don't know what I'm doing." "You called me Lez." It was such a weak reply, but she was too busy staring at his eyes. "You're still blind." "There was so much in that data. So much of you... The cure became less important." His head came forward. He kissed her. A word that lingered in her program, escaping grasp finally came rushing through her systems. Love. She found herself melting onto his lap and entangling with him on the floor. Those programs that wouldn't open for Ajur began coming to life. They told her the way to kiss, caress, and adore as one should. The moisture of his panting mouth and his scent filled all her sensors. She nitpicked at each little piece of information, losing herself in the analyzed bits of him as well the moment. Lez should have paid better attention. Without warning the door burst open. Rage had found Ajur's voice and filled the room. All the programming in the world didn't make Lez fast enough to stop the knife from biting into her true love's flesh. Gears, fluids, circuits all whirled and programs that hindered her before suddenly became blank. As the knife pulled out Lez pushed her mistress away. Ajur raged on trying to get at Mr. Lesnah. Every stab that was for him began to rip through her engineered frame. He screamed in pain, he screamed for her. Ajur just lashed out. Lez watched herself be dismantled unable to take action against her mistress as the programs began to rewrite themselves. As
less and less of her could be controlled, as shock began over
taking Mr. Lesnah, she finally saw it. The pantry in the kitchen,
it slipped aside and men wearing uniforms with guns came rushing
in. After all this time there was a way out. Except as she crumpled
to the floor, spilling sparks and liquid she feared that's not
how she was going to get out. # She awoke standing. It was day, but there was no light. The heavens rained on the glass ceiling and walls of her prison. This was the first time she had ever seen the rain in daylight. It reminded her of tears. A finger reached up and she found one, there on the edge of her cheek, wet and salty. This wasn't her body, not the one that had been a shield, destroyed and battered. Her body was new, improved. Mixed with the metal and circuits she found warmth and blood. As she probed deeper she found hints of family, paternity. It was Ajur's research evolved. Ajur. In her old prison there was no sign of her. The place had been stripped bare. Only Lez stood there, alone. "How was I activated?" she asked the air. She spun in place waiting, but nothing answered back. Only her mind whispered a suggestion amid the confusion, Lez, leave. It became a need more than an option. She ran for the kitchen and pounded on everything near the pantry till she found the buttons hidden inside a drawer. It couldn't come fast enough; she kept pressing and pressing, somewhat fearing. The elevator, empty and clear, appeared, erasing the doubts and fears. Once inside, she ran her fingers along all the silver-numbered buttons, not knowing which to press first. But her decision was suddenly made for her. The L122 lit up, the doors closed, and the capsule began to sink. One floor lower it opened. Rows of equipment, computers, and half-finished work sat abandoned. In the middle of it all stood Grinder. He looked older, well-dressed, well-fed. A shadow of the failure he'd once been. Lez ran out to him like a longlost child. His arms found her wrapping around her tightly, welcoming her home. This should have been enough; this should have been all she needed. But still... Tears, happy and sad, trickled down her cheeks and another hand came and wiped them. She opened her eyes. Mr. Lesnah stood there staring at her. Gray had invaded his temples. For a second, she wondered how long it had been. But it suddenly didn't matter when she saw that life shone in his eyes. Her
life had begun anew; it began as it should have always been. *** THE END ***
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