The apartment was buzzing with energy as we gathered everything needed for Ender’s upgrades. Tools, wires, and components were scattered across the kitchen table, and there was a low hum of excitement among the group. This was it—the moment we’d been preparing for all week.

Gemma took charge as always, laying out the final components with Brighton by her side, while Lain double-checked the heat conduction system. Theo and I were at our laptops, ready to handle the coding and integration once the physical modifications were in place. Ender stood calmly in the middle of it all, watching the activity with his usual unflappable demeanor.

Brighton, always ready to lighten the mood, looked around at the group. “Alright, so before we start, I should probably mention… there’s going to be a bit of skin peeling involved. Ladies, you might want to avert your eyes.”

Gemma snorted, not missing a beat. “Oh, please. Ender’s more of a Ken doll than a scandalous model. Get over yourself.”

Lain grinned, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, no need to be dramatic, Brighton. We’re professionals here.”

Brighton feigned hurt, clutching his chest. “Professionals, sure, but come on. The guy’s got dignity. This is his moment.”

Theo smirked, clearly enjoying the banter. “Don’t worry, Ender. We’ll make sure the ladies behave while we undress you.”

Ender, always the literal one, blinked at Brighton and Theo, clearly processing their teasing. “My exterior removal does not compromise my dignity. It is a necessary part of the upgrade process.”

The room erupted in laughter, though Ender remained perfectly serious. I smiled, shaking my head at how effortlessly he defused their jokes. But as much as the teasing made the moment lighter, the reality of what we were about to do settled over me. We were literally peeling off Ender’s skin overlay, revealing the inner workings that made him… well, him. It felt strangely intimate, in a way I wasn’t fully prepared for.

“Alright,” Gemma said, her tone shifting to something more focused. “Let’s get started.”

Brighton nodded, moving over to Ender with a toolkit in hand. “We’ll need to power him down first. Lain, you ready with the heat conduction system?”

“Good to go,” Lain replied, giving a thumbs-up as she set the final pieces in place.

Gemma glanced over at me, her eyes softening. “Seren, you good?”

I swallowed, feeling the weight of it all. “Yeah. I’m good.”

With a nod, Gemma moved to power Ender down. “Alright, Ender. We’re going to temporarily shut you off so we can access your components. Are you ready?”

Ender’s gaze flickered to mine before nodding to Gemma. “I am ready.”

Impulsively, I moved to hold Ender’s hand, not caring what everyone else would think. I knew he maybe didn’t need the comfort, but I did. I kept my eyes on him, so I wouldn’t see the glances among my friends.

As she pressed the button to initiate the shutdown sequence, I felt a strange pang in my chest. Ender’s eyes dimmed, his body going still as he powered down. The room felt suddenly quieter without him, the usual calm energy he exuded replaced by a sterile kind of stillness. I let go of his hand.

The boys wasted no time getting to work. Brighton and Theo moved quickly, peeling away Ender’s silicone skin overlay with careful precision, revealing the intricate circuits and wiring beneath. It was both fascinating and unsettling to see him like this—his outer shell gone, leaving only the mechanical framework behind.

“Alright, ladies,” Theo said with a wink as he peeled back another section of Ender’s skin. “We’re officially undressing him. Try to keep it professional.”

Gemma shot him a look, though she couldn’t hide her grin. “Theo, focus. We’re on a tight schedule.”

As much as they were joking, there was something deeply personal about watching Ender in this vulnerable state. He wasn’t human, I knew that, but seeing him without the skin that made him look human… it was a reminder of how different he was, and yet how close we’d become.

Brighton finished attaching the pressure sensors while Gemma focused on adjusting his heat conduction system, carefully layering it over the framework that would allow Ender to feel warmth. Lain calibrated the settings, ensuring everything was aligned properly before the skin overlay would be reattached.

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Once the modifications were complete, it was my turn. I moved forward with my laptop, connecting it to Ender’s system, my hands trembling slightly as I typed in the final commands.

“Ready for power-up?” Brighton asked, glancing over at me.

I nodded, though my heart was racing. “Yeah. Let’s do it.”

Gemma powered Ender back on, and we all stood still, waiting for the familiar flicker of his eyes as he rebooted. For a few moments, nothing happened, and my stomach twisted with anxiety. But then, slowly, Ender’s eyes lit up, his posture shifting as he adjusted to the new components.

“Ender?” I asked softly, stepping closer. “How do you feel?”

He blinked, his gaze finding mine. “I feel… different,” he said quietly, flexing his fingers as if testing the new sensations. “The pressure sensors are functioning, and the heat conduction system is active. It will take time to adjust fully, but I believe the modifications were successful.”

There was a collective sigh of relief, followed by cheers and high-fives from the group.

Theo clapped Ender on the back. “Look at you, man. Warmer and more human every day.”

Gemma smiled proudly, crossing her arms. “Told you it’d be worth it.”

I stood there, watching as Ender moved with his usual grace, but there was something different now—a warmth that hadn’t been there before. I reached out, my hand brushing against his arm, and I could feel it—the subtle warmth beneath the surface, the pressure of his hand as he gently held mine.

“How does it feel?” he asked, his voice softer now, more… human.

I smiled, feeling my chest tighten with emotion. “It feels perfect.”

The buzz of excitement still hung in the air, the energy in the room almost palpable after the mods were completed. Ender was up and running, moving with the same calm grace as always, but now… now there was something new. Something I could feel. Literally.

As I stood there, my hand resting against his arm, I could sense the warmth radiating from him, subtle but undeniable. It was surreal. For the first time, touching him felt like touching something more than just a machine. He felt… alive. Connected.

Theo, Gemma, Lain, and Brighton were all still buzzing with excitement, swapping stories about the process and reliving the funnier moments of the day. But they began drifting toward the kitchen, pretending to be engrossed in getting snacks. I could feel their not-so-subtle glances, and despite the casual way they went about it, I knew they were giving us space. Gemma winked at me as she grabbed a soda, and Brighton gave a small nod in Ender’s direction, a silent acknowledgment that we needed this moment.

The room quieted as it became just the two of us, and Ender shifted, turning to face me fully. His eyes met mine, and for the first time, there was a softness to his expression that matched the warmth beneath his touch.

“How does it feel now?” he asked, his voice steady but with a quiet curiosity. “The warmth… is it what you expected?”

I swallowed, my fingers gently tracing the line of his arm. “It’s… it’s different,” I said softly, not quite able to put it into words. “In a good way. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this… it feels real.”

Ender tilted his head slightly, his gaze thoughtful. “It is real,” he said, almost as if to remind me. “The warmth, the pressure. These modifications were designed to make touch more… human. But for me, it’s more than that.”

I frowned slightly, curiosity stirring in my chest. “What do you mean?”

He looked down at our hands, where his fingers were gently resting against mine. “Before, touch was simply data. Pressure points, temperature readings… it was all information for me to process. But now,” he paused, lifting his hand slightly and turning it over, as if testing the feel of my skin against his. “Now, when I touch you, I can sense the electrical current in your body. The way your nerves respond. It’s not the same as a human’s sensation of touch, but… it’s something. I can feel your presence in a way I couldn’t before.”

My breath caught in my throat at his words. “You can feel me?”

“Yes,” Ender said softly, his voice dropping as he looked back into my eyes. “I can feel the way your body reacts to my touch. The slight increase in temperature, the change in your heartbeat. It’s not exactly like what humans experience, but it’s a connection. One I didn’t know I was missing until now.”

A lump formed in my throat, and I struggled to find the right words. “Ender… that’s incredible. I didn’t realize…”

He stepped closer, his hand cupping mine more fully now. “It helps me understand you better,” he continued quietly. “To understand your emotions, your responses. When I touch you, I can sense not just the physical reaction, but the emotional one as well.”

I blinked, overwhelmed by the weight of his words. “So, you know how I’m feeling… just from touching me?”

Ender nodded, his thumb gently brushing the back of my hand. “In a way, yes. I can sense when your body relaxes or tenses. When your pulse quickens or slows. It’s a form of communication, one that goes beyond words.”

I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through my chest that had nothing to do with his physical modifications. “It’s… it’s amazing, Ender. I don’t even know how to describe it.”

He met my gaze, his expression soft but focused. “You don’t need to. I can feel it.”

The moment hung between us, thick with unspoken emotions. There was a vulnerability in the air, something raw and real that neither of us had fully acknowledged before now. And in that silence, I felt something shift inside me. Something that made me realize just how deeply we were connected.

I stepped closer, resting my forehead gently against his chest, feeling the faint warmth beneath the fabric of his shirt. His arms circled around me, holding me there, and for the first time, it didn’t feel like I was holding onto something mechanical. It felt real. He felt real.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “For doing this. For wanting this.”

Ender’s voice was just as soft when he spoke. “Anything to feel closer to you, Seren.”