I return to my physical body. My mind is so fried I can barely think. It takes a nearly insurmountable amount of effort just to stay conscious, much less to move. Only an instant later the door in front of me opens, another person with a wire coming out of the base of their skull steps in with their weapon pointed at me. This is it. I can barely move, much less fight.

They drop to the ground like a marionette with their strings cut, only to stagger back to their feet an instant later. They draw their pistol and shakily turn it on themselves.

They pull the trigger, painting the ceiling red.

From deeper within the compound I can hear the sound of gunfire echoing through the walls. Every time the fighting ends with a single pistol shot followed by silence. This must be Corax’s doing.

I stagger to my feet, using the wall for support. He saved me, I have to save him. I don’t even bother to pick up a pistol, fighting is out of the question in my current state. I slowly work my way through room after room. Each and every one is freshly painted red.

I try to keep my eyes on the ceiling. Even though that too is painted with blood, it’s better than seeing bodies.

Cameras watch me every step of the way. Corax eagerly awaiting his freedom.

His map leads me to a large central room. Every cord for the human puppets originates from a large blinking tower in the center. A half dozen metal chairs sit in a circle around it, each one once had a drone in it.

Those six killed over a dozen men and women, as well as one man in the back sitting upon a golden throne.

Corax’s physical body sits on the man’s lap with a dozen wires coming out of him. I wonder why he couldn’t have freed himself?

I stagger my way across the battlefield and cradle Corax in my arms. I had no idea he’s been through so much. He’s so much younger than I thought.

I carefully unplug him from the machine. The instant the last cord comes out his eyes snap open. Once he realizes it’s me he closes them again and cozies into my arms. The gears inside of him whirr with happiness.

I let myself carefully drop onto the steps of the throne and finally relax as well myself. Corax is safe. My friends are alive. Everything is going to be ok.

“Do you prefer Corax or-” I start to ask before he cuts me off.

“Corax.” He responds before I could even finish. “Friends alive.”

“I saw.” My mind is too shattered to properly be excited. That’s ok though, I have a whole lifetime ahead of me to be relieved.

“Old friend’s deaths not your fault.” He continues.

“I’ll try and believe that.”

One question bubbles to the surface of my mind. One potential scarier than any other.

“I didn’t hallucinate Lucas saying he’d be back, did I?”

“No.”

“Oh thank goodness. Hopefully we'll be going home soon then.” Assuming they still want me back. I wouldn’t blame them if they don’t though.

Corax’s whirring increases in volume as a response.

“Thank you Corax, by the way. For everything.”

“Don't. Smug.”

“Right, sorry.” I’d hate to rip him out of the happy feeling he’s in.

There’s nothing left to say. We know each other on a level nobody else can. We’ve experienced each other's lives, anything we could talk about we already know the answer to. I close my eyes and just enjoy his company.

Hours later gunshots ring out in the distance. It sounds like it’s coming from just outside the bunker. I grab a pistol off the floor. I could try to protect Corax with my body, but he would never let me do it.

“Shh, people.”

Sure enough, Corax springs to attention and climbs onto my shoulder. He’s ready to fly at a moment's notice to rip out the eyes of any attacker.

Whoever was fighting begins to head into the bunker. The closer they get, the more distinct their footfalls sound. Four people, one nearly silent save for an echo of metal on metal. Corax seems to come to the same realization as I did and he relaxes.

Four people rush into our room with their weapons raised.

My smile drops when I see what a state they’re in.

Vince is subtly swaying, as if he’s dizzy. Ivy has dirty bandages showing through her ripped shirt and is only putting weight on her right side. Cassie is only using one arm, the other is held uselessly against her body. And Lucas’ eyes are deeply recessed, as if he hasn’t slept in days. We just stare at each other, saying nothing. Are they even real?

I look to Corax who gives a small nod. They’re really here. I stand up and walk slowly towards them. Though they lower their weapons, they remain in their hands, just in case. I can’t blame them of course. Seeing what I was like from Corax’s point of view was horrifying.

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I hand the pistol to Cassie, a silent apology for what I did. She puts hers away and takes it gently out of my hand.

I wrap my arms around her, holding her close. I wish I had the tears to show her how sorry I am. She stiffens for a moment, before returning the hug as best she can with only one arm. She’s alive. She’s real.

“Sorry I killed you.” My voice comes out as a shaky whisper.

“Shut up.” She releases her hug and takes a step back. “Go hug Vince you idiot.”

I turn to him and bury my face in his shirt. He freezes as well, as if waiting for something.

“Not your fault.” Corax tells him from my shoulder.

That seems to kick him back to reality and he embraces me. I can feel his tears silently landing on the top of my head.

“Sorry I thought I killed you two as well. I’m glad I didn’t.”

“I have to say I’m pretty relieved too.” Ivy says with a smile.

“Is nobody going to ask who the bird is?” Lucas seems entranced by him.

“Corax.” He responds.

“Oh right! Sorry.” I break away from the two of them. “He’s…” I look to him for permission to continue. He nods. “He’s like me. An AI. Him and ghost Vince are the only reasons I’m here.”

I can see Cassie desperately wants to say something, but is holding her tongue for now. I’m sure we’ll talk about it soon with Vince.

“Ghost Vince?” Lucas asks.

“It’s a long story and my mind is barely working right now.” I wait a moment before asking the scariest question. “Can we go home?”

“Sure Little Blue. We can go home.” Vince finally finds his voice. Even now he’s still on the verge of tears. “Cassie, get her to the car and bring it around front. Lucas, you’re with me, start scrapping this place. Ammo and electronics first, scrap second. Ivy’s on lookout. I want us heading home within the hour.”

“Ay-ay!” Lucas hops to work carefully taking apart the tower in the center of the room. I dutifully follow Cassie out of the room.

“Can I lean on you?” I ask once I’m out of Vince’s sight. “I didn’t want him to see how bad I am. I barely have the mental capacity to walk.”

“Whatever, come here.”

She hooks her working arm under my arms and lets me lean heavily on her. It’s a little awkward with how short she is, but we make it work.

Just outside the bunker more bodies lay on the ground. I’m sure I wasn’t the one who killed them. They must have been headed back to the bunker when Vince and the rest arrived. They saved my life again.

Luckily it’s a surprisingly short walk to the car and within 10 minutes I collapse into the passenger seat and shut my eyes. I need to do anything I can to lessen the mental load on my mind.

“So you really found another AI, huh?” She asks me as the car begins to roll.

“Yeah. He saved me.”

“Great. Hell, we’re all already dead if anyone figures you out. What are they going to do? Kill us twice? Just make sure he knows the stakes.”

“Done.” Corax says from my shoulder.

“We lived through most of each other's lives. He knows everything I do.”

“Fuck, AI are weird. Oh, here.” She takes her hand off the wheel to grab a book from her backpack and tosses it into my lap. “We were going to use this to bring you back to reality. If you’ve got any weirdness still in you, give it a read.”

I open my eyes and look down at the poetry book in my hands. It’s the same poetry book I read with her so long ago.

“Thanks. I don’t think I need it right now, but I appreciate it.”

“Just make sure you keep it close in the future.” Her tone makes it clear that she’s worried about me.

I keep the book in my hands as I relax once again. Having it this close is nice.

Cassie drives us to the bunker without any further conversation, which I’m happy for. Thinking still hurts.

She hops out to help the others and Ivy takes her place.

“Doing alright?” Ivy asks. No matter how hard she’s trying to keep her voice casual, worry still creeps into the edges. Although maybe that’s intentional.

“Yes. I just need rest.”

“I’m not going to stop you.”

An hour later on the dot the car is full of the most valuable bits from the bunker and we head out. Someone even grabbed all my warped skin plates from the bus. Hopefully they’re not too damaged and Sonia can reattach them when I get home.

I never thought I’d get to go home. The thought nearly overwhelms the small amount of processing power I still have available.

Nobody feels the need to talk, there will be plenty of time for that later, when everyone is feeling better.

Corax has no intention to watch the world slowly roll by. The view from the car is nothing compared to seeing the glittering sand from far in the sky.

Instead, he silently demands I make a little nest for him with my legs. I happily oblige.

Not long into the drive Lucas passes around some oat bars and water. They definitely need the food, and everyone finishes within a minute of being handed the bars.

As the drive continues I slowly recover. It’ll take a few days to get back to normal, but having my eyes open is no longer too much for me.

“Feeling a little better, Little Blue?” Vince asks once he notices I’m looking around.

“Getting there. I just need a few days and I’ll be fine.”

“Alright, good. I think we’re all feeling the same way.”

After only a few hours of driving, the city begins to peek over the dunes. The faintly glowing blue dome is proof that we’ve made it.

We’re here.

We’re home.

A faint electric charge passes over me as we enter, signaling our safety. Once we park I hop out of the car.

“I’ll be right back.” I announce to everyone. There’s one thing I need to do before anything else.

“Alright Little Blue. Meet me in my room when you’re done.” Vince responds.

More heads than ever turn as Corax and I walk through the compound. I don’t care, I’m just glad to be here. I’m sure they’ll talk, but Vince and Ivy can come up with a lie for me.

I head inside and head downstairs towards Hummingbirds Lab. I let myself in. It’s luckily abandoned.

“Trochilidae on.” I call out, only for nothing to happen. Right, Hummingbird blacklisted my voice. “Corax, can you?”

“Trochilidae on.” He calls out in a perfect imitation of Hummingbird’s voice.

The screen blares to life, displaying a sad, slouching woman with long blue hair. The instant she sees it’s me she straightens up, her hair turning a bright yellow and bouncing into tight curls.

“Blue!” She cries out with happiness, moving so much it’s impossible for her hair to stay still. “It’s so good to see you again! It’s been far too long, and who’s that little guy with you?”

“Corax.” Corax answers for himself.

“Wow! I’ve never seen a droid in such a little body! It’s so nice to meet you!”

“Hey Trochilidae?” I call out to her. There’s so much I should say to her. First off I should apologize to her, but how to word it without trying to bring her to life? My mind settles on only a single sentence.

“Being alive isn’t worth it.”