Tom sighed as he reclined on the sofa, everyone once again crowded in the study, "So, to recap... Alex has been an AI this entire time, and is the sole motivation behind your little Cybernetics venture?"

Dr Elune nodded, "That's right. Alex has been developed over a long period of time, with a heavy focus on social interaction... So, we are confident Mars won't happen again."

Nodding, Tom looked up at Alex, who waved shyly, "That... I will concede on. I have shown an open mind thus far... And Alex has had plenty of opportunity to wreak havock."

Hope grinned at that, "Such as when we all carried that highly destructive weapon onto your space platform? Alex can survive the vacuum of space, remember."

Paling, Tom chuckled when the doctor whapped Hope upside the head, "Not helping, Hope. That didn't end too well for you, I'd like to point out." Hope simply shrugged, still grinning cheekily.

"Moving on... I presume you intend on me being your reprasentative to the council?" Everyone nodded, and Tom sighed, "Makes sense... I do have a fair bit of pull, over in the spire. But... Am I really your best option?" Tom looked pointedly at Greg, raising an eyebrow.

"We did think of that. We are saving that option for the other havens. To be frank... Convincing the council will be easier than convincing her." Fidgeting, Greg looked at Jolana, who nodded.

"... You have a fair point there. And, may I ask... If I refuse?"

"Depends on how you refuse, really." Ren smiled calmly as he shrugged, "We won't force you to be our rep, but at least keeping this under wraps would be appreciated. If you were to tell the council, without winning them over first..." Sighing, he shook his head, "We would simply flee, and be forced to live as fugitives. We knew the risk, after all."

Tom nodded thoughtfully, that was a reasonable approach. "Say... You are a less likely candidate to be on this team than I am, Ren. From what I had heard... I only lost a leg."

Ren held up a hand to shush him, "Similar to you... I'm smart enough to blame the intent behind the mars incident, not AI as a whole. It is... Was, difficult to do. I had reason to change my mindd before I met Sam, though."

Smiling in resignation, Tom looked around the room, "I guess... I should at least think on it. I will agree to keep this 'little' secret from becoming the spark of another war... But I am hesitant to become a conspirator."

Stolen novel; please report.

"That is fine. We obviously would preferyour help, but it is a big ask." Dr Elune glanced at Alex, "And, uh.... No offense, but we may need to keep an eye on you for a few days. We want some warning if a federal hisquad is sent after us."

Laughing with a nod, Tom grinned, "Hey, that is a very real concern in your position right now... Thanks for the heads up, at least." Glancing around the room, he smiled curiously, "So, you really all knew?"

Greg leant over, nodding with a chuckle, "Yup. Sam's team obviously helped work on Alex... Ren was the one to contact me before this all happened. Jolana, well..."

Huffing, she crossed her arms, "I, on the other hand, was kept out of the loop at first."

"Oh, really? Even considering, well..."

Blushing, Jolana went quiet, not expecting to be called out on that point. The doctor laughed, "We had to tell her once we caught onto that possibility. Also made talking in the house easier."

As both Jolana and Alex blushed noticably at being poked fun of, the rest of them chuckled quietly. Tom sighed as he leant back, glancing at Alex idly, "I have to say... Splendid work. You had me fooled for quite some time, there."

Dr Elune grinned, humming as they relaxed, "Most of the credit really belongs to Alex and Laura. The software was almost entirely self-perpetuating, and the two of them worked on the processors design together."

"So, little of your handiwork made it's way in?" Tom smirked at the doctor, "And here i was thinking you were meant to be a genius."

"Hey now. i start most of the designs... It's just, Alex usually finishes them, then Laura builds them. I needed Ren's help on the AHOR project, so there's that, too..."

"Ahh, so that is how he got involved. Seemed a little odd, him joining all this."

Dr Elune groaned with a nod, slumping into the sofa, "You wouldn't beleive how tense it was, some days. You try having an AI actively pilot prototype prosthetic limbs... Without their creator catching on."

Snorting, Tom grinned as he listened, "Okay... Story time. Now I need to know more about the time he was brought on board."