The birds are singing. A tickling on her ears opens her eyes. She can make a comfort out of coarse soil. Sunlight prances through the leaves. Caitlyn squints and raises her hand to resist the glare. She rises up and look around. Her fatigue is still with her. There are neither gunshot, nor explosions. The woods seem fresh with no sign of shelling nor firefight. It’s all calm with the birds’ tune setting the mood. She is all alone in the place yet it doesn’t worry her one bit.

Caitlyn walks with no care in the world. She doesn’t know where her legs are taking her. She just tags along. They take her to a clearing. An endless plain span before her. The dry grasses are about her calves. She arrives at a slight decline that allows a better view of the area.

A lone Proxy is marching just beyond the decline. His posture is bigger than any state soldier she has ever seen. His steel armor is bulky and appears to be oddly unbearable. They’re way too heavy for anyone to wear. Yet he walks like they’re not there. He carries a gun with a caliber as large as her fist; a gun that she also isn’t familiar with. Caitlyn rushes downhill to a good distance from him.

“PT.” She calls out.

The soldier stops, raising his head. He turns around slowly and grins.

“Think you got the wrong person, ma’am.” He says.

Caitlyn approaches him. There is weight in her strides. His armor fails to hide the golden glint on his neck. She pulls the necklace. A heart-shaped golden pendant rises from beneath his armor. She clicks it open. It’s her picture with her name.

“You suck at lying, love.”

PT sighs. “Fine, you got me sweetheart.”

Caitlyn leaps forward and wraps her arms around his neck.

PT chuckles as he returns her hug.

Caitlyn tightens her embrace. Once more she meets him. But once more she has to let him go. She unleashes all the yearning she has. She wants him to carry her warmth, her love, her softness, her smell, everything so that he’d never miss her company. She will always be by him as he ventures to his final place.

“I’m going to miss you, love.” Caitlyn says, pressing her head harder into his armor. “I’m going to miss you so much.”

She hears a mechanical whir. Then she feels a kiss on her head. “Take care of yourself, sweetheart.” PT says. “And for The Primus’ sake…please stay alive till the end.”

Caitlyn loosen her grasp around his neck. She looks up. It’s the first time she sees his face. The face of a beardless man in his mid-twenties. And it’s so close. She is glad that she can finally see his smile. She is glad that he too revels in her presence. The temptation quickly becomes irresistible. Caitlyn thrusts her face forward.

“Hmmph.” PT gasps.

“Mmh…” Caitlyn gently moans.

A passionate smooch. Their eyes are shut. Their artificial tongues twist and turn lustfully, delighted that they finally touch their partner. Caitlyn can’t believe that she has an amorous tendency inside her. Yet she gladly embraces it. Seems like Ilya was right. She does wish to be carried by a handsome prince. She can’t be happier that she found one.

She will miss him. She will miss everything about him. Even though they only knew each other for days.

The two eventually let go. Gazing at his face makes Caitlyn wish for a second kiss. But she manages to get a hold of herself. They just shared one and it should be enough. She doesn’t want to linger at him too much since he has to go.

“Well…sweetheart,” PT shrugs. “Thank you.”

“To you as well, love.”

“If you happen to fall in love with someone else, hopefully an Android or a human this time, don’t hesitate yeah?” PT says. “You need it more than I do.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Caitlyn smiles and nods. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

PT raises his pendant. “I’ll always have you with me.”

Caitlyn pulls hers out and clicks it open. “We’ll always be together.”

They touch their heart-shaped pendants. A pact that will last as long as time.

“Are you done, Caitlyn?” She hears a familiar voice.

PT steps aside. Caitlyn gasps as she recognizes the person standing there.

“Alezia.” Caitlyn approaches and hugs her too.

“Caitlyn.” She says, patting her back.

“Thank you.” Caitlyn says as she scrutinizes her face. She wants to remember her features as much as possible. “Thank you for everything. I wish you were around longer to see what I have become.” She believes it’s something that Alezia can be proud about.

Alezia sandwiches Caitlyn’s face with her hands. Their foreheads touch.

“I’m always watching, Caitlyn.” Alezia says. “Now go show the world what you’re truly capable of.” The girl follows it with a strong pat on Caitlyn’s left arm.

“I will.” Caitlyn replies.

“Alright, alright.” A man comes to them while he is rambling. His posture is about PT’s size. He also wears the same armor and carry the same gun. “This isn’t fair, isn’t it? I talked to her first out of you two, and I don’t get even a second with her.”

“Shut up.” PT says to him.

“Zolotovich?”

“What’s up, Caitlyn? You doing good?”

Caitlyn chuckles and nods. “It had been worse.”

Zolotovich nods. “Very nice.” He says. “Alright mate, I’m good. Let’s go.”

The man heaves Alezia to his right shoulder. Caitlyn just notices how his shoulder guards are flat enough for Alezia to sit comfortably. The girl straps her helmet. Zolotovich trots away.

“Let’s see who’s going to make it first.” He snaps his fingers at PT.

“Go on. I’ll beat you even when I run backward.” PT taunts him.

“Not this time mate!”

“See you on the other side, Caitlyn!” Alezia waves at her. “Or…maybe not. Go live forever instead!”

Caitlyn waves at Alezia. “You and Zolotovich really are good friends.” She says to PT.

PT nods. “Guess that’s it.” PT hugs her again, patting her back. “I’m leaving now. Stay safe, and good luck…for everything.”

“You too.”

PT slightly bends before sprinting toward Zolotovich. The two Proxies jog off like they have to use the restroom. Their figures slowly disperse into tiny particles that reassembles into Chords. Alezia, standing out of the commander hatch, looks back at Caitlyn over the turret. PT too turns his turret to Caitlyn’s direction.

Caitlyn waves at them. “Goodbye, Alezia.” She says it gently.

Alezia puts two fingers in front of her head and swipes them forward. The girl gives her a wide smile before descending into her seat and shut the hatch.

“Goodbye, PT.”

Gun elevation is his only response before he rotates it back to the front. The golden pendant hanging on it shimmer in the daylight. The tanks disappear into the endless distance. She knows not what awaits them there. She wishes that it pleases the three of them for eternity. They’ve been through hell already. If there’s anyone that deserve it, they are one of them.

Caitlyn raises her gaze. The sun blinds her vision. Her room is there to meet her once it recovers. Sunlight leaks through the window. Someone just opened it.

“Good morning, Sister Caitlyn.” Gvozdika follows that with a kiss on her forehead.

Her sister then walks out of the room.

Caitlyn sits up. Her body feels oddly lighter. She realizes that she is wearing her thin dress. It’s pleasing how she can wear it to sleep again with nothing underneath.

Caitlyn rubs her eyes as she looks outside the window. Mount Carvingstone is more visible than ever from there. Pity how PT will never get to see them again. He is now lying in an unmarked grave on an unknown corner of a battlefield. Unlike Alezia, no one will remember him. He’s an equipment that is meant to be consumed by the war.

But Caitlyn is determined to preserve him in her memory along with Alezia. She will not only carry out their spirit, but also pass their stories on to anyone anytime the chance shows up.