== Council Room ==

== Doctor Giller ==

We sat in silence in a dark room around a circular table. The only light we have comes from our computer terminals as we read the reports.

Silently, we reviewed the reports and thought about all that transpired hours ago.

The extraction team encountered no obstacles and quickly recovered our android team. And one new additional android.

We only found out she was one as the extraction team disconnected her from outside connections. At first, they wondered how they would even disconnect her, having no idea what she was. She had flesh and blood, but didn't seem to have any equipment or devices that would let them "disconnect". Having no other idea, they went with the most available decision. Analyzing her just like all our operatives.

They found her entire body eerily familiar to our androids.

As the team arrived back, and safely home in the middle of the night, we called for all technical and medical personnel  for emergency duty.

A quick examination showed no signs of irregularities. However, the nanites of the girl remained in their bodies and they wouldn't wake up.

Most concerning however was the girl herself. As we analyzed her body and blood. We could confirm that she wasn't anyone from the city from our database, however we found her nanites much more powerful than any we could produce. As the lead researcher in nanite technology, I oversaw most of the report and what I found would make Doctor Reginald giddy with happiness.

This girl's nanites gave her no room for control. They were powerful, but they basically knocked out her consciousness. Not only that, but her nanites damaged her body with each use. It was a wonder how she was even able to produce so much ice to fight against our androids. Or stand up for that matter. Her bones were fractured beyond repair by conventional means and her nerves basically turned to ice themselves.

Her nanites producing ice was another wonder to me. They sucked all energy in the air and turned the moisture to solid ice, forming dense crystals that could slow down an entire clip of bullets from a machine gun. I will have to study them for a later time though.

With her consciousness out, the nanites were easily controllable remotely. You only need an access point and a converted virtual control helmet which is highly available in this day and age. Although you'd have to have a quick enough mind to even control 20% of an androids full potential. Whoever was controlling this girl was either a super genius or a super computer themselves. And there are no computers more powerful than the human mind. Except, of course, our androids. Especially Ippolita, code named S-Luna, in her command chair. But why waste a capable mind and body when you can have two?

Whatever her case may be, I quickly restricted access to such information, not giving Reginald even an inkling of an idea. It wasn't hard. Since all important doctors, researchers, and engineers under the nanite project answered to me directly. The only thing left is to make sure they never learn that she was being controlled.

"I think... It is time we discuss what we do with the girl." Doctor Ross says aloud. He was the second youngest with graying hair at mid-forties, but with a face of a late-twenties. He specialized in surgeries as well as plastic surgery. He worked wonders on the nanites for our androids' facial features changes in their skeletal structure.

"Agreed." Arthur voices. "We aren't getting any younger here Gill and I desperately need my sleep. Its what... three in the morning?"

I sigh. They were right. I'm exhausted as well and could feel my bones aching. I'm no longer built for long nights of research without rest. "Of course... What do you suggest we do with her?"

"Kill her."

I could feel the migraine as Reginald stares at my direction intensely. 

"I agree. She's much too dangerous! Look at what's she's done to the androids' mental map!" Owen complaines then brings up a hologram projection in the center of the table. A blue-orange brain hologram rotates at the center. The orange pulses repeatedly, occupying over 60% of the hologram. It was also indicating where her nanites damaged and forcefully took over our operatives minds.

"On second thought, is it possible for us to replace Ippolita with her?" Reginald asked.

I cringed at his idea while Owen lookes utterly angered at the notion. "You want to place a rogue android in the middle of the command room who, by the way, could turn everyone in the room into a Popsicle? Yes. Wonderful plan Reginald. And they call me the mad scientist!"

I see my chance. Its now or never. "Well... Perhaps she isn't completely out of our control..."

Everyone turnes their gaze at me. Reginald most of all was slack jawed at my suggestion.

"Gill... What are you suggesting? You're not one to compromise the android's freedom." Arthur asks.

"Indeed. Have you finally gone senile?" Ross comments.

I roll my eyes at the suggestion. "I am still for the androids freedom. What I am saying that its possible for us to... Nudge her towards a direction we desire."

"What... Are you planning doctor Gill?" Owen squints at me in a half glare.

Ignoring the stares, I took control of the hologram and start giving commands to simulate what I want. I keep the mind hologram there, then bring out 2 sets of nanites. One red, and one blue. Ours, and the girls, and set them on different sides from the brain. At that I start running the simulation. Everyone watches the simulation unfold, and as it progresses they stare wide eyed at where I take the simulation to. As it ended, everyone voiced their doubt.

"... We won't know if that will work Gill."

"Its foolish! We should just forget this whole ordeal ever happened."

"I can see the merit in it, but, like Owen said, my idea was foolish. Its best we forget it."

"I'm sorry Giller, but I do hope you didn't take my senile comment in the wrong way."

I shake my head at their concerns. "Gentlemen, you all aren't looking at the bigger picture. What we have here is an android that is far more powerful than ours and to throw her away would be casting pearls at swine."

Ross grimace. "I don't think the other androids would like the idea of an outsider joining their ranks. Especially someone they remember as someone who quite literally beat most of them at a wave of a hand."

My brow rose. "Who said they'll remember?" 

Ross's eyebrows shot up. "Have you gone insane Giller!?" 

"Is it mad scientist day today!? I have to check my calendar!"

"What are you planning Gill? This isn't like you."

I raise my hand to still everyone and silence returnes to the room. "Yes, we lose everything, yes we're taking risk, but the potential we could gain would be so much more not only to one android, but to all of them! If we do this, it would be as if we gained several generations worth of advancement and data! We don't gain just ONE new android, we gain ELEVEN powerful and STABLE androids.

That opens their eyes up. If we weren't so sleepy, they would probably fall out of their sockets. They all look towards one another, purely just to make sure they all heard the same thing. Not like anyone but our androids are telepathic... Except perhaps for our unknown enemy, but that's another worry for another day. Now, I'm just eager to fall down on my bed, sleep, and embrace my wife... Once they've decided to go forward with my plan.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Arthur was the one that lead the vote. I could always rely on him.

AHEM " all in favor..."

"Hahaha this mad! Fine! I like it!" Owen raises his hand. "In. favor."

I looked towards Ross. He smirkes as our eyes met. "I take back what I said." He raised his hand. "In favor."

Then I glace towards Reginald. He has his eyes squinted at me. Perhaps he found it odd I would take his idea seriously? He raises his hand nonetheless and simply grunted.

And with that, I met Arthur's eyes once more with myrth in them. "You always were a cheeky bastard Gill." He raises his hand. "In favor."

== At Another Place, In Another Time, Of Another Life ==

== ??? ==

I am awakened by the sound of distant sobbing. I try opening my eyes to see where I am but they seem to still be closed. I will them with such volition that I feel like they would pop out, but still all I see is darkness.

Am I blind? 

I struggl to rise but find I'm already standing. No... That's not it. For me to stand my feet would have to be on something solid, but my feet touches nothing. I flail my arms around and they too touch nothing. 

I was in a world of nothing.

Panic rose within me and I start breathing rapidly.

Am I dead? Is that why I hear crying? ... Am I the one crying?

My hands go to my face, but find it dry. The cries aren't mine then. I see nothing so I could be blind but I'm not deaf. I can touch and feel, and the air I breathe taste stale and dead. If there was even air here...

Having no other option, I did the only thing I could:

"H-hel...lo?"

My voice is coarse. I could now feel my throat dry and the air that passes down my throat feels like liquid sandpaper, turning to thorns in my lungs. I wished I couldn't feel.

The sobbing stops. HIC "... Is... Is someone there..? Please... Someone..."

"I... I am... he...re! I... Can't... See y-"

"I'm over here! Please! Follow my voice!" The cries turn begging and is filled with desperation. "I'm scared of the darkness!"

I twist and turn. Desperately craning my neck to see something. Anything!

"H-here! *sob* I'm here! Please... A-ato, venï, flâzïl îgnuß!"

Was that another language? What language are we even speaking? But before I could continue pondering anymore, warmth starts flooding on my back and I turn around. There, was the sole source of anything that was here with me in this world. A girl hugging her knees with one hand while tears streaming down her face, her red hair amok, and the only thing she has on her body was what looked like it could have been a beautiful white robe but was now in taters, and dirtied with ash. Her face is ashen and her whole body is covered in grey ash. Even the flaming crimson of her hair was muted with grey. The only color on her are the whites of her eyes turned red and sore from her crying.

I could only see all this with what was in the palm of her other hand. A fist sized red flame blazed with no source of fuel, but burning continually and it filled my body with warmth. I didn't even know I was freezing.

"K-kitty! Please, come here!" She called out almost a yell.

I took a step forward and landed on something solid. I didn't think much about that as I wondered... Kitty? Am I a cat? Or is that my name? But before I knew it, and as soon as I was in arms length from her, she grab me with her free hand and drags me to her bosom, which was bigger than I thought. Her other hand went to my head.

Her other hand which has the fire in the palm! 

I panick and started struggling, but her embrace was firm and the more I tried, the more desperate she clings to me.

"Please! Don't leave me! E-everyone left me! I... *sob* I can't follow them! I don't want be alone again!"

She starts crying again, and she was panicking for a whole other reason from me. Then I realize my hair isn't on fire. I squirm my head out of her bust, only to glimpse the ball of fire floating in mid air above us and I breath a sigh of relief.

"Please kitty. Don't leave me... Please..." Her voice was truly desperate, filled with pain and longing. Feeling empathetic I wrap my arms around her, ensuring her I wouldn't run away. I mind my current position and due to that I was partly sure I wasn't a girl as it isn't only my head that blood rushed too.

Eventually, her grip loosenes and I pulled back, but I hold one of her hands. in this dark world, I don't want to let go of the only other person here.

"*sniff* I'm sorry kitty..." She gazes downwards and wiped her tears. "I-I was so scared... I-"

"W-won't... Leave..." I croak, causing her to look up. I wonder why she calls me kitty when I'm apparently taller than her, at least, as both of us are on the "ground". I move beside her and sat down. Now our eye sights are somewhat level. I still hope I am slightly taller though. "W-will stay... Wi...th *COUGH* ... you..."

At that, she embraces me again, but much more gently this time. She rest her head at the crook of my neck. "Thank you..." She whispers.

In turn, I place one hand on her back and start stroking her head, as our breaths start going in sync to one another. We stayed like that for a long time... 

For seconds... 

Minutes... 

Hours... 

Days... 

Weeks.... 

Months... 

Years... 

Decades... 

Centuries...

An eternity...

Finally... We close our eyes, and we returned to darkness yet again...

===

A/Note:

If the second POV felt vague, I meant it to be. But what I hope is that you guys instead felt the emotions. Let me know in the comments!