Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Behind the dripping were the sounds of a storm only familiar to Murphy through old recordings. Nothing was like hearing it in person. The pain in his head pulsed with a clap of thunder, but it didn't matter, not with the cool mist spraying his skin and moistening his clothes.
"I believe that change in your breathing means you're awake." The sound of Clarke's voice made Murphy's stomach tingle.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm awake. How long do you think this storm will be around?" he asked as he sat up.
"Since weather doesn't affect me either way, I never paid attention to how that works. I pay more attention to animals. It'll pass when it passes. If you're getting hungry I can get you something."
"I ate before leaving the Ark I'm good for at least another day." His growling stomach echoed through the cave. "Okay maybe more like only a day."
"Be right back." Clarke disappeared in a blur.
Murphy sighed. "Great, stuck in a cave during a hurricane while a vampire finds me what she considers food."
Clarke returned a few minutes later with a basketful of vegetables and fruit - things he'd seen in movies and pictures, but never dreamed he'd ever get to eat. His focus zeroed in on the cherries. He forgot these had large seeds in them and hurt his teeth when he bit down. Murphy shook that off and sucked the rest of the fruit off the seed. His eyes rolled up in pleasure.
The sight of Murphy so blissful brought a sad smile to Clarke's lips, and she watched him intently, his pleasure, making her wistful. It had been a long time since she'd been jealous of anyone. She wished she could experience food this way. For as advanced as her species was, taste wasn't something they'd ever gotten.
After the last of the food disappeared, Murphy sat back with a sore stomach. "I don't get it. Why does my stomach hurt now? I just ate more than I've ever eaten in one sitting."
"There is such a thing as overeating. I remember the people before the war. They were so gluttonous in this area, and they'd eat until they got sick."
"Huh, I thought that was a metaphor in old movies. Something someone said as a backward compliment to the cook. Well, it was worth the stomach ache. I've never had fresh food."
"The rain's letting up, we should head out again." Clarke smirked at Murphy. "That is if you can even stand."
"Hardy har har. I'm fine." Murphy belched as he stood up. "That felt good. Lead the way, leech."
"I can't wait to show you the City of Light. You might short circuit seeing something so gorgeous." Clarke nodded toward the cave opening. "Want me to carry you this time? We'd be there in no time if you let me."
"Fine, whatever. How do we do this?" Murphy asked, eyeing her short stature.
"Ever had a piggyback ride?"
"Of course."
"Then hop on." She laughed when he hesitated. "You can't hurt me."
Murphy finally decided to just jump onto her back and true to her word, it didn't hurt her. Clarke's arms hooked under his legs after she wrapped his arms tight around her neck. Her skin felt impossibly smooth and pleasantly cool. Then she ran, and the wind whipped her hair into his face obscuring his vision. He held on with a vice grip for the five minute trip.
"Close your eyes," she said as she stopped.
He didn't listen to her and got his first glimpse of the City of Light. There were spiraling buildings reflecting the sun off every surface. It glittered liquid, silver and white. John slid off Clarke's back. "This can't be real."
Clarke shook the dirt off her. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"I don't think beautiful's the right word. I don't know if there is a word to describe this." Murphy clambered down the hill toward the city. "How were vampires able to survive without people to feed off of?"
"I'll show you if you stop moving for a minute."
He stopped and met her eyes, getting his first true look at them. They were dark pools at first glance but when he peered deeper into them he could see the circuits. "You're not alive? I mean you were never alive? You're a robot, not a vampire?"
"I'm the oldest of my kind. My maker was a woman named Abigail Griffin. She remained a close ally to all the AI's through the war. Most humans didn't see us as equal and tried to wipe us out. They bombed their own and only planet to devastation, somehow missing that they needed the world intact more than we did." The sorrow seeped into every word. "When they murdered Abby shortly before the first nuke was detonated, the AI community was moved to action. It was us or them. Your ancestors treated this planet so atrociously, we decided to go against Abby's wishes for peace. There would never be peace, so we decided to fight rather than hide." A tear slid down her cheek. "We won because we don't need to breathe."
"How can you cry?" Murphy asked. "How can a machine cry?"
"It's a drop of my cooling water. I'm old and some of my parts still leak when I get emotional. But now is not the time for sadness. We should be celebrating. Humans saw fit to come home. My brothers and sisters will welcome the chance to live in peace with you." Her smile radiated, and Murphy stared at her in awe.
"Emotions. I don't understand how a robot could have the feelings you do."
"That's no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim." Clarke laced her fingers with Murphy's. "I can make you immortal, you know. We have the technology now. You'll never get sick, and you'll never grow old. You'll be young and strong forever. Would you like that John Murphy?"
"Yes, Clarke, I would." He squeezed her hand before letting it go and running his hand up her arm. They touched foreheads and smiled. They had an infinite future ahead of them.
