. 2558 A.D. T-077 Kaitie
Beep… Beep… Oxygen in… Beep… Oxygen out… Beep… Beep… Beep…
"Oh my God, is this as frustratingly boring for you as it is for me?"
"What the heck was that?"
"I'm Abbey. I'm your new Ai companion for the rest of your life" she says cheerily
"Ai? What? I don't understand"
"Well after T-254 almost killed you, both you and he were put into surgery. The doctors gave you new lungs and straightened your ribs and spine. Then ONI came in and gave you the gift of me. Without the Office of Naval Intelligence you'd still be in a coma. I woke you up"
"What does this mean? What happens when you go rampant?"
"Oh, I won't. As long as you're mentally sane, so will I be"
"Great. Where do we go from here?"
"We get you rehabbed and out to thank ONI for saving us. You're taking this amazingly well"
"Weirder things have happened."
"Like what?"
"Zain beating me"
"Oh Honey. he didn't beat you. He destroyed you. It wasn't a fight, it was an operation, with him as the surgeon, although he does show a lot of openings."
"Well, why don't we analyse that and learn from it"
"I was thinking something similar. But first you need to-"
"Wake up damn it" Zain says, with tears in his eyes
"Hey, whats wrong?" I ask, my voice sounding raw.
His eyes open wide in shock and he hugs me as he sobs "I'm sorry" is all he says. I wrap my arms around him and roll him onto the bed.
"It's fine… Just never do that again" I say with a giggle and he begins to laugh with me
"I don't know what came over me during our fight. I just saw an opponent and something clicked. If its any consolation, I've visited you every day since we landed and have been doing your assigned tasks."
"He's a cute one. And he cries. I see a long and happy future between you two."
"You mean us four right? I'm Belle. Zain's Ai"
"Hey everyone, I'm here too" Zain cuts in
"So are you guys in my head or?"
"No, just your every thought. So, a rematch when you're feeling more up to it?" replies Zain in his usual smartass tone.
"There he is, I thought you were going soft on me" I think and smirk
"I don't know what came over me in our fight. Tell anyone I cried and I'll rebreak your neck"
"Your secret is safe with us. Now go, I've got a shit tonne med reports to fill out" says Abbey
"Alright, alright. I'm going, I'll come back later."
"Before you go, come here. I want to tell you something." He turns and looks at me expectantly "I have to whisper it to you" I say softly. He rolls his eyes and leans down so I can whisper to him. I kiss his cheek instead. "Go, get outta here. I'll talk later"
"Good move Hun" Abbey says
"Not another word out of you"