The next day after breakfast Eliza made sure that they had a good lunch and Luther checked on the rover. When they were ready they drove over to the crash site and looked everything over. It was clear that the ship would never fly again, for if you didn't know it was one you couldn't tell it had been a ship. Eliza was quietly searching for all signs of Eleven, and Luther did not question it because he knew that most of the crash was a blank in Eliza's memory.
Finally it was time for lunch and Luther was about to break into Eliza's thoughts to point it out. He found her in the last part of the craft that held oxygen. She had her helmet off and was shaking, "Are you alright?"
At the sound of his voice she turned and he saw the tears. "Eleven…"
There was a stranger's face on the screen in front of her, but he crossed the room and put his large hands on her shoulders. "What happened?" he asked gently.
Eliza took a few moments to answer, "I had gone to fix a breach when I was knocked out, but she thought I had flown through the breach. So she split the ship and flew back home."
Luther knelt down next to her, "That means she's alive." he said bracingly.
Eliza shook her head, "And that the rest think that I am dead. No one will come for me." It was the first time she leaned against him, and they hugged. This was a gentle hug, just for comfort. Afterward, neither of them were sure just how long it lasted, but it was good to know someone else was there on this frozen planet.
After Eliza seemed a bit better, they ate lunch. They also gathered everything that would be useful, with extra oxygen and food. Then they went back to the pod that they were starting to view as home.
How did the Numbers take my supposed death? Eight wondered. Then continuing, Is death such a bad thing? It means that I am now free to truly be Eliza. No one would look for me here, I could continue living this life. Would that be so bad?
Luther is a very good person. Now that there was a possibility that I could stay with him I can open up. But is it wise for a Number to truly open their heart to another? I am Eliza, not Eight. But I am still Eight, as long as I let the Others dictate my decisions. Would it be possible for me to think for myself. Can I live a life that is not dictated by someone else?
All that Eliza knew was that she wanted to try. And Luther was a good person to try with, with his kind patience. They were on the moon, no one to stop them.
Luther could hear Eliza stirring in the bedroom. As they were taking off their space suits she had started crying again, and he had carried her to cry herself to sleep. He hoped that she would be alright, that was a large blow.
"Luther?" He turned to see her standing in the doorway."What are you doing?"
He looked down at the stove, "I didn't want to disturb you. And I was trying to cook."
She crossed over to him and smiled. "Thank you." Then she opened the cupboard, "It looks like it's up to me to set the table." It was a quiet peace that reigned.