All around me was this vacant lot that used to be CyberLife Tower in Detroit. I knew it well. What I didn't know is that someone reopened it. Once I saw that, I rushed inside to see a stranger in a business suit who spoke to me, "Ms. Sutcliffe, what a surprise. We just finished reopening CyberLife Tower for you on Mr. Kamski's behalf. He said you would need an American operating hub."

Awe was all I had to show as I spun around to get a good look at what was happening. Once I turned back around, I saw him reach for me as I jumped back instinctively. He seemed oddly surprised as I shook my head a bit nervously, "Sorry. I'm just jumpy when people reach for me. Where is Connor, Markus, North… The others. I wanted them to be here to see this."

"You mistake the intentions of Mr. Kamski. He is refocusing away from androids with minds and onto transfers instead. It seems much more popular. I think we could really change the evolutionary track this way," he said as he looked around, "All of this could start from one daughter's determination to finish her mother's work. That is something that started all with you, Ms. Sutcliffe. After all, you were our first, most successful case."

Turning toward the glass, I saw the LED on the side of my head with an android suit. The jeans were normal, but the jacket had a blue hue to the band on my shoulder. If I could turn pale, I would have. Spinning around again, I shook my head, "No! No one else can do that- Wait where the hell did you all go?!" CyberLife Tower was gone and I saw a one-way mirror into medical room. I saw myself on a table as I was in tears with Eva beside the human me. Eva was comforting her until I heard the cardiac monitor (ECG) flatline with a long, droning ring that wouldn't leave my ears.

Pounding the mirror, I called out, "Eva! It's me! I'm right here! Eva!" She seemed to hear me as she moved to the mirror and shook her head, "No… You're there. Dead. This person you are now. That's an imitation of who you were… I wish you never took this project. You… You're not my Melody." She turned to leave the room, too far away from me to catch. The floor held me in place as I was forced to watch her run away.

Bolting awake, I found tears in my eyes as I shook with fear. Was that what will happen? Will I be like… No! I shook violently in my bed as I held my knees to my chest. That was all too real to be… I can't think it would be like that. Eva would stay with me… She would, right? Doubt, fear, bone-chilling concern. All of it was on my mind now as I saw the clock read 4:03 AM. Sleep wasn't an option now. Moving outside of my room, I saw no one around for a moment as I hated the idea of being alone.

The phone I left on the counter was an option too. I texted Connor, only because I knew he had dealt with seeing himself… No! Don't think about the dream… The phone opened to my messages with ease as I texted Connor:

Can we talk? Eva's not here and after the dream I had… I need someone to talk to about it. Please? I could really use someone who understands this, and I know you would.

Moments later, Connor text back:

Sure. If you need to talk that's fine. I was just walking around the facilities to get used to the layout. Where did you want to meet?

With a thought in mind, I smiled:

The docks behind my house. The sun rises on the water. Good place to talk and listen to nature a bit.

He simply replied:

Meet you there.

I decided to grab my wool sweatshirt that Dad bought me of his favorite baseball team; Yankees. Slipping on my jeans and a pair of sneakers, I found myself staring at my beanie with the CyberLife triangle on it a bit scared. I left it as I took my bag that had a note on it:

"Packed you two snack bars, refilled your water and pill bottle along with a freeze-dried pack of apple slices. Meet you at 10 AM in the house to check your clothing for something proper to wear.

Eva 3"

Smiling at the note, then shivering at the remembrance of the dream. I moved out the front door with a turn around the back of the house toward the dock. It was quiet as even the crickets were still chirping something akin to my mother's old lullaby. Part of me started singing it out loud without thinking:

See the stars at night

You can shine as bright

With the waning night

Calling you tonight

See the lights up there

With dreams, fly through the air

Wind so fair

Sleep will take you there.

"You have a good singing voice," Connor shocked the hell out of me as I fell backwards in shock. He seemed to notice he scared me half to death as he moved to hold a hand out to me. Once again, I backed away a bit as he seemed to show guilt. I ended up taking his hand as it seemed to cheer him up, "Sorry about that. I really thought you knew I was standing by the cliff edge. And I'm sorry for when I woke up. It seems you're scared of me since then."

Shaking my head no, I smiled a bit as I waved my hands in the air nervously as if to say no, "No! No! I'm not scared. I just get jumpy when people reach for me. Just my weird tick." I was lying, clearly, though Connor said nothing as we sat near the edge of the cliff to watch the lake water. Crickets still chirped as I was trying to muster how to say anything, "Connor… I saw your memories. I called you because you would understand. The dream I just had, my work… Everything just laid out in front of me in the worst way possible."

Connor seemed to take in what I was saying and listened to me explain my dream to him. After a moment of silence, he looked out at the water again, "You're worried about your project. That it may not really be you when all is said is done. Maybe even might be someone else entirely… Why me though? I can understand some of where you're coming from, but my experiences aren't going to be close to yours."

"I know that. Its just that I need someone to talk to about this stuff before it drives me crazy. I feel at a loss for words or anything since I woke up. I don't want to think about it and yet that's all I do. This could really happen if it all goes wrong. I could really end up watching myself-" I began to say until I stifled to speak further, thankfully Connor interrupted me.

He pointed at the sunrise coming up with a small smile, "You know that people fear what they can't understand or don't know. You know as well as most of us here that people feared Deviants and even made me to stop them. Turns out that I am a deviant with the ability to make these choices to work here on this island or even back in Detroit. Even if things change, you have confidence in your work correct?"

Connor gave me an uplifting push to speak as I thought of it. With a thought, I was okay with speaking up about my work to him, "Yeah I am. One day, I found my mom's old workshop key in a drawer in the mansion. I decided to find out where it went. When I did, the lab was filled with notes about an integration matrix. To a dying kid, it was like a get out of jail free card for me. Dad let me work on it when I was 12. Later at 13, Kamski began mentoring me to teach me more about androids and how I could get the matrix to work. Now I have a chip that makes an exact copy of how my brain works and the chemicals that make up me. I'm confident this is where this research needed the boost.

"With everything in working order, I'm close. The matrix worked, it really did. Pyre is okay besides her hiccups early on. She had a hard time grasping she was a tiger for a little, but now she's okay. I think it'll be an adjustment period for my dad, Kamski and I… Maybe Eva too," I looked down remembering Eva in my dream as I gripped a fist. With a glare at the ground, I was distraught until he touched my hand to grab my attention as I released my fist.

Connor spoke up as he seemed to be in thought while he spoke, "From my memories of her with you, it seems that she really cares for you. She is the mother that is there for you no matter what. In a way, you needed someone to help keep you healthy enough to finish your work and you both need each other." He pulled out a note out of his pocket with the words 'I O U' on it with a chuckle, "Consider this my way of saying that if you need to talk about this stuff, then call me. Or take the boat across and come visit if we head to Detroit. I may not seem like it, but I was meant to adapt to human behavior. Besides, you have lots of friends here to help out too. That note comes with a promise that if you need advice, just send a text. I may not know a whole lot yet, but if you need someone to ask then I'm able to listen."

Nodding to him as I put the note in a hidden pocket in my bag as a notebook of numbers sat in the same hidden back pocket. Connor snatched it out of my bag as he read over the numbers. With a look to me, he seemed impressed as he looked back at the notes, "Crunched all of this on your own, huh? Most people make a computer do all this. So why crunch all this on paper? Are you afraid that something might go wrong?"

"Not afraid. Just feel more comfortable with the numbers in front of me. Kamski checks my math when I send him copies of the pages. He said my numbers are sound. Doesn't make the nightmare any less real. I didn't want to use the transfer as an escape for people to get away from mortality. I'm using it to prove my mother wasn't insane and to live long enough to do my work. It's a last resort. Nothing more," I said as I looked at the sun rise with a smile. Thinking back to the first time I heard Hank call me for help, I chuckled, "You know Hank practically begged me to help you. Even accepted his terms of employment and retirement up here. He really stepped out since he hated androids before. Whatever you did Connor, it really changed him and in turn changed you. That's wat I'm working for. Seeing positive change in everyone."

"If everyone could be as good as friends as you two, things might be okay. Thanks for talking to me, Connor. I feel way better now. Still a little scared about the future, but I think I handle it. Wow! This thing scared me half to death," I smiled to Connor until my phone buzzed in my pocket, giving me a fright half to death. I didn't think it was time to meet up with Eva yet. To my surprise, it was one of the dock androids as he spoke calmly, "We wanted to let you know that Pyre was trying to fish earlier. She was being repaired by Eva, though it seems she hasn't been heard from since 2 AM."

With a heavy sigh, I realized that I should try to find them both. My tools for Pyre were in my lab so that meant a short walk at least, "Okay. I'll find them both. What did you need her for, so I can pass the message on?"

"Her delivery of medical supplies and medicinal spices just got here. We didn't know where to put it," he said as he spoke about it like it was a secret she ordered this stuff.

"Okay. I'll tell her. Thanks for your hard work. You guys take a break soon okay?" I said as he seemed to give a solid 'Yes Ma'am' and hung up. I cringed at his response. With a sigh, I stood up as Connor looked up at me, "Nothing serious. Eva got a delivery of supplies, but weirdly enough she isn't responding. Fixing Pyre after a frozen dip couldn't have done that damage to take this much time to fix. I have to check my lab."

Sensing some urgency that I didn't, he stood up with a slight paranoid look that said, 'I'll go with you'. Not denying the company since this place was creepy at 5 AM alone. I decided to ask while we walked since no one was around to stop me, "Are you mad I kept those other models from you?"

He seemed to shake his head no as his voice could have been frustration but not anger, "No. I understand your reasoning from not telling anyone. They were unstable as Hank and I found out very quickly. Why were you so determined to hide them? Or to keep me from getting near him? I understand my situation clearly that I'm not able to just come back into another body like before. Then why did you tell me to stay back?"

"Amanda's invasion into your system to control you. Sure, you shot yourself and she no longer had control. It didn't mean her program wasn't still there trying to do it when I was repairing you. I found all the code relating to it and got rid of it. For you, the deviant, it worked. The others, not so well. Connor… I won't lie about this. I talked to Kamski. This plan helps out my mentor and lets me try to help another android. Amanda made an RK900 who's supposedly the better version of you. I'm going to try to help him out. I swear he won't look like you," I was honest with him as I finished my last sentence with a wink.

Connor seemed to smile as he stopped outside the lab, "I know your friend may not like me." He waved to me with a look to lab cautiously, "I'm around since Hank is sleeping. Message me if trouble comes up." He was really cautious of the area since it was so close to the dormitories. Watching him carefully, he seemed to move to the dormitories. Guess he's check on the clean up and the androids there.

Moving inside the lab, I saw Eva sitting on a chair staring at Pyre as she sighed. When she noticed me, she stood up to smile to me, "Why are you awake? Five hours of sleep will do you no good." She tried to move in my way until I wormed around her. I saw Pyre laying on the table staring at me. With some amount of confusion, I put a hand on her head like I always have as she didn't seem to move. Eva sighed with a look at the wall, "I tried to fix the physical damage and it seems I hit a component by her brain unit. She hasn't woken since. Mel, I'm sorry. I didn't want to wake you for this. It looked minor."

Part of me was enraged, that part I side stepped until I could figure out what to say. For now, I grabbed a scanner and my tools from under the table to go to work. I was already awake so why not. Ignoring Eva, I saw the scanner read that she was fine. Opening the head plate, I saw the part she hit. It wasn't functioning. It's the core my mother made to process a human conscience into code. Moving into my hidden lab without caring that Eva saw it, I grabbed the new one that I had originally built for myself. Instead, I would have to give it to Pyre and rebuild it. Oh well, I thought, its for a good cause. I moved to the table and pulled out the damaged unit and put in the new one quickly. After the plate closed, I stood in front of Pyre as she seemed to blink a few times. She licked my hand when I reached for her as she pawed it playfully.

Needing to push aside everything, I remembered something about the docks, "Your shipment came in. They called me trying to find you. I'm going to stay he-"

She turned me around to see her face as she leaned down to look me in the eye, "Why are you awake? What's wrong?" Her face still held some guilt over the matter before, mostly worry now though. It seemed she was trying to grab for my attention about something she was trying to figure out. Probably my nightmare.

Shaking my head, I found myself lying to her for the first time in a while, "I'm fine. Just a few dreams. I woke up and so I'm here. A little loss of sleep won't kill me." I smiled to her, even though it was false.

False enough that she caught on with a sigh. She hugged me to her tightly, "I know everything is going on with some hiccups. Things we couldn't foresee. I need you to tell me if something is bothering you, though I might not be your mother. I'm still here for you regardless."

Part of me was reminded that I didn't have my mother thanks to a bad situation. The rest of me was reminded that I was treating her like she had to be my mother. Taking the low road of morality, I spoke up slowly, "I'm sorry… Its just a nightmare. A friend talked to me and I'm fine. If anything, I just want to know that after all this is over that you'll still be here after I transfer to… I just want to know that you won't leave me because I became an android. Its not my brightest plan I know. And I don't want to watch myself die only to realize that you can't still be with me after I become like you. You're like a mom to me. I won't lose you twice. I'm scared too."

Seeming to understand, she hugged me tighter. I felt something wet drop onto my head. Was she crying? Her words were softer as she held onto me, "I won't leave you. Not again. No matter what you are or who you become. Never think that I'll leave you. None of us will. We're all here because of you. Now let us be there for you." She held onto me a minute or two until she leaned down to kiss my forehead, "You're mine. Never forget that. I'll always be there whenever you need me. I'll let you stay with her. If you take a nap with her, try to sleep a bit more. I'll let you sleep."

She pat my head with a glance to the hidden compartment as she smiled, "I'll be back to get you to help me dig through your clothes to find proper clothing to wear. Get some sleep before then." She moved to the door, presumably the docks to get her things. I whistled to Pyre as she crawled down off the table. With a large flop, she laid on her bed to rest there. I moved to grab my blanket as I lay beside her, "Lets get some sleep. I'm okay with falling back asleep now." Nothing was wrong. Everything was right. At least for now. I'm okay to go back to bed now. Curling up on the bed with her, I pulled the blanket around me after triggering the garage door to close to the lab, meaning it was dark. In moments, I was in the dark literally as sleep began to overtake me.

This time I was on the island with the sunset. Connor sat by me and seemed to speak as we were before, "These are just worries that will pass. For now, just keep working. It's better to focus on what you can do now than what could happen." His voice was so reassuring to hear out loud. Someone who actually made me feel like I wasn't going crazy. Well, crazier.

Turning to the left, I saw Eva on the other side of me holding my hand. She smiled with a soft tone, "No matter what, we always stick together. I promise you that." This was peaceful and calm. The world seemed less scary with them around. Another few moments, I just enjoyed the sunrise with the two of them. As the sun rose, I saw my hand turn plastic and I was okay with it.

The fact I saw this was okay. I'm still me. I will still be me. Pyre is herself. I'll still be me. I'll be okay… This all seems bad now, but I know it'll pan out. As for this sunrise, it was serene. Maybe Carl had a point. When you find your art, keep at it. Once I do, everything will make sense no matter who I become along the way. It will be my art to look back on. This is my legacy, my masterpiece. I just have to make sure I put my best into it.

Something ate at me, though it was hard to place. Turning around, I saw my Father standing there with a smile, "I'm glad you're making friends. You were never good at it. Even though I know you finished school early to get away from people. Deep down, I knew you'd find friends." He seemed to be reassure with a small gesture of approval. This was the way to dream. I knew it inside. I just wished I had figured this out earlier.

Eva grabbed my attention as her voice wasn't her own. It was North's voice, "Hey… Wake up." Her change made me snap back to reality.

Slowly I woke up with small intake as North was beside me trying to wake me up. Her face twisted from concern to relief, "There you are. Eva asked me to come wake you up. Seems we have some clothes to look at for you." She jested at me as I saw her wink. She looked over at Pyre who was in a form of sleep mode. She pet her slowly as Pyre just let her do it, "Beautiful animal. I'm glad you saved her. She's very kind for a small dog." She was poking fun at me again, but oh well.

With a laugh, I moved to sit up as Pyre used her paw to knock me back down. I moved to the side to get out of her paw as she seemed to glare at me. Moving to stand, she seemed to let it go. Her behavior was odd, nonetheless I had to go. I looked to her, "Stay! I have to go. I'll be back later tonight to work." She seemed to disregard me. Motioning out to her, I followed North out of the garage door as I shut it, "Now she won't get out again. Let's go."

"Is it really okay to lock her in like that?" North asked as she looked back at the door.

I nodded yes as I shook my head in disappointment, "She got out and into the cold river earlier today. No more freedom for now. Now I have to leave her here for safety…" I hated this, but it was fact. North moved behind me and opened the garage door to the lab. Pyre moved behind me and poked my back. North chuckled as I sighed, "Fine… You stay with me or North though. Okay?" She seemed to nod as I shook my head.

Walking toward the house, I don't think I could have guessed what Eva had in mind. I also didn't know what was going on with Pyre. She never clung so much before. Oh well, I thought, I could have dealt with that better. I pet Pyre as she moved beside me. Unfortunately, I forgot how tall she was to me being shorter. I'm glad she's here though. It means that I'm not alone. I have North and Pyre here. The people here really care. My dream was right. I'm glad to have friends now. Not so glad to get dress clothes.

North, Pyre and I walked to the house. Eva had my only three sets of business suits out on the couch. The one was blue with a skirt and blue dress shoes. Bleh! The next was grey with pants and matching heels. Form fitting and nice, yet professional. The last was black with a skirt and I was veering away from it since it looked like a funeral suit. All three suits made me really uneasy, though I couldn't fathom any but the grey suit. Why heels though? Damnit all…

Pyre lay by the door as North looked over the suits, "Wow… Pretty limited huh?" She chuckled at me as I blushed. Eva seemed to pop her head out as she glared at Pyre but sighed. Another thought came to mind when she said limited, purposefully limited I believed.

"She refuses to dress nicely… Just like that. At least this time she's wearing a normal sweatshirt," Eva said as she let out a sigh after. Continuing on, sounding sad and overenthusiastic, "Poor is me. I have to figure out how to make this poorly dressed girl look like a swan again." She winked at me as I swear my face became redder than before.

North let out a laugh as she pat my back encouragingly. She put the black suit aside, "She's not going to a funeral so that won't work. So then skirt or pants? Blue or grey?" She looked to Eva as they were both scheming without talking. Probably that communication link thing.

Moving up to the suits, I stared a bit lost, "Both are intimidating…. I've never dealt with people like this. A whole presentation, sure. Presenting it in front of the police force is another thing…. A terrifying thing…." I shivered a bit.

Eva and North nodded in front of me when they both put the blue skirt aside, "Grey!" As if in unison, the two had a great idea as they looked to me. North spoke up, "You have your own style. People here see that. As for you, keep your hair white. Even keep the sneakers to show your still 18 with your own style. And the bag."

"You are perfect no matter how you go. Just go in this pant suit. No heels. Just the suit and allow us to do hair and make-up. That's all we ask," Eva said as the two looked to me with a nod.

Smiling to them both, I nodded, "I trust you two. Let's do it. I wanna be me even seen through that suit."

North took the suit jacket, "I'm going to do some work with this. I'll drop it by later." She pet Pyre and left out the door as Eva smiled.

"Your own style. One that means you. Even Kamski would be okay with that," Eva said as she hugged me close after poking my forehead, "Now focus on your work and wait for his call. I know you need to rebuild that core. So go ahead. I'll get this cleaned up. I'll bring food by the lab too." Eva pet Pyre as Pyre stayed comfortable. Moving back to Pyre, I pet her, "Lets go to the lab." The clock by the door read 1 PM. The day was young, and I had a lot of work to do on that core. Time to go to the lab.