A/N: Okay, still lacking Topher. I'm afraid I'm losing control of this story slightly now, because it's spiralling a little, but never fear – I've made a proper plan now and it's back on track. If I could be bothered, I'd edit what I've already done (if not posted) to make it more concise... So, yeah. Here we go.

"We literally become what we do, not what we've done or will do. We're best defined by our actions in the moment." (Bennett Halverson, Epitaph Two)

"Adelle?"

"Echo." Adelle stepped forward, wry smile on her lips. "How are you?"

"I'm... I'm good, thank you. Except I'm going stir-crazy locked up in here." She laughed and moved forward. "This is it? We can leave now?"

Adelle smiled. "I think so."

Echo laughed again. "Well, in that case, I am so glad to see you!" The two women embraced briefly, Echo's gun nudging Adelle's back.

"Where are the others?" Adelle asked.

"In the kitchen," Echo replied. "It's dinnertime... I heard a noise; they thought I was just being paranoid."

As they began to walk to the kitchen, Echo fell into step by Camilla. "Hey, mini-me."

"What?" Cam frowned.

"Nothing." Echo smiled. "What's your name?"

"Camilla."

"And is Zone looking after you? We've heard many stories about him..."

Michael, walking ahead by Adelle, turned. "It's Michael now," he said.

"Oh, sure, okay."

They reached the kitchen and Adelle pushed down the door handle.

There were hugs and joyous cries galore in the minutes that followed, rejoicing that they were finally, almost, free.

"What's happening up there, Adelle?" Priya asked, releasing her friend from an embrace. "Is it... better?"

Adelle smiled. "Yes, it's better. There's a long way to go... but yes, it's better. But come on!" she cried, clasping Priya's arm. "Let's go, shall we? You must be dying to get out of here."

"We've been here over a year," said Tony. "Another hour or so to catch up on what's happening on the surface isn't going to make much difference. Sit down."

And for the next hour, they sat in the kitchen as Adelle began to explain what had happened after the reset had happened, describing the long and difficult rebuilding programme she had begun. She told them about the people who were struggling to adjust to what had happened in the years they had lost; about the logistical issues of shelter and food and reconstructing almost every city; about the problems in D.C. and Tokyo; about their continued attempts to destroy all the tech. It was long and exhausting, but so satisfying to hear – to say it like this made it so clear cut, made Adelle feel that, yes, she was doing good.

A/N: Is that end-of-chapter a bit weak there? Hmm... See, my problem is, I know I want Adelle to be doing lots of stuff, rebuilding the world, etc, and I know that that's a really big and difficult job, but a) I don't want to go into too much detail about that, because it's not what this story is for, and b) I struggle to think of any details about that anyway, because it's so big and difficult. So I'll just gloss over it... it's implied...