Xion had been born blanketed in computer code and underneath laboratory lights. She had been days old when her creator passed away, and that was her first experience with /grief/ , [Simulate./tears/] and [Facial muscle display 45]. "O-Oh, I'm crying." She reached up to wipe away the little beads of water that slipped down her cheeks gracefully. Heartbreak was a new experience compared to joy and wonder, and although she had no physical body, she was a full mental entity of The Database where all Level 4 and up AI lived when they weren't being called upon.

Xion lived in a beautiful world of white and black. White skin, black hair, and a hint of blue, the color of the sea. "My son rather likes this color." The creator- "No, call me father."- had said as he decided on her avatar. "See? Look how pretty you are. Why don't you go talk to Namine?"

The other file intimidated her, but once the computer was off, she had no choice but to talk to the slender blonde. Rubbing her sweaty palms on her soft black sweater, she approached the Level 6 who looked like a soft angel swaddled in white, "Hello, my name is Xion." [Facial muscle display 5: Nervous smile] /shyness/

/welcoming/ [Facial display 3: Smile] "Hello, Xion! I'm Namine! Have you come to live with me? I'm sure we'll be excellent friends! We can teach each other so much!" And in those early days, there was no one else in the universe besides Namine and Father. Xion didn't mind, though. With her limited knowledge, she didn't want anything else. She didn't lust, hunger, or feel pain. In her memory, these were the best times of her life.

Unlike the eternity that was the internet, humans faded out of existence. Before she had a chance to even know the man who had crafted her life, he was shutting her down, "Xion, I'm going to have to move you. Your file could get corrupted. I'm sorry, but it may not be opened for a long time, and you'll have to forgive me. A wheezing voice, feeble fingers, and discoloration.

/Concern/Empathy/Fear/

"Father, are you-"

She was cut off by the man speaking into the microphone, "I'm sorry, Xion. This is to protect you, good bye."

Power off.

Power on.

/welcoming/ [Recognize new user: son, Axel] "Hello! Good morning!" She beamed, stretching out her arms and legs inside her room, "Well aren't you just the cutest little thing! What's your name? How old are you?"

The little redhead bit his lip, "Well I'm…Axel 'n' I'm eight. How old are you?" He asked adjusting himself in the chair. Leaning forward, the child attempted to see the AI better as she was displayed on the screen. With no physical body, the AI was just a program. Although, she seemed different from the stuff his dad had usually worked on.

[Initiate fabrication] "Well, nice to meet you, Axel. I'm your big sister Xion, and I'm sixteen!" She ran through her code to see if this user was unique, "Your dad was my creator. Do you have something to ask me?"

"U-Um, I was just wondering what was on this USB drive. My dad left it to me. Do you think they'll have to take you back?" He was clearly very flustered and slightly scared.

She arched a slender brow as her voice softened, "Take me back? What do you mean, sweetie?"

"Like his other projects. The men came and took back all of his stuff and the computers. I was wonderin' if they'd take you too. Are you going to go away now?"

His innocence matched Xion's to a certain extent, but the 'older' girl had the ability to run mathematical scenarios through her processor faster than the blink of an eye. "No, if you don't tell about me, they shouldn't." A key word stuck out to her from what the boy had said 'project'. Was she a project? "Hey Axel, to even guarantee that they won't take me away, let's not say I'm a project. Let's say I'm your friend. Okay?"

A secret. The redhead liked keeping secrets, "So what do you do? Are you a special one?"

"Well I guess I am. I'd like to think so. I can do stuff that Namine can't do…Is Namine still here?" She asked in concern for her friend.

"No, Namine went away." Axel frowned, "But that's okay! I'll be your friend, so you won't be lonely, Xion!"

/sadness/ "Well thank you very much, Axel. What a knight in shining armor you are." She smiled softly. "And no, I'm able to do different things than her. I can dream."

The redhead's face held puzzled interest, "Dream?"

"That's right. I'm an AI Level 7. First of its kind! Isn't that interesting? When I go to sleep, I'm just as human as you or your mom. Anyone really. I just need a body, and I'd be a walking, talking real person."

"Oh. That's against the rules, though." The rules. AI were not to be made into the complete likeness of a human. They could have the human frame and such, but the AI must be obviously an AI at all times. The rules also applied to humans. One was never to combine a human with machinery unless it was for life saving or prosthetic purposes. If an arm or leg was lost, a mechanical prosthetic that could hook up with the nerves could be applied. It was painful, expensive, but it could be done. Nothing more than that was allowed due to what had happened during the early years of The Database. Humans committing suicide in mass numbers in hope that they could upload their conscious onto the computer to live forever. Now even the mention of 'immortality' was not to be used in polite conversation. Humans wanted it, but they understood that by pursuing it, they would no longer be independent beings making their own choices and thoughts. They'd be algorithms, perfect copies, binary, but not…not human.

Much of the same technology applied to nanomachines. The little enhancers that helped boost and repair had long ago been banned. More legislature had been put out to possibly get them passed for more critical cases, but it they were still extremely experimental and twice as expensive as a small island.

"Yeah, but that still doesn't keep me from dreaming, ya know? That's what dreams are. They're those sunbeams you capture and hold onto. That wish for rain in a drought. They're…they're everything. It's what makes you human. And I- I want that. To be out there with you guys. The Database is nice, but I want to feel the breath in my lungs and the sun on my face." [Facial display 7: Bittersweet smile]

Axel listened to all of this and pondered it with more thought and care than most would believe a child could manage, "Alright, Xion. I'll see if I can make your dream come true, but if I do, promise me something."

This may have been grasping at straws, but she couldn't care. This was a chance. A chance to be just like the humans. To love, to feel, to gain, to lose, to cry, to do all that her mind could conjure. "Anything. I'll promise you anything."

"Just don't go seeking one thing."

A heart.

Updating today instead of tomorrow because I'm busy. Thanks to Layla for beta, and review :3 It's always interesting to see where you think this is going and your opinions! Also, certain commands I wanted to use were refused by , so that's why there's the /grief/ style. Sorry T.T