Aya spent most of her time over the next day talking to Nos. He had explored abandoned cities all across Europe, but his favorite was Great Britan. Aya then talked about her sisters and how cute WALL-E was when he held Baby Ted. She couldn't believe she had made a friend out of her enemy, just like they had done with Ruby. Maybe she could make him a part of their family too. He was turning out to be so friendly!

Wait, wasn't that called Stockholm Syndrome?

Nos laughed, "You sure like talking about your family, huh?"

"Yeah..." Aya became sad just then, "I miss them..."

Nos squeezed his eyes shut, "Do you want to see them again?"

"Yes..." she lay her head on the ground, "More than anything...they're probably worried sick about me..."

Nos looked at her again, hesitating for only a moment, "Then you should go to them."

"What?"

"Go back to them and forget about me." he explained, "Follow me."

He brought her down the stairs and opened all the shades over the windows. Aya was surprised that she could actually see the encampment area from here, though it was far away. He unlocked the door and opened it wide for her.

"Huh?" Aya looked from him to the door, "You're really letting me go?"

"Yes..." he replied, gesturing to the open doorway, "You said you wanted to see them more than anything, right?"

"Well, yeah I did, but what about you?"

"Heh. You're worried about me? A monster that killed people without a second thought? Who groveled at your feet and lost his mind?" he shook his head, "How amusing. Although, if it makes you feel better, I'll be fine. I have enough batteries in my stash to last awhile, since I never relied on them until now."

"You..." Aya looked at the door again.

"Go. Your family needs you." Nos told her, "They need the peace of mind it will bring to see you unharmed. I wish nothing but the best for you and your family."

Aya still didn't leave, "I'll miss you, Nos..."

"Miss me? Don't make me laugh..." Nos replied humorously, "What have I brought you? Nothing but despair and worry. No, it's better if we never see each other again."

"B-but Nos..." Aya found herself getting emotional.

"Don't cry..." Nos furrowed his optic, "You'll make me change my mind. Just get out of here before I have a chance to regret it."

Aya frowned, heading for the door. She stopped in the doorway, then she dashed to Nos and gave him a huge hug, "Goodbye, Nos..."

He wrapped his arms around her, "Goodbye, little one...stay safe..."

She buried her face in his chest, staying like that for a second before pulling away, "I knew it...I knew you had good in you..."

"Not being a dastardly jerk, more like." he scoffed.

"Sure...sure..." she gave him one last sweet smile before flying off into the sunrise.

All the doors shut and locked again. What to do now?

Aya flew to the Axiom, noticing her sisters outside, "HEY GUYS!"

EVE was first to notice, her eyes widening, "Aya!?"

"I'm back! I'm okay!" Aya smothered EVE in a giant hug, "I'm home!"

"Aya!" EVE pushed her off and surveyed her up and down, "He-he didn't bite you!?"

"No! He never did!" Aya laughed in delight.

"Aya!" Rio joined the hug, "It's amazing, you're alive!"

Aya giggled as everyone surrounded her and hugged her, "Oh my gosh! I missed you all so much!"

"We missed you too!" Leah exclaimed.

"You're okay! I'm so happy!" Rose added.

EVE broke the hug, "How in the world did you escape!?"

Aya laughed at that, "See, the funny thing is, I didn't escape." she looked EVE in the eye, "He let me go."

"What?" EVE shook her head, "That horrible monster? That ravenous energy vampire, he let you go?"

"Yes! I know it sounds crazy, but he really did!" Aya laughed some more before she became sad, "See, he had no idea anyone besides himself was sentient. Once he got to know me, he realized I was sentient, and he asked me why."

"Wait a minute, he thought he was the only sentient robot in existence or something?"

"The only sentient being in the universe." Aya corrected, "And when he realized I was sentient too, he asked me why that was. I told him that most robots are actually sentient." she was afraid she would cry, "When I told him that, he...h-he didn't believe me at first, but then he completely broke down..." she shivered, "He wouldn't want me saying anything else..."

"Amazing!" Leah gasped, "He has good in him! Just like Ruby!"

"Really?" EVE was skeptical, "Are you sure?"

"Why would I lie to you guys?" Aya replied.

"He's not controlling you, right?"

"No. He hasn't bit me. There's no way he could control me from this distance."

"You believe he stayed in his lair?" Rio asked quizzically.

"Yes. I saw, he locked everything as I left." Aya said, "I mean it! Stop doubting me so much!"

"Well, she's certainly acting like herself." Rio said flatly, "I don't think she's being controlled."

"Me neither, but..." EVE shook her head, "How did all of this happen? How are you sure?"

"I won't say anything else." Aya replied, "He wouldn't want me to."

"Fine." EVE replied, "We'll talk about this later. For now, we need to know how to treat the bite victims."

"Oh, they'll be fine." Aya reassured, "Nos told me they're only in danger if he wants them to be. Without his influence, they only act as normal bites."

"Really? I didn't know that..."

"How do you know he didn't lie to you!?" Rio demanded.

"He's my friend!" Aya spat back, "He didn't even bite me once! I have the proof!"

"That's a fallacy!" Rio yelled, "It's confirmation bias!"

"Quiet! Both of you!" EVE said angrily, "Aya, I believe you, but this doesn't help us. There's still Forthright to think about!"

"I bet the energy vampire sided with the immortal freak!"

"If he did he isn't anymore!"

"He's evil!"

"He's good!"

"I SAID BE QUIET!" EVE broke up their useless bickering, "It doesn't matter now! We'll just keep a close eye out in case he changes his mind! Fighting isn't going to help!"

"Excuse me, Miss Aya!?"

Everyone turned. The police had showed up. They were recruited soon after EVE became captain of the Axiom, and they were there to keep the peace since no one had for centuries. They wore blue instead of red like the Axiom's passengers, and they didn't have excessive body fat like the people from the Axiom still had. Some were tall and lean, and some were muscular, obviously from years of work on another starliner.

"We'd like to ask you a few questions." the chief one said, "About Nos-4a-2."

Aya became defensive, "Like what?"

"Come with us." he replied, "You've spent more time with him than anyone else, you would know how he works. We need to capture him so he can pay for his crimes."

"Crimes?" Aya asked, "Which ones?"

"All of them. Murder, attempted murder, you know." he scribbled something on a clipboard, "There have been fifty nine deaths reported so far."

"What? That many?"

"Yes."

"It's best to just go with them." EVE said, "They won't hurt you."

Aya suddenly wished Nos could comfort her, "Can someone come with me?"

"I can." EVE said, "I have all my work finished for once."

"Thank you."

"Very well then." the cop gestured behind him, "Come with us."