A door behind Video slides open, revealing the first glimpses of the city. I can't help but rush through the door and stare in wonder, my previous emotions forgotten for a second.

The entire city is built inside a massive, artificial cavern. What must be most of the mountain has been carved out to make space. An artificial sun high above warms everything it touches.

A long, main street runs along the entire cavern. Beautiful buildings line both sides, each one meticulously carved and detailed from stone, metal, and even wood. No two buildings are identical, or even in the same style. It all clashes beautifully.

A large semi-circular building sits at the end, dominating the surrounding buildings. It's gorgeous, there's no other way to describe it. Most of its polished, smooth stone surface has engravings carved into it. Everything from beautiful landscapes, to portraits, to doodles a child might have made cover the building.

Plant pots hang from most buildings along the path, filled with vibrant flowers and greenery. Actual living plants sitting in rich brown dirt.

"How the fuck did you…" Cassie crouches down at the first pot, reaching out her hand slowly towards the nearest flower. She hesitates before touching it, as if just being near it might break the flower.

"That's why we take disinfecting so seriously." Video says.

I tear my eyes away from the flowers to take in the rest of the city. AI travel up and down the street, stealing glances at Cassie, Corax and I. Their bodies are all so different, and the city has very clearly been constructed to accommodate even the wildest form.

Most are humanoid, like me. Some have taken that as a base, and morphed it to their will. One person is twelve feet tall, their powerful legs ending in goat hooves and a powerful tail slithers behind them. Others have taken the opposite approach, making themselves small, light, and nimble, but still undeniably built of a humanoid base.

Those that have taken on a non-humanoid form get even more interesting. One person inhabits what resembles a spider, but with twelve delicate, needle-thin legs. I can't even begin to fathom how their legs don't buckle under the weight immediately.

Others still have taken a more hybrid approach, clearly not trying to replicate a human body, but still reminiscent of them. One has an angular body, completely formed from flat sheets of shining metal. She has a square monitor as a head displaying a simple cyan face with a bow attached to the corner.

A few actual humans are visible in the crowd. Whereas several AI glance warily at Cassie, the other humans are completely ignored by the same people, same as they would react to any AI.

A flash of yellow, white, and red flies by overhead, another metal bird. Corax instantly takes off, chasing after them. There are more, he's not alone. I can't help but let more tears run from sheer happiness.

"Should we wait for him?" Video asks.

I shake my head and wipe my eyes.

"He'll be watching." I say. "But is it possible for us to stay somewhere with a window?"

"Of course. Please follow me. Both of you."

Cassie jumps, quickly retracting her hand from the flower. I wait for her to catch up before we follow Video.

This is weird. In Vegas, everyone stared at Corax and me for any number of reasons. But here? I'm just normal. People watch me of course, but not as something to worry about, not as a payday, not as a monster. They just see me as someone new. Cassie gets something akin to the treatment I would anywhere else, catching worried and angry glances directed at her. I don't know how to feel about that.

Video leads us off the main street at the first turn.

The buildings off the main street are even less coherent. Large, purely functional gray cubes sit next to intricately decorated lawns covered in grass, with a small wooden door built into a slightly larger mound of dirt. Paths lead up to climbing routes that have been carved into the walls, very specifically designed for some kind of movement mechanism foreign to me, and impossible to climb without it.

A small flock of birds, with Corax in the middle, swoops just above our heads and perches on an outcropping built into the wall.

Video leads us through the streets, towards the edge of the city. A large compound sits there, with thick hedges surrounding a four story building. A heavy iron gate opens on its own as we approach, welcoming us into a beautiful landscape.

Green grass, trees, bushes, and flowers decorate the ground, with walking paths wandering lazily through it all. The path between the gate and the building is wide and paved, accessible to whatever form an AI chooses to take, even if the smaller, gravel paths through the grounds are inaccessible to anyone not in a humanoid body.

The main route leads to a four story building. Most of the first floor is open air, the building held up by thick pillars at regular intervals, and a single room in the corner. Tables, chairs, and games are spread around. The entire center of the building is an open plaza, with yet more trees and plants.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

A few small booths are set up throughout the area. Those must be what Video was telling us about? Those stations to allow Cassie to interact with the digital world? They're just small rooms with computers in them.

Groups of AI and humans are hanging out in the open areas, relaxing together. No one here looks at either of us with any kind of distrust or worry, just gentle smiles and maybe a small wave before returning to their conversations.

A few staircases lead upwards into the building, and Video leads us inside.

The hallways inside are pretty barren, just purely functional. A smooth floor and walls, interrupted only by lights and doors at regular intervals.

Video opens one of the doors, and the inside is plain, but comfortable. A bed big enough for two, a large desk, and chairs all sit on a fluffy carpet floor. An open door leads to a small bathroom, complete with our own shower.

The important part, however, is the fact we have a large window. I open it immediately and stick my head out, searching for Corax. He and the other birds are perched in a tree just outside. A smile spreads across my face, and I push myself back into the room.

"Sorry the room is simple." Video says. "If you need anything, there are shops in the main street. If you need food, there is a cafeteria on the first floor. Is there anything else you need?"

"What kind of money do you use here?" Cassie asks. "I've got arcs."

"Oh!" Video lets out a surprised laugh. "Sorry, I forgot you still use money out there. No, everything is free."

"Everying?" Cassie asks as if this is a trap or prank or something.

"Everything in the shops and cafeteria, yes." Video reassures her. "Just ask before you take anything, mark it down when you do, and take only what you need. If you get food, eat it. If you pick up something from a shop, use it until you don't want it anymore, and then return it. If you need something we don't have available, request it from the manufactury and either recycle it or add it to a shop when done. Tools and furniture do no good sitting unused in a dusty corner."

Cassie only stares at him, waiting for him to burst into laughter at his joke. He stays silent though.

"I'll leave you two alone then." Video says eventually. "E-1 will be by in a few hours, I hope you can use this time to get settled." He lets himself out, closing the door behind him.

Cassie waits a few moments for him to walk away before turning to me.

"How do you feel?" She asks.

"I don't know, I just feel a lot." How do I even begin to work through everything that's happened today? "Can you lay down?"

"Sure."

Cassie lays down on the bed, and I climb in next to her. She wraps one arm around my head, and the other around my torso, pulling me tightly into her.

I take a moment to close my eyes and let my worry wash away, to sort my thoughts knowing I'm safe with her. I guess I should start with the biggest thing.

"Corax has family here." I say.

"That's the first thing you think of?" Cassie asks, trying and failing to contain a small bit of laughter.

I nod.

"That's the most important thing." I say into her.

"But how do you feel?" She asks again.

"I think I just feel everything. Every emotion possible." There's just so much happening in my mind, I can't even keep track of it all. I just let it all churn by itself, only pruning thoughts when they begin to spiral out of control. "I don't think talking right now will help, not without Corax here."

"Alright." Cassie holds me tighter. She begins to carefully run her fingers through my hair. "We can just lay here."

"Ok." I let myself melt further into her arms. "E-1 only let us in on the condition she gives me therapy for an hour every day. I think I'd like you to be there with me, if that's ok."

"Of course." Her mechanical arm begins to strain from the force she's putting into me. "You really fucking need it."

"I think we both do."

"I really don't want to cry in front of someone I don't know." She says.

"I'll be your therapist then."

"No, that's a horrible idea. If I just dump all my problems on you, it's just going to make things worse."

"I can handle some of it." Maybe.

She shakes her head against my hair.

"It's not about that. One of us will just end up resenting the other. Trust me, it's a bad idea."

"Alright, if you're sure." The conversation threatens to end, but I need to keep talking or my mind is going to run wild with my thoughts. "Hey Cassie?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for everything."

"Alright. Save it for therapy." She lightly complains, but doesn't push me away. I don't think she's actually upset, just afraid of where that conversation might go.

"I'll try. Sorry if you hate it here." She despised me just for existing when everyone first found me. Even if she's trying, I can't imagine she's happy with so many AI being around us.

"It's fine." She brushes me off. "I'd be more anxious if they didn't let me keep my knife. I can deal with it."

"Alright, but if we need to stay in the room the whole time, that's ok with me."

"I'll be fine." She reassures me.

Silence takes over for just a few seconds before Cassie's stomach loudly rumbles.

"When was the last time you ate?"

"I guess it's been a few hours." She admits.

"Do you want to have a picnic together?"

"Are you recovered enough to have one?" Cassie asks. "We can lay here a while longer if you need it."

"I'm ok. I think just relaxing like we did under the mountain would help." I start to extract myself from her arms, only to pause. Last time the roles were reversed, she did something really special. My mind flares with equal parts anxiety, and a burning need to do it. I'm guaranteed to regret it if I don't do it, but I'm only going to regret it if I do it and she doesn't like it.

"Fuck it." I mumble, and quickly give her a small peck on her cheek.

The small act stuns her for a moment, making it easy to escape.

A grin makes its way onto her face, and the opposite wall is suddenly very interesting.

Aww, her face is so red even her ears have a twinge of pink to them. That's maybe the cutest thing I've ever seen.

"Let's go get some food." She says quickly.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.