(Viewpoint: Alpha-1)

  And in the distance, a soft alarm in the system, discreet, but piercing.

  [ROUM SUBJECT: DEVIATION CONFIRMED, EXIT WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION]

  [ALERT ALERT, POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS INDIVIDUAL]

  The alarm was vibrating

  A subtle vibration behind my temples.

  A signal that few can hear.

  [ROUM SUBJECT: DEVIATION CONFIRMED]

  [UNKNOWN TRAJECTORY]

  [RISK: HIGH]

  I remain motionless in front of my plants

  The tea is still cooling in my hand.

  Silence

  A drop falls onto the white floor.

  I watch her collapse onto the ground.

  The curves.

  Again

  Tac

  tac

  Tac

  The tea spilled onto the floor

  - …Rome.

  I whisper his name.

  Almost without realizing it.

  The flowers around me continue to move gently, imitating a wind that does not exist.

  He disobeyed.

  I get up

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  I turn

  Place the cup down.

  A slow gesture.

  Control.

  Perfect.

  Placing the cup with millimeter precision next to his teapot, in the center of my table

  Then I call the interface.

  Translucent screens appear around me.

  Trajectories.

  Sensors.

  Dead zones.

  Fragmented data.

  He went through an abandoned exit.

  an old section.

  An area that even drones avoid.

  – coincidence ou Intelligent…

  I don't know yet.

  [PROPOSAL: IMMEDIATE NEUTRALIZATION]

  The voice of the system is cold.

  Logic.

  She closed her eyes for a second, breathing in the sweet scent that surrounded her, then took a brush from the interface.

  Slipping it into her long white hair

  - Denied.

  Silence

  [ MOTIF ? ]

  I open my eyes again.

  – I am in a position to answer you.

  [ORDER CONFIRMED]

  I get up.

  My white coat is sliding down my back.

  And in the reflection of my interface, I see my face.

  Alpha-1.

  This Body

  Perfect.

  Untouchable.

  An architect I built layer by layer

  She ran her finger over her face, caressing each curve

  She walks down the corridors.

  The doors open before she even touches them.

  The units move apart.

  The officers lower their eyes.

  fear.

  respect.

  obedience

  Chetan is already in the tactics room.

  Standing.

  Arms crossed.

  Burning gaze.

  – He was.

  No salvation.

  No protocol.

  It's always the same with him

  - I know.

  He was the only one present

  Gaze fixed on a trembling hologram.

  "The image got stuck in zone 9," he murmured.

  Zone 9.

  The Fault.

  Chetan smiled.

  A wicked smile.

  – Allow me to go.

  – I'll bring it back.

  – In pieces if necessary.

  I slowly turn my head towards him.

  Her smile disappears.

  – ok

  His voice trembles for no reason

  anger ? .

  Pride?

  I approach.

  Close enough for him to sense my presence.

  – You are too impulsive.

  Silence.

  – you risk hurting yourself, I said.

  He nods.

  - Yes.

  "It's dangerous," he murmured.

  I smile and stroke his head

  - I know.

  I'm looking at the screen.

  And unintentionally…

  I'm thinking of them.

  Ah, time, what is it?

  A species forced to make do

  We are nothing.

  Nothing here is perfect.

  And strangely enough…

  I like it.

  Zone 9

  She turns around and leaves without a word, covering herself completely with her coat.

  Set out to find this fugitive

  In this area where the sun was no longer allowed to rise, this is where all the emergency exits lead.

  His first steps echoed through space

  Tac !

  A shadow passed, leaving a long, deafening noise.

  I don't really need to look for it

  BOOM !

  She collapsed onto the damp, green ground.

  And above her, a familiar silhouette

  Rome

  He stares at me.

  Looking you straight in the eyes.

  – Were you scared?

  I remain frozen.

  A microsecond.

  "What?" I asked.

  – that… I don’t know, that I’m a danger.

  Silence.

  Total.

  Even the machines seem to fall silent.

  I feel something rising.

  Rise within me.

  – HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA, I burst out laughing

  –You don't know what you're saying.

  - Yes.

  - I see.

  I close my eyes.

  Breathe.

  Slowly.

  And reopens them.

  – you escaped

  – I-I got lost

  He murmured.

  – stop this game

  A sad smile.

  – it is not one.

  I clench my teeth, disgusted to be bathing in this water.

  – Get up…

  I whisper.

  He's looking at me.

  Shocked.

  – Haha, sorry…

  His voice trembles

  And he backs away

  - THANKS.

  In me relevant

  He turns on his heel.

  Disappears into the shadows.

  I remain alone, intrigued by his action.

  What became of you?