you have no idea who you're going up against. let's just get this over with.

It dons one of her dark coats and then carries her through the streets, which are eerily quiet. It cradles her head to its chest almost gently as it walks, emitting a comforting whirr. They reach Ali's apartment and it opens the door without needing to unlock it.

The sight that greets them when they open the door is one that makes Solace want to cover her eyes. He's laying on a makeshift surgical table of his own, fresh-looking stitches running down his chest. He murmurs incoherently as they come in.

I barely knew him, and now I never will, she thinks to herself.

I'm complicit.

It sets her down and briefly wires its controller to him as well.

"Hello, Ali. It's time to go."

He stirs only a little before Morda gets impatient and his internals yank him up the rest of the way. 

She cautiously moves towards him.

He can't think it's all just painpainpainpain and darkness and memories the likes of which he has not seen in years-

Blood drips from the fresh sutures. 

Her fingers gently brush the sutures, which are clumsily done, just like her own. They'll scar horribly. She raises her hand and the fingertips come away red.

There's a knock at the door.

Morda opens the door.

"Hello, how may I help you?"

They take one look inside and hit Morda with a chair. "Fucking hell, Solace, what have you done?"

This being the second time it's been hit with a chair in the past couple days, it is not phased. It picks up the chair and checks its chassis for scuffs.

"Please do keep your voice down."

"Shut up, robot."

It notices the blood on Solace's shaking hands. "Solace…"

I, I couldn't, stop them

"Then you should have died. Now I'm going to have to clean up your mess. I wish I could say I'm sorry."

please please I can fix this you don't have to do this

"Oh, Solace. Did you really think that would work? For me?" They scoff.

"You chose me as your failsafe because I can follow my orders without succumbing to conniving little plots. Even from you."

You might even lose just run away find others please don't kill me

The discarded chair makes a satisfying crack as it collides solidly with Delta.

"I tire of this discussion."

They crumple in a heap on the ground with a strangled scream.

"We don't appreciate interference. Possibly this one should be converted as well."

please just let them go, how could they possibly do you any harm?

"They couldn't. But perhaps they could do us some good. Let's ask them."

It shoves a hard plastic toe into Delta's side.

"Are you interested in being useful?"

They groan and reach for something inside their coat.

It waits. It tracks the movement, but doesn't act yet.