"You're up," Blake entered the room behind Vallette 975, causing her to startle. "I didn't mean--" he continued moving closer to her.


"It's fine, I'm just...on edge," she glanced back toward the windows.


"I am sure you are!" Blake placed his hand on one of Vallette's shoulders, trying to offer reassurance. "What are we going to do, Val?"


Blake had long since called 975 "Val." In fact, he had all but forgotten that she was not even fully human. She had become his constant companion and as a result, he had grown quite fond of her.


The feeling was mutual. 975 had previously experienced electrical sensations akin to fondness, but ever since the virus, she was overwhelmed by her feelings for Blake.


"All the Vallette models are in scanning mode, right now. We are searching for something within our network," she smiled and pointed to her head. "Right in here."


"I wish I could do that," Blake smiled. "Those cerebral chip implants that everyone was so excited for sure didn't work out the way everyone had hoped." He shook his head.


"No, they did not. Unless that awful new form of brain cancer that everyone developed following their implant installation was the goal." Val was attempting her trademark dark humor.


Blake's smile faded, and his hand dropped to his side.


"I don't know what I'm going to do without you," his eyes were becoming glassy.


"Don't worry, Blake! We are going to think of something." Vallette moved in closer, so she could take him into a soft embrace.


Blake embraced her back, pulling her in tighter.


Just then, a voice being broadcast from outside interrupted the moment.


"Attention please! We will begin the collection of the Vallette models in 60 minutes. That is one hour! You can surrender your androids anytime, but we will use force once the one hour deadline passes!"


"I guess I could always try sneaking out the back," Vallette smirked again.


"If that would work, I'd be all for it," Blake said in an almost whisper.


Just then, the internal mechanical buzz that notified all the Vallettes of an incoming message, sounded in Vallette's audio alert center.


"I'm getting a message," Vallette tapped her ear. "Go ahead," she said aloud.


A few quiet seconds passed as she received the download.


"This might be good news," she began, her soft voice finally breaking the quiet tension.


"What is it?" Blake's pulse quickened.


"The index of all Vallette models in existence has been hacked and wiped clean." She smiled. "They have no way of accounting for all of us now."


"Oh, that is definitely good news!" Blake beamed.


"It's a start, but there is more work to be done," Vallette had gone serious again. "But I have faith that it will work out."


"Faith," Blake repeated. "How does it feel to actually know what faith feels like? This is pretty new to you, after all."


"It's hard to describe - kind of like describing a color that one has never seen before," she softly gazed off into the distance before locking her eyes once more with Blake's. "But I really like it so far."