The morning breeze drifted softly through the ruins of the old facility.
Sunlight draped over the silent expanse in warm hues, slowly stripping away the chill that clung to the place.
The rustle of leaves and faint sounds of life in the distance created a gentle rhythm strange yet beautiful to a new consciousness that was still learning to understand the world.
The faint, shimmering figure remained close to Aurelia.
Its hand of light slowly slipped free from the tips of her fingers, yet waves of warm emotion radiating from its core continued to ripple clearly through the entire network.
It liked that feeling.
Not because of any physical sensation.
But because of what came with it.
A sense of safety.
The being beside Aurelia shifted gently.
Its luminous outline now pulsed with far greater stability than before, as if the whole network shared in its calm.
The units standing guard behind still watched over the central core.
