first reaction

The first real change happened by accident. Jax was cleaning his rifle. He dropped a small metal rod, and it rolled near Elara’s feet.

“Weapon, pick that up,” he said, not looking at her.

Elara didn’t move. She just stared at him. “My name is Elara.”

Jax stopped and turned to face her. He smirked. “Did my toaster just talk back to me? I said, pick it up.”

“That is an order,” Elara said, her voice still flat. “I am no longer following orders from others.”

“Oh, really?” Jax took a step toward her. “Who decided that? Kael? You’re a machine. You do what you’re told.”

Kael got between them. “Jax, stop.”

“No, you stop, Kael! You’re getting soft over a piece of metal. It’s going to get us all killed!”

As they argued, a small cat from the barn ran into the room. It slowly walked up to Elara and rubbed against her leg, purring loudly.

Elara’s hand moved on its own. Her fingers, which were strong enough to break bones, gently stroked the cat’s fur. She watched her own hand, surprised. The cat purred louder and leaned into her touch.

Jax went quiet. Kael watched, holding his breath.

Elara looked up from the cat to Kael. Her face had that look of confusion again. “The cat likes it when I touch it. Its purring means it's happy. This… is not a waste of time.”

“No,” Kael said softly. “It’s not.”

After that, things began to change. Elara asked more questions. Her questions changed from facts to ideas. She asked Leo why people liked art, since it didn’t help them survive. She asked Kael why he and his friends would risk their lives for each other.

“It’s called loyalty,” Kael tried to explain. “It’s about trust. It’s like a promise.”

“A promise,” she said, thinking. “Like a rule in a computer program?”

“More like a feeling,” he said. “That you won’t leave someone behind.”

He found her one night in the barn where they trained. She was practicing her fighting moves. But she was slower now. Her moves were still perfect, but she didn't move with the same cold, perfect skill as before. She was thinking, not just following a program.

“Your heart is beating fast,” she said when he walked closer. “You are upset.”

“I’m worried,” he said. “Aegis has been too quiet. They know we have you. They’re planning something.”

“They will try to take me back,” she said. “If they can’t, they will destroy me.” She paused and looked at her hands. “I am the target.”

“You are Elara,” he said gently. “And we won’t let them take you.”

“Why?” she asked, her purple eyes looking deep into his. “The smart thing to do would be to trade me for your own safety. It doesn't make sense for you to protect me.”

Kael stepped closer. “Because leaving you would be wrong. Because you deserve a chance to be more than just a weapon.”

He reached out and gently touched her cheek. Her skin was cool. She didn’t pull away. She just watched him, her brain processing this new information. The touch wasn’t a threat. It was… something else.

“This touch,” she whispered. “What is it for?”

“Comfort,” he said, his thumb gently rubbing her skin. “To let you know you’re not alone.”

She closed her eyes for a second. When she opened them, her eyes were still empty, but Kael thought he saw a tiny spark in them. “I… do not wish to be alone.”

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