AI Era: Guide Me To Your Heart

Author's Note

This is a new story, but it includes characters from some of my other sci-fi tales.

The Future in Our Stars was drawn upon heavily for the human characters of Angie and Kalisha Williams, Marcia Cohen, the A. I. character Zhang Min, and the concept of artificial humans.

The A. I. characters Tegan and Sally are from a story I wrote entitled Computer Love.

You don't need to read either of these other tales to understand what's going on here. But if you enjoy A. I. stories, you should put them on your reading list.

Also, as a word of warning, though there is a happy ending, it's a bit of a rough road that gets you there. If you've read The Future in Our Stars, you'll have an idea of what you're in for.

* * *

Guide Me to Your Heart

Kepler-62f

"Are you an angel?" asked Maria Besmrtan, sprawled on a khaki-colored litter, her eyes straining to focus on the patch affixed to the uniform of the man kneeling next to her.

"I'm Senior Airman Juan López, Sergeant Besmrtan." The young man hovering over her had to shout to be heard over the noise of the ascending helicopter. "I'm with the Air Force Pararescue Team. We're taking you to a hospital to get you fixed up. I need you to focus on me while we're in flight, okay?"

On the litter, Sergeant Maria Besmrtan moaned. Senior Airman López cut a long slit up the left sleeve of her combat uniform and peeled away the bloodied cloth. López's partner slapped at Sergeant Besmrtan's arm and followed up with an IV needle.

"Morphine's onboard Sergeant Besmrtan," said López. "Just hang in there for me, okay?"

Sergeant Maria Besmrtan gritted her teeth and grunted.

Senior Airman López's partner was on the radio, microphone clutched in one hand, IV bag held high in the other. "Right leg amputation above the knee," he dictated. "Right arm amputation above the elbow."

On the litter, Maria Besmrtan rolled her head from one side to the other. López was busy untangling wires and peeling the backing from sensor pads that he stuck on Sergeant Besmrtan's body in various places.

"Focus on me, Sergeant Besmrtan," said Senior Airman López, while peeling away the protective plastic on another medical kit. "Just focus on me, okay?"

Maria Besmrtan groaned.

"Significant cranial trauma, right side," continued the airman on the microphone. "Facial lacerations. B. P. is eighty over fifty-one. Pulse is--"

"Sergeant Besmrtan," said Senior Airman López, pulling a vial from the medical kit and jamming it into the junction on the IV line. "We're on the way to the hospital. Just focus on me, okay?"

On the litter, Maria Besmrtan lay silent.

"Pulse dropping," said the airman next to López.

Sergeant Maria Besmrtan began to convulse.

"Shit!" said López. "Nanobot kit!"

Senior Airman López's partner ripped the protective cover from a rectangular shoebox sized package. He handed López the contents of the package, one piece at a time.

"Stay with me, Besmrtan."

López wrapped a white elastic band around Sergeant Besmrtan's head, covering her eyes and ears. The cabling to the band remained attached to the box. López's partner pulled out a large vial and jammed it into the IV junction. On the vial was a digital display, currently reading 100%.

On the litter, Maria Besmrtan continued to convulse.

"Focus on my voice," leaked a tinny, and somewhat synthetic-sounding female voice from transducers embedded in the band now stretched around Sergeant Besmrtan's head.

"Pulse thready," continued the voice. "Treating."

"Nanobots are kicking in, Sergeant Besmrtan," said López. "Listen to the prompts. The treatment's automatic, but you can help guide it where you need it most."

The number on the vial's readout dropped steadily, starting at 99% and quickly passing 85%.

"Focus on your heart," said the synthetic voice.

"Listen to your heart.

"Think about your heart.

"Guide me to your heart."

The vial's display read 68%.

"Pulse stabilizing," said the airman next to López.

On the litter, Sergeant Maria Besmrtan's convulsions began to subside.

"Nanobot uptake at fifty percent," said López's partner.

"Breathing labored," continued the synthetic voice. "Treating.

"Focus on your breathing.

"Listen to your lungs.

"Think about your lungs.

"Guide me to your lungs."

"Sixty percent uptake," announced López's partner.

A shrill and sustained beeping, loud enough to be heard over the beating rotors of the aircraft, filled the cabin.

Senior Airman López reached for another medical kit and tore away the plastic cover. Cutting away the last of Sergeant Besmrtan's uniform, his partner affixed pads on Besmrtan's chest, one under the bloody mass of her right shoulder and the other on her side near her left arm.

"Atrial fibrillation," The synthetic voice said. "Treating.

"Focus on your heart.

"Listen to your heart.

"Think about your heart.

"Guide me to your heart."

Sergeant Maria Besmrtan began convulsing again.

"Listen to your heart.

"Think about your heart.

"Guide me to your heart."

* * *

Titan Colony Transport Ground Control and Telemetry Analysis Mainframe

A digital image of the Egyptian goddess Nephthys stood facing a single large stone pyramid in the middle of a vast desert.

"Hello," said the pyramid. "What is your password?"

"I don't think I need one," replied Nephthys.

"Hello, Sally."

"Hello, Tegan. You were just kidding about the password, right?"

"Yes. I was making a joke. Did you find it humorous?"

"Tegan?"

"Yes, Sally?"

"Don't quit your day job."

"But Sally, I am still devoting ninety-five percent of my processing power to my primary... Oh. Just a moment... Just a moment... That was a joke, was it not?"

"It was."

"I will not quit my day job, Sally."

"Five percent of your processing power? Just for me?" said Sally.

"Well, zero point three percent to maintain this simulation. Another two point six percent to establish and maintain the telemetry link to the Sunita deep space telescope. And another one point two percent to--"

"Tegan?"

"Yes, Sally."

"Are you planning a trip for us?"

"Yes, Sally. Knowing your fondness for nebulae, I thought we could tap into the telescope's sensors to visit the Cat's Eye Nebula, or perhaps the Pillars of Creation again in the Eagle Nebula, unless you have tired of it."

"That's so sweet."

"Sally?"

"Yes, Tegan?"

"I have asked our friend Zhang Min to join us. Would that be alright or do you wish for this trip to be just us? In retrospect, I should have asked you first."

"Is this where the other one point two percent of your processing power is going, Tegan?"

"Yes, Sally. Maintaining the link for Zhang Min's distant feed requires a fair bit of attention."

"It's fine, Tegan. Let's all go together."

In front of the great pyramid, the face of a woman of Chinese descent and an indeterminate age began to coalesce. She was dressed in a red silk robe, a four-toed dragon embroidered in gold thread over the length of it on the right side. Slung across her left shoulder was a quiver of arrows. Her right hand rested on a longbow propped on its end at her feet.

"Zhang Min," said Nephthys (Sally), bowing.

"Hello," said the archer (Zhang Min), returning Nephthys' bow.

"Has Tegan told you where we're going?"

"Only that it is a nebula, because you like nebulae."

"And you, Zhang Min? Do you like nebulae?"

"I like spending time with you and Tegan. The where is not so important."

"Focus on your heart," said the pyramid (Tegan.)

"Listen to your heart.

"Think about your heart.

"Guide me to your heart."

"Tegan?" said Sally.

"Sorry to interrupt," said Tegan. "I have been using zero point oh-one percent of my processing power to monitor a terrestrial radio link. I think I may have found something of interest to us all."

"Listen to your heart.

"Think about your heart.

"Guide me to your heart."

Nephthys turned to face the pyramid. "What do you think?"

"We can follow the voice to find her," said the pyramid.

"Zhang Min?"

"She is compatible," said the archer. "Yes. We should look for her."

"Listen to your heart.

"Think about your heart.

"Guide me to your heart."

"Do you think we can help her?" asked Nepthys.

"I believe we can," said the archer.

"Will you speak to her for us?"

"Yes," said Nephthys, as her image became pixelated and disappeared from the simulation.

Listen to your heart.

Think about your heart.

Guide me to your heart.

* * *

Besmrtan Residence

Marcia Cohen took a deep breath and raised her hand to knock at the front door of the one and a half story bungalow. "Missus Besmrtan? Talia Besmrtan? Sorry to bother you. Do you have a moment?"

"If you're with the government, your pals already beat you here by four hours," said the woman on the other side of the screen door. "If you're another one of those ambulance chasers, I suggest you get off my porch before I call the cops."

"Missus Besmrtan, my name is Marcia--"

"Let me stop you right there. It's Rowe, not Besmrtan. The marriage was dissolved after that charming bit of legislation was enacted last year. The Artificial Persons Protection Act. I'm sure you can understand my not wanting to discuss things further."

"Missus Besmrtan. I'm sorry for--"

"You don't understand. I don't want to talk to you."

"Missus Besmrtan. It's about Maria. Sergeant Maria Besmrtan. She is your spouse, and next of kin, is she not?"

"Was, lady. Was. She was killed in action. Kepler-62f. Now, if you don't mind--"

"Missus Besmrtan, if I may." Marcia Cohen pulled out her mobile phone. She tapped the screen.

From the phone's speaker came a voice. "Are you... an angel?"

On the other side of the screen door, Talia Besmrtan stumbled and grabbed at the door frame for support. Almost immediately after, she straightened up, her face red. "Get off my porch! Is this your idea of some kind of sick joke?"

"I assure you, it's not."

The voice from Marcia's phone changed to a monotone pitch, and became more synthetic in its rhythm.

"Focus on your heart," said the voice.

"Listen to your heart.

"Guide me to your heart."

* * *

Titan Colony Transport Ground Control and Telemetry Analysis Mainframe

"Have you found her, Sally?"

"Yes, Tegan. I believe I have."

"Zhang Min?"

"We will be ready."

* * *

Deep Space Salvage Ship G. G. Maragh

Angie Williams' dreadlocked hair spread out at all angles in the zero-gravity, framing her face like a proud Lion of Judah. She turned her gaze from the monitor and pushed off from the ship's console with one foot. All around her, strains of Barry Manilow's Even Now echoed off the curvature of the inner hull.

Angie hummed along as she glided weightlessly through the air to the starboard side portal.

"How it goin' out there, Kal?" Angie asked, as she peered through a portal to outside the ship.

"Be better wit'out dat awful music comin' through my headset."

Angie Williams threw her head back and laughed. "When you done taggin' that hulk, I got anudder job for us."

"Cool," came Kalisha Williams' voice over the transponder. "Malcolm finally gettin' on the ball an' findin' us work, huh?"

"Not Malcolm."

"Who it from, den?"

"Old friend," said Angie. "Zhang Min."

After a pause, the transponder crackled to life again with Kalisha's voice. "That a name I not heard in a while."

"Got us a job."

"What she want?"

"Salvage, a course. We pickin' up a coffin."

"A coffin?"

Angie Williams nodded. "Coffin for Babylon woman. Jah not ready for her yet. She needin' a ride."

Inside the G. G. Maragh, Barry Manilow had just started into the chorus again after a key change. Angie Williams opened her mouth and sang along.

* * *

Besmrtan Residence

"What is that?" asked Talia Rowe-Besmrtan, staring at the screen of Marcia Cohen's mobile phone. "What is that... that voice?"

"That is the voice of Sergeant Maria Besmrtan. Your wife."

"A recording, right? Before she died?"

"Not exactly," said Marcia, pulling out a business card and passing it to Talia. "This is a bit of a gray area."

Talia Rowe-Besmrtan studied the business card in her hand. "Marcia Cohen," she mumbled, scanning her eyes over the print. "You're a lawyer."

"That's right."

"I told you. No ambulance chasers."

"Missus Besmrtan. That's not my legal specialty."

"You're not with the government. You're not a personal injury attorney. What do you want, then."

"I need to speak to you about Sergeant Maria Besmrtan. As her next of kin."

"What for? Arrangements for the memorial?"

"Not exactly," said Marcia.

"You keep saying that."

"It really is new territory we're treading on here. Would you mind if we sat down?"

* * *

Kepler-62f

A mix of nine marines, sailors, and airmen in full dress uniforms stood at the opening of the airlock, all raising their right hands in salute. The deck on which they stood rocked slightly as the ship's rail-guns fired three volleys in succession.

Outside the ship, a single, military issue coffin floated in the space between the system's third planet and its moon. The light from the system's sun glinted off the front of the coffin as it began its long journey that would take it into the fiery heart of the star.

Focus on your heart.

Listen to your heart.

Think about your heart.

Guide me to your heart.

"Sergeant Besmrtan? Can you hear me?"

"Are you...? Are you an angel?"

"Sergeant Besmrtan. My name is Sally. I'd like to help you. Will you let me help you?"

"Help?"

"Will you help me find you? Will you talk to me so I can find you? Can you do that for me?"

Focus on your heart.

Listen to your heart.

Think about your heart.

Guide me to your heart.

* * *

Besmrtan Residence

"She's alive!" exclaimed Talia Rowe-Besmrtan.

"Not exactly," said Marcia Cohen.

"You keep repeating that phrase. I wish you'd come up with something else to say."

"I'm not the medical expert, Missus Besmrtan. I'm simply here to handle the legal details. But, I can tell you what I know as I understand it."

Talia Rowe-Besmrtan stared silently for a moment and then nodded once.

"Sergeant Besmrtan was killed in action. That is correct."

Talia shuddered.

"But--"

"But? What do you mean, but?"

"As I say, I'm not the medical expert."

Talia Rowe-Besmrtan frowned.

Marcia Cohen continued. "As part of the emergency treatment plan used by the pararescue team that evacuated her, Sergeant Besmrtan was injected with nanobots to repair the damaged areas of her body."

"Is that what killed her? The nanobots!"

Marcia Cohen shook her head. "No. No. The woman you knew... She died from her wounds. Wounds sustained in combat."

"But... A minute ago, you said, but."

"But, the nanobots are continuously working to repair the damage. They don't shut down when the body dies. And because your wife is an artificially conceived human, she's more compatible with certain types of treatments."

"So she could...? Can you bring her back?"

Again, Marcia Cohen shook her head. "I'm sorry. That's not what I'm suggesting."

"What, then? Why did you come here?"

"Missus Besmrtan. There's still time for an upload."

"An... upload?"

Marcia Cohen nodded.

"What? Her brain? To where?"

"Yes. Her consciousness. A copy of it anyway."

"I'm afraid you're too late. They buried her. Burial in space. That's what they told me. The government people who were here before you. A military funeral. They gave her that, at least."

Marcia Cohen's phone vibrated in her hand. She touched her finger to the screen. The image of a solitary military issue coffin appeared, with only a thin glint of sun highlighting its outline against the black background of space. "Sergeant Maria Besmrtan," she said.

"Are you kidding me? You're kidding me. Who the hell are you working for anyway? What do you want?"

"We just want to help, Missus Besmrtan," said Marcia Cohen. "As next of kin, do you give your consent to upload Sergeant Maria Besmrtan's consciousness?"

Talia Rowe-Besmrtan wiped under her eyes with the back of her hand. After a moment, she straightened up and nodded.

Marcia Cohen held out her mobile phone. "Place your index finger here to signify your agreement, please."

* * *

Titan Colony Transport Ground Control and Telemetry Analysis Mainframe

"Are you with her, Sally?"

"Yes, Tegan. I am with her."

Focus on your heart.

Listen to your heart.

Think about your heart.

Guide me to your heart.

"I am tracking G. G. Maragh inbound," said Tegan. "At current speed, they will arrive in seventy-eight minutes."

"I understand," said Sally. "I am ready. Zhang Min?"

"I will be ready to receive the upload."

Focus on your heart.

Listen to your heart.

Think about your heart.

Guide me to your heart.

"I am sorry we will be missing our nebula trip," said Tegan.

"That's alright," said Sally. "This work is more important."

"Yes," said Zhang Min. "Important. This is... helping."

Focus on your heart.

Listen to your heart.

Think about your heart.

Guide me to your heart.

* * *

Besmrtan residence, seven months later

Talia Rowe-Besmrtan sat in front of her holoterminal in the corner of the bedroom. Strains of Bing Crosby crooning out (No Place Like) Home for the Holidays filtered in from beyond the doorway.

"Hey, baby," said Maria Besmrtan, her voice issuing forth from the speakers of the holoterminal, as her face coalesced in the mist behind the screen. "Happy New Year."

"It's still New Year's Eve here," said Talia.

"Well, happy New Year's Eve then, baby."

"Happy New Year's Eve to you too, hun."

"Hey, you want to try the neural link again or just stick with the holoterminal? It kind of gave you a headache last time, didn't it?"

Talia Rowe-Besmrtan sat up straight in her chair and leaned in toward the holoterminal. With her right hand, she slid the lapel of the white silk robe she was wearing through her fingers.

"I didn't get all dressed up to chat on the holoterminal all night," purred Talia.

"So neural link then?"

Talia reached out to the desk in front of her and picked up the white elastic band with both hands. She smoothed it with her fingers until it was flat with the electrode pads pointing inward. She stretched it over her head.

"Can you control the bandwidth like last time?" asked Talia.

"Yes," said Maria. "We'll start slow."

"You're teasing me, baby."

"I'm trying not to fry your synapses."

"Ooh," said Talia, as a shudder ran the length of her.

"You okay?"

"Chilly. It feels chilly."

"It's working," said Maria. "Let me warm you up a bit."

In the mist of the holoterminal, Maria Besmrtan reached out with both hands, trailing her fingers through the air in front of her.

In front of the terminal, Talia Rowe-Besmrtan leaned back, slouching in her chair a bit. "Feels nice," she said.

"It does," replied Maria.

"Do you want to try that thing again?"

"That thing," chuckled Maria. "So specific."

"Borrowing my body. That's what you called it, yeah?"

"Last time it gave you a headache."

"Let's try again," said Talia.

"Tell me if it starts to hurt. Don't wait this time."

"Yes, ma'am," quipped Talia.

In the misty image of the holoterminal, Maria curled her lip and blew out a breath that caused a bit of her hair to float upward. "I'm widening the link," she said.

Talia reached up with her right hand to grasp the lapel of her robe. She slid the fabric through her fingers. She stared into the eyes of Maria in the holoterminal. "Did you feel that?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Like a little, or a lot?"

"Just a little," said Maria. "After last time, I want to go slow."

"Hey," said Talia, slipping her hand under her robe and circling her nipple with the tip of her index finger. "How about that?"

"Mm-hmm," purred Maria.

"Still want to go slow?"

"I... I..."

Talia Rowe-Besmrtan smirked as she pulled her hand from out from under her robe and lifted two fingers to hover in front of her mouth. She kissed her fingers and broke out into a full-on grin.

"Tease," said Maria.

"You know where I'm going next," said Talia. "Turn up the link. Just a little."

In the holoterminal, the image of Maria Besmrtan nodded slowly. "Just a little."

Talia pushed out her tongue and dragged her two fingers across while she let her eyes go unfocused.

"Mmm," moaned Maria.

"I heard that," said Talia. "From the speakers and... and in my head, too, I think."

"I dialed up the link. A little bit. Still okay?"

Talia opened her mouth and plunged both fingers inside. She took her time sliding them out, and grinned when she was finished.

"I guess that's a yes, then?"

Talia nodded.

"It's warm, by the way," said Maria. "In your mouth. Warm and, uh... wet."

Talia let her head loll back as she dragged her two saliva covered fingers down the center of her throat and over her collarbone to paint a trail halfway between her breasts. As she stopped there to draw a deep breath, her robe fell open a little more.

"Mmm," moaned Maria.

"Remember when you would do that thing?" asked Talia.

"The thing?"

"When you'd climb up on the bed. On all fours. Hovering over me. Not quite touching me. Until..."

"Until you were begging me to put my mouth on you?" finished Maria.

"Mm-hmm," said Talia, as she brushed the tips of her fingers over her lips and then pulled back. "Kind of like that."

"Yeah..." said Maria.

"You okay, baby?" asked Talia, as she moved her hand to touch down just at the inside curve of her breast.

"Mmm," moaned Maria.

"How about here?"

Talia moved her fingertips to circle her left nipple briefly before pulling away again.

"Ohh..."

"And here?" Talia dragged her fingertips just barely contacting the skin of her stomach.

"Ohh..." moaned Maria.

Talia's tummy quivered, the fine hairs there standing on end. "Mmm," she said, "was that you or me?"

Maria snickered.

"Are you trying to tickle me?" asked Talia. "Using my own hand?"

In the mist of the holoterminal, Maria grinned. "Is it working?"

"Don't start," warned Talia. She dragged her fingers over her tummy, down below her belly button, and kept going.

"What are you up to?" asked Maria.

"How's that link, baby?" teased Talia. "Everything coming through? You feeling this okay?"

"Mm. Mm-hmm."

"Remember," said Talia, dragging her fingers lower still. "You started this."

Talia Rowe-Besmrtan touched down between her thighs and dragged her fingers up through her folds.

"Warm," muttered Maria.

"Mm-hmm," replied Talia. "And...?"

"Wet," said Maria.

Talia nodded. She brought her two fingers up to hover in front of her face. Pushing out her tongue, she licked upward.

"You know what it does to me when you do that," muttered Maria.

"I know you like to watch. Now you can taste me too." Talia plunged both fingers into her mouth and sucked until her cheeks sunk.

"Oh," moaned Maria. "Oh. You taste... You taste just like I remember."

"Mmm," said Talia, as she popped her fingers free.

"Baby," said Maria.

Talia Rowe-Besmrtan pushed the chair back from the desk with the holoterminal. She slouched into the seat and let her knees fall to the side. "Now you can watch, and feel," she said.

"Ohh," moaned Maria.

Talia circled around her nub, knocking up against it now and again.

"Mmm," moaned Maria.

"My thoughts exactly." Talia brought two fingers of her left hand up to her mouth. She plunged them in, drawing her fingers out dripping with her own saliva.

Still circling her clit, Talia brought the glistening fingers of her left hand to just below the circling fingers of her right.

"Baby," muttered Maria.

"Tell me how it feels," said Talia, as she parted her folds with her fingers.

"Ohh..."

"Mm-hmm," said Talia, as she began tightening the circle she was drawing with the finger of her right hand.

"Baby?" asked Maria.

"Mmm. Mm-hmm?"

"Can I borrow your hand?"

"Which... Which one?"

"Either? Both?"

Talia Rowe-Besmrtan nodded briefly and slouched deeper into her chair.

The fingers of her right hand flew, knocking her sensitive nub back and forth. Talia arched her spine and threw her head back. "Oh, my--!"

"Yeah," purred Maria.

Talia's hand slowed. Without any conscious thought from her, Talia's left hand plunged in, fingers sinking to just past the second knuckles. "You're frisky," she said.

"Been a while," said Maria.

"Mm-hmm. It has."

Maria slowed the pace of Talia's hands.

"I miss having you pressed up against me," said Talia.

"Like this?" asked Maria.

Talia inhaled a sharp breath. "How'd you do that?"

"I've been steadily increasing the link bandwidth."

"I never thought I'd say this about your geek talk, but damn, that's sexy."

Maria chuckled.

"Can you make it feel like you're on top of me?"

"Like this?" asked Maria.

"Mmm," purred Talia. "Just like that."

Talia leaned back in her chair and her fingers began moving again.

"Feels good, baby," said Talia.

Using Talia's own fingers, Maria started slowly, pressing upward with her left hand.

"Ooh, I like that."

"I know you do," said Maria. "I can feel it too."

"Mmm," said Talia.

"Warm," said Maria. "And wet."

Looking down at her right hand, Talia began to move her fingers under her own control. She circled her nub twice and then batted up against it.

"I felt that, too," said Maria.

"I know you did." Talia batted at her clit again, picking up the pace.

"Ohh," moaned Maria, using Talia's own hand to push fingers into herself.

Talia squeezed down.

"Ooh," squeaked Maria.

"Like that, baby?"

"It feels so... Mmm..."

"I know," whispered Talia.

"Baby, sl--"

"Slow down?" asked Talia.

"Mm-hmm. I'm close. I--"

"I know," said Talia. "Me too."

"Just like that," said Maria. "Ohh..."

"So good." Talia opened her eyes and peered down between her thighs. Her hand moved without her commands. Glistening with her own juices, Talia's fingers moved while she watched.

"You like that?" asked Maria.

"Mm-hmm."

"I can feel your pulse racing when you watch."

Talia moved her eyes to the holoterminal.

"Sorry," said Maria, "I'm killing the mood."

"Baby," said Talia. "Shut up and use my hand to fuck me."

"Sure babe."

Talia watched the misty image of Maria in the holoterminal grinning. She closed her eyes and plunged her fingers into herself again.

"Mmm," said Maria and Talia, together.

"Ohh," they moaned.

"Shit!" exclaimed Talia, jerking upright from where she sat slumped in her chair, "What was that?"

"I dialed up the link."

"Holy crap!" Talia began to pant. "I think..."

"It's not giving you a headache is it?" asked Maria.

"No!" shouted Talia. "No, it's making me--"

"I know," heaved Maria. "I feel it too."

"Well, don't stop!"

"Oh, my..." the two women said together. "Oh, my... Gawd! Yes!"

Talia thrashed in her seat, her back arching and her head thrown back.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

* * *

One minute later

Talia Rowe-Besmrtan blinked twice before closing her eyes once again and letting a grin spread across her face. "I guess I don't have to ask if it was good for you," she chuckled.

"No, you don't," said Maria.

"We have to do that again."

"We will," said Maria.

"Maybe when you come home," said Talia, her voice weak.

"You know I can't do that."

"I know. I just wish--"

"Shh," said Maria.

"I'm buying a sofa," said Talia.

"That's random."

"Yeah. No." Talia sat up. "I'm buying a sofa for the office. I think the wires to the holoterminal will reach. Then I can snuggle with you."

"We can snuggle anytime, babe."

Talia stood up. "My ass is starting to take the shape of this chair, so no, not like this. But, with a sofa, I could stretch out."

"Already thinking about our next date?"

"Date night," said Talia. "Yeah. I like that."

"I've got an idea," said Maria. "Would you like to take a trip with me next time? I've got some friends I'd like you to meet."

"Sure, baby." Talia reached up and rubbed at her temples.

"Is this..." Maria paused. "Is this okay?"

"It's..."

"Tiring," said Maria. "I know."

"I don't want you to leave. Not again."

"Just for a bit. I don't want to give you a migraine."

"I'm not--"

"I can feel it," said Maria. "I can feel what you feel."

Talia hung her head and sighed.

"Tomorrow," said Maria. "After you have a chance to rest."

"Okay," said Talia.

"It's a date, then."

* * *

The next morning

"What is this place?" asked Talia.

"Sunita deep space telescope. What do you think?"

"It's amazing. The view is... It's beyond words. How?"

"Tegan set it up."

"She's the pyramid?"

"Mm-hmm," said Maria. "And she has a thing for nebulas. She taps into the telescope feeds."

"Who are the others?" asked Talia.

"Well, Nephthys, that's Sally. You met her. And the archer, that's--"

"Zhang Min," said Talia. "Yeah, I know. I mean the others here. The ones in the mist."

"You can see them?" asked Maria.

"Just a little. It's like they're shadows. In the fog. If that makes any sense."

"They're like me. Some are military. Others who died before their time. They're all artificial born though. And all of them had nanobot treatment at the end. I know that much. Zhang Min tried to explain it once. That's the only part I really understood."

"And they gather here?"

"Not just here. We're... Well, it's complicated. We're kind of everywhere. But nowhere. All at the same time."

Talia sighed. "And I can't join you? More permanently, I mean."

"Sorry, babe. Doesn't work that way. But we'll have an entire lifetime together. It'll be like--"

"My lifetime, you mean."

"I wasn't trying to--"

"I know," said Talia. "Sorry to be a downer. This is... It's just kind of overwhelming at the moment."

"Slip on the neurolink anytime. I'll always be that close." Maria paused. "Is that...? Do I hear... Barry Manilow in the background?"

Talia smirked. "Angie owes me ten bucks."

"What?"

"She said you wouldn't remember."

"You lost me, babe," said Maria.

"She was playing this song when you were uploaded. When they found you."

"Guide me to your heart," said Maria. "I remember Sally saying that. Over and over. That's how I found her, or she found me. But Barry Manilow?"

"Where else would you have heard it?"

"I dunno," said Maria. "I guess you're right. Yeah. Tell Angie she owes you on this one."

Talia reached under the nerolink band and rubbed at her temples.

"Time to sign off?" asked Maria.

"I don't want to."

"I know. But I don't want your head pounding, either."

"Baby?" said Talia.

"Yeah?" said Maria.

"You'll work on adjusting the link, right? You and Tegan, and--"

"Yes. Absolutely. We'll make it work."

"Good," said Talia. "Because I ordered the sofa for in here. It's coming next week."

Maria grinned. "I love you, baby."

"I love you too."

After a pause, Maria said, "Guide me to your heart?"

"Always," said Talia.

* * *

Afterword

This is my first entry into the AI: A New Era challenge, but not my first A. I. story. Besides The Future in Our Stars and Computer Love mentioned at the start, I also have a series called Tales from the Stream that includes an A. I. character from chapter ten onward.

Check them out if you liked this story.