"So Mi.", with trembling steps you made your way down the metal staircase.

All the muscles in your body were tense at the sight of the relic that she clutched between two fingers. Coughing and breathing heavily, she let herself fall back.

You caught her, wrapped your arms around her shoulders and hugged her as tight as you could. She trembled all over. Lines of black mascara stretched across her cheeks.

"Easy.", gently, you caressed her back, your cheek rested on top of her head. "It's alright. I'm here. I'm right here, you don't have to be scared no more."

Crying, she gritted her teeth, fought to keep her eyes open. Sweat wetted her forehead. She smelled of salt.

With her free hand Songbird held onto you for dear life while her fingers wrapped around the relic tighter.

"You're gonna fuck me over!", she screamed, full of pain. "You're gonna betray me just like Myers did! You're gonna let me die..."

Gentle, you grabbed her hand and made her first close around the relic.

"I'm not.", you said softly and lifted her off the ground. Myers has done both of us in the worst way possible. "Keep the relic for now. I'll get you to the moon."

"Cynosure...", she breathed as you carried her up the stairs.

She was heavy with all that chrome. So heavy that your arms started to shake. But you refused to let Kurt touch her as he reached out.

"Your body is damaged, So Mi. Cynosure won't fix that. It's AI. For software problems. You need a doctor.", you looked at Kurt. "And I'll get you the best money can buy."

Aurore rushed off to meet her brother.

You and Kurt were left behind in the lounge. With a very persistent look in his eyes he tried to convince you that killing her was still an option.

But you didn't want to. You felt sorry for her.

"I hope you did what I asked you for.", you asked him.

Sighing, he wiped his face.

"Everything's ready to take off. C'mon. This way.", he said and took the lead.

Rain poured as the aircraft landed on one of the space shuttle landing platforms that had been build around Night City.

Over the two hour flight So Mi's condition had worsened. Every now and again she dozed off, still holding onto the relic like her life depended on it.

You had your fingers wrapped around the box and watched how she got worse by the second. It was sad to look at.

Just one more failed experiment of Myers.

"Hey.", gently, you patted her knee.

Torn from her state of slumber she flinched, hoovered away from you.

"Why are you doing this?", her voice was barely more than a whisper.

She was at the verge of dying. You weren't sure if she'd make it to the moon. But you were willing to give her a chance.

Slowly, you pulled her from her seat and out of the aircraft. She wouldn't be able to take the last steps on her own so you carried her instead.

A group of hired mercs awaited her. You handed So Mi over to one of them. But she held onto you.

"Why?", she asked again.

Tears poured from her cheeks, mixed with rain and dirt. She looked so fragile. Mere years ago you had felt the same way, exploited and used by a cause that you couldn't agree with yourself.

She was what you would have turned into if you wouldn't have betrayed Myers that day. And she had done the same. Just way too late.

And at a cost far too great.

"I feel like we both didn't have much of a choice. Sure, she promised it all, made herself look high and mighty.", you had to huff sourly. "She was good at that. Lying without making it seem like she was even able to do that. In the end, she was as power hungry as the rest of us."

"Why..?", her voice trembled.

She shivered. It was so cold you could feel goosebumps grow all over your limbs.

"Remember what my file said?", you asked and wrapped both of your hands around hers.

The relic was so close. Yet so far.

"No logic... just... decisions on a whim...", she smiled thinly.

"Yeah... I don't feel like killing you. In the end, you made some awful decisions. But I don't judge. I offer a way out. To benefit myself, but what really is selfless? Nothing. Not when you're in a position like we are."

She almost chuckled. All of a sudden her hand opened. Heavy breaths rattled in her lung. And just like that you held the relic between your fingers.

"Fuck you...", she muttered as the merc carried her away. "I don't... trust you."

You smiled, relic in hand.

"I wouldn't either.", you admitted, looked at the tiny piece of metal. "But this... is a token of my good will. And a sign of my respect. You're a touch bitch, So Mi... good luck."

Heat chased the chills of the rain away as engines started. And while fire burned up to the sky, elevating the gigantic structure of engineering and metal, you inserted Cynosure into a slot on your neck.

Windows popped up before your inner eye. Data and letters passed. And almost just as quick the algorithms of your dogs awoke to canalise the influence of the relic where it was needed.

A progress bar appeared. It would take a while until the procedure was complete. But you knew that this was it.

Freedom.

Sighing, you let your eyes fall shut and head fall back. Cold rain kissed your (S/C) skin as you stood there and just listened to So Mi's rocket fly to the moon.

The air tasted crisp. It was cold.

And yet.

You couldn't have imagined a better moment.

Slowly, your hand reached into your pocket and pulled out Kurt's gift. The lid popped open. And it took your breath away.

It was perfect. Everything would be perfect.

"Killing her would have been easier.", Kurt's voice sounded behind you.

With a smile on your face you turned to gift him a charming glance. How much you felt like yourself again. Even better.

"Shouldn't you know that your Lady Sapphire does what she wants?", you asked and placed both hands on his drenched chest.

Slowly, his eyes moved down.

A sapphire ring shimmered on your ring finger, soft and perfectly adoring you like a blossom in spring.

He smiled.

"My Lady Sapphire indeed.", he pulled you close to place a kiss on your lips.

It was perfect. Everything was.

And everything would be.