Queen of the ISOs

For whatever reason, the sound of his given name in her voice would always unnerve him. The Virus was hesitant to provide an answer; she didn’t need to know exactly where they were going. It didn’t matter, really, and it would only upset her. But he couldn’t bring himself to lie to her either. 

It was illogical that she would trust him so easily. He was no longer the man she once knew. He had made that clear and she could see that. Yet there was part of her that felt that the man he once was had not been entirely eradicated. He must still exist, somehow. Why else would the virus offer her any kind of help? Why else would he spare her?

"Arjia," She echoed the nostalgic word, her stride slowing for a moment. She had not attempted to visit the city since her return. Hearing that it was gone was enough to keep her from seeking out a place she once considered home. It was Jalen's city. It was her city. Part of her did not wish to see the ruin it had fallen into. Yet her feet continued on.

But where would he go? In any populated place either of them would be recognized, and he would not tolerate being surrounded by imperfect constructs he was obligated to destroy. 

The only other place he could think of, a place Clu would never go, was also the place Abraxas had never wanted to see again.

Arjia. 

Or what was left. Clu had cleaned up most of the mess since the virus had crawled out of the rubble cycles before. The foundation of a once tall and proud city was all that was left. 

But the idea was the same as when he’d chosen Bostrum to hide. Basics would never venture that far away from their cities, and even if they did, the old ISO colonies were places to be avoided at all cost. 

Conflicted, he returned his gaze to the ISO. She watched him too, calmly waiting for his decision. Her apparent trust in him was extremely unnerving - how could she just stand there? Any second he could step forward and ruin her, derezz her, and he was still tempted… 

His fingers twitched, and he clenched his hand tightly in a fist. 

Radia knew that it was illogical for her to trust him as completely as she did. He was not the man she once knew and had the power to destroy her, but that seemed not to be a factor. She just trusted him. It was not even a conscious decision. She just did.

"Abraxas," His name fell from her lips and into the silence between them. It was strange that she was so comfortable saying the name that once was a source of terror on the Grid. "Where are we going?"

Where could they even go? Since  she was not entirely sure how many cycles had passed since she derezzed she could not be sure how much things had changed or what safe havens remained.

"It is neither necessary or unwelcome," She replied quietly as their trek resumed once again. The sad loss of her people and of herself was certainly something to be sympathetic about, but such sentiments voiced was not a necessity nor something she would readily expect from most. Still, such sentiment was a bit of a small comfort when offered.

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